Disposable dome lid for drinking cups

A disposable dome lid for placement onto a drinking cup having an opening at its upper end, said opening being defined by a substantially circular cup rim whose upper extremity lies substantially in a single plane;

• wherein said disposable dome lid is vacuum formed from extruded plastics sheet material, and comprises:
• a substantially circular planar top surface, a side surface depending downwardly from said top surface, and a downwardly facing cup rim engaging recess formed near the outer periphery of said disposable dome lid;
• wherein said cup rim engaging recess is defined at its outer side by a substantially circular, downwardly depending apron, and its inner side by a downwardly directed recess side wall;
• wherein said recess side wall and said side surface both extend downwardly into an upwardly facing recess, and intersect at the bottom thereof;
• wherein said substantially circular planar top surface is above said cup rim engaging recess;
• wherein a portion of said substantially circular top surface is displaced and extends outwardly and terminates at a lower lip engaging surface having a side edge at each side thereof, and wherein said lower lip engaging surface depends downwardly from said top surface and merges at each side edge with said side surface and is above said cup rim engaging recess;
• wherein a depressed "U"-shaped hinge is formed in said top surface and is spaced away from and substantially parallel to said lower lip engaging surface;
• wherein a first fault line is stamped into said substantially planar top surface at the edge of said extended portion thereof so that said lower lip engaging surface substantially subtends said first fault line, and wherein said first fault line defines the outer extremity of a tear-back flap which, when torn back, will fold backwardly at said "U"-shaped hinge and will thereby define a drink-through opening in said top surface in a region thereof adjacent said lower lip engaging surface;
• wherein an upwardly extending locking stub is formed in a region of said tear-back flap near the outer edge thereof, at a defined distance from said "U"-shaped hinge, and a locking recess is formed in said substantially planar top surface at substantially said defined distance away from said "U"-shaped hinge and at the opposite side thereof from said locking stub;
• and
• wherein the dimensions of said locking stub are such that the locking stub may be easily gasped between the thumb and a finger of an adult hand;
• whereby said tear-back flap may be torn back by a grasping and lifting action of said locking stub so as to be folded backwardly about said "U"-shaped hinge.