Lid for a disposable container

Abstract

A lid for a cup includes an annular wall with a top rim and a bottom base. The annular wall is insertable substantially in its entirety into a cup wherein an exterior face of the annular wall produces a compressive force against an interior face of the cup sufficient to create a seal along a continuous path circumscribing the interior face of the annular wall of the cup. A surface extends from an interior face of the annular wall and the surface covers an area circumscribed by the annular wall. The surface has a dispensing orifice therein.

1 . A lid for a cup comprising:
 an annular wall having a top rim and a bottom base, wherein the annular wall is insertable substantially in its entirety into a cup wherein an exterior face of the annular wall produces a compressive force against an interior face of the cup sufficient to create a seal along a continuous path circumscribing the interior face of the annular wall of the cup; and   a surface extending from an interior face of the annular wall and covering an area circumscribed by the annular wall, the surface having a dispensing orifice therein.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the annular wall of the lid is of constant height. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the annular wall of the lid is tapered and the top rim has a larger diameter than a diameter of the bottom base. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the top rim of the lid forms a concave lip for resting on a rim of the cup. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is intermediate of the top rim and the bottom base and divides the annular wall of the lid into a top wall section and a bottom wall section, the top wall section being thinner than the bottom wall section and the bottom wall section being substantially the same thickness as a thickness of the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the surface extends from the bottom base of the annular wall of the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the surface has a venting orifice. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is made of paper. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is made of STYROFOAM™. 
     
     
         10 . A lid for a cup comprising:
 an annular wall having a top rim and a bottom base, wherein the annular wall is insertable substantially in its entirety into a cup, wherein an exterior face of the annular wall produces a compressive force against an interior face of the cup sufficient to create a seal along a continuous path circumscribing the interior face of the annular wall of the cup, the annular wall of the lid having a constant height, the annular wall of the lid having a taper with the diameter of the top rim being larger than the diameter of the bottom base, wherein the top rim of the lid forms a concave lip for resting on a rim of the cup; and   a surface extending from an interior face of the annular wall and covering an area circumscribed by the annular wall, the surface having a dispensing orifice therein.   
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the lid is made of paper. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is intermediate of the top rim and the bottom base and divides the annular wall of the lid into a top wall section and a bottom wall section, the top wall section being thinner than the bottom wall section and the bottom wall section being substantially the same thickness as a thickness of the surface. 
     
     
         13 . A dispensing container comprising:
 a cup having a tapered annular wall;   a lid having an annular wall, the annular wall of the lid having a top rim and a bottom base, wherein the annular wall of the lid is insertable substantially in its entirety into the cup wherein an exterior face of the annular wall of the lid produces a compressive force against an interior face of the annular wall of the cup sufficient to create a seal along a continuous path circumscribing the interior face of the annular wall of the cup, and a surface extending from the interior face of the annular wall of the lid and the surface covering an area circumscribed by the annular wall of the lid, the surface having a dispensing orifice therein.   
     
     
         14 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the annular wall of the lid is of constant height. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the annular wall of the lid is tapered with substantially the same taper as the annular wall of the cup and the top rim has a larger diameter than the a diameter of the bottom base. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the top rim of the lid forms a concave lip for resting on a rim of the cup. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the surface is intermediate of the top rim and the bottom base and divides the annular wall of the lid into a top wall section and a bottom wall section, the top wall section being thinner than the bottom wall section and the bottom wall section being substantially the same thickness as a thickness of the surface. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the surface extends from the bottom base of the annular wall of the lid. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the surface has a venting orifice. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the cup and lid are both made of paper.