Granted Patent B1

US 12,291,381 · App. 18/130,454 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventor: Todd Richard Barber (Wilmington, NC)

B65D55/16

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A leash system in combination with a beverage container lid comprising:

an anchor, a leash, and a band;

wherein the leash system is configured to tether a beverage container lid to a handleless beverage container;

wherein the anchor is coupled to the beverage container lid;

wherein the leash detachably couples to the handleless beverage container;

wherein an aperture located at a top end of the leash detachably couples to an anchor tab on the anchor to prevent loss of the beverage container lid;

wherein a bottom end of the leash is coupled to the band;

wherein the band detachably couples to the handleless beverage container by encircling the handleless beverage container;

wherein the anchor comprises an anchor base and the anchor tab;

wherein the anchor base is coupled to a lid top surface and positioned against a lid top interior side wall;

wherein an anchor base top surface is canted such that the anchor base top surface is lower closer to a center of the beverage container lid and higher closer to an outside edge of the beverage container lid;

wherein the cant of the anchor base top surface orients the anchor tab such that coupling the leash to the anchor tab is made easier.

2. The leash system according to claim 1

wherein the anchor base is coupled to the beverage container lid via an adhesive applied between the beverage container lid and the anchor base.

3. The leash system according to claim 2

wherein the anchor base comprises a flat bottom to conform to the shape of the lid top surface.

4. The leash system according to claim 3

wherein the anchor base comprises a curved rear side to conform to the shape of the lid top interior side wall.

5. The leash system according to claim 4

wherein the curved rear side comprises a beveled corner to conform to the shape of the beverage container lid.

6. The leash system according to claim 5

wherein the anchor tab comprises a shaft and a head;

wherein the anchor tab comprises a T-shaped profile as seen from the side;

wherein the anchor tab is operable to retain the top end of the leash.

7. The leash system according to claim 6

wherein the shaft extends upwards from the top of the anchor base;

wherein the top of the shaft comprises the head.

8. The leash system according to claim 7

wherein the shaft is cylindrical.

9. The leash system according to claim 8

wherein the head is a thickening of the top of the shaft.

10. The leash system according to claim 9

wherein the aperture in the leash passes over the head and onto the shaft;

wherein the head prevents the leash from lifting off of the anchor tab.

11. The leash system according to claim 10

wherein the head comprises an oval footprint as seen from above such that the leash must be deformed in order to slide onto or off of the anchor tab.

12. The leash system according to claim 11

wherein the leash is a flexible strap that retains the beverage container lid to the handleless beverage container;

wherein the top end of the leash comprises the aperture that detachably couples to the anchor tab on the anchor.

13. The leash system according to claim 12

wherein the aperture is round and has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shaft on the anchor tab but smaller than the smallest diameter of the head of the anchor tab.

14. The leash system according to claim 13

wherein the bottom end of the leash is coupled to the band.

15. The leash system according to claim 14

wherein the band is a circular strap for encircling the upper half of the handleless beverage container.

16. The leash system according to claim 15

wherein the band is elastic.

17. The leash system according to claim 16

wherein the band is stretched to surround the handleless beverage container and released to grip the handleless beverage container.

References Cited (75)