COVER FOR VESSEL THAT CAN BE CLOSED
Cross Reference with Related Requests This application is a continuation in part of the North American Application Series No. 11 / 402,426 filed on April 12, 2006, which in itself is a continuation in part of the North American Application Series No. 11 / 244,133, filed on October 5, 2005, which properly claims the priority to the Provisional North American Application Series No. 60 / 617,123, filed on October 8, 2004. The descriptions of each of these applications are incorporated into its entirety to the present invention as a reference. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to vessel lids, and more particularly, to a thermoformed disposable cup lid with a drinking aperture and a closure panel that can be moved along a generally radial direction between an open position, wherein the opening communicates with the inside of the lid, and a closed position, wherein the closing panel covers the opening to substantially reduce or prevent the filtration of the liquid during use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Substantial variations in the configuration of reclosable covers are known in general, as evidenced by the following documents: US Patent No. 581,293, entitled "Cover of Cover or Similar" of C.H. Leggett; US Patent No. 949,974, entitled "Closure for Cans" by G.A. Cibulka; U.S. Patent No. 1,433,544, entitled "Filter Can" by J.C. Gibbs; U.S. Patent No. 1,765,284, entitled "Closure for Ink Deposit" of L.B. Pronsnitz; U.S. Patent No. 1,888,363, entitled "Ink Deposit" of CE. Tannewitz; U.S. Patent No. 2,492,846, entitled "Sliding Closure Supply Container" by J. Coyle and associates; U.S. Patent No. 4,170,724, entitled "Reusable Sealable Beverage Container" from Waterbury; U.S. Patent No. 4,201,320, entitled "Measurement Provider" by Eppenbach; U.S. Patent No. 4,434,906, entitled "Container Having Resellable Opening Media" by Fíorczyk and associates; U.S. Patent No. 5,025,945, entitled "Container of Beverages" of Lyon; U.S. Patent No. 5,086,941, entitled "Provider Closure Assembly" by English and associates; U.S. Patent No. 5,462,189, entitled "Re-sealable, Refillable Container System" by Pierce; US Patent No. 6,354,454, entitled "Bottle Cap" by Wong; and US Patent No. 6,439,442, entitled "Lid with 1 Sliding Supply Channel" by Markert and associates. The descriptions of these aforementioned applications are incorporated in their entirety by reference to the present invention. The reclosable beverage caps or containers can be seen in U.S. Patent No. 4,749,099, entitled "Beverage Conservator" by Davis and associates; in U.S. Patent No. 5,470,817, entitled "Sliding Plastic Cover, Re-Closeable" of Hambleton and associates; and in U.S. Patent No. 4,127,212, entitled "Reusable Closable Drink Container" from Waterbury. The descriptions of these aforementioned applications are incorporated in their entirety to the present invention as a reference. In the Davis and Associates publication, a push bar is interconnected to a closure panel within a groove formed in the metal top of the container. The push bar operates to tear a marked portion down the top to expose an opening, whereby the closure panel can be moved over the opening to protect the unused contents that are inside the container. In the Hambleton and associates publication, a plastic container lid includes a main lid element and a sliding element. The main lid element has support guides between which the sliding element is located, and the guides are bevelled relative to the plane of the main lid element, to maintain the sliding element in the lid. An opening is provided in the main lid and the sliding element can cover the opening. The sliding element also includes a part into which a finger can be fitted. Waterbury addresses a reclosable beverage container and provides a sliding lid mounted to an upper end of the container to move an opening in the lid again. The plug can not be removed from the lid. The above articles are not generally suitable for the disposable lid / cup market where cost, storage, ease of manufacture, etc., are very important aspects. With respect to the caps for disposable cups, the closure panels have been commonly incorporated in the upper wall of the plastic lid, defined by markings so that the closure panel is torn from the adjacent portions of the cover along the length of the cover. the marks, and then folded again to open the opening to drink from the top; they are optionally secured in their open position to an upward projecting direction part; and they fold back to the edge to close the lid. These caps can be difficult to operate properly and often allow substantial filtration (especially problematic with hot beverages) although they nevertheless have substantial commercial success, due in part to satisfying the demand for product market cost criteria. disposable. Dome-shaped hot cup lids, although they can not be reclosed, have frequently placed flat lids with fold-type closure panels, because they are preferred by consumers and because of the inherent control of some filtration due to the fact that that add a "splash height" to the top of the contained beverage. Said lids are generally known in the art, and include a dome shape formed from a thermoplastic polymeric material and have an opening for consuming the beverage when the lid is applied to the vessel. Various shapes are provided to the lid, and to the openings and closures therein formed. In US Patent No. 6,732,875, entitled "Re-Closeable Container Lid" of Smith and associates, and US Patent No. D489,260 entitled "Re-Closeable Container Lid" of Smith and associates , you can see a dome cover that can be closed again. The lid includes a cover element and a rotating disc element mounted on the cover of the lid. A pole is located on the periphery of the lid to rotate the disc between open and closed positions below the opening to drink. Apparently it is necessary to incorporate features, such as drainage holes and the like, because the geometry of the disc / cover and the combination of the cover / disc seem to require a redundant construction of the cover, that is, two layers over the entire top wall . In addition, the proposed cover features prevent efficient nesting, increase storage, packing and transportation costs. The described embodiments additionally prevent stacking in a cup in a cap setting, when multiple beverages are purchased by a consumer; a drawback which can cancel the gains in terms of filtration, closing the opening of the drink. A further example of the caps for resealable cups is shown in US Patent No. 6,824,003, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference to the present invention, the purpose of which is to describe a disposable thermoformed lid that can be returned to close. This lid has C-shaped rails in which a reclosable panel is snapped closed. The rails are tapered to allow for snap closure on the rails. It is considered that this lid is difficult, if not impossible, to manufacture in a thermoforming process due to the pointed edges formed in the C-shaped rails. Likewise, it is considered that this lid may not be able to be stacked in an efficient way . Despite the numerous options, existing and proposed disposable covers have one or more of the following drawbacks: difficulty of operation and ineffective resealing;
