Patent Publication Number: US-2018042411-A1

Title: Universal lid system and methods

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/292,811 filed Nov. 9, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/411,748 filed Nov. 9, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a system and methods by which a beverage or other liquid may be prepared and dispensed quickly and sanitarily. More particularly, the invention relates to a universal lid system and methods that are designed to facilitate the preparation of a beverage using retention elements such as tea bags. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many beverages are prepared by allowing a composition to come in contact with a liquid for a sufficiently long period of time so that the characteristics such as flavoring, sweetening, and/or coloring components from the composition go into solution. For example, certain types of tea are prepared by placing the leaves or other portions of the plant  Camillia sinensis  in water for a sufficiently long period of time so that the desirable soluble components from the plant material enter the liquid through the process called infusion. Other types of “tea”—also known as herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan—are made by using portions of plants—such as fresh or dried flowers, fruit, twigs, seeds, or roots—other than that from the  Camillia sinensis  bush. The beverage coffee is made by allowing dried and ground coffee beans—that is, the seeds of the  Coffea arabica  or  Coffea canephora  var.  robusta  plant or another species of the genus  Coffea —to come into contact with a liquid. For purposes of this application, the many types of beverages that can be made from plant material—regardless of the source of the plant material—will be generically termed “tea” and the plant material—regardless the type or source of the material—will be generically termed “leaves”. Tea is typically prepared using a liquid such as water, although other starting substances that are used in combination with the tea (collectively termed “starting substance”) are contemplated. For purposes of this application, the term “water” will mean any starting substance. 
     Historically, water was combined with the leaves from which the tea was to be made—such as putting the leaves into the water or by pouring the water onto the leaves. The water was then decanted and/or the leaves and water were separated by straining the leaves from the water to produce a beverage for service. The vessel or container—within which the leaves were placed and the leaves and water were mixed to produce tea for service—is commonly known as a “teapot”. For purposes of this application, the term “teapot” will mean any size, shape, or type of container in which a beverage of any type or source may be prepared and/or served. 
     To facilitate the separation of the leaves and the water, a variety of components and devices were developed. These devices and components will be generally identified in this application as a “separator”. One type of separator is a device that allowed the leaves to be strained from the water. In some cases, such “strainers” were used with teapots or added to teapots. Strainers added to teapots included narrowed areas of the spouts of the teapots that prevented the leaves from being discharged from the teapot when the beverage was served. Strainers included also filtering structures positioned near the teapot spout area that were intended to catch the leaves but allow the beverage to be poured. 
     Other devices that facilitated the straining of leaves from water were not fixed to the teapot. With time, a wide variety of separators were developed that could retain leaves yet were sufficiently porous so that the water could easily flow through the separator thereby allowing the soluble flavoring and coloring components from the leaves to go into the solution and a tea beverage to be prepared. One group of such devices is a basket-like structure—known by many terms including “tea strainer”—sized and shaped for the positioning of the leaves over the opening or mouth of a container. Water is poured over the leaves, and the resultant beverage drips or cascades into the container. For consumption of the beverage, the tea strainer—within which the wetted leaves are retained—may be easily removed. A personal sized container for which tea strainers were developed is known as a “teacup”. Tea strainers that are sized and shaped to be positioned with the area of a teapot near its top are often termed “brewing baskets” or “infusing baskets”. 
     Another type of device that facilitated the separation of the leaves from the water is generically termed a “tea infuser”. Tea infusers are known by many different names such “teaball”, “tea egg”, or “tea maker”. A tea infuser includes a perforated component that is sized and shaped to hold leaves and to be positionable in a cup, teapot, or other container, so that water can come into contact with the leaves through the perforations and can be easily extricated from the cup or pot after the beverage has been prepared. To allow the perforated component of the infuser in which the leaves are retained to be easily removed from the container, a chain, rod, or even a handle is attached to the perforated component. 
     An additional type of device that separates the leaves from the water is a tea bag. A tea bag largely performs the same function as a tea infuser. A tea bag is a separator made from thin material that is sufficiently inexpensive so that the bag can be discarded after a single or a limited number of uses. Such thin materials from which tea bags are made include paper, silk, muslin, and nylon. The thin material may be shaped to define a wide variety of overall bag shapes—such as square, rectangular, circular, and pyramidal—but in all cases specifically to define an inner bag volume for enclosure of the leaves. The thin material from which the bags are made has sufficient porosity so that water can flow readily in and out of the inner bag volume. For purposes of this application, tea strainer, brewing basket, infusing baskets, tea infuser, or tea bag will be termed “removable separators”. For purposes of this application, the element of a removable separator in which the leaves are retained will be termed “retention element” for purposes of this application. 
