Abstract:
A single-use disposable sippie lid for use by the food and beverage industry to be integrated with a disposable beverage container. The single-use disposable sippie lid includes a spout extending from the main body of the lid. The spout being perforated and tapered to enable a child to drink from the beverage container. The brim of the lid extends down to securely mate the lid with the beverage container to inhibit spilling when the beverage container is tipped for drinking. A drinking straw access port is also integrated onto the main body of the lid, to permit the user to use either a standard straw or use the spout.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to disposable lids for beverage containers, and more specifically but not by way of limitation a disposable spill resistant sippie lid for disposable beverage containers, such as those sold in fast-food restaurants.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Traveling with children, especially toddlers can be a very demanding task. Parents do everything possible to minimize spills and messes that occur in the car. However, it is the nature of children to tip beverages and drinks when attempting to consume them, even if a straw is inserted into the beverage. With typical beverage containers currently being used by restaurants, such as in the drive-thrus of fast food restaurants, the cups and lids are designed to use straws and are not designed to be tipped forward. Therefore, as many children try to drink through the straws, they tip the beverage container and inevitably spill the beverage on both themselves and on the seats and floor of the vehicle.  
         [0003]     Another problem that exists with disposable lids currently being used by restaurants and beverage centers, is that the thickness of the lid is inadequate to prevent children from easily chewing through the lid.  
         [0004]     Accordingly there is a need for a disposable single-use lid that that can be integrated with existing beverage containers that is spill resistant and will also facilitate the consumption of a beverage by those who need assistance, such as small children. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a lid disposed on a typical beverage container in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded side view of the embodiment of the present invention as similarly shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of yet another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a method for implementing the present invention; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating in more detail parts of the method for implementing the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a disposable single-use lid  100  and a beverage container  200 . As illustrated lid  100  includes a generally planar disk shaped top  102 , a tapered spout  110  and beverage indicators  118 . Spout  110  has a recessed portion  112  through which holes extend permitting beverages to exit spout  110 . Recessed portion  112  minimizes the amount of liquid that can spill through spout  110 . It is contemplated that a variety of number, size and types of holes can be integrated into the recessed portion  112 , such as, but not limited to holes of graduated diameters, holes of equal diameters, and slits. It is also contemplated that the shape and size of spout  110  could be varied to accommodate a users preference.  
         [0013]     Lid  100  further includes circlet rim  120  that extends around the perimeter of lid  100 . Extending from rim  120  in an arcuate downward manner is a brim  125  with the bottom portion  130  of brim  125  having a diameter greater than the diameter of rim  120 . The arcuate shape of brim  125  not only helps to secure lid  100  to beverage container  200  to prevent leaking but also gives additional support and stability to beverage container  200  which increases the amount of force required to crush beverage container  200  when lid  100  is applied.  
         [0014]     Beverage container  200  is a typical beverage container utilized in the standard food industry, and can be manufactured from various materials, such as paper and plastic.  
         [0015]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when lid  100  is placed upon beverage container  200 , the lip  210  of beverage container  200  communicates with the underside of rim  120 , and the arcuate shape of brim  125  engages the sides of beverage container  200 , thereby increasing the stability of beverage container  200 . Good results have been achieved by making the length of brim  125  at least ¼ inch in length, although it is contemplated that the length can be varied base on a number of factors, such as the thickness and size of the lid  100 , as well as the particular preference of a user.  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated the top view of an alternative embodiment of a disposable single-use lid  300 . Lid  300  includes a generally planar disk shaped top  302 , and a tapered spout  310  with holes  314  extending through for facilitating the drinking of liquid. Similar to the lid disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , lid  300  includes a rim  320  with a brim  325  extending therefrom in a generally arcuate shape with the bottom portion  330  of the brim  325  having a diameter greater that the diameter of rim  320 . The arcuate shape of brim  325  helps to secure lid  300  to a beverage container and additionally gives added support and stability the beverage container upon which it is placed. This increases the amount of force required to crush the beverage container, thereby inhibiting spillage. It is contemplated that lid  300  mates with a beverage container similarly to that described herein above with reference to the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0017]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , lid  300  includes beverage indicators  318  and a straw receptacle  335 . Beverage indicators  318  are bubble in shape and are depressed to indicate the contents of the liquid being supplied. Straw receptacle  335  is generally a circular shape with cross-scores facilitating the easy insertion of a straw through lid  300 . As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a big advantage of the embodiment of lid  300  is because of both a spout  310  and a straw receptacle  335 , a single lid need only be stocked by the food industry, such, for example, a drink that is to be delivered to target user that is a child, the target user has the option of either using the spout from which to drink, or could insert a straw through straw receptacle  335 . This would eliminate the need for the food industry to stock multiple format lids.