Plug for beverage container lid

Abstract

A device and system for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid comprising a plug ( 10, 110,210,310 ) having an upper surface ( 14,114,214 ), a body portion ( 12,112 ), and a lower surface ( 16,116,216 ), said body portion adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice to provide a temporary seal thereof, and an external member ( 20,120,220 ) located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid, the device comprising
 a plug configured to be at least partially received within an orifice of a lid for a beverage container, the plug comprising an upper surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the upper surface; and   an elongate projection extending from the lower surface and configured to allow a user to stir a beverage contained in the beverage container, the elongate projection having proximal and distal ends, wherein the elongate projection comprises at least one separation element configured to provide a point to break off a portion of the elongate projection distal end from the plug.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a cap portion disposed on the upper surface. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the plug has a maximum horizontal cross sectional dimension and wherein the cap portion has a horizontal cross sectional dimension that exceeds the maximum horizontal cross sectional dimension of the plug. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the plug comprises a first sidewall disposed between the upper and the lower surface. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the first sidewall comprises a first recess. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the first recess extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plug. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the plug comprises a second sidewall disposed opposite the first sidewall. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the second sidewall comprises a second recess. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the second recess defines extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plug. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are juxtaposed along a lateral axis on opposite sides of the plug relative to a longitudinal axis of the plug. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising an external member configured to allow a user to grip the device for insertion and removal of the plug from the orifice. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the external member extends from the cap portion in a direction away from the lower surface. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one separation element is located nearer to the lower surface than a distal end of the elongate projection. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one separation element comprises a score line. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one score line extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the plug. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one score line comprises a groove. 
     
     
         37 . A plug for use with a beverage container lid having at least one orifice, the plug comprising:
 a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the body portion has a maximum cross sectional dimension; and   an elongate projection extending from the lower surface, the elongate portion having a maximum cross sectional dimension that is less than the maximum cross sectional dimension of the body portion, the elongate projection having at least one separation element configured to provide a point to break off a distal portion of the elongate projection, wherein the distal end portion of the elongate projection comprises a stirring element configured to allow a user to stir a beverage contained in the beverage container.   
     
     
         38 . The plug of  claim 37 , wherein the stirring element comprises a scoop. 
     
     
         39 . The plug of  claim 37 , wherein the stirring element comprises a paddle. 
     
     
         40 . The plug of  claim 37 , further comprising a cap portion disposed on the upper surface, the cap portion configured to provide a limit to the insertion of the body portion into the orifice. 
     
     
         41 . The plug of  claim 40 , wherein the cap portion has a cross sectional dimension that exceeds the maximum horizontal cross sectional dimension of the body portion. 
     
     
         42 . The plug of  claim 41 , wherein the body portion comprises a first sidewall disposed between the upper and the lower surface. 
     
     
         43 . The plug of  claim 42 , wherein the first sidewall comprises a first recess. 
     
     
         44 . The plug of  claim 43 , wherein the first recess extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection. 
     
     
         45 . The plug of  claim 42 , wherein the body portion comprises a second sidewall disposed opposite the first sidewall. 
     
     
         46 . The plug of  claim 45 , wherein the second sidewall comprises a second recess. 
     
     
         47 . The plug of  claim 46 , wherein the second recess extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection. 
     
     
         48 . The plug of  claim 46 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are juxtaposed along a lateral axis on opposite sides of the body portion relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection. 
     
     
         49 . The plug of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one separation element comprises a score line. 
     
     
         50 . The plug of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one score line extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongate projection. 
     
     
         51 . The plug of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one score line comprises a groove. 
     
     
         52 . A device for use with a beverage container, the device comprising:
 a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface that is offset from the upper surface along a longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the body portion is configured to plug an orifice in a lid for the beverage container;   an external member extending from the upper surface and configured to allow a user to grip the device; and   an elongate projection extending from the lower surface in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the elongate projection comprising a proximate portion near the body portion and a distal portion, wherein the elongate projection comprises at least one separation element configured to provide a point at which to separate the distal portion of the elongate projection from the proximate portion.   
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one separation element comprises a score line. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one score line extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one score line comprises a groove. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one separation element is disposed nearer to the body portion than the distal end of the elongate projection. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the elongate projection comprises a scoop. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the elongate projection comprises a paddle. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the body portion comprises a first recessed sidewall disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a second recessed sidewall disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface.