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(11) | EP 4 124 588 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | CONTAINER FOR BEVERAGES WITH HYGIENIC LID |
| (57) The invention relates to a container for beverages with hygienic lid, wherein the
container (1) includes a mouth (4) delimited by a perimeter edge (5), wherein the
lid (2) is solidly and watertightly attached to the container (1) closing the mouth
(4) thereof, and wherein the lid (2) includes a first opening (7) for pouring the
beverage; characterised in that it comprises a detachable cover (3) adhered to an
effective area of the outer surface of the lid (2) in which the first opening (7)
is located; wherein on at least a portion of said effective area the user's lips rest
when he or she drinks the beverage contained within the container (1) after having
detached the cover (3).
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Object of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for beverages with a hygienic lid that ensures hygiene conditions on the surfaces in contact with the user's lips when drinking, enables a hermetic closure of the container that ensures the conditions of the beverage during the life cycle thereof, and reduces the operations that the user must perform prior to consuming the beverage contained within the container.
[0002] Thus, the purpose of the invention is to ensure hygiene on the surfaces that come into direct contact with the user's lips when drinking from the container, as well as to reduce costs, and reduce and simplify the operations to be performed by the user before being able to use the container with the lid.
Background of the invention
[0003] At present there are different models of beverage packaging on the market such as bottles (made of plastic or glass), cans or preformed cups.
[0004] Each of these preformed cups also includes a hermetic closure element (cover or first lid) welded to a perimeter edge of the cup that delimits the mouth of said cup, and a second lid fitted over the hermetic closure element; wherein said second lid includes a side opening through which the beverage flows to the outside when the user drinks.
[0005] The preformed cup model described in the preceding paragraph is uncomfortable for the user, since he must undo and remove the second lid, open and remove the welded hermetic closure element and replace the second lid to coincide with the mouth of the cup. In addition to the number of operations to be performed, when opening the cover or first lid it is easy for splashes to occur that stain the user.
[0006] The side opening of the second lid through which the liquid comes out from inside the cup, as well as the surface of the second lid whereon the user's lips rest when drinking, are completely uncovered and exposed to contamination during storage thereof.
[0007] In the case of the glass bottle, the extra cost of the packaging is high, so that although said cost is reduced in the event of the empty containers being returned to the supplier, this is not possible in the case of consumption by private users outside service outlets.
[0008] This bottle container is closed with a metal sheet that in most cases is impossible to remove without the aid of a tool. Said sheet covers the opening or mouth through which the liquid comes out from inside the bottle container, but the surface whereon the user's lower lip rests when drinking is completely uncovered and exposed to contamination during storage thereof.
[0009] In some cases, a shrink-wrapped plastic film sheet is placed around the neck of the bottle that ensures the cleanliness of the surfaces in contact with the lips, but adds an operation prior to use thereof for the user.
[0010] The packaging of liquid products in cans is the most widespread, and includes a simple and quick opening system with a reduced cost, but also with the drawback that the surface in contact with the user's lips when drinking is completely uncovered and exposed to contamination during storage thereof.
Description of the invention
[0011] In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the previous sections, the invention proposes a container for beverages with a hygienic lid; wherein the container includes a mouth delimited by a perimeter edge, wherein the lid is solidly and watertightly attached to the container closing the mouth thereof, and wherein the lid includes a first opening for pouring the beverage.
[0012] The invention comprises a detachable cover adhered to an effective area of the outer surface of the lid in which the first opening is located; wherein on at least a portion of said effective area the user's lips rest when he or she drinks the beverage contained within the container after having detached the cover.
[0013] The lid includes a cavity adjacent to the first opening for pouring the beverage; wherein said cavity is covered by the cover; and wherein said cavity is configured to house the tip of the user's nose when drinking the beverage contained in the container.
[0014] The lid includes a second opening configured to provide air inlet into the container after detaching the cover that also covers said second opening; wherein this second opening facilitates the exit of the beverage smoothly and continuously without gushing when it is consumed.