     Certain retention elements are attached to a component that permits it to be positioned into water stored in a teapot and moved about and removed from the teapot—so that a person can have limited or no contact with the water during the beverage preparation process. Such a component will be termed “manipulation component” for purposes of this application. One example of a “manipulation component” is the string/tag arrangement of a tea bag. Other examples of a manipulation component are a chain, rod, or handle of tea infusers. 
     In a manipulation component including a string/tag arrangement, a string typically is attached at one end to the tea bag and a tag is attached at the opposite end of the string. The tag permits easy and sanitary positioning of the bag in the water from which the tea will be made and removal when the preparation process has been completed. The tag is typically sized and shaped so that it can easily be grasped between the thumb and forefinger of the consumer. Such size, however, allows the tag to also carry information identifying, for example, the type of tea leaves within the bag and one or more trademarks or images or other information identifying the source of the bag. 
     Other retention elements may be used to prepare a beverage and are not attached to a manipulation component. A user may remove the retention element from the beverage, for example, by using their fingers to pull it out or using a utensil such as a spoon to remove the retention element from the beverage. 
     Removable separators permit consumers to control the steeping process. Once a consumer has determined that a beverage of the proper flavor and strength has been prepared, the consumer can remove the retention element or entire removable separator from the beverage, thereby preventing the beverage from becoming overly strong in taste and possibly preventing the more acidic components of the leaves from becoming solubilized. A serious drawback to the use of removable separators, however, is that once they are removed they are often dripping wet, or at the least, moist. This condition in most cases prevents the infuser or bag from being placed on a surface that will be affected by such moisture. For this reason, a receptacle of some sort—such as a dish or tray or even sink—must be immediately available to receive the dripping infuser or wet tea bag. The need to find a receptacle for the dripping infuser or wet tea bag has additionally limited the conditions in which tea can be prepared and served. 
     Lids designed to facilitate the preparation and service of tea in a wide variety of conditions are known. Some other lids may be made from thicker material and are intended to simply slow down the rate at which the tea within the container covered by the lid reaches an ambient temperature—that is, the temperature outside the container. Other lids are thin components intended primarily to prevent the beverage from splashing or flowing out of the container. Some other lids are more complex designs that facilitate the preparation of tea with a tea bag and allow the tea to be consumed through the lid. These lids, for example, allow the tea bag to be pulled by the string to an elevated position at or in the lid and releasably held there so that the tea can be consumed without separation of the tea bag from the lid while still in positioned on the beverage container. Such complex arrangements include a drinking aperture through which the beverage can be consumed. 
     Teapots are intended for the preparation of a volume of beverage, typically more than a single cup and often for more than one consumer. The lids for teapots are intended to help slow the process by which the beverage within the teapot reaches ambient temperature. For this reason, teapot lids are not made from the thin inexpensive material suitable for one time use, then easy disposal—such as the lids used with “take away” cups—but more substantial material suitable for the task of reusing the lid and teapot and retaining the temperatures developed within the vessel portion of the teapot. For this reason, lids for teapots include no opening or, at the most, a single aperture—“pin” size in dimension—through which air may be drawn to prevent “vacuum” like conditions from being developed within the teapot as the beverage is being served from it. Overall, teapot lids do not include any features by which a removable separator can be moved from a steeping position to a position elevated relative to the beverage so that the leaves are no longer steeping yet the bag is stored for any length of time so no additional receptacle for the wet infuser or bag is necessary. A teapot lid with features by which a removable separator can be moved from a steeping position to a position elevated relative to the beverage would permit the wider usage of teapots and therefore the additional receptacle for the wet infuser/bag would be obviated. 
     A demand therefore exists for a lid that facilitates the preparation of a beverage from a retention element and permits the retention element to be moved to a position separated from contact with the beverage but releasably held by the lid to permit service of the beverage. The present invention satisfies the demand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For convenience of description, terms such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, “outer”, “inner”, “horizontal”, and “vertical” are used to refer to the system and the components of the system in an orientation illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be understood that the embodiments of the invention described in this application advantageously can be used in a variety of orientations. 
     The present invention includes a universal lid system and methods for using the same with a teapot to prepare a beverage using leaves retained in a retention element. As described above, after the beverage has reached a desired state, a user typically wishes to remove the retention element from the beverage. A universal lid system advantageously includes a retention element stabilizing lid wall configured to receive and stabilize a retention element in a position not in contact with the beverage. Embodiments of a retention element stabilizing lid wall include a lid wall having a retention element stabilizing component. 
