초록 ▼

A disposable lid for a drinking cup includes a cover portion and a sliding member that is configured to slidably fit into a trench in the cover portion. The trench includes a drink opening on a floor of the trench and the sliding member is configured to cover and uncover the drink opening. In one em

A disposable lid for a drinking cup includes a cover portion and a sliding member that is configured to slidably fit into a trench in the cover portion. The trench includes a drink opening on a floor of the trench and the sliding member is configured to cover and uncover the drink opening. In one embodiment, the sliding member includes side portions that extend longitudinally and upwardly from a central portion of the sliding member such that an outer edge of each side portion is located above the central portion of the sliding member. A gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than a width of a mouth of the trench such that the side portions of the sliding member secure the siding member to the cover portion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A disposable lid for a drinking cup comprising: a cover portion having a generally circular periphery, the cover portion comprising: a trench extending longitudinally from approximately a center of the cover portion to the periphery and along a top surface of the cover portio

What is claimed is: 1. A disposable lid for a drinking cup comprising: a cover portion having a generally circular periphery, the cover portion comprising: a trench extending longitudinally from approximately a center of the cover portion to the periphery and along a top surface of the cover portion, the trench having an open end at the periphery of the cover portion and a floor; a drink opening in the floor of the trench and adjacent to the periphery; and a guide slot on the floor of the trench; and a sliding member configured to slidably fit into the trench, wherein the sliding member comprises: side portions joined by a central portion extending longitudinally along the sliding member, each of the side portions extending upwardly from the central portion of the sliding member such that an outer edge of each side portion is located above the central portion of the sliding member and a gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than a width of a mouth of the trench; a handle extending upwardly from a top surface of the sliding member; and a guide extending downwardly from the central portion of the sliding member, the guide configured to slidably fit into the guide slot on the floor of the trench; wherein, the side portions of the sliding member secure the siding member to the cover portion and the guide slot allows the sliding member to move between a first position and a second position via the guide, such that when the sliding member is in the first position, the sliding member covers the drink opening and when the sliding member is in the second position, the sliding member uncovers the drink opening. 2. The lid of claim 1 wherein the trench comprises longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion to form an overhang portion such that a width of the floor of the trench is greater than the width of the mouth of the trench. 3. The lid of claim 2 wherein the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the overhang portion. 4. The lid of claim 1 wherein the outer edges of the side portions extend upwardly at an obtuse angle from the central portion of the sliding member. 5. The lid of claim 1 wherein at least one side portion of the sliding member further comprises a ridge extending outwardly away from the central portion of the sliding member to form a ridge portion and the gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than the width of the mouth of the trench. 6. The lid of claim 1 wherein the trench comprises longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion for a first distance, then extend inwardly toward a center of the trench for a second distance to form a notched portion, and then extend downwardly toward the floor of the trench. 7. The lid of claim 6 wherein at least one side portion of the sliding member further comprises a ridge extending outwardly away from the central portion of the sliding member to form a ridge portion, wherein the ridge portion of the sliding member fits in the notched portion of the trench and the gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than the width of the mouth of the trench such that when the sliding member is in the trench, the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the notched portion. 8. The lid of claim 1 wherein the trench comprises longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion to form an overhang portion and then curve downwardly toward the center of the trench such that the floor of the trench includes a curved surface. 9. The lid of claim of 8 wherein the central portion of the sliding member is curved to substantially match the curved surface of the floor of the trench. 10. The lid of claim 1 wherein the sliding member further comprises a nub such that when the sliding member is in the first position, the nub plugs the drink opening. 11. The lid of claim 10 wherein the cover portion further includes a depression in the floor of the trench that is configured to receive the nub when the sliding member is in the second position. 12. The lid of claim 1 wherein the cover portion further includes: a flat region and a sloped region that slopes upward from the flat region, wherein the trench is located in the sloped region and the drink opening is located at or near a highest point of the sloped region; and an annular side wall depending from the periphery and extending downward to a mounting portion for securing the lid to a cup, wherein the side wall has a first height at a first location adjacent to the drink opening and a second height at a second location directly opposite to the first location, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. 13. A thermoformed plastic disposable lid for a drinking cup comprising: a cover portion having a generally circular periphery, the cover portion comprising: a trench extending longitudinally along a top surface of the cover portion, the trench comprising an open end at the periphery of the cover portion, a floor, and longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion to form an overhang portion such that a width of the floor of the trench is greater than a width of a mouth of the trench; a drink opening in the floor of the trench and adjacent to the periphery; and a guide slot on the floor of the trench; and a sliding member configured to slidably fit into the trench, the sliding member comprising: side portions joined by a central portion extending longitudinally along the sliding member, each of the side portions extending upwardly from the central portion of the sliding member such that an outer edge of each side portion is located above the central portion of the sliding member and a gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than the width of the mouth of the trench such that when the sliding member is in the trench, the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the overhang portion; a handle extending upward from a top surface of the sliding member; and a guide extending downwardly from the central portion of the sliding member, the guide configured to slidably fit into the guide slot on the floor of the trench; wherein, the guide slot allows the sliding member to move between a first position and a second position via the guide, such that when the sliding member is in the first position, the sliding member covers the drink opening and when the sliding member is in the second position, the sliding member uncovers the drink opening. 14. A thermoformed plastic disposable lid for a drinking cup comprising: a cover portion having a generally circular periphery, the cover portion comprising: a trench extending longitudinally along a top surface of the cover portion, the trench comprising an open end at the periphery of the cover portion, a floor, and longitudinal side walls that extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cover portion for a first distance, then extend inwardly toward a center of the trench for a second distance to form a notched portion, and then extend downwardly toward the floor of the trench; a drink opening in the floor of the trench and adjacent to the periphery; and a guide slot on the floor of the trench; and a sliding member configured to slidably fit into the trench, the sliding member comprising: side portions joined by a central portion extending longitudinally along the sliding member, each of the side portions extending upwardly from the central portion of the sliding member such that an outer edge of each side portion is located above the central portion of the sliding member and wherein at least one side portion of the sliding member further comprises a ridge extending outwardly away from the central portion of the sliding member to form a ridge portion, wherein the ridge portion of the sliding member fits in the notched portion of the trench and a gap width between the outer edges of the side portions of the sliding member is greater than a width of a mouth of the trench such that when the sliding member is in the trench, the sliding member is securely attached to the cover portion via the notched portion; a handle extending upward from a top surface of the sliding member; and a guide extending downwardly from the central portion of the sliding member, the guide configured to slidably fit into the guide slot on the floor of the trench; wherein, the guide slot allows the sliding member to move between a first position and a second position via the guide, such that when the sliding member is in the first position, the sliding member covers the drink opening and when the sliding member is in the second position, the sliding member uncovers the drink opening.