Beverage container lid

Abstract

A lid for sealing a tumbler or other type of beverage container. The lid features a cover and a sidewall, as well as a resilient drink opening plug that is removably tethered to the cover. The cord that tethers the plug is flexible, but is pre-formed into a pair of parabolic arcs that help prevent the cord from wildly dangling or flopping into a user's face while drinking.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid for use with a beverage container, the lid comprising:
 a cover, wherein the cover has a drink aperture formed therewithin;   a sidewall around the periphery of the cover, wherein the sidewall is configured to sealingly engage a beverage container;   a resilient plug configured to lodge into the drink aperture so that fluid is prevented from flowing therethrough; and   a flexible tether cord, wherein the tether cord is attached to the plug and is configured to otherwise mount to the cover, and wherein the tether cord has separately arcuate segments when it is in a free state.   
     
     
         2 . A lid for use with a beverage container, the lid comprising:
 a cover, wherein the cover has a drink aperture formed therewithin;   a sidewall around the periphery of the cover, wherein the sidewall is configured to sealingly engage a beverage container;   a resilient plug configured to lodge into the drink aperture so that fluid is prevented from flowing therethrough; and   a flexible tether cord, wherein the tether cord is attached to the plug and is configured to otherwise mount to the cover, and wherein the tether cord has a notch, formed along its length, and has arcuate profile segments on both sides of the notch when the tether cord is in a free state.   
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall is configured to friction-fit against the inner surface of a beverage container. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall is configured to friction-fit against the outer surface of a beverage container. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall is configured to threadingly engage a beverage container. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein an anchoring element is disposed along said tether cord, wherein the anchoring element is configured to keep said tether cord mounted to said cover even when said plug is not lodged within said drink aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6 , further comprising a mounting aperture formed within said cover, wherein said tether cord protrudes the mounting aperture, and wherein said anchoring element is defined by a radially compressible object that, when in a radially uncompressed state, is diametrically larger than the mounting aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 6 , wherein said tether cord is frictionally rotatable relative to said cover, but cannot be so rotated without application of torque by an external influence. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall extends upward from said cover. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall extends downward from said cover. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said plug and said tether cord are fabricated of a rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said tether cord is semi-rigid. 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein a third aperture is formed within said cover, wherein this third aperture is for equalizing pressure within a beverage container with ambient pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 2 , further comprising a sealing band, disposed along said sidewall, that is configured to provide a liquid impermeable seal between said lid and a beverage container. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein a drink recess is formed within said sidewall radially adjacent said drink aperture, the drink recess being configured to channel the flow of liquid out of the drink opening and into a user's mouth. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said notch is a non-arcuate segment of tether cord. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said notch is a segment of tether cord that is inversely arcuate. 
     
     
         18 . A lid for use with a beverage container, the lid comprising:
 a cover, wherein the cover has a drink aperture formed therewithin;   a sidewall around the periphery of the cover, wherein the sidewall is configured to sealingly engage a beverage container;   a resilient plug configured to lodge into the drink aperture so that fluid is prevented from flowing therethrough; and   a flexible tether cord, wherein the tether cord is attached to the plug and is configured to otherwise mount to the cover.