DRINKING LID FOR TWO

Abstract

A lid for a drinking cup for two having a generally circular panel of flexible material and having a circular retaining rim securing the lid to the circular rim of a drinking cup. The lid has a pair of orienting and access receptacles depending from the circular panel and having side walls sufficiently spaced to receive a drinking straw therebetween. The receptacles have drinking straw orienting walls for orientation of a pair of drinking straws within a cup. The receptacles each have a drinking straw entry wall oriented at an abrupt angle with the orienting wall and having a perforation permitting a drinking straw to be forced through the perforation and into a cup to which said lid is assembled.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

Applicants hereby claim for all purposes the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/073,949 filed on Oct. 31, 2014 by Rivan J. Benneventdo, Sam Nguyen and Keith Lawrence and entitled Drinking Lid For Two.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally concerns drinking cups, cup closure lids and drinking straws that are typically employed for delivery of liquid materials for consumption by customers. More particularly, this invention concerns lids for drinking cups that are manufactured to receive a drinking straw to enable customers to receive and consume liquid materials such as beverages that are purchased from business organizations that specialize in food service. Even more specifically, this invention concerns drinking cup lids that are arranged to permit at least two drinking straws to be passed through lid openings to permit at least two persons to drink with separate drinking straws from a drinking cup with a drinking lid in place and to permit users to distinguish between the access openings by sight and feel.

Description of the Prior Art

various types of closure lids have been developed that fit drinking cups and have an opening through which a drinking straw is passed or forced to enable a user to apply suction and withdraw liquid material for consumption. One prime example of the prior art is a drinking cup that may be formed of paper or polymer material, to which is applied a friction or interference fitting closure lid that is typically composed of polymer material. The polymer lid is perforated by cross-cuts centrally of the closure lid that permit a drinking straw to be forced through a drinking straw opening that is defined by the cross-cuts. The lid material at the cross-cuts will be forced to yield by the manual force of pushing the drinking straw through the cross-cut and yielding the panel material at the cross-cuts so that the drinking straw passes through the access opening into the drinking cup.

Briefly, the present invention concerns a drinking lid that permits use of a beverage cup by two persons. The drinking lid has a pair of drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles located at opposing sides of the lid, adjacent a circular retainer rim of the lid. Each of the receptacles has an orienting wall for establishing a desired angular relation of a pair of drinking straws that are used. The receptacles are each in the form of downwardly extending projections each having a guide wall to establish the desired angles of drinking straws that are extended through an access opening that is defined in an angulated straw entry wall of the receptacle. The angles of the guide wall of each of the drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles are arranged so that drinking straws extended through the access openings and into a drinking cup will position the drinking straws in crossed relation with the bottom ends of the drinking straws at opposite sides of the bottom wall of the cup. angulated straw entry wall of each receptacle is oriented at an abrupt angle relative to the guide wall so that a drinking straw will be properly oriented to efficiently yield and flex the lid material at the entry opening for ease of straw entry into the drinking cup to which the lid is assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof.

It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a drinking lid embodying the present invention and showing a rim portion, a pair of entry and straw positioning members for receiving and orienting drinking straws and showing an upwardly projecting depressible dimple;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the drinking lid FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the drinking lid taken from the right side of FIG. 1, showing further details of the straw positioning members;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the drinking lid as show in FIG. 2 and showing a pair of drinking straws in broken line, being oriented in angulated

FIG. 4 is a top view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing entry points for drinking straws and having an array of raised dots for straw location identification;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing downwardly projecting lid wall members establishing entry points for a pair of drinking straws;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view showing the drinking cup lid of FIG. 5, with oriented drinking straws being shown in broken line; and

FIG. 7 is a top view showing a drinking cup lid embodying the principles of this invention and showing a pair of drinking straw entry points having half perforated flaps and further showing a centrally located drinking straw opening,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a disposable lid for two, to be removeably mounted to the opening of a disposable beverage cup is shown generally at 10. The lid 10, like the drinking cup to which it is mounted, may be composed of any of the usual disposable drinking cup and lid materials, such as paper or any of a number of suitable polymer materials, such a polyethylene, polypropylene and the like. The principal feature of the lid is that it provides a cover for a disposable drinking cup and facilitates efficient use of a single drinking cup and lid assembly for two persons. The lid 10 provides for identification of the particular drinking straw that is used by each person and functions to position each of the drinking straws at preset angles relative to the cup and lid to prevent the drinking straws from interfering with one another.

