LID ENCLOSING ONE OR MORE SUBSTANCES WHICH CAN BE EASILY INTRODUCED INTO A CUP TO WHICH THE LID MAY BE CONNECTED

Disclosed is a lid which can be reversibly connected to a cup's upper edge, including three openings shaped nearly as circular sectors closed on top by three respective protrusions. Each protrusion includes a flat top section having a surface extension smaller than that of the opening underneath and a side portion shaped to converge towards the top portion starting from the first wall. A second wall is hermetically sealed to the first wall at the three prominences to delimit together with the latter three hermetically closed chambers and in each of which a substance, which can be introduced into the cup when the lid is connected to it, can be preliminarily housed. Alternatively, the lid includes a further opening at its side edge, close on top by a further protrusion higher than the other ones and ends with a through hole to release a beverage in the cup.

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Description
FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of disposable containers suited to contain a beverage. In particular, containers of this type, to which this invention applies, are containers in which a beverage can be dispensed in so-called “take-out” mode, i.e. the containers which allow transporting a beverage from one place to another and also drinking the beverage during said movement.

Containers for dispensing a beverage in take-put mode (also named “take-out containers” in short) usually comprise a frustoconical shaped cup closed on top by a substantially circular lid. The present invention relates, in particular, to a lid for take-out containers provided with at least one chamber in which a substance (e.g. a sweetener), intended to be immersed in a cup to which the lid may be connected, can be enclosed.

For the sake of simplicity, hereinafter in the present description, the word “cup” will refer to any container comprising at least one side wall closed on the bottom and open on the top to introduce and pour a beverage therefrom.

OVERVIEW OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Take-out container lids usually comprise a nearly circular wall delimited by an annular frame, by means of which the lid can be connected to the upper edge of a cup. More precisely, the frame includes a housing, also annular, open on the bottom for housing the edge of the cup. The dimensions of the annular housing are such to achieve a connection by fitting between the lid and the cup.

In general, take-out container lids are of two types. In particular, said lids may be “blank” or “pierced”. The blank lids completely plug the cups onto which they applied. The perforated lids, instead, comprise one or more through holes, through which a beverage contained in a cup onto which the lid is applied can be drunk without needing to remove the lid. More precisely, the lids of this second type are usually provided with a central hole into which a small hollow tube (commonly named “straw”) can be inserted, or with a side hole at which a person can place their lips to pour the beverage directly into their mouth by tilting the cup. A possible second hole, of much smaller size than the aforesaid central or side hole, allows the introduction of air into the container at the same time as the beverage is poured from the other hole, so as to avoid aspiring air into the container through the same hole from which the beverage is drunk.

By way of example, blank lids count the lids of cups for dispensing espresso coffee in take-out mode. By way of example, pierced lids count the lids of cups for dispensing a soft drink or a watery hot beverage (such as tea or cappuccino).

The cups and lids of take-out containers are generally marketed separate from one another. When an operator needs to dispense a beverage in take-out mode, he or she pours the beverage into a cup and then closes the cup on top using a lid. As a result of this, if a person wishes to add a sweetener to the beverage before leaving the operator, said person is forced to remove the lid, add the sweetener and then close the lid back onto the cup (so as to avoid the risk of spilling the beverage from the cup while transporting it).

As the cups which form take-out containers are usually made of paper material, they are easily deformable. Therefore, when a beverage is contained in the cup, the repositioning of the lid on the cup is not an easy operation because the cup must be held vertical. The risk of spillage in the attempt to place the lid back on the cup is therefore high.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a lid for take-out containers which makes it possible to introduce one or more substances into a cup to which the lid may be connected without needing to remove the lid from the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lid which can be reversibly connected to a cup at an upper edge thereof. Said lid comprises:

    • a first wall including at least one first opening closed on top by a first protrusion (i.e. a portion preferably of said first wall having an at least partially concave shape);
    • connection means adapted to reversibly connect said first wall to a cup at an edge thereof,
      • said connection means being further adapted to connect said first wall to a cup so that when said first wall is connected to said cup, a concavity of said first protrusion faces towards the inside of said cup;

wherein, according to the invention, said lid further comprises:

    • a second wall hermetically connected to said first wall at said first protrusion or about said first opening so as to delimit a hermetically closed chamber together with said first protrusion, in which at least one substance, which can be introduced into a cup when said lid is connected to it, can be preliminarily housed,

said first protrusion comprising:

    • a first top portion, flat at least in part, having a smaller surface extension than that of said first opening;
    • a second side portion interposed between said first portion and said second wall, at least in part converging from said second wall towards said first portion.

