Recloseable drink cup lid

Abstract

A two-ply drink-through lid for a disposable drink cup comprising outer and inner nestable shells of thin plastic material held together by means of an edge configuration which also holds the lid to the rim on the cup. The shells have apertures formed therein which can be aligned or de-aligned by rotating the outer shell over the inner shell while the lid is on a cup. Rotation stops are provided by an arcuate recess in the inner shell and a detent in the outer shell which fits into the recess. Two-position and three-position lids are described.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to recloseable plastic lids for drink cups of the type having circular rims and more particularly to a two-ply recloseable lid made up of two similar internesting shells which can be rotated relative to one another to open and close a drink-through opening by aligning and/or de-aligning apertures in the shells.

BACKGROUND

Molded and thermoformed disposable plastic lids for drink cups are well known in the “fast food” industry The typical lid is formed as an integral single ply device having an edge contour which grippingly engages the rim of a disposable drink cup, and a deck portion having one or more of several available architectural features to satisfy specific requirements. Some lids are formed in such a way as to provide a plug fit for hot drinks while other lids have raised deck portions to accommodate whipped cream or foam, the latter lids often being referred to as “cappuccino” lids. Drink-through openings of various types may be provided, the most popular of which being the “tear back” feature which permits a small segment of the lid to be broken free and hinged or torn back to provide a drink-through opening. Other drink-through lids have pre-formed, permanent openings.

More recently, disposable drink cup lids have been designed in a two-ply construction in which nesting thin plastic shells are disposed in overlying relationship with one another. The outer shell may be rotated relative to the inner shell while the lid is on the cup. In a typical design, rotation in one direction causes alignment or registration of two apertures, one in each of the shells, while relative rotation in the opposite direction de-registers the apertures to close the lid. One known design includes a manually manipulable “lever” formed in the inner shell and extending upwardly through an arcuate opening in the upper shell. The relative rotation between the two shells is accomplished by grasping the lever and moving it either left or right to open or close. To work, the inner shell must be smaller than the outer shell such that only the outer shell rests on the cup rim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention represents an improvement to existing two-ply relatively rotatable recloseable plastic lids for drink cups wherein the lid is of the type having nestable inner and outer shells made of thin plastic material. In accordance with the invention, the lid shells have nestable edge contours which edge contours engage one another to hold the two shells together as well as to provide a feature which permits the inner shell to directly grippingly engage the rim of a cup. Apertures are formed in the shells and may be aligned to provide a drink-through feature or de-aligned to close the lid. A gripping feature is provided on an outside surface of the outer shell to assist in the rotation motion.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment hereinafter described in greater detail, the inner and outer shells are provided, in addition to the edge contours described above, with annular crown portions characterized by top surfaces and inner and outer side surfaces. The apertures providing the drink-through openings are formed in the top surface of each annular crown. Mechanical stops at the extremes of relative rotation are provided by means of an arcuate recess in the crown portion of the inner shell, and a detent is formed in the crown portion of the outer shell to extend into and ride within the arcuate recess of the inner shell. When the rotation of the two shells relative to one another is such to bring the detent into contact with either of the end surfaces of the arcuate recess, a mechanical stop is provided.

As hereinafter explained in greater detail, a lid constructed in accordance with the present invention may incorporate either of two operating modes. In one mode, one mechanical stop defines the “open” condition while the opposite mechanical stop defines the “closed” condition. Alternatively, the arcuate recess may be made to extend over a larger angular range, say 30 degrees to 45 degrees, and both mechanical stops may be associated with “closed” conditions, an “open” condition being defined between these two “closed” positions. A secondary detent feature may be optimally provided to produce a tactile signal to the user that the lid has been placed in the centered or “open” condition.

Further in accordance with the present invention, at least one downwardly extending male plug portion is formed in the under side of the crown portion of the outer shell. This male plug portion is smaller, is in reversely symmetrically relation to the aperture, and is of such size and shape as to fit into the aperture of the inner shell when the lid is closed. This feature may be used with either the two-position lid or the three-position lid described above.

In either embodiment, shallow arcuate recesses are formed in the crown of the lower shell to provide clearance for the plug(s) so they do not add excessive drag to the relative rotation of the lid shells.

Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drink cup having a recloseable plastic lid positioned thereon in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the two shells of the recloseable lid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the lid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the two-ply lid of FIG. 3 in an open condition along the section line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lid of FIG. 1 in a closed condition; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the two-ply lid of FIG. 5 taken along the section line 6-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing a disposeable drink cup 10 made of plastic or paper and having a rolled circular rim 12 is fitted with a two-ply recloseable lid 14. Lid 14 comprises nestable inner and outer plastic shells 16, 18 respectively. The shells are typically manufactured by thermoforming thin plastic sheet in a known manner. Inner shell 16 comprises a rolled or arcuate edge contour 20 which is of such size and shape as to grippingly engage rolled rim 12 of the cup 10. The lower shell 16 further comprises generally annular integral crown portion 22 having a top surface 17 and inner side surface 24 and outer side surface 26. A drink-through aperture 28 is die cut through the top surface of the crown portion 22 of the lower shell. In straddling and reversely similar relationship to the aperture 28 are arcuate depressions 30, 32 for purposes to be described. Directly opposite the aperture 28 an arcuate recess or channel 34 is molded into the crown portion 22 and having an arcuate length of between 30 and 65 degrees. Small detents 52 are formed into the inner top surface of the recess channel 34 as shown in FIG. 2.

The outer shell 18 also has a crown portion 36 with top, inside and outside surfaces 37, 38, 40 respectively. The shape and the size of the crown 36 is such as to nest with and overlie the crown 22 of the inner shell 16. Where the lower shell 16 has an integral closed center deck 39, the outer shell 18 has an open center.

