Biodegradable Drinking Cup Assembly

Abstract

A biodegradable drinking cup assembly for serving hot and cold beverages includes a cup that defines an interior space. The cup comprises hemp fiber so that the cup is biodegradable. The cup, in an upright configuration, is configured to position a liquid in the interior space. The cup insulates a hot or cold beverage and is configured for composting after use.

1 . A biodegradable drinking cup assembly comprising:
 a cup defining an interior space, the cup comprising hemp fiber such that the cup is biodegradable wherein the cup in an upright configuration is configured for positioning a liquid in the interior space, the cup comprising an annular wall extending from a bottom to a top, the bottom being closed, the top being open;   a lip coupled to and extending radially from the top;   a lid selectively couplable to the lip for closing the top, the lid comprising hemp fiber such that the lid is biodegradable, wherein the lid is configured for retaining the liquid in the interior space, the lid comprising a shell defining an internal space, the shell having an upper face and a lower face, the lower face being open wherein the lower face is positioned for inserting the lip into the internal space such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space;   a recess extending into the shell from the upper face defining a channel extending annularly around a perimeter of the shell, the channel being substantially complementary to the lip wherein the channel is positioned for inserting the lip such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space;   a hole positioned in the upper face of the shell offset from a center of the lid and proximate to the perimeter wherein the hole is configured for exiting of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration and wherein the hole is configured for selectively inserting a straw positioning a user for drawing the liquid through the straw; and   a panel coupled to and extending upwardly away from the upper face of the shell, the panel being positioned adjacent to the hole such that the panel is configured to receive and collect the liquid exiting the hole wherein the panel is configured for facilitating drinking of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the bottom and the top being circularly shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom such that the cup is inverted frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the cups is configured for positioning in a nested configuration. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the upper face being circumferentially smaller than the lower face so that the lid is frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the lids is configured for positioning in a nested configuration. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the hole being substantially circularly shaped. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the panel tapering from a midpoint to opposing ends such that the panel is arcuate, the panel extending arcuately from the upper face over the recess. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of slits positioned in the lid such that the slits intersect at a center of the upper face defining a plurality of tabs wherein the plurality of tabs is configured for bending into the interior space as a straw is pushed through the plurality of tabs into the interior space 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further including the plurality of slits comprising four slits defining eight tabs. 
     
     
         14 . A biodegradable drinking cup assembly comprising:
 a cup defining an interior space, the cup comprising hemp fiber such that the cup is biodegradable wherein the cup in an upright configuration is configured for positioning a liquid in the interior space, the cup comprising an annular wall extending from a bottom to a top, the bottom being closed, the top being open, the bottom and the top being circularly shaped, the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom such that the cup is inverted frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the cups is configured for positioning in a nested configuration;   a lip coupled to and extending radially from the top;   a lid selectively couplable to the lip for closing the top, the lid comprising hemp fiber such that the lid is biodegradable, wherein the lid is configured for retaining the liquid in the interior space, the lid comprising a shell defining an internal space, the shell having an upper face and a lower face, the lower face being open wherein the lower face is positioned for inserting the lip into the internal space such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space, the upper face being circumferentially smaller than the lower face so that the lid is frustum shaped wherein a plurality of the lids is configured for positioning in a nested configuration;   a recess extending into the shell from the upper face defining a channel extending annularly around a perimeter of the shell, the channel being substantially complementary to the lip wherein the channel is positioned for inserting the lip such that the lid is substantially sealably coupled to the cup for retaining the liquid in the interior space;   a hole positioned in the upper face of the shell offset from a center of the lid and proximate to the perimeter wherein the hole is configured for exiting of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration and wherein the hole is configured for selectively inserting a straw positioning a user for drawing the liquid through the straw, the hole being substantially circularly shaped;   a panel coupled to and extending upwardly and away from the upper face of the shell, the panel being positioned adjacent to the hole such that the panel is configured to receive and collect the liquid exiting the hole wherein the panel is configured for facilitating drinking of the liquid as the cup is tilted from the upright configuration, the panel tapering from a midpoint to opposing ends such that the panel is arcuate, the panel extending arcuately from the upper face over the recess; and   a plurality of slits positioned in the lid such that the slits intersect at a center of the upper face defining a plurality of tabs wherein the plurality of tabs is configured for bending into the interior space as the straw is pushed through the plurality of tabs into the interior space, the plurality of slits comprising four slits defining eight tabs.