CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Number 62/766,245, filed on October 10, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of beverage containers. More specifically, to plugs for sealing the opening on the lids of beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Beverages are commonly sold in disposable cups with lids provided to customers who want to take out a beverage from a beverage dispensing shop, kiosk, drive-through window or restaurant. A disposable cup is a convenient and comfortable way for a beverage to accompany the customer. Further, a lid acts as a partial thermal barrier to help the hot beverages remain hot longer and the cold beverages to remain cold longer. Disposable cups and lids are the common parts of the methods for coffee, tea and the like to be served.

[0004] Varieties of beverage lids may include an aperture that allows the customer to drink from the disposable cup while the lid remains affixed to the top of the cup. This aperture is useful for drinking. A shortcoming of this type of cup and lid combination is that the same hole presents an opening through which beverage fluid may escape when traveling, walking or doing other activities.

[0005] In US2009/0152279 by Bums, there is an oversized body portion that serves to plug a lid aperture. However, the oversized feature provides a snap fit that has the potential to be too tight in some instances, and an excessively tight fit would make it difficult for the user to remove the plug without removing the lid at the same time.

[0006] In US2007/0278239 by Vogt, there is a plug that is slightly larger than aperture so plug snugly fits into aperture, but presents a snap fit shortcoming similar to Bums.

[0007] In US2007/0007292 by Deley, there is shown a beverage lid aperture plug that is stored on a key chain, which is impractical for a single or disposable usage.

[0008] In US2005/0230467 by Prescott, there is shown a taper for insertion into the aperture of a beverage lid; however, the taper has no limit on its degree of insertion. With no insertion limit it can allow user to push too far into aperture causing too tight a fit. The taper section of plug body can guide in until tight seal is achieved on plug main body to aperture; however, for larger apertures, the penetration may result in the end of the taper contacting liquid inside the beverage container because the degree of insertion is variable.

[0009] In US2006/0027588 by Basic et ak, there is shown a beverage container lid with a sliding clip that, when moved, allows the consumer to drink; however, there is no means provided for storing the clip or preventing it from coming off lid surface.

[0010] In US 7,111,749 by Akers, there is shown a beverage container lid plug with an adhesive surface to be affixed to the top of the lid. However, there is no mechanism for preventing the plug from sliding sideways if the adhesive fails, which can happen due to reuse and contact with liquid from inside the cup. Also the placement is dependent on the user properly sealing the aperture without guidance from the device.

[0011] What is needed is a beverage container lid plug that provides easy insertion and removal without a tight fit or snap fit. What is also needed is a beverage container lid plug that guides its own placement within the lid aperture, is disposable, and easily stored with the beverage container. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0012] The present invention is an apparatus for use with beverage containers having a drinking opening in their lids. Specifically, the apparatus is a removable plug for sealing and unsealing the lid of the beverage containers.

[0013] One embodiment of the present disclosure is an apparatus for sealing a beverage container lid, including a thin body; and a first protrusion formed by a raised portion in the thin body; where the first protrusion has a distal end that is smaller than an aperture of the beverage container lid and a proximal end that is larger than the aperture. The first protrusion may be linearly tapered between the distal end and the proximal end. The thin body may be made of pulp. The thin body may be water resistant. The thin body may have a curved surface. The first protrusion may be disposed closer to one end of the thin body than the other end. The raised portion may be opposite an indentation in the thin body. The protrusion may have a cross-sectional area that does not increase along a length of the first protrusion extending away from the thin body. The thin body has a top face and a bottom face and the protrusion extends from the bottom face and there may be an adhesive patch disposed on the top face. The thin body and the protrusion may be made of at least one of: pulp, molded fiber, plastic, resin, metal, paper, cardstock, sponge (open or closed), foam polymers, non-foam polymers, synthetic rubber, composite, and biodegradable, compostable, or recycled materials. The plug may include a second protrusion that may be on the same or opposite face as the first protrusion. The second protrusion may have different dimensions than the first protrusion. The thin body may be dimensioned to fit in a gap between a body and a rim of a beverage container.

[0014] Another embodiment according to the present disclosure is a system for sealing a beverage container lid, including: a beverage container sleeve; a thin body; and a protrusion formed by a raised portion in the thin body; where the protrusion has a distal end that is smaller than an aperture of the beverage container lid and a proximal end that is larger than the aperture. The thin body may be attached to the beverage container sleeve at a perforation. The beverage container sleeve may have an opening dimensioned to receive one end of the thin body. The beverage container sleeve may have an overlap and the thin body may be sized to fit in the overlap.

