Lid with lower sanitary extensions

Abstract

To make it easier and more hygienic to handle a lid when it is removed from a beverage container and needs to be set aside temporarily on a supporting surface, bottom lid extensions are provided that lift the lid to eliminate or significantly reduce the contact between the supporting surface and the wetted underside surfaces of the lid that may come in contact with the beverage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid assembly for drink containers, comprising:
 a circular body configured to engage a top of a beverage container having a top surface and an underside, the underside potentially coming in contact with the beverage;   an orifice defined in a front portion of a top surface of the circular body; and   one or more raiser extensions, each raiser extension having an underside that touches a surface on which the lid assembly is placed face up such that the lid assembly is in stable equilibrium and the underside of the circular body does not touch the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more raiser extensions are positioned on an outer circumference of the lid assembly, such that when the lid assembly is coupled to a drink container, the one or more raiser extensions are positioned exterior to the beverage container. 
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more raiser extensions are positioned on an inner circumference of the lid assembly, such that when the lid assembly is coupled to a drink container, the one or more raiser extensions are positioned inside of the beverage container. 
     
     
         4 . A drink container assembly, comprising:
 a lid assembly, comprising:
 a circular body portion having an upper side and an opposing lower side, the circular body portion defining an orifice extending through the circular body portion from the upper side to the lower side; 
 an outer rim portion extending around a circumference of the circular body portion; 
 at least one raiser extension extending from the outer rim portion such that when the lid assembly is positioned on a flat surface, the at least one raiser extensions support the lower side of the circular body portion above the flat surface without contacting the flat surface. 
   
     
     
         5 . The drink container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the circular body portion further comprises a nose recess portion; and   when the lid assembly is positioned on the flat surface, the at least one raiser extensions support the nose recess portion above the flat surface without contacting the flat surface.   
     
     
         6 . The drink container assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a container portion having an interior and an exterior, the container portion being coupled to the lid assembly such that the at least one raiser extensions are positioned on the exterior of the container portion.   
     
     
         7 . The drink container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the at least one raiser extension comprises two raiser extensions, the raiser extensions positioned such that a center of gravity of the lid assembly is positioned within a region between the two raiser extensions.   
     
     
         8 . The drink container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the at least one raiser extensions comprises a flat bottom portion.   
     
     
         9 . A drink container assembly, comprising:
 a lid assembly, comprising:
 a circular body portion having an upper side and an opposing lower side, the circular body portion defining an orifice extending through the circular body portion from the upper side to the lower side; and 
 at least one raiser extension extending from the lower side of the circular body portion such that when the lid assembly is positioned on a flat surface, the at least one raiser extensions support the circular body portion above the flat surface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The drink container assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the circular body portion further comprises a nose recess portion; and   when the lid assembly is positioned on the flat surface, the at least one raiser extensions support the nose recess portion above the flat surface without contacting the flat surface.   
     
     
         11 . The drink container assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a container portion having an interior and an exterior, the container portion being coupled to the lid assembly such that the at least one raiser extensions are positioned on the interior of the container portion.   
     
     
         12 . The drink container assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one raiser extension comprises three raiser extensions, the raiser extensions positioned such that a center of gravity of the lid assembly is positioned within a region between the three raiser extensions.   
     
     
         13 . The drink container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at least one raiser extension comprises a curved bottom portion.