     Embodiments of a lid wall are sized and shaped to meet with or connect to a teapot, or more specifically, a rim of a teapot. A rim of a teapot defines a teapot opening through which the inside of the teapot and any water stored within may be accessed. A lid wall may be positioned relative to the teapot rim such that the teapot opening is covered or partially covered—a position of the lid wall termed a “closed position” for purposes of this application. Embodiments of a lid wall may be sized and shaped to meet with or connect to a teapot rim of various sizes and shapes. A lid wall generally may include an upper lid wall, a lower lid wall, and a side lid wall. A lid perimeter is the outermost border of the lid wall. 
     A retention element stabilizing component may be configured to permit stabilization of the retention element such that the retention element may be positioned to not have contact with the beverage but releasably held within the lid wall to permit service of the beverage while the lid wall remains in a closed position. Such a retention element stabilizing component obviates the need to remove the retention element from the teapot or lid and find an additional receptacle for the wet infuser/bag. In certain embodiments, a retention element stabilizing component is configured to stabilize the retention element relative to the lid wall such that the user may remove the lid wall and stabilized retainer element from the teapot. Embodiments of retention element stabilizing component may include, for example, structural components of the lid wall such as wall surfaces or an opening in the lid wall, or a combined arrangement of surfaces and opening in the lid wall. 
     In embodiments of a retention element stabilizing component including, a structural component typically is formed from various wall surfaces. Such wall surfaces may include generally horizontal surfaces, generally vertical surfaces, generally linear surfaces, generally curved surfaces, or generally sloped surfaces. A generally horizontal surface in a lid wall is approximately 180 degrees or parallel relative to a flat plane on which lid wall may be positioned. A generally vertical surface in a lid wall is approximately 90 degrees or perpendicular relative to a flat plane on which a lid wall may be positioned. A generally linear surface in a lid wall is a substantially flat surface. A generally curved surface in a lid wall is any non-linear surface including, for example, a gently curved surface, sharply curved surface, convex curved surface, concave curved surface. A sloped surface in a lid wall includes a gradient relative to horizontal. Embodiments of a lid wall may include one or more combination surfaces. For purposes of this application, a “combination surface” may be a generally horizontal linear surface, a generally vertical linear surface, a generally horizontal curved surface, a generally vertical curved surface, a generally sloped linear surface, or a generally sloped curved surface. 
     In certain embodiments of a retention element stabilizing lid wall, the wall surfaces may be configured to form an elevated storage element in the lid wall in which a retention element may be stored for any length of time after removal from beverage in a teapot. An elevated storage element may be formed from one or more sloped linear surfaces, one or more sloped curved surfaces, two generally vertical surfaces and a horizontal surface, or any other arrangement of surfaces or combination surfaces that form a storage space sized and shaped to store and hold a retention element. The elevated storage element may be generally elevated relative to the lid perimeter, or, in certain embodiments, the elevated storage element may be elevated relative to a teapot fill line—that is, the level to which the beverage is typically filled in the teapot—when the lid wall is in a closed position. 
     An elevated storage element may be sized and shaped to permit storage of one or more retentions element or one or more manipulation elements. 
     Embodiments of elevated storage elements may be sized and shaped such that the wall surfaces tightly enclose the entirety of a retention element or a portion of a retention element. Embodiments of an elevated storage element may be sized and shaped to loosely enclose the entirety of a retention element or a portion of a retention element. Embodiments of an elevated storage element may be sized and shaped to stabilize a retention element during pouring while a lid wall is in a closed position. In such embodiments, a wall surface may block the forward movement of the retention element while the teapot and corresponding lid are in the pouring orientation. 
     An elevated storage element also may facilitate the expulsion of liquid from the retention element through urging a retention element against a surface of the lid wall. 
     In certain embodiments of a retention element stabilizing component, the structural components may retain a retention element above a beverage in a number of additional configurations. For example, structural components may include a support member such as a structure positionable between the lid wall and the teapot rim and configured to support a retention element. Structural components also may include a receptacle sized and shaped to receive the manipulation component or some portion of the manipulation component such that the manipulation component positioned in a receptacle assists in holding the retention element above the beverage. 
     In certain embodiments, a retention element stabilizing component includes an opening in a lid wall such as a wall outlet. A wall outlet includes an outlet border that defines an outlet space. An outlet border may include various borders having particular shapes such as an arced border, curved border, or a linear border. In certain embodiments, a wall outlet may be configured to receive and hold at least a portion of a retention element. The outlet borders hold a retention element by tension or pressure on the retention element. Outlet borders may include tension components, outlet flank components, or anything else to be configured to receive and hold the retention element in an elevated position. A retention element may be pulled partially through the wall outlet such that some of the leaves in the retention element are positioned above the upper lid wall. 