[0015] Another embodiment according to the present disclosure is a system for sealing a beverage container lid, including: a thin body attached to the beverage container lid; and a protrusion formed by raised portion in the thin body; where the protrusion has a distal end that is smaller than an aperture of the beverage container lid and a proximal end that is larger than the aperture; and where a perforation exists between the thin body and the beverage container lid.

[0016] Another embodiment according to the present disclosure is a method for sealing a beverage container lid, includes inserting a plug into an aperture of a lid of the beverage container, wherein the plug includes a thin body and a first protrusion formed by raised portion in the thin body; where the first protrusion has a distal end that is smaller than an aperture of the beverage container lid and a proximal end that is larger than the aperture.

[0017] Examples of the more important features of the disclosure have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

[0019] FIG. 1A is a top 3-D view of a diagram of the beverage container lid plug according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. IB is a bottom 3-D view of a diagram of the beverage container lid plug of FIG. 1A.

[0021] FIG. 1C is a top view of a diagram of the beverage container lid plug of FIG. 1A.

[0022] FIG. ID is a side view of a diagram of the beverage container lid plug of FIG. 1A.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of a beverage container lid plug according to the present disclosure

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram of another embodiment of a beverage container lid plug according to the present disclosure

[0025] FIG. 4A is a 3-D diagram of the plug of FIG. 1A with a beverage container according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 4B is a 3-D diagram of the plug of FIG. 1A inserted in a beverage container lid.

[0027] FIG. 4C is a side view of a diagram of the plug of FIG. 1A positioned above the beverage container lid.

[0028] FIG. 5A is a side view of a diagram of the plug of FIG. 1A being inserted into the beverage container lid.

[0029] FIG. 5B is a side-view close up diagram of the plug fully inserted into the beverage container lid.

[0030] FIG. 6A is a diagram of a plug stored in the rim of a beverage container according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [0031] FIG. 6B is a side-view diagram of a beverage container with the lid removed to show the rim location for storing the plug according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 7A is a diagram of a plug stored in a cup sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 7B is a diagram of a plug stored in an overlap of a cup sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 8A is a bottom view of a diagram of another embodiment of the plug according to the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 8B is a top view of a diagram of the plug of FIG. 8 A.

[0036] FIG. 8C is a diagram of the plug of FIG. 8A affixed to the side of a beverage container.

[0037] FIG. 9A is a diagram of a beverage container lid with a plug attached according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 9B is a diagram of the beverage container lid of FIG. 9A with the plug detached.

[0039] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a beverage container with a cup sleeve holding a plug according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 11A is a diagram of a beverage container with sleeve with a plug attached to the sleeve according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 11B is a diagram of the beverage container of FIG. 11A with the plug detached from the cup sleeve for use in a beverage container lid.

[0042] FIG. 12 is a 3-D diagram of an embodiment of a plug with multiple protrusions on the same face according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 13 is a 3-D diagram of an embodiment of a plug with protrusions of different sizes according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [0044] FIG. 14A is a side view of a diagram of another embodiment of the plug according to the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 14B is a front view diagram of the plug of FIG. 14A.

[0046] FIG. 14C is a 3 -D view of a portion of the plug of FIG 14A.

[0047] FIG. 15A is a top view diagram of an embodiment of the plug with two extended sides according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 15B is a bottom view of the plug of FIG. 15A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0049] While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated.

