AIRFLOW COOLING LID

Abstract

An airflow cooling lid for hot beverage containers enables the user to cool down the beverage in the container by blowing outside air across the surface of the beverage without removal of the lid. The airflow cooling lid includes a circular cover snuggly placed over a hot beverage container having a mounting rim, a surface portion, a sipping portal in form of an opening for consuming the beverage, an airflow opening to be used as either the intake or exhaust portal for the air drawn over the surface of the beverage, and a pinhole vent opening for allowing outside air into the container and pressure release in the event both portals are plugged. The airflow portal is angled outward to allow the exhaust air to flow away from the face when blowing through either portal.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A lid for a drinking cup, comprising: a cover portion configured to be positioned on an opened end of a drinking cup; a first opening defined adjacent a periphery of the cover portion; and a first portion extending from the cover portion and having a side surface defining a second opening therein, the second opening being in fluid communication with the first opening and configured to direct exhaust air away from a consumer's face when blowing through the first opening, wherein the first and second openings are configured to enable a consumer, without removing the lid from a drinking cup, to drink or sip liquid contents through at least one of the first or second openings, or blow air through at least one of the first or second openings.

20. The lid according to claim 19, further comprising a second portion extending from the periphery of the cover portion, the second portion defining the first opening therein.

21. The lid according to claim 20, wherein the first and second portions extend from opposite sides of the periphery of the cover.

22. The lid according to claim 19, wherein each of the first and second openings defines a plane, the plane of the second opening being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first opening.

23. The lid according to claim 22, wherein the cover portion defines a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the first opening and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the second opening.

24. The lid according to claim 19, wherein the first portion is angled away from the first opening.

25. A lid for a drinking cup, comprising: a cover portion configured to be positioned on an opened end of a drinking cup; a first opening defined adjacent a first side of a periphery of the cover portion; and a second opening defined adjacent a second side of the periphery of the cover portion, the second opening being in fluid communication with the first opening and oriented away from the first opening, such that the second opening directs exhaust air away from a consumer's face when blowing through the first opening, wherein the first and second openings are configured to enable a consumer, without removing the lid from a drinking cup, to drink or sip liquid contents through at least one of the first or second openings, or blow air through at least one of the first or second openings.

26. The lid according to claim 25, wherein each of the first and second openings defines a plane, the plane of the second opening being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first opening.

27. The lid according to claim 26, wherein the cover portion defines a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the first opening and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the second opening.

28. The lid according to claim 25, wherein the cover portion has a side surface that defines the second opening.

29. The lid according to claim 25, further comprising a first portion extending from the second side of the periphery of the cover portion, the first portion having a side surface defining the second opening therein.

30. The lid according to claim 29, further comprising a second portion extending from the first side of the periphery of the cover portion, the second portion defining the first opening.

31. The lid according to claim 29, wherein the first portion is angled away from the first opening.

32. The lid according to claim 25, wherein the first and second sides of the periphery are diametrically opposed to one another.

33. The lid according to claim 25, wherein the cover portion defines a pinhole vent opening for allowing outside air into the drinking cup and pressure release.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 is an isometric rear view of a dome lid showing the exhaust opening of the lid on a disclaimed cup;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a side view of the dome lid showing a consumer (who is drawn in dashed line) blowing into the drinking opening, with steam exiting the exhaust opening, away from the consumer;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a section side view, showing air circulating from the drinking opening turbulently over the horizontal surface of the liquid 5 and out the exhaust opening away from the consumer;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a section side view, illustrating the cup in a tilted state, with the fluid in the cup being consumed via the drinking opening, and a small amount of steam 6 being directed away from the consumer (who is drawn in dashed line); and

[0026] FIG. 5 is an isometric side view of a flat lid showing the exhaust opening with a cup, in phantom, under the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following is a detailed description of the invention provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing in the field of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may make modifications and variations in the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. All publications, patent applications, patents, figures and other references mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1-5, Cup, 9, is shown for exemplary purposes and is disclaimed.

