The present invention is directed to a lid for closing a drinking cup, in particular a tamper-evident lid that contains a straw and is suited for mouth drinking. From the state of the art standard plastic or cardboard lids for drinking cups are known, which comprise a precut cross insertion for inserting a drinking straw through the lid into the drinking cup, or an accessible area for the straw protected from the contact with the finished product through a protective peelable or perforable membrane.
Typically, the drinking straw is provided as a separate piece of pack. However, often the separate drinking straw is not even packaged, because it is directly given together with the product at a point of sale, as observed for the serving of drinks at bars, pubs, cafeterias and other out of home occasions. In any case, the drinking straw needs to be inserted into the cross insertion or into the accessible area for the straw by the consumer.
Therefore, the solution of the standard plastic lid is not hygienically safe, and moreover also the solution for the straw is not hygienic when the straw is not individually flowpacked or wrapped. Additionally the standard solution requires that the straw is directly given to the consumer by an operator or is picked up by the consumer, with the risk that the point of sale runs out of stock for straws or needs to continuously refill its stock. Moreover, in order to drink the product from the drinking cup directly by mouth, the standard plastic lid needs to be removed from the cup.
The state of the art also describes a drinking straw that is inserted through and at the same time attached to a plastic lid. The drinking straw itself can be closeable by some kind of plug, in order to avoid spilling while transporting a drinking cup provided with the plastic lid. For drinking from the cup the drinking straw can be unplugged. Such plastic lids having attached drinking straws, however, are not stackable and have problems with hygiene as well.
A tetra pack or a similar type of composite packaging material containing a drinkable product is further known from the state of the art. Often a drinking straw is glued to the side of the tetra pack. The tetra pack has the disadvantage that it is not designed for putting it directly to the mouth for drinking or that the accessible area for drinking, if present, does not allow an easy drinking experience. Additionally, the drinking straw attached to the side of the tetra pack can potentially be damaged, contaminated or lost, for example during production or transportation
In view of the above, the present invention seeks to improve the known state of the art. In particular, the present invention intends to provide a convenient all in one solution for a drinking straw and a lid, in order to avoid that separate packaging elements have to be coupled by the consumer or have to be provided by an operator at a point of sale, at which the drinkable product is sold or served. Further, the present invention desires to overcome the hygiene problems related to drinking straws or direct drinking areas. Another object of the present invention is to allow the consumption of the drinking product without pouring or spilling of the product.
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by means of the attached independent claim. The attached dependent claims develop further advantages of the present invention.
The present invention is directed to a lid for closing a drinking cup comprising a base portion for attaching the lid to the drinking cup, wherein the base portion comprises or is provided with a circumferential side wall, and with a transversal wall for separating the base portion into a first part and a second part, a first cover attached at least to the circumferential side wall for forming a first cavity between the first part of the base portion and the first cover and a second cavity between the second part of the base portion and the first cover, wherein the first cavity contains a drinking straw and the second cavity contains an opening for mouth drinking.
The lid according to the present invention is convenient to use, since all elements that are necessary for the consumer to drink/consume the product from the drinking cup are contained inside the lid, and are protected from any contact with the outside. The drinking product can furthermore be sold without an operator, like for example in an automatic vending machine. In case the lid is applied by an operator onto a drinking cup at a sales point, a quicker and hygienically safer service is possible, since all necessary elements are already contained inside the lid.
Moreover, the lid secures the drinking straw. The straw cannot fall off and go missing, cannot be damaged during transport, and cannot be easily contaminated, since it is securely stored within the lid.
Moreover, the invention removes the necessity of the straw being individually flowpacked or wrapped into a protective packaging material, when served together with the product. This results in a material and cost saving for the producer, and in a more environmental solution, because it is known that the packaging of straws is normally thrown away by consumer.
The invention is also environmentally friendly, since once the lid has been used by the consumer, the drinking straw can be put back inside the lid, and the whole lid could then be recycled, e.g. in a plastic bin.
Preferably, an area ratio of the first part to the second part of the base portion is larger than 1:1, and is preferably 2:1.
The area ratio according to the invention provides on the one hand side the necessary space for including the drinking straw inside the lid, while allowing on the other hand side a convenient drinking from the cup through the mouth drinking opening.
