CUP LID SYSTEM WITH AN EXPANDED LID TAB THAT COVERS THE DRINKING SURFACE AREA OF THE CUP LID

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application relates to and claims priority from design patent application Ser. No. 29/925,295, filed on Jan. 23, 2024. The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This invention relates to a liftable cover tab for a cup lid. In particular, this invention relates to a cup lid and a flexible lid tab attached to and fitting over the cup lid and especially the portion of the cup lid onto which the user will orally engage for drinking purposes. The liftable lid tab can have various means to facilitate attachment to the cup lid. More particularly, this invention relates to a cup lid tab system used to cover cups and provide an additional level of protection for consumers when drinking from the cup.

BACKGROUND

As societal changes in behavior occur based on the global spread of diseases people are more conscious of better hygiene practices. People are sensitive to basic activities such as frequently washing hands and coughing into tissues, handkerchiefs or arm sleeves. Another practice is wiping counters and surfaces where virus could live for extended periods of time. When shopping in stores, another practice is to wipe down shopping cart handles when able. The capability for germs and bacteria to live in the air and on surfaces people may touch has people concerned about contracting diseases.

The concern about the presence of germs is constant condition not only even during disease outbreaks by at all times. In circumstances where products are handled by multiple people, there is the opportunity for germs to be transferred to the products and from products back to people. One area where products are handled by multiple people and where the possibility of germ transfer can occur is with takeout food orders. For example, when one drives through a fast-food restaurant, the worker gives the order to the customer. At this point, the customer has very little knowledge about the handling of that order inside the restaurant. Further, many customer rarely consider sanitizing their hands after handling the order and before eating. This situation also exists for picking up drinks at the drive-through window. These drinks have lids of various designs. Many of the lid designs not only prevent the drink from spilling out of the cup, but the lid also provides a means for the consumer to drink from the cup through the lid. Some lids have a design for insertion of a straw through the lid. Other lids have designs that require the consumer to place his or her mouth on the lid. This practice is problematic especially if germs are on the lid. In addition to germs being on the cup lid, when one drinks from the cup, their bottom lip can contact the bottom uncovered portion of the lid or the surface of the cup. In this process, there can be various germs and other unsanitary substances on the surfaces contacted by the user. This situation has been longstanding, but was again brought to light during the 2020 pandemic. People are now more aware of and concerned about the cleanliness of these products.

Previous efforts in this general area focused on beverage cans. U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,270 to Main et al. describes a sanitary cover for a pop-top beverage container and comprises an elastic membrane formed to extend over the top and axially along a portion of the sidewall of the container. The membrane has a line of weakness and a pull tab attached thereto so as to enable the membrane to be ruptured along the line of weakness. Upon being ruptured, the membrane recedes from the top and gathers about the sidewall a predetermined distance from the top at which the membrane is attached to the sidewall to expose a clean mouth area for drinking at the top and sidewall of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,048 to Howard describes a protective covering for the closure lid of a beverage can has a tear-away access strip which exposes the pull-tab and pouring aperture. The access strip remains attached to the protective covering even after tearing to expose the pouring aperture. The covering is adhered to the can in a closely conforming manner so as not to interfere with the normal 6-pack clustering and stacking of the cans.

U.S. patent publication 20020027139 to O'Neill describes a lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup is shown. The lid has an outer edge having a generally circular periphery and a top surface for defining a drinking opening having a predetermined shape and dimension. The lid includes an annular sidewall operatively connected to and extending circumferentially or axially from the lid and in a first direction relative to the top surface. An annular mounting member is formed on the sidewall lid for sealingly engaging the lip of a drinking cup. A resealable tab having a relatively thin, flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, the substrate having a shape and dimension which is configured to cover the drinking opening with either one of the first surface and second surface is shown. The resealable tab includes a food grade adhesive.

Another approach to address this issue is U.S. Pat. No. 8,167,162 to Levey to which describes a sanitary, protective barrier covering, which is attachable to lids that accompany beverage containers/cups, and particularly disposable containers for coffee or other hot beverages. The sanitary barrier comprises a thin flexible strip of material that covers the entire area on which consumers place their mouths. It is adhered to the lid with a light, food grade adhesive. The sanitary barrier has an extended pull tab that is not adhered to the lid and extends beyond the bottom wall of the lid and can be easily gripped to allow the strip to be pulled up and away from the lid for easy removal of the sanitary barrier.

Some prior approaches do raise concerns regarding having an adhesive substance on the protective barrier covering. This adhesive adds another foreign material to the cup lid. In addition, there can questions regarding the impact of temperature changes on this adhesive and its effectiveness.

