Beverage cup lid

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage cup lid including an elongated channel that extends from the drinking port to a terminus below the lid's lower edge. The elongated channel may thus extend into a beverage contained in a beverage cup.

1 . A beverage cup lid, comprising:
 a drinking port;   an elongated channel in fluid communication with the drinking port and further comprising a terminus; and   a lower edge,   wherein the terminus is located below the lower edge.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the terminus is located at a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch below the lower edge. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the terminus is located at a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch above the bottom of a beverage cup to which the beverage cup lid is adapted to mate. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the terminus is located at a distance between about one inch below the lower edge and about one inch above the bottom of a beverage cup to which the beverage cup lid is adapted to mate. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , further comprising means to mate the beverage cup lid with a beverage cup. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary port adapted to allow air to pass through the beverage cup lid. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated channel comprises a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of D-shaped, round, ovular, square, triangular, rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated channel is either substantially linear along its length or comprises a curvature along its length. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated channel comprises:
 a portion proximal to the drinking port that is enclosed, and   a portion distal to the drinking port that is open along one side.   
     
     
         10 . The beverage cup lid of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated channel comprises a portion distal to the drinking port comprising a substantially flat element. 
     
     
         11 . In combination, a beverage cup and a beverage cup lid, the beverage cup lid comprising:
 a drinking port,   an elongated channel in fluid communication with the drinking port and further comprising a terminus, and   a lower edge,   wherein the terminus is located below the lower edge and the beverage cup is mated to the beverage cup lid.   
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the terminus is located at a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch below the lower edge. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the terminus is located at a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch above the bottom of the beverage cup. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the terminus is located at a distance between about one inch below the lower edge and about one inch above the bottom of the beverage cup. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the beverage cup lid is mated to the beverage cup with a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a pressure fitting, a screw threading, a tongue-and-groove assembly, a hinge assembly and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the beverage cup lid further comprises a secondary port adapted to allow air to pass through the beverage cup lid. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated channel comprises a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of D-shaped, round, ovular, square, triangular, rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated channel is either substantially linear along its length or comprises a curvature along its length. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated channel comprises:
 a portion proximal to the drinking port that is enclosed, and   a portion distal to the drinking port that is open along one side.   
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated channel comprises a portion distal to the drinking port comprising a substantially flat element.