GUIDE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/254,667, filed on Sep. 2, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120.

BACKGROUND

1. Technological Field

The Invention regards guides generally and specifically a device by guide for an insertable lid for drinking cups.

2. Technological Background

There is a need to avoid spillage during transport and use of drinking cups and for such purposes lids with a hole and a surface are used. It is a preference to use this surface for is other purposes such as information, advertisement and more. From the known art one knows such lids can be provided with printed information; however this solution implies large scale productions resulting in large issues provided with the same print. This means this is not suitable for temporally short campaigns or regionally adapted campaigns, be it for information, advertisement or other services. One can imagine solutions where separate top lids are attached to the lid, though such lids could easily end up at an angle making text or other symbols on the top lid are slanted or upside down as seen from a user drinking from the drinking cup. This leads to a diminished user experience and those purchasing advertising space on the top lid will experience a reduction in results.

From the known art one refers to U.S. 2008 0041868 regarding a drinking container comprising a display plate provided at an angle with respect to the lid.

There is therefore a need for a product that overcomes the above problems.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a system and method for positioning and attachment, possibly removably attachment, of an insertable lid for a lid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a system and method for positioning and attachment, possibly removably attachment, of an insertable lid on a lid comprising a tongue extending from the top lid and a slot in the lid where the tongue and the slot are complementary. According to the invention the above problems are solved by a device as disclosed in claim 1 having the characterising features as in the characterising clause of the claim.

Beneficial and preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention an attachable top lid for a lid is positioned on a lid provided with means for guidance and then the insertable top lid is pushed down so that it is held in place. Said means for guidance comprises a tongue extending from the top lid and a slot in the lid wherein the tongue and the slot are complementary.

MEANS REQUIRED FOR OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM

The present invention overcomes achieves the objective stated above by a top lid is provided with means for guidance as stated in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a typical embodiment of the invention in perspective where an insertable top lid is to be inserted into a lid.

FIG. 2 shows a typical embodiment of the invention in perspective where an insertable top lid is inserted into a lid.

FIG. 3 shows a typical embodiment of the invention in perspective where an insertable top lid is lifted out of a lid.

The following reference numbers and symbols refer to the drawings:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described in details with reference to the drawings showing a plurality of embodiments and where FIG. 1 shows schematically a typical embodiment in perspective of the invention 10, where an insertable top lid 11 is to be placed in a lid 20. The lid 20 is a separate part attached to a cup (not shown) with an attachment 25 for the cup. The lid 20 comprises an upper edge 23 provided with a drinking hole 27. Said upper edge 23 is raised with an outer wall above the attachment 25 and an inner wall 22 above an upper surface 21 having the purpose to prevent spillage. Said lid 20 is typically manufactured in large volumes with corresponding limited flexibility for rapid changes in printed contents.

The raised part comprises an upper edge with a drinking hole, inner wall and outer wall, is provided with a slot 28. The tongue 12 and the slot 28 are complementary so that the tongue can be placed into the slot.

Best Embodiment

The inventors have found that the best embodiment is a tongue 12 and a slot 28 that are complementary so that the top lid 11 can be inserted into the lid 20 only when the tongue 12 is aligned with the slot 28. By this system the insertion is simple and suited for automation, for instance when completing assembly of the lid.

FIG. 2 shows the insertable top lid 11 inserted into position in the lid 20 so that the tongue 12 is in the slot 28 and the upper surface 21 is covered.

FIG. 3 shows how the user uses the tongue to lift out the insertable lid 11 from the lid 20.

Alternative Embodiments

One can also imagine the tongue and the slot form means for attachment in that the tongue is a little wider than the slot so that the tongue is tensioned in the slot. The slot can be provided with sidewalls that are narrower in the upward direction, keeping the tongue down. Using an extended part of adhesive on the opposite side of the lid 11 as seen from the tongue 12 the lid 11 will be efficiently attached to the upper surface 21.

It can also be beneficial to make the insertable top lit easy to lift out by having the tongue extending outside the outer wall 24. An alternative is to provide the bottom of the slot with a curvature so that the users can reach in under the top of the lid as shown in FIG. 3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention can be used in sale of dinking cups where the insertable lid 11 can be provided with print on demand with text or other print provided shortly before purchase. By providing the insertable lid with a function such as a tissue, a ticket, coupon or otherwise, it becomes attractive for the customers to remove the attachable lid and thus expose further surfaces that also can be suited for print.