Lid assembly and method for use thereof

Abstract

A cup and lid combination that includes a cup having a side wall, a closed bottom and an open top and a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes a band secured on the top of the cup, a lid secured on the band, and a tether having first and second ends. The first end of the tether is connected to the band and the second end of the tether is connected to the lid.

1 . A cup and lid combination comprising:
 a. a cup having a side wall, a closed bottom and an open top, and   b. a lid assembly, wherein the lid assembly includes
 i. a band secured on the top of the cup, 
 ii. a lid secured on the band, and 
 ii. a tether having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the tether is connected to the band and the second end of the tether is connected to the lid. 
   
   
   
       2 . The cup and lid combination of  claim 1  wherein the cup includes a lip adjacent the top thereof, and wherein the band is secured around the lip. 
   
   
       3 . The cup and lid combination of  claim 2  wherein the lid is separable from the band by tearing the tether. 
   
   
       4 . The cup and lid combination of  claim 2  wherein the band includes a channel defined therein, and wherein at least a portion of the lip of the cup is received in the channel. 
   
   
       5 . The cup and lid combination of  claim 1  wherein the lip has a top surface, and wherein the band contacts the top surface. 
   
   
       6 . The cup and lid combination of  claim 1  wherein the cup has an outer surface and an inner surface and the band does not contact the inner surface of the cup, such that another cup can be nested within the cup. 
   
   
       7 . The cup and lid combination of  claim 1  wherein the band includes an upper portion and a downwardly depending skirt that cooperate to define a channel for receiving a lip of the cup. 
   
   
       8 . A method of placing a lid on a cup, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a stack of nestable cups,   b. removing a cup from the stack, wherein the cup includes a lid assembly secured thereto, wherein the lid assembly includes
 i. a band secured to the top of the cup, 
 ii. a lid configured to close the open top of the cup, and 
 ii. a tether having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the tether is connected to the band and the second end of the tether is connected to the lid. 
   c. pivoting the lid upwardly, and   d. securing the lid over the band.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the method includes the step of snap fitting the band onto a lip of the cup before step (a). 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein each of the cups in the stack includes a band therearound, and wherein each of the bands have a lid connected thereto by a tether. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of pivoting the lid upwardly also includes twisting the lid and the tether. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the band includes an upper portion and a downwardly depending skirt that cooperate to define a channel for receiving a lip of the cup. 
   
   
       13 . A stack of cups comprising,
 at least two cups each having a side wall, a closed bottom, an open top and a lip extending around the open top, wherein the cups are oriented in a stacked configuration,   wherein each cup includes
 a band secured to its lip, wherein the band does not contact the inner surface of the cup, 
 a tether having first and second ends, and 
 a lid, wherein the first end of the tether is connected to the band and the second end of the tether is connected to the lid, and 
   wherein the lid is adapted to be secured on the band such that it closes the open top of the cup.   
   
   
       14 . The stack of cups of  claim 12  wherein the lid and the band each include a downwardly depending skirt, wherein the downwardly depending skirt of the lid contacts the downwardly depending skirt of the band when the lid is secured on the band. 
   
   
       15 . The stack of cups of  claim 13  wherein the band includes an upper portion and a downwardly depending skirt that cooperate to define a channel for receiving a lip of the cup.