Removable clip for beverage lid

Abstract

A clip can be slidably attached to a disposable cup lid. The clip can easily attach to a commercially available lid or a customized lid and cover an aperture in the lid. The spill clip can be made separately from the lid and attach to any lid, or the lid can be built with a pre-attached clip.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 598,901, filed Aug. 4, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS [0002] 1. Field of the Inventions [0003] This invention relates generally to cup lids configured to reduce the likelihood of spillage and particularly to a reusable clip that may attach to beverage lids to reduce the likelihood of spillage. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Beverage containers are widely used in the food industry to provide hot and cold drinks to customers. These containers are often disposable cups that have a lid secured to the top of the cup. Disposable cups permit the customer to take the drink with them when they leave the food establishment in which they purchased the cup. These containers are frequently used during transit, such as in automobiles, boats, golf carts, or walking, and the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Disclosed herein are different embodiments related to a clip that is designed to connect to a beverage lid containing an aperture. The clip preferably is designed to cover the aperture to reduce the likelihood of spillage. The clip may slidably engage a perimeter, or other edge, of the lid, allowing a user to slide the clip over the aperture to reduce the likelihood of spillage. In order to drink or pour the beverage, the user may slide the clip to expose the aperture.

[0008] The clip can be attached on a disposable lid, and may be plastic and disposable or reusable. The clip may be a clip-on flap that covers the aperture for any hot or cold beverage. The curve of the clip may fit to all standard cup lids and therefore is very cost effective. The clip can have vertical ridges to provide grip for easy sliding of the clip. The clip can be moved along the edge of the lid, so it can cover the aperture of the lid or it can be slid away from it.

[0010] In one embodiment, a clip is provided that may be configured to reduce the likelihood of spillage from a beverage lid. The clip may include an elongated portion extending between a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be configured to slidably engage a first perimeter of a lid, and the second portion may be configured to slidably engage a second perimeter of the lid. The clip may also be configured to permit multiple uses on different lids.

Problems solved by technology

These containers are frequently used during transit, such as in automobiles, boats, golf carts, or walking, and the possibility of spilling the contents of the container during such activities is increased.

This may result in spillage on a shirt, trousers, or carpet.

Additionally, these containers are often used in settings involving large crowds, such as ball games, where the possibility of spillage may be increased, posing an inconvenience to the customer and those within the vicinity.

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