Patent Publication Number: US-6702145-B2

Title: Splash-proof lid for a cup

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a §111 (a) application relating to a U.S. Appln. Ser. No. 60/235,948 filed Sep. 26, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to lids for drinking cups and, more particularly, to such lids which inhibit the liquid contents of the cups from splashing out through a discharge opening in the lids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hot and cold beverages, such as coffee, juice and the like, are typically served in single-serving containers or disposable cups having a removable lid. Frequently, these disposable cups are intended for “take-out” use, such usage often resulting in inadvertent splashing of the hot or cold liquid contents from the interior of the cups through the discharge outlet of their associated lids. If the liquid contents are hot, their inadvertent discharge from the cup can cause painful injuries, property damage, accidents and other undesirable results. 
     For example, on trains, airlines, ships and the like, it is customary to serve beverages to the passengers. The movement of these vehicles often causes the liquids to jiggle and splash out from the covered cup. To minimize splashing of such beverages from out of the cup, the dispensed liquids are frequently served in a partially filled cup or container, i.e., being only two-thirds filled. In this situation, to prevent any splashing problems, the underfilling prevents the consumer from getting a full measure of the beverage within the cup. In addition, when consumers purchase hot beverages, such as coffee, for their “take-out” use in a vehicle, the users must waste some of the purchased beverage by pouring some liquid out of the cup to prevent the splashing of its liquid contents during the movement of the consumers&#39; vehicle. 
     The prior art describes various efforts to produce a splash-proof lid to alleviate the aforementioned problems. However, the previously disclosed devices either involve complex lid geometries which can not be economically molded or relate only to reducing the splashing-out propensity of the lid by limiting the circumstances of use. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,322,014 and 4,394,928 to Philip disclose a splash-proof cover for a container. More particularly, the cover includes a barrier member that acts as a splash shield. The barrier member is located on the bottom surface of the cover and extends under and across the liquid for preventing liquid from being splashed out from the covered container. Each of these devices reveal a very complex geometric lid design which may not completely prevent the splashing of liquid from the cup. Further, this lid structure may not be economically molded. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,992 to Sitko et al. discloses a snap-on lid for a cup having a drinking orifice therein. The lid further includes a flange that slopes downwardly around the inner periphery of the drinking orifice adjacent to one side of the lid. The flange only partially reduces splashing out which might occur due to the inadvertent movement of the cup when in a moving vehicle. The flange is also inadequate in that it is only located adjacent to the drinking orifice and does not adequately block any splashing of liquid from the cup when jarred or jiggled during vehicular movement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,019 to Horner discloses a spill-resistant lid for a cup. The lid includes a raised oval which, when depressed by the user, becomes an interior canopy (depressed oval) which deflects fluid from splashing-out of the lid but also permits a metered flow of fluid from openings on each side of the interior canopy when the user is drinking the fluid. The interior canopy does not adequately block any splashing of fluid from the cup when jarred or jiggled during vehicular movement. 
