The present invention generally relates to a disposable beverage cup or food container, and more particularly, to a lid for the disposable beverage cup or food container. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a hygienically improved lid with a sealable compartment for carrying condiments.

Introduction The number and variety of takeaway drinks, notably related to but not exclusively for tea and coffee beverages, have increased dramatically in recent times as consumers have become more mobile, time-pressured and also wealthy, wherein providers have become more imaginative in terms of beverages and drink flavours.

For the most part, disposable beverage containers and/or cups and their respective lids are well known, so is the format of delivery of such drinks where the flavour of the drink, e.g. a teabag or coffee grains, is added to the cup or container and then topped with hot water. The cup or container is then covered by a suitable disposable lid that is provided with a drinking hole or spout at the near edge of the lid through which, for example, the coffee can be drunk from the cup or container without removing the lid. Associated items such as sugar, milk, stirrer and other add-ins are provided separately or, where appropriate, as separately packaged items. Whilst there has been at least some evolution of the cup and lid format, e.g. the cup has been designed so as to retain the heat of the drink and therefore minimise any heat transfer from the drink to the consumer, and the lid may have been modified to provide a better fit with the cup, the basic functionality of the disposable lid has changed very little. However, along with increases in sales, some concerns for the use of disposable cups and containers have rocketed. In particular, these concerns relate to an obvious lack of hygiene related when using currently available cups and lids. For example, the unprotected cup, lid and stirrer are usually left exposed to dust, dirt and flies, so that the drinking-hole in the lid can easily be contaminated. Also, the current arrangement allows (and even requires) the sellers of takeaway drinks to touch the cup, lid, stirrer and certain drink components (e.g. tea bags) with their hands, that may have been in contact with other "dirty" items, such as money.

In addition, current disposable systems and methods include ecologically- unfriendly elements, notably non-recyclable cups, lids, stirrers, as well as, any packaging of any additional components (e.g. sugar, milk etc.). Furthermore, the currently available disposable cups and containers necessitate a relatively- inefficient process of delivery (for the vendor) and transport of any one of the separate items (for the consumer).

Also, as mentioned previously, whilst the disposable cup has received at least some innovative attention, the lid as such has received relatively little. Though, the currently available disposable lid performs the basic functions of covering the drink, preventing or at least reducing spillage and allowing the consumer to drink through it, a potentially wider spectrum of the lid's functionality has not yet been provided. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable lid for disposable containers and cups that allows an improved hygiene during use, as well as, an improved ease of use, and that allows more efficient use of condiments so as to minimise its detrimental effect on the environment. Summary of the Invention

Preferred embodiments of the invention seek to overcome one or more of the disadvantages discussed above. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disposable lid for a cup, comprising:

a cover plate, having an outer surface and an inner surface, and adapted to cover the opening of a cup; at least one first aperture, extending through and positioned adjacent to a peripheral edge of said cover plate, and adapted to allow fluid flow from the cup; at least a first side wall, contiguous to and extending downward from said peripheral edge of said cover plate, and adapted to removably secure said lid to a rim of the cup;

at least one receptacle, formed by a portion of said inner surface and at least one second side wall extending downward from said inner surface;

a first seal member, comprising a removable membrane, adapted to sealingly engage with said at least one second side wall so as to cover said at least one receptacle; a strap member, movably extending from said removable membrane to said outer surface of said cover plate; and at least one removable first seal, provided on said strap member, and adapted to sealingly engage with said at least one first aperture. This provides the advantage of significantly improved hygiene over contemporary disposable lids since the consumer and vendor do not have to physically touch any of the inner surfaces of the container or receptacle to prepare and consume the drink. In addition, an increased efficiency of dispensing and buying drinks is achieved by pre-packaging the key components of the beverage within the lid, also reducing the environmental impact by eliminating the packing currently required for any additional / separate components. Further advantages are provided by allowing the content of the inner space of the lid to be loaded, before the inner container is closed by the detachable seal and/or after the inner container is sealed. Last but not least, the lid of the present invention provides the user with improved ease of use when removing the seal of the drinking hole and releasing the condiment in a single fluid motion.

Advantageously, the lid may further comprise a resilient and malleable strip, said strap member may further comprise a retainer portion longitudinally arranged on a surface of said strap member and which may be adapted to receive and concealingly retain said resilient and malleable strip. Preferably, said retainer portion may be provided by a longitudinal groove provided in said strap member and adapted to removably secure said resilient and malleable strip. Alternatively, said retainer portion may be provided by a longitudinal sheath attached to or comprised in said strap member.