Therefore, there remains a need for a system to protect customers from germs that may exist on cup lids of drinks prepared or handled by multiple people before reaching the end customer.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a tab cover system for lids for containers such as cups. This invention can comprise a cup lid that is secured to the top of the cup to cover the cup opening to prevent spilling of the cup contents. This system further has an additional lid tab secured to the top of the cup lid. This lid tab covers the top surface of the cup lid and especially the area of the cup lid that a user will engage in the drinking process. This lid tab serves as a barrier to prevent beverage spilling but more importantly to prevent dust, germs and bacteria from settling on the top surface of the cup lid. The lid tab has a means for securing the lid shield to the cup lid. The lid tab can also have an extended edge or a tab to enable a user to grasp the extended edge in order to raise the lid shield up from the cup lid and drinking surface of the lid in order to drink or have access to the liquid in the cup.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side and top perspective view of the cup lid design with the cover tab in the closed position on the cup lid.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cup lid with the expanded tab design.

FIG. 3 is a side, front and top perspective view of the cup lid design with the cover tab in a lifted and raised position.

FIG. 4 is a side, front and top perspective view of the cup lid design with the cover tab is fully lifted to a raised position and engaged with the rear rim of the cup lid.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-section view of the cup lid with the expanded tab design with the cover tab in a fully lifted to an open position.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-section view of the cup lid with the expanded tab design with the tab in a fully closed position.

FIG. 7 is a side and top perspective view of the cup lid design with the tab in the closed position and having a tab that extends downward below the cup rim to cover a portion of the cup side that a user will contact when drinking from the cup.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment with a cover tab embedded in the lid and having perforated sections to allow a user to vary the size of the drink opening in the cup lid.

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c show a cup lid with a cover tab having a front portion that extends downward from the edge of the cup rim to cover a portion of an upper cup surface that contacts the cup rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Drive through pickup and takeout dinning are staples in our society. Persons get their orders to go and proceed to their destinations. In addition, when traveling especially by automobile, a main form of getting meals is via the drive through window of a fast-food restaurant. In addition to getting food, many customers order beverages. The beverages are presented in to-go cups with lids on top of the cup. Some lids are solid with the sole purpose of preventing spillage of the cup contents. Other lids provide the capability to insert a straw or drink through an opening in the lid. Similar to other surfaces, germs and bacterial can accumulate and live on these types of these surfaces. Further, when preparing to-to drinks, multiple people can handle these cups and lids. As a result, once a drink with a lid reaches the end customer, the lid could germs and bacteria, which could harmful to the customer. With the presence of viruses capable of spreading to a pandemic level, people are more sensitive to practices that can reduce the contraction of diseases.

The present cup lid system addresses the above-described situation with an cup lid design that blocks germs and other potentially harmful substances that may be on cup surfaces or cup lids. Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a view of the cup lid design of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a cup lid system with cup lid 100 and a cover tab 108. This cover tab covers a portion of the front of the lid where a user would place their month to drink. The cup lid has a base surface 102 at its top side and top rim 106 that forms the top edge of the lid. An inside edge 107 connects the top rim 106 and the base surface 102. In this cup lid design a side wall section 104 attach to and extend down from the top rim 106. This top rim 106 and side wall section 104 have the same circumference. A lower edge 144 extends outward from wall section 104 in the same manner that top rim 106 extends outward. A second wall section 116 extends downward from the lower edge 144. This wall extends downward in the same manner as wall section 104. Wall section 116 extends downs and the bottom edge of that wall section forms a bottom rim 117 and provides the bottom edge of the cup lid. These downward extending sections form the circular wall of the lid 100. The tab cover 108 attaches to the base surface 102 of the cup lid. The attaching means 118 can vary and can include multiple attaching options such as some form of adhesive material. The shape of the lid cover can vary in design. However, with any design, it is important that the lid cover extends over the potential drinking surface of the cup lid. The design herein shows portion of the cover 107 tab near the center of the base surface is narrower than the cover lid flanges out increases its area of coverage. This cover lid has a portion 110 that extends downward along the lid surface wall 104. This portion 110 shields the portion of wall 104 from unsanitary substances as the lid is being handled. In the middle of the surface 108 is an indention 112 and a knock that extends downward to fill in an opening in the cup lid surface 106. This opening is the means through which one could drink from the cup. Second notch 114 on the top edge 106 aligns with the indention 112. When the cover tab is fully extended, the indention 112 will engage the notch 114 to hold the cover lid in place.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the cup lid in the present invention. This lid has a circular shape with multiple edges and walls. As shown top edge 206 will be drinking surface. Connecting to and extending down from edge 206 is wall 204. Both 204 and 206 have the same circumference. Extending out from wall 204 is lower edge 244. This lower edge 244 connects to wall 216. Both 244 and 216 have the same circumference. This embodiment has the expanded tab cover design. The tab cover 208 is affixed to the cover lid base 202. As shown, the tab cover engages the cup lid's top edge 206 and is secured to the cover lid. When closed, the tab cover extends over a larger area of the lid. This area indicated by 220 is substantial in contrast to conventional lids. If a cover tab was used that is the size of a conventional perforated tab that is part of the lid and just covers the hole in the lid through which one drinks, a person's top lip would contact a portion of the cup lid 206 that is not covered by the tab. As a result, the user would be in contact with areas of the cover lid that are not protected from germs and other contaminants. This expanded coverage of the cup lid is necessary to ensure protection from germs that may accumulate on the cover lid and in particular the area of the lid used for drinking by an individual.