     As in the foregoing circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a splash-proof lid having a splash guard therein for preventing the splashing of a hot or cold beverage from the discharge opening of the lid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved splash-proof lid for a drinking cup includes a splash guard which is made from a semi-permeable material, such as a non-woven fiber substrate. The splash guard underlies a discharge opening in the lid so as to inhibit liquid in an associated cup from splashing out of the discharge opening, while permitting the liquid to flow therethrough to the discharge opening. The splash guard can be angled relative to a plane which contains the discharge opening such that the undrunk liquid drains back into the cup from the lid. Because the splash guard is inexpensive to manufacture and attach to the lid, the lid and splash guard can be disposed of after a single use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view of a drinking cup having a splash-proof lid constructed in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 1 taken along section line  4 — 4  and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 1 taken along section line  5 — 5  and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cup and lid of FIG. 1, showing the in operational use when the liquid level is above a splash guard of the lid; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cup and lid of FIG. 1, showing the in operational use when the liquid level is below the splash guard; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, except that the cup and lid are shown after their operational use; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded top perspective view of the drinking cup of FIG. 1, which has been provided with a splash-proof lid constructed in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 9 taken along section line  12 — 12  and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 9 taken along section line  13 — 13  and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cup and lid of FIG. 9, showing the in operational use when the liquid level is above a splash guard of the lid; 
     FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cup and lid of FIG. 9, showing the in operational use when the liquid level is below the splash guard; 
     FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 14 and 15, except that the cup and lid are shown after their operational use; 
     FIG. 17 is an exploded top perspective view of the drinking cup of FIG. 1, which has been provided with a splash-proof lid constructed in accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of the splash-proof lid of FIG. 17; and 
     FIG. 19 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the splash-proof lid of FIG.  18 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a splash-proof lid  10  is disclosed for preventing the splashing of hot or cold liquid  12  from an interior  14  of a cup or container  16 , wherein the lid  10  is detachably connected to a rim section  18  of cup  16 . With reference to FIGS. 1,  4  and  5 , the splash-proof lid  10  includes a top wall  20  having an integrally attached curved perimeter side wall  22  for detachably connecting to the rim section  18  of cup  16 . The top wall  20  includes an annular ring section  24  having a discharge outlet opening  26  therein. The outlet opening  26  is sized and shaped to allow the liquid to pass freely therethrough when the cup  16  is tilted to the user&#39;s lips (see FIGS.  6  and  7 ). 
     The top wall  20  also includes a circular planar section  28 , an inner arcuate wall  30  and a front recessed (well) portion  32 , wherein the planar section  28  is sloping downward relative to the front recessed portion  32  and the inner arcuate wall  30  (see FIG.  1 ). The top wall  20  further includes an interior underside area  34  (see FIGS. 4 and 5 especially) to be discussed hereinafter. The planar section  28  includes a vent opening  29  for exiting and venting of steam, air, carbonation, etc. in order to depressurize the closed cup  16  when filled with the liquid  12  and to prevent a vacuum from forming when the liquid  12  is drained from the cup  16 . The vent opening  29  is positioned diametrically opposite from the outlet opening  26 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 , the front recessed portion  32  includes a pair of boss elements  36 ,  38 . Each of the boss elements  36 ,  38  is configured to form a raised hub structure being radially tapered towards a center point of the lid  10  (see FIG.  4 ). The boss element  36  includes a bottom wall  42 , a rear wall  44 , a side wall  46  and a curved perimeter edge  48 . Similarly, the boss element  38  includes a bottom wall  52 , a rear wall  54 , a side wall  56  and a curved perimeter edge  58 . The boss elements  36  and  38  are separated from each other such that side walls  46  and  56  form a center channel  50  therebetween (see FIG.  3 ). Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2,  5  and  6 , the inner arcuate wall  30  and the curved perimeter side wall  22  on the underside area  34  of lid  10  form a first outer channel  60 A and a second outer channel  60 B for channeling and directing the liquid  12  from the interior  14  of cup  16  towards the discharge outlet opening  26  in the annular ring section  24  of the lid  10  when the user is in a drinking mode (see FIGS.  2  and  6 ). 
     The curved perimeter side wall  22  includes an interior circular lip  62  which acts as a seal component, such that the interior circular lip  62  of lid  10  is mated with the rim section  18  of cup  16  to form a detachable seal between lid  10  and cup  16  (see FIG.  1 ). The interior circular lip  62  includes a front section  64  to be discussed hereinafter. 
     Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2 to  4 , lid  10  includes a splash guard  70  having a substantially semi-circular shape. The splash guard  70  includes an upper wall surface  72 , a lower wall surface  74 , a curved perimeter edge  76  and a linear perimeter edge  78 . The curved perimeter edge  76  of splash guard  70  is attached by attachment means, such as heat sealing, laser sealing, or hot melted adhesives, to the front section  64  of lip  62 , while the linear perimeter edge  78  of splash guard  70  is attached by the aforementioned attachment means to front edges  43 ,  53  of the bottom walls  42 ,  52  of boss elements  36 ,  38  respectively (see FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 ). Additionally, the splash guard  70  has a deflection angle (α) relative to an imaginary line beginning at the interior circular lip  62  and running parallel to the plane of the top wall  20  of lid  10 . The deflection angle (α) of the splash guard  70  assures that the draining of liquid  12  will flow from the channels  50 ,  60 A and  60 B into the interior  14  of cup  16 , as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The splash guard  70  is made from a semi-permeable membrane material, such as a non-woven fiber substrate (similar to coffee filter paper). However, the semi-permeable material can be constructed from other materials, such as plastics or plant fibers. The materials are not critical, only that the membrane material be semi-permeable. Alternatively, the splash guard  70  could be constructed from porous materials, such as a plastic film having a plurality of openings therein. Such porous materials (e.g., a porous plastic film) would function in a similar manner as the semi-permeable membrane material described above. 
