Abstract: A disposable cup lid including a body and a mounting portion extending around the periphery of the body. The body defines a suitably shaped clearance area to accommodate a person's nose when drinking the contents of a cup having the lid positioned thereon. The body also defines an enhanced drinking area which is suitably configured to provide a person with a drinking experience more similar to the drinking experience of drinking from an uncovered cup or glass. In one embodiment, the body includes a raised portion which defines a lip engaging front wall and an enhanced drinking area. The enhanced drinking area includes a closure member having an upwardly extending gripping member and a drink-through opening initially covered by the closure member, wherein the drink-through opening is positioned substantially adjacent to the lip engaging front wall. The closure member is movable about a hinge from an initial closed position to an open position.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic foam cup including a body which defines an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the top end has a greater diameter than the bottom end. The body includes a reinforced tapered side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top end. A substantial portion of the reinforced tapered side wall includes a plastic foam layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a rigid material layer. Such reinforced plastic foam cup provides an improved tactile feel and enhanced insulation and rigidity properties.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforced plastic foam cup including providing a plastic foam cup, positioning a reinforcing member along a first line, moving the cup and the reinforcing member toward an attachment position, at the attachment position, attaching the reinforcing member to the side wall of the cup along the central vertical axis of the reinforcing member, wherein the inner surface of the body of the reinforcing member engages the side wall of the cup at an angle which corresponds with an angle of the side wall of the cup, rotating the cup and the attached reinforcing member in a first direction to attach a trailing portion of the reinforcing member to the side wall of the cup, and rotating the cup and the attached reinforcing member in a second opposite direction to attach a leading portion of the reinforcing member to the side wall of the cup.