     In certain embodiments, a wall outlet may be configured to facilitate positioning a retention element. Such positioning may include positioning the retention element in water within a teapot on which the lid wall is positioned, may include removing the retention element from water within a teapot on which the lid wall is positioned, may include positioning the retention element in storage space defined by an elevated storage element, may include positioning the retention element in an outlet space defined by outlet borders, or may include positioning the retention element in another embodiment of a retention element stabilizing component. 
     In certain embodiments, when a lid wall is in a closed position and forms a generally continuous surface with the teapot, the outlet space may be the only opening through which the retention element may be lowered into the teapot without removing the lid wall. In such embodiments, a manipulation component may remain outside of the teapot/lid wall arrangement such that the manipulation element remains accessible to a user. 
     In certain embodiments, a wall outlet is configured to be used with a retention element having a manipulation component such as a string/tag arrangement in which the first end of the string may be connected to the tag and the second end of the string may be attached to the retention element. In such embodiments, while the lid wall is not in a closed position, a user may pass the tag through the outlet space of a wall outlet sized and shaped for the same purpose. Then, the lid wall may be positioned in the closed position. In the closed position, the retention element may be positioned generally below the lid wall, which permits easy insertion into the water held within the teapot, and the tag may be positioned generally above the lid wall, which permits easy access to the tag to pull the tag/string arrangement up and remove the retention element from the tea. 
     Certain embodiments of the wall outlet may be sized, shaped, or positioned to reduce the ease with which a tag may pass back through the wall outlet after having passed through in one direction. For example, a non-linear shaped outlet space may reduce the ease with which a linear tag may pass back through the outlet space. In another example, any outlet space sized smaller than a tag with which the system will be used will likely reduce the ease with which a tag will pass back through. Yet, a tag may be bent, flexed, collapsed, folded, or otherwise achieve a reduced profile to fit through the outlet space. After the tag passes through the outlet space, the tag may expand and achieve an expanded profile such that the tag does not easily pass back through the outlet space. Such an expanded profile may include the tag becoming, for example, un-bent, unflexed, uncollapsed, or unfolded. 
     In certain embodiments, a retention element stabilizing component includes wall surfaces and openings configured in combination to releasably hold a retention element out of contact with a beverage. In such embodiments, an outlet wall may be sized and shaped to permit positioning the retention element in an elevated position. Such embodiments may include a lid wall having a wall outlet and an elevated storage element. In such embodiments, a tag thread through the outlet space may be used to facilitate positioning the retainer element within the storage space of the elevated storage element. 
     Embodiments of the lid wall also may include a wall outlet configured or positioned to reduce the rate at which the temperature within the teapot on which the lid wall is positioned reaches an ambient temperature. In such embodiments, a wall outlet may include an outlet flank component. An outlet flank component may be configured to permit a portion of or all of a manipulation component or a portion or all of a retention element to pass through the outlet space, while minimizing the amount of ambient air exchanged between through the outlet space. Certain embodiments of outlet flanks also may be configured to receive a retention element and hold the retention element in an elevated position. An outlet flank component may be made from a flexible material, for example, rubber, synthetic resin, plastic, latex, cotton, polyester, spandex, or any combination and may be positioned along the outlet borders. 
     Embodiments of a universal lid also may include a closure component. A closure component may be configured to permit the lid wall to meet with or releasably connect to a teapot, or more specifically, to a teapot rim. Embodiments of a closure component may be connected to a lower lid wall, upper lid wall, or a side lid wall. In certain embodiments, a closure component may be connected to both a lower lid wall and an upper lid wall such that the lid wall may achieve a closed position in which either side wall is in contact with the teapot rim, and accordingly, is reversible. Certain lid wall embodiments include a closure component complementary to a teapot closure component such as threading and a thread-path, a male snap component and a female snap component, an adhesive, a locking mechanism, hinge, or any other configuration resulting in a releasable connecting the lid wall to the teapot rim. A closure component also may be configured to merely meet with a teapot closure component such that the components are not fastened together. 
     Embodiments of a lid wall may be configured for use with certain forms of tea bags. Tea bag designs may include a packet, a holder, or other design, each of which may be used with a tag/string arrangement or other manipulation component. Certain embodiments of a lid wall may include a receptacle configured to receive a tag or other manipulation component. One embodiment of a receptacle such as a tag receptacle is configured as an indentation in the lid wall such that the tag may be positioned in the indentation and may not be removed merely by the force exerted by the retention element. Accordingly, since the tag is attached to the string, which is attached to the retention element, this position of the tag may reinforce the position of the retention element above the beverage if the size of the string does not permit the tag to be positioned in the indentation and the retention element to be positioned in the beverage at the same time. In other embodiments, an indentation is sized and shaped to receive parts of a string as well such that the position of the retention element above the beverage is reinforced. Further, a tag positioned in a tag receptacle may increase the ease with which the information on the tag—such as a trademark or other product information—may be viewed. 
