DISPOSABLE SODA CAN LID
A disposable container lid is removably attachable to the top of a common soda can. The lid includes a continuous, planar cover that extends over over the top of a soda can and an annular ridge containing a downward facing groove that snaps over the rim of the soda can. An opening in the cover is sized to extend around both the pull tab and the dispensing aperture in the can. The lid may include a bib extending downward over the upper front region of the can. A downward lip extends from the opening of the can into the aperture in the top of the soda can. The lid may also include a spout extending upward and directing flow of liquid out of the camp.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/459,057 filed on Feb. 15, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIALNot Applicable.
COPYRIGHT NOTICENot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to disposable lids for use with beverage containers to improve hygiene. More particularly, the invention relates to disposable lids that cover the top of a beverage container and allow a person to drink out of the container without placing his or her lips on the container itself.
Description of the Related Art
As society becomes more conscious of and concerned with good hygiene, many products have become available to minimize a person's contact with un-sanitized or unhygienic materials. Liquid hand sanitizer, once restricted the hospitals, is now commonplace at many public places, such as sports events in theaters. Grocery stores often provide sanitizing wipes to clean the handles of grocery carts. Straws are almost always not provided individually wrapped. Restaurants serve drinks with straws still having the upper part of the wrapper covering them.
Beverage containers, such as 12 ounce soda cans, or an extremely efficient way of providing individual drinks without requiring classes or cups. However, soda cans usually travel substantially before reaching the hands of a person consuming the liquid inside. They are often handled by several people and exposed to a wide variety of environments. In the past, this has gone unnoticed. However, studies of shown that the top of a soda can is usually contaminated with a wide variety of undesirable materials, including dirt and germs. Pouring the contents of a can into a glass can reduce a person's exposure to material on the top of the can. Cans can also be rinsed prior to use. However, this is impractical in many common situations, such as picnicking, camping and attending sports events.
The above-described deficiencies of today's systems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a device for improving the hygiene of consuming a liquid from a disposable can or other beverage container.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed is a disposable container lid for removable attachment to a beverage container comprising a circular, planar cover having a front side and a backside, an oblong opening in the cover having a front side and a backside, an annular ridge about a periphery of the cover comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, a groove extending from a bottom of the annular ridge upward between the outer wall in the inner wall, a retaining lip extending inward from the bottom of the outer wall, a protective lip extending downward from the front side of the oblong opening, and a bib extending downward from the front side of the outer wall between two slots in the outer wall.
In one embodiment, the lid is removably affixed to the top of a beverage container, the cover is substantially flush with a top of the can, and annular rim of the can is snapped into the groove in the bottom of the annular ridge, the protective lip extends into an aperture in the top of the can, and the opening is sized to allow a pull tab on the top of the can to extend through it.
In another embodiment, a disposable container lid for removable attachment to a beverage container comprising a circular, planar cover having a front side and a backside, an oblong opening in the cover having a front side and a backside, an annular ridge about a periphery of the cover comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, a groove extending from a bottom of the annular ridge upward between the outer wall in the inner wall, a retaining lip extending inward from the bottom of the outer wall, a protective lip extending downward from the front side of the oblong opening, a spout extending upward from the front side of the opening and flush with the retaining lip, and a tab extending perpendicularly from the annular ridge on a backside of the lid. The lid is removably affixed to the top of a beverage container, the cover is substantially flush with a top of the can, and annular rim of the can is snapped into the groove in the bottom of the annular ridge, the protective lip extends into an aperture in the top of the can, and the opening is sized to allow a pull tab on the top of the can to extend through it.
In another embodiment, a disposable lid removably attached to a soda can has a circular, planar cover. A peripheral ridge extends along a periphery of the cover and having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining a groove on a bottom side of the cover underneath the peripheral ridge. An interior lip extends inward into the groove from a bottom of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge engaging a top rim of the soda can, thereby securing the lid to the soda can. An opening in the cover has an oval front region substantially coextensive with an aperture in a top of the can. A rectangular center region and a semicircular back region define an area large enough for a pop-top tab on the top of the soda can to extend through the opening. A downward lip extends downward from the opening having an outer surface that abuts against a front edge and two side edges, but not a back edge, of the aperture on the top of the soda can. A bib extends downward from a front side of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge, covering an upper front region of the soda can. The outer wall of the peripheral Ridge further comprises one or more slots, and has a flat upper surface. An annular channel on the top of the cover is located adjacent to the inner wall of the peripheral ridge. The disposable lid further comprises a tab extending outward from the peripheral ridge opposite to the bib.
