Beverage container lid, method for manufacturing a mouthpiece of a beverage container lid and beverage container

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage container lid that covers an opening portion of a beverage container, a method for forming a mouthpiece of the beverage container lid, and a beverage container including the beverage container lid.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, in many beverage stores, such as fast-food restaurants and convenience stores, an opening portion of a beverage container, such as a cup made of plastic (synthetic resin) or made of paper, is covered with a beverage container lid for sale such that a beverage, such as juice and coffee, housed inside the beverage container is less likely to spill out from the opening portion when the beverage container is carried around.

[0003] To drink the beverage housed inside the beverage container, the beverage container lid may be simply removed and the beverage is drunk from the opening portion. However, when the beverage container lid is removed, the beverage attached to the inside splashes, possibly resulting in smirching clothing of a person who drinks or the like.

[0004] Therefore, in many cases, an insertion portion for a straw is provided in a beverage container lid, and by inserting an accessory straw into the insertion portion, a beverage inside a beverage container is easily drunk (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0005] However, nowadays, beginning with a marine contamination problem due to plastic dust or the like, a worldwide trend of plastic reduction has been increasing, and a trend of eliminating plastic straws has also been increasing as part of the plastic reduction.

[0006] Under such a situation, the market demands a beverage container lid that eliminates a straw and allows forming a mouthpiece that facilitates drinking a beverage without removing the beverage container lid.

[0007] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2021-14286

[0008] US 4 489 848 A relates to covers provided with a liftable wedge-shaped tab for the purpose of providing an aperture in the cover, permitting a person to drink from the container without removing the entire cover. It to provides a cover for a container having a removable tab which can be removed by one hand while the other hand is holding the container in place. US 4 489 848 A discloses a beverage container lid comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0009] US 4 741 450 A also relates to a lid which is so arranged that beverage contained in the drinking cup may be drunk without removing the lid.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONPROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been invented in view of the above-described background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container lid that eliminates a straw and allows forming a mouthpiece that facilitates drinking a beverage without removing the beverage container lid, a method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid, and a beverage container including the beverage container lid. This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1.SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS

[0011] To solve the above-described problems, the present inventors have invented the beverage container lid defined by the features of claim 1.

[0012] A beverage container lid according to a first embodiment includes a valley fold low strength portion. The valley fold low strength portion has a strength lower than the general portion of the cover plate portion. The valley fold low strength portion is provided between inner end portions of the mouthpiece-forming line portion in the mouthpiece forming part of the cover plate portion to facilitate a valley fold of the mouthpiece forming inner part that is lifted up.

[0013] In a beverage container lid according to a second embodiment, which is based on the first embodiment, the valley fold low strength portion is formed by providing a perforation.

[0014] In a beverage container lid according to a third embodiment, which is based on any of the first and second embodiments, the folding low strength portion is formed by providing a perforation.

[0015] In a beverage container lid according to a fourth embodiment, which is based on any of the first, second and third embodiments, the lock portion is formed at a narrowed width portion of an enlarged width portion where an end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion widens in a side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part. The lock portion is engageable with an edge portion of the mouthpiece as the engaging portion.

[0016] In a beverage container lid according to a fifth embodiment, which is based on any of the first, second, third and fourth embodiments, the lock portion is formed as a cutout at an end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion in a side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part. The lock portion is engageable with an edge portion of the mouthpiece as the engaging portion.

[0017] In a beverage container lid according to sixth embodiment, which is based on any of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments, a plurality of the lock portions are provided.

[0018] In a beverage container lid according to a seventh embodiment, which is based on any of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth embodiments, the mouthpiece-forming line portion is formed of a cut line portion. One to a plurality of coupling portions couple between a side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part and the cover plate portion around the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part.

[0019] In a beverage container lid according to a eigth embodiment, which is based on any of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh embodiments, the beverage container lid is made of paper.

[0020] A method for forming a mouthpiece of a beverage container lid according to any of the embodiments one to eight includes: a step of pushing the mouthpiece forming part from above with a finger; a step of folding the mouthpiece forming outer part and the mouthpiece forming inner part in the mouthpiece forming parts by mountain fold with a finger and valley-folding and lifting up the mouthpiece forming inner part; and a step of engaging the lock portion at the peripheral edge of the mouthpiece forming outer part with the engaging portion with a finger.

[0021] A beverage container according to a ninth embodiment includes the beverage container lid according to any of the first to eighth embodiments.

