Patent Publication Number: US-2011062173-A1

Title: Beverage container

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to beverage containers, and more particularly relates to a disposable cup and lid that cooperate to selectively indicate the contents of the cup when the lid is sealingly engaged with the cup. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fast food restaurants, coffee shops and the like often serve beverages in disposable cups with disposable lids. As used herein, the word “disposable” is intended to describe a cup or lid that is intended for a single use and is constructed of an inexpensive material. For hot beverages like hot coffee, beverages are commonly served in paper and/or foam cups with opaque snap-on plastic lids. Once the opaque lids are assembled on the cups, the beverages contained within the cups are not visible and subsequent identification of the contents of the covered cups can be difficult. One solution to this problem has been to provide plastic lids with a plurality of small depressible bumps or protrusions formed in their top surfaces. Each of these protrusions is labeled with a different contents identifier, such as “DECAF,” “SUGAR,” “CREAM,” “SWEETENER” and the like. Accordingly, when a person dispenses a particular type of beverage into a cup and covers the cup with such a lid, the person can immediately deform one or more of the protrusions to provide a visible indication of one or more characteristics of the contents of the cup. 
     In recent years, numerous different types, flavors, blends and mixtures of coffee beverages have become increasingly popular. For example, along with a wide variety of brewed coffees, restaurants and shops commonly sell cappuccino, latte, espresso, flavored and iced coffees, mocha, and the like. Accordingly, a restaurant or shop may sell a large number of different beverages that are all served in the same type of cup. Because of limited space on the tops of cup lids, it is virtually impossible to provide a lid with enough depressible protrusions and associated labels to cover all types of beverages that might be served in a cup that receives the lid. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for quickly and easily identifying a wide variety of possible beverages that may be contained within a covered disposable beverage container. In particular, there is a need for a disposable beverage container that includes a quick and easy means for selectively identifying one of a wide variety of possible beverages that may be contained within the beverage container. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a disposable beverage container can include a disposable cup having an open top, an upper rim, a sidewall having an outer surface, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced indicia on the outer surface of the sidewall proximate to the upper rim. Each of the spaced indicia can designate or represent a different beverage type, mixture, flavor or characteristic. A disposable lid can include at least one top surface, a substantially cylindrical outer lip having an upper edge and a lower edge, and an opening in the outer lip of the lid. The lid and cup can be configured such that the lid can be assembled over the open top of the cup such that only a selected one of the plurality of indicia on the cup is visible through the opening in the outer lip of the lid. 
     In another embodiment, a disposable lid for a beverage cup having an upper rim can include at least one top surface and a substantially cylindrical outer lip. The outer lip can include an upper edge, a lower edge and a downwardly open slot in the lower edge. A sealing portion can be disposed between the slot and the upper edge. 
     In a further embodiment, a beverage container can include a cup having an open top and including a plurality of indicia. Each of the indicia can designate a different beverage type, mixture or characteristic. A lid can be configured to cover the open top of the cup and to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal between the cup and lid. The lid can include a means for revealing a selected one of the indicia and means for covering all but the selected one of the indicia. 
     These and other aspects and features of the invention will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of one embodiment of a beverage container according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of one embodiment of a cup for use in the beverage container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a lid for use in the beverage container shown in  FIG. 1  and with the cup shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the lid shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded elevation view of beverage container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of a beverage container  100  according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The beverage container  100  includes a cup  10  and a lid  20 . The cup  10  and lid  20  are configured such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between the cup  10  and the lid  20  when the lid  20  is seated on the cup  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, both the cup  10  and lid  20  are disposable. 
     One embodiment of a disposable cup  10  for use in the beverage container  100  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The cup  10  includes an open top  16  and an upper rim  14 . The cup  10  also includes a sidewall  12  having an outer surface  11 . A plurality of circumferentially spaced indicia  18  are provided on the outer surface  11  of the sidewall  12 , and preferably are located proximate to the upper rim  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the indicia  18  indicates, names or describes a different type, mixture, flavor, characteristic, etc., of a beverage that may be received within the cup  10 . For example, the indicia  18  may include “Latte,” “Cappuccino,” “Mocha,” “Other” or the like. Alternatively, a single one of the indicia  18  can encompass multiple fluid characteristics, such as “Latte—Decaf,” “Latte—Regular,” “Latte—Sugar,” and the like. The disposable cup  10  may be constructed of paper, foam, or a combination of foam and paper, for example. Alternatively, the cup can be constructed of a polymeric material or substantially any other suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, at least the outer surface  11  of the cup  10  is paper. The indicia  18  can be printed on the outer surface  11  of the sidewall  12  of the cup  10  using conventional printing methods known in the art. Alternatively, the indicia  18  can be printed on a label  13  that is affixed to an outer surface  11  of the cup  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper rim  14  has a rolled or rounded shape that provides a substantially smooth edge along the open top  16  of the cup  10 . 
