Plug with beveled undercut sealing groove for beverage lids

Abstract

An apparatus including a base portion having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and a protrusion extending from the second surface, the protrusion including a first portion including a sidewall extending from the second surface at an angle less than 90°, and a second portion extending from the first portion, the protrusion having dimensions to fit within a consuming opening of a lid of a transportable beverage container. Also an apparatus including a base portion and a protrusion extending from the surface including a sidewall portion that is beveled at an angle less than 90°. Also a method including inhibiting liquid in a beverage container from escaping through a consuming opening in a lid of the container utilizing a beveled protrusion extending from a base of an apparatus.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a base portion having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and    a protrusion extending from the second surface, the protrusion comprising a first portion comprising a sidewall extending from the second surface at an angle less than 90°, and a second portion extending from the first portion, the protrusion having dimensions to fit within a consuming opening of a lid of a transportable beverage container such that when the second surface of the base portion lies on a surface of the lid, the first portion of the protrusion and the second portion of the protrusion extend into the consuming opening.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is separable from the lid and has a dimension such that it is grippable by a consumer of the beverage container.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a junction of the first portion of the protrusion and the second portion of the protrusion has a perimeter greater than a perimeter of the consuming opening.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the junction has an oval shape.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the protrusion comprises a sidewall extending from the first portion of the protrusion at an angle greater than 90° relative to the second surface.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is formed of a material similar or comparable with a material of the base portion.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a base portion having a surface; and    a protrusion extending from the surface, the protrusion comprising a first portion comprising a sidewall beveled relative to the surface at an angle less than 90°, and a second portion extending from the first portion, the protrusion having dimensions to fit within a consuming opening of a detachable conical-shaped lid of a transportable beverage container such that when the surface of the base portion lies on a surface of the the lid, the first portion of the protrusion and the second portion of the protrusion extend into the consuming opening.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the protrusion comprises a sidewall beveled at an angle greater than 90° relative to the surface.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a junction of the first portion of the protrusion and the second portion of the protrusion has a perimeter greater than a perimeter of the consuming opening.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the junction has an oval shape.  
   
   
       11 . A method comprising: 
 inhibiting liquid in a beverage container from escaping through a consuming opening in a lid of a beverage container utilizing a protrusion coupled to and extending from a base portion of an apparatus,    wherein the protrusion comprises a first portion comprising a sidewall extending from a surface of the base portion at an angle less than 90°, and a second portion extending from the first portion.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the lid is a conical shaped lid that extends above a lip of the beverage container.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inhibiting the liquid in a beverage container from escaping through a consuming opening in a lid comprises placing the protrusion in the consuming opening of the lid so that both the first portion and the second portion extend through the consuming opening.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a perimeter of at least a portion of the first portion of the protrusion is greater than a perimeter of the consuming opening.  
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 placing an apparatus on a detachable lid of a disposable beverage container, the apparatus comprising a base portion having a surface and a protrusion coupled to and extending from the surface, the protrusion comprising a first portion comprising a sidewall extending from the surface at an angle less than 90°, and a second portion extending from the first portion, and placing comprises placing a portion of the protrusion into a consuming opening of the lid of the container.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein placing the apparatus on the detachable lid comprises placing the protrusion in the consuming opening of the lid so that both the first portion and the second portion extend through the consuming opening.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a junction between the first portion of the protrusion and the second portion of the protrusion has a perimeter greater than a perimeter of the consuming opening and a perimeter of a cross-section of the first portion of the protrusion is less than the perimeter of the consuming opening.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein placing comprises placing a portion of the protrusion into the consuming opening such that the surface of the base portion lies on a surface of the lid.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a perimeter of at least a portion of the first portion of the protrusion is greater than a perimeter of the consuming opening.