[0022] In a beverage container according to a tenth embodiment, which is based on the ninth embodiment, the beverage container is made of paper.EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention, and the preferred embodiments, having the above-described configuration eliminates a straw and allows forming a mouthpiece that facilitates drinking a beverage without removing the beverage container lid.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b) are explanatory views illustrating a method for forming a mouthpiece of a beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention in phases. Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) are explanatory views illustrating the method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention in phases. Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b) are explanatory views illustrating the method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention in phases. Fig. 5 is an explanatory view exemplifying a design condition of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) are explanatory views exemplifying the design condition of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7(a) to Fig. 7(f) are explanatory views each illustrating a main part of a beverage container lid according to embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(f) are explanatory views each illustrating a main part of a beverage container lid according to embodiments of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The following will describe embodiments exemplified by applying the present invention with reference to the drawings.[Embodiments]

[0026] First, using Fig. 1, a beverage container 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage container 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the beverage container 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention is made of paper, includes an opening portion 3 having an edge portion 3a on its upper portion, and is a paper cup having a cylindrical shape with a bottom often used to be sold by internally housing a beverage 6, such as juice and coffee.

[0028] Note that the beverage container 2 is not limited to the one made of paper and may be manufactured using another material, such as plastic. As the beverage container 2 made of plastic, environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic or the like may be used.

[0029] The beverage container 2 is used to sell the beverage 6 by covering the opening portion 3 with a beverage container lid 1.

[0030] The beverage container lid 1 is made of paper and includes a disk-shaped cover plate portion 4 that covers the opening portion 3 of the beverage container 2 and a side peripheral portion 5 provided on the outer peripheral edge of the cover plate portion 4 and engageable with the edge portion 3a of the opening portion 3 of the beverage container 2 when the opening portion 3 of the beverage container 2 is covered with the cover plate portion 4.

[0031] Note that the beverage container lid 1 is also not limited to the one made of paper and may be manufactured using another material, such as plastic. As the beverage container lid 1 made of plastic, environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic or the like may be used.

[0032] The cover plate portion 4 includes a mouthpiece-forming line portion 11 on its peripheral edge side. The mouthpiece-forming line portion 11 has a shape of a peripheral edge side of a mouthpiece 110 for forming the mouthpiece 110 and is formed of a cut line portion having an approximately U-shape (see also Fig. 4). Note that the mouthpiece-forming line portion 11 may be embodied by providing a low strength portion having a strength lower than a general portion of the cover plate portion 4 by, for example, providing a perforation or decreasing the thickness, instead of the cut line portion.

[0033] Additionally, a folding low strength portion 12 having a strength lower than the general portion of the cover plate portion 4 is provided. The folding low strength portion 12 facilities folding by mountain fold between a mouthpiece forming outer part 11A on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 and a mouthpiece forming inner part 11B inside the cover plate portion 4 in the mouthpiece forming parts 11A and 11B when the mouthpiece forming parts 11A and 11B enclosed by the mouthpiece-forming line portion 11 of the cover plate portion 4 are pushed into from the above.

[0034] Specifically, the folding low strength portion 12 is formed by providing a perforation. Note that the folding low strength portion 12 can be embodied by providing a low strength portion having a strength lower than the general portion of the cover plate portion 4 by, for example, decreasing the thickness.

[0035] A valley fold low strength portion 13 having a strength lower than the general portion of the cover plate portion 4 is provided between the inner end portions of the mouthpiece-forming line portion 11 in the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B of the cover plate portion 4 to facilitate a valley fold of the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B that is lifted up.

[0036] Specifically, the valley fold low strength portion 13 is formed by providing a perforation. Note that the valley fold low strength portion 13 may be provided by, for example, providing a ruled line or decreasing the thickness or can be embodied without providing it.

[0037] Furthermore, lock portions 11c at the peripheral edge of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A in a state where the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B is valley-folded and lifted up and further the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B are folded and an engaging portion that is engageable with the lock portions 11c are provided.

[0038] Specifically, the lock portions 11c are formed at narrowed width portions of an enlarged width portion where the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 widens to be an approximately elliptical shape in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A, and the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 is engageable as the engaging portion (see also Fig. 4).

[0039] Additionally, right and left coupling portions 11a and an upper coupling portion 11b couple between the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the cover plate portion 4 around the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A so as to avoid the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the side portion of the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B to sink due to own weight or the like. Note that the numbers of and the positions of the coupling portions 11a and 11b are not limited to this, and the coupling portions 11a and 11b may be omitted.

