Twist Lid for Cup

This application claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/568,955, filed on Mar. 22, 2024, entitled TWIST LID FOR CUP, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety, including the specification, claims and drawings, by this reference.

Not Applicable.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The patent owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

This disclosure relates to lids for drinking cups, and more specifically to a drink-through lid for a beverage container, as well as to the construction thereof as useful to prevent escape of liquids outward through the lid.

Washable, reusable beverage containers—of the type known as cups and which are described herein as drinking cups or beverage cups—are ubiquitous. Such cups are widely used for “on-the-go” consumption of liquids, such as hot beverages including coffee or tea. And, such cups are also widely used for consumption of various mixed drinks and other alcoholic beverages, using a favorite beverage container. Various lid designs are now available which include openings therein, or openable portions thereon or therein, often configured using sliders or tabs for opening and closing passageways on a lid, or between a lid and a beverage container, with the idea of minimizing or eliminating the likelihood of splashing or spilling of the beverage from the cup.

Most of the removable lid designs for beverage containers of which we are aware include one or more features on the upper surface of the lid, such as a slider or magnetic tab. Such closure features on the upper surface of lids do not lend themselves to a clean appearance of the lid. And, such closure features often require very frequent cleaning. Unfortunately, many of such currently available designs require manipulation of an external tab or other external movable feature before the contents of the beverage container are available for drinking.

Thus, there remains a need to provide a removable, cleanable lid design for a beverage cup or container that simultaneously minimizes or avoids the spill of liquid from the beverage cup or container, while allowing the user to easily and quickly reconfigure the lid in order to drink from the cup or container. It would be even more advantageous for such a lid to be provided in a clean appearing design, without external features which need to be manipulated, especially on the upper surface of the lid. It would be additionally desirable if such a lid design were available in a configuration that is easy to affix to a beverage container, and that is easy to remove from a beverage container. Further, it would be desirable if such a lid enhanced ease of cleaning, by easy and quick manipulation and separation of components, which would enable easy and quick reassembly for use.

A novel spill resistant lid design has been developed for a drink-through lid for use with a beverage container. In an embodiment, the lid design provided herein includes a compressible circumferential gasket, which enables a twist-on and twist-off of the lid to and from a beverage container. Such a lid design may significantly enhance a user's beverage drinking experience as compared to various prior art lids for beverage cups and containers. In an embodiment, a novel spill resistant lid structures allows prevention, or at least minimization of liquid spills from a beverage cup, when the lid is in a closed position, while allowing a user to drink from the cup or beverage container without the necessity of moving elements around on a lid top, or opening tabs used for closing liquid or vapor passageways in the lid. Moreover, in an embodiment, the novel lid provides a clean, upper surface and clutter free drink-well, without the presence of any movable features which might attract dirt, grime, or drink residue.

In an embodiment, a novel drink-through lid for a beverage cup having an open end with circular inner sidewalls is provided with integrally fabricated spill resistant features. In an embodiment, the drink-through lid is provided with a lower section having a body with a circumferential seal. The lower section and accompanying circumferential seal is sized and shaped to sealingly engage the cup, and thus seal the interface between the lid and the open end of the beverage cup. The drink-through lid is provided with an upper section having a clean (device free, e.g. no sliders or tabs) exterior surface portion with a raised outer lip portion around the perimeter of the clean exterior surface portion. Thus, the exterior surface portion and the raised outer lip portion provide a drink-well for receiving liquid for consumption by a user.

In an embodiment, a novel lid is provided which includes a lower section having a disc shaped body. The disc shaped body has an upper engaging surface, and includes a liquid conduit therethrough defined by a first interior passageway wall, and a vent conduit therethrough defined by a second interior passageway wall. In an embodiment, a first coupler may be provided on the lower section, which in an embodiment may include a downwardly extending annular cylindrical receiver having an inner circumferential sidewall. An upper section is provided, which includes an upper body. The upper body includes a lower engaging surface. A plurality of passageways are provided through the upper body. The plurality of passageways include a drink passageway defined by an outlet sidewall, and a vent passageway defined by a vent sidewall.