FIG. 3 shows the cup lid design with the cover tab in a lifted and raised position. This view shows the cover tab 310 lifted up from the top rim of the cup lid 306 and lid opening 322. The attaching means 318 provides a pivot point from which one can raise the cover lid all the way back to the notch 314 at the back of the cup lid rim such that the recess 312 in the top of the cover lid can engage the notch 314 at the back of the cup lid. FIG. 4 shows the cover tab 408 extended all the way back to the back of cup lid rim. In this position, the recess in the top of the cover tab engages the previously described notch 314. The notch 412′ on the bottom side of the cover lid engages the opening 322 when the cover lid is down in a closed position.

FIG. 5 shows a side cross-section view of the cup lid with the expanded tab design with the cover tab in a fully lifted to an open position. In this embodiment, the cup lid has a top base or surface 502. Within this base toward the front of the cup lid is an opening 522 to receive the notch 514 when the cover tab is in a closed position. In this embodiment of the cup lid, the raised design incorporates two walls or heights 504 and 516. These levels are outer surfaces or walls of the cup lid. As a result of this design, the cover lid 508 has a design as well to accommodate the design of the surface of the cup lid. This cover lid 508 can have multiple sections 511, 513, 515, 517 and 510. Shown is a front cover 510, top cover, 511, front bridge 513, back bridge 515 and hinge 517. These sections are configured in a shape such that the cover lid conforms to and fits over the front edge 540 of the cup lid and lid opening 522 when the cover lid is in a closed position over the cup lid.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-section view of the cup lid 608 with the expanded tab design with the tab in a fully closed position. This embodiment is similar to the one in FIG. 5 but shows only one edge 606 and one wall 616. In this closed position the notch 612 fits into the opening 622. As shown, segment 610 of the tab fits over the front edge of the cup lid to provide a shield of protection for the cup.

FIG. 7 shows a view of the cup lid design with the tab in the closed position and having a tab 710 that extends downward to and below the cup rim 717 to cover a portion of the cup side that a user will contact when drinking from the cup. As discussed in FIG. 5, some cup lids have multiple sections. The opening at the top provides the means to drink. However, with the multiple sections, the height of the lid increases. This increase height carries with it additional exposed cup lid area which could come in contact with the user when drinking. If left uncovered, this exposed are could carry germs which one could encounter when drinking from that couple.

Figure shows the top view of an alternate embodiment with a cover tab embedded in the lid and having perforated sections to allow a user to vary the size of the drink opening in the cup lid. This embodiment does not have a separate tab element attached to the cup lid. In this embodiment, the embedded tab section 808 has a defined shape 834 and is expanded to cover the potential drinking surface of the cup. Perforations 830 divide the tab into two sections, the center section 832 and the outer section 810. The center tab 832 can be pulled back and create a smaller drinking area if a user desires. Tab 810 can be pulled back to have a wider drinking area. In both cases, the created opening would exceed the drinking service area for an individual.

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c show a cup lid with a cover tab having a front portion that extends downward from the edge of the cup rim to cover a portion of an upper cup surface that contacts the cup rim. The cup lid 900 has a tab 910 that extends downward in front of the cup lid edge and covers a portion of the wall of the drinking cup 950. In addition to the potential on a cup lid, the drinking surface of an individual includes lips coming into contact the edge or wall of the cup. This extended tab serves to provide an addition level of protection in those cases.

The cup and cover lid of the present invention can be constructed of various materials. A conventional material used can be different forms of plastics or paper. However, a preferred material can a biodegradable material.

While the present in invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the invention to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.