US20120097676A1

US20120097676A1 - Lid

Info

Publication number: US20120097676A1
Application number: US12/943,585
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Wen Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Rich Cup Bio Chemical Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2010-11-10
Publication date: 2012-04-26
Also published as: TW201217235A; TWI392625B

Abstract

A lid of the present invention is used for covering a cup. The cup has a cup body and a rim flange. The rim flange surrounds upper end of the cup body. A groove is defined between the rim flange and the cup body. A horizontal distance H1 is defined between the groove and outer contour of the rim flange. The lid includes a cover plate and an engagement portion. The engagement portion is disposed on periphery of the cover plate. The engagement portion has a barb portion located on its bottom end. A tip end of the barb portion can insert into the groove. A horizontal distance H2 is defined between the tip end and outer contour of the rim flange when the lid covers the cup. The distance H2 is approximately equal to the distance H1. As such, engagement relationship between the lid and the cup is strengthened.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lid for a cup, more particularly to a disposable lid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. Conventional lid is used for engage with a top edge of a cup. Generally, the lid has an engagement portion formed with a protruding portion 1. The cup has a rim flange. The protruding portion is used for abutting against bottom edge of the rim flange so as to achieve an engagement relationship.
However, the cup or the rim flange may be deformed when the cup is grabbed by someone. As a result, the cup is probably dropped out from the protruding portion. Moreover, each batch of cups has its own particular specifications established by the suppliers. The standards for the size, the thickness, the height and the diameter of the rim flanges of cups are different from provider to provider. If the lid is not fit well with the cup, the cup can be dropped out from the lid easily.
The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a lid which is able to tightly engage with a cup even if the thickness of the rim flange of the cup is changed.
To achieve the above and other objects, a lid of the present invention is used for covering a cup. The cup has a barrel-shaped cup body and a rim flange. The cup body has an upper opening and an outer surface. The rim flange surrounds the opening annularly. The outer surface extends downwardly from the rim flange. A groove is defined between the outer surface and the rim flange. A horizontal distance H1 is defined horizontally between the groove and an outer contour of the rim flange. The lid includes a cover plate and an engagement portion.
The engagement portion is annularly disposed on a periphery of the cover plate. A bottom end of the engagement portion has a barb portion. The barb portion is elastically expandable. A tip end of the barb portion is adapted for inserting into the groove, so that the barb portion and the rim flange are in an engagement relationship. A horizontal distance H2 is defined horizontally between the tip end and the outer contour of the rim flange when the lid covers the cup. A height of the tip end is greater than a height of a bottom edge of the rim flange when the lid covers the cup.
The horizontal distance H2 is approximately equal to the horizontal distance H1.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is profile showing a rim flange and a lid of prior art;

FIG. 2 is a breakdown drawing showing a cup and a lid of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a profile showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a profile showing a cup and a lid of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a partial enlargement of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B is a partial profile showing a cup.