[0050] FIGs. 1A-1D show different views of one embodiment of a plug 100 for a beverage container lid aperture. The plug 100 includes a thin body 110 and a protrusion 120 that extends preferably perpendicular to and beyond the surface of the thin body 110. Herein, the thin body 110 has a thickness that is substantially less than the length and width of the thin body 110, as would be understood by a person of skill in the art. While the thin body 110 is shown here as having a flat or substantially flat surface contour, this is illustrative and exemplary only, as the thin body 110 may have a curved surface contour or have a contour formed into any shape desired. In some embodiments, the thin body 110 may be shaped to mate with the surface of a beverage cup lid. The plug 100 may be made of any material that with structural integrity to maintain its shape on and in a beverage container lid and will not disintegrate or lose its integrity when exposed to hot or cold beverages for at least a limited period of time consistent with the use of disposable beverage containers. In some embodiments, the plug 100 is made of a paper, pulp, or plastic. In some embodiments, the plug 100 (and the other plugs discussed herein) may be made of biodegradable, compostable or recyclable materials, pulp, molded fiber, plastic, resin, metal, paper, cardstock, sponge (open or closed), foam or non-foam polymers or synthetic rubber, composite materials. In some embodiments, the material for the plug 100 may be selected based on its estimated lifetime before degradation when used with a disposable beverage container. The thin body 110 may extend longer in one direction than the other relative to the protrusion 120. This extension may provide the consumer with a portion of the thin body 110 to grip for removing the plug 100 from the beverage container lid aperture. The protrusion 120 may be any raised part along the thin body 110 that is dimensioned to fit in an aperture 440 of a beverage container lid 430 (see FIG. 4). The thin body 110 may also provide a surface (on either or both sides) for the display of print, embossing, debossing, logos, messages, advertising promos and the like. In some embodiments, the protrusion 120 may be a depression in the thin body 110 that emerges on the other side of the thin body, such that multiple plugs 100 may be stacked together. In some embodiments, the protrusion 120 may be or solid or partially filled with solid material. In some embodiments, the thin body 110 may be flat on one side along its entire length and width while on its other side the flatness is interrupted by the protrusion 120. In some embodiments, the protrusion 120 may be more rigid or made of a thicker material than the rest of the thin body 110. FIG. 1A shows a 3-D view of a diagram of the plug 100 from the top. FIG. IB shows a 3-D view of a diagram of the plug 100 from the bottom. FIG. 1C shows a top view of a diagram of the plug 100. FIG. ID shows a bottom view of a diagram of the plug 100. While the protrusion 120, which appears as a raised surface from the bottom, is shown a rectangular, this is non-limiting and illustrative only. The protrusion 120 may be shaped as necessary to fit an aperture in a beverage container lid. The thin body 110 may have a shape that is rectangular, oblong, oval, or any other desired shape as would be understood by person of skill in the art.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of another embodiment of a plug 200 for a beverage container lid aperture. The plug 200 includes the thin body 110 with the protrusion 120 and a protrusion 220 that is a mirror image of the protrusion 120. In some embodiments, the protrusion 120 and/or the protrusion 220 may have distal ends 230, 240, respectively, that provide a surface for the display of print, embossing, debossing, logos, messages, advertising promos and the like. However, the display is not limited to the the distal ends 230, 240 as some or all of one or both surfaces of the thin body 110 may be used to provide a surface for the display of print, embossing, debossing, logos, messages, advertising promos and the like. Due to the presence of both protrusions 120, 220, the plug 200 may be inserted in either direction for the same aperture 440. In some embodiments, the protrusion 120 and the protrusion 220 may have different dimensions, such that the plug 200 may be inserted into an aperture with a first set of dimensions and then reversed for use with a second aperture with a second set of dimensions that are different from the first.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a 3-D view of a diagram of another embodiment of a plug 300 for a beverage container lid aperture. The plug 300 includes a thin body 310 with a protrusion 320. The thin body 310 is curved and has an extended portion 330 that may act as a grip or pull tab to allow a consumer to exert force on the plug 300 for removing the plug 300 from a beverage container lid.

The curve of the thin body 310 may be selected to conform to the top surface of the beverage container lid in order to improve the fit when the plug 300 is inserted into an aperture in the beverage container lid and/ or reduce the likelihood of the plug 300 being inadvertently pulled out of the aperture. In some embodiments, the extended portion may be on any side of the thin body 310.

In some embodiments, there may be multiple extended portions 330 disposed on sides of the thin body 310. As shown the protrusion 320 is shown as a depression on one face of the thin body 310, though this is illustrative and exemplary only, as the thin body 310 may be uniformly flat on the side opposite the protrusion 320. The protrusion 320 is shown with an interior surface 340 and an exterior surface 350. Either or both of these surfaces 340, 350 may be suitable for the display 360 of print, embossing, debossing, logos, messages, advertising promos and the like. In embodiments, where the thin body 310 side opposite the protrusion 320 is completely flat, any part along the thin body may also be used to display text or images in the same way as on the surfaces 340, 350.

[0053] FIGs. 4A-4C show the plug 100 as it would be used with a beverage container 410. FIG. 4A shows a 3-D diagram of the beverage container 410, which is made up of a container body 420 and a beverage container lid 430. The beverage container lid 430 includes an aperture 440 that allows the consumer to access liquid inside the container 410 without removing the lid 430. In use, the plug 100, shown above the container 410, is positioned such that the distal end of the protrusion 120 is inserted into the aperture 440 in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 4B shows a 3-D diagram of the container 410 with the plug 100 inserted in the aperture 440. FIG. 4C shows a side-view of a diagram of the lid 430 with the protrusion 120 positioned above the aperture 440.

