Drinking Container Lid Fastener

Abstract

A lid fastener for a drinking container comprised of a strap that connects to a belt, band or cylindrical sleeve or directly to the drinking container for use in anchoring the lid of a drinking container. The fastener may be fabricated by use of an elastic strap or measured inelastic fixed strap that connects (i) directly to the sides of the drinking container or (ii) to a belt or cylindrical sleeve made of any material of sufficient diameter to fit fast-food, coffee, or other drinking containers produced, which is wrapped around the drinking container. The elastic strap or measured inelastic strap or straps connects to the side of the drinking container or to a belt, band or cylindrical sleeve using an adhesive, hook, staple or fastener or by manufacture as one continuous piece of material. In one embodiment, an elastic strap is connected to a sleeve by an adhesive.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of a Provisional Application entitled, “An elastic drink lid fastener that prevents the spillage of hot and cold fluids” Ser. No. 61/051,301, filed May 7, 2008, assigned to the assignee of the present application, and herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present claimed subject matter relates to a lid fastener or harness, which when used in combination with a drinking container and lid prevents spillage of hot and cold fluids.

BACKGROUND

Description of the Related Art

The present claimed subject matter relates to a lid fastener or harness, which when used in combination with a drinking container and lid prevents spillage of hot and cold fluids.

Drinking containers with lids have been in use for a very long time. The drinking container and lid combination provides various functions including the retention of fluids in the drinking containers.

A common manner for commercial enterprises to serve hot or cold fluid to customers is with a disposable drinking container, which often has a disposable lid covering the container in which the fluid is being served. This is often done in fast food restaurants and coffee shops, which serve beverages over the counter, where the beverage may be taken off the premises. Drinking containers with lids are also used where establishments have drive-through windows where the car is driven to a service window, and the beverage is served through the window. One purpose of the combination of a lid and drinking container is to prevent the contents of the drinking container from spilling. When the drinking container is being handled or passed from one person to another, or is placed in a cup holder in a car, or is placed in a static position on a flat surface, movement of the drinking container can cause the drinking container to tip over or drop causing the lid to come off resulting in significant spillage.

Such container and lid combinations have numerous drawbacks in that the use of a lid which caps such containers is not alone effective in preventing the fluid from spilling and being entirely or almost entirely dispensed from the container during use, particularly if the container tips over, drops or is otherwise upset. There is a need in the market place for a mechanism to anchor a lid to a drinking container to prevent the lid from coming off when the drinking container is tipped over or dropped or otherwise moved.

A search of the patent literature has revealed a number of patents relating to configurations of closed containers that reduce spillage or prevent objects from entering the container.

Various types of structures or containers have been disclosed. These include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,175, which is a container formed of a foldable sheet material that requires assembly, interconnection of flaps and a tongue-slot combination. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,528 shows a self-locking, self-closing container using a spring-action pleated top. U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,306 shows a container having a sealing top formed by a series of crease lines folding inwardly and forming a series of rectangles, each having a diagonal corner portion to form a closure panel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,512 shows a container having an integral flat lid hinged to a cylindrical wall. The lid extends in a downward slope and locks in a closed position between two ridges formed in opposite sides of the wall. The lid contains a plurality of openings therein so that fluid contained in the container can pass through the closed lid along with medication held on top of the lid. U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,002 shows a reusable lid for a cup with a round flat cover plate that covers the top of the cup to prevent objects from entering. The plate is held in place by a torsion rod that is connected to the lid and side of the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER

It is an object of the present claimed subject matter to keep a drinking container lid anchored or strapped to a drinking container even when tipped, knocked over or dropped. Another object of the present claimed subject matter is to reduce or eliminate spillage of fluids from disposable or non-disposable drinking containers. A further object of the present claimed subject matter is to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable or non-disposable drinking containers to prevent burns caused by hot drinks. It is another object of the present claimed subject matter to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable or non-disposable drinking containers to prevent floors from becoming dangerously slippery. Yet another object of the present claimed subject matter is to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable or non-disposable drinking containers to prevent staining of clothing, carpeting or upholstery. A further object of the present claimed subject matter is to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable or non-disposable drinking containers to prevent damage to computers, laptops or other electrical devices.