     One embodiment of a lid  20  for use in the beverage container  100  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this embodiment, the lid  20  includes an upper surface  22  and a substantially cylindrical outer lip  23 . The outer lip  23  includes an upper edge  28 , a lower edge  24 , and an opening  25 . The outer lip  23  can have a slightly larger diameter at its lower edge  24  than at its upper edge  28 . In the embodiment shown, the opening  25  is a downwardly open slot along the lower edge  24 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the slot  25  preferably does not extend to the upper edge  28  of the outer lip  23 , and a sealing portion  21  of the outer lip  23  is disposed between the slot  25  and the upper edge  28 . As discussed below, the sealing portion  21  of the outer lip  23  between the slot  25  and the upper edge  28  helps to ensure that the lid  20  provides a substantially fluid-tight seal around the entire upper rim  14  of the cup  10  when the lid  20  is seated on the cup  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the slot  25  can include slanted or tapered side edges  27  such that the slot  25  is wider at its bottom than at its top. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper surface  22  of the lid  20  can include a plurality of raised protrusions  27  and a second plurality of indicia  29 . Each one of the indicia  29  can be unique, and can be located proximate to one of the protrusions. The indicia  29  can include descriptors of additives or other characteristics or qualities of a beverage to be received within the beverage container  100 , for example. In one embodiment, the indicia  29  can include alphanumeric descriptions such as “CREAM,” “SUGAR,” “SWEETENER,” “DECAF,” or the like. Alternatively, the indicia  29  can include alphanumeric descriptions of various types or flavors of beverages, for example. The protrusions  27  can be configured such that one or more of the protrusions  27  can be selectively depressed or deformed by a person&#39;s fingertip in order to provide a visual indication of one or more additives, characteristics or qualities for a particular beverage that is associated with the lid  20 . The lid  20  can be formed of a thin molded polymeric material. For example, the lid  20  can be formed of a thin thermoplastic material such as polystyrene, or the like. The top surface  22  of the lid  20  can have substantially any shape, and can include a spout or other means for permitting a person to drink a beverage from a cup  10  covered by the lid  20 . In particular, the lid  20  can include at least one opening  23  for dispensing a liquid through the lid  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the lid  20  can be assembled onto the open top  16  of the cup  10  by pressing the lid  20  over the upper rim  14  of the cup  10  until an outer portion  26  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the top surface  22  of the lid  20  is seated upon the upper lip  14  of the cup  10 . The lid  20  can be configured such that when the lid  20  is fully seated on the upper rim  14  of the cup  10 , contact between the outer lip  23  and the upper rim  14  forms a substantially fluid-tight seal between the cup  10  and lid  20 . In one embodiment, the inside diameter of the outer lip  23  proximate to its upper edge  28  is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper rim  14  of the cup  10  such that a slight radial interference exists between the upper rim  14  and the outer lip  23  when the lid  20  is fully seated on the cup  10 . Such radial contact or interference between the outer lip  23  of the lid  20  and the upper rim  14  of the cup  10  includes radial contact between the upper rim  14  and the sealing portion  21  of the outer lip  23  that is disposed between the top of slot  25  and the outer lip&#39;s upper edge  28 . Without the sealing portion  21 , the substantially fluid-tight seal between the lid  20  and the cup  10  would be incomplete. For example, if the slot  25  extended to or beyond the upper edge  28  of the outer lip  23 , a fluid could leak or spill from the cup at the location of the slot  25 . Accordingly, once the lid  20  is seated on the cup  10 , a beverage contained within the cup  10  is substantially prevented from leaking or spilling from the cup  10  between the lid  20  and the upper rim  14  of the cup  10 . The tapered side edges  27  of the slot  25  in the lid  20  can facilitate viewing of the selected one of the indicia  18  on the cup  10 , especially when viewed indirectly, such as at an angle. In addition, unlike a window or aperture in the outer lip  23  of the lid  20  that is not open at its bottom, the open-bottomed slot  25  permits the selected one of the indicia  18  to be viewed through the slot  25  even though the indicia  18  may be positioned on the cup  10  at an elevation that is not perfectly vertically aligned with the slot  25  when the lid  20  is seated on the cup  10 . 