Preferably, the first cover is an adhesive membrane, preferably made of aluminum or another material that is suited to be peeled off. An adhesive membrane can be attached and re-attached easily to the circumferential side wall. Preferably, the first cover is designed such that a consumer can see and identify, whether it has been removed at least once.
Preferably, the first cover is removable and re-attachable. Thus, the lid is re-closable. This permits multiple consecutive consumptions of drinkable products from the cup, which is particularly beneficial when the drinking product is served at a sales point, but is to be consumed on the go or during transportation. Spilling or pouring of the content inside the drinking cup can be largely avoided. Further, in case of hot served drinks (like coffees, chocolate and cocoa based products, teas and hot infusions or hot milk based products) the risk of skin injuries, due to the spilling and/or pouring of the hot liquids, is reduced.
Preferably, the first cover is printable. Thereby, the first cover can be provided with labels of all kind
Preferably, the first cover is precut into two sections so that a first section forms the first cavity and a second section forms the second cavity, and both sections are attached to the transversal wall.
In this manner the consumer can choose, whether to consume the product in the cup by opening the first cavity and using the drinking straw, or by opening the second cavity and direct mouth drinking.
Preferably, each section of the first cover is provided with a protruding element for removing the respective sections of the first cover from the circumferential side wall.
The protruding elements can be conveniently gripped and pulled by the consumer, and thus allow an easy removal of at least one section of the first cover from the side wall.
Preferably, the lid is secured to the drinking cup by a tamper-evident closure.
The consumer can thus be sure that the drinking cup has not been opened, i.e. the lid has not been removed, and thereby possibly contaminated. The lid should further be secured to the drinking cup in an aseptic and anticounterfeiting manner that prevents contamination of the inside of the drinking cup.
Preferably, the drinking straw is a folded drinking straw, and is preferably made of plastic.
Such a drinking straw is compact and fits conveniently into the first cavity. Further, a plastic straw is durable and can be recycled. The drinking straw has preferably some pre-curved and/or bendable parts, at which it can be easily folded and adapted inside the cavity that is created in the lid. When the product is used by the consumer, the drinking straw can be easily straightened to facilitate the drinking.
Preferably, in the first part the base portion has a straw opening for fittingly inserting the drinking straw.
The straw opening makes it easier for the user to handle the drinking straw, i.e. to insert the straw into the cup. By designing the diameter of the opening fittingly to the outside diameter of the straw can be avoided that the product spills past the inserted straw.
Preferably, the straw opening is sealed with a second cover, preferably an aluminum membrane or another material membrane, and the drinking straw has a first end that is shaped for perforating the second cover.
Additionally the diameter of the straw and of the straw opening could be adapted in size, for example depending on the density and stratigraphy of the product contained in the cup, in a way that always permits easy mouth sucking. The same adaption could be provided to the mouth drinking part.
Thus, the drinking straw and the mouth drinking part are held between two membranes, which allows for a very hygienic storage of the straw and of the mouth drinking part. No contamination from the outside can reach the straw or the mouth drinking part as long as the membranes are closed. Further, the straw opening with the second cover allows the easy insertion of the straw into the cup in a way that the product contained inside the cup does not pour or capsize. This is particularly beneficial for hot products contained in the cup, which could be potentially dangerous if in contact with the skin of the consumer.
Additionally, the first membrane could selectively give the consumer access to the first cavity, in which is contained the folded straw, or the second cavity, in which is placed the mouth drinking part. The membrane can also give access to both parts, thereby providing the consumer with a wider range of consumption possibilities. It is known that some drinkable products could have solid parts or inclusions or could be stratified in a way that consumption only through the straw could be difficult. This is due to the fact that solid parts could block the inside of the straw or that the products could be stratified in a way that a denser layer becomes difficult to suck with the straw. The invention gives a solution to this problem with the two different accessible cavities.
Preferably, the drinking straw is positioned with its first end just above the second cover. The first end is already aligned for perforating and positioned close to the second cover. The first end can even touch the first cover, however, without perforating it yet. Thus, the consumer can insert the drinking straw easily and quickly into the drinking cup.
Preferably, the second cavity contains a structure for mouth drinking that includes the mouth drinking opening.
The mouth drinking structure is shaped in a way to allow a convenient drinking without the danger of spilling the product. Preferably the mouth drinking structure has a curved top surface to match the mouth curvature of the consumer.