ineffective filtration control; high material costs; non-ordinary storage, increased packing and transportation costs; inability to stack in a glass arrangement on top, etc. Through the present invention, said deficiencies that are encountered in the art are overcome and a reclosable lid is provided which is durable though disposable, easy to use, can be stacked, effective in preventing Splashing and filtering, it is easily manufactured from a thermoplastic material with existing machinery, and it is low in cost. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention provides a thermoformed, resealable disposable cup cap from a polymeric material and includes a cap member and a closure panel. The thermoformed lid element can be supplied with a side wall and an upper wall, with an upper wall having upper and lower surfaces and an opening for drinking in the periphery of the upper wall. The opening for the drink communicates with the interior of the glass, when the lid is fitted with the glass for the incorporation of a drink in it. The upper wall can additionally define a pair of interconnected grooves depending on the lower surface of the upper wall, and opening of the closing panel post. To provide the lid of the resealable and disposable cup, a thermoformed closure panel is inserted into the interconnected grooves, enlarging the distance between the interconnected grooves through the application of a bending force therein. . The closure panel post will extend above the top surface of the lid element, which will allow the closure panel to slide within the convoluted interconnecting grooves. In addition, the cap element and the closure panel can be configured to reduce the possibility of the user experiencing the filtration of the beverage on their skin or clothes during use, through the inclusion of a deposit within the panel closing. The reservoir may also have a vent hole within a boundary thereof to facilitate drainage of the reservoir in use. Still further, the closure panel may have an assurance contour or retainer therein, adapted to operate in conjunction with a corresponding closure contour in the cap member. The covers of assembled cups can be stacked, to minimize space requirements in this way. In the present invention there is also provided a method for making the covers. Still other features and advantages of the present invention may be appreciated from the description and drawings that follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate similar parts, and wherein: Figure 1 is a side profile of a cover that can be returned to close that incorporates features of the present invention. Figure 2 is a bottom view showing one embodiment of the lid of the present invention, wherein the lid has a pair of convoluted interconnecting grooves. Figure 3 is a profile of a sliding groove of Figure 1, in a maximum projection inwards. Figure 4, in a perspective view of a closure panel having generally bevelled edges. Figure 5 is a partial end view of the closure panel of Figure 5. Figure 6 is a detail showing a profile of the afflicted interconnect groove of the present invention. Figure 7 is a top view of a form of the closure panel of the present invention having a reservoir with a vent hole therein, as well as a closure contour and an opening contour for the beverage. Fig. 8 is a detail showing a profile of the closure panel of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a profile showing a configuration of the opening area for the elevated beverage of a shape of the lid of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention will be described in more detail below, for purposes of exemplification and illustration only. Modifications within the scope of the present invention, which are set forth in the appended claims, may be appreciated by those skilled in the art. As used in the present invention, the terminology is provided with its ordinary meaning, unless a more specific definition is provided or the context indicates otherwise. The term "aspect ratio" refers to a ratio of an object length to an object width, for example, a length of the closure panel to a width of the same closure panel. The term "generally in radial form" refers to a direction substantially parallel to, or substantially along, a diameter of the article. The term "depth of the lower cut" refers to the distance that the recess extends laterally under (or over) a laterally projecting part of the same thermoformed feature, to define a lateral groove in the part. The lower cuts are characterized by the so-called "negative shot" that will be described later. A part or feature has a positive shot, if not cut off at the bottom. When used in connection with lower cuts of varying depth, such as a bottomed cut, the "lower cut depth" refers to the lower cut depth at the maximum lateral depth of the lower cut. The lower cut depth defines "lower cut grooves" which are substantially co-extensive with the interconnected grooves. The term "affronted orientation" means the shape of a continuous series or circular elements or angular projections that form an edge. An example without limitation of an affronted orientation, is shown in Figure 2, in element 158. The term "disposable" means that the object is designed to be discarded after one, or at most, some uses. The term "substantially sealed" means that there is no or substantially no leakage of the closure panel in the closed position. The containers, that is, the cups, which have resealable caps, such as for carrying hot coffee and tea drinks, are generally not suitable for disposal after use, due to the costs of the components of the containers. same. Said prior art containers will normally be designed for various uses and were made of injection molded plastic material. In said reclosable covers of the prior art prepared from injection molded plastics, the. Groove was generally defined by rails formed on the lid. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is virtually impossible to form sharp edges in a thermoforming process, so that the resealable lid of the present invention can be manufactured. The pointed corners can not be easily prepared in the thermoforming process. Likewise, the piece must be designed so that it is easy to remove it from the mold without substantial distortion of the piece (for example, bending or twisting), which adversely affects the structural integrity of the piece. For this purpose, the sharp angles of the interconnection grooves illustrated in US Pat. No. 6,824,003 could be excessively difficult to manufacture in a thermoforming process. The inventors of the present invention have discovered that in order to manufacture and assemble in suitably a thermoformed resealable cup cap, the shape of the interconnecting groove (which is defined by lower slots and the total distance of the interconnecting groove) is especially important. If the groove design is not maintained within certain parameters, it has been discovered that the thermoformed lid can not be detached from the mold without severe distortion of the interconnecting groove to the point where the closure panel can not be inserted into the groove to provide a glass cover that can be returned to close adequate. That is, if the lid is to be substantially distorted in order to remove it from the mold, the plastic material covering the interconnecting groove will be stretched, torn or distorted, so that the interconnecting groove will no longer have its structural integrity. Said loss of structural integrity will cause the closure panel to not fit reliably within the interconnecting groove and / or allow the liquid to leak out of the lid during use. Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that the assembly of the lid element and the closure panel could be difficult if the interconnection grooves were made of a length of solid material, in opposite form less than a length of material of the total furrow. Therefore, the inventors of the present invention determined that in order to have the ability to properly manufacture and assemble a thermoformed resealable cup cap, significant adjustments are required to the area of the interconnecting groove, as compared to the design used appropriately to prepare a resealable, injection molded cup cap. In particular, it was determined that it was necessary to eliminate a measurable amount of material from the area of the interconnection grooves. Accordingly, the interconnection grooves in the lid element of the present invention are afi tated as further established in the present invention. Afflicted interconnecting grooves of the present invention comprise lower cut depths that define lower cut grooves, which, in turn, substantially define the stepped interconnect grooves. The lower depth of cut can be from about 0.0508 cm (0.020 inches) to about 0.1524 cm (0.060 inches) or from about 0.0635 cm (0.025 inches) to 0.127 cm (0.050 inches). The inventors of the present invention have discovered that when the lower cut groove is too deep, the embossed interconnect groove will be distorted when the mold cover is removed. It is considered that due to the need for bending or twisting of the lid, in order to eject it from the mold, for example, in recess 160 of Figure 3, simply because the lid will be inserted in the recess of the mold when This is too deep. The inventors of the present invention have also discovered that a range of lower cut depths is relevant to defining a pitched interconnect groove that is deep enough to result in reliable retention of the closure panel in the affected interconnection grooves. The lower cut depths of the present invention ensure that the slip is not dislodged from the groove and falls into the beverage during use, still allowing the lid element to be properly detached from the mold.
Additionally important to the manufacturing capacity of the reclosable cup cap of the present invention is the ability to insert the closure panel into the afflicted interconnect groove without significant distortion of the affected interconnection grooves, still maintaining the integrity of the interconnection grooves used to ensure a good fit of the closure panel in the interconnection grooves. The closure panel should be easily and quickly inserted into the interconnecting groove during high-speed assembly without distortion of the interconnecting grooves, so that the closure panel is retained in the groove during use. These features for high-speed assembly are described in detail below. For these purposes, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that a downsizing design provides a lid structure that is particularly suitable for the reclosable lid of the present invention. This afflicted orientation is illustrated, for example, in Figure 2 of the present invention. Affected ones may have an end-to-end radius that ranges from about 0.3175 cm (0.125 inches) to about 0.762 cm (0.30 inches). Since the total number of users defines the length of the tuned interconnection groove, when the radios are smaller, it may be more problematic; when the radios are larger, there will be less trouble. Afflicted interconnecting grooves are separated by distances. Afflicted interconnecting grooves are generally parallel to each other. The depth of the lower cut and the flange operate together to provide the interconnecting grooves in which the closure panel operates. It has also been discovered that the insertion and adjustment of the closure panel can be improved by making a radius and / or chamfering the elongated edges of the closure panel. For example, beveling these edges so that the edges of the closure panel are facing outwardly from the bottom surface of the cap member, the closure panel requires less force to be inserted into the interconnecting groove. In addition, a beveled edge allows the closure to slip (or slide) into the interconnecting grooves without considerable attention being paid either to the closure panel itself or to the interconnection grooves. The angles may be as described in the present invention. In some aspects, the arm of the convoluted interconnecting grooves in which the closure panel receives is not tapered at a free end. Still further, the interconnection grooves do not comprise a pair of C-shaped rails. Such C-shaped rails are described in US Patent No. 6,824,003. The patent? 03 states that when the C-shaped rail is tapered at a free end, the closing of the closing element on the lid part is facilitated. The inventors of the present invention consider that, even with the inclusion of tapered ends, the design of the patent? 03, can result in a significant distortion of the structure of the C-shaped rails, when the panel is inserted. closing on the cover of the patent? 03. Therefore, the inventors of the present invention consider that the design illustrated in the patent? 03 may result in a loose fitting of the closure panel therein. Furthermore, it is considered that it can be extremely difficult to prepare the lid illustrated in the '003 patent, with the use of thermoforming techniques due to the sharp edges in the design. As noted above, said pointed edges can not be applied reasonably in manufacturing, because the part can be difficult to remove from the mold after thermoforming. In contrast to the interconnect groove design described in the patent? 