Cup Lid Having a Sliding Stopper

Abstract

A resealable cup lid comprising a base cup lid having a drink-through opening formed therein in a planar top portion thereof, and a sliding stopper associated therewith so as to selectively provide a sealed and unsealed relationship between said drink-through opening and said sliding stopper. The sliding stopper is a planar and rigid element preferably having a pair of posts upstanding therefrom near the ends thereof, and having an opening therein so that, when aligned with said drink-through opening, a liquid passage through said opening in said sliding stopper and through said drink-through opening formed in the base cup lid, is provided. The sliding stopper can be moved to a closed position wherein the opening in the sliding stopper and the drink-through opening in the base cup lid, are not aligned. The pair of posts on said sliding stopper limit movement of the sliding stopper by being placed in a pair of arcuate openings on the planar top portion of the base cup lid. An easily operated resealable cup lid is provided.

1 . A resealable cup lid comprising a base cup lid having a drink-through opening formed therein in a planar top portion thereof, and a sliding stopper associated therewith so as to selectively provide a sealed and unsealed relationship between said drink-through opening and said sliding stopper; 
 wherein said sliding stopper is a substantially planar and rigid element, and having at least one post upstanding therefrom, and having an opening therein so that, when aligned with said drink-through opening, a liquid passage through said opening in said sliding stopper and through said drink-through opening formed in said base cup lid, is provided;    wherein at least one arcuate opening is formed through said planar top portion of said base cup lid and arcuately spaced from said drink-through opening;    wherein said at least one arcuate opening has a predetermined length and width;    wherein the length of said arcuate opening is greater than the length of said drink-through opening;    wherein said at least one post has a cross-sectional thickness which can pass through and be accommodated by the width of said arcuate opening, and wherein said post has an upper head formed thereon having at least a width which is greater than the predetermined width of said arcuate opening;    whereby when said sliding stopper is in a first position, said opening in said sliding stopper and said drink-through opening in said base cup lid are aligned so as to provide a liquid passage therethrough; and when said sliding stopper is in a second position, said opening in said sliding stopper and said drink-through opening in said base cup lid are no longer aligned and the planar rigid element of said sliding stopper provides a seal against said drink-through opening.    
   
   
       2 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  comprising at least  2  posts, and having a corresponding number of arcuate openings  
   
   
       3 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a pair of posts and a pair of arcuate openings.  
   
   
       4 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sliding stopper has an arcuate form.  
   
   
       5 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein when said sliding stopper is in said first position, said pair of posts are each at a first end of said pair of arcuate openings, and when said sliding stopper is in said second portion, said pair of posts are each at a second end of said pair of arcuate openings.  
   
   
       6 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sliding stopper is fitted to the underside of said base cup lid.  
   
   
       7 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said opening in said sliding stopper is at least the same size as the drink-through opening formed in said base cup lid.  
   
   
       8 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said opening in said sliding stopper is a baffle.  
   
   
       9 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sliding stopper is manufactured by injection molding.  
   
   
       10 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base cup lid and/or said sliding stopper is thermoformed from an extruded plastic sheet material.  
   
   
       11 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base cup lid and/or said sliding stopper are manufactured from, or are covered with, temperature indicating materials or coatings.  
   
   
       12 . A resealable cup lid as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said temperature indicating materials or coatings comprise a thermochromatic material.  
   
   
       13 . A resealable cup lid comprising a base cup lid having a drink-through opening formed therein in a planar top portion thereof, and a sliding stopper associated therewith so as to selectively provide a sealed and unsealed relationship between said drink-through opening and said sliding stopper; 
 wherein said sliding stopper is a planar and rigid element having an arcuate form, and having a pair of posts upstanding therefrom near the ends thereof, and having an opening which is at least the same size as the drink-through opening formed in said base cup lid so that, when aligned therewith, a liquid passage through said opening in said sliding stopper and through said drink-through opening in said base cup lid is provided;    wherein a pair of arcuate openings are formed through said planar top portion of said base cup lid and arcuately spaced from said drink-through opening at each side thereof;    wherein each of said pair of arcuate openings has a predetermined length and width;    wherein the length of each of said pair of arcuate openings is greater than the length of said drink-through opening;    wherein each of said pair of posts has a cross-sectional thickness which can pass through and be accommodated by the width of said arcuate openings, and wherein each of said pair of posts has an upper head formed thereon having at least a width which is greater than the predetermined width of said pair of arcuate openings;    whereby when said sliding stopper is in a first position, so that said pair of posts are each at a first end of said pair of arcuate openings, said opening in said sliding stopper and said drink-through opening in said base cup lid are aligned so as to provide a liquid passage therethrough; and when said sliding stopper is in a second position, so that said pair of posts are each at a second end of said pair of arcuate openings, said opening in said sliding stopper and said drink-through opening in said base cup lid are no longer aligned and the planar rigid element of said sliding stopper provides a seal against said drink-through opening.