Beverage Cup With Peel-Off Lid

Abstract

A cup and peel-off lid assembly includes a cup having a base and at least one side wall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a brim at an upper edge thereof The cup is capable of containing a liquid. A peel-off lid is adhered to and removable from one of the base and the side wall. The lid when removed is capable of conforming to the brim such that liquid contained in the cup is inhibited from spilling from the cup. In certain embodiments the peel-off lid can have an opening formed therein for inserting a straw. The opening can be created by a user puncturing a predetermined area of the peel-off lid. In certain embodiments the peel-off lid can have indicia printed thereon. The indicia can be part of a game or promotion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefits from U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/981,183 filed on Apr. 17, 2014, entitled “Beverage Cup With Peel-Off Lid.” The '183 application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cup with a peel-off lid for inhibiting spillage from the cup when the lid is conformed to the brim of the cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable cups have been used for centuries. Historians have found use of paper cups in China, as early as the second century B.C. Today, disposable cups are made out of many materials including, but not limited to, paper, paper lined with plastic or wax, Styrofoam, and plastic. Disposable cups are useful in a variety of instances including in restaurants, on airplanes, in hotels, at sporting events, and in other instances where collecting and washing traditional glasses is not preferred whether for economic and/or convenience reasons.

In many of the instances where disposable cups are used the user is not sitting at a traditional table. For example, a disposable-cup user at a fast food restaurant may take his cup in the car which is subject to sudden bumps and jolts. Likewise a passenger on an airplane who is given a drink is regularly exposed to turbulence that increases the chance for spills.

Similarly, individuals at sporting events are usually sitting in seats without tables. These individuals also tend to make quick sudden movements as they follow and cheer on their team. This sudden movement, along with the fact that the users are often holding their drink increases the chance that they will spill.

One way of helping reduce the likelihood of spilling is to add a lid to the cup. In the disposable cup setting this is traditionally done with a detached lid that is manufactured and sold separately from the cup. These “cup-independent lids” are generally placed near the cups they are to be used with so that the individual pouring the drink can conveniently find them.

There are several drawbacks to using cup-independent lids. For starters, the cup-independent lids and the cups must be either purchased separately or as a package. If purchased separately, purchasers must be sure to buy the same number of cup-independent lids and cups. Purchasers must also be sure to buy the correct sized cup-independent lids. Furthermore, even if the cup-independent lids and cups are purchased together, sellers may still find themselves with too few cup-independent lids or cups if a box of one or the other is misplaced. Essentially having to employ a cup-independent lid that is a separate item from the cup it is to be used with can create unnecessary logistical problems for companies.

An additional disadvantage of using cup-independent lids is that they take up physical shelf space, roughly equal to the diameter of the cup, when they are not in use. In many instances this shelf space is particularly valuable. For example, store owners in retail stores, particularly convenience stores and gas stations, would rather use the shelf space taken up by cup-independent lids to stock items they can actually sell, to increase the profitability of the store. Similarly, airlines are always looking for ways to increase the amount open space they have on their flights. Currently, cup-independent lids must take up space on the very narrow flight attendant beverage carts.

Another drawback of cup-independent lids is the need for the beverage server, such as a flight attendant or a server at a fast food restaurant, to place the lid on the cup or hand the lid over to the customer. Both tasks take a small amount of time, but when that time is multiplied over the number of customers served in a year, these added steps cost the companies a significant amount of money. Furthermore, the practice is not hygienic as the server/flight attendant must touch the lid with his hands or wear gloves.

On the other hand, if the customer is expected to obtain their own cup-independent lid, this often involves having the customer walk over to an entirely different area from where the customer either receives or picks up his cup. This leads to logistical challenges when designing restaurants, convenience stores, and the like. A further complication in having customers pick up their own cup-independent lids is that the practice is unsanitary. Many members of the public handle the lids with dirty hands, often using the trial and error method to find the proper sized lid for their drink cup.

A disposable cup in which the lid is already attached to the cup, but still allows the cups to be stacked would be received favorably in the beverage container industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disposable cup with a peel-off lid offers many advantages over traditional cup-independent lids.

In one example, the peel-off lid is attached to the disposable cup similar to how game pieces used in sweepstakes by fast food restaurants are attached to cups. In one example, the peel-off lid sticker is attached to the cup via a first adhesive side. The peel-off lid sticker is perforated on the non-adhesive side in the shape of the peel-off lid. In some embodiments, the user is able to pull off the peel-off lid by pulling on a pull-tab. Once the lid is disconnected from the cup, the user can then place it over the lip of the cup to form a lid.

