Lid enclosing one or more substances which can be easily introduced into a cup to which the lid may be connected

Abstract

Disclosed is a lid which can be reversibly connected to a cup's upper edge, including three openings shaped nearly as circular sectors closed on top by three respective protrusions. Each protrusion includes a flat top section having a surface extension smaller than that of the opening underneath and a side portion shaped to converge towards the top portion starting from the first wall. A second wall is hermetically sealed to the first wall at the three prominences to delimit together with the latter three hermetically closed chambers and in each of which a substance, which can be introduced into the cup when the lid is connected to it, can be preliminarily housed. Alternatively, the lid includes a further opening at its side edge, close on top by a further protrusion higher than the other ones and ends with a through hole to release a beverage in the cup.

1 . A lid ( 1 ,  35 ) which can be reversibly connected to a cup at the edge thereof, said lid ( 1 ,  35 ) comprising:
 a first wall ( 2 ) including at least one first opening ( 10 ) closed on top by a first protrusion ( 11 );   connection means ( 4 ) adapted to reversibly connect said first wall ( 2 ) to a cup at an edge thereof,
 said connection means ( 4 ) being further adapted to reversibly connect said first wall ( 2 ) to a cup so that when said first wall ( 2 ) is connected to said cup, a concavity of said first protrusion ( 11 ) faces towards the inside of said cup; 
   a second wall ( 25 ) hermetically connected to said first wall ( 2 ) at said first protrusion ( 11 ) or about said first opening ( 10 ) so as to delimit a hermetically closed chamber ( 26 ) together with said first protrusion ( 11 ),   
       said first protrusion ( 11 ) comprising:
 a first top portion ( 15 ), flat at least in part, having a surface extension which is smaller than that of said first opening ( 10 ); 
 a second side portion ( 16 ) interposed between said first portion ( 15 ) and said second wall ( 25 ), at least in part converging from said second wall ( 25 ) towards said first portion ( 15 ), 
 
       said first wall ( 2 ), at least at said first protrusion ( 11 ), being at least partially made of a polymeric material having a thickness not greater than 3 mm, 
       said second wall ( 25 ) having a thickness not greater than 2.5 mm, 
       wherein said second portion ( 16 ) comprises, proceeding from said second wall ( 25 ) towards said first portion ( 15 ):
 a first lower section ( 18 ), arranged transversally with respect to said second wall ( 25 ); 
 a second central section ( 19 ), having a shape converging away from said second wall ( 25 ) starting from said first section ( 18 ); 
 a third upper section ( 20 ), joining said second section ( 19 ) and said first portion ( 15 ), transversally with respect to the latter. 
 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first wall ( 2 ) is substantially circular, said first opening ( 10 ) being comprised between the center ( 12 ) of said first wall ( 2 ) and a side edge ( 5 ) of the first wall. 
     
     
         4 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of said first openings ( 10 ) closed respectively on top by a plurality of said first protrusions ( 11 ), said second wall ( 25 ) being hermetically connected to said first wall ( 2 ) at each of said first protrusions ( 11 ) or about each of said first openings ( 10 ) so as to delimit a respective plurality of said hermetically closed chambers ( 26 ) together with said first protrusions ( 11 ). 
     
     
         5 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said first openings ( 10 ) are substantially shaped as mutually consecutive circular sectors at edges coinciding with their delimitation radii. 
     
     
         6 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said second wall ( 25 ) is made of edible material. 
     
     
         7 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to any  claim 1 , further comprising spacer means ( 30 ) integrally connected to said first wall ( 2 ) and shaped so that,
 when two examples of said lid ( 1 ,  35 ) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in upper position is opposed to said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ) if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position,   said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position.   
     
     
         8 . The lid ( 35 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first wall ( 2 ) is substantially circular and includes a second opening ( 36 ) closed on top by a second protrusion ( 37 ), said second opening ( 36 ) being comprised between the center ( 12 ) of said first wall ( 2 ) and a side edge ( 5 ) of the first wall,
 said second protrusion ( 37 ) being shaped so that when said first wall ( 2 ) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion ( 37 ) also faces towards the inside of said cup,   the height of said second protrusion ( 37 ) being greater than that of said first protrusion ( 11 ) or of each of said first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one,   said second protrusion ( 37 ) including a through hole ( 39 ) made at a top portion ( 40 ) thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The lid ( 35 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein said second protrusion ( 37 ) is arched with concavity facing towards the center ( 12 ) of said first wall ( 2 ), and has a pattern converging towards said hole ( 39 ). 
     
