Cup lid for dispensing hot fluids

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container lid for sealing a container used to hold fluids and provides a reservoir for collection of a portion of bulk fluid contained in the container to speed cooling relative to the bulk fluid and allows speedier drinking of hot fluids with reduced risk of scalding. The present invention also relates to methods for allowing speedier drinking of hot fluids with reduced risk of scalding by utilizing the reservoir of the inventive container lid.

1 . A container lid for sealing a container used to hold fluids and provide a reservoir for collecting a portion of bulk fluid contained within the container to speed cooling relative to the bulk fluid within the container, wherein the lid comprises: 
 a base physically connected to the container forming a spillproof connection, the base having an inner spout to direct outflow of the bulk fluid from the container, and    a top physically connected to the base forming a spillproof connection, the top having an outer spout for drinking and the top and base defining a reservoir for collecting the bulk fluid from the container,    wherein the top is removable to permit bulk fluid to be dispensed directly through the inner spout of the base.    
   
   
       2 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is of a volume large enough to hold a drinkable portion of fluid for consumption.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a slope for directing fluid to a well area of the reservoir that is nearly horizontal.  
   
   
       7 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the top further comprises a dome for increasing the volume of the reservoir.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the top further comprises an outer trough situated adjacent to the outer spout.  
   
   
       10 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the top further comprises a lip adjacent to the outer spout and near a radial edge of the top.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises an inner trough situated near a radial end of the base somewhat opposite to the inner spout.  
   
   
       13 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a lip adjacent to and radially outside of the inner spout.  
   
   
       14 . A container lid for sealing a container used to hold fluids and provide a reservoir for collecting a portion of bulk fluid contained within the container to speed cooling relative to the bulk fluid within the container, wherein the lid comprises: 
 a base physically connected to the container forming a spillproof connection, the base having an inner spout to direct outflow of the bulk fluid from the container, and    a top physically rotatably connected to the base forming a spillproof connection, the rotatable top having an outer spout base and an outer spout for drinking, and wherein the rotatable top and base define a reservoir for collecting the bulk fluid from the container,    wherein upon cooling of the bulk fluid to a drinkable temperature, the top can be rotated relative to the base so that the outer spout aligns with the inner spout and the outer spout base physically connects to the inner spout to form a direct fluid conduit from the container to the outer spout for drinking.    
   
   
       15 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the reservoir is of a volume large enough to hold a drinkable portion of fluid for consumption.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the base further comprises a slope directing fluid to a well area of the reservoir that is nearly horizontal.  
   
   
       18 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable top further comprises a dome for increasing the volume of the reservoir.  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable top further comprises an outer trough situated adjacent to the outer spout.  
   
   
       21 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable top further comprises a lip adjacent to the outer spout and near a radial edge of the rotatable top.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the base further comprises an inner trough situated near a radial end of the base somewhat opposite to the inner spout.  
   
   
       24 . The container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the base further comprises a lip adjacent to and radially outside of the inner spout.  
   
   
       25 . A method of promoting cooling of a portion of bulk fluid from a container capped with a container lid having a base and a removable top, the base and removable top defining a reservoir, comprising: 
 directing a drinkable portion of the bulk fluid into a reservoir area for enhanced cooling relative to the bulk fluid,    allowing the drinkable portion to cool in a timely period,    dispensing the cooled drinkable portion to a user for drinking with reduced risk of scalding or burning.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the directing step comprises: 
 initially tipping the container capped with the container lid away from a user with an outer spout facing the user.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dispensing step further comprises: 
 secondarily tipping the container capped with the container lid towards the user with the outer spout facing the user.    
   
   
       28 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the container lid comprises a base and a rotatable top, the base physically connected to the container forming a spillproof connection and the base having an inner spout to direct outflow of the bulk fluid from the container, and the rotatable top being physically and rotatably connected to the base forming a spillproof connection, the rotatable top having an outer spout base and an outer spout for drinking, and wherein the rotatable top and base define a reservoir for collecting the bulk fluid from the container and the method comprises: 
 directing a drinkable portion of bulk fluid into the reservoir area for enhanced cooling relative to the bulk fluid when the inner spout and the outer spout are nearly 180° relative to each other,    allowing the drinkable portion to cool in a timely period,    dispensing the cooled drinkable portion to a user for drinking with reduced risk of scalding or burning, and    upon cooling of the bulk fluid to a drinkable temperature, rotating the rotatable top so that the outer spout base fits onto the inner spout to form a fluid conduit for dispensing bulk fluid directly form the container through the outer spout.