     Embodiments of a lid wall may be shaped to permit easy stacking for cost effective shipping and storage. Other embodiments of a lid wall may be configured in a simplified construction such that the lids are easy to manufacture, clean, and reuse. 
     Embodiments of the universal lid system may be formed from materials such as ceramic, porcelain, metal, alloy, glass, crystal, plastic, or any other material suitable for retaining the temperatures developed within the teapot. A universal lid system made from such materials is useful for the service of beverages in restaurants, institutions, in the homes of consumers, or any other location where repeated use of the lid in connection with a teapot may be desired. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that a universal lid system is sized and shaped to facilitate quick and easy beverage preparation. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that a universal lid system may be used with a retention element such as a tea bag to easily make a beverage. Another advantage of the present invention is that a universal lid system may permit the storage of a retention element in an elevated storage element, which obviates the need to have a receptacle to place aside or dispose of or a retention element immediately after removal from water in teapot. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that the elevated storage element in a lid wall allows a consumer to store a greater volume of liquid in a teapot than if the retention element had to be stored in the teapot, yet not in contact with the water. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that an outlet space may be sized and shaped to minimize the amount of air exchanged between the teapot and outside of the teapot when the lid wall is in a closed position, therefore facilitating maintenance of a cool or warm environment inside of the teapot. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that the universal lid system may be used with teapots of a variety of sizes and shapes. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that lid walls may be easily stacked thereby reducing transportation costs and decreasing the need for costly storage space. 
     An additional advantage of the present invention is that its simplified construction is easy to manufacture, store, clean, and reuse. 
     It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide a universal lid system by which a beverage may be prepared from one or more retention elements quickly, easily, and sanitarily. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a universal system lid which permits expulsion of excess liquid from retention element. 
     It is an additional object of this invention to provide a universal lid system which may be used in a variety of orientations and with teapots having a variety of shapes and sizes. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a universal lid system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a universal lid system; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A  and additionally shows a retention element and a manipulation component; 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B  and includes the universal lid system in a position to be received by one type of a teapot; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a universal lid system and additionally includes retention elements and a manipulation components in a raised position; 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the universal lid system of  FIG. 3A  and additionally includes retention elements and a manipulation components in a partial pull through position; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of a universal lid system and includes a retention element and a manipulation component; 
         FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  are perspective views of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A  showing the manipulation component in different positions; 
         FIG. 5A  perspective view of an additional embodiment of a universal lid system shown with a retention element and a manipulation component; 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A  and includes the universal lid system in a position to be received by a teapot; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of a universal lid system shown with retention elements, manipulation components, and a support member; 
         FIG. 6B  is an exploded perspective view of an additional embodiment of a universal lid system shown with retention elements, manipulation components, and a support member; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a universal lid system; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of a universal lid system and a protective element; 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of a universal lid system and a protective element positioned relative to the lid wall; 
         FIG. 8C  is a top view of a protective element; and 
         FIG. 8D  is a top view of a universal lid system and a protective element positioned relative to the lid wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the universal lid system  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . A universal lid system  10  includes a lid wall  100  having an upper lid wall  106 , a lower lid wall  108 , and a side lid wall  110 . The lid wall  100  shown in  FIG. 1  has a generally circular shape, although other shapes are contemplated. The embodiment of a lid wall  100  in  FIG. 1  also includes a lid handle  70  having a knob  72  and a neck  74 . 
     Embodiments of a lid wall  100  may include a wall outlet  200 . The wall outlet  200  in  FIG. 1  includes an outlet border  201  that define an outlet space  210 . In the embodiment of a lid wall  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the outlet borders  201  form part of the lid perimeter  118 . The outlet border  201 , which defines the wall outlet  200 , includes a first outlet border  202 , a second outlet border  204 , a third outlet border  206 , and an open border  208 . In certain embodiments, the outlet borders  201  may be used as a surface against which a retention element  300  may be urged to expel any excess water stored within. A retention element  300  or manipulation component  350  may be positioned in or through the outlet space  210 . Certain embodiments of a lid wall  100  include no opening to permit a beverage to be consumed through the lid wall  100 , and a wall outlet  200  is configured not to permit a beverage to be consumed through the lid wall  100 . 
