A lid for a beverage cup

Abstract

Lid for a cup which has a base and at least one sidewall defining a liquid volume, the lid having an upper rim 11, a sidewall 12 that defines a sealing surface with the cup and a base wall 13 with at

Description

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the disposable beverage cups and more particularly to a lid for a beverage cup, particularly a disposable beverage cup. Background to the Invention Coffee cup lids for single use or disposable beverage cups are conventionally made out plastic materials, whether petroleum-based plastics or plant-based plastics. Many countries and regions, foremost amongst them the European Union, have enacted laws designed to reduce the use of single use plastics, with an ultimate aim of stopping use of single use plastics altogether. The change away from coffee cup lids made of plastic for single use or disposable beverage cups has been slowed because of a lack of viable alternatives for plastic lids, particularly a viable alternative made from paper, which is able to effectively seal a single use or disposable beverage cups. It would therefore be an advance in the art to provide a paper lid for a beverage cup which solves any one or more of the abovementioned problems. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid for a beverage cup having a base and at least one sidewall defining a liquid volume, the lid comprising an upper rim, at least one sidewall depending from the upper rim and defining a sealing surface, and a base wall with at least one opening therein, the upper rim extending laterally outside the at least one sidewall. Providing a lid for a beverage cup with a sealing surface defined over a depending sidewall allows a tight seal to be formed between the sealing surface and the beverage cup into which it is placed, around the perimeter of a cup on the inner wall of the cup and rim. The at least one opening in the paper lid will preferably provide a 360° angle of drinking from it. The 360°angle may also mean that the paper lid provides a natural air vent for steady flow of liquid from the cup. The lid can have a filter too. The lid may preferably be made of recyclable material. In one form, the recyclable material is a biodegradable material. In one form, the material may be plantbased plastic. The material may be selected from the group including a polyethylene lined paper, a polyester made from renewable biomass such as a polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) lined paper, or a PLA plastic, or paper with an aqueous lining, with the latter being most preferred. In one form, aqueous lining uses a water-based dispersion system of polymers to create a liquid impermeable barrier on a paper. The lid may therefore be a paper lid, lined on an inner and / or an outer side with a material to create a liquid impermeable barrier on the paper. The lid may include an upper rim, at least one side wall depending from the upper rim and a base wall with at least one opening therein. The lid may include a cavity in an upper side between the plane of the rim and the upper side of the base wall. The base wall may have more than one opening therein. If more than one opening is provided in the base wall, the openings may be arranged in one or more regions. The one or more regions may be provided spaced about the perimeter of the base wall, within the at least one side wall. Preferably, openings are arranged around the perimeter of the base wall inside the at least one side wall. The openings may be formed in any way, for example by cutting, punching or puncturing the base wall of the lid. In one preferred form, the openings may be formed by lasering them through the base wall. Use of a laser to form the openings allows the openings to be formed much smaller in size, whilst minimising any adverse deformation of the lid which can occur with other methods. More than one base wall may be provided. For example, a lower base wall may be provided with at least one opening therein and at least one solid portions. An upper base wall may be provided with at least one access opening. The upper base wall may be rotatable relative to the lower base wall. The upper base wall and the lower base wall may be parallel. A lower surface of the upper base wall may abut an upper surface of the lower base wall. In use, the upper base wall may be rotatable relative to the lower base wall to align the access opening in the upper base wall with at least one opening in the lower base wall to allow liquid to leave the lid through the aligned openings and to close the lid, preventing the liquid leaving the lid when the access opening in the upper base wall is aligned with a solid portions in the lower base wall. One or more vent openings may be provided spaced from the at least one opening in the lower base wall. The access opening in the upper base wall may be provided with a tab or similar which seals the access opening but is movable or removable to open the access opening. The tab may be defined by one or more lines of weakness in order to allow the tab to be moved or removed to open the access opening. Gripping means may be provided on the tab to allow the tab to be moved or removed. In an embodiment, the sealing surface may be defined over the height of the sidewall of the lid. The sealing surface may be defined over the circumference of the sidewall of the lid. The sidewall of the lid preferably depends from the upper rim at an angle, inwardly and downwardly. The sidewall of the lid may be frustoconical. The sidewall may be formed integrally with the upper rim. In one form, an upper portion of the sidewall may be rolled over on itself, preferably outwardly, to form the upper rim. A lower portion of the sidewall may be rolled over on itself, preferably inwardly, to form a lower rim. The lower rim may be used to mount the base wall of the lid thereon. The angle of the sidewall relative to the upper rim may correspond to the angle of the at least one sidewall of the beverage cup with which the lid is designed to be used. A central opening may be provided. The central opening may be provided to accommodate a straw or similar. The upper rim may therefore prevent the lid falling into the beverage cup while the external surface of the sidewall may seal against an inner surface of the beverage cup. In one form, the sealing surface is defined on an outer side of the at least one sidewall of the lid. In use, the lid may be placed onto a beverage cup and the sealing surface on the outer side of the at least one sidewall of the lid forms a seal circumferentially with an inner side of the sidewall of the cup forming a sealing area which is much larger than the seal formed between a beverage cup and prior art lids at the rim only. Further, the upper rim of the lid may abuts the rim of the beverage cup forming a second seal. In an embodiment, the formation of the at least one opening in the base wall of the lid, which preferably occurs after the paper lid has been lined on an inner and / or an outer side, may allow minute amounts of liquid to be absorbed by the basewall, which may in turn cause the basewall to swell or expand, which in turn, may force the sidewall of the lid against the sidewall of the beverage cup, enhancing the seal formed therebetween. Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a lid according to a preferred embodiment. Figure 2 is a section view of the lid illustrated in Figure 1 along line A-A. Figure 3 is a top view of the lid illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 5 is an axonometric view of a lid according to a preferred embodiment. Figure 6 is a section view of the lid illustrated in Figure 5 along line B-B. Figure 7 is a top view of the lid illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 8 is a side view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 6. Figure 9 is an axonometric view of a lid according to a preferred embodiment. Figure 10 is a section view of the lid illustrated in Figure 9 along line C-C. Figure 11 is a top view of the lid illustrated in Figure 9. Figure 12 is a side view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 10. A lid 10 for a beverage cup according to preferred embodiments is illustrated in the accompanying Figures. The lid is provided for a beverage cup, which is not shown but which may be of a known design having a base and a sidewall defining a liquid volume. Three possible embodiments are illustrated in the Figures, a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 and a third embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to 12. The lids 10 illustrated in the Figures each comprise an upper rim 11, a sidewall 12 depending from the upper rim 11 which defines a sealing surface, and a base wall 13 with at least one opening therein. As shown in the Figures relating to each embodiment, the upper rim 11 extends laterally outside the sidewall 12. The lid may preferably be made of recyclable material. In one form, the recyclable material is a biodegradable material. In one form, the material may be plantbased plastic. The material may be selected from the group including a polyethylene lined paper, a polyester made from renewable biomass such as a polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) lined paper, or a PLA plastic, or paper with an aqueous lining, with the latter being most preferred. In one form aqueous lining uses a water-based dispersion system of polymers to create a liquid impermeable barrier on a paper. Ine the illustrated form, the lid 10 is a paper lid, lined on an inner and / or an outer side with a material to create a liquid impermeable barrier on the paper. The lid 10 shown in the images include a cavity 14 in an upper side between the plane of the rim 11 and the upper side of the base wall 13. The base wall 13 may have an opening therein. A single opening 17 may be provided such as that shown in Figures 1 to 4. In this configuration, the opening may be a straw opening. If more than one opening is provided in the base wall, the openings 18 may be arranged in one or more regions 15 such as is shown in Figures 5 to 8. The regions 15 may be provided spaced about the perimeter of the base wall 13, within the side wall 12. This allows a user to drink from anywhere around the lid 10, and openings on another portion of the lid (away from the side of drinking) can act as vent openings. In another form illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, openings 18 are arranged around the perimeter of the base wall 13 inside the side wall 12. This configuration also allows a user to drink from anywhere around the lid 10, and openings on another portion of the lid (away from the side of drinking) can act as vent openings. In an embodiment, the sealing surface may be defined over the height of the sidewall 12 of the lid 10. The sealing surface may be defined over the circumference of the sidewall 12 of the lid 10. The sidewall 12 of the lid 10 preferably depends from the upper rim at an angle, inwardly and downwardly. The sidewall 12 of the lid 10 may be frustoconical. The sidewall 12 may be formed integrally with the upper rim 11. In one form, an upper portion of the sidewall 12 may be rolled over on itself, preferably outwardly, to form the upper rim 11. A lower portion of the sidewall 12 may be rolled over on itself, preferably inwardly, to form a lower rim 16. The lower rim 16 may be used to mount the base wall 13 of the lid 10 thereon. The angle of the sidewall 12 relative to the upper rim 11 may correspond to the angle of the at least one sidewall of the beverage cup with which the lid 10 is designed to be used. In use, the lid is placed onto a beverage cup and the at least one sidewall of the lid forms a seal circumferentially with an inner side of the sidewall of the cup and the upper rim abuts the rim of the beverage cup, forming a sealing area which is much larger than the seal formed between a beverage cup and prior art lids at the rim only. The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lid for a beverage cup having a base and at least one sidewall defining a liquid volume, the lid comprising an upper rim, at least one sidewall depending from the upper rim and defining a sealing surface, and a base wall with at least one opening therein, the upper rim extending laterally outside the at least one sidewall.

