Beverage Container Lids With Combined Display Area And Cooling/Insulating Structure

Abstract

Beverage container lid assemblies provide a combined premium display area and cooling/insulating structure for the beverage container.

1 . A lid assembly for a beverage container, the lid assembly comprising: 
 a lid member including a beverage dispensing aperture and an upper surface with a rim portion formed thereabout for securing the lid member to a beverage container, the lid member being formed with a plurality of spacer members extending upward from the upper surface, the spacer members providing a combined premium display area and cooling/insulating structure for the beverage container; and    a mechanism for securing a premium to the spacer members such that the premium is separated from the upper surface by a gap which allows airflow over the upper surface.    
   
   
       2 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer members include perimeter spacer members positioned about the upper surface adjacent the rim portion.  
   
   
       3 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer members include a centrally positioned riser member.  
   
   
       4 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 3 , wherein the centrally positioned riser member is formed with a recess for mechanical coupling to the securing mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer members comprise a plurality of ribbed spacer members.  
   
   
       6 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 5 , wherein the ribbed spacer members provide channels which allow airflow over the upper surface.  
   
   
       7 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the channels begins adjacent the beverage dispensing aperture and continues across the upper surface.  
   
   
       8 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface is at an angle relative to a plane containing a bottom edge of the rim portion.  
   
   
       9 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 8 , wherein a perimeter of the upper surface is complementary in shape to the premium.  
   
   
       10 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 8 , wherein an apex of the angle is located near the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       11 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 8 , wherein an apex of the angle is located near a portion of the lid member opposite from the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       12 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an arm member secured to the rim portion, the arm member including an end portion with a plug sized to be fitted within the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       13 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the premium has a centrally located hole, the securing mechanism comprises a snap fitting plug member, and the spacer members include a centrally positioned riser member sized to receive and mechanically engage the snap fitting plug member.  
   
   
       14 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the premium has a centrally located hole and the securing mechanism comprises a snap-on fitting member formed on the upper surface and sized to fit through the centrally located hole and snap together with the premium while maintaining the gap between the premium and the upper surface.  
   
   
       15 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a top part secured to the rim portion, the top part including an end portion with a plug sized to be fitted within the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a top part secured to the rim portion, the top part including a recessed portion sized to fit over and receive a disk-shaped premium.  
   
   
       17 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 16 , wherein the top part includes an end portion with a plug sized to be fitted within the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       18 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 16 , wherein the top part is formed with a protruding clasp member configured for mechanically coupling the premium to the top part.  
   
   
       19 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 16 , wherein the top part is formed with protrusions that are shaped complementary to the spacer members for interlocking with the spacer members.  
   
   
       20 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 16 , wherein the top part further comprises a hinged cover for securing the premium within the recessed portion.  
   
   
       21 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a top part secured to the rim portion, the top part including a recessed portion sized to fit over and receive a card-shaped premium.  
   
   
       22 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 21 , wherein the top part includes an end portion with a plug sized to be fitted within the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       23 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a top part secured to the lid member.  
   
   
       24 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 23 , wherein the top part is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       25 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 23 , wherein the top part and the lid member are formed in a complementary fashion such that the top part can be snap-fitted over the premium to the lid member.  
   
   
       26 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a top part formed in a complementary fashion with the lid member such that the top part mechanically engages with the lid member.  
   
   
       27 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 26 , wherein the top part is formed with downwardly extending protrusions.  
   
   
       28 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 26 , wherein the top part is formed with a downwardly extending plug portion sized to be fitted into the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       29 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 26 , wherein the top part is formed with a recessed portion sized to receive the premium therein.  
   
   
       30 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 29 , wherein the top part further includes a cover sized to fit over the premium and into the recessed portion.  
   
   
       31 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an adhesive substance applied to top portions of the spacer members.  
   
   
       32 . A lid assembly for a beverage container, the lid assembly comprising: 
 a lid member including a beverage dispensing aperture and an upper surface with a rim portion formed thereabout for securing the lid member to a beverage container;    a fibrous spacer member sized to fit over the upper surface, the fibrous spacer member providing a combined premium display area and cooling/insulating structure for the beverage container; and    a mechanism for securing a premium to the fibrous spacer member such that the premium is separated from the upper surface by the fibrous spacer member which allows airflow over the upper surface.    
   
   
       33 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 32 , wherein the premium has a centrally located hole and the securing mechanism comprises a snap fitting plug member sized to fit through the centrally located hole and mechanically engage the lid member.  
   
   
       34 . A lid assembly for a beverage container, the lid assembly comprising: 
 a lid member including a beverage dispensing aperture and an upper surface with a rim portion formed thereabout for securing the lid member to a beverage container:    a corrugated spacer member sized to fit over the upper surface, the corrugated spacer member providing a combined premium display area and cooling/insulating structure for the beverage container: and    a mechanism for securing a premium to the corrugated spacer member such that the corrugated spacer member separates the premium from the upper surface and allows airflow over the upper surface.    
   
   
       35 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 34 , wherein the corrugated spacer member comprises a sheet of corrugated cardboard cut to fit over the upper surface.  
   
   
       36 . A lid assembly for a beverage container, the lid assembly comprising: 
 a lid member including a beverage dispensing aperture and an upper surface with a rim portion formed thereabout for securing the lid member to a beverage container;    a spacer member with downwardly extending protrusions configured for mechanically intermitting the spacer member to the lid member while maintaining a gap between the spacer member and the upper surface; and    a mechanism for securing a premium to the spacer member.    
   
   
       37 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 36 , wherein a perimeter portion of the lid member is formed with indentations complementary to one or more of the downwardly extending protrusions.  
   
   
       38 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 36 , wherein the downwardly extending protrusions includes a plug member sized to fit within the beverage dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       39 . The lid assembly for a beverage container of  claim 36 , wherein the premium securing mechanism comprises an upwardly extending post member.  
   
   
       40 . A lid assembly for a beverage container, the lid assembly comprising: 
 a lid member including a beverage dispensing aperture and an upper surface with a rim portion formed thereabout for securing the lid member to a beverage container; and    a corrugated spacer member with at least one downwardly extending protrusion configured for mechanically interfitting the spacer member to the lid member, the corrugated spacer member providing a display area to which a premium can be secured and a cooling/insulating structure for the beverage container.    
   
   
       41 . A premium holder apparatus for a beverage container lid, the premium holder apparatus comprising: 
 a platform formed with a plurality of downwardly protruding spacer members and a centrally disposed downwardly protruding plug-in member sized for fitting into a straw hole of a beverage container lid and for securing the platform to the beverage container lid such that a gap is maintained between the platform and an upper surface of the beverage container lid; and    a mechanism for securing a premium to the platform.    
   
   
       42 . The premium holder apparatus for a beverage container lid of  claim 41 , wherein the premium has a centrally located hole and the securing mechanism comprises a snap-on fitting member upwardly protruding from the platform and sized to fit through the centrally located hole and snap together with the premium.  
   
   
       43 . The premium holder apparatus for a beverage container lid of  claim 42 , wherein the platform, the plug-in member and the snap-on fitting member are formed with a channel extending therethrough.  
   
   
       44 . A premium holder apparatus for a beverage container lid, the premium holder apparatus comprising: 
 a plug-in member sized for fitting into a straw hole of a beverage container lid; and    a mechanism for securing a premium to the plug-in member.    
   
   
       45 . The premium holder apparatus for a beverage container lid of  claim 44 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a flexible member that attaches the premium to the plug-in member.  
   
   
       46 . The premium holder apparatus for a beverage container lid of  claim 44 , wherein the plug-in member is formed with a channel for a straw extending therethrough.