03, the patterned design of the interconnecting grooves of the present invention allows the lid element to be easily removed from the mold after thermoforming, with little or no distortion of the interconnecting grooves. Further, in the present invention, the affixed configuration of the interconnecting grooves allows the closure panel to be held securely in the interconnected grooves, thereby providing a resealable seal on the cover. of the finished glass. The inclusion of beveled outer edges on the closure panel can further improve the lid assembly capacity to provide a reliable seal on a resealable and disposable two-piece glass lid. The elaboration of the radius of the corners of the closure panel has also been found to improve the assembly of the closure panel in the interconnected grooves. In one form, the present invention provides a reclosable and disposable lid of a vessel, the lid being made of polymeric material and including a thermoformed lid element supplied with a side wall and an upper wall, having the top wall upper and lower surfaces and an opening for the drink in the periphery of the upper wall, where the opening for the drink communicates with the interior of the glass, when the lid is fitted with a glass. The upper wall further defines a pair of interconnected grooves depending on the bottom part of the upper wall of the lid element. The lid element also has a pole opening of the closure panel. The lid also comprises a thermoformed closure panel having opposite and bevelled interconnect edges along its length and / or radiated corners. The closure panel also comprises a top surface supplied with a post projecting upwards therefrom. The closing panel post will project through the opening of the closing panel, when the lid is assembled. The lid further comprises an opening area for the beverage which can be sealed through the slidable fit of the closure panel within the convoluted interconnecting grooves. As can be seen, the closure panel can be substantially planar along a central portion, and bevelled or radiated at respective opposing interconnecting edges thereof. The chamfering on the opposite outer edges of the panel is shown in Figures 4 and 5. The opposing interconnecting edges of the closure panel can have substantially the same thickness as the closure panel and fit with the generally parallel interlocked groove of interconnection. The opposing interconnecting edges of the closure panel may have a substantially beveled profile and the lower cut grooves of the interconnected interconnecting grooves may have an S-shaped profile or a modified S-shaped profile (as shown). for example, in figure 6), shaped in a suitable manner to accept the opposite external beveled edges of the closure panel. The closure panel may have bevelled longitudinal edges to provide uncovered angulation, particularly suitable for a high speed assembly process in which the closure panel can be adjusted appropriately in the interconnected grooves of interconnection. It has been found that a suitable angle of the beveling will be from about 5 to about 15 degrees, or from about 8 to about 12 degrees for the closure panel. The closure panel may have a length from about ½ to about ¾ of the length of the diameter of the lid element; the length of the closure panel may be approximately 2/3 of the diameter of the lid element; as well as an area of the closure panel of from about 5 to about 25% of the area of the top wall. The area of the closure panel is normally no greater than about 25 to about 35% of the area of the top wall of the lid element. The closure panel may have an aspect ratio (as defined in the present invention) of at least about 1.5, or at least about 2.0 or at least about 3.0. In a significant aspect, the closure panel may include a reservoir of thermoformed liquid therein. It has been discovered through the inventors of the present invention that this deposit significantly reduces the possibility of the liquid being collected near the closure panel or on the top of the lid element, normally in or around the area opening for a drink. That is, in use, the drink will be splashed in the glass. Part of the liquid will normally seep into the area of the closure panel because the closure panel does not have a tight seal inside the closure panel and the interconnected grooves. In order to prevent liquid from spilling onto the wearer's clothing during the consumption of the beverage, it has been found that the deposit will be significant at least in one form of the present invention. The depth of the closure panel deposit is not considered to be important, however, it should have a sufficient volume to provide adequate storage of the excess liquid defined between the closure panel and the affected interconnection grooves. In the examples without limitation, the reservoir of the closure panel may be from approximately 1.016 cm (0.40 inches) to approximately 2.032 cm (0.80 inches) in the width of the closure panel, or from approximately 1.27 cm (0.50 inches) to approximately 1,778 cm (0.70 inches) in the width of the closing panel. As measured from the top surface of the closure panel, the depth of the reservoir can be from about 0.762 cm (0.030 inches) to about 2.032 cm (0.080 inches). Details of the deposit in the present invention are described, in relation to the descriptions in relation to Figures 7 and 8 that are found later. The possibility that the beverage (which is usually coffee or tea with a dark color) being retained between the closure panel and the interconnected grooves, and subsequently the spill on the laundry is a significant problem for the cup makers used to consume hot drinks. It has been discovered that the incorporation of the fluid reservoir on the surface of the closure panel may contain excess liquid retained within the cap (opposite to the surface of the cap) and substantially prevent liquid from spilling from the cap when the user takes an extra sip. In addition, if the closure panel incorporates a vent hole in the reservoir, any entrained liquid can flow back into the container through the vent hole of the closure panel (which, as described in the present invention, is provided. perforating the lid in the direction of the internal surface of the assembled container), thereby facilitating the drainage of the beverage retained from the container in the container. The closure panel may also include an elevation on the upper surface of the closure panel that serves as the locking or latching mechanism when the assembled cover is in the closed position. The closure mechanism must be high enough to maintain the closure panel without inadvertently opening during use, and causing the beverage to spill from the opening to drink. However, the degree of closure must be balanced with the need for a user to have the facility to easily open the closure panel when he wishes to ingest a beverage that is inside the container. In a more adequate way, the closing mechanism must provide an operation with one hand. The locking mechanism can be from 0.508 cm (0.020 