     The splash guard  70  can be assembled to the lid  10  at the point of manufacture. Alternatively, the splash guard  70  can be supplied as a separate after-market accessory adapted for subsequent attachment to the interior circular lip  62  of the lid  10 . 
     In operation, the splash guard  70  located on the underside area  34  of lid  10  operates in the following manner. When the interior  14  of cup  16  has been filled with a hot or cold liquid (beverage)  12 , the interior lip  62  of the lid  10  is then attached to the rim section  18  of cup  16  to form a temporary seal between lid  10  and cup  16  (see FIGS. 1,  7  and  8 ). In the non-drinking mode of use, the splash guard  70  prevents the splashing-out of liquid  12  from the discharge outlet opening  26  in the following way. When the liquid  12  within the cup  16  is jarred, jiggled or moved about in any way, whether in a vehicle&#39;s holder or a user&#39;s hand, the splash guard  70  acts as a barrier, such that the liquid  12  is bounced (i.e., deflected) away from the outlet opening  26 . In addition, if any of the liquid  12  enters the channels  50 ,  60 A and  60 B, it is quickly drained therefrom due to the deflection angle (α) (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the splash guard  70 . More particularly, the downwardly sloping splash guard  70  will drain the liquid  12  back into the interior  14  of the cup  16  (see FIG. 7) thereby preventing any splashing of liquid  12  from out of the discharge outlet opening  26  of lid  10 . The deflection angle (α) is in a range of from about 5° to about 15°, with a preferred deflection angle (α) of 10°. 
     During the drinking mode of use, the splash guard  70  (see FIGS. 6 and 7) does not hinder the user from drinking liquid  12  from the discharge outlet opening  26 , as the liquid  12  freely flows through the outer channels  60 A and  60 B and the center channel  50  from the interior  14  of the cup  16 . With reference to FIG. 6, when the liquid level  12   a  is above the linear perimeter edge  78  of splash guard  70 , the liquid  12  can freely flow through the center channel  50  and the outer channels  60 A and  60 B from the interior  14  of the cup  16  in order to discharge liquid  12  from the cup  16  through the discharge outlet opening  26  of lid  10 . Referring now to FIG. 7, when the liquid level  12   b  is below the perimeter edge  78  of splash guard  70 , the liquid  12  is blocked by the splash guard  70  from direct access to the center channel  50  and the outer channels  60 A and  60 B. However, because the splash guard  70  is made from a semi-permeable membrane or is otherwise constructed to permit liquid flow therethrough, the liquid  12  can still flow freely through the splash guard  70  to the outer channels  60 A and  60 B and the center channel  50  from the interior  14  of the cup  16  in order to discharge the liquid  12  from the cup  16  through the discharge outlet opening  26  of lid  10 . In the process of drinking a portion of liquid  12  from the cup  16 , the cup  16  is repeatedly returned to an upright position or essentially vertical position (see FIG.  7 ), where again the splash guard  70  acts as a barrier, such that between the user&#39;s intake of the liquid  12 , the channels  50 ,  60 A and  60 B formed by the splash guard  70  can drain the liquid  12  back into the interior  14  of the cup  16  (see FIGS.  4  and  7 ). As previously mentioned, the liquid  12  quickly drains by gravity due to the deflection angle (α) of the splash guard  70 , such that the downwardly sloping splash guard  70  promotes the drainage of the liquid  12  from the channels  50 ,  60 A and  60 B. With repeated use, eventually all of the liquid  12  can be discharged from the cup  16  through the discharge outlet opening  26 . 