     The disposable beverage container  100  described above can be used to serve a variety of beverages, for example. One method of using the beverage container  100  includes dispensing a particular beverage into the cup  10  through the open top  16  of the cup  10 . Once the beverage is received within the cup  10 , the lid  20  can be placed over the open top  16  of the cup  10  as shown in  FIG. 5 . As the lid  20  is being assembled onto the cup  10 , the slot  25  in the outer lip of the lid  20  can be aligned with a selected one of the indicia  18  on the cup that corresponds to the particular beverage that is contained within the cup  10  by selectively rotating the lid  20  and/or the cup  10  as indicated by directional arrows  41 ,  43 . Alternatively, the lid  20  can be fully or partially seated on the cup  10 , and then rotated on the cup  10  until a selected one of the indicia  18  is visible through the slot  25  in the lid  20 . Accordingly, once the lid  20  is seated on the cup  10 , the selected one of the indicia  18  is visible through the slot  25  in the outer lip  23  of the lid  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  (in this case, the selected one of the indicia  18  is “Latte”), and all others of the indicia  18  are covered by the unslotted portions of the outer lip  23  of the lid  20 . In this way, the lid  20  and cup  10  combine to provide a readily visible and obvious indication of the contents of the cup  10  even though the beverage contained within the container  100  is not visible or otherwise identifiable. Accordingly, in the example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the beverage container  100  provides a readily visible and obvious indication that the cup  10  contains a “Latte.” 
     In addition, when the lid  20  includes second set of indicia  20  and protrusions  27  as shown in  FIG. 4 , one of the protrusions  27  that corresponds to a selected one of the second indicia  29  can be depressed or otherwise deformed to provide a readily visible indication of an additional characteristic or quality of a beverage contained within the cup  10 . For example, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , a protrusion  27  on the lid  20  corresponding to the indicium “SUGAR” shown in  FIG. 4  can be depressed or deformed to easily and readily indicate that the latte contained within the cup  10  contains sugar. In this way, the first indicia  18  on the cup  10  and the second indicia  27  on the lid  20  can be used in a variety of different combinations to provide accurate and complete visible indications of the contents of the beverage container  100 . Accordingly, the possible combinations of the first indicia  18  on the cup  10  and the second indicia  27  on the lid can represent a very large number of different beverages. 
     The indicia provided on the cup  10  and the lid  20  can be words, letters, numbers, symbols or substantially any other type or style of indicia that is capable of communicating information about beverages or other contents within the cup  10 . For example, the indicia  18  on the cup  10  can be circumferentially spaced numerals or individual letters, each of which corresponds to and represents a particular type of beverage. For example, the numerals 1-10 may be printed on the cup, wherein the numeral “1” corresponds to black coffee, the numeral “2” corresponds to latte, the numeral “3” corresponds to cappuccino, etc. When used by a restaurant or shop, a list of the numerals and their corresponding beverages can be posted at a beverage dispensing station for ready viewing by a person who is dispensing or serving beverages, for example. Accordingly, after placing a beverage into the cup  10 , the person can assemble a lid  20  onto the cup  10  such that a particular numeral that corresponds to the specific beverage contained within the cup  10  is visible through the lid&#39;s slot  25 . In this way, the cup  10  can be used to serve a particular variety of beverages offered by a particular restaurant or shop without having to print a unique group of indicia  18  on the cup  10  for each particular restaurant or shop. 
     The above descriptions of various embodiments of the invention are intended to describe and illustrate various aspects and features of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments described herein. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that certain changes and modifications can be made to the specifically described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, though the container systems described above have been described for use with beverages, a container system like that described above can also be used for various types of food items, such as soups, ice cream, and the like. All such changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.