In another embodiment, a disposable lid removably attached to a soda can has a circular, planar cover. A peripheral ridge extends along a periphery of the cover and having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining a groove on a bottom side of the cover underneath the peripheral ridge. A plurality of angled teeth extend inward into the groove from a bottom of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge engaging a top rim of the soda can, thereby securing the lid to the soda can. An opening in the cover has an oval front region substantially coextensive with an aperture in a top of the can, and a rectangular center region and a semicircular back region define an area large enough for a pop-top tab on the top of the soda can to extend through the opening. A downward lip extends downward from the opening and has an outer surface that abuts against a front edge and two side edges, but not a back edge, of the aperture on the top of the soda can. A bib extends downward from a front side of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge, covering an upper front region of the soda can. The outer wall of the peripheral Ridge further comprises one or more slots. The peripheral ridge may have a flat upper surface. The disposable lid also may have an annular channel on the cover adjacent to the inner wall of the peripheral ridge. The disposable lid may also include a tab extending outward from the peripheral ridge opposite to the bib.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disposable lid for placement on the top of a beverage container. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The disclosed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the various embodiments herein.
In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.
Disclosed is a disposable container lid that snaps over the top of a typical aluminum can containing potable liquids. The embodiments disclosed below are described generally in reference to a common 12 ounce or 16 ounce aluminum can. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is readily adapted to other containers and that aluminum cans or other containers may include soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, water or a variety of other potable liquids. The container lids of the invention are typically described as disposable. However, the lids may also be cleaned and reused if desired. The lids may be relatively thick and relatively rigid or may be relatively thin, having a construction similar to disposable lids commonly used at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. The lids may be stackable or may come individually wrapped. Optionally, the lids may include ornamentation, such as for example a brand name or logo, and may come in a variety of colors. Optionally, the lids may be fabricated as a single, unitary piece, or may optionally be constructed from separate components. It may also be desirable to fabricate lids using a lamination process, and extrusion process or die casting.
As may be seen in
In use, the disposable lid 10 may be placed over a soda can 50 before the can is opened. The planar body 12 is configured such that it lies substantially flush with the top 56 of a soda can when the peripheral annular ridge 62 of the can 50 has been snapped into the groove 18. The lip 30 is configured to lie substantially flush with the front boundary of the aperture 52 of the soda can. Because there is nothing blocking the path of the pull tab 54, the lid 10 may be affixed to a soda can prior to the soda can being opened. For this reason, the opening 14 is a single, large opening. The bib 26 prevents a drinker's lower lip from coming in the contact with the can.
Once the lid 10 is secured in place, the pull tab 54 may be used to open the aperture 52. As soon as the aperture 52 is opened, the lip 30 extends through the aperture 52. When a person drinks from the can, his or her lips will typically contact the bib 26, the cover 12 and the annular ridge 16, but will not come into contact with the top 56 of the can 50. Substantially all of the liquid poured from the can will come into contact with the lip 30, while only a very small portion of the liquid will come in to contact with the top 56 of the can 50.
