Patent Publication Number: US-2009236409-A1

Title: Lid

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/063,776, filed Feb. 6, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention relates generally to lids for cups or similar containers having a vertical seam. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In today&#39;s industrialized world liquids for human consumption are commonly placed in containers constructed from a cardboard cup that is covered with a plastic lid.  FIG. 1 , for example, illustrates a common example of this type of container  10  in the form of a carry-out type coffee cup. The container generally includes a cup  12  with side walls  14  that generally are formed as a cylinder or frustoconical structure obtained when a flat piece of cardboard is rolled and its edges bound, forming a seam  16 . 
     The cup  12  generally includes a bottom wall  18 . The bottom wall  18  is generally obtained by gluing a circular cardboard piece to one end of the cylinder or frusto conical structure, thus forming a generally fluid-tight cup  12  with an opening on what is conventionally called the “top” of the cup  12 . The cup&#39;s side wall  14  forms a rim  20  at the top edge of the cup  12 . 
     Cups  12  of the type just described are generally used to carry things that may spill (e.g., liquids). The cups  12  are thus generally furnished with a lid  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which are a top view illustration and a cross section illustration, respectively, of one such type of lid  22 , prior art lids are generally constructed as a circular structure  24  having a “skirt”  26  adapted to frictionally engage the rim  20  of the cup  12 . Sometimes the skirt  26  includes a structure  28  specially adapted to frictionally engage the rim  20  of the cup  12 . The lid generally includes other features, of which an orifice for drinking  30 , a vent hole  32 , a depression to catch spills  34  and a drain orifice  36 , are common. 
     While lids for cups having a vertical seam have generally succeeded in preventing major spills and conserving the temperature of fluids in the container, they have also generated a small problem of their own, known colloquially as the “dripping cup.”  FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-section illustration of the interface where the lid&#39;s skirt  26  engages the cup&#39;s rim  20 , in particular where the seam  16  is located. As may be seen from the illustration, a fault or discontinuity  410  created by the seam  16  at the rim  20  prevents the skirt  26  from engaging the portion of the rim  412  abutting the seam  16  on the nested side of the rim  20 , thus forming a gap  414 . Said gap  414  permits passage of fluid under certain conditions, thus providing an unintended leaking point at the lid/cup interface. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved lid for cups that have a vertical seam. Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first, separate aspect of the present invention, a lid is provided which is configured to reduce or eliminate leaks at the interface between a cup having a vertical seam and the lid. 
     In a second, separate aspect of the present invention, a relatively inexpensive drinking cup lid for carry-out beverages is provided. 
     In a third, separate aspect of the present invention, a lid includes a mounting surface for gripping the upper rim of a cup of the type having a seam, a side wall extending upwardly from the mounting surface, a top wall having an opening formed therethrough, such as to permit drinking through the opening, and a structure on the mounting surface of the lid, wherein the structure is adapted to stopper the gap at the fault formed by the seam on the rim of the cup. 
     In a fourth, separate aspect of the present invention, a container includes a cup having a vertical seam and a lid adapted to be sealingly mounted on the cup wherein the lid includes a seam fault sealing structure. 
     Further object and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element, in all of the views: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan illustration of a prior art container that includes a prior art cup having a vertical seam and a prior art lid. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan illustration of the prior art container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross section illustration of the prior art lid shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross section illustration of the prior art lid shown in  FIG. 1  mounted on a prior art cup, illustrating the gap formed between the prior art lid&#39;s mounting surface and the fault caused by the seam on the cup&#39;s rim. 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan illustration of a lid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention installed on a prior art cup of the type having a seam. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan illustration of the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 5  installed on a prior art cup. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross section illustration of the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial cross section illustration of an embodiment of a seam fault sealing structure formed on a lid&#39;s mounting surface as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , wherein the seam fault sealing structure is adapted to stopper the gap between the lid&#39;s mounting surface and the fault caused by the seam on the rim of a prior art cup. 
         FIG. 9  is a front plan illustration of a lid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention installed on a prior art cup of the type having a seam. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan illustration of the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 9  installed on a prior art cup. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial cross section illustration of the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a partial cross section illustration of an embodiment of a seam fault sealing structure formed on a lid&#39;s mounting surface as shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , wherein the seam fault sealing structure is adapted to stopper the gap between the lid&#39;s mounting surface and the fault caused by the seam on the rim of a prior art cup. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan illustration of a lid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention installed on a prior art cup. 
         FIG. 14  is a partial cross section illustration of the embodiment of a seam fault sealing structure formed on a lid&#39;s mounting surface as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan illustration of a lid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention installed on a prior art cup. 
