Resealable tab for a drinking cup

Abstract

A lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup is shown. The lid has an outer edge having a generally circular periphery and a top surface for defining a drinking opening having a predetermined shape and dimension. The lid includes an annular sidewall operatively connected to and extending circumferentially or axially from the lid and in a first direction relative to the top surface. An annular mounting member is formed on the sidewall lid for sealingly engaging the lip of a drinking cup. A resealable tab having a relatively thin, flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, the substrate having a shape and dimension which is configured to cover the drinking opening with either one of the first surface and second surface is shown. The resealable tab includes a food grade adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive is located on one of the first surface and second surface to enable one of the first surface and second surface to be located over the drinking opening and to have the adhesive form a sealing relationship between the top surface and one of the first surface and second surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup comprising 
 a lid having an outer edge having a generally circular periphery; 
 a top surface for defining a drinking opening having a predetermined shape and dimension;  
 an annular side wall operatively connected to and extending from said outer edge and in a selected direction relative to said top surface;  
 an annular mounting member formed on said sidewall for sealingly engaging a lip of a drinking cup;  
   a resealable tab having 
 a relatively thin, flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said substrate having a shape and dimension which is configured to cover said drinking opening with either one of said first surface and second surface; and  
 a food grade adhesive located between one of said first surface and second surface and said top surface to enable one of said first surface and second surface to be located over said drinking opening and to have said adhesive form a sealing relationship between that portion of the top surface defining said drinking opening and said one of said first surface and second surface.  
   
     
     
         2 . The lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein said annular sidewall selected direction is away from said top surface defining the drinking opening.  
     
     
         3 . The lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein said annular sidewall selected direction is towards said top surface defining the drinking opening.  
     
     
         4 . The lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive is coated on one said first surface and second surface and said one of said first surface and second surface is affixed to the drinking opening to expose the remaining portion of the adhesive to the drinking opening located in the top surface.  
     
     
         5 . The lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive is coated on said top surface and said one of the first surface and second surface is affixed to the adhesive coated on that portion of the top surface surrounding the drinking opening.  
     
     
         6 . The lid and resealable tab  claim 1 , wherein said lid further comprises a central portion which communicates with the sealed outer edges.  
     
     
         7 . The lid and resealed tab of  claim 6  wherein the lid center portion has a partially recessed area for receiving the lip of a user.  
     
     
         8 . The lid and resealable tab of  claim 6  wherein the central portion is a generally recessed area for receiving the lip of a user.  
     
     
         9 . The lid and resealable tab of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is generally oval in shape.  
     
     
         10 . A resealable tab adapted to seal a drinking opening formed in a lid for a drinking cup said resealable tab comprising. 
 a relatively thin, flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, said substrate having a shape and dimension which is adapted to cover said drinking opening with either one of said first surface and second surface; and    a food grade adhesive located between one of said first surface and second surface and said top surface to enable one of said first surface and second surface to be located over said drinking opening wherein said adhesive forms a sealing layer of a predetermined thickness between that portion of the top surface defining said drinking opening and said one of said first surface and second surface, the spacing therebetween being determined by the thickness of said adhesive sealing layer.    
     
     
         11 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein said food grade adhesive comprises a polyurethane composition.  
     
     
         12 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein said food grade adhesive comprises a composition which has increased adhesivity as the temperature thereof is increased above ambient temperature.  
     
     
         13 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein said lid includes an annular sidewall which extend, in a selected direction which is away from said top surface defining the drinking opening.  
     
     
         14 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein said lid includes an annular sidewall which extends in a selected direction which is towards said top surface defining the drinking opening.  
     
     
         15 . The lid and resealable tab for a drinking cup of  claim 10  wherein said adhesive is coated on one said first surface and second surface and said one of said first surface and second surface is affixed to the drinking opening.  
     
     
         16 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein said adhesive is coated on said top surface and said one of the first surface and second surface is affixed to the adhesive coated on that portion of the top surface surrounding the drinking opening.  
     