Said first wall, at least in at said first protrusion, is preferably made at least partially of a polymeric material and has a thickness preferably not greater than 3 mm, more preferably not greater than 2 mm and even more preferably comprised between 0.1 mm and 1.3 mm.

Said second wall is preferably made at least partially of a polymeric material and has a thickness preferably not greater than 2.5 mm, more preferably not greater than 1.5 mm, and even more preferably comprised between 0.1 mm and 1.3 mm.

Incidentally, by saying that the connection between the aforesaid first wall and the cup is reversible means that the first wall can be connected and disconnected from the cup an undefined number of times.

Incidentally, upper extension of the first opening means the extension of surface portion enclosed by the (inner) edge of the first wall which delimits the first opening.

In the lid which is the object of the invention, as defined above, the first protrusion and the second wall delimit, respectively on top and underneath, a hermetically closed chamber in which a substance, which may be a sweetener for example, may be preliminarily housed. Advantageously, the conformation of the first protrusion is such that its side portion easily collapses following the application of a slight pressure at the top portion.

In order to understand how the aforesaid lid makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, we will consider the case of a person who asks an operator (e.g. a bartender) to dispense a beverage in take-out mode. We will assume, by way of example, that the beverage required by said person is a coffee. The operator introduces the coffee into a disposable cup, closes the cup with a lid according to the present invention and gives the container thus obtained to said person. As mentioned above, we will assume that a quantity of sweetener is enclosed in the hermetic chamber of the lid. If the aforesaid person wishes to add sweetener to the coffee before going away from the operator, they do not need to remove the lid from the cup. To add the sweetener to the coffee, it is sufficient for said person to press the top portion of the first protrusion towards the inside of the cup with a finger. As a result of this pressure (and by virtue of the fact that said first wall, at least at said first protrusion, is preferably, at least partially, made of a polymer material and has a thickness preferably not exceeding 3 mm), the side portion of the protrusion collapses so that its top portion lowers towards the second wall of the lid. As the chamber delimited by the first protrusion and by the second wall is hermetic, the collapse of the side portion of the protrusion determines a sharp increase of the pressure inside said chamber. By effect of said pressure increase (and by virtue of the fact that the thickness of said second wall preferably does not exceed 2.5 mm), the second wall of the lid tears, dropping the sweetener enclosed in the chamber into the cup (and therefore into the coffee). The collapse of the second wall of the lid instead of the top portion of the protrusion is also guaranteed in that a fingertip is placed on the top portion of the protrusion in order to apply a pressure onto it.

The fingertip thus opposes a release of the sweetener from said top portion. Other innovative features of the present invention are illustrated in the description which follows and mentioned in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, proceeding from said second wall towards said top portion, said side portion comprises:

    • a first lower section, arranged transversally with respect to said second wall;
    • a second central section, having a conformation converging away from said second wall, starting from said lower section;
    • a third upper section, joining said central section and said top portion, transversally with respect to the latter.

According to this aspect of the invention, the side portion of the first protrusion is advantageously even more easily collapsible than the case in which the pattern of the side portion is converging for the entire height of the protrusion. With respect to said case, less is the pressure needed to be applied on the top portion of the protrusion to make the side portion collapse. As shown in greater detail below in the present description, approaching the top portion of the protrusion to the second wall of the lid determines a penetration of the upper section of the side portion into a volume of space delimited by the lower section. At the end of said approach (i.e. once the lowering of the top portion of the protrusion has been completed), the upper section of the side portion is almost completely surrounded by its lower section.

According to another aspect of the invention, said first wall is substantially circular and said first opening is comprised between the center of said first wall and its side edge.

According to this aspect of the invention, the opening is in a decentralized position. By effect of this, when the lid is connected to a cup and the latter is gripped by a person with a hand, the first protrusion can be advantageously pressed by said person with a finger (preferably the index finger) of the same hand holding the cup.

According to another aspect of the invention, said lid comprises a plurality of said first openings, respectively closed at the top by a plurality of said first protrusions,

said second wall being hermetically connected to said first wall at each of said first protrusions or about each of said first openings so as to delimit a respective plurality of said hermetically closed chambers together with said first protrusions.

According to this aspect of the invention, the lid includes multiple hermetically closed chambers. A different substance can therefore be advantageously housed in each chamber. With reference to the previous example in which the lid which is the object of the invention may be connected to a cup containing coffee, the lid which is the object of the invention could comprise three chambers: a first chamber including white sugar, a second chamber including brown sugar and a third chamber including honey or a low-calorie sweetener. A person wishing to sweeten the coffee before drinking it can advantageously decide which substance of those included in the lid to drop into the cup.

