Recloseable lid

Abstract

A reclosable lid for a drinking cup comprising a base and a cap in mating relationship which can rotate relative to each other. Both the base and cap are provided with an aperture for delivery of liquid therethrough. When the apertures are aligned, liquid may be removed from the cup. When the cap is rotated relative to the base so that the apertures are offset, removal and spillage of liquid will be prevented.

1 . A recloseable lid comprising: 
 a mounting ring for mounting the lid to a cup;    a base connected to and extending from the mounting ring, the base having a drink opening and defining a well with an annular groove; and    a cap having a plug for closing the drink opening, and an annular edge sized to be inserted into the well and received within the annular groove to rotatably mount the cap to the base, wherein the cap can be rotated relative to the base between an opened position, where the plug does not close the drink opening, and a closed position where the plug closes the drink opening.    
     
     
         2 . The reclosable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the annular groove is continuous.  
     
     
         3 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the well comprises a floor and a peripheral wall extending from the floor and the groove is located at the junction of the peripheral wall and floor.  
     
     
         4 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of the peripheral wall extends in a direction upwardly and inwardly relative to the floor to form the groove.  
     
     
         5 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 4  wherein the peripheral wall comprises a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction that is upwardly and outwardly relative to the floor.  
     
     
         6 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a mounting projection comprising a peripheral wall that transitions into a surface, with the transition forming the annular edge and the surface overlying the floor when the cap is assembled to the base.  
     
     
         7 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein each of the annular edge and annular groove have a major radial portion, when the major radial portions are aligned, the annular edge can be inserted into the annular groove, and when the cap is rotated relative to the base, the major radial portion of the cap will encounter a portion of the annular groove to limit the relative rotation of the cap and the base.  
     
     
         8 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 7  wherein each of the annular edge and annular groove have an oval shape, and the major radial portion is formed by the major axis of the oval.  
     
     
         9 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 7  wherein the lid is neither in the opened or closed positions when the major radial portions are aligned.  
     
     
         10 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 7  wherein one of the annular edge and annular groove comprises an angled surface such that when the cap is rotated relative to the base and the major radial portion of the cap contacts the annular groove, the angled surface contacts the other of the annular edge and annular groove and is deflected toward the base thereby drawing the cap toward the base.  
     
     
         11 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 10  wherein the plug and drink opening are oriented such that the plug overlies the drink opening when the lid is drawn toward the base to draw the plug into the drink opening.  
     
     
         12 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  I wherein the plug seals the drink opening when it is drawn into the drink opening.  
     
     
         13 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the lid further comprises a detent for releaseably fixing the cap and base in one of the opened and closed positions.  
     
     
         14 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 13  wherein the lid further comprises another detent for releaseably fixing the cap and base in the other of the opened and closed positions.  
     
     
         15 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 13  wherein the detent comprises a recess in one of the cap and base and a projection in the other of the cap and base, and the projection is received within the recess to form the detent.  
     
     
         16 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 15  wherein the recess is a well formed in the base and the projection is a second well formed in the cap.  
     
     
         17 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 16  wherein the second well formed in the cap has an open bottom, and when the lid is in the open position, the open-bottom well aligns with the drink opening permitting liquid to pass therethrough, and when the lid is in the closed position, the open-bottom well is received within the base well.  
     
     
         18 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 17  wherein the open bottom well comprises a peripheral wall that bears against the edge of the drink opening to seal the cap relative to the base when the lid is in the open position.  
     
     
         19 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the plug is a closed-bottom well, which is received within the drink opening when the lid is in the closed position to close the drink opening.  
     
     
         20 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 19  wherein the closed-bottom well comprises a peripheral wall that bears against the edge of the drink opening to seal the cap relative to the base when the lid is in the closed position.  
     
     
         21 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  and further comprising a rotation stop for limiting the relative rotation of the cap and the base.  
     
     
         22 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 21  wherein the rotation stop comprises a key extending upwardly from the base, and a slot in the cap, with the key being received in the slot when the cap is mounted to the base.  
     
     
         23 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a grip for aiding in the rotation of the cap relative to the base.  
     
     
         24 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 23  wherein the grip comprises multiple projections extending from the cap.  
     
     
         25 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 23  wherein the grip comprises multiple indentations on the cap.  
     
     
         26 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a depression located on the cap relative to the drink opening to receive the user's nose when the user drinks liquid from the drink opening.  
     
     
         27 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the cap comprises a pass-through opening that overlies the drink opening when the lid is in the opened position.  
     
     
         28 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 27  wherein the pass-through opening is a notch formed in the annular edge of the cap.  
     
     
         29 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 28  wherein the drink opening is located in the well.  
     
     
         30 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 27  wherein the base comprises a wall defining the well and terminating in an upper surface, and the drink opening is located in the upper surface.  
     
     
         31 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 30  wherein the pass-through opening is funnel-shaped projection that is received within the drink opening.  
     
     
         32 . A disposable, recloseable lid comprising: 
 a mounting ring for mounting the lid to a cup;    a base connected to and extending from the mounting ring, the base having a drink opening for the passage of liquid from the cup through the lid when the lid is attached to the cup; and    a cap rotatably mounted to the base for rotation between an opened and a closed position, the cap having a pass-through opening that aligns with the drink opening when the lid is in the opened position and a plug that aligns with the drink opening for closing the drink opening when the lid is in the closed position;    wherein the cap, mounting ring, and tab are formed from a plastic sheet.    
     
     
         33 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the lid further comprises a detent for releaesably fixing the cap and base in one of the opened and closed positions.  
     
     
         34 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 33  wherein the lid further comprises another detent for releaseably fixing the cap and base in the other of the opened and closed positions.  
     
