Winged cup lid
AssigneeJames River Corporation of Virginia
InventorsBruce R. Smith, Reinhold Gerber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The drinking cup lid includes a cover portion and at least one tab extending from the cover portion and movable into a retaining position adjacent the sidewalls of the cup to securely attach the lid to the cup while providing a gripping area insulated from the thermal effects of the contents of the cup. The tabs include a retaining groove adapted to receive the rim of the cup and a latching lip for sealingly engaging the rim when the tabs are moved into the retaining position. A gripping portion of each tab is positioned adjacent the sidewalls when the tabs are in the retaining position. The gripping portion is maintained a spaced radial distance from the sidewalls by both a hinge which provides a pivot axis about which the tab rotates and a rib formed by a stiffening groove extending along the tab.
Claims23
A closure for a drinking cup having sidewalls which terminate at a rim to form an opening, comprising:
- a cover portion for covering the opening of the cup, said cover portion having an outer circumferential extent;
- at least one tab extending from said cover portion around less than said outer circumferential extent, said at least one tab including a proximal end attached to said cover portion, a distal end free of circumferential support and a retaining means for engaging the rim of the cup, said at least one tab movable into a retaining position adjacent the cup causing said retaining means to engage the rim of the cup to retain said closure on the cup, wherein said at least one tab includes a gripping portion extending adjacent to the sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is in said retaining position, said gripping portion including a gripping surface facing outwardly from the sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is in said retaining position for gripping by a user's fingers while grasping the cup.
A drinking cup, comprising:
- a cup portion including sidewalls positioned to form a cavity for receiving a substance and an opening formed at a first end of said cup portion by an upper rim of said sidewalls;
- a cover portion for covering said opening said cup portion, said cover portion having an outer circumferential extent;
- at least one tab extending from said cover portion around less than said outer circumferential extent, said at least one tab including a proximal end attached to said cover portion, a distal end free of circumferential support and a retaining means for engaging said cup portion, said at least one tab movable into a retaining position adjacent said sidewalls causing said retaining means to engage said upper rim to retain said cover portion on said cup portion, wherein said at least one tab includes a gripping portion extending adjacent to said sidewalls of said cup portion when said at least one tab is in said retaining position, said gripping portion including a gripping surface facing outwardly from said sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is in said retaining position for gripping by a user's fingers while grasping the cup.
A closure for a drinking cup having sidewalls which terminate at a rim to form an opening, comprising:
- a cover portion for covering the opening of the cup;
- at least one tab extending from said cover portion and including a retaining means for engaging the rim of the cup, said at least one tab movable into a retaining position adjacent the cup causing said retaining means to engage the rim of the cup to retain said closure on the cup, said at least one tab including a gripping portion extending adjacent to the sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is in said retaining position for gripping by a user's fingers wherein said at least one tab includes two tabs positioned diametrically opposite one another on said cover portion.
A closure for a drinking cup having sidewalls which terminate at a rim to form an opening, comprising:
- a cover portion for covering the opening of the cup;
- at least one tab extending from said cover portion and including a retaining means for engaging the rim of the cup, said at least one tab movable into a retaining position adjacent the cup causing said retaining means to engage the rim of the cup to retain said closure on the cup, said at least one tab including a gripping portion extending adjacent to the sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is in said retaining position for gripping by a user's fingers, said at least one tab further including a hinge formed on said at least one tab adjacent said retaining means, said hinge providing a pivot axis along said at least one tab for moving said at least one tab into said retaining position;
- and
- a separating means formed on said at least one tab for maintaining said gripping portion a spaced radial distance from the sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is in said retaining position, wherein said separating means further includes a rib formed on said at least one tab, said rib positioned in abutting relationship with the sidewalls of the cup when said at least one tab is positioned in said retaining position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.