[0054] FIG. 5A shows a side-view close up of the protrusion 120 partially inserted into the aperture 440 in the lid 430. The distal end 510 of the protrusion 120 is narrower than the aperture 440 to allow passage of some of the protrusion 120 through the aperture 440 and to guide the insertion of the protrusion 120 into the lid 430. The protrusion 120 may widen out moving from the distal end 510 to a proximal end 520 such that the proximal end 520 is about as wide or wider than the aperture 440. This ensures that, when the protrusion 120 is in place, fluid cannot escape through the now fully blocked aperture 440. The shape and rate of the narrowing between the distal end 510 and the proximal end 520 along with the difference in size of the distal end 510 and the aperture 440 determine how far the protrusion 120 may be inserted into the lid 430. The narrowing may be linear or non-linear in order control friction between the protrusion 120 and the lid 430 and to ease removal. FIG. 5B shows a side-view close up of the protrusion 120 fully inserted into the aperture 440 in the lid 430. The protrusion 120 and the its distal end 510 and its proximal end 520 may be formed into any shape or dimension necessary to mate with the aperture 440 of a designated container lid 430, as would be understood by a person of skill in the art.

[0055] FIG. 5A further shows a fillet 525, which is an optional feature of protrusion 120. The fillet 525 preferably comprises a curved portion on the proximal end 520 that extends around the perimeter of the protrusion 120 and is integral with the protrusion 120. The fillet 525 connects the protrusion 120 to the thin body 110 and the fillet 525 aids in the sealing of the aperture 440 by providing a limit of insertion of protrusion 120 into the aperture 440. Aperture 440 specifications and dimensions may vary in manufacturing and fillet 525 provides a means for adjusting to larger size apertures 440 and creating an interference fit between the aperture 440 and protrusion 120, thus securing a seal between surfaces defining the aperture 440 and the protrusion 120. As the protrusion 120 is inserted into the aperture 440 of larger size, the fillet 525 will push further into the aperture 440 and ride on the fillet 525 until a tight seal is achieved. The gradual increase in diameter of the fillet 525 relative to the static diameter aperture 440 will achieve easy insertion to final seal. When removing the protrusion 120 from aperture 440, minimal surface contact of the fillet 525 and surfaces defining the aperture 440 allows for reduced friction and eases removal. Reduced friction and ease of removal provides a means of safe removal of the plug 100 from the beverage container lid 430. Too much surface contact or too tight a fit could make the protrusion 120 difficult to remove, risking that the lid 430 will come off the beverage container 410, thereby spilling from the beverage container 410 liquids that may be hot and bum a user.

[0056] FIGs. 6A-B show diagrams of the container 410 with the plug 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6A shows the plug 100 attached at the side of the container 410. FIG. 6B shows that the container 410 has a lip or rim 610. The thin body 110 of the plug 100 may be sized to fit in a gap 620 formed between the rim 610 and the container body 420 and to snuggly but detachably held in place.

[0057] FIGs. 7A-B show diagrams of different embodiments where the plug 100 may be inserted in a container sleeve 710. FIG. 7A shows a diagram of part of the thin body 110 of the plug 100 partially tucked between the container sleeve 710 and the container body 420. FIG. 7B shows a diagram with the container sleeve 710 including an overlap 720. The thin body 110 of the plug 100 may be partially inserted into the overlap 720 space between ends of the container sleeve 710. While only the use plug 100 is illustrated, the extended portion 330 may also be used to secure the plug 300 to the container sleeve 710 in a similar fashion as would be understood by a person of skill in the art.

[0058] FIGs 8A-C show an embodiment of the plug 800 that may be attached to the container body 420. The plug 800 may include the thin body 110, the protrusion 120, and an adhesive patch 810. FIG. 8A shows a diagram of a top side of the plug 800 with the protrusion 120 extending outward. FIG. 8B shows a diagram of the bottom side of the plug 800 with the adhesive patch 810 disposed on the thin body 110 on the opposite side from the protrusion 120. FIG. 8C shows the plug 800 attached to the body of the container 420 by the adhesive patch 810. The adhesive patch 810 may include a removable adhesive configured to allow for detachment and reattachment by the consumer without damaging the surface of the container body 420 or distorting the shape of the plug 800. It is contemplated that electrostatically charged contact surfaces may also be used to detachably connect plug 800 to container 420.

[0059] FIGs. 9A-9B show 3-D diagrams of a plug and lid combination 900. FIG. 9A shows that the plug and lid combination 900 includes a thin body 910 and a protrusion 920, similar to the thin body 110 and the protrusion 120. The thin body 910 is attached to a beverage container lid 930 with an aperture 940. A perforation 950 is between the thin body 910 and the lid 930 such that the thin body 910 can be separated from the lid 930. FIG. 9B shows the separated thin body 910 and protrusion 920 (consistent with plug 100) and the container lid 930.

