Leak resistant lid assembly for a beverage container

Abstract

A leak resistant lid for a beverage container is formed with a depending skirt portion having one or more progressively decreasing diameter rings between a lower extremity and a sealing channel adapted to fit over the rim bead of the container. An inner wall of the channel extends downwardly inside the inner surface of the side wall of the container in a plug fit relationship. The relatively deep inside plug fit provides added surface area contact for sealing the interface between the lid and the container. An elevated and rigid central plateau supports a drinking orifice and is connected to the inner wall of the channel by a reinforced, rigid flange or web which maintains the channel and its inner wall in leak resistant relationship with the rim bead and container wall.

1 . A lid for closing a container, the container having a generally circular rim and an outwardly projecting annular bead on said rim, and a downwardly extending wall portion having an inner surface adapted for containing liquid, the lid comprising: 
 a central web;    an upstanding generally annular plateau surrounding said central web, said plateau having an outer wall extending downwardly so that an extremity of said wall is within said rim of said container when said lid is attached to said container;    a reinforcing web extending from said lowest extremity of said outer wall of said plateau to a radially inner wall of an annular sealing channel;    said sealing channel being adapted for engagement with said rim of said container;    said radially inner wall of said sealing channel having a downwardly extending wall portion adapted for engaging said inner surface of said container, and a curvilinear channel portion extending from said downwardly extending wall portion so as to engage said annular bead on said rim in a sealing relationship.    
   
   
       2 . A lid according to  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 an annular skirt portion extending downwardly from said channel portion outside of said bead on said rim.    
   
   
       3 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein; 
 said reinforcing web comprises an array of projections at a surface of said web for stiffening said web.    
   
   
       4 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said outer wall of said plateau has a lower extremity positioned to extend below said annular bead of the container and an upper extremity extending above said rim of the container when said lid is positioned on a container for use.    
   
   
       5 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said central web, said annular plateau and said reinforcing web form a substantially rigid annular rim along a lower edge of said sealing channel; and    said lower inside edge of said sealing channel is dimensioned to provide an interference plug fit with said inner surface of said wall portion of said container.    
   
   
       6 . A lid according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 said interference fit is associated with a diametric dimension of approximately the thickness of said wall of said container.    
   
   
       7 . A lid according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 said diametric dimension is of the order of 0.04 inches.    
   
   
       8 . A lid according to  claim 3  wherein: 
 said projections are disposed along adjacent radial lines.    
   
   
       9 . A lid according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 said projections are rib shaped.    
   
   
       10 . A lid according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 said projections are dimple shaped.    
   
   
       11 . A lid adapted for use in connection with a container for liquids comprising: 
 a generally annular sealing channel having inner and outer walls;    an annular skirt extending downwardly from said outer wall of said channel;    a reinforcing flange extending radially inwardly from said inner wall of said annular channel towards the center of said lid and having radially disposed reinforcing projections extending from a surface thereof;    an annular upstanding wall extending from a radially inner extremity of said flange to a generally annular plateau;    a central web extending radially inwardly from said plateau to form a substantially closed lid, wherein    said inner wall of said channel is dimensioned for a plug interference fit within the inner wall of a container with which it is intended for use.    
   
   
       12 . A lid according to  claim 11  for use in connection with a container having 
 an annular rim bead at the top edge thereof wherein:    an outer wall of said plateau has a lower extremity positioned to extend below said annular bead of the container and an upper extremity extending above said rim of the container when said lid is positioned on a container for use.    
   
   
       13 . A lid according to  claim 12  wherein: 
 said central web, said annular plateau and said reinforcing web form a substantially rigid annular rim along a lower edge of said sealing channel; and    said lower inside edge of said sealing channel is dimensioned to provide an interference plug fit with said inner surface of said wall portion of said container.    
   
   
       14 . A lid according to  claim 13  wherein: 
 said interference fit is associated with a diametric dimension of approximately the thickness of said wall of said container    
   
   
       15 . A lid according to  claim 14  wherein: 
 said diametric dimension is of the order of 0.04 inches.