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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plug for temporarily sealing a drinking orifice in a beverage container lid, the plug comprising:
 a body portion having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first sidewall disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a second sidewall disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface, the first and second sidewalls disposed on opposite sides of the body portion and configured to engage at least a portion of the orifice;   a recessed region located between the upper surface and the lower surface;   a cap portion disposed on the upper surface, the cap having a thickness that is greater than the distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to provide a limit to the insertion of the plug into the orifice; and   an external member disposed on the cap portion, the external member configured to allow a user to grip the plug for insertion and removal of the plug from the orifice.   
     
     
         2 . The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed region located between the upper surface and the lower surface defines a concave channel that extends substantially parallel to an axis extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The plug of  claim 2 , further comprising an elongate projection extending from the lower surface configured to stir a beverage in the beverage container. 
     
     
         4 . The plug of  claim 3 , wherein the external member comprises a substantially flat surface having a surface area between one to ten square centimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The plug of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second sidewalls disposed on opposite sides of the body portion are configured to engage the circumference of an oval shaped orifice. 
     
     
         6 . The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion, the cap portion, and the external member are fabricated as a unitary article from the same material. 
     
     
         7 . The plug of  claim 3 , wherein the body portion, the cap portion, the external member, and the elongate projection are fabricated as a unitary article from the same material.