Sealing device for a beverage container
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsNatarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michelle Cozo Pollard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealing device is provided for sealing a fluid in a cup. The sealing device can include a sealing element sized to substantially cover an opening of the cup. The sealing element can be formed from a first material and have an outer diameter. The sealing device can also include a ring element fixed to the sealing element to provide rigidity to an outer perimeter of the sealing element. The ring element can be formed from a second material, which may be different from the first material. The ring element can have an inner diameter that is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the sealing element. The sealing device can be press fitted between a rim of the cup and a lid of the cup to seal the fluid in the cup.
Claims20
A sealing device for sealing a fluid in a cup, the sealing device comprising:
- a sealing element sized to substantially cover an opening of the cup, the sealing element being formed from a first material and having a first thickness, and the sealing element having an outer diameter;
- and
- a ring element fixed to the sealing element to provide rigidity to an outer perimeter of the sealing element, the ring element being formed from a second material that is different from the first material, the ring element having a second thickness, and the ring element having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the sealing element;
- wherein the sealing device is configured to be press fit between a rim of the cup and a lid of the cup to seal the fluid in the cup.
A method comprising:
- obtaining a sealing device for sealing a fluid in a cup, the sealing device comprising:
- a sealing element sized to substantially cover an opening of the cup, the sealing element being formed from a first material and having a first thickness, and the sealing element having an outer diameter;
- and
- a ring element fixed to the sealing element to provide rigidity to an outer perimeter of the sealing element, the ring element being formed from a second material that is different from the first material, the ring element having a second thickness, and the ring element having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the sealing element;
- and
- press fitting the sealing device between a rim of the cup and a lid of the cup to seal the fluid in the cup.
A system comprising:
- a cup that includes a rim and a fluid;
- a lid for the cup;
- and
- a sealing device comprising:
- a sealing element sized to substantially cover an opening of the cup, the sealing element being formed from a first material and having a first thickness, and the sealing element having an outer diameter;
- and
- a ring element fixed to the sealing element to provide rigidity to an outer perimeter of the sealing element, the ring element being formed from a second material that is different from the first material, the ring element having a second thickness;
- wherein the sealing device is positioned on the cup between the rim and the lid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.