     In certain embodiments, an outlet border  201  may include various borders having particular shapes such as an arced border, curved border, or a linear border. Certain embodiments of outlet borders  201  may be configured to achieve an outlet space  210  of a desired shape such as to minimize air passage through the space or to receive a retention element  300 . Such an embodiment may include an outlet border  201  including a first arced border  212  and a second arced border  214  that meet at a first juncture  216  and a second juncture (not shown), as illustrated in  FIG. 2A — FIG. 2C . This embodiment of an outlet border  201  forms a lune-shaped outlet space  128 . A lune-shaped outlet space  128  has a generally minimized outlet space  210  such that less air may be exchanged through that space, therefore lessening the dissipation of the temperature developed in the teapot  400  while the lid wall  100  is in a closed position relative to the teapot  400 . 
     Further, the lune-shaped outlet space  128  may be shaped to permit a manipulation component  350  such as a tag  352  to pass through the wall outlet  200  in an arc-aligned orientation. An “arc-aligned orientation” is an orientation in which the tag  352  is bent or flexed to complement the shape of the lune  128  such that the tag  352  may pass through the wall outlet  200 . Typically, after passing through the lune-shaped outlet space  128 , the pressure to bend or flex is released and the tag  352  returns to a non-bent or non-flexed orientation. The tag  352  in a non-bent orientation may achieve a generally flat orientation  354 . In the embodiments in  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C , the retention element  300  is attached to the tag  352  by a string  356 . 
     The lid wall  100  illustrated in  FIG. 2A — FIG. 2C  also includes a non-elevated section and an elevated storage element  122 . The non-elevated section includes a generally horizontal linear surface  127 . The elevated storage element  122  includes a first generally curved sloped surface  123  a second generally curved sloped surface  125 . An elevated storage element  122  defines a storage space  124  in which a manipulation component  350  and/or a retention element  300  may be stored in a “raised position”  126 . A “raised position”  126  is achieved when a retention element  300  is completely above the beverage in a teapot  400  when the lid wall  100  is in a closed position. 
     In certain embodiments, a portion of a retention element  300  may overflow through the wall outlet  200  to achieve a “partial pull through position”  131 , as shown in  FIG. 2C . In the “partial pull through position”  131 , the retention element  300  effectively may plug or partially plug the wall outlet  200 , which, advantageously, slows the process of the beverage reaching an ambient temperature when the lid wall  100  is in a closed position. In the “partial pull through position”  131 , the retention element  300  typically is positioned completely above the beverage in a teapot  400  when the lid wall  100  is in a closed position. 
     Embodiments of a lid wall  100  may include a tag receptacle  132  or other type of receptacle in the lid wall  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the tag receptacle  132  includes a side receptacle wall  135  and a lower receptacle wall  136 . As shown in  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C , the tag  352  may be positioned in the tag receptacle  132 . In this position, a tag  352  may reinforce the raised position of the retention element  300  and may increase the ease with which information that may be on the tag  352 —such as a trademark or other product information—can be viewed. 
     Embodiments of the universal lid  10  also may include a closure component  134  attached to the lid wall  100 , which may permit the lid wall  100  to meet with or releasably connect to a teapot  400 . The closure component  134  illustrated in  FIG. 2A — FIG. 2C  includes a male threading  136  including a first thread  138  and a second thread  140 .  FIG. 2C  also includes a teapot  400  and its complementary teapot closure component. The illustrated teapot  400  includes an inner surface  408  having a thread path  416  defined by a first teapot thread  418  and a second teapot thread  420 . A first thread  138  can be threaded through a thread path  416  to releasably connect the lid wall  100  to a teapot  400 .  FIG. 2C  additionally shows the teapot rim  406  defining a teapot opening  404 . 
     Embodiments of a lid wall  100  may include more than one wall outlet  200  to permit one or more retention elements  300  to be positioned in a raised position  126 , as shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . A first wall outlet  218  and a second wall outlet  220  may be positioned in an elevated storage element  122  defining a storage space  124 . The outlet border  201  of each of the wall outlets  200  illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and 
       FIG. 3B  include only a curved border  152 . 
     The retention elements  300  may be configured as packets  302  or holders  204 , as shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  respectively. Also, retention elements  300  may achieve a number of raised positions  126 .  FIG. 3A  includes an illustration of the retention elements  300  in the storage space  124  in a “fully raised position”  130 . 
