Recloseable lid with closure plug
The invention is a recloseable lid for a drinking cup comprising a cap with a dispensing aperture through which liquid can pass. A plug is movably mounted to the cap and is sized to seal the dispensing aperture when a portion of the plug is inserted into the dispensing aperture.
1. A thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid for closing an open top of a cup terminating in an annular upper edge, the lid comprising:
a cup mount defining an annular channel for receiving an annular upper edge of a cup for mounting the lid to the cup;
a cap comprising:
an upper surface located above the cup mount;
a peripheral wall with a positive draft angle extending upwardly from the cup mount and terminating at the upper surface; and
a mounting recess formed in the upper surface and at least partially defined by a peripheral wall extending downwardly from the upper surface at a negative draft angle to form an undercut relative to the upper surface and an opening for the mounting recess;
a thin-walled hollow structure extending above the upper surface and terminating in a top wall located above the upper surface and a drink opening located in the top wall; and
a tab closure comprising a mounting plug and a drink plug connected by a strap, the mounting plug is at least partially defined by a peripheral wall having a negative draft angle such that when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap, the peripheral wall of the mounting plug lies within the undercut, and the drink plug is received within the drink opening to close the drink opening, and the strap is configured to permit the insertion of the drink plug into the drink opening when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess, whereby a user can open and close the lid by removing or inserting the drink plug from the drink opening while the tab closure remains mounted to the cap;
wherein the cap, cup mount, and tab closure all have a common thickness and are fabricated of a flexible, thin-walled plastic by a conventional thermoforming process.
2. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the drink plug has a portion with a dimension greater than or equal to the drink opening such that the drink plug snap-fits within the drink opening.
3. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the drink opening comprises a well and the drink plug is received within the well when the lid is closed.
4. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 3 wherein the well and the drink plug are sized such that the drink plug is press-fit within the well.
5. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 and further comprising a drink plug holder for holding the drink plug in a stored position when the lid is in the open position.
6. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 5 wherein the drink plug holder comprises:
an inwardly extending boss extending from one of the cap and cup mount and overlying a portion of the tab closure to hold the drink plug in a stored position;
a recess in the cap and which is sized to receive the drink plug and hold the drink plug in a stored position; or
a mounting plug on one of the cap and tab closure and a complementary recess on the other of the cap and tab closure such that the mounting plug is received within the recess and holds the drink plug in a stored position.
7. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the tab closure further comprises a hinge on the strap enabling the drink plug to pivot relative to the mounting plug.
8. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 7 wherein the drink plug includes a lift tab for aid in the removal of the drink plug from the drink opening by rotating the drink plug about the hinge.
9. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the mounting recess has a bottom wall and the mounting plug has a bottom wall, which is spaced above the mounting recess bottom wall when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess to define a chamber therebetween.
10. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 9 and further comprising a vent opening formed in the mounting recess bottom wall and fluidly connected to the chamber, and the mounting plug has a vent opening fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the mounting plug vent opening is sized such that liquid cannot span the vent opening through the inherent surface tension of the liquid.
11. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the thin-walled hollow structure has a reduced width at opposite ends of the drink opening.
12. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the cap and closure tab are thermoformed from a common sheet of plastic.
13. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 1 wherein the annular channel is a peripheral channel sized to receive a rim of a cup.
14. A thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid for closing an open top of a cup terminating in an annular upper edge, the lid comprising:
a cup mount having an inner annular wall, an annular skirt spaced from the inner annular wall, and a top wall connecting the inner annular wall and annular skirt, with an annular channel for receiving an annular upper edge of a cup for mounting the lid to the cup defined by the inner annular wall, annular skirt, and top wall;
a cap comprising:
an upper surface located above the cup mount;
a peripheral wall with a positive draft angle extending upwardly from the cup mount to the upper surface to define a truncated-cone structure, at least a portion of which is above the cup mount; and
a mounting recess formed in the upper surface and having a floor located below the upper surface and a peripheral wall connecting the floor to the upper surface, with the intersection of the peripheral wall and recess defining an opening to the recess in the upper surface;
a thin-walled hollow structure extending above the upper surface of the truncated cone structure and terminating in a top wall located above the upper surface and a drink opening located in the top wall; and
a tab closure comprising a mounting plug and a drink plug connected by a strap, wherein:
the mounting plug has a bottom wall located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the bottom wall and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap;
and the drink plug has a floor located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the floor and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the drink opening to close the drink opening;
wherein the strap is configured to permit the selective insertion and removal of the drink plug into the drink opening when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess, whereby a user can open and close the lid by removing or inserting the drink plug from the drink opening while the tab closure remains mounted to the cap;
wherein the cup mount, cap, thin-walled hollow structure, and tab closure all have a common thickness and are fabricated of a flexible, thin-walled plastic by a conventional thermoforming process.
15. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 wherein the tab closure is removably coupled to the cap.
16. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 wherein the mounting plug is sized to be received within the mounting recess to mechanically couple the tab closure to the cap.
17. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 16 wherein the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess in a press-fit relationship.
18. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 16 wherein the tab closure comprises a drink plug that is received within the drink opening to selectively close the drink opening.
19. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 18 wherein the drink plug has a portion with a dimension greater than or equal to the drink opening such that the drink plug snap-fits within the drink opening.
20. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 18 wherein the mounting plug is located on the tab closure and the mounting recess is located in the upper surface.
21. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 20 wherein the tab closure further comprises a strap that connects the drink plug to the mounting plug.
22. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 21 wherein the tab closure further comprises a hinge on the strap enabling the drink plug to pivot relative to the mounting plug.
23. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 22 wherein the drink plug includes a lift tab for aid in the removal of the drink plug from the drink opening by rotating the drink plug about the hinge.
24. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 20 wherein the bottom wall of the mounting plug is spaced above the floor of the mounting recess when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess to define a chamber therebetween.
25. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 24 and further comprising a vent opening formed in the mounting recess bottom wall and fluidly connected to the chamber, and the mounting plug has a vent opening fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the mounting plug vent opening is sized such that liquid cannot span the vent opening through the inherent surface tension of the liquid.
26. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 wherein the thin-walled hollow structure has a reduced width at adjacent ends of the drink opening.
27. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 and further comprising a drink plug holder for holding the drink plug in a stored position when the lid is in the open position.
28. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 27 wherein the drink plug holder comprises:
an inwardly extending boss extending from one of the cap and cup mount and overlying a portion of the tab closure to hold the drink plug in a stored position;
a recess in the cap and which is sized to receive the drink plug and hold the drink plug in a stored position; or
a mounting plug on one of the cap and tab closure and a complementary recess on the other of the cap and tab closure such that the mounting plug is received within the recess and holds the drink plug in a stored position.
29. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 wherein the cap and closure tab are thermoformed from a common sheet of plastic.
30. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 wherein the annular channel is a peripheral channel sized to receive a rim of a cup.
31. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 14 wherein the peripheral wall of the mounting plug recess has a negative draft angle to form an undercut relative to the upper surface and the peripheral wall of the mounting plug has a negative draft angle such that when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap, the peripheral wall of the mounting plug lies within the undercut.
32. A thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid comprising:
a cup mount defining an annular channel for receiving an annular upper edge of a cup for mounting the lid to the cup;
a dome-shaped cap in the form of a truncated cone having an upper surface located above the cup mount and a peripheral wall with a positive draft angle connecting the upper surface with the cup mount, and sized to overlie and substantially cover the open top of the cup, with a mounting recess formed in the upper surface;
a thin-walled hollow structure at least partially encircling the upper surface and terminating in a top wall located above the upper surface, with a drink opening located in the top wall; and
a tab closure comprising a mounting plug and a drink plug connected by a strap, wherein:
the mounting plug has a bottom wall located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the bottom wall and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap;
and the drink plug has a floor located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the floor and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the drink opening to close the drink opening;
wherein the strap is configured to permit the selective insertion and removal of the drink plug into the drink opening when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess, whereby a user can open and close the lid by removing or inserting the drink plug from the drink opening while the tab closure remains mounted to the cap;
wherein the cup mount, dome-shaped cap, thin-walled hollow structure, and tab closure all have a common thickness and are fabricated of a flexible, thin-walled plastic by a conventional thermoforming process.
33. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the drink plug has a portion with a dimension greater than or equal to the drink opening such that the drink plug snap-fits within the drink opening.
34. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the drink opening comprises a well and the drink plug is received within the well when the lid is closed.
35. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 34 wherein the well and the drink plug are sized such that the drink plug is press-fit within the well.
36. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 and further comprising a drink plug holder for holding the drink plug in a stored position when the lid is in the open position.
37. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 36 wherein the drink plug holder comprises:
an inwardly extending boss extending from one of the cap and cup mount and overlying a portion of the tab closure to hold the drink plug in a stored position;
a recess in the cap and which is sized to receive the drink plug and hold the drink plug in a stored position; or
a mounting plug on one of the cap and tab closure and a complementary recess on the other of the cap and tab closure such that the mounting plug is received within the recess and holds the drink plug in a stored position.
38. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the tab closure further comprises a hinge on the strap enabling the drink plug to pivot relative to the mounting plug.
39. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the drink plug includes a lift tab for aid in the removal of the drink plug from the drink opening by rotating the drink plug about the hinge.
40. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the mounting recess has a bottom wall and the bottom wall, of the mounting plug is spaced above the mounting recess bottom wall when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess to define a chamber therebetween.
41. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 40 and further comprising a vent opening formed in the mounting recess bottom wall and fluidly connected to the chamber, and the mounting plug has a vent opening fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the mounting plug vent opening is sized such that liquid cannot span the vent opening through the inherent surface tension of the liquid.
42. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the side wall has a reduced width at opposite ends of the drink opening.
43. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the cap and closure tab are thermoformed from a common sheet of plastic.
44. The thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid according to claim 32 wherein the annular channel is a peripheral channel sized to receive a rim of a cup.
45. A thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid for closing an open top of a cup terminating in an annular upper edge, the lid comprising:
a cup mount defining an annular channel for receiving an annular upper edge of a cup for mounting the lid to the cup;
a cap comprising:
an upper surface located above the cup mount;
a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the cup mount and terminating at the upper surface; and
a mounting recess formed in the upper surface and at least partially defined by a peripheral wall extending downwardly from the upper surface at a negative draft angle to form an undercut relative to the upper surface and an opening for the mounting recess;
a thin-walled hollow structure extending above the upper surface and terminating in a top wall located above the upper surface and a drink opening located in the top wall; and
a tab closure comprising a mounting plug and a drink plug connected by a strap, the mounting plug is at least partially defined by a peripheral wall having a negative draft angle such that when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap, the peripheral wall of the mounting plug lies within the undercut, and the drink plug is received within the drink opening to close the drink opening, and the strap is configured to permit the insertion of the drink plug into the drink opening when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess, whereby a user can open and close the lid by removing or inserting the drink plug from the drink opening while the tab closure remains mounted to the cap;
wherein the cap, cup mount, and tab closure all have a common thickness and are fabricated of a flexible, thin-walled plastic by a conventional thermoforming process.
46. A thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid for closing an open top of a cup terminating in an annular upper edge, the lid comprising:
a cup mount having an inner annular wall, an annular skirt spaced from the inner annular wall, and a top wall connecting the inner annular wall and annular skirt, with an annular channel for receiving an annular upper edge of a cup for mounting the lid to the cup defined by the inner annular wall, annular skirt, and top wall;
a cap comprising:
an upper surface located above the cup mount;
a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the cup mount to the upper surface to define a truncated-cone structure, at least a portion of which is above the cup mount; and
a mounting recess formed in the upper surface and having a floor located below the upper surface and a peripheral wall connecting the floor to the upper surface, with the intersection of the peripheral wall and recess defining an opening to the recess in the upper surface;
a thin-walled hollow structure extending above the upper surface of the truncated cone structure and terminating in a top wall located above the upper surface and a drink opening located in the top wall; and
a tab closure comprising a mounting plug and a drink plug connected by a strap, wherein:
the mounting plug has a bottom wall located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the bottom wall and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap;
and the drink plug has a floor located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the floor and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the drink opening to close the drink opening;
wherein the strap is configured to permit the selective insertion and removal of the drink plug into the drink opening when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess, whereby a user can open and close the lid by removing or inserting the drink plug from the drink opening while the tab closure remains mounted to the cap;
wherein the cup mount, cap, thin-walled hollow structure, and tab closure all have a common thickness and are fabricated of a flexible, thin-walled plastic by a conventional thermoforming process.
47. A thermoformed disposable, recloseable lid comprising:
a cup mount defining an annular channel for receiving an annular upper edge of a cup for mounting the lid to the cup;
a dome-shaped cap in the form of a truncated cone having an upper surface located above the cup mount and a peripheral wall connecting the upper surface with the cup mount, and sized to overlie and substantially cover the open top of the cup, with a mounting recess formed in the upper surface;
a thin-walled hollow structure at least partially encircling the upper surface and terminating in a top wall located above the upper surface, with a drink opening located in the top wall; and
a tab closure comprising a mounting plug and a drink plug connected by a strap, wherein:
the mounting plug has a bottom wall located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the bottom wall and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the mounting recess to mount the tab closure to the cap;
and the drink plug has a floor located below the strap and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the strap, with at least a portion of the peripheral wall connected to the strap, with the floor and peripheral wall defining a projection that is received within the drink opening to close the drink opening;
wherein the strap is configured to permit the selective insertion and removal of the drink plug into the drink opening when the mounting plug is received within the mounting recess, whereby a user can open and close the lid by removing or inserting the drink plug from the drink opening while the tab closure remains mounted to the cap;
wherein the cup mount, dome-shaped cap, thin-walled hollow structure, and tab closure all have a common thickness and are fabricated of a flexible, thin-walled plastic by a conventional thermoforming process.