Sanitary Cup Lids

Abstract

A disposable cup lid including a cover portion for protecting a drinking surface of the lid from contamination and a base portion for covering a container.

1 . A lid for a container holding a liquid, the lid comprising:
 (a) a base portion comprising:
 (i) a circumferential rim having an aperture which allows a flow of liquid therethrough; 
 (ii) a side wall extending downwardly from the outer periphery of the circumferential rim; 
 (iii) an upper surface extending inwardly from the circumferential rim; and 
 (iv) a center post projecting upwardly from the upper surface, the center post having a side wall; and 
   (b) a movable cover portion positioned on an upper surface of the base portion, comprising:
 (i) a disk having a central opening sized to accommodate the center post of the base portion; 
 (ii) a sanitary overlay comprising a horizontally extending portion secured at a proximal end to the disk and a vertically extending portion connected to a distal end of the horizontally extending portion and extending downwardly therefrom; and 
 (iii) an outwardly extending surface connected to a distal end of the vertically extending portion of the overlay and extending outwardly therefrom, 
   
       wherein the moveable cover portion is rotatable around the center post of the base portion. 
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein at least a base portion of the side wall has a circular cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the base portion comprises a recess and upwardly extending walls around the periphery of the recess, and wherein the periphery of the disk engages the upwardly extending walls around the periphery of the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the outwardly extending surface comprises a serrated edge. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner side wall extending upwardly from the upper surface to the rim, the inner side wall comprising an indentation for receiving an outer edge of the disk. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein a base portion of the side wall of the center post includes an indentation for accommodating the periphery of the central opening. 
     
     
         7 . A lid for a container holding a liquid, the lid comprising:
 a horizontal upper surface;   an outer vertical wall extending downwardly from an outer periphery of the horizontal upper surface and having a first vertical side end and a second vertical side end;   a first vertical end wall connected to the first vertical side end of the outer vertical wall, the first vertical end wall having a distal edge adjacent the outer periphery of the lid, an upper edge, and a lower edge;   a second vertical end wall connected to the second vertical side end of the outer vertical wall, the second vertical end wall having a distal edge adjacent the outer periphery of the lid, an upper edge, and a lower edge;   a lower wall extending between the lower edge of the first vertical end wall and the lower edge of the second vertical end wall; and   an aperture positioned below the horizontal upper surface, between the first vertical end wall and the second vertical end wall, and central of the distal edge of at least one of the first and second vertical end walls,   wherein the first vertical end wall, second vertical end wall, and lower wall form a recess for protecting the aperture from contamination.   
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second vertical end walls each comprise a proximal edge, and wherein the aperture is positioned centrally with respect to the proximal edge of at least one of the first and second vertical end walls. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 7 , wherein the aperture is located in an aperture surface, the aperture surface being positioned vertically higher than the lower wall. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 7 , wherein the upper edge of each of the first and second vertical end walls is vertically higher than the horizontal upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 7 , further comprising a first sheet of material attached to the distal edge of the first vertical end wall and a second sheet of material attached to the second vertical end wall, wherein the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material form gates to protect the aperture from contamination. 
     
     
         12 . A lid for a container holding a liquid, the lid comprising:
 (a) a cover portion comprising:
 (i) a posterior portion; 
 (ii) an anterior moveable portion having a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, wherein the horizontally extending portion is secured at a proximal end to the posterior portion and at a distal end to the vertically extending portion; and 
 (iii) a hinge connecting the anterior moveable portion and the posterior portion; and 
   (b) a base portion comprising a horizontal surface and a vertical wall and having a lower surface for engaging an upper rim of the container, the base portion further comprising an aperture allowing a flow of liquid therethrough,   wherein the horizontally extending portion of the anterior moveable portion of the cover portion covers the aperture, and wherein the vertically extending portion extends to a lower vertical extent of the vertical wall of the base portion.   
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture is in the horizontal surface of the base portion, and wherein the cover portion further comprises a downwardly-disposed indentation sized to fit within the aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 12 , further comprising a projection at the distal end of the vertically extending portion. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the anterior moveable portion, hinge, and posterior portion are integrally formed.