PLUG FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER LID
A device and system for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid comprising a plug (10, 110,210,310) having an upper surface (14,114,214), a body portion (12,112), and a lower surface (16,116,216), said body portion adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice to provide a temporary seal thereof, and an external member (20,120,220) located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/084,195, filed Apr. 25, 2008, which is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT International Application Number PCT/US2006/042620, filed on Oct. 31, 2006, designating the United States of America and published in the English language, which is an International Application of and claims the benefit and priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/323,824, filed on Dec. 30, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/732,826, filed on Nov. 1, 2005, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the field of beverage containers and, more particularly, to plugs for sealing the lids of beverage containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany beverages are sold from bulk or as single serving preparations, and dispensed into beverage containers, which are usually in the form of plastic or paper cups. Numerous different types of lids have been used for such containers, and, in addition to providing a thermal barrier to maintain the serving temperature, the lids are intended to retain the beverage in the container when the container is transported or is accidentally disturbed. Commonly, such lids will also provide an orifice in the upper surface, allowing the beverage to be consumed without removing the lid. Such containers and such lids are commonly single-use disposable items and, accordingly, must be capable of being produced at a low cost.
A typical lid for such a beverage container is formed from thin plastic sheet material, for example by vacuum forming, and comprises a top panel, either flat or domed, with a downwardly depending peripheral rim. The plastic material of the lid is typically somewhat flexible and resilient so that the lid can be fitted over the open end of a suitably sized beverage container. The rim of the lid grips the rim of the open end of the container, and the beverage is then retained within the container. The orifice is commonly provided in the outer portion of the top panel, or in the dome of domed lids. Unfortunately, this orifice reduces the effectiveness of the thermal barrier, and provides an opening through which the beverage can spill should the container be accidentally disturbed.
Thus, it is considered desirable to provide a low cost device that enables the orifice to be temporarily plugged, and thus increase the efficiency of the thermal barrier, while also increasing the security of the beverage during transportation of the container. If desired, a number of additional functions can be incorporated into such a device as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a device and system for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid.
In one aspect, the device comprises a plug having an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface. The body portion is adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice of the lid to provide a temporary seal thereof. The device also includes an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.
In another aspect, the system of the present invention comprises a container for containing a liquid beverage having an open end, a lid having at least one orifice and configured to attach to the open end of the container, and a plug for temporarily sealing the orifice in the beverage container lid. The plug comprises an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface. The body portion is adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice of the lid to provide a temporary seal thereof. The device also includes an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.
Other and further aspects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following drawings and detailed description.
The present invention provides a device and system for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid.
In one aspect, the device comprises a plug having an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface. The body portion is adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice of the lid to provide a temporary seal thereof. The device also includes an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.
Most often, the present device will be configured to meet the requirements of a conventional lid for such a beverage container, each of which are most commonly circular in horizontal cross section. Such lid will typically be formed from thin plastic sheet material, for example by vacuum forming, and including a top panel, either flat or domed, with a downwardly depending peripheral rim. The plastic material of the lid is typically somewhat flexible and resilient, as is the rim of the open end of the container, so that the lid can be fitted over the open end of a suitably sized beverage container. The rim of the lid then grips the rim of the open end of the container, whereby the beverage is retained within the container. The orifice of the lid is commonly provided in the outer portion of the top panel, near the depending peripheral rim, or in the dome or domed lids. Less commonly, lids for beverage containers are also available with a flap that is pressed down (or lifted up) to open the orifice in the lid.
Thus, in another aspect, the system of the present invention comprises a container for containing a liquid beverage having an open end, a lid having at least one orifice and configured to attach to the open end of the container, and a plug for temporarily sealing the orifice in the beverage container lid. The plug comprises an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface. The body portion is adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice of the lid to provide a temporary seal thereof. The device also includes an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.
Turning now to the several figures of the drawing, where like elements are identified by like numerals and corresponding or equivalent elements are identified by corresponding numerals throughout the figures,
In preferred embodiments of the invention, body portion 12 of plug 10 will be shaped so that the horizontal cross section of body portion 12 approximates the shape of the orifice in the beverage container lid, so as to provide an interference fit in the orifice. As depicted in
In lids for beverage containers having a flap that is pressed down (or lifted up) to open the orifice in the lid, the orifice is more often shaped as an oblong, or a three- or four-sided opening. Clearly, numerous alternative shapes exist for the orifice, and the present plug need only have a body portion that approximates such shape, or an appropriately designed cap feature, in order to incorporate the desired sealing function.