Advantageously, said first seal member may be detachable from said lid and plastically deformable so as to allow at least a portion of said first seal member to be mounted to the rim of a cup. Preferably, said at least one removable first seal may be any one of a plug, cap or adhesive cover.

This provides the advantage of a malleable strap member that, when removed from the lid, may be mounted to the rim of the cup so that the content (e.g. tea bag) affixed to the membrane is positioned inside the cup. In addition, the malleable strip may be removed from the strap member and used as a stirrer (e.g. instant coffee granules may be moved from the lid compartment into the cup and the cup is then filled with hot water) when preparing the beverage.

Advantageously, said at least one second side wall may be formed by a protruding deformation of said cover plate so as to provide a rib portion having a cavity that is accessible from said outer surface of said cover plate. Preferably, said rib portion may further comprise a rim defining an opening of said receptacle. Even more preferably, said rib portion may be tapered towards said rim.

Advantageously, a plurality of said lids may be stackable with each other, by matingly sliding at least part of said tapered rib portion of one of said plurality of lids into said cavity of another one of said plurality of lids.

Advantageously, said lid may comprise at least a second aperture, extending through and positioned adjacent to said peripheral edge of said cover plate, and which may be located on a circumferentially opposite side to said first aperture.

Advantageously, said lid may further comprise at least one third aperture, extending through said cover plate and into said receptacle. Preferably, said lid may further comprise a removable second seal adapted to sealingly engage with said at least one third aperture. Even more preferably, said removable second seal may be any one of a plug, cap or adhesive cover.

Advantageously, a content of said receptacle may be affixed to said removable membrane.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows (a) a perspective view, (b) a bottom view and (c) a top view of an illustration of the lid of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows (a) a cross-section of the lid shown in Figure 1 , and (b) a cross-section of an alternative lid of the present invention, i.e. where the membrane is attached to an inner wall portion of the rib;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the lid of Figure 1 with the seal member removed;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of an illustration of the removed seal member, comprising a membrane and attached condiment, a strap member and a retainer portion for a malleable strip;

Figure 5 shows cross-sectional side view of an illustration of (a) removing the seal member, (b) mounting the seal member and condiment to the inside of a cup and (c) replacing the lid to cover / seal the cup for use;

Figure 6 shows (a) a perspective view and (b) a cross-sectional view of an illustration of a plurality of lids stacked on top of each other, and

Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view of an illustration of the lid of Figure 1 and an optional bottom cover that is matingly engaging with the inside surface of the peripheral side wall of the lid. Detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s)

The exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in relation to disposable cups and containers for hot beverages. However, it should be appreciated that, in general, the lid of this invention will work equally well for any other suitable container.

The lid of the present invention is major re-design of the currently known disposable lid, increasing its functionality by integrating a contained space to hold exogenous elements, such as, but not exclusively, for example beverage flavours (e.g. tea bags, hot chocolate powder or coffee granules, flavoured syrup etc.), a stirrer, and any other additional condiments. In doing so, the present invention further addresses increasing worries about the unhygienic nature of currently available disposable lids and cups, in particular, by protecting the major areas of concern (i.e. the inside of the lid/cup, the content of the drink and the drinking hole). Moreover, the present invention provides an integrated mechanism that allows the consumer to easily remove a detachable seal, add the content of the lid compartment into the associated disposable cup and also provides means to position the content inside the cup and/or stir what is in the cup.

Furthermore, the lid of the present invention enables the user to add other substances into the cup through a central re-sealable hole in the lid.

Referring now to Figure 1 (a), (b) and (c), the disposable lid 100 includes an air- equalisation hole 102 and at least a drinking hole 104. A specially-designed rib 106 on the inside of the lid 100 allows a membrane 116 of a detachable seal member 108 to be fixed to the bottom of the lid 100 so as to create an inner compartment 110. Consequently, the contents in the compartment 1 10 are hygienically protected by a portion of the inner surface 112 of the lid 100 and the membrane 116. The membrane 116, which may also be protected (additionally) by an optional cover 300 (see Figure 7), is an integral part of the detachable seal member 108 (a seal/strap mechanism) comprising a strap 114 and the membrane 1 16, allowing the user to easily remove the detachable seal member 108 after the lid 100 has been removed from the corresponding cup 400. The strap 114 extends away from the membrane 116 and over to the top of the lid 100 and terminates in another seal 118 adapted to provide a hygienic protection for the drinking hole 104 in the lid 00. The rib 106 may also be formed so as to provide a flare angle (i.e. tapered) to facilitate manufacture and stacking of the empty lids 100 (see Figures 6 (a), (b)).

