Beverage cup lid

Abstract

A beverage cup lid ( 12 ) having a generally planar central portion and a rim surrounding and extending away from said central portion. At least one drinking aperture ( 12 a ) located substantially adjacent said rim and adapted to permit liquid to flow through said lid. A barrier member ( 14 ) overlies said drinking aperture. The barrier member ( 14 ) being applied to the lid during a manufacturing process and removable by an end user to permit drinking via the drinking aperture.

1 . A beverage cup lid having a generally planar central portion and a rim surrounding and extending away from said central portion;
 at least one drinking aperture located substantially adjacent said rim and adapted to permit liquid to flow through said lid;   a barrier member overlying said drinking aperture;   the barrier member being applied to the lid during a manufacturing process and removable by an end user to permit drinking via the drinking aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the barrier member overlies a region, about the drinking aperture where a consumer's lips contact the lid while drinking 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier member is a sticker, the sticker having a tab to peel said sticker away from at least a portion of said lid to expose said drinking aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the barrier member extends at least partly over the drinking apertures, rim and central portion. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a beverage cup lid including:
 forming a portion shaped to fit a cup;   forming a drinking aperture in said shaped portion;   applying a barrier member to the shaped portion to shield the drinking aperture;   wherein during said method the drinking aperture is not touched by human hands.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including the step of selecting the barrier from a supply of barriers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including the step of applying a vacuum to the barrier to urge the barrier into contact with said shaped portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of applying the barrier to said shaped portion includes pressing the barrier against the shaped portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of forming the shaped portion includes thermoforming a portion of a sheet of material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  including the step of severing the shaped portion from the sheet of material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  further including the step of, after applying the barrier to a shaped portion, stacking a plurality of lids and shaped portions to form a transportable stack. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of sealingly packaging said stack as a single unit. 
     
     
         13 . A beverage cup lid manufactured by the method of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         14 . A stack of beverage cup lids, the lids manufactured by the method of  claim 5 .