Container lid assembly, system and method

Abstract

A lid for a container having a bead around an opening is provided. The lid has a cap including an aperture and an annular base depending from the cap, the base having a first annular recess sized to engage the bead of the container to provide a first fastening engagement with the container and a second annular recess adjacent to the first annular recess, the second annular recess sized to engage a second bead located adjacent to the first bead, and provide a second fastening engagement. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid for a container having a bead around an opening, comprising:
 a cap including an aperture;   an annular base depending from the cap, the base having a first annular recess sized to engage the bead of the container to provide a first fastening engagement with the container; and   a second annular recess adjacent to the first annular recess, the second annular recess sized to engage a second bead located adjacent to the first bead, and provide a second fastening engagement.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , where the second bead is located on the container, or is located on an element that is positioned about the container. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , where the lid further comprises an annular cup wall that abuts a container sidewall when the lid is positioned on the container. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , where the container bead is selected from a group consisting of: a bead having a substantially circular cross-section, a projection, a flange, and a locking surface. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , where the aperture is selected from a group consisting of: an opening, a opening covered with a moveable flap, an opening covered with a removable element, a spout, an opening sized to receive a straw, and an opening sized to receive a users lips. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , where the first and second fastening engagement is selected from a group consisting of: a non-threading engagement and a snapping engagement. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , where a diameter of the second annular recess is larger than a diameter of the first annular recess. 
     
     
         8 . A method for fastening a lid to a container having a bead around an opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an annular base depending from the cap, the base having a first annular recess sized to engage the bead of the container to provide a first fastening engagement with the container;   providing a second annular recess adjacent to the first annular recess, the second annular recess sized to engage a second bead located adjacent to the first bead, and provide a second fastening engagement; and   engaging the first and second beads by placing the lid over the container.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , where the second bead is located on the container, or is located on an element that is positioned about the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , where the lid further comprises an annular cup wall that abuts a container sidewall when the lid is positioned on the container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , where the container bead is selected from a group consisting of: a bead having a substantially circular cross-section, a projection, a flange, and a locking surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , where the aperture is selected from a group consisting of: an opening, a opening covered with a moveable flap, an opening covered with a removable element, a spout, an opening sized to receive a straw, and an opening sized to receive a users lips. 
     
     
         13 . A lid for a container having a bead around an opening, comprising:
 a cap including an aperture located thereon;   an annular extension depending from the cap, the base having a first annular recess sized to engage the bead of the container to provide a first fastening engagement with the container;   a second annular recess adjacent to the first annular recess, the second annular recess sized to engage a second bead located adjacent to the first bead, and provide a second fastening engagement; and   an annular cup supporting element located adjacent to the first annular recess, the annular cup supporting element sized to abut a container sidewall.   
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , where the second bead is located on the container, or is located on an element that is positioned about the container. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 13 , where the container bead is selected from a group consisting of: a bead having a substantially circular cross-section, a projection, a flange, and a locking surface. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 13 , where the aperture is selected from a group consisting of: an opening, a opening covered with a moveable flap, an opening covered with a removable element, a spout, an opening sized to receive a straw, and an opening sized to receive a users lips. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 13 , where the first and second fastening engagement is selected from a group consisting of: a non-threading engagement and a snapping engagement. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 13 , where a diameter of the second annular recess is larger than a diameter of the first annular recess.