According to another aspect of the invention, said first openings are substantially shaped as mutually consecutive circular sectors at edges coinciding with their delimitation radii.

Incidentally, asserting that an opening is substantially shaped like a circular sector means that the surface portion enclosed by the (inner) edge of the first wall which delimits the opening is substantially shaped as a circular sector.

According to this aspect of the invention, the first openings have an optimal shape in terms of occupation of the surface of the first wall. More precisely, all openings are in a decentralized position. When the lid is connected to a cup and the latter is gripped by a person with a hand to press a determined first protrusion with a finger of the same hand used to hold the cup, it is sufficient to rotate the cup in such a way that the chosen protrusion is in such a position to be pressed with a finger.

According to another aspect of the invention, said second wall is preferably, at least partially, made of an edible material, such as for example a manioc starch and vegetable oil based bioplastic.

According to this aspect of the invention, as the second wall is made of a material which can be assimilated by the human body, any fragments of the second wall which fall into a cup to which the lid can be connected when the lid is torn does not constitute a danger for a person drinking a beverage contained in the cup.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lid comprises spacer means integrally connected to said first wall and shaped in such a way that, when two examples of said lid are mutually superimposed so that said second wall of the lid in upper position is opposed to said top portion of the first protrusion or first protrusions, if there are more than one, of the lid in lower position, said second wall of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said top portion of the first protrusion or first protrusions, if there are more than one, of the lid in lower position.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, by virtue of the presence of the aforementioned spacer means, when stacking multiple lids there will be no risk of the second wall of a lid being torn by coming into contact with the top portion of a protrusion of the lid underneath.

According to another aspect of the invention, said first wall is substantially circular and includes a second opening closed on the top by a second protrusion, said second opening being comprised between the center of said first wall and its side edge,

said second protrusion being shaped so that when said first wall is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion also faces towards the inside of said cup,

the height of said second protrusion being greater than that of said first protrusion or each of said first protrusions, if there are more than one,

said second protrusion including a through hole made at a top portion thereof to allow a beverage possibly contained in a cup to exit from it (first through said second opening and then through said hole) when said lid is connected to said cup.

According to this aspect of the invention, the lid belongs to the aforementioned second type, with the through hole in decentralized position. Advantageously, when the lid is connected to a cup, by virtue of the fact that the second protrusion is higher than the first protrusion (or each of the first protrusions), a person can place their lips on the top portion of the second protrusion (to pour a beverage directly into their mouth by tilting the cup) without the other protrusion (or each of the other protrusions) constituting an obstacle.

According to another aspect of the invention, said second protrusion is arched with concavity facing towards the center of said first wall, and has a pattern converging towards said hole.

According to this aspect of the invention, the second protrusion is shaped as a sort of spout which, by rising from the second opening, ends in the through hole. By effect of this, the second protrusion advantageously lends itself even better as a rest for the lips at the through hole. Furthermore, when the lid is connected to a cup, better is the conveying of a beverage contained in the cup from the second opening toward the hole of the second protrusion when the cup is tilted toward the said hole.

According to another aspect of the invention, said second protrusion is shaped so that the height of said hole is not lower than 4 mm with respect to the top portion of said first protrusion or of each of said first protrusions, if there are more than one.

According to this aspect of the invention, the through hole is at a height, with respect to the first projection (or to each of the first protrusions), advantageously such that, when the lid is connected to a cup, a person, after having resting their lips on the top portion of the second protrusion at the through hole, can pour the contents of the cup to which the lid into is connected into their mouth without having to bend their head backwards (towards their back). In other words, the second protrusion is sufficiently high that a person, while maintaining their lips resting on the top portion of the second protrusion, can tilt the cup so that its edge is arranged almost vertically without the tip of their nose touching the lid.

The invention further relates to a container comprising:

    • a cup having an edge delimiting an opening to allow introducing and pouring a beverage from said cup;
    • a lid according the present invention connected to said cup at said edge, so that the concavity of said first protrusion, or of said first protrusions, if there are more than one, and the concavity of said second protrusion, if present, faces towards the inside of said cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of an example of embodiment of the same and from the accompanying drawings exclusively provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a lid according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the lid in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a bottom plan view of the lid in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 to 6 show three respective side plan views of the lid in FIG. 1 turned by 90° with respect to each other;

FIG. 7 shows two side walls belonging to the lid in FIG. 1, in diagrammatic straight section taken along the plane A-A visible in FIG. 2 (and orthogonal to the plane of the sheet in said figure);

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a variant of the lid in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of the lid in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 diagrammatically shows a bottom plan view of the lid in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11 to 13 show three respective side plan views of the lid in FIG. 8 turned by 90° with respect to each other.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter in the present description a figure may be illustrated also with reference to elements not expressly indicated therein but indicated on other figures instead. The scale and proportions of the various illustrated elements do not necessarily correspond to the real values.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a lid 1, which is the object of the invention, reversibly connectable to a cup at an upper edge thereof, i.e. at the edge of the cup which delimits an opening through which a beverage can be introduced into the cup and draw from it.