The outer shell 18 is also provided with a drink-through aperture 42 of the same size and shape as opening 28 located in the top surface 37 of crown portion 36. Shallow, downwardly-extending arcuate plugs 46, 48 are formed in shell 18. When the shells 16, 18 are placed together in nesting relationship, the plugs 46, 48 extend into the shallow recesses 30, 32. The recesses 30, 32 thus provide clearance from the plugs 46, 48 during relative rotation between the two shelves so as to prevent excessive drag which would otherwise resist relative rotation.

A detent 44 is formed in the crown 36 directly opposite the opening 42. This detent 44 fits into the recessed channel 34 and moves left and right in the channel from a central position in which the detent 44 fits exactly between the raised detent 52.

A pattern of darts is provided in the outer side surface 40 of the top shell 18 to assist in gripping the outer shell and rotating it relative to the inner shell 16 when the two shells are placed on the cup 10. Other patterns can, of course, be used.

In operation, the two shells 16, 18 are nested together. The edge configurations are such as to hold the two shelves together without the need for other mechanical interlocks as well as to hold nested shells to the rim of the cup 10 when they are serving their purpose as a two-ply lid.

When the cup 10 is filled with liquid and the lid 14 is in place, the lid 14 is typically closed by de-registering the apertures 28, 42; i.e., achieving the condition shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing. Note in this condition, the detent 44 abuts one of the side edges of the recess channel 34, said side edges therefore serving as mechanical stops to limit relative rotation between the two shells 16, 18. In this closed configuration the plug 48 is aligned with the aperture 28 to close the aperture 28 and essentially prevent leakage of fluid therefrom.

To open the lid 14, the outer shell is twisted or rotated relative to the inner shell back toward the central position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. In this condition the openings 28, 46 are in registry and detent 44 fits within the detents 52 to give the user a tactile indication that the lid shells are in center or “drink-through” position. The lid 14 can be closed by rotating the top shell 18 relative to the bottom shell 16 in either direction to once again bring one of the plugs into registry with the drink-through opening 28.

The lid of the present invention may be formed in various configurations and may be provided with embossed or printed indica or advertising or promotional purposes as will be apparent to those familiar with products serving fast food industry.

A two-position lid is nearly identical to the lid 14 described above. The principal difference lies in the fact that the recess 34 is made smaller in angular length and the secondary detent 52 is eliminated. The apertures 28, 42 are positional such that they are aligned when the detent 44 abuts one end wall of the recess 34 and non-aligned when the detent 44 abuts the opposite end wall of the recess 34. Only one plug 46, 48 is needed in this embodiment.

The words “apertures” and “openings” are used interchangeably in this document.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. A two-ply recloseable lid for a drink cup having a rim, said lid comprising:

an inner shell of thin plastic material with an edge contour adapted to grippingly contact the rim of a cup;

an outer shell of thin plastic material having an edge contour in overlying and gripping contact with the edge contour of the inner shell;

each of said shells having an annular crown portion inset from but integral with the respective edge contour, said crowns being configured to nest whereby the crown of the outer shell overlies the crown of the inner shell;

each said crown portion having a top surface with a drink-through opening formed therein;

said shells being positionable though relative rotation to align said openings for access to the contents of the cup and to de-align said opening to close the lid;

said inner shell having formed in the crown portion opposite said opening an arcuate recess having end walls which serve as stops;

the crown portion of said outer shell having formed therein directly opposite said opening a detent which extends into and rides within the arcuate recess of the inner shell and coacts with said end walls to limit relative angular rotation of the outer and inner shells;

whereby the lid may be placed on a rim of a cup and opened by aligning said openings and closed by rotating the outer shell relative to the inner to de-align said openings.

2. The recloseable lid defined in claim 1 further including a downwardly extending male plug formed on the underside of the top surface of the crown portion of the outer shell in spaced relationship to said opening, said male plug being of such size and shape as to fit within and close the opening in the inner shell when the openings are de-aligned.

3. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 2 further including a shallow arcuate recess formed in the top surface of the crown portion of the inner shell to provide clearance for said male plug.

4. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 1 wherein the crown portions each have annular top surfaces and inner and outer side surfaces joined by said top surfaces.

5. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 4 wherein a gripping pattern is formed on the outer side surface of the crown portion of the outer shell.

6. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 5 wherein the gripping pattern is formed as a series as downwardly directed darts.

7. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 1 wherein the top and bottom shells are thermoformed.

8. A recloseable lid for a drink cup having a rim, said lid comprising:

internesting thin plastic outer and inner shells in overlying relationship to one another, each of said shells having an edge configuration adapted to be placed in overlying and gripping relationship with the rim of the cup;

said shells having internesting annular crown portions with apertures formed therein, said apertures being registrable to provide a continuous drink-though opening for said lid; and

means for providing mechanically stopped angular rotation of said shells relative to one another;

whereby said shells may be rotated to a first position in which the openings are in registry to provide a drink-through feature and thereafter rotated to a second position wherein said openings are not in registry.

9. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 8 further including a downwardly extending male plug formed in the crown portion of the uppermost shell of such size and shape as to extend into and plug the apertures of the inner shell when rotated into registry therewith.

10. A recloseable lid as defined in claim 8 further including a recess channel formed in the inner shell symmetrically opposite the opening in the detent formed in the outer shell so as to extend into the arcuate recess of the lower shell, said detent and the side surfaces of the lower shell providing mechanical stops to limit rotation of the outer shell relative to the inner shell.