Beverage container closure

Abstract

There is provided a beverage container closure which comprises a circumferentially disposed cup engagement means configured for releasable engagement about a beverage container opening. The closure further comprises an upper closure surface disposed intermediate the cup engagement means and a beverage container support extending from the closure surface a pre-determined height thereabove. The container support is surrounded at a bottom end by a gutter being disposed a pre-determined depth below the upper closure surface and the gutter is configured to support a bottom end of the beverage container. The beverage container support is configured to support and releasably engage the base of the beverage container.

1 . A beverage container closure comprising:
 a circumferentially disposed cup engagement means configured for releasable engagement about a beverage container opening;   an upper closure surface disposed intermediate said cup engagement means; and   a beverage container support extending from said closure surface a pre-determined height thereabove, said container support surrounded at a bottom end by a gutter being disposed a pre-determined depth below said upper closure surface, said gutter configured to support a bottom end of said beverage container;   wherein said beverage container support as configured to support and releasably engage the base of said beverage container.   
   
   
       2 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said container support has a maximum diameter less than or about equal to the inner diameter of a base of said beverage container. 
   
   
       3 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support is substantially cylindrical, polygonal or triangular. 
   
   
       4 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support is tapered in maximum diameter from a maximum diameter at or adjacent said container support bottom end to a minimum container support diameter at said pre-determined height above said closure surface. 
   
   
       5 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 4  wherein said maximum diameter at the bottom of said beverage container support is less than said diameter of said container support at said pre-determined height above said closure surface and is greater or substantially equal to a diameter across an inner sidewall at a lowermost sidewall end of said beverage container. 
   
   
       6 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support is substantially cylindrical and substantially centred intermediate said circumferential cup engagement means. 
   
   
       7 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support is cylindrical and not centred on said closure surface with respect to said circumferentially disposed cup engagement means. 
   
   
       8 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 7  wherein said off centred beverage container support is off centred by less than or equal to half a diameter of said beverage container support. 
   
   
       9 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support comprises a plurality of wedges or segments disposed in a side-by-side arrangement. 
   
   
       10 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support is an anulus or ring. 
   
   
       11 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage container support extends a maximum height from said gutter to an uppermost point of said beverage container support distal from said closure surface, said maximum height being less than or equal to a distance between a lowermost sidewall end of said beverage container and a base disposed across said sidewall a pre-determined height above said lowermost point of said sidewall. 
   
   
       12 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  formed from plastics. 
   
   
       13 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 12  wherein said plastics are selected from the group consisting of comprise polyvinyl chloride; polystyrene; polyethylene; polypropylene; polyamides; acrylics, silicones, celluloid and synthetic rubber. 
   
   
       14 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 12  being moulded from plastics. 
   
   
       15 . A beverage container closure according to  claim 1  including a dispensing aperture disposed in or adjacent said closure surface.