The lid 1 comprises a preferably substantially circular wall 2 (previously identified as “first wall”). The wall 2, schematically shown in cross section in FIG. 7, includes a central zone 3, which is substantially flat and preferably enclosed by a frame 4 which is substantially annular. More preferably, the frame 4 is a portion of the wall 2 obtained by plastically bending the wall at an outer lateral edge 5, preferably circular in shape, of the flat zone 3. Even more preferably, the wall 2 is folded over itself in such a way that the frame 4 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, with the concavity of the U directed downwards in FIGS. 1, 2 and from 4 to 7, and with one arm 6 of U longer than the other arm 7. The latter is preferably arranged substantially orthogonal to the flat zone 3. By effect of the asymmetry of the aforesaid U, the frame 4 has a circular shape free edge 8 placed at a lower height than that at which it the flat zone 3 lies. At the concavity of the U of its cross section, the frame 4 defines a housing, also annular, in which a cup can be partially accommodated at its upper edge. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the arm 6 is preferably not parallel to the arm 7. More precisely, proceeding from the top 9 of the frame 4 to its edge 8, the arm 6 preferably converges toward the arm 7 almost up to the height of the edge 5 of the zone 3, and then diverges away from it. This causes the cross section of the frame 4 to be preferably hook-shaped. More preferably, the frame 4 is shaped so that, when a cup is housed in it at its upper edge, the latter is elastically fastened between the arms 6 and 7. Said fastening reversibly connects by fitting the frame 4, and consequently the entire wall 2, to the upper edge of the cup. In light of the above, the frame 4 acts as reversible connection means between the wall 2 and a cup at an upper edge thereof. Incidentally, instead of being a portion of the wall 2, the frame 4 could be an annular element integrally connected to the latter at the edge 5.

The wall 2 at the zone 3 comprises a plurality of openings 10 closed at the top by respective protrusions 11. By way of example, there are three openings 10 (previously identified as “first openings”) and protrusions 11 (previously identified as “first protrusions”) therewith. As shown in FIG. 3, the openings 10 are preferably equal to one another and are preferably shaped almost as circular sectors. More preferably, each opening 10 is shaped as an isosceles triangle rounded at the vertexes and having an arc of circumference instead of the base (i.e. instead of the side not congruent to the other two). The openings 10 are preferably consecutive to each other at the edges coinciding with the radii which delimit the aforesaid circular sectors or with the non-arched sides of the aforesaid isosceles triangles. The openings 10 are therefore rotated relative to one another by 120°. The openings 10 are also preferably equidistant both circumferentially from one another, and radially from the center 12 of the edge 5 (and of the wall 2), so that the arched edges 13 of the openings 10 lie on the same circumference (concentric to the edge 5). Incidentally, as can be seen in FIG. 3, each opening 10 is in a decentralized position in the wall 2, i.e. is comprised between the center 12 and the side edge 5.

Like the openings 10, the protrusions 11 are preferably mutually equal and are arranged with the concavity facing towards the same side with respect to the flat zone 3 of the wall 2, i.e. downwards in figures from 4 to 7. Since the concavity of the frame 4 also faces downwards in the aforesaid figures, when the wall 2 is connected to the upper edge of a cup, the concavity of the protrusions 11 is directed toward the inside of the cup. Each protrusion 11 comprises a top portion 15 (previously identified as “first portion”) joined to the flat zone 3 of the wall 2 by a side portion 16 (previously identified as “second portion”). Preferably, the protrusions 11 are portions of the wall 2 and are obtained by plastically bending the latter at internal edges 17 of the flat zone 3 respectively delimiting the openings 10 (that said protrusions 11 close the top). Incidentally, similarly to that said with reference to the frame 4, one or more protrusions 11, instead of being portions of the wall 2, could be at least partially concave elements rigidly connected to the wall 2 at the edges 17.