         FIG. 16  is a partial cross section illustration of the embodiment of a seam fault sealing structure formed on a lid&#39;s mounting surface as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For convenience of description, terms such as “transversal,” “perpendicular,” “top,” “bottom,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” etc., are used herein referring to a container and a lid in an orientation as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood that during use the container and lid normally assume various different orientations. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a prior art container  10  formed by a prior art cup  12  and a prior art-type lid  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cup  12  is generally of the type having a seam  16  and an upper lip or rim  20 . As illustrated in the cross section in  FIG. 4 , the seam  16  of the cup  12  extends into the upper lip  20  and creates a fault  410 , which fault  410  generally has a dimension slightly larger than the thickness of the paper, cardboard, or the like, from which the cup  12  is made. 
     The prior art type lids  22  generally engage the rim  20  of the cup  12  in an attempt to create a water-tight seal. The cup engaging surface of prior art-type lids is formed with a generally uniform topology that assumes the cup will not have a seam or fault. In other words, prior art type lids rely on the engaging surface&#39;s flex and elasticity to adapt to the contours of the rim  20  of the cup  12 , including the seam  16 . However the flex and elasticity of the engaging surface of the lids is generally not sufficient to follow the contours of the rim  20  at the fault  410  created by the seam  16 , thus resulting in a gap  414  between the lid  22  and the rim  20  at the fault  410 . It is noted that the gap  414  in the figure is merely illustrative. The dimensions and other qualities of the gap will depend on factors such as the thickness of the paper/cardboard, the method of making the seam and the rim of the container and the physical characteristics of the lid, including its topography, dimensions, flexibility, elasticity and the like. 
     Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention a lid is manufactured such that the surface of the lid adapted to engage the rim of a cup having a vertical seam has a topographical feature that is adapted to stopper or decrease any gap formed between the lid and the rim of the cup at the fault created by the cup&#39;s seam. The topographical feature may generally have any effective configuration. The topographical feature generally includes a seam fault sealing structure formed on the lid&#39;s surface adapted to form a substantially sealing interface when the lid properly engages the cup. The seam fault sealing structure is generally adapted to reduce or eliminate the gap that otherwise is formed because of the fault present at the seam on the rim of the cup. 
     The seam fault sealing structure may have any effective shape and be formed in any effective manner. For example, in one embodiment the seam fault sealing structure may be formed as a topographical feature on the surface of the lid&#39;s side wall adapted to engage the cup&#39;s rim, such that the topography of the surface of the lid&#39;s side wall adapted to engage the cup&#39;s rim more closely matches the rim&#39;s topography, and in particular the fault caused by the seam. The feature may generally span any effective portion of the engaging surface on lid&#39;s side wall. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , a container  510  includes a lid  512  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The lid generally includes a top wall  524  that extends radially inward from an annular side wall  526 . The annular side wall  526 , either directly or through a mounting portion  528 , is generally adapted to engage the rim  20  of a cup  12 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the topography of the surface of the lid  528  that engages the rim  20  of the cup  12  is not uniform, but rather is formed such as to include a topographical feature  530  that accounts for and accommodates the fault  410  formed at the rim  20  of the cup  12  by the seam  16 . 
     In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , the mounting portion  528  includes a topographical feature which may be described as a wedge  530 , counter-fault, or the like, adapted to match the topography of the reciprocal surface of the cup  12 , in particular the seam  16  at the rim  20  of the cup  12 . A lid  512  in accordance with this embodiment of the invention thus generally prevents the formation of a gap  414 , or decreases the size of the gap  414 , when the lid  512  properly engages the rim  20  of the cup  12 . 
     In another embodiment of a container  910  and lid  912  in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 , the seam fault sealing topographical feature includes one or more “fins”  930 , flaps, baffles, flanges, or similar type structures, formed on the engaging surface  928  of the lid  912  in a manner generally adapted to stopper the gap  414 . The fin  930 , set of fins, or the like, may have any effective shape and configuration. In the embodiment shown, an exemplary fin  930  is formed such that the fin  930  is substantially perpendicular to the seam  16  when the lid  912  properly engages the rim  20  of the cup  12 . In one embodiment, the fin  930 , set of fins, or the like, are substantially rigid. In another embodiment the fin  930 , set of fins, or the like, are substantially flexible. 
