Patent Publication Number: US-2011068113-A1

Title: Sanitary Cup Lids

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority from the following U.S. patent applications: U.S. Patent Application No. 61/124,958, which was filed on Apr. 21, 2008 and entitled “Sanitary Anti-Spill Disposable Cup Lid;” U.S. Patent Application No. 61/125,574, which was filed on Apr. 25, 2008 and entitled “Sanitary Spill Resistant Cup Lid;” and U.S. Patent Application No. 61/125,906, which was filed on Apr. 29, 2008 and entitled “Sanitary Cup Lid.” Each of the foregoing applications is incorporated by reference into the present application in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     It is common to dispense hot coffee and tea in a disposable paper or plastic styrofoam cup and to cover the cup with a plastic lid. A primary concern in designing cup lids is to prevent spillage of hot liquids from the cup, to prevent burn injuries. However, when handling disposable cups and lids it is important to keep the lids from becoming contaminated. When a coffee shop employee places a lid on a cup filled with a hot beverage, the cup lid is picked up by hand and placed on the cup. During this procedure, it is inevitable that the hand of the employee touches the cup lid. The area of the cup lid to be contacted with the lip of a coffee drinker can in this way become contaminated with germs transmitted by the hand of the coffee shop employee, which may be a serious public health problem. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is desirable for a disposable cup lid to have both sanitary and spill resistant functions. The present cup lids assist in preventing cup lid contamination by hand, avoid the spillage of cup contents, and are easy to manufacture. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a hand closing a cup with a cup lid. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disposable cup lid in a closed mode. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cup lid of  FIG. 2  in an open mode. 
         FIG. 4  is the top plan view of the cup lid of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid of  FIG. 4  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present disposable cup lid with its aperture closed. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cup lid of  FIG. 6  with its aperture opened after the moveable cover has been rotated away by thumb. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the base portion (main cup lid) of the cup lid of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the cover portion of the cup lid of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the main cup lid of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the cover portion shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of another embodiment of a cover portion for the cup lid of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the main cup lid of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the cover portion of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the main cup lid shown in  FIG. 10  along line B-B. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the cover portion of  FIG. 11  along line C-C placed on top of the cross-section of the main cup lid as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  shows the thumb of a user of the present cup lid positioned to detach the cover from the main cup lid. 
         FIG. 18  shows the cover detached from the main cup lid by a user&#39;s thumb. 
         FIG. 19  shows the cover pressed by a thumb over the main cup lid to reattach the cover to the main cup lid. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a hand capping a cup with a cup lid of the prior art. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective elevated front view of another embodiment of the present cup lid. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective elevated side view of the cup lid of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 23  is another embodiment of the present cup lid. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the cup lid of  FIG. 21  with ornamentation. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a hand closing the cup and cup lid of  FIG. 21  with the palm. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a hand closing the cup and cup lid of  FIG. 21  with the fingers. 
         FIG. 27  is a top view of the cup lid of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 28  is a front view of the cup lid of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid of  FIG. 27  along line D-D. 
         FIG. 30  is a top view of the cup lid with ornamentation of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid of  FIG. 30  along line E-E. 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present cup lid with a cover in place. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of the cup lid of  FIG. 32  with the cover lifted. 
         FIG. 34  is a top view of the cup lid of  FIG. 32  without the cover. 
         FIG. 35  is a top view of the cover of the cup lid of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid of  FIG. 34  at the line F-F. 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present cup lid with a closed gate. 
         FIG. 38  is a perspective view of the cup lid of  FIG. 37  with the gate opened. 
         FIG. 39  is a top view of the sanitary cup lid with a gate of  FIG. 37 . 
         FIG. 40  is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid of  FIG. 39  along line G-G. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Sanitary Cup Lid 
     In a first embodiment, the present disposable cup lid comprises two separate components attached and fitted together, a main cup lid (base portion)  16  and a covering apron (cover portion)  15 . The base portion  16  includes a generally horizontal surface  42  for covering the upper opening of a container  12  and a vertical wall  44  extending downward (when positioned on the container  12  in normal use) from the periphery of the horizontal surface  42  to a point below the upper rim of the container  12 , in order to contain a liquid or other flowable material within the container  12 . The base portion  16  also includes a lower surface  43  for engaging the rim of a container  12  on which the present cup lid  14  can be placed. Preferably, the lower surface  43  engages the rim of the container  12  so as to form a friction fit with the container  12 , although other means of securing the base portion  16  to the rim of a container  12  known to those of skill in the art can also be employed. The covering apron covers the area of the main cup lid where a user&#39;s lip generally touches when drinking a beverage. The two components can be made separately or in a single injection molding process. 
