Patent Publication Number: US-2011049171-A1

Title: Cup Lid

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This invention application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/237,152 filed Aug. 26, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to lids and more specifically to hot and cold drink cup lids. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cup lids come in many different configurations. Some versions have small tear-out flaps enabling the rupturing of a portion of the lid. In some instances, the ruptured area is used to create an opening for drinking. In other cases, flaps are created to allow for the receipt of a straw. 
     Since conventional lids are designed to be ruptured prior to drinking, the affected section of the lid is minimized to avoid collateral spillage or leaking. 
     Normally, with these and other prior art devices, once the liquid product in the cup has been consumed, the cup and lid—now useless—are pitched into a trash receptacle as a low-density-waste item. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is a lid for a cup which allows trash or other objects to be inserted into and contained. Typical cups will have a liquid receiving area and some will have an upper rim and a mouth. The lid disclosed herein, in embodiments, has an outer peripheral portion that is received onto the upper rim of said cup so that it can be secured. Inside the rim, a liquid barrier portion contains liquid from splashing out of said cup when the lid is secured. In embodiments, a first line of weakness is formed in the lid enabling the containment portion to be ruptured to enable the passage of an object into the cup. The first line of weakness, in embodiments, has a length which is greater than a radius of the mouth of the cup or the radius of the lid, the first line of weakness being one of linear and curved. 
     In embodiments, the lid includes a second line of weakness, and the first and second lines of weakness crossing at or near a middle of the lid and when ruptured, the first and second lines creating four flaps, the flaps being inwardly flexible to allow for the passage of an object into the cup. The flaps, after the passage of the object, aid in retaining the object in the cup. 
     In other embodiments, two, three, four, or more lines of weakness can be formed to create a plurality of flaps. 
     In other embodiments, a first line of weakness is curved, and in some embodiments, C-shaped inside the periphery of the lid. In some embodiments the C-shape is defined in a plateua portion in a lid. Other variations have a knockout portion to releive the resistance to penetration. 
     In embodiments, the cup lid is substantially circular and has an outer portion adapted to snap on to a soda, or other conventional cup. The lid has an inner portion which includes at least one rupturable line. The line, when ruptured, creates a hinged flap. The flap enables the lid to be substantially opened up for the passage of solid items though the lid for containment. This, in embodiments, enables the cup, after primary use, to be used as a trash receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a first disclosed embodiment for a cup lid; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of the first disclosed embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a top view of an alternative score pattern usable with a different type of lid than shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2C  show a top view of yet another alternative score pattern useable with the same type of lid shown in the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the first disclosed embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a second disclosed embodiment for a cup lid; 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of the second disclosed embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5B  shows a top view of an alternative score pattern usable with the same type of lid shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5C  shows a top view of yet another alternative score pattern useable with the same type of lid shown in the  FIG. 4  embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosed subject matter improves contemporary cup and lid systems by providing predetermined rupturable lines of weakness on the cup lid. These lines do not jeopardize the liquid containment aspects of the lid. Once the liquid product in the cup has been consumed, the rupturable lines allow for the insertion of trash into the cup without lid removal. Trying to insert trash into a cup the conventional way—by removing the lid—can be messy, and is difficult to execute while engaging in another task simultaneously (e.g., driving). But with the lids disclosed herein, the trash can be pushed into the cup as it exists, and it will be securely held after it is passed through the lid, since the lid performs a containment function. And in addition to containment, the lid enables the items of trash to be compacted, thereby, in general, allowing a greater number of trash items to be stored in the cup than could be stored without compacting. 
     In some embodiments, the rupturability is provided by creating lines of weakness in the lid. These lines can be created by scoring, perforation, injection molding, stamping, chemical treatment, laser ablation, ultrasonic administrations, die casting, or other methods. 
     Once the predetermined tear holes or lines have been broken, trash or other objects can be pushed through the scored weakened region. The lid does not need to be removed from the cup. Once a trash item has been received into the cup, the ruptured sections retract back to an extent, performing a containment function. 
     In some embodiments, a tear boundary will be applied to restrict the predetermined tear path short of the peripherally outermost attachment portions of the lid. In other embodiments, the lid has curves, bends, or boundaries that restrict the tear instead of adding an additional boundary. 
     Although only a few embodiments are disclosed in detail, it should be understood that numerous other embodiments are possible based on the wide variety of lids existing in the marketplace. The configuration of and formation process for the lines of weakness will vary based on the particular lid design for which the added functionality is intended. This invention can be applied on various lids. 
     A first embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . This lid might be used as a lid for a standard drink cup. For example, this embodiment might be most useful on a cup used to contain fountain drinks or other consumable liquids. 
