CUP LID

Abstract

The present invention provides an eco-friendly cup lid that does not require a straw. The cup lid has at least one straw portion which has beverage discharge holes at peak portions. The straw portions are formed at the edge on the circular lid, and protrude by means of the inner surface, the outer surface and both the circumferential side surfaces so as to be held between the lips of a user such that the beverage discharge hole is in the mouth of the user. In addition, the central portion of the lid, which corresponds to the inner side of the straw portions, has a recessed portion that is relatively low, and can be mounted on an open topside of a cup.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cup lid mounted on a paper cup or a synthetic resin cup which contains a beverage, such as coffee, and more particularly, to a cup lid configured to allow a user to conveniently drink a beverage in a cup without using a synthetic resin straw causing an environmental issue.

BACKGROUND ART

When a beverage including coffee is ordered to go, a disposable cup provided with a lid coupled to the top of the cup is generally provided so as to allow a user to conveniently drink the beverage contained in the cup while preventing the beverage from spilling. Such a cup lid has both a function of closing the open top of the cup and a function of discharging the beverage to the outside through a hole formed in the lid.

Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-2020-36524 discloses a cup lid having a big hole for cooling down hot contents. Further, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-490171 discloses a cup lid having two holes corresponding to two divided portions of the inside of a cup. As known in these prior art documents, the holes of the cup lids are prepared substantially to discharge beverages to the outside.

However, according to the above prior art documents, the holes are simply provided as units configured to discharge the contents of the cup to the outside. Therefore, in order to drink the beverage in the cup, a user must stick his/her lips around the hole. However, such an action increases the risk of spilling the contents to the outside without providing the entirety of the contents to the user's mouth, and may thus substantially limit convenience in use.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup lid which opens and closes the upper end of a cup so that a user may conveniently drink contents in the cup without requiring a synthetic resin straw, which is not environmentally beneficial.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cup lid which allows contents of a cup to flow into a user' mouth so as to maximize convenience in drinking.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cup lid which allows a user to selectively drink a hot beverage or a cold beverage.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a cup lid mounted on an open top of a cup, and having at least one straw portion configured such that a beverage discharge hole is provided at peak part thereof, and at least one from among an inner surface, an outer surface, and both circumferential side surfaces configured to form the peak part is formed as a downwardly inclined surface, wherein the at least one straw portion is formed at an edge of the circular cup lid, and protrudes by the inner surface, the outer surface, and the circumferential side surfaces so as to be held between user's lips such that the beverage discharge hole in a user's mouth, and a recessed portion configured to be relatively low is formed at a central part of the cup id corresponding to an inner side of the at least one straw portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one straw portion may include a first straw portion and a second straw portion configured to face each other, and the recessed portion may be formed between the first straw portion and the second straw portion.

The inner surface and both circumferential side surfaces configured to form the at least one straw portion may be formed as downwardly inclined surfaces.

In another preferred embodiment, beverage discharge holes of the first straw portion and the second straw portion may have different sizes.

In still another preferred embodiment, the recessed portion between the first straw portion and the second straw portion may be formed as a flat surface in the horizontal direction.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the outer surface configured to form the at least one straw portion may be formed as an inclined surface having an angle of 91°-95° with respect to a horizontal line.

Advantageous Effects

The cup lid having the above configuration according to the present invention may allow a user to conveniently drink contents using the straw portion without using a separate straw. Therefore, the cup lid does not require a straw which is generally made of a synthetic resin material, and may thus be eco-friendly.

Further, according to the present invention, the central part of the cup lid is formed as the recessed portion, and thus, interference between the central part of the cup lid and a user's nose does not occur when the user drinks a beverage in the cup. This provides convenience to the user when the user drinks the beverage.

Because the straw portion according to the present invention is in the user's mouth when the user drinks the beverage, the user may more conveniently drink the beverage discharged from the hole formed at the peak part of the straw portion. Further, the user may selectively drink a hot beverage or a cold beverage through a pair of holes having different sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing the use state of a cup lid according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of the cup lid according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cup lid according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the cup lid according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cup lid according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cup lid 10 according to the present invention is mounted on an open top of a cup C so as to close the top of the cup C, and is formed in the same circle as the top of the cup C in a plan view. Further, a first straw portion 20 and a second straw portion 30 protrude convexly on the cup lid 10 in directions of facing each other. Further, a recessed portion 40 is formed between the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30.

