Container assembly having an overcap with a storage compartment

Abstract

There is provided an overcap that includes a storage compartment for receiving a product to be mixed with a hot liquid. The overcap includes a top wall defining the storage compartment in an underside of the top wall surrounded by an annular portion. The overcap includes an aperture in the annular portion. The overcap also includes a skirt extending downward from a rim surrounding the annular portion. The skirt extends below a lowermost surface of the top wall and can define a grip surface which a consumer may use to hold the container assembly, such that the grip surface insulates against heat if a hot liquid is held in the container. The storage compartment is sealed with a membrane that is relatively impermeable to moisture. In addition, the skirt includes a plurality of spacers on the inside surface of the skirt that are circumferentially spaced apart and that extend downwardly from the rim of the overcap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention is related to overcaps for container assemblies, and more particularly, overcaps having a recessed storage compartment for storing of a product. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Convenience is a major factor in designing containers, such as cups, for holding consumable liquids, especially “travel” containers intended for easy transport without spillage of the liquid. To this end, such containers often have a lid, or overcap, affixed to the container so as to limit escape of the liquids due to changes in container orientation. Another problem with dispensing consumable liquids in containers is that the consumer often wishes to add various products to the liquid, such as sugar or powdered cream to coffee. However, such products are typically distributed in small, individual packages that are not easily located or opened to dispense their contents into the liquid. [0005] The container l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The invention addresses the above needs and achieves other advantages by providing an overcap for a container, wherein the overcap can store a product for mixing with a liquid held in the container. The overcap includes a rim configured to engage the container and a top wall that defines a storage compartment in an underside of the top wall. The top wall also includes a substantially horizontal annular portion radially inward of the rim and surrounding the storage compartment. The overcap also has a membrane removably attached to the underside of the top wall of the overcap covering the storage compartment for sealing a product in the storage compartment. The overcap may also be made of a multi-layer polymer material to provide oxygen and moisture protection. A drinking aperture is defined in the annular portion to provide convenient access to liquids that may be held in the container.

[0009] The overcap of further embodiments includes a skirt extending downwardly from the rim and includes a grip surface defined on the skirt. The skirt may include a plurality of spacers along an inner surface of the skirt, and the spacers may be circumferentially spaced apart from each other and extend downwardly from the rim of the overcap. The grip surface can be held by the consumer to support the container assembly when a hot liquid is held in the container. In addition, the spacers of the skirt insulate against heat from the hot liquid by spacing the skirt from the container wall.

Problems solved by technology

Convenience is a major factor in designing containers, such as cups, for holding consumable liquids, especially “travel” containers intended for easy transport without spillage of the liquid.

Another problem with dispensing consumable liquids in containers is that the consumer often wishes to add various products to the liquid, such as sugar or powdered cream to coffee.

However, such products are typically distributed in small, individual packages that are not easily located or opened to dispense their contents into the liquid.

The Bennett patent, and similar lids with hollow pockets, do not provide an aperture for convenient access to the liquid or product within the container, thus requiring the consumer to remove the lid to gain access to the liquid.

Connection of the lid to the container may be difficult for consumers because the container must first be inserted into the sleeve and then the tethered lid must be rotated to attach the lid to the open upper end.

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