The top portion 15 of each protrusion 11 is preferably flat and is preferably arranged parallel to the flat zone 3 of the wall 2. The extension of the top portions 15 is smaller than the openings 10 onto which are respectively superimposed. By effect of this, each side portion 16 is at least partly converging from the respective edge 17 of the flat zone 3 towards the corresponding top portion 15. Preferably, each top portion 15 is preferably homothetic with respect to the opening 10 beneath it and in a centered position with respect to the latter. In other words, by virtue of the aforesaid homothety, each top portion 15 is preferably shaped as an isosceles triangle rounded at the vertexes and having an arc of circumference instead of the base. The non-arched edges of each top portion 15 are arranged parallel to the non-arched edges opening 10 beneath it.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the side portion 16 of each protrusion 11 preferably includes:

    • a lower section 18 (previously identified as “first section”) which rises from the flat zone 3, starting from the edge 17, transversely to the latter;
    • a central section 19 (previously identified as “second section”) having a converging conformation, starting from the lower section 18, away from the flat zone 3;
    • an upper section 20 (previously identified as “third section”) joining the central section 19 and the top portion 15, transversely to the latter.

Incidentally, since the protrusions 11 are mutually equal, the top portions 15 lie at the same height with respect to the flat zone 3 of the wall 2. In addition to this, like the openings 10, also the protrusions 11, besides being equal to one another, are rotated relative to one another by 120°.

The conformation of the protrusions 11 described above is such that the side portion 16 of each protrusion 11 easily collapses following the application of a slight pressure at the top portion 15.

The lid 1 also comprises a wall 25 (visible in FIGS. 2 and 7) hermetically connected to the wall 2 at the face of the latter opposite to that from which the protrusions 11 rise. More precisely, the wall 25 (previously referred to as “second wall”) is hermetically connected to the wall 2 at each protrusion 11 (preferably at the lower edge of the section 18) or around each of the openings 10. By effect of this, the wall 25 hermetically plugs the openings 10. The protrusions 11, together with the wall 25, thus delimit respective hermetically closed chambers 26 inside the lid 1. In light of the above, the side portion 16 of each protrusion 11 is interposed between the top portion 15 and the wall 25, and has a pattern at least partly converging from wall 25 towards the top portion 15. The wall 25 is further preferably arranged parallel to the flat zone 3 of the wall 2. The lower section 18 of each side portion 16 is therefore preferably arranged transversely with respect to the wall 25, and the central section 19 converges towards the upper section 20 away from the wall 25.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 or in the figures from 4 to 6, the lid 1 comprises a plurality of side protrusions 30, preferably placed at the frame 4, more preferably near the top 9 of the latter. The protrusions 30 are preferably shaped as arcs of circumference and are three, by way of example. The protrusions 30 are preferably coplanar, equal to one another and mutually equidistant. The projections 30 ensure that, when two examples of the lid 1 are mutually superimposed in such a way that the wall 25 of the lid 1 in the upper position is opposite to the top portion 15 of the protrusions 11 of the lid in the lower position, there is no contact between the wall 25 of the lid 1 in the upper position and the top portions 15 of the lid 1 in the lower position.

The wall 2, at least at the protrusions 11, is preferably at least partially made of a polymeric material. Said material may be a typical plastic material, such as for example polyethylene terephthalate, or a biodegradable polymeric material, such as for example poly-lactic acid (or polylactide). The thickness of the wall 2, at least at the protrusions 11, is preferably not greater than 3 mm, and more preferably not greater than 2, and even more preferably comprised between 0.1 mm and 1.3 mm.

The wall 25 is also preferably at least partially made of a polymeric material. Said material can be a classic or biodegradable plastic material, such as for example a bioplastic, or an edible polymeric material, such as such for example a manioc starch and vegetable oil based bioplastic. The thickness of the wall 25 is preferably not greater than 2.5 mm, more preferably not greater than 1.5 mm, and even more preferably comprised between 0.1 mm and 1.3 mm.

As specified above, the protrusions 11 delimit, together with the wall 25, respective hermetically closed chambers 26 inside the lid 1. At least one substance which can be introduced into a cup to which the lip 1 may be connected (at the frame 4) can be advantageously housed in each of said chambers 26. More precisely, a container comprising the lid 1 which is the object of the invention connected to a cup at an upper edge thereof will be considered. Since the side portion 16 of each protrusion 11 is easily collapsible as a result of the application of a slight pressure at the top portion 15, to introduce into the cup a substance included in one of the chambers 26 it is sufficient to press the top portion 15 of the protrusion 11 enclosing said substance towards the inside the cup. By effect of said pressure, the side portion 16 of said protrusion 11 collapses causing its top portion 15 to be lowered toward the wall 25. More precisely, the top section 20 penetrates into the chamber 26 until it reaches a position such as to be almost completely surrounded by the section 18. Since the chamber 26 is hermetic, the collapse of the side portion 16 determines a sharp increase in pressure inside the chamber 26. By effect of this increase in pressure, the wall 25 tears letting the substance contained in the chamber 26 delimited by the protrusion 11 which has been pressed fall into the cup.