[0060] FIG. 10 shows a diagram of a container 410 with a container sleeve 1010 that has a preferably horizontal cut 1020 in the container sleeve 1010 that is dimensioned to receive the thin body 110 of the plug 100. It is contemplated that the cut 1020 may vary in orientation, i.e., vertical, diagonal, etc.

[0061] FIGs. 11A-B show 3-D diagrams of a plug and sleeve combination 1100. FIG. 11A shows that the plug and sleeve combination 1100 includes a thin body 1110 and a protrusion 1120, similar to the thin body 110 and the protrusion 120. The thin body 1110 is attached to a sleeve 1130. A perforation 1150 is between the thin body 1110 and the sleeve 1130 such that the thin body 1110 can be separated from the sleeve 1130. The orientation of the perforation 1150 may vary. FIG. 11B shows the separated thin body 1110 and protrusion 1120 (consistent with plug 100) and the sleeve 1130. In some embodiments, the sleeve 1130 may include a horizontal cut 1020 consistent with the sleeve 1010 configured to receive the thin body 1110.

[0062] FIG. 12 shows a 3-D diagram of a plug 1200 according to another embodiment of this disclosure. The plug 1200 includes a thin body 1210, a first protrusion 1220, and a second protrusion 1230, where both protrusions 1220, 1230 are on the same face 1240 of the thin body 1210. The first protrusion 1220 and the second protrusion 1230 are shown as separated such that each is closer to the ends of the rectangular thin body 1210 than to each other. This is illustrative and exemplary only, as the protrusions 1220, 1230 may be separated by any distance so long as they remain distinct and disposed on and continuous with the material of the thin body 1210.

[0063] FIG. 13 shows a 3-D diagram of a plug 1300 according to another embodiment of this disclosure. The plug 1300 includes a thin body 1310, a first protrusion 1320, and a second protrusion 1330, where the first protrusion 1320 is different in shape than the second protrusion 1330 and both protrusions are on the same face 1340 of the thin body 1310.

[0064] FIGs. 14A-C show diagrams of another embodiment of the beverage container lid plug. In FIG. 14A, a side view of a diagram of the plug 1400 is shown that includes a thin body 1410 with a protrusion 1420 on one face, similar to the plug 100. The protrusion 1420 may have a proximal portion 1430 and a distal portion 1440, where the proximal portion 1430 has a large cross-section than the distal portion 1440. The distal portion 1440 may terminate in a surface 1450. The surface 1450 may be flat, angled, or rounded. As shown, the proximal portion 1430 may transition to the distal portion 1440 through a transition portion 1460 where narrowing of the cross-section is more pronounced than the narrowing that takes place in either the proximal portion 1430 or the distal portion 1440. In some embodiments, one or both of the proximal portion 1430 and the distal portion 1440 may not narrow at all as they proceed away from the thin body 1410. FIG. 14B shows a diagram of a front view of the protrusion 1420. FIG. 14C shows a 3-D view of the diagram of the protrusion 1420 disposed on a portion of the thin body 1410.

[0065] FIGs. 15A-B show diagrams of another embodiment of the beverage container lid plug 1500, which is similar to the plug 300. FIG. 15A shows a top image is shown of the plug 1500, which includes a thin body 1510 with a protrusion 1520, on one face, a first extended portion 1530, and a second extended portion 1540. The thin body 1510 is curved, but in some embodiments, it may be flat or comprise other contours. The protrusion 1520 has a top surface 1560. In some embodiments, the top surface may display text or images 1570 for advertising or instructions. One or both of the extended portions 1530, 1540 may also display text or images. The first and second extended portions 1530, 1540 are shown as extending different lengths from the thin body 1510. This is exemplary and illustrative only. The second extended portion 1540 includes a reinforcing spine 1550 of material to resist bending, which makes the second extended portion 1540 stiffer than the first extended portion 1530. First extended portion 1530 is configured to extend over an edge of a beverage container lid, such as beverage container lid 430, and be grasped by a user. This reinforcing spine is optional. FIG. 15B shows a bottom image of the plug 1500. The bottom surface 1565 is shown as slightly curved, but this surface may be any shape, including flat, smooth, rippled, angles, or domed. The protrusion 1520 has a proximal portion 1580 and a distal portion 1590. As shown, the proximal portion 1580 has a larger cross-section than the distal portion 1590.

[0066] While embodiments in the present disclosure have been described in some detail, according to the preferred embodiments illustrated above, it is not meant to be limiting to modifications such as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0067] The foregoing disclosure and description of the disclosure are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the details of the illustrated apparatus and system, and the construction and the method of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.