In an embodiment, a second coupler may be provided with the upper section, which in an embodiment may include a first prong and a second prong. In such case, the first prong and the second prong each extend downward from the lower engaging surface of the upper section. The first prong and the second prong may each have an arcuate radial outward surface which is sized and shaped for insertion into the downwardly extending annular cylinder. The first prong and the second prong may each be configured for and manufactured with material that provides outwardly biased engagement with the inner circumferential sidewall of the downwardly extending annular cylinder receiver.

In an embodiment, the lower section and the upper section may be rotatably joined by latching the first prong and the second prong to the annular cylinder receiver. In such a configuration, the lower section and the upper section are detachable from each other by unlatching the first prong and the second prong from the annular cylinder receiver.

The lower engaging surface and the upper engaging surface have an axis of rotation extending therethrough. The lower section and the upper section are alternately positionable, when rotatably joined, between (1) a first fluid communication relationship wherein a fluid in the drink container may flow through the liquid conduit and through the drink passageway, and (2) a second, closed, spill resistant configuration wherein fluid in the drink container does not appreciably leak outward through the drink passageway.

In an embodiment, the downwardly extending annular cylinder further includes a plurality of arcuate cutouts spaced apart around the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder receiver. In such an embodiment, the first prong and the second prong each further include, on their respective radially outward surface, a protruding positioner. Each protruding positioner is sized and shaped for manually rotatable friction fit within and between the arcuate cutouts, and the first prong and second prong are configured for manually rotatable engagement with respect to the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder receiver. The arcuate cutouts comprise detents and the protruding positioners comprise locating surfaces, and together the detents and the protruding positioners establish a registration system that provides snap action of the lid between (1) the first fluid communication relationship and (2) the second closed configuration.

Additionally, in an embodiment, the lower engaging surface of the upper section further includes spacing bumps located radially outward from each of the first and second prongs. In such an embodiment, the upper engaging surface of the lower section further comprises a plurality of bump seats spaced apart around the upper end of the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder receiver. The bump seats are each sized and shaped to accommodate one of the spacing bumps therein. In this manner, the snap action of the registration system is enhanced by snap fit of spacing bumps in bump seats when the lid is rotated between (1) the first, fluid communication relationship and (2) the second, closed configuration.

The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from a final configuration for a simple washable and cleanable drink-through lid suitable for use with a beverage container, using the principles described herein, or that may be implemented in various embodiments described herein for such lids. Other variations in lid designs with spill resistant features may use slightly different mechanical structures, angular configurations, couplers to facilitate rotation between components, liquid flow configurations, or vapor flow configurations, and yet employ the principles described herein and as generally depicted in the drawing figures provided. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of exemplary drink-through lid with spill resistant closure structures for use on beverage containers. Such details may be quite useful for providing a high quality lid for beverage containers, both for improved cleanability, and for ease of use, especially by enabling a user to reclose the lid after initially drinking from the lid.

It should be understood that various features may be utilized in accord with the teachings hereof, as may be useful in different embodiments as useful for various sizes and shapes of cups, and drink-through lids, within the scope and coverage of the teachings herein as defined by the claims. Further, like features in various lid structures may be described using like reference numerals, or other like references, without further mention thereof.

Attention is directed to, where a perspective view of an embodiment for a drink-through lidfor a beverage container(see) is provided. A lidprovides at least one drink outletD defined at least in part by an edgewallDE (see) that allows liquid to fill a drink well, from which a user or consumer may sip a beverage in a manner similar to when using a cup or mug without a lid. In an embodiment, a lidmaybe sized and shaped for engagement with an open endof a beverage container, where the beverage containerhas circular interior sidewallsadjacent the open end. In an embodiment, the lidmay include a lower sectionand an upper section.

As seen in, the lower sectionmay include a disc shaped body. The disc shaped bodymay have an upper engaging surface. The disc shaped bodymay include (1) a liquid conduittherethrough defined by a first interior passageway wall, and (2) a vent conduittherethrough defined by a second interior passageway wall. A first couplermay also be provided with lower section. As seen in, in an embodiment, the first couplermay be provided in the form of a downwardly extending annular cylinder. In such an embodiment, the downwardly extending annular cylinderhas an inner circumferential sidewall. In, a suitable location for bump seatsis shown. In an embodiment, four (4) bump seatsare spaced apart adjacent the upper end of the inner circumferential sidewallof the annular cylinder.