If the chambers 26 contain different substances, in order to allow a person to know the substance enclosed by each protrusion 11, the lid 1 can be advantageously decorated at the top portions 15 by impressing elements on them which are descriptive of the substances respectively contained under the corresponding protrusions 11. In the example shown in the figures, the lid 1 encloses three respective types of sweetener in the three chambers 26: honey, white sugar and brown sugar. The top portions 15 were consequently decorated in such a way to allow a person to know the sweetener contained in each chamber 26. If said person wishes to introduce one of three sweeteners in a beverage contained in a cup to which the lid 1 is connected, the person can therefore establish which protrusion 11 to press in order to make the chosen sweetener fall into the cup.

There are three openings 10 and the protrusions 11 with, by way of example. For the purposes of the invention, the wall 2 may also comprise a single opening 10 closed at the top by a protrusion 11. In such case, the lid 1 would include a single substance (e.g. a single type of sweetener).

Having completed the description of the lid 1, a manufacturing method of it will be illustrated briefly below

Firstly, a mold reproducing the face of the lid 1 placed at the top in the figures from 4 to 6 and two sheets of polymeric material are prepared: a first sheet destined to become the wall 2 and a second sheet destined to become the wall 25. The first sheet is heated, placed onto the mold and made to adhere onto the inner wall of the mold by aspirating the air contained in the volume of the space interposed between the first sheet and the mold. The portion of the first sheet in excess is then cut, to obtain the wall 2. The protrusions 11 (upside down in the mold) can now be appropriately filled with the substances one desires to include in the lid 1. After filling the protrusions 11, the second sheet is appropriately shaped, placed on the wall 2 and hermetically heat-sealed to the latter at the protrusions 11 or around the openings 10, so as to create the chambers 26. The lid 1 thus obtained is extracted from the mold and is ready to be used.

FIGS. 8 to 13 show a lid 35 which is a variant of the lid 1 shown in the previous figures. More precisely, the lid 35 differs from the lid 1 in that the wall 2 comprises a further aperture 36 (previously identified as “second opening”) closed at the top by a further protrusion 37 (previously identified as “second protrusion”). As can be seen in FIG. 10, the opening 36 is in a decentralized position in the wall 2 between the center 12 and the side edge 5. More precisely, the aperture 36 is preferably formed near the frame 4, between the openings 10 and the edge 5, and is in a position such as not to be plugged by the wall 25. The opening 36 is preferably of elongated shape and is preferably arched, with the concavity directed toward the center 12. In particular, the angular amplitude of the opening 36 is preferably greater than 120° and the width (measured radially) is preferably maximum at its central zone and minimum at the two ends. More precisely, proceeding from one end to the other of the opening 36, the width of the latter grows from a first end to become maximum at the aforementioned central zone, and then decreases again until it reaches a second end opposite to said first end.

The protrusion 37 is positioned with its concavity facing the same side with respect to the flat zone 3, towards which the concavity of the protrusions 11 is facing, i.e. downwards in figures from 11 to 13. By effect of this, when the wall 2 is connected to the upper edge of a cup (at the frame 4), the concavity of the protrusion 37 is directed toward the inside of the cup. Like the opening 36, the protrusion 37 is preferably arched, with the concavity directed toward the center 12.

Preferably, the protrusion 37 is a portion of the wall 2 obtained by plastically bending the latter at an inner edge 38 delimiting the opening 36. Incidentally, similarly to what said with reference to the frame 4 and the protrusions 11, the protrusions 37, instead of being a portion of the wall 2, could be an at least partially concave element rigidly connected to the wall 2 at the edges 38.

The protrusion 37 includes a through hole 39 made at a top portion 40 thereof. As can be seen in figures from 11 to 13, the protrusion 37 has a pattern preferably converging from the edge 38 toward the hole 39. By effect of this, the protrusion 37 is preferably shaped as a sort of spout terminating in the hole 39. It is through the opening 36 and the hole 39 that a beverage contained in a cup which may be closed by the lid 35 can be poured from said cup. More precisely, a person can place their lips at the top portion 40 and tilt said cup so to pour the beverage contained in it into their mouth.