The drinking cup lid 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, has an outer circular locking rim 12 of curved cross-sectional configuration that is adapted to engage and establish a friction or interference fit with the circular reinforcing bead 14 of a drinking cup that is shown in broken line at 16. The lid 10 is simply pressed into place after filling the drinking cup with beverage, thus essentially locking the lid to the drinking cup to form a closure that prevents the beverage from spilling. It should be borne in mind that the present invention concerns only the lid 10 and does not include any structure of the drinking cup that is shown in broken line in FIG. 3 and any of the other FIGS. That are presented in the drawings. The lid 10 may therefore be utilized as a closure and two person access for any type of drinking cup, including drinking cups that are not of the disposable variety.

For beverage consuming access to a drinking cup by two persons, the lid 10 is provided that a pair of drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles shown generally at 18 and 20, that are preferably oriented 180° apart and located adjacent an outer circular retainer rim of the lid, though having any other positioning arrangement that suits the needs and desires of the manufacturer, beverage dispensing organization or users. Each of the drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles is defined by projecting sections of the lid structure that project downwardly from a substantially planar lid wall 22 that is circumscribed by the circular retainer rim 12. The drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles are each defined by side walls 24 and 26 that are integral with the lid wall 22 and by an angulated straw orienting wall 28. An angulated straw entry wall 30 extends downwardly and angularly from the lid wall 22 and is perforated by intersecting cross-slits 32. Each of the walls of the drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles are formed integrally with the lid during lid manufacture and can be formed by a lid molding operation, by a heat and gas pressure forming operation or by any other mode of manufacture that is deemed suitable.

A drinking straw positioned substantially parallel relation with the straw orienting wall 28 will be oriented in substantially perpendicular relation with the angulated straw entry wall 30. Manual force applied linearly in the oriented direction of the straw will cause an end of the straw to be forced through the cross-slit access opening and into the beverage cup. Pushing force on the straw essentially deflects portions of the lid at the cross-slit opening sufficient to force the end of the straw through the opening. Continued force to the straw will cause movement of the straw through the cross-slit access opening toward the juncture of the side and bottom walls of the cup. However the flexible material of the lid permits the lower end of a drinking straw to be located at any desired position within the cup. The lower end of the drinking straw may be moved to the bottom of the cup in this manner or its movement into the cup may be stopped as desired by the user. To enable two drinking cup users to identify each person's drinking straw entry and positioning receptacle and that person's drinking straw the planar lid panel 22 defines an upwardly projecting position identifying projection 34. The projection 34 may be of generally conical configuration as shown in FIG. 2 or it may be of rounded configuration or any other configuration that will enable the cup users to feel the projection and thereby identify the drinking straw that is being used by each person. In FIG. 4 the identifying projection 41 is shown to have the form of an array of upwardly projecting dots, much like the dots of Brail characters, which can be seen or felt by a user to identify a particular straw entry receptacle. This upwardly projecting array of dots can be formed in the material from which the lid is composed during the manufacturing process.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, an embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 36 which differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 only in certain design features. The cup lid 36 has an outer circular retainer rim 38 of curved cross-sectional configuration which establishes a locking or interference fit with the outer reinforced bead at the top of a drinking cup to retain the lid in assembly with the drinking cup sufficient to minimize the potential for spilling of a beverage. The central portion of the lid 36 is defined by a generally planar panel 40. A pair of drinking straw entry and positioning receptacles are shown generally at 42 and 44 in FIGS. 4-6 and are preferably integral with the planar panel 40, typically being formed during molding or heat and/or pressure formation of the lid from sheet material.