The upper sectionmay be an assembled upper body(see), including (a) an upper cap, (b) an intermediate gasket, and (c) a lower support. Those components are further described below with reference to. In an embodiment, the upper sectionmay include a lower engaging surface(see). In an embodiment a second couplermay be provided in the form of a first prongand a second prong. In an embodiment, the first prongand the second prongeach may extend downward from the lower engaging surface.

In an embodiments, the lower sectionand the upper sectionare rotatably joined by latching the first couplerand the second couplertogether. In an embodiment, the lower sectionand the upper sectionare detachable from each other by unlatching the first couplerand the second couplerfrom each other. The lower engaging surfaceand the upper engaging surfacehave an axis of rotation extending therethrough (see axis reference R in), wherein the lower sectionand the upper sectionare alternately positionable when coupled together, between (1) a first, fluid communication relationship (indicated by reference location O in) wherein a fluid in the drink container may flow through the liquid conduit and through the drink passageway, and (2) a second, closed, spill resistant configuration (indicated by reference location C in) wherein fluid in the drink container will not appreciably escape outward through the drink passageway. As seen in, in an embodiment, an angle alpha (α) may be provided between the open position O and the closed position C. In an embodiment, the angle alpha (α) may be ninety degrees (90°). In an embodiment, the upper sectionmay be rotated either direction from an open position O to a closed position C. In an embodiment, a registration system, as further described below, may be included to provide a positive indication (via haptic “snap action”) of the registration of the upper sectionat either an open O position or at a closed C position with respect to lower section.

In an embodiment, a lidmay be configured so that when the lower sectionand the upper sectionare coupled together in a first fluid communication relationship, the vent conduitand the vent passagewayare sufficiently co-axially oriented so as to provide a vapor passageway, which may allow inflow of outside air (to replace volume of liquid consumed), or which may allow escape of heated vapor or scents of the beverage to escape outward. Thus, when the lidis configured so that when the lower sectionand the upper sectionare coupled together in a second, closed configuration, the vent conduitand the vent passagewayare oriented to preclude establishment of a vapor passageway, and thus substantially prevent vapor passage through the lid.

Attention is now directed to, which provides an exploded perspective view of the obverse side of the upper sectionof an embodiment for a lid.shows components of the upper section, including an upper cap, an intermediate gasket, and a lower supportfor the upper cap. In an embodiment, the upper capmay be provided in stainless steel. However, those of skill in the art will understand that many other suitable materials are available, such as Tritan™ brand plastic, or other plastic or metallic components. It can be appreciated by view ofthat the upper capis free from devices thereon (e.g. slides or tabs) for opening or closing drink or vent passageways to a beverage container. As seen in, the upper capand the lower supportprovide a raised lipstructure (C on the upper cap, andL on the lower support, which effectively provides a drink wellfor a user adjacent drink passagewayD, as noted in the following paragraph.

provides an exploded perspective of the reverse side of the upper sectionof an embodiment for a lid, showing the underside of the upper cap, the underside of the intermediate gasket, and the lower engaging surfaceof the upper sectionwhich is provided by the lower supportof the upper section. A plurality of passageways may be provided through the upper section, including a drink passagewayand a vent passageway, and in an embodiment each may be defined by component edgewalls, as set out in detail below. A drink passagewayD (defined by edgewallDE) and a vent passagewayV (defined by edgewallVE) are provided in the upper cap. A drink passagewayD (defined by edgewallDE) and a vent passagewayV (defined by edgewallVE) are provided in the intermediate gasket. A drink passagewayD (defined by edgewallDE) and a vent passagewayV (defined by edgewallVE) are provided in the lower support. So, combining components of the upper section, a drink passagewaymay be provided by a combination of drink passagewaysD,D, andD, each respectively defined by edgewallsDE,DE, andDE. Similarly, combining components of upper section, a vent passagewaymay be provided by a combination of vent passagewaysV,V, andV, each defined by their respective sidewallsVE,VE, andVE, each as described above and noted in.