     Looking first at the perspective view of  FIG. 1 , the system  100  is comprised of a standard cup  102  used to hold liquid (e.g., a fountain drink) in a holding chamber  140 , and a lid  106 . The lid  106  of the present invention contains predetermined lines of weakness  116  which will later be ruptured. As already discussed, the lines of weakness  116  can be created by scoring, perforation, injection molding, stamping, chemical treatment, laser ablation, ultrasonic administrations, die casting, or other methods. In the embodiments shown in figures, the lines of weakness  116  are formed by perforation and/or scoring, but other techniques noted above could also be used. 
     The lid  106  is equipped with an outer peripheral attachment portion  108  which is pressed onto an outwardly extending lip  104  of the cup  102  to secure the lid  106 . A containment portion  114  of the lid includes everything inside of the attachment portion  108 , and serves as a liquid barrier, in some embodiments, substantially enclosing said cup  102 . A straw aperture  122  is located in the enclosed containment portion  114  of the lid  106  so that a straw may be inserted for drinking. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , lid  106  is shown from above. Lines of weakness  116  are shown radiating from a center point  115  of the lid  106 . This creates four somewhat elastically hinged flaps  117  which can be ruptured inward. Thus, enclosed portion of the lid body  114  can be penetrated to allow for the receipt of trash or other solid objects. Although not shown precisely in the figures, an outermost extent  118  of each line  116  terminates slightly before reaching the peripheral attachment portion  108  of the lid  106 . This is so done so that the integrity of the rim-securing peripheral attachment portion  108  of the lid  106  is not compromised. 
     Looking now to  FIG. 3 , the lid  106  shown in  FIG. 2A  can be seen in cross section, and for illustration, a score line represents the line of weakness  116  as opposed to the perforations in  FIG. 2A . The line of weakness  116  radiates from the center point  115 , and as visible in  FIG. 3 , the containment portion  114  has a thinned out structure, which is created by removing material to a depth  119 , such that a weakened portion  123  is left to contain the fluid; the weakened portion  123 , thus, can effectively retain a fluid, but can rupture with less effort, as compared to a lid  106  with consistently full thickness. The termination points  118  of the lines of weakness  116  can also be seen in this view, as being short of the lip  108 . 
     As is well known, after a desired consumable fluid is received in cup  102 , the user will push down onto the lid  106  so that the lip  104  of the cup  102  is received and snapped into a receiving portion  125  (see  FIG. 3 ), which causes the lid  106  to be held into place and then a straw (not shown) is inserted through the hole  122 . 
     After the liquid has been consumed, the user may discard the straw. Or with a conventional cup/lid arrangement, discard the whole item including the cup  102 , lid  106 , and straw. 
     The system  100  disclosed herein, however, has further usefulness as a trash (or other sort of) receptacle. In order to use the system  100 , the straw (not shown) can be removed from the cup lid  106  and discarded, or simply pushed into the cup chamber  140 . Then the cup  102  can be either maintained in the car or other useful place as a trash receptacle or utilized immediately. 
     Upon the existence of an item for discard, the user can cause the lines of weakness  116  to rupture. This rupturing can be accomplished as a preliminary measure by pushing against the lid  106  with a finger, or can be done concurrently with the forcing of a discardable item through the cup lid  106  into the cup  102 . Regardless, the tear lines  116 , when ruptured, create flaps  117  ( FIG. 2A ) which will bend inward to allow passage of the article into the cup chamber  140  where it will remain. Unless the cup chamber  140  is mostly full, the flaps  117 , which are resilient, will return back to place so that the article of trash will not come out. 
     This process is true for each successive item of trash until the cup chamber  140  is almost full. When the trash reaches the top of the cup chamber  140 , and the trash inside has been compacted to a sufficient level, points created at the end of each of the flaps  117  will engage into the trash just introduced, and not return resiliently back. Once this is observed by a user, that user will know that the cup chamber  140  is nearly full, and that the entire unit  100  can be emptied or discarded. 
     These processes are substantially the same for the alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B . The  FIG. 2B  lid embodiment  106   b  (as seen from above) has a total of four lines of weakness  116   b  used to create eight hinged flaps  117   b  when ruptured. In this embodiment, the lines of weakness  116   b  radiate from the center  115   b  of the lid  106   b,  enabling an enclosed containment portion  114   b  of the lid  106   b  to be penetrated to allow for the receipt of trash or other non-liquid objects. Like with the last embodiment, termination points  118   b  of each line of weakness  116   b  terminate before reaching a radial outermost attachment portion  108   b  of the lid  106   b  to protect the integrity of the securing outer portion  108   b.  In this embodiment, one line of weakness is aligned with a straw aperture  122   b.    