As will be seen from
The body portion 12 of plug 10 will desirably, but not necessarily, include a taper, narrower at the lower surface 16 and wider at the upper surface 14, so as to facilitate the insertion and retention of plug 10 in the orifice. In certain embodiments, the sidewalls 22, 22′ (not shown) of the body portion 12 can be recessed, in order to simplify insertion of plug 10 into the orifice. In such embodiments, optional cap feature 18 of upper surface 14 will provide much if not all of the sealing function of plug 10. In certain other embodiments, body portion 12 can include a circumferential depression, located at an appropriate point below the upper surface 14 where the body portion 12 is slightly over-sized to the lid orifice, and configured to provide a “snap-fit” when plug 10 is inserted into the lid orifice, and thus increase the security and retention of plug 10 in the orifice. However, care should be taken to avoid too tight of a fit between plug 10 and the orifice, as an excessively tight fit would make it difficult for the user to remove plug 10 for consumption of the beverage without removing the lid at the same time.
The present plug device will be formed from any acceptable material, such as plastic, resin or metal, and the like, and the body portion of the plug can be solid or hollow, so as to reduce weight or to provide additional functionalities. In embodiments in which the body portions are at least partially hollow, the lower surface can also be open to the interior of the beverage container, while preserving the sealing function.
As will be seen in
The lower surface 16 of the plug 10 can be rounded, as depicted in
Optionally, as depicted in
As shown in
In addition, as depicted in
One alternative for inclusion of such an access feature (and a stirring function) in the present plug 10, 110, 210 is to form a channel 238 between the upper 14, 114, 214 and lower 16, 116, 216 surfaces of the plug, optionally also though or opening alongside external member 20, 120, 220, and an optional elongate projection 130, 230, which channel is configured to allow the insertion of a straw, such as a conventional plastic straw as used for serving beverages in commercial environments, in a close but slideable relationship with the plug 10, 110, 210. This optional included straw could then also provide the stirring functionality of the elongate projection 130, 230 and simplify the adjustment of the length, by sliding relative to the plug 10, 110, 210 and thus allowing an adjustable length straw/elongate projection to adapt to particular beverage containers.
Alternatively, or in addition, the distal end 134, 234 of the elongate projection 130, 230 can be shaped as a paddle, or a scoop, or any alternative shape that can improve its functionality, or provide additional functionality beyond those already described herein. Such improvements will readily occur to those having access to the present description of the invention.
In most embodiments of the present invention, the plug, the external member and the optional elongate projection will be monolithic, that is, formed or fabricated as a single piece, typically as a unitary article from the same material and at the same time. Typically, in order to produce the present plugs at the lowest cost, some form of molding process will be employed, and the plugs will typically be fabricated from some form of plastic material, all in accordance with means routinely known and/or employed in such fabrications, either presently or in the future.
Alternatively, the present plugs can be formed of, for example, metal, epoxy resin, and other similar durable materials, also in accordance with means routinely known and/or employed in such fabrications, either presently or in the future. Such plugs will be expected to be better able to endure the rigors of re-use, storage in the user's pocket or on a key-chain, or the like. Such plugs can readily be envisioned as taking on various attributed of fine jewelry, for example in the fabrication materials and/or elements of ornamentation. In embodiments of the present plug that are intended to be stored on a key-chain for example, it would be considered desirable to incorporate a “quick-release” feature to separate the plug from the key-chain, and again such quick-release features are well know and readily adaptable to use with the present invention.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the disclosure that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A device for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid, the device comprising
- a plug configured to be at least partially received within an orifice of a lid for a beverage container, the plug comprising an upper surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the upper surface; and
- an elongate projection extending from the lower surface and configured to allow a user to stir a beverage contained in the beverage container, the elongate projection having proximal and distal ends, wherein the elongate projection comprises at least one separation element configured to provide a point to break off a portion of the elongate projection distal end from the plug.
22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a cap portion disposed on the upper surface.
