Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TAMPER-PROOF CUP COVER AND DRINK CUP HAVING THE
SAME
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The instant disclosure relates to a beverage container, in
particular, a
tamper-proof cup cover and drink cup having the same.
Related Art
[0002] Paper or plastic drink cups are commonly used in daily life. Although
it is not
required to have a cup cover for general water cup use, a cup cover is needed
when people
are drinking hot or cold beverages, like coffee, milk tea, soft drink, bubble
tea, etc.
Because of the beverage characteristics, certain heat preservation performance
is required.
The cup cover is necessary because it is able to provide thermal insulation
function for
preventing heat dissipation, so that people can enjoy their drinks, and the
drinks won't
cool down too quickly.
[0003] The conventional cup cover or lid for a disposable cup has a tear-open
for
drinking which usually can be torn only once. For example, a tear-open is set
at a central
portion of the cup cover and the opening can be used for straw insertion.
Alternatively, a
tear-open may be disposed on the edge of the cup cover for directly drinking
with mouth.
But it is understood that, those cup cover designs are unable to re-seal the
tear-open after it
has been torn or opened. When people don't want to consume the remaining
drinks for a
while, it will be not convenient to use a non-resealable cup cover for
carrying because the
drink inside the cup may be spilled out of the cup and it could stain the
carry bag. Further,
in general, the materials of a drink cup for coffee milk tea, soft drink,
bubble tea, etc. are
usually thin plastic or paper. Thus, the conventional cup cover is unable to
tightly fit to the
1
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
drink cup by screwing or sealing, and also has a disadvantage of higher
manufacturing
cost.
[0004] Since opening of the conventional cup cover, once torn opened, is
not resealable,
various dust, biological matters, such as bacteria, or even virus may enter
through the
.. opening. Accordingly, the conventional cup cover is not desirable even for
a temporary use
and may provide certain health risks.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a long-felt needs for a drinking cup and / or its
cup cover /
lid that would address one or more of the aforementioned issues.
SUMMARY
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a resealable cup cover
and a
drink cup having the same with thermal insulation function for preventing heat
/ cold
dissipation from a content inside the cup.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cup cover and a
drink cup
having the same with spill-proofing means on the cup cover for preventing or
minimizing
spillage even after the drinking opening is opened on the cup cover.
[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cup cover
and a drink
cup having the same with resealable cup cover for covering the drinking
opening to
prevent dust(s) and/or pollutant(s) from contaminating around / at the
drinking opening, or
contaminating the contents inside the cup through the drinking opening on the
cup cover.
.. Such dust/pollutant may also include, but not limited to bacteria(s) and/or
virus(es).
Accordingly, yet further object of the present invention is to provide means
for preventing
transmission of certain bacterial and/or viral diseases (for example,
flu/influenza,
COVID19, etc.).
[0009] From one aspect, in one or some embodiments of the present invention,
it
provides a tamper-proof cup cover comprising a cover body. An annular recess
is
2
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
configured at the bottom portion of the cover body and is suitable for
engaging with a cup
mouth. A drinking aperture is configured at the second side of the top portion
of the cover
body. A lid is pivotally disposed on the middle portion of the top portion of
the cover body.
The lid is capable of being moveable between an open and closed position,
wherein a
block portion is configured on the bottom surface of the lid. When the lid is
in the closed
position, the block portion is capable of blocking the drinking aperture.
[0010] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, a protrusion is
configured at a first side of the top portion of the cover body, and a recess
is configured on
the top surface of the lid. The recess is capable of being engaged with the
protrusion when
the lid is in the open position.
[0011] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, the recess is
formed at
the rear surface of the block portion.
[0012] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, the cross-section
of the
protrusion and the cross-section of the recess are drop shaped.
[0013] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, an engaging
portion is
configured at the second side of the cover body, and an engaging recess is
configured on
the inner surface of the lid. The engaging recess is capable of being engaged
with the
engaging portion when the lid is in the closed position.
[0014] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, the engaging
portion
and the engaging recess are dot shaped.
[0015] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, a tearable strip
lock is
configured between the second side of the cover body and the second side of
the lid.
[0016] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, a rotatory pin is
configured on the cover body. The lid is pivotally disposed on the top surface
of the cover
body through the rotatory pin.