In the following description, a direction in which the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 are formed will be referred to as a forward or rearward direction. Further, the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 may be formed at opposing parts of the edge of the cup lid, and the recessed portion 40 having a relatively low height may be formed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3 which is a side view, a pair of straw portions 20 and 30 according to the present invention may protrude upwards relative to the recessed portion 40 formed therebetween.

Holes 22 and 32 configured to discharge beverages are respectively formed at peak parts 24 and 34 of the straw portions 20 and 30. As shown in FIG. 3, in order to form the above-described recessed portion 40 between a pair of peaks 24 and 34 provided with the beverage discharge holes 22 and 32, inner surfaces 26 and 36 of the peak parts 24 and 34, facing each other, may be formed as inclined surfaces.

It may be confirmed from in FIGS. 1 to 3 that the above-described recessed portion 40 is formed as a concave curved surface, as seen from the forward or rearward direction between the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30, and has a shape close to a straight line, as seen from the lateral direction (i.e., a leftward or rightward direction). Of course, the recessed portion 40 may be variously transformed within a range which does not interfere with a user's body part, such as the nose, when a user drinks a beverage in the cup C while tilting the cup C horizontally.

Further, the inner surfaces 26 and 36 of the peak parts 24 and 34 of the straw portions 20 and 30 are connected to a bottom surface 42 which is the lowermost region of the central part of the cup lid 10, thus forming the recessed portion 40. The straw portions 20 and 30 or outer surfaces 28 and 38 of the peak parts 24 and 24 are formed as inclined surfaces having an angle α of 91°-95° with respect to a horizontal line outside the cup. The reason why the outer surfaces 28 and 38 are formed as the inclined surfaces is to easily separate the cup lid from a mold when the cup lid is molded.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4 which is a front view of the cup lid 10, both circumferential side surfaces 29 of the peak part 24 of the first straw portion 20 provided with the hole 22 formed therethrough are formed as downwardly inclined surfaces. Further, both circumferential side surfaces of the peak part 34 of the second straw portion 30 having the hole 32 formed therethrough are formed as substantially the same inclined surfaces. It may be confirmed that the peak parts 24 and 34 of the straw portions 30 based on both inclined side surfaces 29 are substantially in a protruding state.

The pair of straw portions 20 and 30 formed at the outer edge of the cup lid are formed at positions facing each other, and the inner surfaces 26 and 36 and the outer surfaces 28 and 38 are formed as downwardly inclined surfaces, as seen from the side, in the same manner as both circumferential side surfaces 29 formed as the inclined surfaces, as seen from the front, so that the peak parts 24 and 34 protrude. Therefore, because the peak parts 24 and 34 are substantially surrounded with the inclined surfaces, the peak parts 24 and 34 may have an upwardly protruding shape.

The peak parts 24 and 34 in the protruding shape in the state in which they are surrounded with the inclined surfaces mean that the peak part 24 or 34 is held between the user's lips. To hold the peak part 24 or 24 between the user's lips may mean that the hole 22 or 32 is located in a user's mouth. Therefore, when the user tilts the cup C while holding the straw portion 20 or 30 between his/her lips, contents discharged from the hole 22 or 32 flow into the user's mouth.

As in the above description of the peak parts 24 and 34, the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 supply contents directly to the user's mouth through the holes 22 and 32, and may thus perform substantially the same function as conventional straws. That is why they are called the straw portions 20 and 30.

The present invention may be characterized in that the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 are formed to protrude upwards, and thus, the first straw portion 20 or the second straw portion 30 is held between user's lips so that the hole configured to discharge a beverage may be located in a user's mouth. Here, the inner surfaces 26 and 36, the outer surfaces 28 and 38, and both circumferential side surfaces 29 of the straw portions 20 and 30 are inclined at designated angles. Here, the outer surfaces 28 and 38 have the above-described angle α so as to release the cup lid from the mold, as described above, and the outer surfaces 28 and 38 serve to allow the straw portions 20 and 30 to protrude as well as to achieve release of the cup lid from the mold.

Therefore, because the inner surfaces 26 and 36 have no choice but to have the designated angle, as described above, although the outer surfaces 28 and 38 have a right angle with respect to the external horizontal line, the straw portions 20 and 30 may be formed in the above-described protruding shape, and thus, a user may have no trouble drinking a beverage while holding the straw portion 20 or 30 between the user's lips. Further, the angles of inclination of the inner surfaces 26 and 36 and the two circumferential side surfaces 29 are not limited.

