Fiber-Containing Lid With High Polymer Mating Region

Abstract

A lid for a container having an upper rim bead, the lid having a fiber-containing body and a mating portion depending from the body that is configured to mate with the upper rim bead, wherein the mating portion has a higher weight percentage of a polymer than the body. The mating portion can include the polymer on a medial or lateral surface, and/or inside the mating portion, or the mating portion can be entirely made of polymer.

Claims

1. A lid for a container having an upper rim bead, the lid comprising: a body comprising a first fibrous material; and a mating portion depending from the body, the mating portion comprising a second fibrous material, and having a recess configured to mate with the upper rim bead; wherein the mating portion has a higher weight percentage of a first polymer than the body.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the mating portion comprises a medial layer of the first polymer, and a lateral layer of the second fibrous material.

3. The lid of claim 1, wherein the first fibrous material of the body is continuous with the second fibrous material of the mating portion.

4. The lid of claim 1, wherein the body has a layer of the first polymer.

5. The lid of claim 1, wherein the mating portion has a second layer of the first polymer.

6. The lid of claim 5, wherein the second layer comprises a second polymer that has a different chemical composition that the first layer.

7. The lid of claim 1, wherein the body has a drinking hole, and a layer of a second polymer disposed about the drinking hole.

8. The lid of claim 7, wherein the layer of the second polymer extends at least 5 mm around the drinking hole.

9. The lid of claim 7, wherein the body has a raised portion disposed about a central depression, and the drinking hole is disposed in the raised portion.

10. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid has no more than 10 wt % of the first polymer.

11. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid has no more than 5 wt % of the first polymer.

12. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid has no more than 1 wt % of the first polymer.

13. The lid of claim 2, wherein the medial layer is at least 0.1 mm thick.

14. The lid of claim 2, wherein the medial layer is at least 0.3 mm thick.

15. The lid of claim 2, wherein the mating portion flares outwardly to a bottom of the lid.

16. The lid of claim 1, wherein the recess comprises an annular indentation having a depth of at least 1.5 mm.

17. (canceled)

18. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a second layer of the first polymer disposed within, or lateral to, the lateral layer of the second fibrous material.

19. The lid of claim 1, wherein the first polymer comprises at least one of polyethylene and polydiketoenamine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1, and a container.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a lid.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a lid.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a lid.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of lid with a magnetic upper rim bead.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

[0031] The present invention relates to apparatus, methods, and systems for a fiber-containing lid having a polymer coated reinforced region, which provides a secure seal to a liquid container. In preferred embodiments, the reinforced region is a mating portion of the mating portion of the lid. The principles and operations for such methods and systems, according to the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 generally depicts a fiber-containing lid 100 at least having a body 110 and a mating portion 122 that depends from the body 110. The lid 100 comprises at least two materials, a fibrous material and a polymer coating.

[0033] All suitable fibrous materials are contemplated, including wood and vegetable fibers (as for example utilized in papers and cardboards). Biodegradable paper is especially preferred to reduce negative environmental impact when the lids are disposed.

[0034] All suitable polymer materials are contemplated, especially including polymers typically used to coat inside surface of paper coffee cups. This includes polyethylene, polypropylene, polyetylene terephthalate, high-density polyetylene, polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyetylene, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, and any combination thereof.

[0035] To reduce the environmental impact, preferred embodiments of lid 100 have no more than 10 wt % the total polymer material(s). In some embodiments, the lid has no more than 10 wt % or even 5 wt % polymer, and the most preferred embodiments have no more than 1 wt % polymer.

[0036] The body 110 has a drinking hole 130. It is contemplated that a polymer coating can be disposed on an upper surface of the lid, about at least a region 140 adjacent the drinking hole 130. A coating in that region coating can provide an improved mouth feel relative to embodiments where the region is not coated. In some embodiments, the polymer coating of the body extends at least 5 mm around the drinking hole 130.

