Patent Publication Number: US-9833090-B2

Title: Coffee cup lid

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 USC 120 to provisional application 6262/286,419 filed Jan. 24, 2016, and is incorporated in its entirety herein. 
     A flexible universal spill resistant coffee lid is disclosed which can fit securely on almost any standard disposable cup and which keep the liquid contents hot for a longer period of time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the coffee lid with the flexible sealing member rotated; 
         FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the coffee lid with the lid cover rotated; 
         FIG. 3  is a first side view of the coffee lid, with the flexible sealing member covering the sip hole and the vent holes wherein the diaphragm is expanded; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the coffee lid showing the first wing member of the flexible sealing member tucked under itself and thedia second wing member of the flexible sealing member tucked under itself; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the coffee lid showing the front section of the coffee lid with the first wing of the flexible sealing member tucked under itself; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the coffee lid without the flexible sealing member; 
         FIG. 7  is an overhead perspective view of the top of the coffee lid without the flexible sealing member; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the coffee lid showing the inside edge of the coffee lid; 
         FIG. 9  is front view of the coffee lid; 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the inside of the coffee lid showing the inside edge and the underside of the lid; 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the coffee lid; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the inner rim of the outside of the coffee lid; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross section of the coffee lid; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the flexible sealing member; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the underside of the flexible sealing member; 
         FIG. 16  is an overhead view of the underside of the coffee lid; and 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the underside of the coffee lid. 
     
    
    
     The figures depict various embodiments of the described methods and system and are for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the methods and systems illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the methods and systems described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is for a container cover or lid which accommodates a snap fit retention onto a conventional circumferential rim of any standard coffee beverage cup. As with typical disposable lids this lid also acts to be retained as a cover or lid in a very secure manner. The lid has a drink hole and a vent hole. 
     More specifically, the proposed coffee lid limits or prevents spillage. The lid is made of a flexible, non-toxic material. In one embodiment, the lid is made from silicon, rubber, an elastomeric plastic, or any elastic plant material. In one embodiment, the material used is silicon. 
     The silicon construction allows this to easily adjust to the slightly different cup brands that typically have a specific lids or family of lids that fit best on any paper coffee cup brand. 
     The silicon construction allows this to easily adjust to the slightly different cup brands that typically have a specific lids or family of lids that fit best on any paper coffee cup brand. For Example, some cups have a slightly fatter lip and the double wall cup design makes it a bit more unique. Another popular cup has a thinner lip and slightly greater OD. The present lid fits either design, and in fact, the silicone design fits any brand cup with a combination of the inside design of the lid and its shore hardness to allow enough stretch to be secure on any cup brand. The Shore hardness of the silicon or material used allows enough stretch to be secure on any cup brand The Snap fit retention coffee lid fits on any standard coffee beverage container. In one embodiment, the lid is reusable, such as when the lid uses a material such as silicon, or a flexible, elastic plastic. Other versions of the disclosure may use materials that are disposable. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-17 , the coffee lid  1  comprises a circumferential cap structure  2  and a rotatable closure element  17 . The circumferential cap structure  2 , and for that matter, the entire coffee lid,  1  as mentioned supra, is made of a flexible non-toxic material. In one embodiment, it is made of silicon. The Shore hardness allows enough stretch to be secure the circumferential on any cup brand. The cap structure  2  has positioned at its bottom, a circumferential rim  3  positioned at the bottom of a circumferential curtain  4  that fits over a cup. As the cap structure fits over the cup, the rim of the cup fits within the cap structure  3 . Because of the Shore hardness and stretchability of the silicon material, the circumferential curtain  4  and its length thereof make it easier to position the put the coffee lid over any “standard” coffee cup. More specifically, in one embodiment, and measuring downward, the circumferential curtain  4  has a width of 0.5″ to 1.5″. In another embodiment, the circumferential curtain has a width of 0.5″ to 1″ and in another embodiment, the circumferential curtain has a width of 0.75″ to about 1″. This width allows for an easy fitting of the coffee lid  1  over the cup. One can fold back part of the circumferential curtain  4  when inserting the cap structure on top of the coffee cup, and then letting the circumferential curtain  4  fit around the cup. In one embodiment an outward bevel  5  around the bottom edge  6  of the circumferential curtain  4  makes it easier to slip the lid over the cup. 