Preferably, the mouth drinking opening is sealed with a third cover, preferably an aluminum membrane or another material membrane, which can be peeled off.
Putting the mouth directly in contact with a drinking structure that is again in contact with the outside could be a source of microbial contamination and dust. With the present solution the mouth drinking area is located between and closed off by two membranes, which provides a very hygienic solution.
The present invention is further directed to a drinking device comprising a cup, preferably a plastic cup, a cardboard cup, an aluminum or steel can, or another material cup, for holding a drinkable liquid or semi-liquid product, a lid according to the above description, which is attached to and closes the cup.
The drinking cup has all the advantages that have been described above for the lid. Further, the drinking cup is preferably well stackable at a product production factory. The lid can thus be used by high speed production machines, thereby making the cup well suited for handling and allowing for a faster and a less expensive production compared to non stackable cups.
In the following the present invention will be explained in more detail by reference to the attached drawings.
In
The base portion 2 has a circumferential side wall 3, which is arranged at least on its upper surface (i.e. an outer surface in respect to a drinking cup, to which the lid 1 is attached with its lower surface) of the base portion 2 along the outer edge thereof. The circumferential side wall 3 is preferably constructed integral with the base portion 2, but can also be provided and attached to the base portion 2 as separate part. Preferably, the base portion 2 and the circumferential side wall 3 are made of the same material, more preferably plastic. The circumferential side wall 3 can also protrude from both the upper and lower surface of the base portion 2. The part protruding from the lower surface can be used to attach the lid 1 to the rim of a drinking cup.
The base portion 2 has on the upper surface further a transversal wall 4 for separating the base portion 2 into a first part 2a and a second part 2b. The transversal wall 4 runs preferably in a straight line across the upper surface of the base portion 2, but can also exhibit one or more curvatures. The transversal wall 4 preferably connects with both of its ends to the circumferential side wall 3. The transversal wall 4 is preferably constructed integral with the base portion 2 and/or the circumferential side wall 3, but can also be a separately provided and attached part. The transversal wall 4 is preferably made of the same material as the circumferential side wall 4 and/or base portion 2, more preferably plastic. The transversal wall 4 can be aligned with a diameter of the circular base portion 2, i.e. can pass through a center point of the base portion 2, in order to separate the base portion 2 into two parts 2a, 2b of equal surface area. Preferably, however, the ratio of the surface area of the first part 2a to the surface area of the second part 2b on the base portion 2 is larger than 1:1, more preferably between 1:1 and 4:1, most preferably about 2:1.
As shown in
The first cover 5 is preferably an adhesive membrane that is removable and re-attachable to the circumferential side wall 4. The adhesive membrane is preferably flexible, and can be made from a thin metal sheet like aluminum, but can also be made of synthetic elastomers, resins or thermoplasts or composite materials. Preferably, the first cover 5 is water impermeable and/or air impermeable.
Further, the first cover 5 is preferably printable, so that labels can be printed at least onto its outer surface. Preferably, the first cover 5 is designed such that it is a tamper-evident closure. That means that a consumer can see, whether the first cover 5 has been removed at least once from the lid 1 or not, even if it has been reclosed. For example, a piece of the first cover 5 might tear off and remain attached to the lid 1 when the first cover 5 is removed for the first time. Other techniques to make the lid 1 a tamper-evident closure can also be used.
In the first cavity 6a is included a drinking straw 7, preferably a folded plastic or other suitable material straw. The second cavity 6b contains at least an opening 8 that can be used for mouth drinking. To this end the opening 8 preferably has a diameter between 0.5 and 5 cm, more preferably between 1 and 3 cm. Further, the opening is preferably included in a mouth drinking structure 12 that protrudes from the base portion 2 and is designed to fit a consumer's mouth. In particular an upper surface of the mouth drinking structure 12 protruding from the base portion 2 is shaped, preferably curved, to fit the mouth of a consumer. Thus, drinking without spilling is promoted.