     
         35 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 33  wherein the detent comprises a recess in one of the cap and base and a projection in the other of the cap and base, and the projection is received within the recess to form the detent.  
     
     
         36 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 35  wherein the recess is a well formed in the base and the projection is a well formed in the cap.  
     
     
         37 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 36  wherein the well formed in the cap has an open bottom defining the pass-through opening, and when the lid is in the open position, the open-bottom well of the cap aligns with the drink opening permitting liquid to pass therethrough, and when the lid is in the closed position, the open-bottom well is received within the base well.  
     
     
         38 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 37  wherein the open-bottom well comprises a peripheral wall that bears against the edge of the drink opening to seal the cap relative to the base when the lid is in the open position.  
     
     
         39 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 36  wherein the cap has a closed-bottom well, which is received within the base well when the lid is in one of the opened and closed positions.  
     
     
         40 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 39  wherein the closed-bottom well forms the plug, which is received within the drink opening when the lid is in the closed position and in the base well when the lid is in the open position.  
     
     
         41 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 40  wherein the closed-bottom well comprises a peripheral wall that bears against the edge of the drink opening to seal the cap relative to the base when the lid is in the closed position.  
     
     
         42 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 33  wherein the base comprises an annular groove and the cap comprises an annular edge received within the annular groove to rotatably mount the cap to the base.  
     
     
         43 . The reclosable lid according to  claim 42  wherein the annular groove is continuous.  
     
     
         44 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 43  wherein the annular edge is continuous.  
     
     
         45 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 42  wherein the base further comprises a recess formed by a floor and a peripheral wall extending from the floor and the groove is located at the junction of the peripheral wall and floor.  
     
     
         46 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 45  wherein at least a portion of the peripheral wall extends in a direction upwardly and inwardly relative to the floor to form the groove.  
     
     
         47 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 46  wherein the peripheral wall comprises a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction that is upwardly and outwardly relative to the floor.  
     
     
         48 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 42  wherein cap has a mounting projection comprising a peripheral wall that transitions into a surface, with the transition forming the annular edge and the surface overlying the floor when the cap is assembled to the base.  
     
     
         49 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 42  wherein each of the annular edge and annular groove have a major radial portion, when the major radial portions are aligned, the edge can be inserted into the groove, and when the cap is rotated relative to the base, the major radial portion of the cap will encounter a portion of the annular groove to limit the relative rotation of the cap and the base.  
     
     
         50 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 49  wherein each of the annular edge and annular groove have an oval shape, and the major radial portion is formed by the major axis of the oval.  
     
     
         51 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 50  wherein the lid is neither in the opened or closed positions when the major radial portions are aligned.  
     
     
         52 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 50  wherein one of the annular edge and annular groove has an angled surface such that when the cap is rotated relative to the base and the major radial portion of the cap contacts the annular groove, the angled surface contacts the other of the annular edge and annular groove and is deflected toward the base thereby drawing the cap toward the base.  
     
     
         53 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 52  wherein the plug and drink opening are oriented such that the plug overlies the drink opening when the lid is drawn toward the base to draw the plug into the drink opening.  
     
     
         54 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 53  wherein the plug seals the drink opening when it is drawn into the drink opening.  
     
     
         55 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  and further comprising a rotation stop that limits the relative rotation of the cap and the base.  
     
     
         56 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 55  wherein the rotation stop comprises a key extending upwardly from the base, a slot in the cap, with the key being received in the slot when the cap is mounted to the base.  
     
     
         57 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 56  wherein the rotation stop comprises complementary indentations in the cap and base, with the cap indentation being smaller than the base indentation and received within the base indentation.  
     
     
         58 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 57  wherein the cap indentation is located on the cap relative to the drink opening to receive the user's nose when the user drinks liquid from the drink opening.  
     
     
         59 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the cap has a grip for aiding the user in grasping the cap and rotating it relative to the base.  
     
     
         60 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 59  wherein the grip comprises projections extending from the cap.  
     
     
         61 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 60  wherein the grip comprises indentations on the cap.  
     
     
         62 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 61  wherein the indentations are spaced about the periphery of the cap.  
     
     
         63 . The reclosable lid according to  claim 62  wherein there is at least one indentation on opposite halves of the cap.  
     
     
         64 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the pass-through opening is a notch formed in the annular edge of the cap.  
     
     
         65 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the base defines a well and the drink opening is located in the well.  
     
     
         66 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the base comprises a wall that terminates in an upper surface, and the drink opening is located in the upper surface.  
     
     
         67 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 66  wherein the wall is arcuate.  
     
     
         68 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 67  wherein the wall is annular.  
     
     
         69 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 66  wherein the wall is a spout.  
     
     
         70 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the pass-through opening is funnel-shaped projection that is received within the drink opening.  
     
     
         71 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the cap is a disk.  
     
     
         72 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 72  wherein the base has a well in which the disk is received.  
     
     
         73 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the cap is a dome.  
     
     
         74 . The reclosable lid according to  claim 73  wherein the base comprises a crown and the dome is received over the crown.  
     
     
         75 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the cap comprises a recess that drains into the pass-through opening.  
     
     
         76 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 75  and further comprising a channel connecting the recess to the pass-through opening.  
     
     
         77 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the plug is a portion of the cap that overlies the drink opening when the lid is in the closed position.  
     
     
         78 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the plug is a projection extending from the cap that is received within the drink opening when the lid is in the closed position.  
     
     
         79 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 32  wherein the mounting ring defines a peripheral channel sized to receive the rim of a cup.  
     
     
         80 . The recloseable lid according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting ring defines a peripheral channel sized to receive the rim of a cup.