CONTAINER LID AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

Abstract

A lid for use in association with a beverage container including: a side wall, a top wall, wherein the top wall extends radially inward from the side wall; a rib, wherein the rib is generally annular and emanates from the side wall, and wherein the rib is releasably connectable to the beverage container; a skirt, wherein the skirt is generally annular and emanates from the rib; and a reservoir associated with the top wall, wherein the reservoir is adapted to contain one or more condiments.

Claims

1. A lid for use in association with a beverage container, comprising: a side wall, wherein the side wall is generally annular; a top wall, wherein the top wall extends radially inward from the side wall; a rib, wherein the rib is generally annular and emanates from the side wall; a skirt, wherein the skirt is generally annular and emanates from the rib; and a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is adapted to contain one or more condiments.

2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the top wall further comprises an aperture for receiving a straw therethrough.

3. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the side wall and the top wall form a generally frusto-conical region.

4. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the rib is releasably connectable to the beverage container.

5. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the skirt is adapted to regulate vertical displacement of the lid when stacked with one or more other lid(s).

6. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is associated with the top wall.

7. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises four side walls in a spaced-apart relationship.

8. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is positioned proximate to at least one of ice and a flowable liquid to controllably regulate the temperature of a condiment positioned in the reservoir.

9. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a paper product.

10. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a plastic.

11. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a thermoplastic.

12. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises at least one of the group consisting of an aliphatic polyamide, a semi-aromatic polyamide, and combinations thereof.

13. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises at least one of the group consisting of nylon PA 6, nylon PA 66, nylon PA 6/66, nylon PA 66/610, and combinations thereof.

14. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises at least one of the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a nylon, a copolyester, a polystyrene, a high impact polystyrene, a polyphenylene oxide, and combinations thereof.

15. A lid for use in association with a beverage container, consisting of: a side wall, wherein the side wall is generally annular; a top wall, wherein the top wall extends radially inward from the side wall, and wherein the top wall includes an aperture for receiving a straw therethrough; a rib, wherein the rib is generally annular and emanates from the side wall; a skirt, wherein the skirt is generally annular and emanates from the rib; and a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is associated with the top wall and adapted to contain one or more condiments.

16. A process for using a lid in combination with a container, comprising the steps of: providing a lid, comprising: a side wall, wherein the side wall is generally annular; a top wall, wherein the top wall extends radially inward from the side wall; a rib, wherein the rib is generally annular and emanates from the side wall; a skirt, wherein the skirt is generally annular and emanates from the rib; and a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is adapted to contain one or more condiments; providing a container; associating at least one of ice and a liquid with the container; securing the lid to the container; associating a condiment with the reservoir region of the lid; and controlling the temperature of the condiment with the at least one of ice and liquid in the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted.

[0033] It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

[0034] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0035] FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a lid associated with a beverage cup/container in accordance with the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 of the drawings is a side view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 of the drawings is a top view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 4 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the lid taken along line IV of FIG. 3;

[0039] FIG. 5 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of a lid of the present invention associated with a beverage cup/container;

[0040] FIG. 6 of the drawings is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lid associated with a beverage cup/container in accordance with the present invention; and

[0041] FIG. 7 of the drawings is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lid associated with a beverage cup/container in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0043] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

[0044] Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-5 in particular, lid 10 is shown releasably secured to beverage container 12, and generally comprises side wall 14, top wall 16, rib 18, skirt 20, and reservoir 22. In accordance with the present invention, lid 10 is ultra-convenient, and allows a user the essentially hands-free option of dipping, for example, fries and/or nuggets, while on the go. Lid 10 also allows condiments to be mixed in reservoir 22. In one embodiment, lid 10 allows individual condiment containers and/or packets to be placed/releasably secured in reservoir 22 (see FIGS. 1, 6, and 7). In addition, lid 10 of the present invention helps to keep children and automobiles cleaner than when a traditional container lid, without a reservoir, is used. As is shown in FIG. 5, lid 10 of the present invention, when secured to container 12 having ice 24 and/or a liquid 26 (e.g., a beverage), enables condiment(s) 28 to stay cooler for a substantially longer period of time compared to a standard condiment packet.

[0045] Side wall 14 is preferably generally annular and includes an upper portion and a lower portion. Side wall 14 preferably includes an outer peripheral geometry that is smaller proximate the upper portion compared to the lower portion.

[0046] Top wall 16 extends radially inward from the upper portion of side wall 14. Top wall 16 preferably includes aperture 30 for receiving a straw therethrough. Top wall 16 is also associated with condiment reservoir 22.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, top wall 16 and side wall 14 form a generally frusto-conical region.

[0048] Rib 18 is preferably generally annular and is positioned between side wall 14 and skirt 20. Rib 18 is, during normal use, releasably secured to the top of container 12. (see FIG. 5).

[0049] Skirt 20 is preferably generally annular and emanates from rib 18. Preferably, skirt 20 is adapted to regulate vertical displacement of lid 10 when stacked with one or more other lid(s).

[0050] Reservoir 22 is preferably is adapted to contain one or more condiments (see FIG. 5). In one embodiment, reservoir 22 comprises four side walls in a spaced-apart relationship. Additional embodiments of reservoir 22 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0051] Reservoir 22 is preferably positioned proximate to at least one of ice 24 and flowable liquid 26 to controllably regulate the temperature of condiment 28 positioned in the reservoir.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, lid 10 is fabricated from a paper product, a plastic, and/or a thermoplasticjust to name a few.

[0053] In another embodiment, lid 10 is fabricated from at least one of the group consisting of an aliphatic polyamide, a semi-aromatic polyamide, and combinations thereof.

[0054] In yet another embodiment, lid 10 is fabricated from at least one of the group consisting of nylon PA 6, nylon PA 66, nylon PA 6/66, nylon PA 66/610, and combinations thereof.

[0055] Furthermore, lid 10 may be fabricated from at least one of the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a nylon, a copolyester, a polystyrene, a high impact polystyrene, a polyphenylene oxide, and combinations thereof.

[0056] In operation, the present invention is directed to, a process for using lid 10 in combination with container 12, comprising the steps of: (a) providing lid 10, comprising: (1) side wall 14, wherein side wall 14 is generally annular; (2) top wall 16, wherein top wall 16 extends radially inward from side wall 14; (3) rib 18, wherein rib 18 is generally annular and emanates from side wall 14; (4) skirt 20, wherein skirt 20 is generally annular and emanates from rib 18; and (5) reservoir 22, wherein reservoir 22 is adapted to contain one or more condiments 28; (b) providing container 12; (c) associating at least one of ice 24 and liquid 26 with container 12; (d) securing lid 10 to container 12; associating condiment 28 with reservoir 22 of lid 10; and controlling the temperature of condiment 28 with the at least one of ice 24 and liquid 26 in container 12.

[0057] The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0058] While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

[0059] The embodiments, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms comprising, including, containing, etcetera shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Additionally, the phrase consisting essentially of will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase consisting of excludes any element not specified.

[0060] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0061] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0062] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etcetera. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etcetera. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as up to, at least, greater than, less than, and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

[0063] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

[0064] Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.