Disposable beverage cup lid with lip-operated valve

Abstract

Disposable beverage cup lid having a lower section adapted to be mounted on a beverage cup in peripheral sealing engagement with the rim of the cup, an upper section which overlies and is sealed peripherally to the lower section, an opening in the upper section through which a person can drink a beverage from the cup, a valve member mounted on the lower section for movement between open and closed positions relative to the opening in the upper section, and means operable by the lip of a person drinking from the cup for moving the valve member between the open and closed positions.

1 . A disposable beverage cup lid, comprising: a lower section adapted to be mounted on a beverage cup in peripheral sealing engagement with the rim of the cup, an upper section which overlies and is sealed peripherally to the lower section, an opening in the upper section through which a person can drink a beverage from the cup, a valve member mounted on the lower section for movement between open and closed positions relative to the opening in the upper section, and means operable by the lip of a person drinking from the cup for moving the valve member between the open and closed positions.  
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower sections are formed as a unitary structure.  
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower sections are connected together by a hinge.  
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower sections are fabricated of a polystyrene material.  
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the means for moving the valve member includes an operating lever which is pivotally connected to the lower section and extends in a generally vertical direction through a second opening in the upper section in position for engagement by the upper lip of a person drinking from the cup.  
     
     
         6 . The cup of  claim 5  wherein the upper section includes a flap which extends along one side of the second opening in sealing engagement with the lever.  
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the means for moving the valve member includes an operating lever which is pivotally connected to the lower section near its periphery and is connected to the valve member for moving the valve member toward the open position in response to an inwardly directed applied to the lever by the lower lip of a person drinking from the cup.  
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the upper section includes a recessed area in which the first named opening is located.  
     
     
         9 . A disposable beverage cup lid, comprising: a lower section adapted to be mounted on a beverage cup in peripheral sealing engagement with the rim of the cup, an upper section which overlies and is sealed peripherally to the lower section, openings in the upper and lower sections toward one side of the lid, an L-shaped lever pivotally mounted on the lower section with a first arm of the lever extending through a second opening in the upper section for engagement by the upper lip of a person drinking from the cup and a second arm extending in an outward direction into the opening in the lower section, and a valve member mounted on the second arm for movement between open and closed positions relative to the first named opening in the upper section.  
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 9  including a link hingedly connected to the outer end of the second lever arm and to the peripheral portion of the lower section to form a toggle having two stable positions for latching the valve member in the open and closed positions.  
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 10  wherein the lever and the link are formed as a unitary structure and fabricated of a polystyrene material.  
     
     
         12 . The cup of  claim 9  wherein the upper section includes a flap which extends along one side of the second opening in sealing engagement with the first arm of the lever.  
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 9  including a second opening in the lower section spaced diagonally opposite the first named openings.  
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 9  wherein the upper section includes a recessed area in which the first named opening is located.  
     
     
         15 . A disposable beverage cup lid, comprising: a lower section adapted to be mounted on a beverage cup in peripheral sealing engagement with the rim of the cup, an upper section which overlies and is sealed peripherally to the lower section, openings in the upper and lower sections toward one side of the lid, an upstanding lever pivotally mounted on the lower section between the openings and the side of the lid, an upstanding post mounted on the lower section opposite the lever, a flexible arm extending between the upper ends of the lever and the post, and a valve member carried by the flexible arm for movement out of sealing engagement with the opening in the upper section in response to an inwardly directed force applied to the lever by the lower lip of a person drinking from the cup.  
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 15  wherein the lid is fabricated as a unitary structure of a polystyrene material.  
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 15  including a second opening in the lower section spaced diagonally opposite the first named openings.  
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 15  wherein the upper section includes a recessed area in which the opening is located.  
     
     
         19 . A disposable beverage cup lid formed as a unitary structure of a polystyrene material, comprising: a lower section adapted to be mounted on a beverage cup in peripheral sealing engagement with the rim of the cup, an upper section which overlies and is sealed peripherally to the lower section, openings in the upper and lower sections toward one side of the lid, an L-shaped lever pivotally mounted on the lower section with a first arm of the lever extending through a second opening in the upper section for engagement by the upper lip of a person drinking from the cup and a second arm extending in an outward direction into the opening in the lower section, a valve member mounted on the second arm for movement between open and closed positions relative to the first named opening in the upper section, and a link hingedly connected to the outer end of the second lever arm and to the outer portion of the lower section to form a toggle having two stable positions for latching the valve member in the open and closed positions.  
     
     
         20 . The cup of  claim 19  wherein the upper section includes a flap which extends along one side of the second opening in sealing engagement with the first arm of the lever.  
     
     
         21 . The lid of  claim 19  including a second opening in the lower section spaced diagonally opposite the first named openings.  
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 19  wherein the upper section includes a recessed area in which the first named opening is located.