Splash Resistant Lid With a Snap-On Baffle

Abstract

A splash minimizing lid assembly for a container comprises a lid and a baffle insert with a number of openings. The lid comprises a continuous lid bead having a horizontal portion and a radially extending portion. The lid snaps onto the brim of the container and sandwiches the baffle insert between the horizontal portion of the lid bead and the brim. The bead is designed to accommodate the baffle insert which can be snapped into the bead, wherein the height of the bid should be sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the baffle insert and the brim of the container. The lid typically stacks or nests in a conventional manner separately from the baffle insert. The baffle insert can be snapped into the lid bead when the lid is used to close a container. The lid and the baffle insert can be manufactured from the same material.

1 . A cover assembly for a container having a side wall with a brim, the cover assembly comprising: 
 a lid having a lid peripheral portion comprising a continuous radial lid bead having a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion, the continuous radial lid bead being configured to engage with the brim in a snap fitting manner; and    a baffle of a flexible material comprising a baffle peripheral portion, a first horizontal surface, and a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion, the configuration of the baffle being such that the baffle can be inserted into the lid by engaging the baffle peripheral portion in a snap-fitting relationship with the continuous radial lid bead and by engaging the first horizontal surface of the baffle in a fitting relationship with the horizontal portion of the lid when the baffle peripheral portion is retained between the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim.    
     
     
         2 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral portion of the lid and the baffle peripheral portion are annular.  
     
     
         3 . The cover assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a first opening disposed in the center of the baffle and wherein the plurality of openings are disposed along the circumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         4 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a dome portion with a sip portion and a vent portion and wherein the size of the sip portion is larger than that of the plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         5 . The cover assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sip portion is a sip opening.  
     
     
         6 . The cover assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sip portion is preconfigured to be opened by a user to form the sip opening.  
     
     
         7 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid and the baffle are made of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         8 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle has a substantially uniform thickness.  
     
     
         9 . A splash-resistant container assembly comprising: 
 a container having a side wall with a top portion and a brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall, the brim extending radially outwardly from the top portion of the side wall;    a lid having a lid peripheral portion comprising a continuous radial lid bead having a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion, the continuous radial lid bead engaging with the brim in a snap fitting manner; and    a baffle insert having a baffle peripheral portion disposed in the downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead between the brim and the horizontal portion of the lid bead, the baffle insert comprising a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion, the configuration of the baffle being such that the baffle is inserted into the lid by engaging the baffle peripheral portion in a snap fitting relationship with the continuous radial lid bead.    
     
     
         10 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 9 , wherein the side wall and the brim of the container are generally circular, and wherein the peripheral portion of the lid is generally circular.  
     
     
         11 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 9 , wherein the lid further comprises a sip portion and a vent opening.  
     
     
         12 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the sip portion is a sip opening.  
     
     
         13 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the sip portion is preconfigured to be opened by a user to form the sip opening.  
     
     
         14 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle peripheral portion is generally annular and wherein the plurality of openings is disposed along the circumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion and wherein an additional opening is spaced apart from the circumference.  
     
     
         15 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 12 , wherein the size of the sip opening is larger than that of the plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         16 . The splash-resistant container of  claim 9 , wherein the baffle insert has a substantially uniform thickness.  
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling a lid with a baffle insert for a container having a side wall and a brim, the method comprising: 
 providing a lid having a lid peripheral portion with a continuous radial lid bead, the radial lid bead comprising a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and being configured to engage with the brim in a snap fitting manner;    providing a baffle insert having a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion; and    inserting the baffle insert into the lid by snapping the baffle peripheral portion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that the horizontal surface is in the fitting relationship with the horizontal portion of the lid bead.    
     
     
         18 . The method of assembling as in  claim 17 , wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lid having a sip.  
     
     
         19 . The method of assembling as in  claim 18 , wherein the sip portion is a sip opening.  
     
     
         20 . The method of assembling as in  claim 18 , wherein the sip portion is preconfigured to be opened by a user to form the sip opening.  
     
     
         21 . The method of assembling as in  claim 19 , wherein providing the lid comprises providing the sip opening of a size larger than the size of the plurality of opening in the baffle insert.  
     
     
         22 . The method of assembling as in  claim 17 , further comprising providing the baffle insert of a substantially uniform thickness.  
     