       FIG. 1  shows how a disposable cup lid can be contaminated by a hand. When a cup  12  filled with a beverage is capped, a disposable cup lid of the prior art  13  is held by a hand  11  and placed on the rim of a cup  12 . The disposable cup lid  13  is then pressed by the hand  13  to fit and seal it to the cup  12 . It is inevitable for parts of the hand  13 , usually the palm and fingers, to touch the upper surface of the disposable cup lid  13 , and sometimes the area of the disposable cup lid  13  contacted by the hand  13  during this procedure involves the place where the lips of a user will touch the cup lid  13  when drinking a beverage. This can be a serious public health threat if the hands of the beverage handler harbor dangerous germs. 
       FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  illustrate one embodiment of a sanitary disposable cup lid  14  when it is covered and open, respectively. The cover portion  15  includes both an anterior moveable portion  25  and a posterior portion  21 , which can be integrally formed, such as through injection molding. The anterior moveable portion  25  of the cover portion  15  is long and wide enough to cover the area where the lips of a beverage drinker touch when drinking from the lid  14 . Preferably, the surface area of the vertically extending portion  36  of the anterior moveable portion  25  is between about 3 square centimeters (3 centimeters×1 centimeter), appropriate for a child, and 8 square centimeters (4 centimeters×2 centimeters) for an adult, in order to cover the mouth-touching area of the main cup lid  16 . 
     In order to cover the area of the main cup lid  16  generally contacted by a user&#39;s mouth, the anterior moveable portion  25  comprises both a horizontally extending portion  26  and a vertically extending portion  36 . The horizontally extending portion  26  is secured at a proximal end  27  to the posterior portion  21 , and is connected to a proximal end of  37  of the vertically extending portion  36  at a distal end  28  of the horizontally extending portion  26 . When the cover portion  15  is covering an aperture  19  of the main cup lid  16  through which a user drinks a liquid in the container  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , the horizontally extending portion  26  is positioned approximately parallel to the horizontal surface  42  (upper surface) of the main cup lid  16  and extends from the hinge  20  to a point at or just beyond the periphery of the horizontal surface  42 . The horizontally extending portion  26  is sized so as to cover both the aperture  19  as well as a portion of the upper surface of the horizontal surface  42  around the periphery of the aperture  19 . From this distal end  28  of the horizontally extending portion  26 , the vertically extending portion  36  extends approximately parallel to the vertical wall  44  of the main cup lid, i.e. generally downwardly, to a point at or below the lower vertical extent of the vertical wall  44 . The distal end  38  of the vertically extending portion  36  can include a projection or handle  22  which extends away from the side wall of the container  12 , in order to facilitate moving the cover portion  15  so as to expose the aperture  19 , i.e. to open the cover portion  15 . 
     The aperture cover  17  preferably comprises a downwardly-disposed indentation or stopper in the main cup lid  16  and is sized to fit within the aperture  19 . Preferably, the lower surface  35  of the aperture cover  17  contacts all or substantially all of the interior periphery of the aperture  19 , and more preferably can form a friction fit with the interior periphery of the aperture  19 , in order to close and seal the aperture  19 . 
     The posterior portion  21  of the cover portion  15  is secured to the main cup lid  16 , such as by a friction fit between the lower surface  33  of the cover portion  15  and the upper surface  41  of the main cup lid  16 , although these two components can also be physically attached or secured in other manners, such as with an adhesive. The posterior portion  21  is preferably semi-circular in shape and tightly fits onto the reciprocally shaped portion  23  of the main cup lid  16 . In between and connecting the anterior moveable and posterior fixed portions of the cover portion  15  is a hinge  20  that allows the anterior moveable portion to move with respect to the posterior portion  16 . 