inches) and 1.016 cm (0.040 inches) in height, or from approximately 0.06096 cm (0.024 inches) to approximately 0.08128 cm (0.032 inches) in height. The closing mechanism in the closing panel coincides with an associated and complementary contour in the lid element. The association of the closure contours of the lid element and the closure panel, operate together to provide the closure for the closure panel, so that the closure panel does not inadvertently open during use. Significantly, the lid of the reclosable vessel of the present invention can be easily opened by a user with one hand. This is a marked improvement with respect to the reclosable cup lids of the prior art, which have a tap latch on the surface of the outer top cap or a dent or protrusion on a slide fastener. Such designs require that the slidable part of the lid of the resealable cup be pushed over the edge of the lid, or in the case of caps with tear-off clips, that are fitted by the fit over the edge or top surface of the outer circumference of the vessel. In such designs, the user is required to push the protrusion down or slide the latch out of position - where each of the movements requires an operation with both hands. In contrast, the closure mechanism of the lid of the present invention provides the closure to prevent inadvertent opening of the lid, still further permitting proper operation with only one hand. This one-handed operation allows the user to drive or perform other tasks, while allowing the user to open and close the lid during use. The closure panel may also include an opening outline for drinking substantially in alignment with the drinking aperture of the lid element. It has been found that this contour provides an improved friction fit between the closure element and the drinking aperture. Specifically, when the closure panel includes an outline thereof that substantially coincides with the opening of the drinking aperture, the closure panel will exhibit a better seal during use. As normally contemplated, the contour will comprise an indentation in the upper surface of the closure panel, in which the corresponding edges of the contour of the drinking aperture will settle when the closure panel is in the closed position. To ensure that the closure panel can be opened and closed, properly during use, the outline of the closure panel should be shallow enough so that the edges of the drinking opening are not closed as a result. the contour of the closing panel and it is difficult for a user to open them. As provided in the present invention, the vessel covers can be stacked. Said capacity of stacking is significant because the covers must be able to be sent and stored in convenient ways. In addition, the covers of the cups can be configured so that the bottom part of the cup can be stacked in a lid. This configuration is beneficial in improving the ability of a consumer to safely transport multiple filled containers. The closure panel is suitably supplied with ventilation means, wherein said ventilation means comprise one or more ventilation holes. In this form, a ventilation hole is placed so that the opening of the post communicates with the interior of the lid element, when the closure panel is in the open position, thereby ventilating the interior in the open position for facilitate the consumption of a drink. Significantly, the ventilation means comprises one or more holes drilled in the closure panel, and one or more holes drilled in the lid element. The ventilation holes may be from about 1,016 cm (0.040 inches) to about 2,032 cm (0.080 inches) in diameter, or from about 1.27 cm (0.050 inches) to about 1,778 cm (0.070 inches) in diameter. The respective holes in the closure panel of the lid element, wherein said holes comprise the ventilation means, are not in substantial alignment, so that there is a direct passage between the lid element and the closure panel. In one aspect, it is important that the ventilation means comprise ventilation holes that are not in substantial alignment in the closure panel and in the upper wall of the lid element when the lid is in the closed position. For clarity, this means of ventilation will be referred to in the present invention as "asymmetric ventilation means". In this asymmetric ventilation means, the respective ventilation holes are positioned so that when the closure panel is in the closed position, the hole found in the lid element is located in a position with adequate distance to minimize the possibility of the hot beverage being splashed through the venting means during transportation of the beverage container, when the closure element is in the closed position. In one form, the vent hole punched in the lid element is adjusted, or substantially adjusted from the center line of the lid element. The corresponding ventilation hole of the closure element is located in a position in the tank, so that it allows adequate ventilation of the beverage that is in the container, further providing an adequate filtration prevention. The asymmetric vent means has been found to be particularly suitable for use in the lid for the reclosable vessel of the present invention. It is known that the presence of a ventilation hole in a glass lid helps to supply a beverage from a container, reducing the negative pressure difference inside the container. The inventors of the present invention have discovered that the asymmetric venting means with one of the vent holes placed in the reservoir, not only reduces the positive pressure difference when the cap is in the open position for consumption, but also extracts by Effectively siphon excess beverage collected in the closure panel area during transport or storage of the beverage. In particular, the two-piece design of the present invention itself provides for the entry of the beverage into the area of the closure panel, as a result of capillary action between the closure panel and the bottom part of the lid element. . The placement of the ventilation holes is optimized to reduce the transfer of flow that is carried through the liquid from inside the container to the closure panel, and then to the plane of the closure panel of the upper center of the lid of the vessel that can be closed again by capillary action. If an asymmetric ventilation means is used, it may be beneficial to provide the perforation in each cap element and the closure element in specific directions. In particular, it has been discovered by the inventors of the present invention, that the perforation in the lid element must be directed through the bottom wall of the lid element, so that any tongue resulting from the perforation is located on the top surface of the lid element. When the ventilation hole is provided in this direction, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that the closure element is less likely to lean against the residue formed in the plastic cap as a result of the perforation process. In