Drinking Vessels

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to drinking vessels and in particular drinking vessels which have a cup and a drink-through lid on the cup. Of particular interest are disposable cups. Disposable cups are often given out with beverage sales for example from shops, on airlines, in public arenas such as theatres, cinemas, stadiums etc. The beverage is often tea or coffee. Typically the cup is designed as a take-away disposable cup the lid for preventing spillage of the liquid whilst being carried.

Background to the Invention

[0002] Many types of drinking vessel have existed. These include vessels designed for various purposes including those having spouts or nozzles on a lid and through which the liquid to be drank must be sucked. Such arrangements are typically used on baby cups in particular to avoid spillage.

[0003] US Patent No. 5,657,898 describes a drink-through lid for a beverage cup which has a mechanism to suspend a tea bag by its drawstring out of contact with liquid in the container. A similar system is described in US Patent No. 7,806,044.

[0004] US Patent no. 6,076,450 discloses a drink-through lid for a beverage cup that has a pocket in which coffee grinds are placed. Above the pocket is an upper filter formed by a mesh, and below it is a lower filter formed by paper. Hot water is poured in through the top of the lid and thus the upper mesh filter through the coffee and then filters through the lower filter and into the container. The arrangement allows coffee to be infused into the hot water but prevents particulate matter from entering the cup as it is retained in the lid.

[0005] US Patent Publication No. 2008/0035652 provides a disposable drink-through lid with a filter screen. The filter is attached to the underside of the lid and extends across the entire area of the underside of the lid thus filtering all liquid before it reaches a relatively large drinking aperture on the lid.

[0006] Typically with such lids, it is common for a user to spill a beverage while drinking. It is thus desirable to provide a lid which reduces the tendency of a user to spill a beverage while drinking.

[0007] Notwithstanding the prior art, it is desirable to provide a beverage container which enables the preparation of drinks from infusible materials within the container as well as an alternative lid for the container. Summary of the Invention [0008] In one aspect the invention provides a kit comprising:

(a) a beverage cup;

(b) an infusible material used in the preparation of the beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;

(c) and a drink-through lid for the beverage cup the lid having a filter to filter out the infusible material from the beverage.

[0009] This provides a beverage of freshly made quality but in a disposable cup.

[0010] The closed compartment may be closed with an airtight peel-off member such as a tear-off cover such as a foil.

[0011] The compartment may be a tub inserted into the cup and optionally is dimensioned to sit in the bottom of the cup. The tub desirably plugs into the bottom of the cup and has a tub mouth the periphery of which runs about and abuts the inside wall of the cup.

[0012] The drink-through lid may comprise:

a lid body;

a drink-through aperture defined in the lid body through which a beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup; and

characterised in that the drink-through aperture comprises an area of the lid in which there is defined at least 20 apertures, the apertures being large enough to allow a beverage to be drank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate material from the beverage cup.

[0013] The advantage of the present invention is that a filter is associated with the drink-through aperture for filtering the beverage before it is drank. This means that drinks prepared from insoluble matter, such as tea leaves, coffee grinds, etc can be made within the beverage cup. There is then no need to worry about particular matter ending up in the mouth of a person using the beverage cup to drink. It means that freshly prepared beverages are possible, particularly freshly prepared coffee. This obviates the necessity to use items such as teabags, or coffee powder formed by dehydrating coffee (sometimes referred to as "instant coffee") solution. The filter is integrally formed as part of the lid. No additional components need to be attached to the lid. Desirably the lid is made of a plastics material. For example a thermoforming process can be utilised. The apertures may be formed as the lid is formed, or in subsequent aperture-forming step such as a punching step.

[0014] The apertures are of sufficient size and distribution so that a person drinking from the cup will not need to apply any substantial suction pressure to the cup to bring a beverage through the lid and into their mouth. The lid is thus constructed so that it is one through which a user can drink a beverage whilst the lid filters the beverage.

[0015] Desirably at least 40, preferably at least 50 apertures are formed. The greater the number of apertures the more liquid can be imbibed at any given time.

[0016] Desirably the drink-through aperture forms part of a mouthpiece through which a user drinks the beverage.

[0017] Suitably the area of the lid in which the apertures are provided comprises a visual indicator to a user as to where to place their mouth. This is desirably a recessed area so that the apertures are then provided in the recessed area. It is desirable that the drink-through aperture comprises a border frame about the recessed area. Again this highlights the drink-through aperture.