A cross-section view the lid 100 is shown in Figure 2 (a), where the membrane 116 of the detachable seal member 108 is attached to the rim of the rib 106. An alternative version of the lid 100 is shown in Figure 2 (b), where the membrane 116 of the detachable seal member 108 is attached to an inner wall portion of the rib 106 rather than the top rim of the rib 106, possibly facilitated by the addition of a thin flange 128. As a result, the height of the compartment space 110 is reduced, which may result in more lids per inch when the lid 100 is stacked with other lids 100 (see Figure 6).

Referring to Figure 3, the disposable lid 100 may further comprise an additional access hole 120 at the centre of the lid 100. This enables certain additional content to be added through the lid 100 (e.g. into the compartment 110 after the membrane 116 on the underside is in place, or, into the cup 400 once the membrane 116 is removed) either to complement the content already there or to be the sole content. An additional seal member 126 may be used to close the additional access hole 120 after the addition has been made. Alternatively, the strap portion 114 may comprise an additional seal portion (not shown) that is suitable for the additional access hole 120 in the lid 100.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 (a), (b) and (c), the strap 114 may comprise a retainer 122 that is adapted to receive and secure a malleable strip (not shown). The retainer 122 may be provided by a sheath or longitudinal groove. When the malleable strip (not shown) is located in the retainer 122, the now malleable strap 114 (due to the malleable properties provided by the strip) may be used to attach certain types of content 124 (e.g. tea bag affixed to the inside of the membrane 116) within the container/cup space. That is, the strip (not shown), being malleable, can be bent so that the strap 114 is provided with a hook portion that allows the detachable seal member 108 to be hung from the rim of a cup 400 or container. Also, the malleable strip (not shown) may further be used to agitate/stir the content inside the cup 400. During use, the user may be able to, for example, tear the sheath to access the stirrer (not shown), or pry out the stirrer (not shown) from the groove (where it is wedgingly secured).

Figures 5 (a), (b) and (c) show a cross-sectional view of the lid 100 illustrating the user motion to remove the seal/strap 114, 116 from the lid 100, after any optional bottom cover 300 has been removed. During use, the user's fingers grip and remove the strap 114 and seal 118 from the drinking hole 104 and pull the strap 114 over the top of the lid 100 down the side of the lid 100. The membrane 116 is then peeled off from the underside of the lid 100 to give access to the content 124 in the compartment 110, which may be attached to the centre part of the membrane 116.

In Figure 5 (b), the sheath has been removed from the malleable strip (stirrer) and has been placed over the side of the cup, so as to add the content 124 to the water (or other fluid) contained therein. The height of the content and the duration of its immersion may be adjusted/decided by the consumer. When the user has concluded the immersion process, the seal/strap assembly (stirrer and content holder) 114, 116 may be removed from the cup.

Figure 5 (c) adds to Figure 5 (b) by showing that the lid 100 may be re-attached to the cup, even with the seal/strap assembly 114, 116 in place over the side of the cup.

Furthermore, the strap 114 may also sealingly cover the vent hole 102 in the lid 100 preventing potential low pressure air bubbles from occurring inside the cup 400 after the lid 100 is mounted to the cup 400.

Figure 7 shows a cross-section view of the lid 100, detachable seal member 108 (see also Figure 2 (a)) and a corresponding optional bottom cover 300. The bottom cover 300 may simply be attached to the underside of the lid 100 by slidingly engaging a protrusion of the bottom cover 300 with an inner portion of the lid's 100 side wall. Alternatively, a second seal (not shown), made of a similar material as the detachable seal member 108 may be used instead of the bottom cover 300. This is once again to maintain hygiene and prevent the inner detachable seal member 108 from being contaminated during transportation and handling. It is understood by the person skilled in the art that the lid may be made of any suitable material such as polymer or paper or cardboard, or any other compound material suitable for hot and/or cold beverages. It is further understood that the seal member 108 (i.e. strap member 114, membrane 116) may be made from a polymer (e.g. rubber or silicone rubber). The malleable strip (not shown) may be made from a metal or plastic material. Furthermore, it is understood that the footprint of the lid 00 may be any form and shape suitable to cover and seal a corresponding cup or container.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.