Patent Publication Number: US-7591389-B2

Title: Drinking cup lid with self-securing sliding member

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/419,163, filed May 18, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a disposable lid for a drinking cup and more particularly to a disposable lid having a slidable drink opening cover. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A disposable lid is typically secured over a disposable beverage cup to prevent a beverage from spilling out of the cup. The lid typically has a preformed opening that allows a user to drink the beverage without removing the lid from the cup. Nevertheless, these lids can be problematic because the beverage can spill out of the opening if the user is bumped or if the cup is overturned. 
   To address this problem, many lids provide a covering member to cover the drink opening when the user is not drinking the beverage. One type of lids includes a resealable drinking flap that may be either pushed into the lid or pulled away from the lid to form the opening. One disadvantage of this type of lid, however, is that it is difficult to manipulate the flap with one hand while holding the cup with the same hand. 
   Other types of lids have a slidable member that can slide over the drink opening. These lids typically include a lip protruding up from the top surface of the lid and around the circumference of the lid, and the drink opening is typically positioned on the top surface of the lid. Thus, the lip forms a wall around the opening. One disadvantage of this type of lid, however, is that the lip makes it difficult for the user to place his or her mouth directly against the opening. So during drinking, the beverage can leak out of the opening and drip onto the user. 
   A lid for a nondisposable commuter mug utilizes an H-shaped flap that slides over a preformed opening, which alleviates spillage. Nevertheless, such a lid for a commuter mug is not disposable, is bulky and is relatively expensive to manufacture. Moreover, the H-shaped flap design is not feasible for a disposable lid because the disposable lid is typically manufactured from a thin plastic material that does not exhibit the rigidity required to produce an effective H-shaped flap. 
   Accordingly, a need exists for a disposable lid for a cup that has an opening through which a user can easily drink a beverage without removing the lid. The lid should prevent the beverage from spilling out of the cup when the user is not drinking from the cup and when the user is drinking. The user should be able to manipulate the lid with one hand. In addition, the lid should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to assemble and store. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, a disposable lid for a drinking cup includes a cover portion having a generally circular periphery and a sliding member that is configured to slidably fit into a trench in the cover portion. The trench extends longitudinally along a top surface of the cover portion and has an open end at the periphery of the cover portion. The trench includes a drink opening in the floor of the trench adjacent to the periphery and a guide slot on the floor of the trench. The sliding member includes side portions joined by a central portion. Each side portion extends upwardly from the central portion such that the outer edges of the side portions are above the central portion and a gap width between the outer edges is greater than a width of a mouth of the trench such that the side portions of the sliding member secure the siding member to the cover portion. The siding member also includes a handle extending upward from a top surface of the sliding member and a guide extending downwardly from the central portion of the sliding member so that the guide slidably fits into the guide slot on the floor of the trench. The guide slot allows the sliding member to move between a first position and a second position via the guide, such that when the sliding member is in the first position, the sliding member covers the drink opening and when the sliding member is in the second position, the sliding member uncovers the drink opening. 
   In another embodiment, the trench includes longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion to form an overhang portion such that the width of the floor of the trench is greater than the width of the mouth of the trench. In this embodiment, the gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than the width of the mouth of the trench such that when the sliding member is in the trench, the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the overhang portion. 
   In another embodiment, the trench includes longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion for a first distance, then extend inwardly toward a center of the trench for a second distance to form a notched portion, and then extend downwardly toward the floor of the trench. In addition, at least one side portion of the sliding member further comprises a ridge extending outwardly away from the central portion of the sliding member to form a ridge portion, wherein the ridge portion of the sliding member fits in the notched portion of the trench and the gap width between the outer edges of the side portions is greater than a width of the mouth of the trench such that when the sliding member is in the trench, the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the notched portion. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of an exemplary lid in a drinking and non-drinking configuration, respectively, according to one embodiment; 
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are perspective and top views, respectively, of a cover portion of the lid in accordance with one embodiment; 
       FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C are perspective top, perspective bottom, and top views, respectively, of a sliding member according to one embodiment; 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross-sectional views of the sliding member taken along line B-B in  FIG. 3C  according to several embodiments; 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  are cross-sectional views of the trench taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2B  according to several embodiments; 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  are perspective top, perspective bottom, and top views, respectively, of a sliding member according to another embodiment; 
       FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are perspective and top views, respectively, of a cover portion of the lid in accordance with another embodiment; and 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are perspective and side views, respectively, of the cover portion according to yet another embodiment. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a disposable lid for a drinking cup and more particularly to a disposable lid having a slidable drink opening cover. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein. 