     As used herein the term “substantially perpendicularly” means that the fin forms an angle with the seam, e.g., it does not run parallel to the seam. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  the fin  930  is formed such as to substantially conform to the dimensions of the gap  414 . In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the fin  1330 , set of fins, or the like, may be formed such as to traverse or span the fault  410 , having a first part  1334  adapted to deform or penetrate the elevated portion of the seam  16  and a second part  1336  adapted to stopper the gap  414 . In yet another embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the fin  1530 , set of fins, or the like, is substantially flexible and formed such as to traverse the fault  410 . In this latter embodiment, the flexibility of the fin  1530  provides for a first part of the fin  1534  to bend as it engages the elevated portion of the seam  16  while a second part  1536  effects the stoppering of the gap  414 . 
     A container in accordance with the present invention generally includes a cup, bucket, or the like, having a vertical seam and a lid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention functionally engaged to the rim of said cup. 
     A lid in accordance with the present invention may also generally include a position indicator  532 ,  932 ,  1332 ,  1532  which provides a user with the correct orientation of a lid of the present invention with respect to the cup  12 . The position indicator  532 ,  932 ,  1332 ,  1532  generally assists with the placement of a lid of the invention over the cup  12  such that the seam fault sealing structure will be substantially properly positioned relative to the fault  410 . Any effective indicator may be used. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a visual and tactile indicator is positioned on the lid such that alignment of the indicator with the seam  16  of the cup  12  provides for the correct positioning of the lid&#39;s seam fault sealing structure relative the fault  410 . Because the exact placement of the flexible seam fault sealing structure  1530  is not necessarily essential for its proper function, the position indicator  1532  in this particular embodiment provides a range. It will be noted that in certain constructions the seam  16  on the side wall  14  of some cups  12  is offset from the location of the seam  16  on the rim  20 . Accordingly, the position indicator  532 ,  932 ,  1332 ,  1532  in lids aimed at cups having this offset construction will be similarly offset. 
     A seam fault sealing structure in accordance with the present invention may be used with any effective prior art lid, including, for example, the lids shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,598,271, 4,357,753, 4,589,569, 4,619,372, 4,627,537, 4,753,365, 4,756,440, 4,767,019, 4,811,860, 4,978,024, 5,253,781, 5,657,898, 5,722,558, 5,868,309, 5,894,952, 5,911,331, 6,089,397, 6,209,748, 6,419,112, 6,571,973, 6,604,647, 6,886,707, 6,889,860, 6,905,044, 6,932,231, 7,111,749, 7,131,551, 7,134,570, 7,185,781, D296874, D485730, D502398, D506356, D513939, D519326, D533778, D540166, D540675, and U.S. Published Application Nos. 20050155969, 20050224505 and 20060213908 (all of which are incorporated herein be reference as if fully set forth herein). 
     A lid in accordance with the present invention may include other features including an orifice for drinking  30 , a vent hole  32 , a depression to catch spills  34 , a drain orifice  36 , and the like. The seam fault sealing structure may be positioned in any effective spatial relationship to these features. However, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, assuming that the drinking opening  30  is at 0 degrees, the seam fault sealing structure is positioned from about 30 degrees to about 330 degrees. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, assuming that the drinking opening is at 0 degrees, the seam fault sealing structure is positioned from about 60 degrees to about 30 degrees. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, assuming that the drinking opening is at 0 degrees, the seam fault sealing structure is positioned from about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, assuming that the drinking opening is at 0 degrees, the seam fault sealing structure is positioned from about 135 degrees to about 225 degrees. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention the seam fault sealing structure is positioned generally substantially opposite the drinking opening  30 , e.g., assuming that the drinking opening is at 0 degrees, the seam fault sealing structure is positioned at about 180 degrees. 
     The lid and the cup may be constructed in any effective manner and may generally have any shape that does not detrimentally affect its function. 
     A lid in accordance with the present invention is preferably of one piece plastic construction, which enables the lid to be manufactured relatively inexpensively so as to be disposable. The configuration of the lids of the invention was selected not only to provide the above features, but also to enable manufacture of the lid by a thermoforming operation, preferably vacuum forming. The seam fault sealing structure is also preferably formed such that it does not interfere with stacking of the lids in nested relation. 
     The lids of the invention may be advantageously used with containers of various types, being particularly suitable for use with disposable cups of the type commonly used as carry-out paper or cardboard cups for beverages such as coffee and the like. 
     The lids of the invention are particularly suitable for use at a carry-out counter in a restaurant where efficiency is important. An employee can fill a cup with coffee or the like and apply the lid quickly and simply by snapping it onto the cup. The lid may be rotated as necessary until the seam fault sealing structure is properly placed over the seam. 
     Thus, a novel lid and container has been shown and described. While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there is no intent to limit the scope of the invention to these or any other particular embodiments. Many changes and modifications can of course be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except by the following claims, and their equivalence.