     In summary, the splash-proof lid  10  equipped with the splash guard  70  prevents any splashing of (beverage) liquid due to the strategic placement of the semi-permeable membrane material (splash guard  70 ) between the discharge outlet opening  26  of lid  10  and the liquid contents of a beverage container or cup  16 , as shown in FIGS. 2,  6 ,  7  and  8 . 
     In FIGS. 9-16, the cup  16  is shown in combination with another splash-proof lid  100  which includes a top wall  110  having an integrally attached curved perimeter side wall  112  for detachably connecting to the rim section  18  of the cup  16 . The top wall  110  includes an annular ring section  114  having a discharge outlet opening  116  therein. The outlet opening  116  is sized and shaped to allow the liquid to pass freely therethrough when the cup  16  is tilted to the user&#39;s lips (see FIGS.  14  and  15 ). The top wall  110  also includes a rear semi-circular planar section  118 , and a front recessed (well) portion  120 , wherein the rear planar section  118  is at a higher elevation relative to the front recessed portion  120  (see FIG.  9 ). The top wall  110  further includes an interior underside area  122  (see FIGS. 11,  12  and  13 ) to be discussed hereinafter. The rear planar section  118  includes a vent opening  124  for exiting and venting of steam, air, carbonation, etc. in order to depressurize the closed cup  16  when filled with the liquid  12 , and to prevent a vacuum from forming when the liquid  12  is drained from the cup  16 . The vent opening  124  is positioned diametrically opposite from the outlet opening  116 . The front recessed portion  120  is defined by an inner straight wall  130  sloping downward relative to the rear planar section  126 , an inner arcuate wall  132  sloping downward relative to the outlet opening  116  of the ring section  114 , and a bottom (floor) wall section  134  sloping downward relative to the inner straight wall  130  towards the inner arcuate wall  132 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 9,  11  and  12 , the bottom wall section  134  also includes a pair of boss elements  136 ,  138 . Each of the boss elements  136 ,  138  is configured to form a raised hub structure being radially tapered towards a center point of the lid  10  (see FIG.  12 ). The boss element  136  includes a bottom wall  142 , a rear wall  144 , a side wall  146  and a curved perimeter edge  148 . Similarly, the boss element  138  includes a bottom wall  152 , a rear wall  154 , a side wall  156  and a curved perimeter edge  158 . The boss elements  136  and  138  are separated from each other such that side walls  146  and  156  form a center channel  150  therebetween (see FIG.  11 ). Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 10,  13  and  14 , the inner arcuate wall  132  and the curved perimeter side wall  112  on the underside area  122  of lid  100  form a first outer channel  160 A and a second outer channel  160 B for channeling and directing the liquid  12  from the interior  14  of cup  16  towards the discharge outlet opening  116  in the annular ring section  114  of the lid  100  when the user is in a drinking mode (see FIGS.  14  and  15 ). 
     The curved perimeter side wall  112  includes an interior circular lip  162  which acts as a seal component, such that the interior circular lip  162  of lid  100  is mated with the rim section  18  of cup  16  to form a detachable seal between lid  100  and cup  16  (see FIG.  9 ). The interior circular lip  62  includes a front section  164  to be discussed hereinafter. 
     Additionally, as shown in FIGS.  10 — 12 , the lid  100  includes a splash guard  170 , which is essentially identical to the splash guard  70  of FIGS.  1 — 9 . Thus, the splash guard  170  includes an upper wall surface  172 , a lower wall surface  174 , a curved perimeter edge  176  and a linear perimeter edge  178 . The curved perimeter edge  176  of splash guard  170  is attached by attachment means, such as heat sealing, laser sealing, or hot melted adhesives, to the front section  164  of lip  162 , while the linear perimeter edge  178  of splash guard  170  is attached by the aforementioned attachment means to front edges  143 ,  153  of the bottom walls  142 ,  152  of boss elements  136 ,  138  respectively (see FIGS. 10,  11  and  12 ). Additionally the splash guard  170  has a deflection angle (α) relative to an imaginary line beginning at the interior circular lip  162  and running parallel to the plane of the top wall  110  of lid  100 . The deflection angle (α) of the splash guard  170  assures that the draining liquid will flow from the channels  150 ,  160 A and  160 B into the interior  14  of cup  16 , as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     In operation, the splash guard  170  operates in exactly the same manner as the splash guard  70  of FIGS. 1-8. Thus, the splash-proof lid  100  equipped with the splash guard  170  prevents any splashing of (beverage) liquid due to the strategic placement of the semi-permeable membrane material (splash guard  170 ) between the discharge outlet opening  116  of lid  100  and the liquid contents of a beverage container or cup  16 , as shown in FIGS. 10,  14 ,  15  and  16 . 