   According to one embodiment, the disposable lid includes a cover portion that has a trench on the top surface. The trench runs from approximately the center of the cover portion to a periphery, where the trench is open ended. A drink opening is provided in the trench near the open end of the trench and the periphery. The lid also includes a sliding member that is configured to sit in the trench. In one embodiment, the sliding member comprises side portions that extend upwardly from a central portion that runs longitudinally along the sliding member. The outer edges of the side portions are above the central portion and a gap width between the outer edges is greater than a width of the trench&#39;s mouth such that the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the side portions. 
   In one embodiment, the sliding member is configured to slide within the trench between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the sliding member covers the drink opening, while in the second position, the sliding member uncovers the drink opening. The trench includes a guide slot on a bottom surface of the trench that is configured to receive a guide on the sliding member. The guide slot prevents the sliding member from moving beyond the periphery and in one embodiment, securely attaches the sliding member to the cover portion. 
   Through the aspects of the present invention, the user can hold the cup with one hand and, with the same hand, easily cover and uncover the drink opening. Thus, when the user is not drinking, the user can cover the opening and prevent the beverage from spilling out of the cup. Because the trench is open ended, the user can place his or her mouth directly on the drink opening thereby reducing the risk of spilling the beverage during drinking. 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of a disposable lid in a drinking and a non-drinking position, respectively, according to one exemplary embodiment. The disposable lid  100  comprises a cover portion  200  and a sliding member  300  that uncovers a drink opening  210  when a user is drinking, as shown in  FIG. 1A , and covers the drink opening  210  when the user is not drinking, as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
     FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are perspective and top views, respectively, of the cover portion  200  of the lid according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the cover portion  200  has a generally circular periphery  215 , and includes an annular side wall  213  that extends downward from the periphery  215  to an annular mounting portion  214 , which secures the cover portion  200  on the cup (not shown). 
   According to one embodiment, the cover portion  200  includes a trench  220  that extends longitudinally from approximately a center of the cover portion  200  to the periphery  215 . The trench has an open end at the periphery  215  and a floor  224 . Adjacent to the periphery  215 , the trench  220  includes a drink opening  210  in the floor  224  that allows the user to drink from the cup without removing the lid  100 . In addition, a guide slot  230  is also located on the floor  224  of the trench. The guide slot  230  is configured to limit the movement of the sliding member  300  between the first and second positions. In the embodiment, the guide slot  230  can form an opening through the cover portion  200 . In another embodiment, the guide slot  230  can forms a second trench in the floor  224  the trench  220 . In this embodiment, the second trench can be more resilient and less resistant to tearing because it is one continuous piece. Accordingly, the structural integrity of the cover portion  200  can be improved. 
     FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C are perspective top, perspective bottom, and top views, respectively, of a sliding member  300  configured to slidably fit into the trench  220  according to one embodiment. As is shown in  FIG. 3A , the sliding member  300  includes a handle  310  that extends upwardly from a top surface of the sliding member  300  and that allows the user to move the sliding member  300  within the trench  220 . The sliding member  300  also includes side portions  330  joined by a central portion  340  extending longitudinally along the sliding member  300 . A guide  320  extends downwardly from the central portion  340  of the sliding member  300  and is configured to slidably fit into the guide slot  230  on the floor  224  of the trench. 
   In one embodiment, a size of the guide  320  is correlated to a length of the guide slot  230  such that when a front end of the guide  320  abuts a front end of the guide slot  230 , the sliding member  300  is in the first position and covers the drink opening  210  (as shown in  FIG. 1B ), and when a back end of the guide  320  abuts a back end of the guide slot  230 , the sliding member  300  is in the second position (as shown in  FIG. 1A ). Accordingly, the interaction between the guide  320  and the guide slot  230  prevents the sliding member  300  from extending beyond the periphery  215  of the cover portion  200 . While the guide  320  and guide slot  230  prevent the sliding member  300  from slipping out of the trench  220  through its open end at the periphery  215 , the side portions  330  of the sliding member  300  prevent the sliding member  300  from slipping out of the trench  220  through the mouth, i.e., the top, of the trench  220 . 
     FIGS. 4A-4C  are exemplary cross-sectional views of the sliding member  300  taken along line B-B in  FIG. 3C  according to several embodiments. Referring first to  FIG. 4A , in this embodiment, each of the side portions  330  extends upwardly from the central portion  340  of the sliding member  300   a  such that an outer edge  332  of each side portion  330  is located above the central portion  340  of the sliding member  300 . The side portions  330  can extend upwardly at an obtuse angle from the central portion  340  of the sliding member, as shown in  FIG. 4A , or can extend upwardly at a right angle or an acute angle in other embodiments. According to an exemplary embodiment, a gap width, W g , between the outer edges  332  of the side portions  330  is greater than a width, W m , of the mouth of the trench  220 . Because the mouth of the trench  220  is more narrow than the outer edges  332  of the side portions  330  of the sliding member  300   a , the sliding member  300   a  cannot easily be removed from the top of the trench  220 . 