23. The device of claim 22, wherein the plug has a maximum horizontal cross sectional dimension and wherein the cap portion has a horizontal cross sectional dimension that exceeds the maximum horizontal cross sectional dimension of the plug.
24. The device of claim 21, wherein the plug comprises a first sidewall disposed between the upper and the lower surface.
25. The device of claim 24, wherein the first sidewall comprises a first recess.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein the first recess extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plug.
27. The device of claim 25, wherein the plug comprises a second sidewall disposed opposite the first sidewall.
28. The device of claim 27, wherein the second sidewall comprises a second recess.
29. The device of claim 28, wherein the second recess defines extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plug.
30. The device of claim 28, wherein the first recess and the second recess are juxtaposed along a lateral axis on opposite sides of the plug relative to a longitudinal axis of the plug.
31. The device of claim 22, further comprising an external member configured to allow a user to grip the device for insertion and removal of the plug from the orifice.
32. The device of claim 31, wherein the external member extends from the cap portion in a direction away from the lower surface.
33. The device of claim 21, wherein at least one separation element is located nearer to the lower surface than a distal end of the elongate projection.
34. The device of claim 21, wherein the at least one separation element comprises a score line.
35. The device of claim 34, wherein the at least one score line extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the plug.
36. The device of claim 34, wherein the at least one score line comprises a groove.
37. A plug for use with a beverage container lid having at least one orifice, the plug comprising:
- a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the body portion has a maximum cross sectional dimension; and
- an elongate projection extending from the lower surface, the elongate portion having a maximum cross sectional dimension that is less than the maximum cross sectional dimension of the body portion, the elongate projection having at least one separation element configured to provide a point to break off a distal portion of the elongate projection, wherein the distal end portion of the elongate projection comprises a stirring element configured to allow a user to stir a beverage contained in the beverage container.
38. The plug of claim 37, wherein the stirring element comprises a scoop.
39. The plug of claim 37, wherein the stirring element comprises a paddle.
40. The plug of claim 37, further comprising a cap portion disposed on the upper surface, the cap portion configured to provide a limit to the insertion of the body portion into the orifice.
41. The plug of claim 40, wherein the cap portion has a cross sectional dimension that exceeds the maximum horizontal cross sectional dimension of the body portion.
42. The plug of claim 41, wherein the body portion comprises a first sidewall disposed between the upper and the lower surface.
43. The plug of claim 42, wherein the first sidewall comprises a first recess.
44. The plug of claim 43, wherein the first recess extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection.
45. The plug of claim 42, wherein the body portion comprises a second sidewall disposed opposite the first sidewall.
46. The plug of claim 45, wherein the second sidewall comprises a second recess.
47. The plug of claim 46, wherein the second recess extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection.
48. The plug of claim 46, wherein the first recess and the second recess are juxtaposed along a lateral axis on opposite sides of the body portion relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection.
49. The plug of claim 37, wherein the at least one separation element comprises a score line.
50. The plug of claim 49, wherein the at least one score line extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection.
51. The plug of claim 49, wherein the at least one score line comprises a groove.
52. A device for use with a beverage container, the device comprising:
- a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface that is offset from the upper surface along a longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the body portion is configured to plug an orifice in a lid for the beverage container;
- an external member extending from the upper surface and configured to allow a user to grip the device; and
- an elongate projection extending from the lower surface in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the elongate projection comprising a proximate portion near the body portion and a distal portion, wherein the elongate projection comprises at least one separation element configured to provide a point at which to separate the distal portion of the elongate projection from the proximate portion.
53. The device of claim 52, wherein the at least one separation element comprises a score line.
54. The device of claim 53, wherein the at least one score line extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
55. The device of claim 53, wherein the at least one score line comprises a groove.
56. The device of claim 52, wherein the at least one separation element is disposed nearer to the body portion than the distal end of the elongate projection.
57. The device of claim 52, wherein the elongate projection comprises a scoop.
58. The device of claim 52, wherein the elongate projection comprises a paddle.
59. The device of claim 52, wherein the body portion comprises a first recessed sidewall disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a second recessed sidewall disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 8, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 7, 2011
Applicant: STIXTOGO, INC. (Bothell, WA)
Inventor: Thomas Burns (Bothell, WA)
Application Number: 12/901,423
International Classification: B65D 51/18 (20060101);