Beverage cup lid

Abstract

A beverage cup lid having means for facilitating the rapid identification of its drinking orifice and drinking straw aperture components by beverage servers as well as consumers of the beverage, especially by the visually or neurologically impaired, and especially by drivers of motor vehicles. In various embodiments of the subject beverage cup lid, the orifice (or drinking straw aperture) is circumscribed by an area characterized by a high degree of contrast relative to the remaining external surface area of the lid such that the two areas are visually discernible from one another. In other embodiments, the two areas are tactilely discernible from one another.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 010,060 filed Jun. 10, 2014 and entitled, Beverage Cup Lid.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The subject invention relates to new and useful improvements to removably mounted lids normally used in combination with disposable cups or other drinking vessels provided for hot or cold “to-go” beverages. More particularly, the subject invention relates to such lids adapted to enable users to quickly and more easily discern the location of the drinking orifice thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The very earliest patent for a drink-through style lid, U.S. Pat. No. 2,003,657, was issued in 1935 to Stubblefield for a “cap for drinking glasses.” Today, it is estimated that there exist over 500 varieties of drink-through lids with a myriad of patented designs. Twenty-six U.S. patents were issued in the 1980's alone for refinements in disposable lids. Perhaps more impressive tha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a new and improved lid for hot or cold beverage containers, especially disposable cups. It is designed to be easily identifiable and located by servers and consumers of the beverage. The lid has a high-contrast drinking area that is easily visually or tactilely discernible from the remaining cover area. The lid is stackable, lightweight, and can be shipped or stored in bulk. Overall, the invention provides a simple and cost-effective solution for improving the user experience of beverage cups.

Problems solved by technology

In either instance, the driver's attention is off the road for an unsafe period of time.

Failure to properly orient the cup in the user's hand will result in spillage of what can be an extremely hot beverage causing burns and / or resulting in loss of control of the vehicle.

In many cases, individuals with such impairments have difficulty seeing objects or discerning one object from another.

Tasks which most would consider effortless, like discerning the drinking orifice from the remainder of the lid top such that the beverage can be consumed without spilling, can be an overwhelming task to those suffering from these impairments resulting in frustration, avoidance and diminished self-reliance.

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