     In FIGS. 17-19, the cup  16  is shown in combination with yet another splash-proof lid  200 , which is detachably connected to the rim section  18  of the cup  16 . More particularly, the splash-proof lid  200  includes a top wall  220  having an integrally attached curved perimeter side wall  222  for detachably connecting to the rim section  18  of the cup  16 . The top wall  220  includes an annular ring section  224  having a discharge outlet opening  226  therein. The outlet opening  226  is sized and shaped to allow the liquid to pass freely therethrough when the cup  16  is tilted to the user&#39;s lips. 
     The top wall  220  also includes a circular planar section  228 , an inner arcuate wall  230  and a front recessed (well) portion  232 , wherein the planar section  228  is sloping downward relative to the front recessed portion  232  and the inner arcuate wall  230  (see FIG.  17 ). The top wall  220  further includes an interior underside area  234  to be discussed hereinafter. The planar section  228  includes a vent opening  236  for exiting and venting of steam, air, carbonation, etc. in order to depressurize the closed cup  16  when filled with the liquid  12 , and to prevent a vacuum from forming when the liquid  12  is drained from the cup  16 . The vent opening  236  is positioned diametrically opposite from the outlet opening  226 . The curved perimeter side wall  222  includes an interior circular lip  262  which acts as a seal component, such that the interior circular lip  262  of lid  200  is mated with the rim section  18  of the cup  16  to form a detachable seal between the lid  200  and the cup  16 . 
     Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 17-19, the lid  200  includes a splash guard  270  that is sized and shaped to completely cover outlet opening  226 . The splash guard  270  includes an upper wall surface  272 , a lower wall surface  274 , and a curved perimeter edging  276 . The curved perimeter edging  276  of splash guard  270  is attached by attachment means, such as heat sealing, laser sealing, or hot melted adhesives to the annular ring section  224  around the discharge outlet opening  226  (see FIGS.  18  and  19 ). 
     Like the splash guard  70  of FIGS. 1-8 and the splash guard  170  of FIGS. 9-16, the splash guard  270  can be made from a semi-permeable membrane material, such as a non-woven fiber substrate (similar to coffee filter paper). However, the splash guard  270  has a higher porosity, and hence less resistance to liquid flow, than the splash guards  70  and  170 . It is possible to construct the splash guard  270  from other materials, such as plastics or plant fibers. The materials are not critical, only that the membrane material be semi-permeable and have a higher porosity than the splash guards  70  and  170 . Alternatively, the splash guard  270  could be constructed from porous materials, such as a plastic film having a plurality of openings therein. Such porous materials (e.g., a porous plastic film) would function in a similar manner as the semi-permeable membrane material described above. 
     In operation, the splash guard  270  located on the underside area  234  of lid  200  operates in a standard manner of drinking liquid through the discharge outlet opening  226  of lid  200 , except for the splash guard  270  covering the outlet opening  226 . So as not to have a deleterious affect on the operation of the lid  200 , the porosity of the splash guard  270  and the size of the outlet opening  226  are specifically selected so as to permit an acceptable flow rate of the liquid  12  from the cup  12  through the lid  200  and to the user (not shown). 
     In summary, the splash-proof lid  200  equipped with the splash guard  270  prevents any splashing of (beverage) liquid due to the strategic placement of the semi-permeable membrane material (splash guard  270 ) between the discharge outlet opening  226  of the liquid contents of a beverage container or cup  16 . 
     It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.