One-piece splash and spill resistant lid

Abstract

A one-piece disposable cup lid enables drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling by blocking straight-line paths through the lid and dispensing beverage through a well. A drinking spout can include a well having a sidewall, a bottom and a penetration into the cup, or a sloping lid section can intersect a raised rim to create a well therebetween, with a penetration in the sloping section or the rim configured to block straight-line paths, for example by upwardly hinging of a flap or depressing half of a split, convex bubble. Embodiments include baffles that force a beverage to flow through a convoluted path and / or through chambers before being consumed. Baffles can be formed in place, or by hinged movement of flaps after forming. Textures and / or protruding structures can intercept, direct, and / or influence surface tension as beverage flows across surfaces. Vent hole sizes and locations can further limit flow and spilling.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 972,309, filed on Jan. 10, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 972,309 claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 879,935, filed Jan. 12, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 122,964, filed Dec. 16, 2008, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to lids for use with drinking vessels, and more particularly to splash and spill resistant disposable lids for drinking vessels.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Disposable lids are frequently used in combination with drinking cups, coffee cups, and other types of drinking vessels and containers from which a beverage ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]A one-piece disposable lid is claimed that includes structural features which enable drinking from a drinking cup while also inherently inhibiting splashing and spilling of the beverage from the drinking cup without requiring deployment of manual plugs or blocking devices. Spilling and splashing are inhibited by blocking straight-line paths that could be traversed by splashed, airborne droplets so as to escape through openings in the lid and by providing a dispensing well which allows any modest quantities of beverage received or remaining into the dispensing well to be drained back into the cup when the cup is held or returned to a near upright position.

[0015]In some embodiments, a drinking spout is included, the drinking spout comprising a dispensing well with at least one well penetration or opening for allowing fluid communication between the cup interior and the dispensing well. The well penetration allows transferring of beverage from the cup interior to the dispensing well for allowing a person to sip or consume the beverage by placing their lips around the drinking spout. The direction of fluid or beverage entry, through the well penetration, into the dispensing well from the cup interior is substantially orthogonal to the direction of beverage exit from the dispensing well for consumption of the beverage. Splashing droplets are thereby prevented from straight-line travel out of the spout, since beverage must enter the well in a direction substantially orthagonal to the central axis of the cup and then be dispensed in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the cup.

[0018]Embodiments of the present invention include textures and / or protruding structures on one or more surfaces of the lid, so as to direct fluid flow across one or more surfaces, intercept splashed and / or rapidly flowing beverage, and / or enhance or retard retention of fluid due to surface tension.

[0019]Various embodiments include one or more vent holes that permit air to enter the cup and equalize the internal pressure as a beverage is consumed. In some of these embodiments, the vent holes are surrounded by vent wells, and in certain of these embodiments the vent holes are structured so as to minimize splashing by blocking straight-line passage of droplets from the cup interior through the vent holes. In some of these embodiments a plurality of vent holes is provided, which are initially sealed by blockages that can be removed by a user, and in some of these embodiments the plurality of vent holes includes vent holes of different sizes. These embodiments enable a user to select how many and / or which vent holes to open, so as to control the maximum rate at which a beverage can flow from the cup. In still other embodiments, at least one vent hole is located near the dispensing well, so that tipping of the cup from vertical beyond a certain angle will cause the beverage in the cup to block the vent hole, thereby minimizing the rate of beverage spillage.

[0032]said inlet opening being disposed in a plane substantially orthogonal to said drink-through opening and thereby inhibiting straight line paths between an interior of said drink cup and said drink-through opening.

Problems solved by technology

Of course, while providing a drink-through opening in a disposable lid facilitates consumption of the beverage therethrough without separating the lid from the drinking vessel, it also creates a risk that beverage could be inadvertently splashed or spilled out through the opening if the cup is inadvertently tipped or jostled, or is subjected to sudden acceleration or deceleration.

Inadvertent spilling and splashing can create dangerous situations when a user is driving or moving.

With today's busy lifestyle, consumption of beverages on-the-go and has become commonplace, and inadvertent spilling and splashing of beverage can be particularly irksome and embarrassing for a user when en route to work or to a professional and / or social engagement.

However, straws are typically not practical, or at least are not preferred, when consuming a hot beverage such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

However, turbulence or “sloshing” of a beverage when the cup is nearly full can easily lead to spilling of some liquid out from the hole, and jostling of the cup can cause liquid to splash or spill through such a hole or flap.

However, such drainage wells are typically shallow, and are only effective if the cup is maintained in a near-vertical orientation.

In certain situations, jostling may even cause liquid to splash or spill out of the drainage well before it has drained back into the cup.

However, these approaches only provide protection from spilling and splashing when the drinking hole is closed or blocked, and do not naturally inhibit spilling and splashing when open.

In addition, these lids tend to be multi-piece constructions and may be generally too expensive to be practical for a disposable lid, or at least may be too cumbersome to use, as they require a user to plug and unplug the drinking hole manually each time a portion of beverage is to be consumed.

However, providing and installing a separate insert in addition to a lid is inconvenient and costly as compared to using a one-piece lid, and therefore tends to be impractical for disposable lids.

Also, separate inserts can become dislodged or can shift in position, and can therefore be unreliable.

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