The opening 84 includes a lip 104 that extends downward so that it lies flush against the front side of an aperture in a soda can. Thus, it functions in the same way as the lip 30 shown in
The front 176 includes a bib 178 extending from the bottom 180 of the outer wall 168 of the peripheral ridge 164. The bib 178 extends downward from the outer wall 168 at an angle and is curved and lies substantially flush against the upper front region 202 of a soda can 200 upon which the disposable container lid 160 has been removably attached. In use, the bib 178 covers the upper front region 202 of the soda can 200 that would otherwise be contacted by the lower lip of an operator. The outer wall 168 also includes four slots 180 extending from the bottom 180 of the outer wall 168 to the top 166 of the peripheral ridge 164. Inside the groove 172, the outer wall 168 includes a plurality of angled teeth 182 tapering upward from the bottom 180 of the outer wall 168 into the groove 172. When the lid 160 engages a soda can 200, the angled teeth 182 snap over the rim 204 of a soda can 200, thereby holding the lid 160 in place. The angled teeth 182 serve the same purpose as the interior lip 38 shown in
Referring to
Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. The claims should be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A disposable lid for a soda can comprising:
- a circular, planar cover having an opening;
- a peripheral ridge extending along a periphery of the cover and having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining a groove on a bottom side of the cover underneath the peripheral ridge;
- an interior lip extending inward into the groove from a bottom of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge;
- a downward lip extending downward from a front edge of the opening;
- a bib extending downward from a front side of the outer wall;
- wherein when the lid is removably affixed to the top of a soda can, the cover is substantially flush with a top of the can, and rim of the can is snapped into the groove in the bottom of the peripheral ridge, the downward lip extends into an aperture in the top of the can, and the opening is sized to allow a pull tab on the top of the can to extend through it.
2. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 1, wherein the bib is located between two slots in the outer wall.
3. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 2, wherein the interior lip does not extend along the region of the outer wall from which the bib extends defined by the two slots.
4. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 3, wherein the top surface of the peripheral ridge is curved.
5. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 3, wherein the top surface of the peripheral ridge is flattened.
6. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 5, further comprising an annular channel on the cover adjacent to the inner wall of the peripheral ridge.
7. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 6, wherein the front edge of the opening is curved and a back edge of the opening is parabolically curved.
8. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 7, further comprising a tab extending outward from the peripheral ridge opposite to the bib.
9. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 8 further comprising a spout extending upward from the edge of the opening, the spout having a convex front side and a concave back side.
10. A disposable lid removably attached to a soda can comprising:
- a circular, planar cover;
- a peripheral ridge extending along a periphery of the cover and having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining a groove on a bottom side of the cover underneath the peripheral ridge;
- an interior lip extending inward into the groove from a bottom of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge engaging a top rim of the soda can, thereby securing the lid to the soda can;
- an opening in the cover, the opening having an oval front region substantially coextensive with an aperture in a top of the can, a rectangular center region and a semicircular back region, wherein the rectangular center region and the semicircular back region defined an area large enough for a pop-top tab on the top of the soda can to extend through the opening;
- a downward lip extending downward from the opening having an outer surface that abuts against a front edge and two side edges, but not a back edge, of the aperture on the top of the soda can; and,
- a bib extending downward from a front side of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge, covering an upper front region of the soda can.
11. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 10, wherein the outer wall of the peripheral Ridge further comprises one or more slots.
12. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 11, wherein the outer wall the peripheral ridge has a flat upper surface.
13. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 12, further comprising an annular channel on the cover adjacent to the inner wall of the peripheral ridge
14. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 13, further comprising a tab extending outward from the peripheral ridge opposite to the bib.
15. A disposable lid removably attached to a soda can comprising:
- a circular, planar cover;
- a peripheral ridge extending along a periphery of the cover and having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining a groove on a bottom side of the cover underneath the peripheral ridge;
- a plurality of angled teeth extending inward into the groove from a bottom of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge engaging a top rim of the soda can, thereby securing the lid to the soda can;
- an opening in the cover, the opening having an oval front region substantially coextensive with an aperture in a top of the can, a rectangular center region and a semicircular back region, wherein the rectangular center region and the semicircular back region defined an area large enough for a pop-top tab on the top of the soda can to extend through the opening;
- a downward lip extending downward from the opening having an outer surface that abuts against a front edge and two side edges, but not a back edge, of the aperture on the top of the soda can; and,
- a bib extending downward from a front side of the outer wall of the peripheral ridge, covering an upper front region of the soda can.
16. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 15, wherein the outer wall of the peripheral Ridge further comprises one or more slots.
17. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 16, wherein the outer wall the peripheral ridge has a flat upper surface.
18. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 17, further comprising an annular channel on the cover adjacent to the inner wall of the peripheral ridge.
19. The disposable lid for a soda can of claim 18, further comprising a tab extending outward from the peripheral ridge opposite to the bib.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2018
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2018
Inventor: Vengeochea Leon Teresita Monica (Miami, FL)
Application Number: 15/897,134