[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the lid comprises a hollow frustoconically-shaped configuration formed by a side wall and a smaller base crossed by the first and second openings. Said smaller base of the lid further includes the cavity and an annular portion, with the first and second openings, that surrounds the cavity. In this embodiment of the invention, the cover is adhered to an outer annular surface of the annular portion and to an outer surface portion that forms part of the side wall of the hollow frustoconically-shaped configuration.
[0016] The cover comprises a flap and a main body adhered to the outer annular surface of the annular portion that forms part of the lid, such that said main body closes the first opening and the second opening, and also covers the cavity; while the flap of the cover is adhered to the outer surface portion adjacent to the first opening for pouring the beverage.
[0017] The container includes the perimeter edge from which a first wing starts outwards that is complemented by a second wing which is an extension of a perimeter edge of the lid; wherein the lid is attached to the container, by means of welding, through the first wing and the second wing.
[0018] The cover is previously adhered to the lid, ensuring hygiene on the entire surface of the lid that covers the cover.
[0019] The cover has a flap that the user uses to remove said cover, and which also covers the surface on which the user's lower lip rests when drinking, ensuring the hygiene thereof, such that when removing or detaching the cover the first and second openings in the lid are released.
[0020] The lid is permanently and watertightly attached to the preformed container once the product (beverage) has been dosed therein, ensuring a hermetic closure and ensuring the maintenance of the product.
[0021] The lid has the first opening through which the beverage contained within the container comes out; wherein this first opening is arranged such that the user can rest his or her lower lip on the outer surface of the side wall of the lid with the frustoconical configuration, facilitating the drinking action to the user and reducing the possibilities of spilling liquid (beverage).
[0022] In the lid and covered with the cover, the second opening of reduced diameter is arranged, which enables air to enter into the container in order to facilitate the exit of the liquid smoothly and continuously, as already mentioned above.
[0023] To make the drinking gesture more ergonomic for the user, the lid has the cavity in the upper portion thereof which prevents the user's nose from coming into contact with the lid when drinking.
[0024] The objectives of the invention are as follows:
- Ensuring the hygiene and cleanliness of the surface of the lid that comes into contact with the user's lips when drinking the contents of the container.
- Reducing and simplifying the number of operations that the user must perform on the container for use thereof, avoiding the use of any tool.
- Reducing packaging costs.
- Reducing the possibility of splashing on the user during the opening and subsequent use process.
[0025] Next, to help better understand this specification and as an integral part thereof, a series of figures is attached in which the object of the invention is depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner.
Brief description of the figures
[0026]
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the container for beverages with hygienic lid, object of the invention. It comprises a container itself in the shape of a cup, the lid and a cover.
Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the container of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the container without the cover; wherein said container without the cover is ready for the liquid content housed within the container to be drank.
Description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention
[0027] Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the container for beverages with hygienic lid comprises the preformed container 1 itself, the hygienic lid 2 and a cover 3 attached to the lid 2, as will be described in detail below.
[0028] The container 1, with a preferred configuration in the shape of a cup, includes a mouth 4 delimited by a perimeter edge 5 from which a first wing 5a starts outwards, such that the lid 2 is attached to said first wing 5a of the container 1 to thus achieve a watertight attachment between the lid 2 and the container 1; wherein in an embodiment of the invention said attachment is by means of welding.
[0029] For this purpose, the lid 2 includes a second wing 2a that is an extension of the perimeter edge thereof, such that in the embodiment shown in the figures, the lid 2 is watertightly welded to the container 1 by means of the first perimeter wing 5a of the container 1 and by means of the second wing 2a of the lid 2.
[0030] The lid 2 includes a wide cavity 6, a first opening 7 for pouring the beverage that communicates with the interior space of the container 1, and a second opening 8 of reduced diameter that also communicates with the interior space of the container 1 and that enables air to enter into said container 1 in order to facilitate the exit of the beverage smoothly and continuously without gushing when the user drinks through the first opening 7 having previously detached the cover 3.
[0031] The wide cavity 6 is configured to facilitate and make it more comfortable for the user to drink from the container 1 in the sense that when the container 1 is raised for drinking, the tip of his or her nose is inserted into the cavity 6.