[0018] The border frame may comprise apertures which also filter the beverage and will be large enough to allow a beverage to be drank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate material from the beverage container. [0019] The filtrate may be any insoluble material which is a component in the formation of a beverage, for example tea leaves. In such a case the lid is arranged to filter out tea leaf residue from loose tea leaves within the beverage cup. Fresh tea leaves can thus be used and they can be used loose - that is they are free to circulate within the beverage cup. There is no requirement for any other strainer, filter or trap of any sort for the tea leaves.

[0020] Where the filtrate is coffee grinds the lid is arranged to filter out coffee residue from ground coffee beans within the beverage cup. Again there is no requirement for any other means of capturing the particulate material.

[0021] The invention also relates to a lid compriseing:

a lid body;

a beverage aperture defined on the lid body through which a beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup; and

a drinking rim on the beverage aperture which is raised relative to the beverage aperture,

and characterised in that the lid is arranged so that, in use for drinking, the beverage exits through the beverage aperture and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim so that the user can see the beverage after it has exited the beverage aperture and before it reaches the rim when the cup is held in a drinking position. [0022] Such an arrangement is very desirable because it dramatically reduces the tendency of a user to spill the beverage. In particular, because the user can see the beverage as it flows out of the lid, they are less likely to spill it. In particular with conventional lids, the user cannot typically see the liquid before it is drank. This means the user is more likely to miss some of the liquid and/or pour too much liquid out at one time, leading to spillage.

[0023] Desirably the beverage aperture is formed in an area of the lid that is a lower position relative to an outer rim of the lid. Desirably a wall portion of the drinking rim extends downwards to a lower position relative to an outer rim of the lid. The lower position can be a position proximate the beverage aperture and/or the aperture can extend into the wall portion. If the beverage aperture comprises a series of apertures one or more of those apertures can be formed in the wall portion.

[0024] The wall portion forms a fluid bed along which, in use for drinking, the beverage runs toward an upper part of the drinking rim.

[0025] Desirably the lid further comprises a filter associated with the beverage aperture for filtering the beverage before it is drank. This means that the lid can be used where there are insoluble particles in liquid, for example tea leaves or coffee grinds.

[0026] Desirably both aspects of the invention may be combined in an embodiment. This means that within the kit of the invention the lid may be arranged so that, in use for drinking, the beverage exits through the beverage aperture and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim so that the user can see the beverage after it has exited the beverage aperture and before it reaches the rim (when the cup is held in a drinking position, the lid is on the cup and there is a beverage in the cup) and the lid additionally has drink-through aperture defined in the lid body through which a beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup; and characterised in that the drink-through aperture comprises an area of the lid in which there is defined at least 20 apertures, the apertures being large enough to allow a beverage to be drank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate material from the beverage. [0027] A skilled person will appreciate the permutations of number, shape, size and distribution of apertures that will fulfil the function of the apertures of the present invention. Apertures do not need to be uniform in size, shape or distribution. For example apertures may be provided that are from 50 to 300 microns in diameter, for example 75 to 275 microns in the diameter, such as 100 to 250 microns in diameter. In terms of number will typically be at least 50, for example at least 100, such as at least 150, typically about 200 apertures in the lid. The distance between adjacent apertures may be at least 2 microns, for example at least 6 microns and typically 10 microns. Where the apertures used are not uniform in size/shape and/or the distance between adjacent apertures is not uniform then these values can represent average values for the apertures and/or distance. The filter may be comprised of a material in which the intermolecular forces between the fluid and the apertures is sufficient to allow a fluid to pass through the apertures when the cup is held in a drinking position. For example, the material may be a nylon plastics material.

[0028] The present invention includes the assembly formed when a kit of the present invention is assembled. The invention also provides a beverage cup assembly comprising the assembled kit of the invention.

[0029] As above the beverage cup comprises a sealed compartment in which a material used in the preparation of the beverage is held and which is opened for use of the material during preparation of the beverage. This keeps the contents of the cup fresh until use. The material used in the preparation of a beverage may be any material that leaves behind a solid residue that becomes the filtrate for the cup. For example the filtrate may be tea leaf or ground coffee.

[0030] The invention also relates to a method for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a beverage cup;

(b) providing an infusible material used in the preparation of the beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;

(c) opening the closed compartment;

(d) infusing the material with a liquid to form the beverage; and

(e) providing a drink-through lid on the beverage cup, the lid having a filter to filter out the infusible material from the beverage.

[0031] In the method the cup and lid may take the form of a kit of the invention.