If desired, however, a straw entry receptacle structure having the features described herein may be adhered at an access opening of the planar wall panel of a lid, such as by bonding, heat welding or any other suitable process. The receptacles 42 and 44 are basically defined by smoothly curved or contoured wall geometry that defines a depression depending from the generally circular panel and having receptacle walls that converge downwardly and define a smoothly contoured receptacle bottom 47. The receptacles 42 and 44 each have spaced side walls 46 that may be of parallel relation or may be of converging or diverging relation and an angulated straw positioning wall 47 that extends from the wall panel 40 and from the side walls 46 and 48. From the top wall panel 40 and from the side walls 46 and 48 extends an angulated straw entry wall 50 that is oriented in substantially perpendicular relation with the direction straw entry into the beverage container. This feature enables a user to rather precisely position a drinking straw with its lower end oriented substantially perpendicular or at an abrupt angle with respect to the angulated straw entry wall 50. The user will then apply manual force to the drinking straw, pushing the lower end of the straw against the cross-slit perforation of the angulated drinking straw entry wall 50.

The material of the lid, being composed of flexible material, such as a thin polymer material, causes the material at the cross-slit to be pushed or flexed sufficiently to permit the drinking straw to be forced though the access opening and into a beverage cup to which the lid is assembled. When two persons are using a drinking cup that is provided with the lid of the present invention, it will be desirable to enable each person to distinguish one access and alignment receptacle from the other. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 an identification member projects upwardly from the top surface of the lid and can be manually touched or felt to identify the access and alignment receptacle that is closest to that identification member.

As described above, when two persons are using a drinking cup that is provided with the lid of the present invention, it will be desirable to enable each person to distinguish one access and alignment receptacle from the other. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 an identification member projects upwardly from the top surface of the lid and can be manually touched or felt to identify the access and alignment receptacle that is closest to that identification member. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 a single identification member 34 in the form of an upwardly facing projection 34 of rounded or conical configuration is located near the straw entry and alignment receptacle 18. A user of the lid is enabled to see or feel, even during conditions of poor light, the identification member to confirm the receptacle that person is using. Alternatively, as shown at 41 in FIG. 4 an identification member is provided in the form of an array of upwardly projecting Brail-like dots which can be seen or felt by a user of the lid to also confirm the receptacle that person is using

The angulated straw entry walls 50 may define a straw entry opening in the form of a cross-slit as discussed above or maybe defined by a perforated wall section that will be opened by the force of the end of a drinking straw that is manually pushed through the wall perforation. FIG. 6 shows in broken line a pair of drinking straws extending through the access opening of the angulated straw entry wall 50 for entry into a drinking cup essentially as shown in FIG. 3. Neither the beverage container of FIG. 3 nor the drinking straws of FIGS. 3 and 6 form parts of the present invention. This invention pertains solely to the lid of a drinking cup and the structure of the lid for controlling the angles and orientation of a pair of drinking straws through the lid and into a disposable beverage cup.

Though the present invention concerns a lid permitting two users to consume a beverage from a single drinking cup, it may be desirable to also provide for use of a similar drinking cup lid permitting the lid to also be used by one person. As shown in FIG. 7 a drinking cup lid is shown generally at 52 which has a circular rim 54 of the configuration and purpose as described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 4. The central portion of the lid 52 is defined by a generally planar panel 58 having a pair of drinking straw access openings 60 and 62 that are each defined by closure flaps 64 and 66 that are integral with the planar panel 58 and include perforate sections 68 and 70 that are released to open the flaps by the force of manually pushing drinking straws against the flaps and breaking through the perforate sections.

Centrally of the planar panel 58 or at any other desired location an entry point for a single drinking straw a straw entry point or region 72 defines a straw entry opening 74 that may have the form of a cross-slot as discussed above or may have the form of any other entry opening through which a straw may be forced into a drinking cup.

In view of the foregoing it is evident that the present invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and features hereinabove set forth, together with other objects and features which are inherent in the apparatus disclosed herein.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A lid for a drinking cup, comprising:

a generally circular panel of drinking lid material;

a circular rim circumscribing said generally circular panel and adapted for compression fit with the circular rim of a drinking cup; and

an orienting and access receptacle depending from said generally circular panel and having side walls sufficiently spaced for positioning of a drinking straw therebetween, a drinking straw orienting wall being oriented at an angle relative to said generally circular panel for angular orientation of a drinking straw and having a drinking straw entry wall having a perforation permitting passage of a drinking straw through said perforation and into a cup to which said lid is assembled.

2. The lid of claim 1, comprising:

said spaced side walls being connected with said generally circular panel and projecting downwardly therefrom.

3. The lid of claim 1, comprising:

said drinking straw orienting wall being connected with said spaced side walls and with said generally circular panel.

