Container lid with detachable chamber or compartment

Abstract

A lid for a container is adapted in its lower region for releasable attachment to the upper rim of the container. The lid has a detachable chamber or compartment which is located below the top surface of lid and depends downwardly therefrom, so that the detachable chamber or compartment is releasably secured to the lid in a position which is inaccessible when the lid is releasably connected to a container. Thus, any contents within the detachable chamber or compartment are only accessible when the lid has been detached from the container, and the detachable chamber or compartment has been removed from its securement to the lid.

1 . A lid for use in association with a container, wherein the lid is adapted in its lower region for releasable attachment to the upper rim of the container; and
 wherein the lid has a detachable compartment which is located below the top surface of said lid and depends downwardly therefrom, and wherein the detachable compartment is releasably secured to the lid in a position which is inaccessible when the lid is releasably connected to a container;   whereby any contents within the compartment are only accessible when the lid has been detached from the container and the compartment has been removed from its securement to the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable attachment of the lid to a cup is by way of a waist portion formed in a skirt in the lower region of the lid, and being adapted to receive the upper rim of a matching container therein for releasable attachment thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein the lid is a dome lid which is constructed so as to extend above its skirt, and the releasable securement of the compartment to the lid is located in the upper interior region of the lid, above the skirt. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom surface of the compartment is located at a position which may be above the skirt, in the same general region as the skirt, or below the skirt. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the releasable securement of the compartment to the lid in the upper interior region thereof is by way of an outwardly extending upper rim formed around the outer periphery of the compartment at the top thereof, and being received into a recess formed in the lid in the upper region thereof which is dimensioned so as to secure the upper rim of the compartment therein until either the compartment or the lid is momentarily deformed. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lower region of the lid has a conformation in plan view chosen from the group consisting of circular and rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 2 , in combination with a container, wherein a tape or ribbon is secured such as by adhesive or shrink fitting to the skirt of the lid and to the upper external periphery of the container adjacent the lid, so as to provide a tamper evident seal.