     
         10 . The lid ( 35 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein said second protrusion ( 37 ) is shaped so that the height of said hole is not lower than 4 mm with respect to the first portion ( 15 ) of said first protrusion ( 11 ) or of each of said first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising:
 a cup having an edge delimiting an opening to allow introducing and pouring a beverage from said cup;   a lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 1 , connected to said cup at said edge, so that the concavity of said first protrusion ( 11 ), or of said first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one, and the concavity of said second protrusion ( 37 ), if present, faces towards the inside of said cup.   
     
     
         12 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said second wall ( 25 ) is made of edible material. 
     
     
         13 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said second wall ( 25 ) is made of edible material. 
     
     
         14 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said second wall ( 25 ) is made of edible material. 
     
     
         15 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to any  claim 3 , further comprising spacer means ( 30 ) integrally connected to said first wall ( 2 ) and shaped so that,
 when two examples of said lid ( 1 ,  35 ) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in upper position is opposed to said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ) if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position,   said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position.   
     
     
         16 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to any  claim 4 , further comprising spacer means ( 30 ) integrally connected to said first wall ( 2 ) and shaped so that,
 when two examples of said lid ( 1 ,  35 ) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in upper position is opposed to said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ) if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position,   said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position.   
     
     
         17 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to any  claim 5 , further comprising spacer means ( 30 ) integrally connected to said first wall ( 2 ) and shaped so that,
 when two examples of said lid ( 1 ,  35 ) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in upper position is opposed to said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ) if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position,   said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position.   
     
     
         18 . The lid ( 1 ,  35 ) according to any  claim 6 , further comprising spacer means ( 30 ) integrally connected to said first wall ( 2 ) and shaped so that,
 when two examples of said lid ( 1 ,  35 ) are mutually superimposed so that said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in upper position is opposed to said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ) if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position,   said second wall ( 25 ) of the lid in upper position is not in contact with said first portion ( 15 ) of the first protrusion ( 11 ) or first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one, of the lid ( 1 ,  35 ) in lower position.   
     
     
         19 . The lid ( 35 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said first wall ( 2 ) is substantially circular and includes a second opening ( 36 ) closed on top by a second protrusion ( 37 ), said second opening ( 36 ) being comprised between the center ( 12 ) of said first wall ( 2 ) and a side edge ( 5 ) of the first wall,
 said second protrusion ( 37 ) being shaped so that when said first wall ( 2 ) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion ( 37 ) also faces towards the inside of said cup,   the height of said second protrusion ( 37 ) being greater than that of said first protrusion ( 11 ) or of each of said first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one,   said second protrusion ( 37 ) including a through hole ( 39 ) made at a top portion ( 40 ) thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The lid ( 35 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said first wall ( 2 ) is substantially circular and includes a second opening ( 36 ) closed on top by a second protrusion ( 37 ), said second opening ( 36 ) being comprised between the center ( 12 ) of said first wall ( 2 ) and a side edge ( 5 ) of the first wall,
 said second protrusion ( 37 ) being shaped so that when said first wall ( 2 ) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion ( 37 ) also faces towards the inside of said cup,   the height of said second protrusion ( 37 ) being greater than that of said first protrusion ( 11 ) or of each of said first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one,   said second protrusion ( 37 ) including a through hole ( 39 ) made at a top portion ( 40 ) thereof.   
     
     
         21 . The lid ( 35 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said first wall ( 2 ) is substantially circular and includes a second opening ( 36 ) closed on top by a second protrusion ( 37 ), said second opening ( 36 ) being comprised between the center ( 12 ) of said first wall ( 2 ) and a side edge ( 5 ) of the first wall,
 said second protrusion ( 37 ) being shaped so that when said first wall ( 2 ) is connected to a cup, a concavity of said second protrusion ( 37 ) also faces towards the inside of said cup,   the height of said second protrusion ( 37 ) being greater than that of said first protrusion ( 11 ) or of each of said first protrusions ( 11 ), if there are more than one,   said second protrusion ( 37 ) including a through hole ( 39 ) made at a top portion ( 40 ) thereof.