4. The lid of claim 1, comprising:

said generally circular panel being composed of flexible material;

said drinking straw entry wall being connected with said spaced side walls and having an abrupt angular relationship with said drinking straw orienting wall; and

said perforation of said drinking straw entry wall being a pair of slit openings arranged in the form of a cross permitting flexing of generally circular panel material to permit a drinking straw to be forced through said perforation.

5. The lid of claim 1, comprising:

said generally circular panel being composed of flexible material; and

a drinking straw entry point being defined centrally of said generally circular panel and having a closure defined by a closure flap of said flexible panel material having an array of perforations in said generally circular panel that are frangible by manual pushing force of a drinking straw to permit opening movement of said closure flap of panel material and define an opening to admit movement of a drinking straw therethrough.

6. The lid of claim 1, comprising:

said orienting and access receptacle being integral with and projecting downwardly from said generally circular panel and being in the form of a depression having spaced side walls an orienting wall and an entry wall each having connection with said generally circular panel and having a smoothly curved juncture defining the lower end portion of said orienting and access receptacle.

7. The lid of claim 1, comprising:

An identification member projecting upwardly from said generally circular panel and being located adjacent one of said orienting and access receptacles and enabling a user of said lid to manually touch the identifying member and distinguish between the orienting and access receptacles.

8. A lid for a drinking cup, comprising:

a generally circular panel of drinking lid material;

a circular lid retaining rim circumscribing said generally circular panel and adapted releasable retention of said lid with the circular rim of a drinking cup;

an orienting and access receptacle depending from said generally circular panel and having side walls integral with said generally circular panel and being sufficiently spaced for positioning of a drinking straw therebetween, a drinking straw orienting wall being connected with said spaced side walls and with said generally circular panel and having an angle relative to said generally circular panel for angular orientation of a drinking straw and having a drinking straw entry wall being connected with said spaced side walls and having an abrupt angular relationship with said drinking straw orienting wall having a perforation permitting passage of a drinking straw through said perforation and into a cup to which said lid is assembled.

9. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

said spaced side walls being connected with said generally circular panel and projecting downwardly therefrom; and

said perforation of said drinking straw entry wall being a pair of slit openings arranged in the form of a cross permitting flexing of generally circular panel material to permit a drinking straw to be forced through said perforation.

10. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

said generally circular panel being composed of thin flexible sheet-like material; and

a drinking straw entry point being defined centrally of said generally circular panel and having a closure defined by a closure flap of said flexible panel material having an array of perforations in said generally circular panel that are frangible by manual pushing force of a drinking straw to permit opening movement of said closure flap of panel material and define an opening to admit movement of a drinking straw therethrough.

11. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

An identification member projecting upwardly from said generally circular panel and being located adjacent one of said orienting and access receptacles and enabling a user of said lid to see or manually touch the identifying member and distinguish between the orienting and access receptacles.

12. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

said generally circular panel being composed of flexible material;

said drinking straw entry wall being connected with said spaced side walls and having an abrupt angular relationship with said drinking straw orienting wall; and

said perforation of said drinking straw entry wall being a pair of slit openings arranged in the form of a cross permitting flexing of generally circular panel material to permit a drinking straw to be forced through said perforation.

13. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

said generally circular panel being composed of flexible material; and

a drinking straw entry point being defined centrally of said generally circular panel and having a closure defined by a closure flap of said flexible panel material having an array of perforations in said generally circular panel that are frangible by manual pushing force of a drinking straw to permit opening movement of said closure flap of panel material and define an opening to admit movement of a drinking straw therethrough.

14. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

said generally circular panel being composed of flexible material; and

a drinking straw entry point being defined centrally of said generally circular panel and having a closure defined by a closure flap of said flexible panel material having an array of perforations in said generally circular panel that are frangible by manual pushing force of a drinking straw to permit opening movement of said closure flap of panel material and define an opening to admit movement of a drinking straw therethrough.

15. The lid of claim 8, comprising:

said orienting and access receptacle being integral with and projecting downwardly from said generally circular panel and being in the form of a depression having spaced side walls an orienting wall and an entry wall each having connection with said generally circular panel and having a smoothly curved juncture defining the lower end portion of said orienting and access receptacle.