     Near the top around the inside of the circumferential curtain  4  is a first bottom interior circumferential lip  7 . A second top interior circumferential lip  8  extends beyond the length of the first bottom interior circumferential lip  7 . Between lips  7  and  8  is a cup rim groove  9 , which, as the name infers, is the groove  9  into which the lip of the paper coffee cup fits, thereby securing the lid to the coffee cup. In one embodiment, the cup rim groove  9  is either rectangular or square. The quadrangle group stretched over a round top rim gives up to three sealing opportunities. A distinct arc of silicone contact is at the top middle and bottom of square groove. The groove is 4 mm wide, with the top of the groove 11 mm to the bottom. Lip  8  has an outward flair of 1.5 mm that locks or supports the lip of the paper cup. Lip  7  is about 16 mm to the bottom of the circumferential curtain. It should be noted that the positioning of the groove and the lips may be varied, as may be the width of the curtain  4 . The shape and length of the groove  9  help secure the lid  1  to the coffee cup, and makes it easier to place the flexible rim over the top. In another embodiment, the groove  9  exists without lip  8  and/or lip  7   
     Consequently, if the (coffee) cup is knocked over, the point of impact hits the circumferential curtain  4 . As the cup lip is fully surrounded with silicone and because the silicone extends downward below the groove  9 , the coffee lid  1  does not slip or come off from the coffee cup. More specifically, if the coffee cup is knocked over while the coffee lid  1  is in place, the force will be distributed against the silicone, and the silicone will push against the rim of the cup, absorbing some of the shock, not forcing off the cup as is typical of polystyrene tops. 
     Furthermore, because of the elasticity of the silicon or other materials used, and because the width of the groove  9  has the average width of any cup at 4 mm and with the coffee cup lid fitting any paper/styrofoam/plastic having an outside diameter of 88-91 mm. The coffee lid  1  is actually firmly grabbing the cup, thereby limiting the chance of leakage. It should be noted that the coffee cup lid  1  can be made to come in different sizes, depending on the need, and the size of the coffee cup used. A larger cup with a larger diameter will have a larger coffee cup lid  1 . 
     Sitting above the circumferential curtain  4  is the service or upper platform  10  of the lid. The upper platform  10  has a vent hole  11  and a drink hole  12 . The vent hole resides on an elevated top semi-circumferential vent platform  13  that resides on a semi-circular rim  15 , while the drink hole  12  is positioned on a drink hole rim  30  of a dual tapered elevated top semi-circumferential lip support  31 . The top circumferential vent platform  13  and drink hole rim  30  may be either flat, tilted inward, or tiled outward. In one embodiment, the vent hole  11  is smaller than the drink hole  12 , although both holes are larger than the average vent holes and drink holes found in lids. The vent hole  11  is positioned 180 degrees opposite of the drink hole  12 . 
     The oversized vent hole  12  has a unique function, that allows the user to very quickly cool down the coffee in only 10 seconds by blowing into the elevated drink hole. The air is forced over the surface of the very hot coffee and pulls heat off the coffee to cool it to a drinkable range and the very hot air will exit the larger vent hole. If the customer does not want to vent while drinking to keep the coffee hot longer the closure element system is rotated to plug the vent hole as in  FIG. 5 . 
     The top semi-circumferential lip support  31  has a rounded indentation  32  positioned below drink hole rim  30 . This indentation  32  conforms to the average person&#39;s lip, and is ergonomically designed to maximize comfort. The area of the indentation is thick enough to provide enough insulation that that there is no discomfort to the drinker&#39;s lip if the drink is too hot. 
     The flexible sealing closure element  17  seals both the vent hole  11  and the drink hole  12 . Specifically, the flexible sealing closure element  11  has a centralized plug  18  on its underside  19  of its central section  36 . This plug fits snugly into a well hole  20  positioned in an centralized platform  21  on top of and in the center of the lid  1 . The well hole  20  is closed on its bottom section  22  so as not to add another potential place for any leakage. Note that the centralized plug  18  has a wider base  70  and a narrower neck  71 . The perimeter  72  of the well hole  20  is slightly narrower than the well hole  20  itself, such that when the centralized plug  18  is pushed into the well hole  20 , the perimeter  72  parts enough to allow the wider base  70  to fit through, while at the same time the perimeter  72  fits close to the neck  71  and prevents the flexible sealing closure element  17  from falling out without the force of a person&#39;s fingers removing it. 
     The flexible sealing closure element  17  also has on its underside  19  at a distal end  23  of a first arm extension  28  a drink hole plug  24  specifically for shaped for said drink hole  12 . To clarify, the first arm extension  28  is connected to a first arm  60  which is connected to the central section  36  at the first end  37  of the first arm  60 . At the distal end  25  of the second arm extension  29  on the underside  19  is a vent hole plug  26 , again specifically shaped to fit the vent hole  11 . The second arm extension  29  is connected to the second arm  61 . The two plugs are positioned 180 degrees from each other. Both plugs  24 ,  26  are sized so as to fit securely into the appropriate holes, with little or no likelihood of accidentally falling or popping out of the vent hole plug  26  or the drink hole plug  24  accidentally, even if dropped. The vent hole  11  and drink hole  12  are large enough to easily locate and plug, and provide both greater longevity, and a more secure seal. It is also easier to cool the liquid inside the cup if the vent is larger. 