Attention is directed to, where it can be seen that the lower supportof upper sectionmay be provided with a flat upper surfaceand circumferential vertically oriented side. In such an embodiment, the upper capmay have a flat componentF which extends over the intermediate gasket, and thus over the flat upper surface. Capalso may include a vertical and downward extending outer edgeS that covers at least some of the circumferential vertically oriented sideof the lower support.

As seen in, in an embodiment, the lower sectionand the upper sectionmay be sealingly joined using a vertical circumferential seal. In an embodiment, the vertical circumferential sealmay provide a liquid tight seal between the lower sectionand the upper section. In an embodiment a vertical seal seatis provided in the lower section. In an embodiment, the vertical circumferential seal may be provided having a baseand an upwardly directed U shape. In such an embodiment, the upper sectionmay further include a downwardly oriented vertical circumferential sealing flange. In such an embodiment, the vertical circumferential sealing flangemay be configured for tight fitting engagement with the vertical circumferential seal.

In an embodiment, the disc shaped bodyof the lower sectionhave include an outer sidewall, which provides a manual gripping surface. In an embodiment, the manual gripping surface may be provided using Tritan™ brand plastic. In an embodiment, the disc shaped bodymay be provided using Tritan™ brand plastic

As also seen in, in an embodiment the disc shaped bodyof the lower sectionmay also include (a) a lateral circumferential cup seal seat, and (b) a lateral circumferential cup seal. In such a configuration, the lateral circumferential cup sealis located in the lateral circumferential cup seal seat. The lateral circumferential cup sealis sized and shaped for manually removable fiction fit engagement with an open endof a beverage container.

As can be seen in, in an embodiment, the inner circumferential sidewallof the downwardly extending annular cylindermay further include a plurality of arcuate cutouts, which may be spaced apart around the inner circumferential sidewall. As noted in FGI., in an embodiment, the arcuate cutoutsmay include a most radially outward sidewall, which extends radially outward from the inner circumferential sidewallof the annular cylinderfor a distance RC. In an embodiment, the distance RC may be in the range of more than zero (0.0) to about zero point eight (0.8) millimeters. In an embodiment, the distance RC may be about zero point eight (0.8) millimeters. In, a rear view is provided of the backsideR of arcuate cutouts, (normally downwardly extending annular cylinderis illustrated from the bottom, looking up) now showing how the thickness of inner circumferential sidewallmay be maintained by extending a full wall thickness outward. In such an embodiment, the outward protrusionR may be about the same as the radial inward distance RC of arcuate cutout.

Attention is directed to(as well as), where it may be appreciated that in an embodiment, the first prongand the second prongeach have an arcuate radial outward surfaceS andS, respectively. The first prongand the second prongare each sized and shaped for insertion into the downwardly extending annular cylinderhaving a selected length L. The first prongand the second prongare each configured for and manufactured with a flexible plastic material and that provides outwardly biased engagement against the inner circumferential sidewallof the downwardly extending annular cylinder. In an embodiment, the first prongand the second prongeach further include, on their respective radially outward surfaceS andS, an additionally extending protruding positioner,P andP, respectively. Each protruding positioner (P,P) are sized and shaped for manually rotatable friction fit within and between the arcuate cutouts. Thus, the first prongand the second prongare configured for manually rotatable engagement with respect to the inner circumferential sidewallof the annular cylinder. In an embodiment, each of the protruding positionersP andP has a most radially outward sidewall surface,PX andPX, respectively. Prongsandmay be configured so that the most radially outward sidewall surfacePX andPX extends radially outward from the outward surfaceS andS of the respective first prongand the second prongfor a distance of RP. In an embodiment, the distance RP is from more than zero (0.0) to about zero point four one three (0.413) millimeters. In an embodiment, the distance RP is about zero point four one three (0.413) millimeters. More generally, the most radially outward sidewall surfacePX andPX extends radially outward from the outward surfaceS of the first prongand of the second prongfor a distance of RP, and in such instance, the distance RC note above is greater than the distance RP. Additionally, the first prongand the second prongeach may include a lower portionY andY, respectively, having an outwardly biased latchL andL, respectively. In an embodiment, the outwardly biased latchesL andL are sized and shaped for rotatable latching attachment when engaged with the annular cylinder. In an embodiment, the downwardly extending annular cylinderhas a distal end, and in such an embodiment, the latchesL andL are sized and shaped for latching engagement with the distal end. T In an embodiment, the arcuate cutoutsprovide detents, and protruding positionersP andP provide locating surfaces, so that by together the detents provided by the arcuate cutoutsand the protruding positionersP andP establish a registration system that provides haptic snap action of the lidbetween the first fluid communication relationship where a beverage may be consumed, and the second, closed configuration, where a spill resistant lidposition is provided.