     
         23 . The method of assembling as in  claim 17 , wherein the side walls and the brim of the container are generally annular and wherein the baffle peripheral portion is generally annular.  
     
     
         24 . The method of assembling as in  claim 22 , wherein providing the plurality of through openings comprises disposing the opening along the circumference of the baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         25 . The method of assembling as in  claim 17 , further comprising providing the lid and the baffle insert made of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         26 . A method of providing a splash-resistant container comprising: 
 providing a container comprising a side wall having a top portion and a brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall;    providing a lid having a lid peripheral portion with a continuous radial lid bead, the radial lid bead comprising a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and being configured to engage with the brim in a snap fitting manner; and    providing a baffle insert having a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion, the configuration of the baffle being such that the baffle can be inserted into the lid by engaging the baffle peripheral portion in a snap fit relationship with the continuous radial lid bead and by engaging the first horizontal surface of the baffle in a fitting relationship with the horizontal portion of the lid when the baffle peripheral portion is retained between the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing the lid and the baffle insert comprises providing shaped annularly the peripheral portion of the lid and the baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein providing the baffle insert with the plurality of openings further comprises providing the plurality of openings disposed along the circumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion and providing an additional opening spaced apart from the circumference.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a dome portion of the lid with a sip opening in the dome portion, the sip opening being larger than the openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing the lid and the baffle insert made of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing a container comprises providing a cup or soup bowl.  
     
     
         32 . A method of assembling a splash-resistant container, the method comprising: 
 providing a container comprising a side wall having a top portion and a brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall;    providing a lid having a lid peripheral portion with a continuous radial lid bead, the radial lid bead comprising a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and being configured to engage with the brim in a snap fitting manner;    providing a baffle insert having a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion;    inserting the baffle insert into the lid by snapping the baffle peripheral portion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that the horizontal surface is in the fitting relationship with the horizontal portion of the lid bead; and    snap fitting the lid onto the brim, thereby sandwiching the baffle peripheral portion of the horizontal surface between the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim.    
     
     
         33 . The method of assembling as in  claim 32 , wherein providing the container, the lid and the baffle insert comprises providing the brim, the peripheral portion of the lid, and the baffle peripheral portion shaped annularly.  
     
     
         34 . The method of assembling as in  claim 33 , wherein providing the baffle insert with the plurality of openings comprises providing the plurality of openings disposed along the circumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion and providing an additional opening spaced apart from the circumference.  
     
     
         35 . The method of assembling as in  claim 32 , wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lid with a sip portion in the dome portion, the sip portion being a sip opening.  
     
     
         36 . The method of assembling as in  claim 32 , wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lid with a sip portion in the dome portion, the sip portion being preconfigured to be opened by a user to form the sip opening, the sip opening being larger than the openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion.  
     
     
         37 . The method of assembling as in  claim 32 , wherein providing the container comprises providing a cup or a soup bowl.  
     
     
         38 . A method of assembling a splash-resistant container, the method comprising: 
 providing a container comprising a side wall having a top portion and a brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall;    providing a lid having a lid peripheral portion with a continuous radial lid bead, the radial lid bead comprising a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and being configured to engage with the brim in a snap fitting manner;    providing a baffle insert having a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion;    disposing the baffle insert on the container in such a way that the peripheral portion of the baffle insert is in registry with the brim; and    snap fitting the lid onto the brim, thereby sandwiching the baffle peripheral portion between the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim and thereby snapping the baffle peripheral portion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that the horizontal surface is in a fitting relationship with the horizontal portion of the lid bead.    
     
     
         39 . The method of assembling as in  claim 38 , wherein providing the container, the lid and the baffle insert comprises providing the brim, the peripheral portion of the lid, and the baffle peripheral portion of annular shape.  
     
     
         40 . The method of assembling as in  claim 38 , wherein the baffle insert with the plurality of openings comprises providing the plurality of openings disposed along the circumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion and providing an additional opening spaced apart from the circumference.  
     
     
         41 . The method of assembling as in  claim 38 , wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lid with a sip portion in the dome portion, the sip portion being a sip opening.  
     
     
         42 . The method of assembling as in  claim 38 , wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lid with a sip portion in the dome portion, the sip portion being preconfigured to be opened by a user to form the sip opening, the sip opening being larger than the openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion.