Aseptic Disposable Sippy Style Beverage Container

Abstract

A single-use, disposable, shelf-stable beverage container having a sealed liquid held in the cup reservoir by a membrane film and having a cutting tool concealed within the lid cavity that pierces the membrane when the lid is depressed. The single-piece lid and drink spout are of a valve-less, non-articulated sippy-style design that restricts the flow of liquid and reduces spillage. The container can be inexpensively thermoformed, easily filled and hermetically sealed and easily adaptable to hot-fill, aseptic and retort packaging materials and methods making it a low cost, ready-to-drink, convenient alternative to the traditional tumbler-style sippy cup.

1 . An pre-filled disposable beverage container, comprising: 
 a) A cup vessel having a cylindrical wall attached to a circular floor, both, featuring an opening at the upper end and a rim for mating to a corresponding lid;    b) A lid with a sippy style drinking spout and a mating rim corresponding to the cup having a nodule post in the interior cavity;    c) A membrane film seal covering the cup opening and sandwiched in between the cup and the lid; and    d) A cutting tool attached to said lid having a plurality of piercing heads used to rupture the membrane film when the lid is depressed.    
   
   
       2 . A container as in  claim 1  including a pull tab seal covering the drinking spout.  
   
   
       3 . A container as in  claim 1  including a cap to cover the container assembly.  
   
   
       4 . A container as in  claim 1  wherein said cup vessel has a semi-rigid, semi-deformable tapered cylindrical  
   
   
       5 . A container as in  claim 1  wherein said lid is in a convex shape.  
   
   
       6 . A container as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting tool is enclosed in the lid cavity having single or multiple convex armatures that set into the molded interior periphery groove of the lid.  
   
   
       7 . A container as in  claim 1  wherein the cup wall and cup floor have molded contoured relief features.  
   
   
       8 . A container as in  claim 1  wherein the retort capable packaging materials for each component embodying the container assembly has individual bonding temperatures above 190 degrees Fahrenheit that will fuse together with a bonding means for those components needing to be hermetically sealed.  
   
   
       9 . A container as in  claim 1  where said container is made from one or more of a set of polypropylene or co-extruded, oxygen barrier plastics or films.  
   
   
       10 . A container as in  claim 1  where said drinking spout is extended upwardly from the lid forming a rim about the spout tip with holes in the recessed depression to allow liquid to flow at a reduced rate.  
   
   
       11 . A container as in  claim 1  where said lid has an intake hole.  
   
   
       12 . A container as in  claim 1  where said membrane is pealable.  
   
   
       13 . A container as in  claim 1  where said lid and said cup vessel are sealed.  
   
   
       14 . A container as in  claim 1  where said cutting tool is in a decorative shape.  
   
   
       15 . A container as in  claim 1  where it is attached to a plurality of other containers.  
   
   
       16 . A container as in  claim 15  where said plurality is in a six-pack configuration.  
   
   
       17 . A container as in  claim 1  where said membrane has a minimum of three layers.  
   
   
       18 . An aseptic, pre-filled, retort capable disposable beverage container, comprising: 
 e) A cup vessel having a cylindrical wall attached to a circular floor, both, featuring an opening at the upper end and a rim for mating to a corresponding lid;    f) A lid with a sippy style drinking spout and a mating rim corresponding to the cup having a nodule post in the interior cavity;    g) A membrane film seal covering the cup opening and sandwiched in between the cup and the lid;    h) A cutting tool attached to said lid having a plurality of piercing heads used to rupture the membrane film when the lid is depressed;    i) a pull tab seal covering the drinking spout;    j) said cup vessel has a semi-rigid, semi-deformable tapered cylindrical;    k) said lid is in a convex shape; and    l) said lid has an intake hole.    
   
   
       19 . A container as in  claim 18  where said cutting tool is in a decorative shape.  
   
   
       20 . A container as in  claim 18  where said drinking spout is extended upwardly from the lid forming a rim about the spout tip with holes in the recessed depression to allow liquid to flow at a reduced rate.