[0040] Next, using Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, the method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 2 to Fig. 4 are explanatory views illustrating the method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention in phases.

[0041] First, as illustrated in Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b) to Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), when the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is pushed into from the above with a finger, such as a thumb or a forefinger, a portion between the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B is mountain-folded at the part of the folding low strength portion 12.

[0042] Further, when the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is pushed into the inside of the cover plate portion 4 with a finger, such as a thumb or a forefinger, the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B is valley-folded at the part of the valley fold low strength portion 13 and is lifted up.

[0043] As illustrated in Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b), when the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is further pushed into the inside of the cover plate portion 4 with a finger, such as a thumb or a forefinger, the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B are folded by mountain fold, and the lock portions 11c of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A engage with the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 as the engaging portion to form the mouthpiece 110.

[0044] Next, using Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, a design condition of the beverage container lid 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are explanatory views exemplifying the design condition of the beverage container lid 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Here, in the beverage container lid 1 exemplified in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, A indicates a distance between the folding low strength portion 12 and the valley fold low strength portion 13, and B indicates a distance between the lock portion 11c and the folding low strength portion 12.

[0046] When the thickness of the cover plate portion 4 in the beverage container lid 1 or the like is considered, the following results are obtained.

[0047] In the case of A < B, for example, when B is too longer than A in excess of 2 mm, while the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B can be in a completely folded state, the lock portions 11c cannot be engaged with the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 as the engaging portion.

[0048] Additionally, in the case of A ≥ B, the lock portions 11c are trapped in the middle of the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110. Thus, the lock portions 11c cannot be well engaged with the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 as the engaging portion while the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B are in the completely folded state.

[0049] Therefore, in the case of A < B, when, for example, B is made larger than A by 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less as the thickness of the cover plate portion 4, the lock portions 11c can be well engaged with the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 as the engaging portion while the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A and the mouthpiece forming inner part 11B are in the completely folded state without the lock portions 11c being trapped in the middle of the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110.

[0050] As illustrated in Fig. 6(a), even in the case of A < B, the function can be satisfied. However, to well engage the lock portions 11c with the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 as the engaging portion, it is important to meet the following conditions.

[0051] For example, as illustrated in Fig. 6(b), in the case of A being 15 mm, B ≈ 19 mm with B = 1.28A, and therefore a surplus of around 4 mm is generated, and the lock portions 11c cannot be engaged with the edge portion of the mouthpiece 110 as the engaging portion.

[0052] Therefore, when the thickness of the cover plate portion 4 is denoted as X, as long as the formula X ≤ B - A ≤ 2 (unit is mm) is satisfied, the function is satisfied even with A < B.

[0053] The embodiment of the present invention described above having the above-described configuration eliminates a straw and allows forming the mouthpiece 110 that facilitates drinking the beverage 6 without removing the beverage container lid 1.

[0054] Besides, since in the embodiment of the present invention, both of the beverage container lid 1 and the beverage container 2 are made of paper, except for an adhesive used or the like, plastic reduction can be approximately completely achieved.

[0055] Additionally, the method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid according to the embodiment of the present invention allows easily forming the mouthpiece 110 of the beverage container lid 1 in the above-described simple procedure.

[0056] Next, using Fig. 7(a) to Fig. 7(f), the beverage container lid 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 7(a) to Fig. 7(f) are explanatory views each illustrating a main part of the beverage container lid 1 according to this further embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] The beverage container lid 1 according to this further embodiment of the present invention mainly differs from the beverage container lid 1 according to the embodiment described above in the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A, and therefore the difference will be mainly described, the same reference numeral is given to the same configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] As illustrated in Fig. 7(a) to Fig. 7(f), the beverage container lid 1 differs from the beverage container lid 1 according to the embodiment in that the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is not an ellipsoid shape.

[0059] The difference is specifically as follows.

[0060] In the beverage container lid 1 illustrated in Fig. 7(a), the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is a rectangular shape.

[0061] In the beverage container lid 1 illustrated in Fig. 7(b), the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is a rectangular shape with chamfered corner portions.

[0062] In the beverage container lid 1 illustrated in Fig. 7(c), the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is an inverted taper shape expanding toward the distal end.

[0063] In the beverage container lid 1 illustrated in Fig. 7(d), the shape of the entire side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is an inverted taper shape expanding toward the distal end including the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4. Furthermore, the lock portions 11c are formed as cutouts.

[0064] In the beverage container lid 1 illustrated in Fig. 7(e), the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is an arrow shape pointing to the distal end.