       FIG. 2C  shows an embodiment where lines of weakness  116   c  are used to cause a lid  106   c  to rupture into four elastically hinged flaps  117   c.  In this embodiment, the lines of weakness  116   c  radiate from near the center  115   c  of the lid  106   c  enabling an enclosed portion  114   c  of the lid  106   c  to be penetrated to allow for the receipt of trash or other non-liquid objects. Again here, an outermost extent of each line of weakness  118   c  terminates before reaching a radial outermost attachment portion  108   c  of the lid  106   c.  Unlike the past embodiments, however, a straw hole  122   c  is located near the intersection of the lines of weakness  116   c,  involving the straw hole  122   c  as the rupture center. Otherwise, the processes for using lid  106   c  are much that same as for the lids  106   a  and  106   b  previously mentioned. 
     Embodiments for a different kind of cup (e.g., a coffee cup) are shown in  FIGS. 4-6 .  FIG. 4  shows the arrangement in perspective with a cup  502 ,  FIGS. 5A-C  show embodiments from above, and  FIG. 6  shows a sectional view taken across the middle of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A . The system shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  FIG. 5A , and  6  comprises the standard hot liquid cup  502  equipped with an outwardly extending lip  504  and a lid  506 . Lid  506  is designed with an outer peripheral attachment portion  508  which receives the outwardly extending lip  504  of the cup  506 . A containment portion  501  includes a variety of subparts, e.g., parts  515 ,  511 ,  509 ,  514 ,  513 ,  512 ,  510 . A raised structural portion  510  has an upwardly sloped surface  515  which extends upwardly to a flat top  511 . Flat top  511  dips down slightly at an inward position to morph into a penetrable plateau portion  514  via a slight riser  509 . 
     With respect to lid  506 , the penetrable plateau portion  514  terminates just past an airhole  517  into a downwardly sloping portion  513  which leads to a lower trough  512  formed in the lid  506 . A sipping aperture  522  is located at on the top flat surface  511  of the raised structural portion  510 . 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A,  6  have a C-shaped line of weakness  516  which follows the curved contour of the lid  506  and extend between two end points  532  and  534  on a front ridge  530 . The front ridge  530  exists at the transition from the plateau portion  514  to the sloping portion  513 . This arrangement will enable penetration and the inward folding of plateau portion  514 , causing the front ridge  530  to serve as a fold line (or a sort of hinge) during the insertion of trash or other articles into a cup chamber  540 , when the lid  506  of this embodiment is utilized. 
     In use, the lid  506  works using much of the same processes as disclosed above, except that the lines of weakness  516  will cause one single flap to be formed into the plateau portion  514  of the lid  506 , as can be understood. More specifically, a user can use a finger or an item (e.g. of trash) to push against the plateau portion  514  causing the lid  506  to tear along the lines of weakness  516 . Once insertion of an item of trash is begun, plateau portion  514  becomes a hinged flap having edges defined by the line of weakness  516 . The now torn section  514  will bend inward until the article has passed into the chamber  540  inside cup  502 . Then the elastically hinged flap will (to an extent) retract back to retain the trash and close (to an extent) the opening created in the lid  506 . This same process will continue for successive articles of trash until the cup chamber  540  is full as indicated by the flap edges catching on the last article inserted and not elastically returning. 
     The alternative embodiment  506   b  disclosed in  FIG. 5B  is almost the same as the  FIG. 5A  embodiment except that it has a knock out portion  530   b  defined by deep score boundaries  532   b,    534   b,  and  536   b.  These deep score boundaries are made to be slightly more frangible (e.g., by means of increased score depth) than C-shaped lines of weakness  516   b  used to create the flap which will be used for retention means when the item is used as a receptacle. The knock out portion  530   b,  when removed, creates an aperture that reduces the pinching aspect of the sturdy lid flaps. 
     Another alternative score line configuration is shown in  FIG. 5C . Referring to this figure, it can be seen that lines of weakness  516   c,  and a forward line of weakness  532   c  extend linearly outward from a common origin  515   c  which is slightly offset from a center of lid  506   c.    
     This arrangement will create a large trash opening in the lid  506   c,  when in use. An outermost extent  518   c  of each line of weakness  516   c  terminates at the end of a plateau portion  514   c  of this embodiment (it is helpful to refer to the cross section shown in  FIG. 6  to see this since the subject lids are the same) where it transitions to a riser  509   c.  When an article of trash is inserted into the cup using this lid  506   c,  the item will be pressed against the plateau portion  514   c  which, because of the lines of weakness  516   c  and  532   c,  will result in the creation of four inwardly bending hinged flaps  517   c.  The sharp ends formed at the end of each flap  517   c  will bite into the last entered item of trash in a full cup as described in the processes associated with the  FIG. 1-3  embodiments. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.