     In use, a beverage drinker grasps the handle  22  of the cover portion  15  using the fingers, and then lifts it to expose the aperture  19  of the main cup lid  16 . The cover portion  15  preferably includes an aperture cover  17  reciprocally molded to fit within the aperture  19 . Once the cover portion  15  is lifted up, it can be rotated around the hinge and placed upside down, i.e. with the lower surface facing upward, and can be immobilized by buttoning the aperture cover  17  onto a protuberance  18  of the main cup lid  16 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the cup lid  14 .  FIG. 5  shows the two separate components. The main cup lid  16  that caps the cup, and the cover portion  15  that in turn covers the main cup lid by fitting its posterior fixed portion onto the reciprocally depressed portion  23  of the main cup lid. The two components can be manufactured by a single injection molding process, in which the posterior fixed portion of the cover portion  15  and its reciprocally depressed portion  23  of the main cup lid  16  become one body. 
     Rotatable Sanitary Cup Lid 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the present sanitary spill-resistant cup lid in a closed position, with  FIG. 7  illustrating this cup lid in an open position. As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , in this embodiment the cup lid consists of two parts, a main cup lid (base portion)  120  and a moveable cover  121 . The main cup lid  120  includes a circumferential rim  124 , an aperture  132  preferably located on the rim  124 , a side wall  127  extending downwardly from the outer periphery of the rim  124 , and a peripheral groove  128  to seal the cup. In addition, the main cup lid  120  has an upwardly projecting center post  122  protruding from the center of the rim  124 . The center post  122  includes an upwardly projecting side wall or walls  118  and at least a base portion  119  of the side wall  118  that has a cross section which is circular or approximately circular. A center post  122  which is not circular in cross section but which allow rotation of the moveable cover  121  can also be use, for example a center post  122  with a series of flat walls which together approximate a circle in shape. 
     In between the center post  122  and the rim  124  is an upper surface  115 , which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a recess  125  that accommodates a disk  130  of the moveable cover  121 . A ventilation hole  123  can be placed in the center top of the post  122 . 
     The moveable cover  121  is placed over the main cup lid  120 , and has three basic sub-components: the disk  130 , a sanitary overlay  133  and the apron  134 . The size of the disk  130  can be large enough to tightly fit the recess  125  of the main cup lid  120  as shown in the  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, the recess  125  of the moveable cover  121  includes upwardly extending walls  116  around the periphery  117  of the recess  125 , and at least a portion of the periphery  138  of the disk engages the upwardly extending walls  116  around the periphery  117  of the recess  125  with a friction fit. Alternatively or in addition, the disk  130  can have a smaller center hole (central opening)  131  as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 12 . The smaller center hole  131  of the embodiment of  FIG. 12  will tightly fit the center post  122  of the main cup lid  120 . If the disk  130  does not tightly fit and remain attached to the main cup lid  120 , the moveable cover  121  can be displaced easily from the desirable location that protects the mouth-contacting area. 
     The overlay  133  is designed to cover the circular upper surface of the rim  124  of the main cup lid  120 , and is wide enough to cover the mouth-contacting area. It preferably also has an aperture stopper  132  to fit and seal the aperture  126  in order to make the cup lid spill resistant, in the manner described above for the aperture cover  17 . The overlay  133  comprises both a horizontally extending portion  141  and a vertically extending portion  145 . The horizontally extending portion  141  is secured at a proximal end to the disk  130 , and is connected to a proximal end of the vertically extending portion  145  at a distal end of the horizontally extending portion  131 . The vertically extending portion  145  extends approximately parallel to the vertical wall of the main cup lid, i.e. generally downwardly, preferably to a point at or below the lower vertical extent of the vertical wall. 
     The apron  134  comprises a surface attached to the distal end of the vertically extending portion  145  of the overlay  133  and extends outwardly (i.e., away from the container when the lid is attached to a container) from the overlay  133  in order to further cover the mouth contacting area of the main cup lid  120 , especially the area likely to contact a user&#39;s lower lip. At the distal end of the moveable cover  121  is a serrated edge or handle  136 . By rotating the serrated handle  136  around the axis of the center post  122  by thumb as shown in  FIG. 7 , the cup lid can be opened for drinking. When rotating the moveable cover  121 , the position of the thumb does not need to be displaced much by pushing aside the serrated handle  136  repetitively. Once a tooth of the serrated handle  136  is pushed aside, another tooth will be ready to be pushed away as the moveable cover  121  rotates. Therefore, the cup lid can be open by using only one hand. In addition, as shown in the  FIGS. 17-19 , by using the thumb only, the apron  134  and the overlay  133  can be slightly lifted for easy rotation of the moveable cover  121 , by extending an upward force against the lower surface or outer edge of the serrated handle  136 , and can be pressed to seal the aperture  132 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are top views of the main cup lid  120  and the moveable cover  121  respectively.  FIG. 12  illustrates another embodiment of the moveable cover  121 . In  FIG. 11 , the diameter of the disk  130  is large enough to reach and fit the recess  125  of the main cup lid  120 . By extending the outer edge of the disk  125  all the way to the inner side wall  137  (upwardly extending walls  116 ) of the rim  124  of the main cup lid  120 , the disk  130  can be secured and prevented from easy displacement, particularly if the side wall  137  includes an indentation for receiving the outer edge (periphery  117 ) of the disk  130 . 
     In  FIG. 12 , the diameter of the disk  130  is not enough to reach the side wall  137 . In this embodiment, however, the side of the center hole  131  of the disk  130  is small enough to tightly fit the post  122  of the main cup lid  120  to prevent easy displacement. In a similar manner, an indentation can be created on the side wall of the post  122  to retain the inner edge of the disk  130  and to thereby further reinforce the secure placement of the disk  130 . When the disk size is small, another indentation on the side wall of the post  122  can be the only feature to secure the disk  130  to the main cup lid  120 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  are side views of  FIGS. 8 and 9  respectively.  FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional view of the main cup lid  120  along line B-B of  FIG. 10 . It is a cut view at the exact middle of the main cup lid  120  and illustrates the center post  122  with the ventilation hole  123 , the rim  124 , the recess  125 , the indentation  137 , the aperture  126 , the side wall  127 , the annular groove  129 , and the peripheral groove  128 . The unique features of this main cup lid  120  include the center post  123  around which the moveable cover  121  rotates to open and close the cup lid, and the indentation  137  which keeps the disk  130  from lifting. In a similar manner, the indentation  137  can be made in the bottom wall of the center post  122  to accommodate the periphery of the central opening of the disk  130  in order to reinforce the security of the disk  130 . The another indentation can help the smaller sized disk  130  of  FIG. 12  from being displaced. Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited only in this preferred embodiment, but can be applied to other possible embodiments. 
       FIG. 16  is the cross-sectional view of the moveable cover  121  at the line C-C of  FIG. 11  when placed on the main cup lid  120 . It is colored in black. It illustrates how the components of the moveable cover  121  reciprocally engage to the counterparts of the main cup lid  120 . The disk  130  is placed on top of the recess  125  with the peripheral edge of the disk extending all the way to the indentation  137 . The center hole  131  surrounds and moves around the center post  122 . The overlay  133  protects the mouth touching area of the rim  124  of the main cup lid  120 . The aperture stopper reciprocally closes the aperture  126  when the overlay  133  is pressed on the rim  124 . The fold  135  between the overlay  133  and the apron  134  fits into the annular groove  129  of the main cup lid  120  helping to secure the moveable cover  121 . The outer edge of apron  134  can comprise a serrated handle  136  that is pushed aside repetitively by thumb to rotate the moveable cover  121 . 
     Further Sanitary Cup Lids 
       FIG. 20  shows a hand touching the lid of a prior art disposable cup  232 . It is inevitable that an individual attaching such a lid to a cup will touch the aperture  231  and also the area nearby likely to be contacted by the mouth of a user. In another embodiment of the present disposable cup lid, shown in  FIGS. 21 ,  22 ,  25  and  26 , the aperture  231  and the mouth piece  239  are recessed and thus protected from being directly touched by the hand of a user, so that the chance of a hand touching those areas is substantially reduced. The mouth piece  239  is located behind the arms  234  of the cup lid. When the cup lid is picked up, the hands will touch the outer surface of the arms  234  as shown in  FIG. 26 . When the cup lid needs to be pressed onto the cup  232  to seal it to the cup  232 , the user&#39;s palm will touch the horizontal upper surface  233  of the cup lid as shown in  FIG. 25 . Therefore, the chance of contamination by hands is minimized. 