3
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
[0017] The cup cover of one or some embodiments of the instant disclosure
comprises a
cover body. The bottom portion of the cover body is provided with an annular
recess that
is suitable for engaging with a cup mouth. The second side of the top portion
of the cover
body is provided with a drinking aperture. The middle portion of the top
portion of the
cover body is provided with a lid that is pivotally disposed and capable of
being
moved/flipped between an open and closed positions. The bottom surface of the
lid is
provided with a block portion. When the lid is in the closed position, the
block portion is
capable of blocking the drinking aperture. Because the lid can be
freely/repeatably
moved/flipped between open and closed positions, when a person wants to drink
beverages, the lid can be in the open position, and the drinking aperture will
be exposed.
So, the person is able to directly drink beverages with mouth through the
drinking aperture.
When a person wants to stop drinking the beverage, the lid can be in the
closed position,
and the blocking portion beneath the lid will block the drinking aperture,
thus preventing
the beverage from spilling out and staining carry bag as well. It is also a
convenient design
for people to carry.
[0018] From the other aspect, in one or some embodiments of the present
invention, it
provides a drink cup comprising a cup body and a cup cover. The cup cover is
the
aforementioned provided tamper-proof cup cover(s).
[0019] As a further improvement, in one or some embodiments, a thermal
insulation
cup jacket detachably sleeves around the cup body, and the thermal insulation
cup jacket is
made of corrugated paper.
[0020] According to one or some embodiments of the present invention, it
provides a
drink cup, which comprises the provided tamper-proof cup cover as described
above with
the same or corresponding beneficial effects as shown above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
4
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
[0021] The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed
description
given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the
disclosure, wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a drink cup according to an exemplary
embodiment of the instant disclosure;
Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a drink cup of the exemplary
embodiment in
which the lid is opened;
Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a drink cup of the exemplary
embodiment in
which the lid is in the open position;
Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a drink cup of the exemplary
embodiment in
which the tamper-proof cup cover is separated from cup body; and
Fig. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a drink cup according to an exemplary
embodiment of the instant disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] In
order to enable people skilled in the art for better understanding, the
following embodiments and drawings are provided for facilitating the
descriptions of the
instant disclosure. It is noted that, in the case of non-conflict, the
features of each
embodiment are able to combine with each other.
[0023] As shown in Figs.1 to 5, it is provided a tamper-proof cup cover
comprising a
cover body 1. The whole construction of the cover body 1 may be round, and be
made of
plastic and waterproof paper that meets food safety requirements. The bottom
portion of
the cover body 1 is provided with an annular recess that is suitable for
engaging with a cup
mouth. The annular recess is able to stabilize the engagement of the cup cover
and the cup
body. The second side of top portion of the cover body 1 is provided with a
drinking
aperture 2. The drinking aperture 2 can be at the center or around the center
of the cover
body 1, for example, for providing drinking access for a straw. A lid 3 is
disposed on the
5
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
cover body 1, and is movable or pivotable between an open and closed
positions. For
Example, the lid 3 pivotally disposed on the cover body 1, for example, the
middle portion
of the top portion of the cover body 1, and is capable of being flipped
between a first
position (or open position, i.e. uncovering the drinking aperture 2) and a
second position
(or closed position, i.e. covering the drinking aperture 2). The bottom
portion of the lid 3
may be provided with a block portion 4 that is capable of engaging with and
blocking the
drinking aperture 2 when the lid 3 is in the closed position. Because the lid
3 can be freely
and repeatably flipped between the open and closed positions, when a person
wants to
drink beverages, the lid 3 can be in the open position, and the drinking
aperture 2 will be
exposed. So, the person is able to directly drink the beverage with mouth
through the
drinking aperture 2. When the person wants to stop drinking beverages, the lid
3 can be in
the closed position, and the blocking portion 4 beneath the lid 3 will block
the drinking
aperture 2, thereby preventing the drinks spilling out and staining the carry
bag or the
clothes the person wears. Meanwhile, the provided cup cover has temperature
preservation effect for hot or cold drinks and the drink cup having the same
is also easy to
carry.
[0024] As a further preferred embodiment, the one side of the top portion of
the cover
body 1 is provided with a protrusion 5. The top surface of the lid 3 is
provided with a
recess 6. The recess 6 is capable of being engaged with the protrusion 5 when
the lid 3 is
in the open position. When a person drinks beverages, the lid 3 can be in the
open position,
and the recess 6 of the lid 3 engages with the protrusion 5, so that the lid 3
can be
detachably anchored. Besides, because the lid 3 is anchored and, thus, the lid
3 would be
remained in the opened position, the lid 3 when drinking beverages would not
move by
itself
[0025] As a further preferred embodiment, the recess 6 is formed at the rear
surface of
6
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
the block portion 4. Thus, a single manufacturing process may be applied to
form the
blocking portion 4 and the recess 6 of the lid 3 so to simplify the structure
of the lid 3 and
to reduce the manufacturing cost of the lid 3 as well.