The height of the protrusion 37 is greater than that of the protrusions 11. More precisely, the protrusion 37 is shaped so that the hole 39 is at a height of not less than 4 mm with respect to the top portions 15 of the protrusions 11. The effect of this, when the lid 35 is connected to a cup, a person, after placing their lips on the top portion 40 of the protrusion 37 at the hole 39, can pour the contents of said cup in their mouth without having to bend their head back. Incidentally, the height of the hole 39 with respect to the top portions 15 means the minimum distance measured orthogonally to the top portions 15 between a point of the latter and a point of the protrusion 37 forming part of the edge which delimits the hole 39.

The lid 35 differs from the lid 1 also in that the flat zone 3 of the wall 2 is preferably divided into two portions 41 and 42 (for the sake of simplicity not shown in FIG. 10) placed at different heights. In particular, a first portion 41, substantially shaped as a circular crown, is placed at the same height of the flat zone 3 of the lid 1. A second portion 42, almost circular and concentric to the portion 41, is raised with respect to the latter. It is at the portion 42 that the openings 10 and 36 are preferably made. Consequently, in the lid 35, it is at the portion 42 that the wall 25 is hermetically connected to the wall 2.

Finally, the lid 35 differs from the lid 1 also preferably for the presence of a plurality of radial ribs 43 at the portion 41. The projections 30 are also preferably made, rather than at the frame 4, at a wall 44 which rises from the inner edge of the portion 41, joining the latter with outermost edge of portion 42.

The manufacturing process the lid 35 differs from the manufacturing process of the lid 1 for the different shape of the mold (which reproduces the face of the lid 35 arranged on top in FIGS. 11 to 13).

The invention also relates to a container comprising both a cup having an edge defining an opening through which a beverage can be introduced and drawn from said cup, and the lid 1 or 35 connected to the edge of the cup at the frame 4. Incidentally, the connection between the lid 1 or 35 and the aforesaid cup is such that the concavity of the protrusions 11 and, if present, of the protrusion 37, faces towards the inside of the cup.

On the basis of the provided description of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that changes may be introduced by a person skilled in the art without because of this departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A lid (1, 35) which can be reversibly connected to a cup at the edge thereof, said lid (1, 35) comprising: said first protrusion (11) comprising: said first wall (2), at least at said first protrusion (11), being at least partially made of a polymeric material having a thickness not greater than 3 mm, said second wall (25) having a thickness not greater than 2.5 mm, wherein said second portion (16) comprises, proceeding from said second wall (25) towards said first portion (15):

a first wall (2) including at least one first opening (10) closed on top by a first protrusion (11);
connection means (4) adapted to reversibly connect said first wall (2) to a cup at an edge thereof, said connection means (4) being further adapted to reversibly connect said first wall (2) to a cup so that when said first wall (2) is connected to said cup, a concavity of said first protrusion (11) faces towards the inside of said cup;
a second wall (25) hermetically connected to said first wall (2) at said first protrusion (11) or about said first opening (10) so as to delimit a hermetically closed chamber (26) together with said first protrusion (11),
a first top portion (15), flat at least in part, having a surface extension which is smaller than that of said first opening (10);
a second side portion (16) interposed between said first portion (15) and said second wall (25), at least in part converging from said second wall (25) towards said first portion (15),
a first lower section (18), arranged transversally with respect to said second wall (25);
a second central section (19), having a shape converging away from said second wall (25) starting from said first section (18);
a third upper section (20), joining said second section (19) and said first portion (15), transversally with respect to the latter.

2. (canceled)

3. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 1, wherein said first wall (2) is substantially circular, said first opening (10) being comprised between the center (12) of said first wall (2) and a side edge (5) of the first wall.

4. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of said first openings (10) closed respectively on top by a plurality of said first protrusions (11), said second wall (25) being hermetically connected to said first wall (2) at each of said first protrusions (11) or about each of said first openings (10) so as to delimit a respective plurality of said hermetically closed chambers (26) together with said first protrusions (11).

5. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 4, wherein said first openings (10) are substantially shaped as mutually consecutive circular sectors at edges coinciding with their delimitation radii.

6. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 1, wherein said second wall (25) is made of edible material.

7. The lid (1, 35) according to any claim 1, further comprising spacer means (30) integrally connected to said first wall (2) and shaped so that,

when two examples of said lid (1, 35) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall (25) of the lid (1, 35) in upper position is opposed to said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11) if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position,
said second wall (25) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11), if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position.

