초록 ▼

Hot consumable container lid constructions and damming insert constructions enable a user/drinker to selectively transfer heat from a relatively hot assembly-contained beverage so as to cool the beverage before it enters the user's/drinker's mouth, and/or prevent inadvertent spillage of the hot cons

Hot consumable container lid constructions and damming insert constructions enable a user/drinker to selectively transfer heat from a relatively hot assembly-contained beverage so as to cool the beverage before it enters the user's/drinker's mouth, and/or prevent inadvertent spillage of the hot consumable so as to avoid scalding of the user. A consumable damming formation is formed in adjacency to the primary outlet for redirecting liquid movement(s) and/or preventing spillage of the liquid before it exits the primary outlet. Certain lid assembly methodologies are also described, which methodologies provide the reader with a more thorough understanding of how the invention functions to achieve the objectives here briefly described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A lid construction for enhancing heat transfer from a relatively hot liquid and preventing inadvertent spillage, the lid construction comprising: a lid rim, a lid wall construction, and a liquid-trapping reservoir, the lid wall construction comprising an outer lid wall portion and an inner lid wa

1. A lid construction for enhancing heat transfer from a relatively hot liquid and preventing inadvertent spillage, the lid construction comprising: a lid rim, a lid wall construction, and a liquid-trapping reservoir, the lid wall construction comprising an outer lid wall portion and an inner lid wall portion opposite the outer lid wall portion in anterior adjacency to the liquid-trapping reservoir, the liquid-trapping reservoir comprising a reservoir bottom, a primary outlet being formed in the inner lid wall portion in superior adjacency to the reservoir bottom, the lid rim extending in a rim plane, the primary outlet for outletting liquid in directions substantially parallel to the rim plane, the lid construction being attachable to a liquid container, the primary outlet for increasing (a) air-liquid turbulence and (b) heat transfer from liquid as said liquid exits the primary outlet, the liquid-trapping reservoir for pooling liquid in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet. 2. The lid construction of claim 1 comprising a damming structure extending in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet, the damming structure for (a) redirecting liquid movement and enhancing heat transfer therefrom before it exits the primary outlet and (b) preventing inadvertent spillage. 3. The lid construction of claim 2 wherein the damming structure comprises a resilient portion, the resilient portion for enabling the damming structure to be placed into an actuated position and a relaxed position. 4. The lid construction of claim 2 wherein the outer lid wall portion comprises a collapsible portion, the collapsible portion being manually depressable for forming the damming structure. 5. The lid construction of claim 4 wherein the collapsible portion comprises a header portion and a footer portion, the header portion being substantially orthogonal to the rim plane and the footer portion being obliquely angled relative to the header portion for enabling enhanced nestability of successive lid constructions and for narrowing a flow channel defined by an inner surface of the header portion and an inner surface of the inner lid wall. 6. The lid construction of claim 2 wherein the liquid-trapping reservoir is located in adjacency to the damming structure for receiving and pooling liquid exiting the primary outlet, the liquid-trapping reservoir for enabling heat transfer from the pooled liquid prior to liquid consumption. 7. The lid construction of claim 6 comprising a lip-receiving indentation, the lip-receiving indentation being located in adjacency to the liquid-trapping reservoir for (a) receiving and pooling liquid exiting the liquid-trapping reservoir, and (b) form-fitting the lid construction to the user's mouth for preventing spillage of liquid during liquid consumption. 8. The lid construction of claim 1 wherein the primary outlet is formable by way of a spring-biasable material construction, the spring-biasable material construction being displaceable intermediate a relaxed configuration and an actuated configuration and comprising an attached end portion and an unattached end portion, the actuated configuration for providing the primary outlet via resilient displacement the unattached end portion. 9. The lid construction of claim 8 comprising lower stop structure, the lower stop structure for preventing downward displacement of the unattached end portion and thus for restricting liquid flow. 10. The lid construction of claim 8 wherein the unattached end portion is contoured upwardly to conform to a user's upper lip, the unattached end portion thus for enabling the user to resiliently depress the unattached end portion via the user's upper lip. 11. A lid construction for enhancing heat transfer from a relatively hot liquid and preventing inadvertent spillage, the lid construction comprising: a lid rim, an upright lid wall construction, and a primary outlet, the upright lid wall construction comprising an upright outer lid wall portion, an upright inner lid wall portion opposite the upright outer lid wall portion, and a lid indentation damming formation extending radially in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet substantially parallel to the lid rim, the upright outer lid wall portion extending in an outer portion plane and the upright inner lid wall portion extending in an inner portion plane, the lid indentation damming formation intersecting the inner and outer portion planes in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet, the lid indentation damming formation thus for (a) redirecting liquid flow prior to outletting through the primary outlet and (b) enhancing heat transfer from liquid prior to exiting the primary outlet. 12. The lid construction of claim 11 wherein the lid indentation damming formation extends in a select radial direction, the select radial direction being selected from the group consisting of a radially outward direction and a radially inward direction. 13. The lid construction of claim 11 comprising a collapsible portion, the collapsible portion being manually depressable for forming the lid indentation damming formation. 14. A two-element lid assembly for enhancing heat transfer from a relatively hot liquid and preventing inadvertent spillage, the two-element lid assembly comprising: a first upper lid construction element, the first upper lid construction element comprising a primary outlet; anda second lower damming insert element, the second lower damming insert element being separately attachable to the first upper lid construction element in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet and comprising a forward, central, and upper liquid spillway and opposed lateral portions extending laterally and rearwardly from the forward, central, and upper liquid spillway, the forward, central, and upper liquid spillway comprising an upper sloped region and a lower sloped region, the upper sloped region being laterally bound by upright structures for defining at least one free-flow, liquid-letting pathway over the second lower damming insert element and under the first upper lid construction element in communication with the primary outlet for diverting liquid flow prior to outletting through the primary outlet, the second lower damming insert element thus for increasing heat transfer from said liquid prior to exiting the primary outlet. 15. The two-element lid assembly of claim 14 wherein the opposed lateral portions of the second lower damming insert element define a rim-receiving groove at undersides thereof for attaching the second lower damming insert element to an upper rim of a lid container. 16. A lid assembly construction method, the lid assembly construction method comprising the steps of: forming a damming insert construction, the damming insert construction comprising a forward, central, and upper liquid spillway and opposed lateral portions extending laterally and rearwardly from the forward, central, and upper liquid spillway, the forward, central, and upper liquid spillway comprising an upper sloped region and a lower sloped region, the upper sloped region being laterally bound by upright structures and;inserting the damming insert construction into an underside of a lid construction such that the opposed lateral portions extend laterally and rearwardly at a periphery of the lid construction, the lid construction comprising a primary outlet, the damming insert construction thereby positioning the central upper liquid spillway in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet, the central upper liquid spillway for structurally defining at least one free-flow, liquid-letting pathway over the damming insert construction and under the lid construction in communication with the primary outlet, the forward, central, and upper liquid spillway for diverting liquid flow prior to outletting through the primary outlet. 17. The lid assembly construction method of claim 16 wherein the opposed lateral portions of the damming insert construction define a rim-receiving groove at undersides thereof for attaching the damming insert construction to an upper rim of a lid container.