As seen in, and also in) the lower engaging surfaceof the upper sectionmay further include a pair of spacing bumps. In an embodiment, spacing bumps may be located radially outward from the first prongand from the second prong. The spacing bumpsare configured to slightly space apart by a bump height BH the lower sectionfrom the upper sectionwhen the lidis moved between the first, fluid communication relationship and the second, closed configuration. In an embodiment, the distance BH may be in the range of more than zero (0.0) to about zero point five (0.5) millimeters. In an embodiment, the distance BH may be about zero point five (0.5) millimeters.

In an embodiment, the upper engaging surface of the lower section further comprises a plurality of bump seatsspaced apart adjacent an upper endU of the inner circumferential sidewallof the annular cylinder. The bump seatsare recessed into the upper engaging surface by a distance BY. Each of the bump seatsare sized and shaped to receive therein one of the spacing bumps. In an embodiment the distance BY may be approximately the same as distance BH. In an embodiment, the distance BY may be slightly larger than the distance BH. In an embodiment, the distance BY may be slightly smaller than distance BH. In such an embodiment, the distance BY may be in the range from more than zero (0.0) to about zero point four four seven (0.447) millimeters. In an embodiment, the distance BY may be above zero point four four seven (0.447) millimeters. Importantly, the haptic snap action of the aforementioned registration system is enhanced by haptic snap fit of spacing bumpsin bump seatswhen the lidis rotated between the first, fluid communication relationship and the second, closed configuration.

For cleaning of the lid, attention is directed to. The first prongand the second prongeach may further include a manually engageable pinch surfaceN andN, respectively. By using the pinch surfacesN andN, the firstand secondprongs may be urged radially inward, for disengagement from the annular cylinder, so that the upper sectionand the lower sectionare separable. In an embodiment, the pinch surfacesN andN may be provided with a concave portion,C andC, which is configured to receive a digit(see) of a user, for secure engagement with prongsandwhile urging the firstand second prongsradially inward, to facilitate separation of the upper sectionfrom the lower section.

In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed exemplary embodiments for the design of a drink-through lid with a clean, device free upper cap surface, while still allowing the lid to be opened and closed repeatedly during use. However, certain of the described details may not be required in order to provide useful embodiments, or to practice selected or other disclosed embodiments. Further, for descriptive purposes, various relative terms may be used. Terms that are relative only to a point of reference are not meant to be interpreted as absolute limitations, but are instead included in the foregoing description to facilitate understanding of the various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. And, various actions or activities in any method described herein may have been described as multiple discrete activities, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that such activities are necessarily order dependent. In particular, certain operations may not necessarily need to be performed precisely in the order of presentation. And, in different embodiments of the invention, one or more activities may be performed simultaneously, or eliminated in part or in whole while other activities may be added. Also, the reader will note that the phrase “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” has been used repeatedly. This phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” should be considered synonymous, and open ended, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to”, unless the context expressly dictates otherwise. Finally, a reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless context clearly requires that there only be one of the elements.

From the foregoing, it can be understood by persons skilled in the art that a novel beverage container lid for use with a beverage container having cylindrical upper interior walls has been described herein. Although only certain specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, there is no intent to limit this invention by these embodiments. Rather, the invention is to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents when taken in combination with the description.

Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. More generally, drink-through lid designs with structure designs, whether or not including a similarly shaped rim to form a drink well, or different height upper sections and lower sections, may be configured using the teachings hereof, and are thus intended to be included with the breadth of appropriate claims as set forth below. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive or limiting. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures.

Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, the protection afforded to this invention should be limited only by the claims set forth herein, and the legal equivalents thereof.