The present invention is technically characterized in that the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 substantially protrude so that a user may hold the first straw portion 20 or the second straw portion 30 between the user's lips, and the beverage discharge holes 22 and 32 are respectively formed at the peak portions 24 and 34.

Therefore, when at least one of the inner surfaces 26 and 36, the outer surfaces 28 and 38, and the two circumferential side surface 29 of the above-described straw portions 20 and 30 are formed as downwardly inclined surfaces, although the remainder may be formed to have a right angle with respect to the horizontal line or formed as inclined surfaces, the straw portions 20 and 30 may be implemented in a protruding shape which may be held between user's lips.

Further, a flange 50 coupled to a flange of the upper end of the paper cup or the synthetic resin cup is continuously formed at the lower part of the cup lid 10 according to the present invention. The flange 50 includes a horizontal extension 52 which radially extends, and a vertical extension 54 which extends downwards from the outer end of the horizontal extension 52. This flange 50 has substantially the same configuration and function as conventional flanges and is not related to the subject matter of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted.

Here, it is preferable that the beverage discharge holes 22 and 32 respectively formed at the peak parts 24 and 34 of the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 have different sizes. For example, the hole 22 of the first straw portion 20 may be formed to have a greater size than the hole of the second straw portion 30. By forming the holes 22 and 32 having different sizes, the hole 22 of the first straw portion 20 may be used when a user drinks a cold beverage, and the hole 32 of the second straw portion 30 may be used when a user drinks a hot beverage, thereby being capable of increasing convenience in use.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described. Some parts in this embodiment, which are substantially the same as those in the above-described embodiment, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and shapes of a first straw portion 20, a second straw portion 30, and a recessed portion 40 according to this embodiment are different from those of the former embodiment. Concretely, for example, inner surfaces 26 and 36 of the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 are formed in a shape closer to the vertical.

Further, the recessed portion 40 between the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 is formed to be a greater area so as to sufficiently avoid interference with a specific part of a user's face. That is, a bottom surface 42 of the recessed portion 40 is formed to be substantially close to a flat surface in the lateral direction (i.e., the leftward or rightward direction). According to the above configuration of this embodiment, the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 may be formed in a protruding shape having a smaller area, and the recessed portion 40 therebetween may be formed to have a greater area.

As easily seen from this embodiment, the present invention is basically characterized in that the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 protrude upwards so that the first straw portion 20 or the second straw portion 30 may be held between user's lips, and thus, a beverage is discharged into a user's mouth in the state in which the hole 22 or 32 is located in the user's mouth. Further, the recessed portion 40 formed between the first straw portion 20 and the second straw portion 30 prevents interference with a user's body part, such as the nose.

The above embodiments illustrate that both of the straw portions 20 and 30 protrude. However, any one of the straw portions 20 and 30 may protrude so that the one of the straw portions 20 and 30 may be held between user's lips. Further, it is preferable, even when one straw portion 20 or 30 is implemented, two holes are formed at positions of the cup lid facing each other so as to enable smooth discharge of contents while preventing chucking of the cup lid, i.e., allowing air to enter the cup therethrough.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitutions, changes and modifications which are not exemplified herein but are still within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure may be made. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A cup lid mounted on an open top of a cup, and having:

at least one straw portion configured such that a beverage discharge hole is provided at a peak part the and at least one from among an inner surface, an outer surface, and both circumferential side surfaces configured to form the peak part is formed as a downwardly inclined surface, wherein:

the at least one straw portion is formed at an edge of the circular cup lid, and protrudes by, the inner surface, the outer surface, and the circumferential side surfaces so as to be held between user's lips such that the beverage discharge hole is in a user's mouth; and

a recessed portion configured to be relatively low is formed at a central part of the cup lid corresponding to an inner side of the at least one straw portion.

2. The cup lid according to claim 1, wherein the at least one straw portion comprises a first straw portion and a second straw portion configured to face each other, and the recessed portion is formed between the first straw portion and the second straw portion.

3. The cup lid according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface and both circumferential side surfaces configured to form the at least one straw portion are formed as downwardly inclined surfaces.

4. The cup lid according to claim 2, wherein beverage discharge holes of the first straw portion and the second straw portion have different sizes.

5. The cup lid according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface configured to form the at least one straw portion is formed as an inclined surface having an angle of 91°-95° with respect to a horizontal line.