particular, it has been discovered that the closure element can become stuck if the perforation is directed through the top wall of the lid element because plastic debris is formed as a result of the perforation process. Similarly, it has been discovered that the closure element is more likely to allow the free flow of the trapped liquid when the drilling movement is directed through the upper part of the closure element at the base of the reservoir, so that the The resulting plastic residue is oriented from the top of the closure element through the lower part of the closure element. When the closure element is perforated in this way, the closure element no longer allows the free flow of the liquid trapped back to the container. Still further, it has been found particularly beneficial to pierce the lid element from the bottom part through the upper part, and the closing element from the top to the bottom part, and to include a lid and element element. of closure that have these characteristics in a finished container lid. In summary, it has been discovered that the residue of the ventilation hole of the lid element must be oriented towards the upper surface of the lid element, and the residue of the ventilation hole of the closure panel must be oriented downwards of the surface of the bottom in the closing panel. Significantly, the opening for the beverage of the lid of the present invention rises from the upper surface of the lid element in the assembled lid. In particular, it has been found that raising the drinking aperture provides a drinking experience that is more comfortable for the user. The opening to drink should be high enough to provide a comfortable drinking experience, and at the same time not be so closed that the top surface of the lid resembles a "child's coach", which has been discovered as undesirable for the use of adults. In one aspect, the beverage opening can be raised from about 0.508 cm (0.20 inches) to about 0.762 cm (0.30 inches) away from the top surface of the lid. The shape of the opening to drink will generally have the shape of a flattened oval when viewed from the top surface of the lid. It has been shown that a flattened oval provides a comfortable drinking experience, although other suitable forms can be used. A specific construction of the lid of the present invention may include: a) a unit lid element supplied with a side wall and an upper wall, i) the side wall having at its bottom a mounting slot configured to fit the edge of the lid. a glass and form a seal on it; ii) the upper wall also has an upper surface and a lower surface and an opening for the beverage elevated in a periphery of the upper wall supplied with a sealing edge formed around it, the sealing edge projecting downwardly from the surface upper and a closing contour, the upper wall further defining a pair of generally parallel convoluted interlock grooves defined by lower cutting grooves generally parallel between the lower surface of the upper wall and the lower part of the interconnected grooves, also having the top wall a pole opening positioned in the interior with respect to the opening for the raised beverage; b) a thermoformed closure panel having a top surface supplied with a projecting upward post thereof, as well as a reservoir therein and a ventilation hole located within the reservoir to facilitate drainage of the beverage from the reservoir , a sealing groove formed around a sealing area and a closure contour thereon and opposing interconnected edges interconnected along its length; c) the lid element and the closure panel are configured so that the longitudinal interconnecting edges of the closure panel can be slidably mounted in the interconnected grooves in the lower surface of the upper wall of the door element. cap for sealing so that the opening for the raised beverage can be closed again when the closure panel slides along the affected interconnecting grooves; d) when the closing panel post projects upwards through the opening of the post when the closing panel is mounted in the interconnected grooves, the post opening and the post operate together in this way to limit the displacement of the closure panel with respect to the lid element; e) a sealing position of the closure panel is further characterized, because the sealing edge around the opening for the raised beverage, sits in the sealing groove of the closure panel; and f) with the closure panel further comprising a closure contour on the closure panel configured to operate in conjunction with an associated closure contour on the cap member. In one form, the caps of the present invention are made by thermoforming. Generally speaking, thermoforming is the pressing and / or stretching of warped material heated to a final shape. In the most basic aspect, thermoforming is the draping of a softened sheet on a formed mold. In the most detailed aspect, thermoforming is the automatic high-speed positioning of a heated sheet having a precisely controlled temperature in a pneumatically driven forming station, whereby the shape of the article is defined through the mold , followed by cutting and harvesting the regrind as is well known in the art. Formation techniques in addition to conventional thermoforming may also be suitable for the manufacture of the articles described in the present invention. These include variations such as pre-softening of the extruded sheet at temperatures below the final melting temperature, cutting of flat sections (eg, sections) of the sheet, transfer of the sections by gravity or mechanical means in corresponding molds, by means of which sections are given the shape of the article by means of heat and pressure. Still other alternative arrangements include the use of draping, vacuum, pressure, free blowing, matching die, ripple draping, pressure vacuum, ripple vacuum, vacuum assisted by plug, reverse extraction with plug, immersion in pressure bubbles , leaf trapped, sliding, diaphragm, cut sheet in two sheets, forming double rolled sheets and suitable combinations thereof. The details are provided in the J.L. publication. Throne's book, Thermoforming, published in 1987 by Coulthard. Pages 21 to 29 of said book are incorporated herein by reference. Suitable alternative arrangements also include a pillow forming technique that creates a positive air pressure between two heat softened sheets to inflate them against a male / female mold system subject to produce a hollow product. The metal molds are engraved with patterns that range from fine to thick, in order to simulate a natural or grainy textured type view. The items can be cut in line with a cutting die with the cuts being optionally used later. Other adjustments to improve productivity include the simultaneous formation of multiple articles with multiple dies in order to maximize yield and minimize waste. The thermoplastic materials are designed to comprise materials suitable for thermoplastic molding of lids