[0065] In the beverage container lid 1 illustrated in Fig. 7(f), the shape of the end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion 4 in the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is an arrow shape having a flat distal end.

[0066] Next, using Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(f), the beverage container lid 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(f) are explanatory views each illustrating a main part of the beverage container lid 1 according to this further embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] The beverage container lid 1 according to this further embodiment of the present invention mainly differs from the beverage container lid 1 according to the previous embodiment described above in the number of the lock portions 11c, and therefore the difference will be mainly described, the same reference numeral is given to the same configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] The beverage container lid 1 according to this further embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(f), differs from the beverage container lid 1 according to the previous embodiment in that the lock portion 11c on the right side is eliminated, and the shape of the mouthpiece forming outer part 11A is an approximately L-shape.

[0069] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the embodiments have been presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the features of the claims.DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0070] 1:Beverage container lid 11:Mouthpiece-forming line portion 11A:Mouthpiece forming outer part 11B:Mouthpiece forming inner part 11a, 11b:Coupling portion 11c:Lock portion 12:Folding low strength portion 13:Valley fold low strength portion 2:Beverage container 3:Opening portion 3a:Edge portion of opening portion 4:Cover plate portion 5:Side peripheral portion 6:Beverage

Claims

1. A beverage container lid (1) comprising: a cover plate portion (4) that covers an opening portion (3) of a beverage container (2); a side peripheral portion (5) provided on an outer peripheral edge of the cover plate portion (4), the side peripheral portion (5) being engageable with an edge portion of the opening portion (3) of the beverage container (2) when the opening portion (3) of the beverage container (2) is covered with the cover plate portion (4); a mouthpiece-forming line portion (11) provided on a peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion (4) and having a shape of the peripheral edge side of a mouthpiece to form the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece-forming line portion (11) being formed of a cut line portion or a low strength portion having a strength lower than a general portion of the cover plate portion (4); a folding low strength portion (12) having a strength lower than the general portion of the cover plate portion (4), characterized in that the folding low strength portion (12) facilitating folding by mountain fold between a mouthpiece forming outer part (11A) on an outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion (4) and a mouthpiece forming inner part (11B) inside the cover plate portion (4) in mouthpiece forming parts (11A, 11B) when the mouthpiece forming parts (11A, 11B) enclosed by the mouthpiece-forming line portion (11) are pushed into from above; and an engaging portion engageable with a lock portion (11c) at a peripheral edge of the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A) in a state where the mouthpiece forming inner part (11B) is valley-folded and lifted up and further the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A) and the mouthpiece forming inner part (11B) are folded, and in that right and left coupling portions (11a, 11a) couple between a side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A) and the cover plate portion (4) around the side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A).

2. The beverage container lid (1) according to claim 1, comprising a valley fold low strength portion (13) having a strength lower than the general portion of the cover plate portion (4), the valley fold low strength portion (13) being provided between inner end portions of the mouthpiece-forming line portion (11) in the mouthpiece forming part (11A, 11B) of the cover plate portion (4) to facilitate a valley fold of the mouthpiece forming inner part (11B) that is lifted up.

3. The beverage container lid (1) according to claim 2, wherein the valley fold low strength portion (13) is formed by providing a perforation.

4. The beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the folding low strength portion (12) is formed by providing a perforation.

5. The beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock portion (11c) is formed at a narrowed width portion of an enlarged width portion where an end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion (4) widens in a side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A), and the lock portion (11c) is engageable with an edge portion of the mouthpiece as the engaging portion.

6. The beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock portion (11c) is formed as a cutout at an end portion on the outer peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion (4) in a side portion of the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A), and the lock portion (11c) is engageable with an edge portion of the mouthpiece as the engaging portion.

7. The beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of the lock portions (11c) are provided.

8. The beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mouthpiece-forming line portion (11) is formed of a cut line portion9. The beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the beverage container lid (1) is made of paper.

10. A method for forming the mouthpiece of the beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: a step of pushing the mouthpiece forming part (11A, 11B) from above with a finger; a step of folding the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A) and the mouthpiece forming inner part (11B) in the mouthpiece forming parts (11A, 11B) by mountain fold with a finger and valley-folding and lifting up the mouthpiece forming inner part (11B); and a step of engaging the lock portion (11c) at the peripheral edge of the mouthpiece forming outer part (11A) with the engaging portion with a finger.

11. A beverage container (2) that includes the beverage container lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The beverage container (2) according to claim 11, wherein the beverage container (2) is made of paper.