Spill preventing container lid

Abstract

A spill-preventing lid for a container comprises a lid body having a top, a bottom, a peripheral flange and a drink opening through the body from the bottom to the top, and a spill-preventing baffle, the baffle comprising a wall extending downwardly from the bottom of the lid body, the baffle having a top and a bottom, the top of the baffle communicating with the drink opening, at least one opening in the bottom, and a passage leading from the at least one opening in the bottom to the top, allowing liquid to flow from the container into the baffle, though the passaged defined by the baffle and to the drink opening, the at least one opening in the bottom being substantially smaller in dimension than the dimension of the drink opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spill-preventing lid for a container comprising:
 a lid body having a top, a bottom and a peripheral flange;   a drink opening in said lid body; and   a spill-preventing baffle, said baffle comprising a wall extending downwardly from said bottom of said lid body, said baffle having a top and a bottom, said top of said baffle communicating with said drink opening, at least one opening in said bottom and/or said wall, and a passage leading from said at least one opening to said top, allowing liquid to flow from said container into said baffle, though said passaged defined by said baffle and to said drink opening, said at least one opening in said bottom being substantially smaller in dimension than the dimension of said drink opening.   
     
     
         2 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said drink opening is located in a raised portion of said lid body. 
     
     
         3 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said baffle tapers inwardly moving from said top to said bottom thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said baffle is formed integrally with said lid body. 
     
     
         5 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said bottom of said baffle is tilted. 
     
     
         6 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said wall has a front, a rear, a first side and a generally opposing second side. 
     
     
         7 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said rear of said wall extends downwardly farther than said front of said wall. 
     
     
         8 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         9 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral flange is configured to engage a rim of a cup. 
     
     
         10 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said passage has a cross-sectional shape which is generally the same as a cross-sectional shape of said drink opening. 
     
     
         11 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said bottom of said baffle does not extend downwardly below said flange. 
     
     
         12 . The spill-preventing lid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a can and said peripheral flange is configured to engage a wall of said can at a top of said can. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a spill-preventing lid for a container comprising:
 molding, as a unitary body, said lid comprising a lid body having a top, a bottom and a peripheral flange, a drink opening in said lid body and a spill-preventing baffle, said baffle comprising a wall extending downwardly from said bottom of said lid body, said baffle having a top and a bottom, said top of said baffle communicating with said drink opening and a passage leading from said bottom to said top; and   creating at least one opening in at least one of said bottom and said wall of said baffle, said at least one opening communicating with said passage, said at least one opening allowing liquid to flow from said container into said baffle, though said passaged defined by said baffle and to said drink opening, said at least one opening in said bottom being substantially smaller in dimension than the dimension of said drink opening.   
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said step of creating said at least one opening comprises piercing said bottom of said baffle. 
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said step of creating said at least one opening comprises directing a beam of a laser at said bottom of baffle. 
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said baffle tapers inwardly moving from said top to said bottom thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said wall has a front, a rear, a first side and a generally opposing second side. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said rear of said wall extends downwardly farther than said front of said wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said peripheral flange is configured to engage a rim of a cup. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said bottom of said baffle does not extend downwardly below said flange. 
     
     
         21 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said step of creating comprises orienting said lid body so that said bottom of said baffle faces upwardly and pressing a piercing member downwardly through said bottom of said baffle. 
     
     
         22 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said passage has a cross-sectional shape which is generally the same as a cross-sectional shape of said drink opening. 
     
     
         23 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising the step of connecting said lid to an upwardly extending wall of a can.