CUP LID WITH A PLACE FOR SMALL OBJECTS

FIELD OF ART

The invention relates to the field of packaging technology, and more particularly to packaging materials, such as cup lids, and more particularly to single or multi-use cup lids having a special space for placing small items. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The cup lid disclosed for the present invention with a place for small objects has not been disclosed in the prior art.

Coffee drinking is a universal and widespread habit. Most coffee consumers are accustomed to buying coffee from catering establishments, so millions of plastic or paper cups are sold daily, usually with a lid, to consume both cold and hot coffee. Strong competition and the need for diversification have led many shopkeepers to offer together with the coffee drink a dish, as a treat. To date, these dishes are usually offered in a paper towel, or in a package, separate from the coffee, thus increasing the waste volume and compromising the offered treat hygiene. There are several solutions that have been proposed, such as providing a separate paper partition, between the cup and the lid, to place e.g. a donut, which is offered as a treat. The disadvantage of this solution is that it concerns exclusively cold coffees, since they are usually served with an arch-shaped lid, so that the treat can fit in the provided space. A further drawback is the fact that there is a limitation as regards the dishes offered, as the coffee straw passes through the place where the dish is placed, requiring the proper space. Additionally, the question of hygiene is raised, since the dish inevitably comes into contact with the straw, whereas the lid usually has a hole leaving the product exposed to environmental factors.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to advantageously overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art by proposing a cup lid with a place for small objects.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lid with a place for small objects which may be reusable.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a lid, which has a built-in or detachable cap and a suitable cavity, which allows the storage of small objects.

A further feature of the invention is the presentation of a lid for cups with a place for small objects, which is airtight when closed, allowing the storage of even liquids. Still another feature of the invention is the presentation of a lid for small items having a separate hole for drinking, with or without a straw.

An additional element of the invention is the presentation of a lid with a place for small items that do not come in any contact with the beverage, or with external elements such as a straw, ensuring absolute hygiene conditions.

Additionally, the space created on the upper side of the lid, may accommodate both edible and other objects for promotional or advertising purposes.

A further advantage of the invention is the fact that the lid shown here can be used for both cold and hot beverages without any modification.

In addition, placing edible items within the lid place, in the case of hot coffee, allows the temperature to be transmitted, keeping the dish warm for longer.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description..

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is illustrated in an exemplary, non-limiting manner. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cup lid of the present invention, together with its respective cap, within which an edible small item is placed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention lid placed on a cup. Figure 3 is a plan view of the cup lid, where both the place intended for small objects and the hole for drinking the beverage are visible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, we will describe exemplary embodiments of the cup lid with a place for small objects.

The cup lid of this invention is exemplified in a cylindrical, but not limited to, shape, covering cups or containers of various shapes. It has a circular shoulder (1), Fig. 2, intended for fitting the relevant cup (2). The space for the small objects (3), Fig. 1 , such as a croissant in this case, is created by a wall (4), which extends cyclically and concentrically with the shoulder (1), upwards. This creates the appropriate space in which any kind of small object can be placed, edible or not.

On the top of the wall (4) there is a hole (5) through which the beverage in the cup (2) is swallowed. In the hole (5), which may be of any suitable shape, a straw (6) can be placed, if desired, especially in the case of cold beverages. Between the shoulder (1) and the wall (4) there is a cavity (7) inclined towards the wall (4), in which liquids which can leak from the hole (5) upon swallowing are collected. This ensures that the consumer will not get dirty.

The placement space created by the wall (4) may be closed tightly by a cap (8), which has a perimeter slightly smaller than the placement space, so as to make it possible to close. The cap (8) being airtight closed allows placement of even liquid treats. The cap (8) may be detachable and constitute a separate article, as part of the invention, thus allowing for easy storage and transportation of the lid but it may also be opened by being attached to the lid. The cap (8) may be transparent so that the user can observe the contents of the placement space, or coloured.

The lid, as also the cap (8), may be made, for example, of a suitable polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate, but can also be made of another suitable plastic, such as polypropylene, or of a biodegradable material or even processed paper. Further, the cap may also be made of a biodegradable membrane, further contributing to the ecological nature of the product.

It should be noted at this point that the description of the invention has been made by reference to exemplary embodiments, not being limited thereto. Consequently, any modification or alteration in terms of shape, dimensions, materials and components of manufacture and assembly, if they are not a new inventive step and do not contribute to the technical development of the already known, are considered to be within the scope of this invention.