The folded plastic or other suitable material straw 7 is preferably pre-curved in at least one, preferably some parts. Once the straw 7 is unfolded it can be inserted through the lid 1 into the drinking cup. Therefore, preferably one side of the drinking straw 7 is provided with a first end 7a that is shaped so as to perforate the base portion 2, e.g. with a sharp and/or tapered edge. Preferably, a straw opening 10 is included on the first part 2a of the base portion 2, as shown e.g. in
The opening 8 for mouth drinking is preferably sealed with a third cover 13 as shown in
Preferably, a first end 7a of the straw is designed for perforating the second cover 11, and is pre-located in a specific position within the lid 1. Preferably, the first end 7a is tapered or sharpened. Preferably, the first end 7a is positioned directly above and close to the straw opening 10 so that it is very easy for the consumer to push the straw 7 into the straw opening 10. The consumer is further prevented of putting the tapered or sharpened first end 7a to or into his mouth.
The mouth drinking structure 12 includes the opening 8 for mouth drinking. The opening 8 is preferably larger than the opening 10 for inserting the straw 7. Its dimensions and shape are preferably designed for different product viscosity, density or presence of inclusions. The mouth drinking structure 12 can also include a further opening that allows air to enter the drinking cup, while the consumer drinks from the opening 8. Thereby, drinking is made more convenient. The further opening can initially be closed by the third cover 13 or by an extra cover. Alternatively, the straw opening could be perforated while mouth drinking, to have the same effect.
Preferably, the first cover 5 is precut into two sections. The first section is attached to the transversal wall 4 and the circumferential side wall 3, and forms the first cavity 6a in combination with the first part of 2a of the base portion 2. The second section of the first cover 5 preferably forms the second cavity 6b with the second part 2b of the base portion 2, and is attached to the circumferential side wall 3 and the transversal wall 4. The first section can be peeled off by gripping the first protruding element 9a. The second section can be peeled off by gripping and pulling the second protruding element 9b. Due to the separation into two sections, the consumer can choose which cavity to open. The user can thus choose whether to use the straw 7, in order to drink the product from the drinking cup, or to drink the product up by mouth.
The present invention can be used with products intended to be directly consumed by a consumer, or served by an operator to consumers. This includes products sold in a semi-frozen state (like ice creams, frozen desserts, yoghurt and yoghurt based products, frozen yoghurts, slushes, smoothies, sorbets, frappes, granitas, ice-containing products, products formulated with the addition of some amount of ice, or food preps), products sold chilled or at ambient temperature (like waters, flavoured waters, water based products, milk and milk based products, soft drinks, sodas, smoothies, fruit juices, vegetable juices and drinks, cocktails, beers, wines, alcohol based products, vegetable based drinks, coffees and coffee based products, teas, infusions from herbs, fruits, flowers, roots or leaves, yoghurt and yoghurt based products, energetic drinks, sport drinks, mate, chocolate and cocoa based products, sugared drinks, soups, or food preps).
The invention also includes products sold in hot conditions (like coffees and coffee based products, teas, infusions from herbs, fruits, flowers, roots or leaves, chocolate and cocoa based products, mate, soups, or food preps). The above lists are not exhaustive of all the existing varieties of drinkable products, which exist or could be marketed in the future, and could become relevant for the field of the invention.
The main element of the present invention is that one part of the lid 1 includes a drinking straw 7, whereas the other part includes an opening 8 for direct mouth drinking. The repartitioning between the side 2a with the straw 7 and the side 2b with the mouth drinking structure 12 is preferably 2:1 expressed in surface area of the base portion 2. The cavities 6a, 6b, in which the straw 7 and the mouth drinking structure 12 are contained, are sealed with a first cover 5 to the one side and a second cover 11 and third cover 13, respectively, to the other side.
The present invention provides a convenient solution for the straw 7 and the lid 1. Hygienic problems related to drinking straws or to a direct drinking area, which are typically in contact with the outside, are solved. The present invention allows carrying the drinking cup without danger of pouring or spilling of its content, due to the fact that the first cover 5 is re-closable. Finally, the product can be served even without an operator, without danger of closing, damaging or contaminating the straw 7. Thus the present invention provides a better environmental solution, because it is not necessary anymore to flowpack or wrap the straw like in the state of art, when the straw is given to consumer. The present invention provides also a convenient all-in-one solution for a cup, lid, and straw coupled together. Thus the present invention promotes a better management at a point of sale for serving drinkables, since it is not necessary anymore to have straws at disposal of the consumer.
Thus, the present invention provides significant improvement over the state of the art lids, drinking cups and straws.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.