2. A lid as claimed in claim 1 made of biodegradable material selected from the group including a polyethylene lined paper, a polyester made from renewable biomass such as a polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) lined paper, a PLA plastic, or paper with an aqueous lining.

3. A lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lid is a paper lid, lined on an inner and / or an outer side with a material to create a liquid impermeable barrier on the paper.

4. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a cavity in an upper side between a plane of the upper rim and an upper side of the base wall, within the at least one sidewall.

5. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of openings therein.

6. A lid as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in one or more regions.

7. A lid as claimed in claim 6 wherein the one or more regions are provided spaced about the perimeter of the base wall, within the at least one side wall.

8. A lid as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plurality of openings are spaced about the perimeter of the base wall, within the at least one side wall.

9. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing surface is defined over the height of the at least one sidewall of the lid.

10. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing surface is defined over the circumference of the at least one sidewall of the lid.

11. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one sidewall of the lid depends from the upper rim at an angle, inwardly and downwardly.

12. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one sidewall is formed integrally with the upper rim.

13. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an upper portion of the at least one sidewall is rolled over on itself outwardly to form the upper rim.

14. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein lower portion of the at least one sidewall is rolled over on itself inwardly to form a lower rim.5 15. A lid as claimed in claim 14 wherein the lower rim mounts the base wall of thelid thereon.

16. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an angle of the at least one sidewall relative to the upper rim corresponds to an angle of the at least one sidewall of the beverage cup with which the lid is designed to be used.10 17. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing surfaceis defined on an outer side of the at least one sidewall of the lid.

18. A beverage cup having a base and at least one sidewall defining a liquid volume, and a lid for the beverage cup, the lid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A beverage cup and lid as claimed in claim 18 wherein the lid forms a seal to 15 between the sealing surface and the beverage cup into which it is placed on aninner side of the sidewall of the cup and at the rim.

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