       FIG. 23  shows an embodiment of the cup lid of  FIGS. 21 ,  22 ,  25  and  26  having elevated arms  240  guarding the aperture  231  and the mouth piece  239 . This can further protect the mouth piece  239  and aperture  231 . By creating ornamental figures on the upper surface  233 , as shown in  FIG. 24 , drinking coffee or tea can be made more fun, i.e. through the addition of upward ornamental projections  241  (for eyes) and  242  (for a nose) and/or ornamental grooves  243  ( FIG. 30 ). The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 21-26 , the present lid comprises a horizontal upper surface  233 , and an outer vertical side wall  235  extending downwardly from an outer periphery  251  of the horizontal upper surface  233 . The side wall  235  has a first vertical side end  260  connected to (preferably directly connected to) a first vertical end wall  270  and a second vertical side end  266  connected to (preferably directly connected to) a second vertical end wall  280 . 
     The first vertical end wall  270  has a proximal edge  271 , a distal edge  272  adjacent the outer periphery of the lid, an upper edge  273 , and a lower edge  274 . The second vertical end wall  280  likewise a proximal edge  281 , a distal edge  282  adjacent the outer periphery of the lid, an upper edge  283 , and a lower edge  284 . A lower wall  290  extends between and connects the lower edge  274  of the first vertical end wall  270  and the lower edge  284  of the second vertical end wall  280 , thereby forming a recess for protecting the aperture from contamination. When the upper edges of each of the first and second vertical end walls are vertically higher than the horizontal upper surface  233 , elevated arms  240  can be formed, as described above. 
     Horizontally between and/or behind this recess is the aperture  231 , which is positioned below the upper surface  233 . Preferably the aperture  231  is located between the first vertical end wall  270  and the second vertical end wall  280 , i.e. a line extending horizontally from the axial center of the lid radially outwardly that passes through the aperture will be between the first vertical end wall  270  and the second vertical end wall  280 . The aperture  231  is also preferably located centrally of the distal edge of at least one of the first and second vertical end walls. The mouth piece  239  comprises an aperture surface  290  where the aperture  231  is located. The mouth piece  239  and aperture surface  290  are preferably positioned vertically higher than the lower wall  290 . 
       FIGS. 32-36  show another embodiment of the present cup lid which combine the recessed aperture feature of the embodiments of  FIGS. 21-26  and the cover portion of the embodiments of  FIGS. 2-5 . In this embodiment, a cover includes a base portion  247  and an apron portion  245  which protects the aperture  231  and the mouth piece  239 . The cover can lifted as shown in  FIG. 33 , preferably by actuating a handle  246  to rotate the cover around a hinge  248  attached to the upper surface of the lid. The cover can also be closed to recover the lid.  FIG. 33  further illustrates a downwardly-disposed indentation or stopper  244  located on the underside of the cover for sealing liquid in the container, in the manner described previously for indentation  17  in  FIGS. 2-5 .  FIG. 34  shows the top view of the lid portion only, and  FIG. 35  the cover portion only.  FIG. 36  illustrates the reciprocal relationship of the cover and the lid. 
       FIG. 37  is another embodiment of the present cup lid having a gate  250  protecting the aperture  231  and the mouth piece  239 . The gate portion  250  can be formed as a thin rectangular band by an injection molding process, after which it would need to be cut horizontally at the lower edge and vertically at the middle so as to allow the gate to open. This process can be done at the time the cup lid is manufactured. The gate  250  comprises a proximal edge connected to the distal edge of the first and/or the second vertical end wall and a sheet of material extending distally from the proximal edge. 
     As used herein, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” and similar referents used herein are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless their usage in context indicates otherwise. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. The steps disclosed for the present methods, for example, are not intended to be limiting nor are they intended to indicate that each step is necessarily essential to the method, but instead are exemplary steps only. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in this disclosure. The drawings are also provided for illustration purposes only, and are not necessarily to scale. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.