     Because there are two arms  60 ,  61  with arm extensions  28 ,  29  of the flexible sealing closure element  17 , they can work independently or together. For example, if one just wants to uncover the vent hole  11 , the vent hole plug  26  is pulled from the vent hole  11 , and the arm extension  29  having the vent hole plug  26  is tucked under itself and the tip or end  25  of the arm extension  29  is placed or wedged under and against the central section  36  or under the arm  61 . Similarly, if one just wants to uncover the drink hole  12 , or wants to uncover the drink hole  12  in addition to uncovering the vent hole  11 , the drink hole plug  24  is pulled from the drink hole  12 , and the first arm extension  28  having the drink hole plug  24  is tucked under first arm  60  and/or end  23  of the arm extension  28  is placed or wedged under and against the central section  36 . 
     It should be noted that in one embodiment of the disclosure, the arms  60 ,  61  are articulated. In another embodiment, the arms  60 ,  61  are outwardly angular whereupon the extensions are integrally attached. This is because the centralized platform  21  is below the surface of drink hole  12  and vent hole  11  and the angularly positioned articulated arms prevent strain that could otherwise lead to the vent hole plug  26  and the drink plug  24  popping out of their respective holes 
     In another embodiment, the lid  1  is designed so the two arm  60 ,  61  and arm extensions  28 ,  29  of the flexible sealing closure element  17  easily rotate in either direction. To unseal the coffee cup—to go from sealed to unseal, the ends  23 ,  25  of the arm extensions  28 ,  29  pulled upwards such that the drink hole plug  24  and the vent hole plug  26  are freed. The flexible sealing closure element  17  is then rotated 90 degrees, wherein the drink hole plug  24  and the vent hole plug  26  nest in two depressions  33 ,  34  on the side and the rib located on the neck of each plug to hold these in a “carport” like area. 
     These depressions  33 ,  34  are snuggly bounded by the semi-circumferential lip support  31  and the semi-circular platform  13 , and rest on top of a the support platform  14 . lowers the possibility that the plug will be in contact with a user&#39;s hand or other possibility for contact with germs. 
     Because of the tight fit of the drink hole plug  24  and the vent hole plug  26  into the drink hole  12  and the vent hole  11 , the lid is virtually leak proof. If the cup filled with a hot liquid inside is jostled or shaken even more pressure builds up. Any leak tight system has to consider the temperature and with high temperature comes pressure. If a closed vessel is agitated it can increases the pressure of very hot liquid in the in the vessel. If the vessel is knocked over it may add increased pressure in the vessel and the force of the liquid can put more pressure on a specific part of the lid like the vent hole stopper or the drink hole stopper. Turning a coffee upside down puts even more pressure on the seals combined with the pressure and added pressure if the vessel has some movement that increases the pressure. 
     Consequently, to mitigate the extra pressure, the cup lid has the diaphragm  35  built into the central part of the lid to mitigate the extra pressure. Typically, if there is very hot coffee in the cup, the entire center of the proposed lid will rise upward with the increased pressure of the hot coffee. This acts to take pressure off the plug seals of the top. If by chance the coffee falls, there is less likelihood of leakage if the added pressure is allowed to expand the diaphragm  35  without pushing the lid  1  off of the cup. The articulated bent arms  60 ,  61  of the closure element  17  easily ride upward with the increase pressure in a cup of hot coffee, and. The articulated bent arms  60 ,  61  tend to relax and fall when the cup is in the “drink” position with one or both plugs  24 ,  26  un-plugged. The arms extend and contract without any pressure on the seals. The articulated closure elements extend outward to accommodate with no pulling pressure on the seals to guarantee a leak tight seal on oversized rims. The articulated bent arms  28 ,  29  extend and contract with out any pressure on the seals. 
     The diaphragm  35  is positioned in the center of the top of the lid  1 . In one embodiment, the diaphragm  35  can comprise one central section (not shown). In another embodiment, the diaphragm comprises a central section  40  surrounded by and integrally connected to an outer flange  41  that works in cooperation with the central section  40 . The outer rim  42  of the outer flange  41  integrally connects to the first rim  42  of collar  43  which integrally circumscribes the diaphragm  35 . The second rim  44  of collar  43  circumscribe the continuous inside rim  45  formed by bounded by the semi-circumferential lip support  31  and the top semi-circumferential vent rim  13 . 
     The coffee lid  1  can be used for more than just the standard paper, ceramic or styrofoam coffee cups. By having different sizes of the coffee lid  1 , the lid can be used on travel mugs, or even water bottles or water thermoses. 
     If using on a surface without a lip, such as on a travel mug (also known as a travel tumbler), which do not have the rims found on coffee cups, there is no need to include in the lid a groove for the lip. 
     This lid also has other applications. A larger version can be used for paint cans and other such materials. 
     While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.