# US 9,751,665 B2 · Drink-through beverage container lids with spill resistant tabs

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- Number: US 9,751,665 B2
- Document ID: US9751665B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/178,248
- Filed: 2014-02-11
- Published: 2015-08-13
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-11
- Applicants: Douglas H. Fleming
- Inventors: Douglas H. Fleming
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751665B2

## CPC

- B65D 47/2056: {lift valve type (lift valves not opened by deformation B65D47/24)}
- B65D 43/0212: {only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth (B65D43/0206 takes precedence)}
- B65D 2543/00046: Drinking-through lids
- B65D 2543/00092: circular
- B65D 2543/00296: Plastic
- B65D 2543/00527: NO contact
- B65D 2543/00537: on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
- B65D 2543/00638: Rolled edge
- B65D 2543/00685: Totality
- B65D 2543/00731: Groove or hollow bead
- B65D 2543/00796: Totality
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A drink-through lid with spill resistant tab for use on a beverage container. The lid provides a drink outlet that allows liquid to fill a drink well base, from which a consumer may sip a beverage similar to using a cup. The lid is provided with a spill resistant tab. The tab may include a blade portion which fits through a slit in the drink-through lid. The blade extends outward to a distal blade edge adjacent an interior wall of the beverage container. The blade has a width W2 as wide or wider than the effective outlet width W1 of the drink outlet. The lid may be provided with a generally V-shaped groove having a slit at the bottom thereof for passage of the blade therethrough. In an embodiment, the tab may include a Z-shaped connector portion sized and shaped for interlocking mating engagement with the V-shaped grove.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drink-through lid for a beverage cup having an open end, comprising:
a base comprising a rim having a bottom edge, and an interior bead sealing portion, said base sized and shaped to sealingly engage the open end of the beverage cup;
a raised lip portion having an exterior portion extending upwardly from said base, an outer lip portion, and an interior portion sloping downwardly from said outer lip portion to lower end portions;
a drink well base having a floor extending from a peripheral side adjacent said lower end portions, the drink well base located downward from said outer lip portion, said drink well having an underside;
at least one drink outlet, said at least one drink outlet defined by a first edgewall extending upward into said interior portion of said raised lip portion and by an elongated second edgewall of effective opening width W1 extending along an outlet portion of said drink well base, said at least one drink outlet oriented at least in part as if along a first surface extending from said elongated second edgewall substantially at an angle alpha (α) in the range of from about forty-five degrees (45°) to about ninety degrees (90°), so that said at least one drink outlet is substantially vertically oriented;
a downwardly extending valley shaped wall, said valley shaped wall comprising first and second sidewalls extending across at least a portion of said lid, and a slit of length LS between said first and second sidewalls;
a spill resistant tab, said spill resistant tab comprising a blade portion, a handle portion, and a connector portion between said blade portion and said handle portion, said blade portion sized and shaped to fit through said slit, said blade portion secured in a working position below said underside of said drink well adjacent said at least one drink outlet, said blade portion having a width W2 sufficient to resist movement of liquid outward through said at least one drink outlet; and
wherein said blade portion is sized, shaped, and positioned to resist splash of liquid from inside the beverage cup toward said at least one drink outlet, while allowing liquid to flow around said blade portion to said at least one drink outlet before escaping to said drink well base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valley shaped wall comprises a V-shaped wall.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beverage cup has an interior wall, and wherein said blade portion comprises a distally located blade edge sized and shaped for close fitting engagement near or with said interior wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A drink through lid as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bladed edge comprises a smooth radiused edge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A drink through lid as set forth in claim 4, wherein said smooth radiused edge has a radius of curvature along a radius of 1.620 inches.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one drink outlet has an effective opening width W1 of about 1.0 inches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 6)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, or in claim 6, wherein said blade portion has a width W2 of about 1.5 inches.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion of said spill resistant tab is substantially planar.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion comprises substantially planar portions and one or more stiffening ribs.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle portion of said spill resistant tab is substantially planar.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle portion of said spill resistant tab comprises a substantially planar portion, and an upwardly extending ear portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connector portion of said spill resistant tab is substantially planar.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connector portion of said spill resistant tab comprises a substantially planar central portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 13, wherein said connector portion further comprises a pair of stiffening panels, one of said stiffening panels located along each of first and second sides of said connector portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion comprises a substantially planar blade proximal portion adjacent said connector portion, and wherein said blade proximal portion, and said connector portion are joined at a first hinge fold having an angle delta.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 15, wherein said angle delta of said first hinge fold is in a range of from about 55 to about 75 degrees.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The drink through lid as set forth in claim 15, wherein said angle delta of said first hinge fold is in a range of from about 60 to about 70 degrees.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle portion comprises a substantially planar handle proximal portion adjacent said connector portion, and wherein said handle proximal portion and said connector portion are joined at a second hinge fold having an angle phi.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 18, wherein said angle phi of said second hinge fold is in a range of from about 40 to about 60 degrees.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The drink through lid as set forth in claim 19, wherein said angle phi of said second hinge fold is in a range of from about 45 to about 55 degrees.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion width W2 is equal to or larger than said effective opening width W1.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion width W2 is larger than said effective opening width W1 by about 0.25 inches, or more.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion width W2 is larger than said effective opening width W1 by about 0.5 inches, or more.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connector portion of said spill resistant tab is sized and shaped for secure mating engagement with at least a portion of said valley shaped wall, wherein said spill resistant tab is secured to allow drinking from said beverage cup while providing resistance to liquid flow through said at least one drink outlet.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spill resistant tab has a Z-shaped profile, as examined in vertical cross-section, between said blade portion and said handle portion.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The drink-through lid as set forth in claim 25, wherein said connector portion of said spill resistant tab is sized and shaped for close fitting engagement with said downwardly extending valley shaped wall, wherein said spill resistant tab is secured to allow drinking from a beverage cup while providing resistance to liquid flow through a drink outlet in a drink-through lid.