Recloseable drink cup lid

Abstract

A two-ply drink-through lid for a disposable drink cup comprising outer and inner nestable shells of thin plastic material held together by means of an edge configuration which also holds the lid to the rim on the cup. The shells have apertures formed therein which can be aligned or de-aligned by rotating the outer shell over the inner shell while the lid is on a cup. Rotation stops are provided by an arcuate recess in the inner shell and a detent in the outer shell which fits into the recess. Two-position and three-position lids are described.

1 . A two-ply recloseable lid for a drink cup having a rim, said lid comprising: 
 an inner shell of thin plastic material with an edge contour adapted to grippingly contact the rim of a cup;    an outer shell of thin plastic material having an edge contour in overlying and gripping contact with the edge contour of the inner shell;    each of said shells having an annular crown portion inset from but integral with the respective edge contour, said crowns being configured to nest whereby the crown of the outer shell overlies the crown of the inner shell;    each said crown portion having a top surface with a drink-through opening formed therein;    said shells being positionable though relative rotation to align said openings for access to the contents of the cup and to de-align said opening to close the lid;    said inner shell having formed in the crown portion opposite said opening an arcuate recess having end walls which serve as stops;    the crown portion of said outer shell having formed therein directly opposite said opening a detent which extends into and rides within the arcuate recess of the inner shell and coacts with said end walls to limit relative angular rotation of the outer and inner shells;    whereby the lid may be placed on a rim of a cup and opened by aligning said openings and closed by rotating the outer shell relative to the inner to de-align said openings.    
   
   
       2 . The recloseable lid defined in  claim 1  further including a downwardly extending male plug formed on the underside of the top surface of the crown portion of the outer shell in spaced relationship to said opening, said male plug being of such size and shape as to fit within and close the opening in the inner shell when the openings are de-aligned.  
   
   
       3 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 2  further including a shallow arcuate recess formed in the top surface of the crown portion of the inner shell to provide clearance for said male plug.  
   
   
       4 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the crown portions each have annular top surfaces and inner and outer side surfaces joined by said top surfaces.  
   
   
       5 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 4  wherein a gripping pattern is formed on the outer side surface of the crown portion of the outer shell.  
   
   
       6 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein the gripping pattern is formed as a series as downwardly directed darts.  
   
   
       7 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom shells are thermoformed.  
   
   
       8 . A recloseable lid for a drink cup having a rim, said lid comprising: 
 internesting thin plastic outer and inner shells in overlying relationship to one another, each of said shells having an edge configuration adapted to be placed in overlying and gripping relationship with the rim of the cup;    said shells having internesting annular crown portions with apertures formed therein, said apertures being registrable to provide a continuous drink-though opening for said lid; and    means for providing mechanically stopped angular rotation of said shells relative to one another;    whereby said shells may be rotated to a first position in which the openings are in registry to provide a drink-through feature and thereafter rotated to a second position wherein said openings are not in registry.    
   
   
       9 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 8  further including a downwardly extending male plug formed in the crown portion of the uppermost shell of such size and shape as to extend into and plug the apertures of the inner shell when rotated into registry therewith.  
   
   
       10 . A recloseable lid as defined in  claim 8  further including a recess channel formed in the inner shell symmetrically opposite the opening in the detent formed in the outer shell so as to extend into the arcuate recess of the lower shell, said detent and the side surfaces of the lower shell providing mechanical stops to limit rotation of the outer shell relative to the inner shell.