The peel-off lid can be made of a wide variety of water resistant, if not water proof, materials. In one embodiment the peel-off lid is made of formable material, such as metallic and polymeric materials and polymer/foil laminates, that can be easily shaped and retained around the lid of the disposable cup. In another embodiment, one side of the peel-off lid is adhesive so it can stick to the sides/lip of the cup.

In some embodiments the lid can include a hole that allows for the insertion of a straw and/or the user to sip from the cup. In some cases this hole may only appear after the user has punctured a predetermined area that is a made of a less robust material than the rest of the peel-off lid.

In instances where the peel-off lid is being used to cover a liquid and/or food that is meant to be consumed, the peel-off lid should be made of a non-toxic material.

In one embodiment the lid is made of a unidirectional adhesive material, such that it can be stuck to the side of the cup in one direction, while removed in substantially the opposite direction.

Although a disposable cup has been used for illustrative purposes, it should be noted that a peel-off lid can also be employed with non-disposable cups. In some embodiments, the peel-off lid would be applied directly to the cup after it has been cleaned either by a machine or by hand. The lid would then work as described above, except the cup would not be thrown out after use, but could instead be cleaned and a new lid peel-off lid applied to it.

In some embodiments, the peel-off lid will include information printed on it. In some examples the information may be a code that can be used to get free Wi-Fi or collected to later redeem for prizes. In other instances the information may be an advertisement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is a perspective view of a conventional, prior-art disposable cup with a peel-off ticket adhered to its side wall.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a disposable cup with a peel-off lid adhered to the side wall of the cup.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a disposable cup with a peel-off lid conformed to the brim of the cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates disposable cup 11 known in the field with peel-off ticket 12. Various embodiments of this technique are known in the prior art and described in various publications including: U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,274 (“Detachable coupon for laminated corrugated packaging material and method of manufacture”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,167 (“Label having integrally formed differential release coupon and method of making”), U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,488 (“Peel out portions incorporated in paper labels”), U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,743 (“Multi-layer flexible package with removable section”), U.S. Pat. No. 7,228,961 (“Packaged article with tear-away label portion”), and U.S. Pat. No. 7,608,317 (“Multilayer packaging with peelable coupon”).

FIG. 2 shows disposable cup 21 with peel-off lid 23. Peel-off lid 23 can be made of a material that has an adhesive material or layer applied to the side facing disposable cup 21. Peel-off lid 23 can then be separated from cup 21 by having a second layer that is perforated and detaches from the adhesive layer facing cup 21. In other embodiments, peel-off lid 23 is a single layer, in which the adhesive used is of such a nature that it is easily removable from cup 21. In still other embodiments, peel-off lid 23 might be manufactured into cup 21 through various techniques known in the field.

In one embodiment disposable cup 21 is shorter than the diameter of brim 24. In this instance, peel-off lid 23 can be folded when it is attached to disposable cup 21, thereby reducing its width and allowing it to fit without any of its edges overhanging disposable cup 21.

Among qualities to consider when choosing the material for peel-off lid 23 include its thickness (in at least some embodiments cup 21 should stack/nest with other cups); its resistance to water; its cost; and its formability (the material should be flexible enough to allow lid 23 to conform to brim 24 of cup 21 yet be able to retain its shape when being used as a lid. Materials potentially employable for the peel-off lids disclosed herein include metallic and polymeric materials that are bendable and retain their shape when bent, while also being compatible with food and beverages for human consumption. Such materials include polymer/foil laminates, such as polyolefin (for example, polyester and polypropylene) and polyester (for example, polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate) sheet material interposed with metal (for example, aluminum) foils.

FIG. 3 shows disposable cup 31 with peel-off lid 33 covering disposable cup 31. As shown in FIG. 33, lid 33 reduces, if not prevents liquids from spilling out of cup 31. In some embodiments, lid 33 has a section configured to receive a straw 35. This section can be made of a material that is easier to puncture. In one example, lid 33 can include removable section 36 that allows the user to sip from lid 33.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

Claims

1. A cup and peel-off lid assembly comprising:

(a) a cup having a base and at least one side wall extending upwardly from said base and terminating in a brim at an upper edge thereof, said cup capable of containing a liquid; and

(b) a peel-off lid adhered to and removable from one of said base and said side wall, said lid when removed capable of conforming to said brim such that liquid contained in said cup is inhibited from spilling from said cup.

2. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said peel-off lid is attached to said cup with an adhesive material.

3. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said peel-off lid is non-toxic.

4. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said peel-off lid is waterproof.

5. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said peel-off lid is formable.

6. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said peel-off lid contains an opening.

7. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 6 wherein said opening is configured to receive a straw.

8. The cup and peel-off lid assembly of claim 6 wherein said opening is configured to allow a user to sip from said cup.