[0026] As a further preferred embodiment, the cross-section of drinking
aperture 2, the
cross-section of protrusion 5, and the cross-section of recess 6 all are drop
shaped. With
drop shape, it will not be easy for the protrusion 5 to drop out of the recess
6 after being
engaged with the recess 6.
[0027] As a further preferred embodiment, the second side of cover body 1 is
provided
with an engaging portion 7. The inner surface of the lid 3 is provided with an
engaging
recess 8 that is capable of being engaged with the engaging portion 7 when the
lid 3 is in
the closed position. Thus, when the lid 3 is in the closed position, the
blocking portion 4
beneath the lid 3 will block the drinking aperture 2, in the meantime, the
engaging portion
7 will anchor at the engaging recess 8 so to ensure the stability of the lid 3
after the lid 3 is
in the closed position and fastened at the second side of cover body 1.
[0028] As a further preferred embodiment, the engaging portion 7 and the
engaging
recess 8 are dot shaped. Thus, the position at the outer surface of the lid 3
corresponding to
the engaging recess 8 is a round bump, so it will be easy for the person to
open the lid 3
with a single finger.
[0029] As a further preferred embodiment, a tearable strip lock 9 is
configured between
the second side of the cover body 1 and the second side of the lid 3. The
tearable strip lock
9 is positioned at the gap between the cover body 1 and the lid 3 when the lid
3 is at the
second side of the cover body 1. Before the person opens the drinking open,
the tearable
strip lock 9 is needed to be torn, so that the lid 3 will be able to be in the
open position and
the drinking aperture 2 can be exposed. Thus, the provided tamper-proof cup
cover can be
one-time use and avoid repeated use.
7
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
[0030] As a further preferred embodiment, the central line of the top portion
of the
cover body 1 is provided with a rotatory pin 10. The position of the drinking
aperture 2
and the position of the protrusion 5 are symmetric related to the center of
the rotatory pin
10. The lid 3 is pivotally disposed on the top portion of the cover body 1
through the
rotatory pin 10. That is, the lid 3 can flip related to the rotatory pin 10 as
the rotation axis.
[0031] From the other aspect, the instant disclosure also provides a drink cup
comprising a cup body 11 and a cup cover. The cup body 11 may be made of
plastic or
paper that meets food safety requirements. Plastic cup is suitable for cold
drinks, and
paper cup is suitable for hot drinks. The cup cover is the provided tamper-
proof cup cover
as mentioned in the foregoing embodiment(s).
[0032] As a further preferred embodiment, a thermal insulation cup jacket 12
detachably sleeves around the cup body 11, and the thermal insulation cup
jacket 12 is
made of corrugated paper. The thermal insulation cup jacket 12 can provide
thermal
insulation to avoid injuries from hot or cold drinks.
[0033] When using the provided drink cup, the annular recess at the bottom
portion of
the cover body 1 will engage with the cup mouth of the cup body 11 containing
hot or cold
drinks. The person can hold the drinks with the thermal insulation cup jacket
12, tear off
the tearable strip lock 9, open up the lid 3 by placing fingers at the dot-
shaped engaging
recess 8 at the edge of lid 3, and then move/flip the lid 3 to the open
position, so that the
lid 3 can be fastened at the cover body 1 through the engagement of the recess
6 and the
protrusion 5. When stopping drinking beverages, the person can move/flip the
lid 3 to the
closed position, so that the blocking portion 4 beneath the lid 3 will block
the drinking
aperture 2, and the engaging portion 7 can be engaged with the engaging recess
8. In this
way, the drinking aperture 2 can be re-sealed so as to avoid spilling out
drinks and staining
the carry bag. The provided drink cup can provide temperature preservation for
hot or cold
8
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
drinks, and is also a convenient design to carry. In addition, it can prevent
cross
contamination when the said drink cup contains hot or cold drinks.
[0034] As above, the aforesaid descriptions have explained specific details of
the
instant disclosure for fully understanding. However, the present invention may
be
.. implemented in other ways which are not disclosed in the above preferred
embodiments.
Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention need not be
limited to the
disclosed embodiments.
[0035] In conclusion, it is intended to cover various modifications and
similar
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the
scope of
which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all
such
modifications and similar structures.
9
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-26
