Cup and Lid Twister

Abstract

A liquid holding device includes a flexible cup having external threads and a flexible lid having internal threads for engaging the external threads of the flexible cup. The flexible lid includes an upward projecting member, and the flexible lid includes a depression. The flexible lid includes an aperture, and the aperture and the depression cooperate to allow the user to drink the liquid. The flexible lid includes slits to allow a straw to be placed through the flexible lid, and the flexible lid includes a peripheral lip for the internal threads.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cup and a lid which are used to seal the cup, more particularly the present invention relates to a disposable cup and lid that is safe and will keep the liquid from accidentally being spilt.

Disposable cups are used in homes, offices, factories and other environments. The cups are formed of paper, plastic and the like with a bottom wall and a tapered or conical sidewall to a top opening which may or may not have a lip structure. Generally, in paper cups, the upper end is formed with a rolled end. Plastic cups are often formed without a rolled end but have a slightly thicker open end than the principal portion or body of the cup. The cups are relatively flexible and stored in a telescoped stack of cups. The cups may or may not come with a lid.

However, when consumers make a purchase of either a hot or cold drink, they may expect a lid that prevents the drink from spilling from the cup. If the drink is spilt, the drink may damage the clothing of the consumer or in the case of a hot drink, the spilt drink may cause injury to the consumer. The injury could result in claim against the merchant who sold the drink to the consumer.

The present invention discloses a flexible and disposable cup and lid which is known as the Cup and Lid Twister and which includes both external and internal threads to provide a seal so that the liquid does not leak out of the cup. The cup and lid of the present invention can be formed from different materials, different sizes, different shapes, different designs and different colors in order to satisfy the desires of the consumer. With a simple twist, the cup and lid can form a seal which will prevent the liquid from being spilt.

A liquid holding device includes a flexible cup having external threads and a flexible lid having internal threads for engaging the external threads of the flexible cup.

The flexible lid includes a upward projecting member, and the flexible lid includes a depression.

The flexible lid includes an aperture, and the aperture and the depression cooperate to allow the user to drink the liquid.

The flexible lid includes slits to allow a straw to be placed through the flexible lid, and the flexible lid includes a peripheral lip for the internal threads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a cup and lid for a cold drink in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates the cup and lid for a hot drink in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 1C illustrates a lid for a cold drink in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a cup and lid for a cold drink in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a cup and lid for a hot drink in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the cup and lid of the present invention separated;

FIG. 5 illustrates the cup and lid of the present invention sealed together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A illustrates the flexible cup 102 and a first flexible lid 104 the straw 103

FIG. 1B illustrates the flexible cup 302 and a second flexible lid 305 which may be used for hot liquids.

FIG. 1C illustrates the first flexible lid 104 which has a continuous peripheral lip 106 to cooperate with the sidewall of the flexible cup 102. The first flexible lid 104 includes slits 108 to form arms which deflect to allow the straw 103 to be placed within the flexible cup 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates the first flexible lid 204 having a flexible and continuous peripheral lip 206 which includes internal threads 210 and the slits 208 for the straw 103. FIG. 2 additionally illustrates a flexible cup 202 which includes external threads 212 for cooperating with the internal threads 210 of the first flexible lid 204.

FIG. 3 illustrates the second flexible lid 305 having a flexible and continuous peripheral lip 306 including internal threads 310 and an upward projecting member 322.

FIG. 4 illustrates the first flexible lid 204 in a spaced relationship with the flexible cup 202. FIG. 5 illustrates a result of twisting the first flexible lid 204 on to the flexible cup 202 and the internal threads 210 of the first flexible lid 204 engaging the external threads 212 of the flexible cup 202 in order to provide a secure seal with the liquid in the flexible cup 202. To disengage the first flexible lid 204 from the flexible cup 202, the first flexible lid 204 is twisted in the reverse direction.

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of the flexible cup 302 and the second flexible lid 305. The second flexible lid 302 includes a top having a depression 324 for accepting a lip of the user. The top of the second flexible lid 302 includes an aperture 326 which is positioned to cooperate with the depression 324 so that the user can safely obtain liquid from the aperture 326.

The flexible cup 202, 302 may be tapered, not tapered and nestable.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1. A liquid holding device, comprising:

a flexible cup having external threads;

a flexible lid having internal threads for engaging the external threads of the flexible cup.

2. A liquid holding device as in claim 1, wherein said flexible lid includes an upward projecting member.

3. A liquid holding device as in claim 1, wherein said flexible lid includes a depression.

4. A liquid holding device as in claim 3, wherein said flexible lid includes an aperture and wherein said aperture and depression cooperate to allow the user to drink the liquid.

5. A liquid holding device as in claim 1, wherein said flexible lid includes slits to allow a straw to be placed through the flexible lid.

6. A liquid holding device as in claim 1, wherein said flexible lid includes a peripheral lip for the internal threads.