8. The lid (35) according to claim 1, wherein said first wall (2) is substantially circular and includes a second opening (36) closed on top by a second protrusion (37), said second opening (36) being comprised between the center (12) of said first wall (2) and a side edge (5) of the first wall,

said second protrusion (37) being shaped so that when said first wall (2) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion (37) also faces towards the inside of said cup,
the height of said second protrusion (37) being greater than that of said first protrusion (11) or of each of said first protrusions (11), if there are more than one,
said second protrusion (37) including a through hole (39) made at a top portion (40) thereof.

9. The lid (35) according to claim 8, wherein said second protrusion (37) is arched with concavity facing towards the center (12) of said first wall (2), and has a pattern converging towards said hole (39).

10. The lid (35) according to claim 8, wherein said second protrusion (37) is shaped so that the height of said hole is not lower than 4 mm with respect to the first portion (15) of said first protrusion (11) or of each of said first protrusions (11), if there are more than one.

11. A container comprising:

a cup having an edge delimiting an opening to allow introducing and pouring a beverage from said cup;
a lid (1, 35) according to claim 1, connected to said cup at said edge, so that the concavity of said first protrusion (11), or of said first protrusions (11), if there are more than one, and the concavity of said second protrusion (37), if present, faces towards the inside of said cup.

12. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 3, wherein said second wall (25) is made of edible material.

13. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 4, wherein said second wall (25) is made of edible material.

14. The lid (1, 35) according to claim 5, wherein said second wall (25) is made of edible material.

15. The lid (1, 35) according to any claim 3, further comprising spacer means (30) integrally connected to said first wall (2) and shaped so that,

when two examples of said lid (1, 35) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall (25) of the lid (1, 35) in upper position is opposed to said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11) if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position,
said second wall (25) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11), if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position.

16. The lid (1, 35) according to any claim 4, further comprising spacer means (30) integrally connected to said first wall (2) and shaped so that,

when two examples of said lid (1, 35) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall (25) of the lid (1, 35) in upper position is opposed to said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11) if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position,
said second wall (25) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11), if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position.

17. The lid (1, 35) according to any claim 5, further comprising spacer means (30) integrally connected to said first wall (2) and shaped so that,

when two examples of said lid (1, 35) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall (25) of the lid (1, 35) in upper position is opposed to said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11) if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position,
said second wall (25) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11), if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position.

18. The lid (1, 35) according to any claim 6, further comprising spacer means (30) integrally connected to said first wall (2) and shaped so that,

when two examples of said lid (1, 35) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall (25) of the lid (1, 35) in upper position is opposed to said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11) if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position,
said second wall (25) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion (15) of the first protrusion (11) or first protrusions (11), if there are more than one, of the lid (1, 35) in lower position.

19. The lid (35) according to claim 4, wherein said first wall (2) is substantially circular and includes a second opening (36) closed on top by a second protrusion (37), said second opening (36) being comprised between the center (12) of said first wall (2) and a side edge (5) of the first wall,

said second protrusion (37) being shaped so that when said first wall (2) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion (37) also faces towards the inside of said cup,
the height of said second protrusion (37) being greater than that of said first protrusion (11) or of each of said first protrusions (11), if there are more than one,
said second protrusion (37) including a through hole (39) made at a top portion (40) thereof.

20. The lid (35) according to claim 5, wherein said first wall (2) is substantially circular and includes a second opening (36) closed on top by a second protrusion (37), said second opening (36) being comprised between the center (12) of said first wall (2) and a side edge (5) of the first wall,

said second protrusion (37) being shaped so that when said first wall (2) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion (37) also faces towards the inside of said cup,
the height of said second protrusion (37) being greater than that of said first protrusion (11) or of each of said first protrusions (11), if there are more than one,
said second protrusion (37) including a through hole (39) made at a top portion (40) thereof.

21. The lid (35) according to claim 6, wherein said first wall (2) is substantially circular and includes a second opening (36) closed on top by a second protrusion (37), said second opening (36) being comprised between the center (12) of said first wall (2) and a side edge (5) of the first wall,

said second protrusion (37) being shaped so that when said first wall (2) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion (37) also faces towards the inside of said cup,
the height of said second protrusion (37) being greater than that of said first protrusion (11) or of each of said first protrusions (11), if there are more than one,
said second protrusion (37) including a through hole (39) made at a top portion (40) thereof.
Patent History
Publication number: 20210031993
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 16, 2018
Publication Date: Feb 4, 2021
Inventor: Gaetano QUARTA (Sesto San Giovanni (MI))
Application Number: 16/969,070
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 51/28 (20060101); B65D 43/02 (20060101);