Coffee cup lid

Abstract

A lid for a cup for reducing or preventing spills. The lid includes a top wall for covering the cup and a rim for securing the lid to the cup and providing a seal around the lip of the cup. A spout in the lid enables drinking without removal of the lid. Generally, the spout is raised above the top wall of the lid, and includes at least one sunken portion with a hole in a side of the sunken portion such that a beverage in the cup can enter the sunken portion through the hole.

1 . A lid for a cup, comprising:
 a seal around a periphery of the lid for generally sealing the lid to the cup;   a top wall for covering the cup;   a spout comprising a raised portion raised above the seal;   a sunken portion on the raised portion; and   a plurality of holes or slots in a side of the sunken portion.   
   
   
       2 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a partition for dividing the sunken portion such that at least one hole or slot of the plurality of holes or slots is on each of opposite sides of the partition. 
   
   
       3 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vent hole in the top wall; and   a second sunken portion in the top wall for guiding spills on the top wall toward the vent hole.   
   
   
       4 . The lid of  claim 3 , further comprising an inclined trench in the second sunken portion, wherein the vent hole is in the inclined trench. 
   
   
       5 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spout comprising a second raised portion and a second sunken portion on the second raised portion, having at least one hole or slot in a side of the second sunken portion. 
   
   
       6 . A lid for a cup, comprising:
 a seal around a periphery of the lid for generally sealing the lid to the cup;   a top wall for covering the cup;   a plurality of spouts, each comprising a raised portion raised above the seal;   a sunken portion on each of the plurality of raised portions; and   at least one hole or slot in a side of the sunken portion of each of the plurality of raised portions.   
   
   
       7 . The lid of  claim 6 , further comprising a directional marker on the top wall to enable a user to distinguish between the plurality of spouts. 
   
   
       8 . The lid of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spouts comprises two spouts on opposite sides of the lid. 
   
   
       9 . The lid of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a vent hole in the top wall; and   a second sunken portion in the top wall for guiding spills on the top wall toward the vent hole.   
   
   
       10 . The lid of  claim 9 , further comprising an inclined trench in the second sunken portion, wherein the vent hole is in the inclined trench. 
   
   
       11 . A lid for a cup, comprising:
 a seal around a periphery of the lid for generally sealing the lid to the cup;   a top wall for covering the cup;   a first spout comprising a raised portion raised above the seal;   a sunken portion on the raised portion;   a hole or slot in a side of the sunken portion of the raised portion;   a vent hole in the top wall; and   a second sunken portion in the top wall for guiding spills on the top wall toward the vent hole.   
   
   
       12 . The lid of  claim 11 , further comprising a second spout on a side of the lid opposite to the first spout. 
   
   
       13 . The lid of  claim 9 , further comprising a marker on the top wall to enable a user to distinguish between the first spout and the second spout.