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated the top view of another alternative embodiment of a disposable single-use lid  400 . Lid  400  includes a generally planar disk shaped top  402 , and a tapered spout  410  with a liquid access port  314  extending through for facilitating the drinking of liquid. Similar to the lid disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , lid  400  includes a rim  420  with a brim  425  extending therefrom in a generally arcuate shape with the bottom portion  430  of the brim  425  having a diameter greater that the diameter of rim  420 . The arcuate shape of brim  425  helps to secure lid  400  to a beverage container and additionally gives added support and stability the beverage container upon which it is placed. This increases the amount of force required to crush the beverage container, thereby inhibiting spillage. It is contemplated that lid  400  mates with a beverage container similarly to that described herein above with reference to the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0019]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , lid  400  includes beverage indicators  418 . Beverage indicators  318  are bubble in shape and are depressed to indicate the contents of the liquid being supplied. Liquid access port  414  is generally a circular shape with cross-scores facilitating either the easy insertion of a straw through lid  400  or can be breached to facilitate the access of liquid through spout  410  without a straw and in a manner of utilizing a standard sippie spout. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a big advantage of the embodiment of lid  400  is because of liquid access port  414  of spout  410  is designed to operate as either a straw receptacle or to facilitate the use of spout  410  as a sippie spout, a single lid need only be stocked by the food industry, such, for example, a drink that is to be delivered to target user that is a child, the target user has the option of either using the spout from which to drink, or could insert a straw through liquid access port  414 . This would eliminate the need for the food industry to stock multiple format lids.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a method for  500  for a food or beverage facility implementing a single use disposable sippie lid as shown and described herein. As illustrated in block  510 , a facility will receive an order that includes an order for a beverage. Block  520  indicates that a determination is then made as to whether the target consumer of the ordered beverage needs a standard single-use disposable lid or a single-use disposable sippie lid. Block  530  indicates that the beverage container is then filled with the ordered beverage. Subsequent to the filling of the beverage container with a beverage, as indicated by block  540 , the appropriate lid, as determined in block  520 , is then placed on the beverage container. Then, as indicated by block  550 , the beverage container with the appropriate lid is then transferred to the target user.  
         [0021]     Regarding the method described and illustrated in  FIG. 5 , it is contemplated that the steps do not need to occur in the described ordered. For example, but not by way of limitation, in some food/beverage facilities, the target user fills their own beverage, in such a case block  550  would occur between blocks  520  and  530 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a more detailed method for block  520  of  FIG. 5  wherein a determination is made as to the type of lid the target consumer of the ordered beverage needs. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , block  600  indicates that a determination is made as to whether a kids/child&#39;s meal has been ordered. If the a the result of block  600  is in the positive, the ‘yes’ arrow is followed to block  610  wherein an inquiry of the age of the target consumer of the beverage is made. Then, as indicated by block  620 , if the age of the target consumer of the beverage falls within a predetermined range, such as if the child is a toddler, the ‘yes’ arrow is followed to block  630  and the appropriate lid is identified as being a single-use disposable sippie lid, as described herein. If, in block  620 , the age of the target consumer falls outside the predetermined range, the ‘no’ arrow if followed to block  650 . In block  650 , the appropriated lid is identified as being a standard lid.  
         [0023]     Referring again to block  600 , if the determination is made that a kids/child&#39;s meal has not been ordered, the ‘no’ arrow is followed to block  640 . As indicated in block  640  if the customer requests a single-use disposable sippie lid, the ‘yes’ arrow if followed to block  630 , and the appropriate lid is identified as being a single-use disposable sippie lid, as described herein. If the customer does not request a single-use disposable sippie lid, the ‘no’ arrow if followed to block  650 , and the appropriate lid is identified as being a standard lid.  
         [0024]     As can be appreciated, it is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention various steps could be used. For example, but not by way of limitation, if a single-use disposable lid, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  were being implemented, blocks  610  and  620  could be eliminated, such that if a kids/child&#39;s meal is ordered, the appropriate lid would always be identified as a single-use disposable sippie lid.  
         [0025]     It is contemplated that each of the embodiments of lids described herein in accordance with the present invention can be manufactured of standard food quality molded plastic. The shapes and sizes of the lids can be varied to correspond to the shape of the desired beverage container to which the lid will be mated. It is further contemplated that various colors and patters could also be integrated with the lids to match a particular request of a user.  
         [0026]     It is further contemplated that the thickness of the materials making up the spouts would be of sufficient thickness as to inhibit a user from chewing through or biting off the spout from the rest of the lid. Additionally it is contemplated that the shapes and sizes of the spouts illustrated herein could be varied to accommodate various target users.  
         [0027]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the sprit and scope of the appended claims.