Hot Beverage Container Lid Construction and Packaging Method

A lid construction for enabling a user to transfer heat from a relatively hot assembly-contained liquid, the lid construction comprising:

• a primary liquid outlet, at least one liquid-cooling channel, and a primary dam structure, the primary dam structure for selectively transferring liquid intermediate a liquid-containing compartment and the at least one liquid-cooling channel, each liquid-cooling channel for directing liquid therethrough and receiving heat therefrom before said liquid exits the primary liquid outlet, the primary dam structure thus providing liquid-redirection means for delaying liquid delivery via the primary liquid outlet and transferring heat therefrom.

An insert construction for outfitting a lid construction so as to enable a user to transfer heat from a relatively hot liquid via the outfitted container lid, the insert construction being attachable to a lid construction for defining at least one liquid-cooling channel intermediate the lid and insert constructions, the insert construction comprising a primary dam structure, the primary dam structure for selectively transferring liquid intermediate a liquid-containing compartment and the at least one liquid-cooling channel, the liquid-cooling channel for effecting heat transfer from channel-received liquid before said liquid exits a primary liquid outlet formed in the lid construction, the primary dam structure for enabling the user to delay liquid delivery via the primary liquid outlet and enhance heat transfer therefrom prior to liquid delivery.

A lid packaging method, the packaging method for minimizing lid packaging space, the lid packaging method comprising the steps of:

• forming a series of lid constructions, each lid construction being configurable in a first or a second lid configuration, the first lid configuration being oriented in a first radial direction, and the second lid configuration being oriented in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction;
• and
• stacking the series of lid constructions in a relaxed stacked columnar formation, the first lid configuration being alternated with the second lid configuration.

The lid packaging method of claim 18 wherein the step of forming the series of lid constructions comprises the step of outfitting a set of basic lid constructions with a set of insert constructions thereby forming a series of insert-outfitted lid constructions.