[0037] FIG. 2 depicts the side view of lid 200. The lid 200 is configured to be removably coupled with a cup 250, allowing repeated closing and opening the lid. The body 210 can have a raised portion 211 that surrounds a concavity 212. The raised portion can be of constant height, or of varying heights. Typically, the drinking hole is positioned in the raised portion 211.

[0038] The body 210 would typically have an underside with a polymer coating 213, although there are embodiments in which there is no underside coating. Thus, it is contemplated that the reinforcing polymner could be applied only to the mating portion 222. It is also contemplated that the body 210, or even the entire lid, can be coated on the outer surfaces (not shown). The body 210 has an angled portion 221 can flare slightly from a top of the lid 200, and the flared region can extend to meet with the mating portion 222.

[0039] The mating portion 220 extends circumferentially and downwardly from the body 210. The mating region 222 is sized and dimensioned to securely mate with the upper rim bead 251 of the cup 250. For a typical paper coffee cup, the mating portion would preferably have an indentation with a depth of at least 1.5 mm. Having a secure seal is desirable because it protects the user from spilling of hot liquid such as coffee, tea, and soup over himself or herself.

[0040] The mating portion 220 can itself have a flared region 223, sized and dimensioned to assist a user in positioning the lid onto the top upper rim bead of a cup, thereby helping to prevent significant deformation of the lid 200.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1, including a body 321 and a mating portion 320. There is a polymer coating 305 on the underside of the body 321. The mating portion 320 includes an indented region 322 and a flared region 323. There is an extra coating 324 of polymer on part of the medial side of the body 321, and the medial sides of the indented 322 and flared 323 regions.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative lid, including a body 421 and a mating portion 420. There is a polymer coating 405 on the underside of the body 421. The mating portion 420 includes an indented region 422 and a flared region 423. There is an extra coating 425 of polymer on the lateral side of the indented region 422.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another alternative lid, including a body 521 and a mating portion 520. There is a polymer coating 505 on the underside of the body 521. The mating portion 520 includes an indented region 522 and a flared region 523. There is an extra coating 526 of polymer on both medial and lateral sides of the indented region 522.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view oft another alternative lid, including a body 621 and a mating portion 620. There is a polymer coating 605 on the underside of the body 621. The mating portion 620 includes an indented region 622 and a flared region 623. There is an extra stiffening member 627 on inside of the indented region 622. In some embodiments stiffening member 627 comprises a stiff polymer.

[0045] It is also contemplated that one could use magnetic coupling so that the cup and lid would click together, magnetically, and thereby remain mated without the need for any mechanical coupling as in FIG. 2. To that end, in FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 2, except that the upper rim bead 251 is magnetic, and the stiffening member 627A is a metal or other material attracted by magnetic force.

[0046] As indicated above, the polymer coatings on the undersides of the various lids 205, 305, 405, 505, and 605 is distinctly preferably, but could nevertheless be omitted depending on the composition of the lid. Thus, the polymer coatings on some or all of the portions of the undersides of the various lids 205, 305, 405, 505, and 605 should be viewed as optional.

[0047] There are at least two reasons for adding the polymer material to the mating portions of the various embodiments. First, if the polymer is disposed on a medial side of the mating portion, the polymner can protect the mating portion from deformation caused by the liquid or a vapor evaporating from the liquid. Second, including a polymer in the mating portion can significantly enhance stiffness of the mating portion, thereby providing a secure seal with a cup or other vessel.

[0048] Where the polymer is included in the mating portion as one or more layers, the thickness at least one such layer is preferably at least 0.1 mm, more preferably at least 0.2 mm, and most preferably at least 0.3 mm.

[0049] It is also contemplated that the mating portion could be entirely polymeric, i.e., with no fibrous content. In such instances the polymeric mating portion could have a thin extension that extends up into the body of the lid, or is glued or otherwise adhered to a medial or lateral side of the body.

[0050] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term about. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0051] Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

[0052] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

[0053] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms comprises and comprising should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.