Lid

Abstract

Lids for cups. In preferred embodiments, lids which are installable on cups which provide hybrid functionalities. In still more preferred embodiments, hybrid drinking cup lids for installation on a cup which are structurally configured to include a drink through portion and a straw receiving portion; the drink through portion and the straw receiving portion being alternately useable for optionally drinking without a straw or for optionally drinking with a straw. In the most preferred embodiments the straw receiving portion is configured and located to reduce mechanical wear on inserted straws, such as paper straws, during use.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lid comprising:
 an annular lower cup lid engaging portion comprising a circumferential skirt including a first portion comprising an angled annular wall angled at a selected angle to engage with a lip of a cup and to guide said lid to a position substantially centered on a cup to which said lid will be installed and a second portion angled in a second direction at a second angle, the intersection of the first portion and the second portion being plastically deformable such that the intersection of angles deforms when pressed against a cup lip and snaps over said cup lip to retain said lid on said cup lip to accomplish fixation of said lid to the cup;   a cup lip retaining portion extending around the circumference of said lid;   an upwardly extending raised annular lid portion, located inboard of said cup lip retaining portion, having a first portion having a first height and having a second portion having a second height which is raised relative to said first height of said first portion; said second portion configured to receive a lower lip of a user, the second portion having a substantially smooth surface to obtain a liquid tight seal between a lower lip of a user and the second portion;   a planar top portion located inboard of said upwardly extending raised annular lid portion;   a tab having two non-parallel sides, said configuration of said two non-parallel sides of said tab resulting in said tab having a wide end and a narrow end, and said tab having a third side located proximal said second raised annular lid portion, said two non-parallel sides and said third side of said tab each being disconnectably affixed to said planar top portion such that said third end and said two non-parallel sides may be disconnected from said planar top portion such that said tab can be bent in a direction away from said second raised annular lid portion to expose a tab drink opening; said tab further including a male protrusion; said planar top portion having a female receptacle portion; said tab being securable in an open position by press fitting said male protrusion into said female receptacle portion;   a cross-cut portion in line with and located generally opposite of said tab on said planar top portion, said cross-cut portion being comprised of a first linear cut which goes partially but not entirely through said planar top portion in at least one region of said linear cut; a second linear cut which transects the first linear cut at an intersection point and which is oriented approximately perpendicular thereto; the intersection point of said cross-cut portion being located substantially spaced from a centerline of said lid and also located at a selected distance D inboard of said cup lip retaining portion; said cross-cut portion being puncturable by a straw to form a straw receptacle for use to drink liquid using a straw and, in the alternative, puncturable to serve as a vent hole to allow air to escape during drinking through said tab drink opening to improve drinking flow; and   said selected distance D being so selected such that when a straw is installed in said cross-cut portion of said lid, and when said lid is installed on a cup, said cross-cut portion of said lid locates a lower end of said straw proximal a side wall of said cup thereby restricting movement of said straw, in at least one direction, when inserted in said cross-cut portion of said lid, thereby reducing mechanical wear on said straw.   
     
     
         2 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein said intersection point of said cross-cut portion is located outboard of a midpoint between said centerline of said lid and said cup lip retaining portion. 
     
     
         3 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein said distance D is a value less than 50 percent of the distance from said cup lip retaining portion to said centerline of said lid. 
     
     
         4 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein said distance D is a value approximately 45 percent, or less, than the distance from said cup lip retaining portion to said centerline of said lid. 
     
     
         5 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein said distance D is a value approximately 40 percent, or less, than the distance from said cup lip retaining portion to said centerline of said lid. 
     
     
         6 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein said distance D is a value approximately ⅓rd, or less, than the distance from said cup lip retaining portion to said centerline of said lid. 
     
     
         7 . A lid according to  claim 1  wherein said distance D is a value selected from between approximately 6-25 millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . A lid according to  claim 1 , combined with a beverage cup and paper straw, wherein said lid is installed on said cup, and wherein said paper straw is inserted in said straw receptacle formed by puncturing said cross-cut portion of said lid. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using the lid, paper straw, and beverage cup combination according to  claim 8 , wherein when said paper straw is used by a human user to drink a beverage carried by said beverage cup, dynamic mechanical wear on said paper straw is reduced, improving longevity of said paper straw.