These and other objects are achieved by the elastic strap or measured inelastic strap or straps, which is connected to a drinking container or belt, band or cylindrical sleeve wrapped around the drinking container, that slips over the lid placing tension on the lid to ensure that it stays securely fastened to the drinking container, thus reducing or completely eliminating spillage of hot or cold fluid. The present claimed subject matter could be valuable to the individual consumer who wants to prevent harmful damage to their person or their property. The present claimed subject matter could also be valuable to commercial enterprises that want to protect the consumer and avoid liability for burns and slips and falls that are caused by their products.

As the Inventors have herein recognized, the prior art has numerous drawbacks. Particularly, the prior art requires complete replacement of cup and lid combinations commonly used in the marketplace whereas the present claimed subject matter does not. To overcome problems existing in the prior art disposable containers, a simpler and more cost effective mechanism was sought to keep the contents of drinking containers from dispensing from the container at an undesired time.

None of the above patents achieve what the claimed subject matter claimed herein achieves, preventing the lid of a drinking container from coming off by anchoring a separable lid to the drinking container, thus eliminating or reducing spillage of the contents of the drinking container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the claimed subject matter can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled lid fastener showing the operation of the strap in conjunction with a sleeve over the lid of a drinking container in accordance with one embodiment of the present claimed subject matter. The strap is adhered to the sleeve and is pulled over the lid providing tension to reduce spillage.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of the claimed subject matter illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprised of an elastic strap attached to a sleeve or belt by an adhesive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

A lid fastener in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present claimed subject matter is shown in FIG. 1 in combination with a beverage container 1. Beverage container 1 is usually a tapered paper or plastic cup having an open rim and a closed end. Beverage container 1 rim is closed by a lid 2. A sleeve 3 has a wider top open end 7 than its bottom open end 6 and is slid up from the closed end of beverage container 1 to conform to the tapered shape of the beverage container 1. Connected to the sleeve 3 is an elastic strap 4 at an adhesive point 5 on opposite points on the sides of the sleeve 3.

In operation of the claimed subject matter, the user slides the elastic strap 4 over the lid 2 by pulling it out from the adhesive points 5 and over the lid 2. Tension between the elastic strap 4 and the sleeve 3 anchors the lid 2 to the beverage container 1.

A lid fastener in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present claimed subject matter is shown in FIG. 2 in a folded state. The sleeve 3 with a wider top open end 7 than its bottom open end 6 connects to an elastic strap 4 at an adhesive point 5 on both sides. The elastic strap 4 wraps around the sleeve 3 when not in operation.

While the claimed subject matter has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter, including but not limited to additional, less or modified elements.

Claims

1. A lid fastener, comprising:

a belt that fits around a container such that the belt is configured to be placed onto the narrow end of the container and to be slid along the drinking container such that the belt comes to rest on the drinking container at a point on the container where the internal diameter of the belt equals the external diameter of the container; and

a strap, connected to the belt, configured to be positioned over a lid of the container once the belt has come to rest on the container.

2. The lid fastener of claim 1, wherein the strap is connected to the belt by an adhesive.

3. The lid fastener of claim 1, the belt comprising two holes through which opposing ends of the strap are positioned and secured.

4. The lid fastener of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises elastic material.

5. The lid fastener of claim 1, wherein the strap and belt are connected by manufacture as one continuous piece of material.

6. The lid fastener of claim 1, wherein the belt has an open top end that is larger than an open bottom end.

7. A lid fastener, comprising:

a sleeve that fits around a container such that the sleeve is configured to be placed onto the narrow end of the container and to be slid along the drink container such that the sleeve comes to rest on the drink container at a point on the container where the internal diameter of the sleeve equals the external diameter of the container; and

a strap, connected to the sleeve, configured to be positioned over a lid of the container once the sleeve has come to rest on the container.

8. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strap connects to the sleeve by a group of connectors comprising:

an adhesive; and

hook.

9. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strap comprises an elastic strap.

10. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strap comprises a measured inelastic fixed strap.

11. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strap and sleeve are connected by manufacture as one continuous piece of material.

12. A lid fastener comprising:

a drinking container;

a sleeve configured to be positioned on the drinking container; and

a strap, connected to the drinking container, configured to be positioned over a lid of the drinking container.

13. The lid fastener of claim 12, wherein the strap connects to the drinking container by a group of connectors comprising:

an adhesive; and

hook;

14. The lid fastener of claim 12, wherein the strap comprises an elastic strap.

15. The lid fastener of claim 12, wherein the strap comprises a measured inelastic fixed strap.