for hot glasses. A suitable material for the lid is a styrene polymer composition, which can be filled or not filled. The composition may have sufficient pigment to provide opacity or near opacity. Other suitable materials include polyolefins, such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes and mixtures thereof, polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylates, polysulfones, polyetherketones, polycarbonates, acrylics, polyphenylene sulfides, acetyl, cellulose, polyether imides, polyphenylene oxides / ethers, copolymers of styrene maleic anhydride, styrene acrylonitrile copolymers, polyvinyl chlorides and resin derivatives constructed thereof. These materials can be equally filled or not filled. The fillers of any of the polymeric materials can be any conventional materials, as is known to those skilled in the art. The lid (both the lid element and the closure panel) can be thermoformed from a sheet of thermoplastic material. Typically, the thermoplastic sheet from which the caps are made, has a caliber from about 10 to about 20 mils (thousandths of an inch), or from about 14 to about 19 mils. The sheet from which the sections have been cut can be collected from a newly ground material and can be recyclable. Furthermore, the sheet from which the sections have been cut can be made from virgin material. Furthermore, the material of the sheet from which the sections have been cut can be prepared from a mixture of virgin material and ground again. Articles that are thermoformed must be designed to allow the die section to be free of molded articles without undue interference with the surfaces of the articles. The surfaces of said articles generally include a so-called positive "shot" with respect to the direction in which the sections of the shot are removed during division to ensure that there is little or no interference between the molded article and the interior surfaces of the sections. of cutting during the division. Interference between articles and dies is commonly known as "negative throw". The draft can be considered as the difference between the upper lateral section of a mold cavity and the section below it. A positive shot allows the pattern to be removed cleanly from the mold; however, lower cuts inherently have a negative shot. In the present invention, the depth and distance of the lower cut is required to secure the closure panel to the dome portion of the lid which is generally minimized in order to reduce manufacturing difficulties that may be associated with the negative draft. In particular, the festooned interconnecting grooves may have lower cut grooves defined by an internal wall thereof, and an outer wall of the positive flue, wherein the outer walls of the convoluted interconnect grooves have an arched profile. The inventors of the present invention have discovered that in order to manufacture the lid of the reclosable cup of the present invention, it is necessary to balance the manufacturing capacity of the lid part, with the need to retain the panel of closure within the interconnected grooves. That is, in order to function as a resealable closure for a drink, the closure panel must slide easily from an open position to a closed position, when inserted into the affected interconnecting grooves. As noted above, the placement of tabs of the lid and significant binding of the closure panel during use can be reduced by piercing the lid element so that the bars are directed out of the operating path of the closure panel. during use. The reclosable lid of the present invention is assembled by applying a bending force to the lid, so that the distance between the interconnected grooves that are generally parallel is extended. This extension allows the chamfering or chamfering closure panel to fit slidably within the recessed interconnecting grooves to provide a resealable thermoformed cup cover assembled. The post of the closure panel is oriented so that it projects upwards through the opening of the post towards the upper surface of the cover element. In contrast to the patent? 03 described previously, the closure panel does not snap into the interconnected grooves of the lid of the present invention. In addition, the lid element flexes itself to insert the closure panel into the convoluted interconnection grooves of the present invention, while in the? 03 patent, the interconnection grooves, i.e. the rails in the form of C, flex themselves by closing the panel in place. The present invention also provides a method for making a reclosable and disposable lid for a vessel, wherein the method comprises: providing a lid element prepared from a thermoformable material, wherein the lid element comprises : providing a thermoformed closure panel having a post projecting upwards from the bevelled and / or radiated closure panel, wherein the bevelled and / or radiated closure panel is configured to slide fit within the grooves of interconnected, by applying a bending force to the lid element to extend the distance between the interconnected grooves; inserting the bevelled and / or chamfered closing panel into the interconnected grooves, so that the post is placed upwards through the opening of the post towards the upper surface of the lid element, where the insert is brought to as long as the element of the lid passes through a bend; and the release of the bending force after insertion of the closure panel into the affected interconnection grooves. The lid element comprises: a side wall suitable for fitting with a rim of the vessel; and an upper wall comprising: an opening for the drink in the periphery of the upper wall, a pair of generally engaged parallel grooved grooves separated by a distance, wherein the engaged interconnect grooves are placed in a lower portion of the upper wall portion, wherein each groove comprises a set configuration and a lower cutting depth, where the set configuration and the lower cutting depth operate together to provide the interconnection grooves; and a pole opening positioned towards a center of the lid element. When the closure panel comprises a closure contour, the lid member will have an associated closure contour adapted to operate together to provide the closure of the panel to be adequate to substantially prevent or prevent the closure panel from opening in the form unnoticed while the drink is contained in a glass, until the lid of the reclosable cup is used. With respect to the manufacturing capacity of the reclosable lid of the present invention, the mechanical detachment action of the release plate in the thermoforming apparatus must be closely regulated with the air ejection function. Firing too fast or too late of the release plate together with the air expulsion burst will tear the furrow and distort the cover making it unusable. The reclosable and disposable lid of the present invention may be designed to fit into any vessel in which it is normally used in vessel lids. The