Beverage cup lid

Abstract

A beverage cup lid having means for facilitating the rapid identification of its drinking orifice and drinking straw aperture components by beverage servers as well as consumers of the beverage, especially by the visually or neurologically impaired, and especially by drivers of motor vehicles. In various embodiments of the subject beverage cup lid, the orifice (or drinking straw aperture) is circumscribed by an area characterized by a high degree of contrast relative to the remaining external surface area of the lid such that the two areas are visually discernible from one another. In other embodiments, the two areas are tactilely discernible from one another.

What is claimed as being new, useful and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
         1 . A beverage cup lid comprising, a center cover section sized and shaped to cover the opening of a beverage cup, said center cover section having a drinking orifice therethrough, said drinking orifice being at least partially surrounded by an area of high visual contrast relative to the remaining external surfaces of the lid, whereby said first area is readily discernible from said remaining external surfaces to facilitate location of said drinking hole. 
     
     
         2 . A beverage cup lid comprising:
 a. a center cover section comprised of a panel sized and shaped to cover the opening of a beverage cup;   b. a peripheral cup engaging section comprised of an annular flange depending from the periphery of said center cover section; and   c. a drinking orifice disposed through said panel; said drinking orifice being at least partially surrounded by a first area of said lid, said first area being in high visual contrast with the remaining external surfaces of the lid such that said first area and said remaining external surfaces of the lid are rapidly discernible from one another.   
     
     
         3 . A combination beverage cup and beverage cup lid, the combination comprising,
 a. a drinking vessel having a bottom, a tubular wall portion having an exterior surface, and an opening defined by a rim; said tubular wall portion comprising a first region of high visual contrast relative to the remaining external surfaces of said drinking vessel such that said first area and said remaining external surfaces of the lid are rapidly discernible from one another; and   b. a lid comprising:
 1. a center cover section comprising a panel sized and shaped to cover said opening of said beverage cup; 
 2. a peripheral cup engaging section comprising an annular flange depending from the periphery of said center cover section and in removable engagement with said cup rim; and 
 3. a drinking orifice disposed through said panel; said drinking orifice being at least partially surrounded by a first area of high visual contrast relative to the remaining external surfaces of said lid such that said first area and said remaining external surfaces of the lid are rapidly discernible from one another; 
   
       whereby said first area of said lid and said first region of said drinking vessel are aligned to facilitate the identification of said drinking orifice by a user.