[0032] In the method ,the lid may incorporate a filter to from a filtering lid as described above.

[0033] The beverage cup and the lid will typically together form a beverage cup assembly of the present invention. [0034] The present invention thus provides a kit comprising a beverage cup, particularly of the type that may be disposed of, which can be pre-prepared and allows for the preparation of any "fresh" beverage even though the cup and lid may be formed quite some time before they are eventually used. The invention thus provides an assembly comprising a lid of the invention, a beverage cup to which lid fits, and sealed within the cup a solid beverage material, such as tea leaves or coffee grinds.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035] Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0036] Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a drink-through lid of a kit of the present invention comprising a drink-through aperture;

[0037] Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the drink-through lid of Figure 1 ;

[0038] Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the lid of Figure 1 along the section A-A;

[0039] Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective partial view of the lid of Figure 1 showing apertures forming the drink-through aperture of the lid;

[0040] Figure 5 is a side sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 but showing an alternative lid structure;

[0041] Figure 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the lid of Figure 5;

[0042] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective partial view of an alternative arrangement of the drink-through aperture;

[0043] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an assembled kit comprising a cup and a lid mated together;

[0044] Figure 9 is a side sectional view of the assembly of Figure 8 showing a beverage inside the cup;

[0045] Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9 but showing a beverage being drank from the cup by a user;

[0046] Figure 11 is a perspective view from above of an alternative drink-through lid of the present invention comprising a drink-through aperture;

[0047] Figure 12 is a perspective view from below of the lid of Figure 1 1 ;

[0048] Figure 13 is a side sectional view of an alternative drink-through lid of the present invention; and

[0049] Figure 14 is a view of the lid of the Figures 10 to 12 in use on a cap and the beverage being drank from the cup by a user.

[0050] Note that the drawings are schematic in nature and may not be to exact scale. For example the apertures 7 shown are fewer and larger for the purposes of illustration. Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0051] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show a drink-through lid 1 for a beverage cup 30 (see Figures 8 and 9). The lid 1 has a lid body 2. The beverage cup 30 and the lid 1 form a kit of the invention. The lid body 2 is a single piece of plastic which has been formed into the lid shape by a suitable forming process such as a thermoforming process. A drink-through aperture 5 is defined in the lid body 2 through which a beverage 40 (see Figure 9) can exit the lid 1 for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup 30.

[0052] The drink-through aperture 5 comprises an area 6 on the lid in which there is defined many apertures 7 for example at least 20 apertures, such as at least 30 apertures, including at least 40 and also more than 50 apertures 7. Each of the apertures 7 is large enough to allow a beverage 40 to be drank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate material 50 (which is in the beverage and thus is removed from the beverage before the beverage is drank). The filtrate material 50 is typically solid insoluble matter and often times is material which has been subjected to infusion with hot water such as ground coffee or tea leaves.

[0053] The lid comprises a peripheral rim or skirt 9 which is adapted to be a sealing push-fit onto the top of a beverage cup 30 to form an assembly as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0054] The lid 1 also has formed therein a drinking rim 10. The drinking rim 10 is raised relative to the lid body and comprises opposing upstanding walls, namely outer wall 1 1 , and inner wall 13 which are joined by an upper joining wall 12. As with all other features of the lid, the drinking rim 10 is integrally formed with the lid 1.

[0055] A further crescent-shaped raised area 16 is also formed in the lid 1. A breather hole 20 is provided in the lid 1 within the raised area 16. A crescent-shaped wall 17 joins the raised area 16 and a recessed area 18 which is formed between the raised area 16 and the drinking rim 10.

[0056] The lid 1 further comprises an additional elongate chute 35 which extends through the lid 1 and allows addition of materials to the beverage, such as milk, sweetener such as sugar, etc. The chute 35 is spaced apart from the apertures 7 and extends sufficiently far away from the lid (in the direction of the cup) so that the beverage will not exit the chute in normal drinking positions of the cup. The chute 35 may be closed off, for example with a removable closure such as seal. As the chute 35 may not be open it is desirable to provide the breather hole 20. In the event it is opened it will be appreciated that the chute 35 may function as a breather aperture. [0057] To drink a beverage through the lid 1 a user places their lips on the lid so that their mouth is about the area 6 and imbibes liquid through the apertures 7 thereof. Even if there is insoluble particulate material 50 in the beverage it will be retained as filtrate inside the cup 30 by virtue of the filtering effect of the apertures 7.