reclosable and disposable cup lid of the present invention is especially suitable for use with hot beverages. Figure 1 describes a reclosable lid having characteristics of the present invention. A crown 24 of the side wall 14 is provided in a specific manner to prevent a stacked vessel 100 having an edge 104 that slides out of the vessel 10. In particular, the crown 24 has a height and dimension such that one end the base (not shown) of the cap 100 is again fitted on a surface of the inner wall 25 of the crown 24. Furthermore, the crown 24 has a height H corresponding substantially to a height of the post 82, and because the post 82 is positioned away from the crown 24, the stacking of the cups 100 and the caps 10 is not affected by the post 82 because the post 82 will fit within an open area (not shown) of known containers and vessels when the stacking occurs. The side wall 14 further includes a generally annular skirt portion 26 which depends thereon. The skirt portion 26 includes an annular sealing groove 28 configured to fit in a sealed manner with the edge 104 of the cup 100. The sealing groove 28 is formed adjacent a distal end of the side wall 14 and a generally flared edge. annular 30 depending on the annular sealing groove 28. The annular sealing groove 28 is configured to fit an edge 104 of the cup 100 and form a seal therein. Therefore, the annular sealing groove 28 provides a means for preventing leakage of contents of the beaker 100 when the lid 10 is secured thereto. The generally annular flared edge 30 provides a clamping surface for the user to remove or replace the lid 10 to the cup 100. The side wall 14 further includes stacking notches 32 formed in the side wall 14 and the crown 24. The stacking notches 32 they facilitate the individual stacking with the lids 10, with each one of the others, and prevents the lids from sticking together when they are being removed from the pile. In Figure 1, interconnecting grooves 48 are placed to straddle the aperture for the aligned beverage 36 and the post aperture 82 by a distance sufficient to define a land area 50 therebetween. The land area 50 is visually distinguishable from the rest of the upper wall (not shown), and is therefore suitable for receiving indicia or the like therein. The formation of the interconnection grooves 48 is such that the substantially flat external surface 22 includes a smooth arcuate transition surface 52 on the outer wall of the groove terminating on a flat bottom surface 54 having a channel 56 opposite the surface of the groove. transition 52. The channel 56 is joined by a substantially vertical wall 58 that terminates at the land area 50. Therefore, when viewed from the outer surface 22, the interconnecting grooves 48 appear to have the channel 56 tucked under the edges of the longitudinal lower cuts of the land area 50 in the top wall 16. The height of the post 82 can be only slightly higher than the height of the crown 24 that is located above the surface 22. This feature allows the stacking of the vessel in the lid, as noted above as well as the stacking from top to top described further herein. invention. The crown 24 is rounded at the top to improve the ergonomics of the dome-shaped element 12 and to be more comfortable for contact through the user's lips. For example, a radius of about 0.050 inch, R1, may be used for the crown 24. The post 82 has opposite longitudinal interconnecting edges 76. Referring now to Figure 2, a cover is shown.
150 configured in accordance with the present invention. The lid 150 has a closure panel 152 as well as a dome 154 with a pair of opposing opposed interconnecting grooves 156, 158. The engaged interlock grooves 156 and 158 have lower cut grooves with an affixed geometry along the longitudinal choice. As described in the present invention, the aftertastes facilitate detachment of the product from the mold and can have a radius of curvature from about 0.125 to about 0.30 inches or about 0.15 to about 0.25 inches. The affixed geometry also facilitates a deep bottom cut groove as can be seen in Figure 2, which is a view on a part of the dome profile along line 13-13 which is an internal area projection. maximum. In Figure 3 it can be seen that the lower cutting groove 160 has a lower cutting depth 162 of about 30 to about 50 mils; a maximum depth that is intermittent with lower depths. Other possible configurations of the lower cutting depth are established in the present invention. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a closure panel 190 190 having beveled edges 192, 194 which can possibly be better appreciated by referring to Figure 5, which is a partial end view of the panel 190. The panel 190 has a top average surface 196 that changes the downward direction at a beveled angle 198, which can be any suitable angle, for example about 10 degrees being adequate. Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the lower cut grooves of the interconnected interworking grooves are formed "S" type modified with. a generally non-square corner at the number 202. As with the other figures described herein, the number 200 is the lower cutting groove which substantially defines an interconnecting groove and the number 202 is the lower cutting depth.
Figure 7 shows a closure panel 204 having features of the present invention. The closure panel 204 comprises the opening of the post 140. The reservoir 206 comprises a vent hole 208 that will drain any beverage (not shown) that may be trapped within the closure panel 204, filtering through the affected interconnecting grooves ( not shown) of the corresponding lid element (not shown). The closure panel 204 also comprises the closure tab 210, which will correspond to a corresponding locking tab fitting 212 (as shown in Figure 9). The closure panel 204 also comprises an aperture seal outline for the beverage 214 having an outer region 216 that corresponds to the line of the beverage opening (not shown) of an associated cap member (not shown). Fig. 8 shows a side profile of the closure panel 204 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a lid element having an opening for the elevated beverage 214 according to the present invention. The opening for the beverage 214 is open to the container (not shown) to allow a beverage (not shown) contained therein to be drunk when a corresponding closure panel (not shown) is in the open position.
Although the present invention is described in connection with numerous features, modifications to said examples are within the scope of the present invention and will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. By virtue of the foregoing description, the knowledge relevant in the art and the references described above in relation to the background of the invention and the detailed description of the invention, descriptions thereof are considered not necessary, which are all incorporated into the present invention as a reference.