     
         17 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein said substrate is generally oval in shape.  
     
     
         18 . The resealable tab of  claim 10  wherein substrate is generally circular in shape.  
     
     
         19 . The resealable tab of  claim 17  wherein said generally oval shaped substrate has a lifting member.  
     
     
         20 . The resealable tab of  claim 17  wherein and generally oval shaped substrate has a protruding lifting member.  
     
     
         21 . The resealable tab of  claim 18  wherein said generally circular shaped substrate has a lifting member.  
     
     
         22 . The resealable tab of  claim 18  wherein said generally circular shaped substrate has a protruding lifting member.  
     
     
         23 . In combination, 
 a drinking cup having a lip defining a top opening;    a lid having 
 an outer edge having a generally circular periphery;  
 top surface for defining a drinking opening having a predetermined shape and dimension;  
 an annular side wall operatively connected to and extending from said outer edge and in a selected direction relative to said top surface;  
 an annular mounting member formed on said sidewall for sealingly engaging the lip of the drinking cup;  
   a resealable tab having 
 a flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, said substrate having a shape and dimension which is adapted to cover said drinking opening with either one of said first surface and second surface; and  
 a food grade adhesive located between one of said first surface and second surface and said top surface to enable one of said first and second surfaces to be located over said drinking opening and to have said adhesive form a sealing relationship between that portion of the top surface defining said drinking opening and said one of said first surface and second surface.  
   
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein said annular sidewall selected direction is away from said top surface defining the drinking opening.  
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein said annular sidewall selected direction is towards said top surface defining the drinking opening.  
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein said adhesive is coated on one said first surface and second surface and said one of said first surface and second surface having said adhesive coated thereon is affixed to the drinking opening.  
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein said adhesive is coated on said top surface and said one of the first surface and second surface is affixed to the adhesive coated on that portion of the top surface surrounding the drinking opening.  
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein said food grade adhesive comprises a polyurethane composition.  
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein said food grade adhesive comprises a composition which has increased adhesivity as the temperature thereof is increased above ambient temperature.  
     
     
         30 . A lid and tab for a container comprising 
 a lid having 
 an outer edge having a generally circular periphery;  
 a top surface for defining an orifice having a predetermined shape and dimension;  
 an annular side wall operatively connected to and extending axially from said outer edge and in a first direction relative to said top surface;  
 an annular mounting member formed on said sidewall for sealingly engaging a lip of a container;  
   a resealable tab having 
 a relatively thin, flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, said substrate having a shape and dimension which is adapted to cover said orifice with either one of said first surface and second surface; and  
 a food grade adhesive located between one of said first surface and second surface and said top surface to enable one of said first surface and second surface to be located over said orifice and to have said adhesive form a sealing relationship between that portion of the top surface defining said orifice and said one of said first surface and second surface.  
   
     
     
         31 . A method for preventing spilling of a fluid from a drinking cup having a top surface defining a drinking opening comprising the step of: 
 affixing a resealable tab which is configured to cover said drinking opening wherein said resealable tab has a relatively thin, flexible substrate and a first surface and a second surface wherein said substrate has a shape and dimension to cover said drinking opening with either one of said first surface and second surface, and wherein at least one of said first surface, said second surface and said top surface has a food grade adhesive located thereon to enable said adhesive to form a sealing relationship between that portion of the top surface defining said drinking opening and at least one of said first surface and second surface.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the step of affixing includes a resealable tab having said adhesive located on at least one of said first surface and said second surface which forms a sealing relationship with the top surface defining said drinking opening.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the step of affixing includes said top surface having said adhesive located which forms a sealing relationship with at least one of said first surface and said second surface.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said step of affixing includes a food grade adhesive.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the step of affixing includes a food grade adhesive comprising a polyurethane composition.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the step of affixing includes a food grade adhesive comprising a composition which has increased adhesivity as the temperature thereof is increased above ambient temperature.