FIG. 5 is a profile showing a cup and a lid of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a partial enlargement of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a breakdown drawing showing a cup and a lid of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C is sketches showing combination of a cup and a lid of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a lid for covering a cup 10. The cup 10 has a cup body 11 and a rim flange 12. The cup body 11 is barrel-shaped so as to defining an upper opening. The cup body 11 has an outer surface 13. The rim flange 12 surrounds the opening annularly. The outer surface 13 stretches downwardly from the rim flange 12. A groove 14 is defined between the outer surface 13 and the rim flange 12. A horizontal distance H1 is defined horizontally between the groove 14 and an outer contour of the rim flange 12. Preferably, the lid includes a cover plate 20, an engagement portion 30 and an inner flange 40.
The cover plate 20 is used for covering the opening. Preferably, the cover plate 20 is provided with a hole to enable drink to flow therethrough.
The engagement portion 30 is annularly disposed on a periphery of the cover plate 20. A bottom end of the engagement portion 30 has a circular barb portion 31. The barb portion 31 is elastically expandable. A tip end of the barb portion 31 is adapted for inserting into the groove 14, so that the barb portion 31 and the rim flange 12 are in an engagement relationship. Preferably, the barb portion 31 is outwardly shoved and expanded elastically when the lid is covering the cup 10. A horizontal distance H2 is defined horizontally between the tip end of the barb portion 31 and the outer contour of the rim flange 12 when the lid covers the cup 10. A height of the tip end is greater than a height of a bottom edge of the rim flange 12 when the lid covers the cup 10. The horizontal distance H2 is approximately equal to the horizontal distance H1.
The inner flange 40 is disposed on a bottom portion of the cover plate 20. The engagement portion 30 encircles the inner flange 40. The inner flange 40 is adapted for an inner edge of the rim flange 12 to abut thereagainst. Preferably, the inner flange 40 is circularly arranged. The inner flange 40 abuts outwardly against the rim flange 12, so that the barb portion 31 can engage with the rim flange 12 easily. In other possible embodiments of the present invention, the inner flange may be several sub-sections or protrusions which are discontinuous arranged on the bottom portion of the cover plate 20.
Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A for a second embodiment of the present invention. The barb portion 31 has a flat surface 32. The flat surface 32 extends downwardly from the tip end of the barb portion 31. The flat surface 32 is adapted for the outer surface of the cup body 11 to smoothly fit therewith. The cup 10 is clipped between the inner flange 40 and the flat surface 32 so as to obtain strengthened engagement relationship between the lid and the cup.
Please refer to FIG. 6. To raise elasticity of the barb portion, a plurality of splits may be defined by the engagement portion 30. The splits extend axially. The barb portion 31 is divided by the splits into several sections. Each section is able to elastically expand outwardly individually.
Accordingly, the lid is able to engage with the cup 10. Please refer to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C. Firstly, the lid may be placed above the rim flange 12, as shown in FIG. 7A. The lid is then forced downwardly, so that the engagement portion 30 and the barb portion 31 are shoved and expanded outwardly, as shown in FIG. 7B. Finally, the barb portion 31 rebounds to its initial position, so as to inserting into the groove 14, as shown in FIG. 7C. As such, the barb portion 31 and the rim flange 12 achieve a stable engagement relationship. The barb portion 31 can be hardly removed from the groove 14. The cup can be hardly dropped out. Furthermore, the lid can still be firmly engaged with the cup when the thickness of the rim flange is slightly changed. Small tolerance of cups caused by manufacturing is also allowed.

Claims

1. A lid, used for covering a cup, the cup having a barrel-shaped cup body and a rim flange, the cup body having an upper opening and an outer surface, the rim flange annularly surrounding the opening, the outer surface extending downwardly from the rim flange, a groove being defined between the outer surface and the rim flange, a horizontal distance H1 being defined horizontally between the groove and an outer contour of the rim flange, the lid comprising:

a cover plate;

an engagement portion, annularly disposed on a periphery of the cover plate, a bottom end of the engagement portion having a barb portion, the barb portion being elastically expandable, a tip end of the barb portion being adapted for inserting into the groove, so that the barb portion and the rim flange are in an engagement relationship, a horizontal distance H2 being defined horizontally between the tip end and the outer contour of the rim flange when the lid covers the cup, a height of the tip end being greater than a height of a bottom edge of the rim flange when the lid covers the cup;

wherein the horizontal distance H2 is approximately equal to the horizontal distance H1.

2. The lid of claim 1, further comprising an inner flange, the inner flange being disposed on a bottom portion of the cover plate, the engagement portion encircling the inner flange, the inner flange being adapted for an inner edge of the rim flange to abut thereagainst.

3. The lid of claim 2, wherein the inner flange is ring-shaped.

4. The lid of claim 1, wherein the barb portion is outwardly shoved and expanded elastically when the lid is covering the cup.

5. The lid of claim 1, wherein the barb portion is ring-shaped.

6. The lid of claim 1 wherein the barb portion has a flat surface, the flat surface extends downwardly from the tip end, the flat surface is adapted for the outer surface of the cup body to smoothly fit therewith.

7. The lid of claim 1, wherein a plurality of splits are defined by the engagement portion, the splits extend axially, the barb portion is divided by the splits into several sections, each section is able to elastically expand outwardly individually.