     A “fully raised position”  130  is achieved when a retention element  300  is positioned in the storage space  124  of the elevated storage element  122 , and no part of a packet  302  is positioned above the lid wall  100 . In addition,  FIG. 3B  includes an illustration of the retention elements  300  in a partial pull through position  131 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  additionally includes a closure component  134  configured as an oblique wall  148 . A lid wall  100  including an oblique wall  148  may be positioned on teapots with various sized teapot rims  406  since the oblique wall  148  includes a sloped surface  149  that may meet a teapot rim  406  at a variety of diameters. In  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , the oblique wall  148  includes a flat section  162  such that when the lid wall  100  is positioned on a teapot, the lid wall  100  may not cover the whole teapot opening  404 . Accordingly, the space in front of the flat section  162  may function as an egress component and allow pouring of beverage. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , embodiments of a lid wall may include a vent  121  to prevent a “vacuum” like conditions within a teapot  400  when beverage is being dispensed. Although other embodiments are shown without a vent  121 , it is contemplated that any other embodiment may include a vent  121 . 
     Embodiments of a lid wall  100  may be configured for use with certain designs of a retention element  300  or manipulation element  400 . For example, the embodiment of a lid wall  100  illustrated in  FIG. 4A — FIG. 4C  includes outlet border  201  configured with three generally linear borders, which form an outlet space  210  that is generally triangular shaped  222 . An embodiment of a lid wall  100  may be used with a manipulation component  350  having collapsible sides  364  and shaped as a tetrahedron  362 . In this embodiment, the collapsible sides  364  may flex such that the tetrahedron  362  may pass through the outlet space  210  easily in its “collapsed” orientation  366 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the collapsible sides  364  may flex back to its “uncollapsed” orientation  368  after passing through the wall outlet  200  such that the tetrahedron  362  may not pass through the wall outlet  200  easily. In such embodiments, a string  356  may attach the retention element  300  to the manipulation component  350  as shown in  FIG. 4A — FIG. 4C . 
       FIG. 4A  also includes an illustration of an embodiment including a closure component  134 . In this embodiment, a closure component  134  includes a flange  154  such that a flange  154  may be positioned on a rim  406  or other element of a teapot  400 . 
     Certain embodiments of a lid wall  100  include a wall outlet  200  having an outlet flank  230  made of a flexible material. An outlet flank  230  may be configured to allow retention elements  300  or manipulation components  350  of various sizes and shapes to pass through the outlet space  210 , while minimizing the amount of ambient air exchanged through the space  210 . The outlet flank  230  illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  includes a first flank  232  and a second flank  234  connected to the outlet border  201 . Outlet flanks  230  may also be configured to receive or retain a retention element  300  or manipulation component  350 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , a tag  352  and part of a string  356  may be thread through the outlet space  210  between the first flank  232  and second flank  234  to achieve a fully raised position  130 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , a retention element  300  may be thread partially through the outlet space  210  between a first flank  232  and second flank  234  to achieve a partial pull through position  131 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , in certain embodiments, an entire lid wall  100  may form an elevated storage element  122 . The elevated storage element  122  may be comprised of a first generally vertical surface  117  and a first generally horizontal surface  119 . 
     The lid wall  100  further includes a closure component  134  with a slanted wall  156 .  FIG. 5B  includes an illustration of the slanted wall  156  positioned on the rim  406  of a teapot  400 . The teapot  400  additionally includes of a teapot handle  410  and a teapot spout  412 . A teapot  400  also may include a teapot fill line  414  which may indicate the amount of liquid that the teapot  400  is configured to hold. 
     Certain embodiments of a universal lid system  10  additionally include a support member, as shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B . A support member  500  may include an upper support side  502  and a lower support side  504 . A support member  500  may be positioned between the lid wall  100  and the rim  406  of a teapot  400 . A support member  500  may be configured to support a retention element  300  on its upper support side  502 . Embodiments of a support member  500  in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are configured with a perforated resting level  506  on which a retention element  300  may rest and an aperture  508  through which a retention element  300  may be raised, lowered, and otherwise moved around. In  FIG. 6A , a first packet  306  is shown passing through an aperture  508 . A second packet  308  is shown resting on the perforated resting level  506 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , a wall outlet  200  may be configured to be used with more than one retention element  300  at the same time. Such an embodiment may include an outlet border  201  including a first arced border  212 , a second arced border  214 , a first rounded border  219 , and a second rounded border  221 . The juncture between the first arced border  212  and the first rounded border  219  and the juncture between the second arced border  214  and the first rounded border  219  forms a narrow passageway through which the string  356  may be positioned. Similarly, the juncture between the first arced border  212  and the second rounded border  221  and the juncture between the second arced border  214  and the second rounded border  221  forms a narrow passageway through which a manipulation component  350  such as a string  356  may be positioned. A string  356  also may be positioned in the round outlet  160 . In certain embodiments, a round outlet  160  may be sized and shaped to permit storage of a specific size string  356  such that upon entering the round outlet  160 , the string  356  may be held in that position by tension. 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 6B  includes a support member  500  having support fastener components  510  such that a support member  500  may be removably fastened to a lid wall  100 . In such an embodiment, the lid wall  100  additionally includes lid fastener components  510 . Fastener components  510 ,  512  may be any mechanism through which a lid wall  100  and support member  500  may be removably fastened. In  FIG. 6B , the support fastener components  510  are snap protrusions  514  and the lid fastener components  512  are snap inlets  516 . A snap protrusion  514  may snap into a snap inlet  516 . 