   For example,  FIGS. 5A-5C  are exemplary cross-sectional views of the trench  220  taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2B  according to several embodiments. In  FIG. 5A , the trench  220   a  includes longitudinal sidewalls  222  that can extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion to form an overhang portion  225  such that a width of the floor  224  of the trench is greater than the width of the mouth, W m , of the trench  220   a . When the sliding member  300   a  shown in  FIG. 4A  is placed in this trench  220   a , the sliding member  300   a  can be securely attached to the cover portion  200  via the overhang portion  225  of the trench  220   a.    
   In another exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5B , the trench  220   b  can have longitudinal side walls  222   a  that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion for a first distance, then extend inwardly toward a center of the trench  220   b  for a second distance to form a notched portion  227 , and then extend downwardly toward the floor  224  of the trench. In this embodiment, the sliding member  300   b , shown in  FIG. 4B , can have at least one side portion  330  that further comprises a ridge extending outwardly away from the central portion  340  of the sliding member  300   b  to form a ridge portion  331 , which is configured to fit in the notched portion  227  of the trench  220   b . In this embodiment, the gap width, W g , between the outer edges  332  of the side portions  330  is greater than the trench&#39;s mouth width, W m , so that when the sliding member  300   b  is placed in the trench  220   b , the sliding member  300   b  can be securely attached to the cover portion  200  via the notched portion  227 . 
   While the exemplary trenches and sliding members described have substantially planar surfaces, other configurations are possible. For example, referring to  FIG. 5C , the longitudinal side walls  222   c  can extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion to form an overhang portion  225  and then curve downwardly toward the center of the trench such that the floor of the trench includes a curved surface. Similarly, referring to  FIG. 4C , the central portion  340  of the sliding member  300   c  can also be curved to substantially match the curved surface of the floor the central portion of the sliding member is curved to substantially match the curved surface of the floor of the trench  224  of the trench  220   c.    
   Although the embodiments of the sliding members  300   a - 300   c  and trenches  220   a - 220   c  have been described in pairs, each can be implemented effectively in various combinations. For example, the sliding member  300   b  shown in  FIG. 4B  can be implemented effectively in the trenches  220   a ,  200   c  shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5C , as well as being implemented with the trench  220   b  shown in  FIG. 5B  as described. 
   In addition, in another embodiment, the sliding member  300  can be further attached to the cover portion  200  through the guide  320  and the guide slot  230 . Referring again to  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 3B , the guide slot  230  can form an opening having an opening width, W o , and the guide  320  can have flared sidewalls (not shown) such that the top of the guide  320  is more narrow than the bottom of the guide  320 . The sliding member  300 , in this embodiment, can be further secured to the cover portion  200  when the top of the guide  320  is more narrow and the bottom of the guide  320  more wide than the width of the opening, W o , of the guide slot  230 . 
   In another exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C , the sliding member  600  further can include a nub  630  that extends from the bottom of the sliding member  600  at an opposite end to the end having the handle  310 . When the sliding member  600  is in the first position, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the nub  630  is configured to fit into and plug the drink opening  210  to provide better protection against spillage. 
   In another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the cover portion  700  can include a depression  740  in the trench  220  between the guide slot  230  and the drink opening  210 . The depression  740  is configured to receive the nub  630  of the sliding member  600  when the sliding member  600  is in the second position, i.e., when the drink opening  210  is uncovered. In this manner, the sliding member  600  can remain flush with the trench  220  when the sliding member  600  is in the second position. 
   According to another embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the cover portion  800  can include a flat region  810  and a sloped region  820 . The trench  220 , in one embodiment, is located in the sloped region  820  and the drink opening  210  is located at or near the highest point of the sloped region  820   a . Accordingly, the annular side wall  813  can be of varying height. In particular, it can be higher at a location  813   a  adjacent to the drinking opening  210  and lower at a location  813   b  directly opposite to the drinking opening  210 . This variation in height makes it easier for the user to place his or her mouth over the drink opening  210  to the drink without spillage. Moreover, because the drink opening  210  is located in the sloped region  820   a , the user can better control the manner in which the beverage exits the drink opening  210 . When the beverage is hot, this can help prevent the user from burning his or her lips. 
   Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments. For example, while the handle  310  has been described and illustrated as being located at an end of the sliding member  300  opposite an end that covers the drink opening  210 , one skilled in the art would readily recognize that the handle  310  can be located in the middle of the sliding member  300  or near the end covering the drink opening  210 . Those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.