[0058] Figure 3 shows the flow of beverage and air as a drink is taken. Arrows 22 show how the beverage exits the lid through apertures 7. Arrow 23 shows air being sucked in by the action of the exiting beverage.

[0059] Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the apertures 7 defined in the lid 1. Any suitable array of apertures may be employed and there is no requirement for the array or apertures to have any particular geometry. The apertures need not all be of the same size or shape.

[0060] Figure 5 is a side sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 but showing an alternative lid structure and in particular a different drink-through aperture structure. In Figure 5 the lid 1 has integrally formed therein an area 6 which is recessed in the form of an inverted nozzle 25. Defined in sidewalls 26 of nozzle 25 are the apertures 7. Arrows 22 again show the typical outflow of beverage through the drink-through aperture structure. Otherwise the lid 1 is similar in construction to that shown in earlier figures. Figure 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the lid of Figure 5 in particular an enlarged sectional view of the inverted nozzle 25.

[0061] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective partial view of an alternative arrangement of the drink-through aperture and in particular an inverted nozzle 25 of a different shape and size and having apertures 7 defined therein.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising a cup 30 and a lid 1 of the invention mated together. Figure 9 is a side sectional view of the assembly of Figure 8 showing a beverage 40 inside the cup 30. In the embodiment the cup 30 further comprises a compartment 60 in which a material 50 such as coffee grinds or tea leaves is held. Typically the compartment 60 is sealed closed, for example using a removable cover such as a tear-off foil. In use the foil is torn away to reveal the material 50. The compartment is typically formed by a tub which is inserted into the bottom of the cup. Hot water is added to form the beverage 40 which is a combination of the hot water and components extracted from the material 50 and indeed any additional components added. The drink is thus a freshly prepared one and will have the quality of a freshly prepared tea or coffee. However as the material 50 is now loose and is free to move within the cup (as indicated by arrows 51) and in particular free to move toward a drinking aperture in the lid 1 the only thing that prevents the solid residue from reaching the mouth of a drinker is the filtering action of the apertures 7. This is best seen from Figure 10 which shows a view similar to that of Figure 9 but additionally showing the beverage 40 being imbibed (see arrows 71) from the cup by a user 70. Material 50 now spread through the beverage is prevented from reaching the mouth of the user 70.

[0062] Figure 11 and Figure 12 are respectively a perspective view from above and below of an alternative drink-through lid of the present invention comprising a drink- through aperture while Figure 13 is a side sectional view thereof. The lid 1 is of similar construction to the earlier embodiment but with some differences which are discussed here. It shows a lid 1 for a beverage cup comprising a lid body 2 and a beverage aperture 5 defined on the lid body 1 through which a beverage 40 can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup 30 as best seen in Figure 14 which shows a view similar to that of Figure 10 but with the lid 1 of the type shown in Figures 11 - 13. The lid 1 has a drinking rim 10 on the lid which is raised relative to the beverage aperture 5. In the embodiment the rim 10 forms a c-shaped lip which catches the beverage after it has exited the lid 1. The lid 1 is arranged so that, in use for drinking, the beverage 40 exits through the beverage aperture 5 and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim so that the user can see the beverage after it has exited the beverage aperture and before it reaches the rim when the cup is held in a drinking position. The level of the beverage 40 which has exited the cup 30 is labelled 73 in Figure 14 for ease of reference. Such an arrangement is very desirable because it dramatically reduces the tendency of a user to spill the beverage. In particular, because the user 70 can see the beverage 40 and in particular the beverage level 73, as it flows out of the lid 1 , they are less likely to spill it.

[0063] A wall portion, and in particular an inner wall 13 of the drinking rim 10 extends downwards toward a lower position 45 relative to the outer rim 9 of the lid. The wall portion 13 forms an inner wall of the lip formation of the drinking rim 10 and thus forms a fluid bed or run along which, in use for drinking, the beverage runs toward an upper part 12 of the drinking rim as indicated by arrows 46 (see Figure 14). In this embodiment the lower position 45 happens to be a position proximate the beverage aperture 5. This means the level or "water line" 73 of the beverage can be seen on wall portion 13 even if a user has their lips about the drinking rim 10.

[0064] Desirably, and as shown in the embodiment, the beverage aperture is formed in an area of the lid 1 that is at a lower position 45 relative to an outer rim 9 of the lid. This increases the area available for forming the fluid bed for the liquid and thus makes liquid flow visually more prominent to a user. [0065] The words "comprises/comprising" and the words "having/including" when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0066] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.