Plug for beverage container lid

Abstract

A device and system for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid, comprising a plug having an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface, said body portion adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice to provide a temporary seal thereof, and an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.

1 . A device for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid, comprising a plug having an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface, said body portion adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice to provide a temporary seal thereof, and an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.  
   
   
       2 . A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the horizontal cross section of said body portion approximates the shape of the orifice in the beverage container lid.  
   
   
       3 . A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the horizontal cross sectional dimensions of said body portion are substantially smaller than the horizontal cross sectional dimensions of the beverage container lid.  
   
   
       4 . A device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a cap portion on the upper surface of said plug, said cap portion having a horizontal cross section that exceeds the dimensions of the horizontal cross section of the body portion.  
   
   
       5 . A device as recited in  claim 4  wherein said body portion is configured to permit said cap portion to contact the lid when said plug is inserted into the lid orifice.  
   
   
       6 . A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said body portion is at least partially hollow.  
   
   
       7 . A device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the lower surface of said plug conforms to the hollow region of said body portion.  
   
   
       8 . A device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an elongate projection extending from the lower surface and configured to allow a user to stir a beverage contained in the beverage container.  
   
   
       9 . A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said elongate projection includes a horizontal cross section selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially oval, and substantially quadrilateral, and substantially polygonal cross sections.  
   
   
       10 . A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said elongate projection, said body portion further comprises a channel connecting an opening located on said elongate projection remote from said lower surface through said body portion and to an opening located on said external member, whereby a beverage can be removed from the container without removing said plug from the lid orifice.  
   
   
       11 . A beverage container system comprising: 
 a) a container for containing a liquid beverage having an open end,    b) a lid configured to attach to said open end of said container, and having at least one orifice, and    c) a device for temporarily sealing said orifice comprising a plug having an upper surface, a body portion and a lower surface, said body portion adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice to provide a temporary seal thereof, and an external member located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.    
   
   
       12 . A system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the horizontal cross section of said body portion approximates the shape of the orifice in the beverage container lid.  
   
   
       13 . A system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the horizontal cross sectional dimensions of said body portion are substantially smaller than the horizontal cross sectional dimensions of the beverage container lid.  
   
   
       14 . A system as recited in  claim 11  further comprising a cap portion on the upper surface of said plug, said cap portion having a horizontal cross section that exceeds the dimensions of the horizontal cross section of the body portion.  
   
   
       15 . A system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said body portion is configured to permit said cap portion to contact the lid when said plug is inserted into the lid orifice.  
   
   
       16 . A system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said body portion is at least partially hollow.  
   
   
       17 . A system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the lower surface of said plug conforms to the hollow region of said body portion.  
   
   
       18 . A system as recited in  claim 11  further comprising an elongate projection extending from the lower surface and configured to allow a user to stir a beverage contained in the beverage container.  
   
   
       19 . A system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said elongate projection includes a horizontal cross section selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially oval, and substantially quadrilateral, and substantially polygonal cross sections.  
   
   
       20 . A system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said elongate projection, said body portion further comprises a channel connecting an opening located on said elongate projection remote from said lower surface through said body portion and to an opening located on said external member, whereby a beverage can be removed from the container without removing said plug from the lid orifice.