Cup lid

Abstract

A lid may be attached to the lip of a cup having a lip and restrict out-flow of liquid from the cup. The lid may provide a top surface, an annular wall extending down from the top surface, and an annular groove below the annular wall. The top surface may include a rim portion around a central depression, defining a drink hole and, within the lid, an edge channel communicating with the drink hole. The lid may include an arcuate barrier under the edge channel, formed either separately or integrally with the other structure of the lid, providing two inlets to a closed conduit portion of the edge channel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A lid for a cup having a lip and containing a liquid, the lid comprising:
 a. an annular groove for attaching the lid to the lip of the cup;   b. An annular wall extending above the annular groove;   c. a substantially circular top surface above the annular wall, wherein the wall and top surface define an inner space within the lid, and wherein the wall and the top surface are configured to retain the liquid in the cup and to allow drinking of the liquid, the top surface further including:
 i. a substantially cylindrical depression; 
 ii. an annular rim portion substantially surrounding the depression, the rim portion including a hole for the drinking of the liquid, wherein the wall, rim portion, and the depression define, within the inner space of the lid, an edge channel extending annularly around at least a portion of the lid, and wherein the edge channel is in communication with the drinking hole; and 
   d. an arcuate barrier under the edge channel, the arcuate barrier defining two ends, the arcuate barrier subtending between the two ends an angle of at least about 90°, the arcuate barrier and the edge channel defining, at the barrier ends, two inlets to the edge channel, and further wherein the arcuate barrier and the edge channel define a closed conduit for the liquid exiting the cup from the inlets to the drinking hole.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1  further wherein the top surface and the arcuate barrier include a tab and a slot configured to be press fit together for retention of the barrier under the edge channel. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 2  wherein the slot is formed in an inner face of the top surface and the tab is formed on the arcuate barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 2  wherein the tab is formed on an inner face of the top surface and the slot is formed in the arcuate barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the arcuate barrier subtends an angle between the ends of at least about 100°. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the arcuate barrier includes an arcuate outer face bonded to the annular wall of the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein the arcuate outer face is bonded to the annular wall of the lid adjacent the annular groove. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the depression defines an inner face and the arcuate barrier includes a portion attached to the inner face of the depression. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the lid is a molded plastic structure. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 9  wherein the arcuate barrier is molded into the lid in a single step process. 
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a drinking lid for a cup having a lip and containing a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. forming a substantially circular top surface, an annular wall extending down from the top surface, and an annular groove below the annular wall, the groove configured for attaching the lid to the lip of the cup, the top surface and wall defining an inner space of the lid;   b. forming, in the top surface, a substantially cylindrical depression and an annular rim portion substantially surrounding the depression;   c. forming a hole through the rim portion, the hole configured for the drinking of the liquid, wherein the wall, rim portion, and the depression define, within the inner space of the lid, an edge channel extending annularly around at least a portion of the lid, and wherein the edge channel is in communication with the drinking hole; and   d. forming an arcuate barrier under the edge channel, the arcuate barrier defining two ends, the arcuate barrier and the edge channel defining, at the barrier ends, two inlets to a closed conduit portion of the edge channel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further wherein the step of forming the arcuate barrier forms the barrier to subtend, between the two barrier ends, an angle of at least about 90°. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of forming the arcuate barrier includes a step of separately forming the barrier followed by a step of installing the barrier in the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the steps of forming the top surface, wall, and groove, and of forming the arcuate barrier are a single molding process. 
     
     
         15 . A lid for a cup having a lip and containing a liquid, the lid comprising:
 a molded plastic material, the material formed to define:   a substantially circular top surface including a depression, an annular rim portion substantially surrounding the depression, and a drinking hole;   an annular wall extending down from the top surface, wherein the top surface and wall define an inner space of the lid, and wherein the wall, rim portion, and the depression define, within the inner space of the lid, an edge channel extending annularly around at least a portion of the lid, and wherein the edge channel is in communication with the drinking hole;   an annular groove below the annular wall, the groove configured for attaching the lid to the lip of the cup; and   an arcuate barrier under the edge channel, the arcuate barrier defining two ends, the arcuate barrier and the edge channel defining, at the barrier ends, two inlets to a closed conduit portion of the edge channel.   
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 15  wherein the depression in the top surface of the lid extends, in a portion adjacent the drinking hole, to the wall of the lid, the depression forming the arcuate barrier. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 15  wherein the arcuate barrier is formed separately from the top surface and is installed in the inner space of the lid. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17  wherein the top surface and the arcuate barrier each include one of a tab and a slot, the tab and slot configured to be press fit together for retention of the barrier under the edge channel. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 15  wherein the arcuate barrier subtends between the two ends an angle of at least about 90°. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the arcuate barrier subtends an angle between the ends of at least about 100°.