[0032] Both the first opening 7 and the second opening 8 of the lid 2 are located in an annular portion that surrounds the cavity 6, which in the embodiment shown in the figures is an off-centre cavity 6; wherein said opening 7 is located in the area of greatest width of the annular portion that includes an outer annular surface 9.
[0033] In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the lid 2 comprises a hollow frustoconically-shaped configuration formed by a side wall and a smaller base crossed by the first 7 and the second 8 openings. Said smaller base of the lid 2 further includes the cavity 6 and obviously also the annular portion, with the openings 7 and 8, which surrounds the cavity 6.
[0034] The cover 3 of laminar structure comprises a flap 3a and a main body 3b adhered to the outer annular surface 9 of the annular portion that forms part of the lid 2, such that said main body 3b closes the first opening 7 and the second opening 8, and also covers the cavity 6.
[0035] However, the flap 3a of the cover 3 is adhered to an outer surface portion 10 adjacent to the first opening 7 for pouring the beverage; wherein said outer surface portion 10 forms part of the side wall in the embodiment of the invention in which the lid 2 comprises the frustoconical configuration.
[0036] Thus, the cover 3 covers an effective area of the outer surface of the lid 2; wherein on at least a portion of said effective area the user's lips rest when drinking the beverage contained within the container 1.
[0037] With this arrangement described, when the user is going to drink the beverage contained within the container 1, he or she first detaches the cover 3, normally by grasping it with his or her fingers from the edge of the flap 3a thereof; whereby the first opening 7 for pouring and also the second opening 8 for the entry of air into the container 1 are released.
[0038] The user can then drink the liquid content of the container 1 by placing a portion of the outer surface of the lid 2 on his or her lips, with the great advantage that the entire contact of the lips is made on a resulting surface 11 (Figure 3) that has been previously protected by the cover 3.
1. A container for beverages with hygienic lid, wherein the container (1) includes a mouth (4) delimited by a perimeter edge (5),
wherein the lid (2) is solidly and watertightly attached to the container (1) closing
the mouth (4) thereof, and wherein the lid (2) includes a first opening (7) for pouring
the beverage; characterised in that it comprises a detachable cover (3) adhered to an effective area of the outer surface
of the lid (2) in which the first opening (7) is located; wherein on at least a portion
of said effective area the user's lips rest when he or she drinks the beverage contained
within the container (1) after having detached the cover (3).
2. The container for beverages with hygienic lid, according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (2) includes a cavity (6) adjacent to the first opening (7) for pouring the
beverage; wherein said cavity (6) is covered by the cover (3); and wherein said cavity
(6) is configured to house the tip of the user's nose when drinking the beverage contained
in the container (1).
3. The container for beverages with hygienic lid, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lid (2) includes a second opening (8) configured to provide air inlet into the
container (1) after detaching the cover (3), which also covers said second opening
(8).
4. The container for beverages with hygienic lid, according to the preceding claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the lid (2) comprises a hollow frustoconically-shaped configuration formed by a side
wall and a smaller base crossed by the first (7) and the second (8) openings; wherein
said smaller base of the lid (2) further includes the cavity (6) and an annular portion,
with the openings (7) and (8), that surrounds the cavity (6); wherein the cover (3)
is adhered to an outer annular surface (9) of the annular portion and to an outer
surface portion (10) that forms part of the side wall.
5. The container for beverages with hygienic lid, according to claim 4, characterised in that the cover (3) comprises a flap (3a) and a main body (3b) adhered to the outer annular
surface (9) of the annular portion that forms part of the lid (2), such that said
main body (3b) closes the first opening (7) and the second opening (8) and also covers
the cavity (6); while the flap (3a) of the cover (3) is adhered to the outer surface
portion (10) adjacent to the first opening (7) for pouring the beverage.
6. The container for beverages with hygienic lid, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (1) includes the perimeter edge (5) from which a first wing (5a) starts
outwards that is complemented by a second wing (2a) which is an extension of a perimeter
edge of the lid 2; wherein the lid (2) is attached to the container (1), by means
of welding, through the first wing (5a) and the second wing (2a).