     Embodiment of a universal lid system  10  may also include a protective element  164  configured to cover all or part of the closure component  134 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The protective element  164  may be a soft, spongy, or flexible material such that the protective element  164  protects the closure component  134  when it is positioned relative to a teapot rim  406  in a closed position. The protective element  164  may include a securing component  166  such that the protective element  164  may be removably secured to a teapot rim  406 . The securing component  166  may be shaped as a first enlargement  141 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The protective element  164  also may include an extension  168 . An extension  168  of the protective element  164  may further secure the lid wall  100  to a teapot  400  and provide leak protection for a finger or thumb which may be placed nearby during pouring. An extension  168  also may provide a surface which may be used to separate the lid wall  100  from a teapot rim  406 . 
     Also, the embodiment of a lid wall  100  in  FIG. 7  includes an elevated storage element  122 . The elevated storage element  122  may be formed from a first gently curved sloped surface  150  and a second gently curved sloped surface  151 . 
     An embodiment of a lid wall  100  with a closure component  134  and a protective element  164  are shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B . Embodiments of the protective element  164  may be sufficiently flexible to fit snugly with respect to the closure component  134  as shown in a side view in  FIG. 8B  and a top view in  FIG. 8D .  FIG. 8C  includes an illustration of a top view of the protective element  164  without the lid wall  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B , the protective element  164  may include an outer perimeter  172 , a first generally horizontal annular surface  171 , a second generally horizontal annular surface  173 , a first generally sloped annular surface  175 , a first generally vertical annular surface  177 , and a second generally vertical annular surface  179 . The first generally horizontal annular surface  171  connects to the first generally sloped annular surface  175  along a first edge  170 . The first generally sloped annular surface  175  connects to the second generally horizontal annular surface  173  along a second edge  181 . The second generally horizontal annular surface  173  connects to the second generally vertical annular surface  179  along a third edge  183 . The first generally vertical annular surface  177  defines the outer perimeter  172 . The inner diameter  185  of the protective element  164  is defined by the third edge  183  in this embodiment. 
     The closure component  134  in the illustrated embodiment includes a closure wall having an outer closure wall  142  and an inner closure wall  144 . The illustrated embodiment of the outside closure wall  142  includes a first enlargement  141 , second enlargement  143 , inter-enlargement wall  145 , protuberance  146 , and a relatively vertical closure wall  147 . The first enlargement  141  may be continuous with the lid wall  100 . The inter-enlargement wall  142  is positioned between the first enlargement  141  and the second enlargement  143 . In this embodiment, the second enlargement  143  is positioned generally below the first enlargement  141 . Each enlargement  141 ,  143  includes a section of the closure wall having a greater diameter than the rest of the closure wall. 
     In certain embodiments, the first edge  170  of protection element  164  may be sized and shaped to fit around the inter-enlargement wall  145  such that the protection element  164  may be securely positioned relative to the closure component  134 . The inner diameter  185  of the protective element  164  may be flexible enough to be positioned around the protuberance  146  to achieve the snugly fit position as illustrated. 
     The protuberance  146  may be sized and shaped to facilitate maintaining the lid wall  100  in the desired position relative to a teapot rim  406 . In certain embodiments, a protuberance  146  is sized and shaped to extend from a section in the closure wall, as shown. In other embodiments, multiple protuberances  146  may extend from the closure wall. When the lid wall  100  is in a closed position, the protuberance  146  is generally positioned below the teapot rim  406  and is configured to decrease the likelihood of the lid wall  100  separating from the teapot  400 . In such embodiments, the consumer must tilt the lid wall  100  relative to the teapot rim  406  to remove the lid wall  100  from the teapot rim  406 . Such a tilted position is unlikely to be achieved while the teapot  400  is oriented for pouring. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8A ,  FIG. 8B , and  FIG. 8D , the outlet border  201  includes a first arced border  212 , a second arced border  214 , a third arced border  211 , and a fourth arced border  213 . The outlet space  210  forms a rounded arc shape. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention, which have been described, are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.