[0029] One exemplary mode of carrying out the embodiment, though not exclusively, is manufacture of the lid, substantially as depicted in FIG. 1. At present I believe that this embodiment operates most efficiently, but other embodiments are also satisfactory.

[0030] With lids having sidewalls, 3 of FIG. 1, the exhaust opening, 1, may be placed on the sidewall or onto the upper surface of the lid diagonally opposite to the drinking opening, 2, or in any convenient location to achieve the result. With lids having no sidewalls, FIG. 5, the exhaust opening, 1, is placed onto the upper surface of the lid diagonally opposite to the drinking opening or in any convenient location to achieve the result.

[0031] One variation is to angle either or both openings so as to direct the driven exhaust, 4, away from the face of the consumer, as depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0032] As noted, depending on the embodiment, either opening may be used for drinking or blowing. Another variation is to have neither opening angled.

[0033] It is not necessary that the two openings be of the same shape and size.

[0034] In some exemplary embodiments of a lid having no sidewall, FIG. 5, a perforated flap, 8, is peeled back to reveal exhaust opening, 1, substantially as drinking opening, 2, in common flat lids, is revealed by peeling back perforated flap, 7.

[0035] In some exemplarily embodiments, the airflow opening comprises a plurality of pin-sized perforations. Each pin-sized perforation may be comparable in size with the standard vent opening in widespread use, or larger as needed to allow for sufficient throughput, and are best if small enough so that the liquid does not spill out in significant quantities if the container tilts or tips over. The plurality of the perforations combined together allows airflow sufficient to enable the humidity displacement at normal blowing pressure. The actual configuration of the plurality of holes can vary to any number and at any angle relative to the drinking opening.

[0036] In some exemplarily embodiments, the airflow opening comprises a slit aperture. The slit aperture is closed when no air is blowing through it; thus, ensuring that no excessive spillage occurs. The slit may be perforated so it remains sealed until the perforation is broken. Applying pressure to break the perforations unseals the slit aperture; once the slit aperture is unsealed, the airflow passes through it when the user blows in through the drinking opening. A variation is when the user ceases blowing, the slit closes.

[0037] In some exemplarily embodiments, the exhaust opening includes a flap to reduce likelihood of spillage.

[0038] In some exemplarily embodiments, the flap opening comprises a spring means for holding the flap closed. Blowing air causes the flap to open, and the spring means causes it to close when the airflow ceases.

[0039] Yet in other exemplarily embodiments, the flap opening comprises a rubber or plastic plug with rubber edges or a rubber grommet and a spring means. Blowing air in causes the plug to open, and the spring means causes it to close when the airflow ceases.

[0040] Typical manufacture of the lid is in plastic, on an automatic thin-gauge thermoforming machine with cast aluminum molds.

[0041] The lid can be made of any other sufficiently rigid material, including, but not limited to, molded plastic, biodegradable material, metals, ceramics, and the like.

[0042] The embodiment is ideal for licensing to existing manufacturers who may add this variation to their product line by the mere construction of an additional mold for each variation.

[0043] Quality control of the lid will include the exhaust-flow test, squeeze test, put-on test, stack test and the upside down test. The exhaust-flow test is to ensure that the exhaust is directed at a sufficient angle so as not to blow in the consumers face when the consumer blows from either opening if that variation is used. The squeeze test is to ensure the lid does not pop off easily when affixed to the beverage container and the beverage container is squeezed in accordance with the way consumers may squeeze the cup. The put-on test is to ensure that the lid can be affixed to the beverage container without undue difficultly. The stack test is to ensure the lid will stack evenly and without displacement irrespective of the planar orientation of the openings. The upside down test is to ensure the lid does not disengage when the beverage is turned upside down.

[0044] The forgoing industrial applicability discussions have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. They were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0045] The forgoing embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.