Non-spillable cup lid

Abstract

The disposable lid for a coffee cup or the like has penetrable score lines around the sides of a 90° sectorial portion thereof for easily breaking off this portion to form a drinking access opening therethrough while the remaining portion of the lid serves to reduce the danger of spilling the contents of the cup when held in an unsteady cup support environment. Another penetrable score line extending near the periphery of the lid, between the sides of this sector, and a fold score line between the ends of this peripheral score line provide for a segmental flap to be broken open and bent on the fold score line to form an access opening to the contents of the cup while providing a substantial shield against spilling the contents of the cup through the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, comprising a disc having a groove-formed edge portion extending around its periphery and fitting over the rim of the cup,   a fold score line forming the base of a segment of said disc within said edge portion subtending an angle of substantially 90° at the center of the disc, and   a penetrating score line extending adjacent said peripheral edge portion, between the ends of said fold score line within said subtended angle.   
     
     
       2. A lid as defined in claim 1, and a pair of penetrating score lines extending from the ends of said fold score line substantially at right angles to each other and meeting substantially at the center of the disc.   
     
     
       3. A lid as defined in claim 2, said right angular score lines extending across said peripheral groove-formed edge of the disc.   
     
     
       4. A lid as defined in claim 3, said right angular score lines crossing over each other to form a penetrable access opening for a drinking straw.   
     
     
       5. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, having a groove-formed edge around its periphery fitting over the rim of said cup, and a pair of penetrating score lines in said disc extending at right angles to each other from the center thereof across said perpheral groove-formed edge,   said score lines extending slightly past each other at the center of the disc to provide for the making of an access opening for a drinking straw.   
     
     
       6. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, comprising a thin disc of substantially impervious material having a groove-formed outer edge fitting closely over the rim of said cup,   a pair of penetrating scored lines in said disc inside of said groove-formed outer edge and extending from its center at a substantially 90° angle to each other, and an arcuate scored line adjacent said groove-formed outer edge, between the outer ends of said pair of scored lines, so as to make it easy to break a 90° sector piece out of said lid to provide a sector shaped opening in the lid, through which one may drink from said cup, while retaining a major shielding portion of said lid on said cup to minimize accidental spilling of any contents from said cup if it is held in an unsteady support environment.   
     
     
       7. A lid as defined in claim 6, said penetrating score lines extending slightly past said center to provide an opening for a drinking straw at the center when penetrated by pushing the straw therethrough.   
     
     
       8. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, comprising a thin disc of substantially impervious material having a groove-formed outer edge fitting closely over the rim of said cup,   a pair of penetrating scored lines in said disc extending from its center at substantially 90° angle to each other and an arcuate penetrating score line adjacent said groove-formed outer edge between and intersecting said scored lines so as to make it easy to break a 90° piece out of said lid to provide a sector shaped opening in the lid through which one may drink from said cup, while retaining a major shielding portion of said lid on said cup to minimize accidental spilling of any contents in said cup if it is held in an unsteady support environment,   said penetrating score lines extending slightly past said center to provide an opening for a drinking straw at the center when penetrated by pushing the straw therethrough,   said disc having another score line extending between said pair of score lines along and close to the edge of said disc,   said sectorial portion between said right angular score lines and said edge score line being adapted to be easily broken out from the lid at said score lines without breaking its rim portion.   
     
     
       9. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, comprising a thin disc of substantially impervious material having a groove-formed outer edge fitting over the rim of said cup,   a pair of penetrating scored lines in said disc extending from its center at substantially 90° angle to each other and an arcuate penetrating score line adjacent said groove-formed outer edge between and intersecting said scored lines so as to make it easy to break a 90° piece out of said lid to provide a sector shaped opening in the lid through which one may drink from said cup, while retaining a major shielding portion of said lid on said cup to minimize accidental spilling of any contents in said cup if it is held in an unsteady support environment,   said penetrating score lines extending slightly past said center to provide an opening for a drinking straw at the center when penetrated by pushing the straw therethrough,   said disc having a fold score line extending between the ends of said edge score line, so that a segmental flap may be broken off at said edge score line and folded down at said fold score line to provide a drinking opening without removing or weakening the lid mounting on the rim of the cup.   
     
     
       10. A container having a top of thin impervious material, a pair of penetrable score lines in said top extending from its center at a substantially 90° angle to each other, to its outer edge,   said penetrable score lines crossing each other at the center of the top to provide an opening for a drinking straw when it is pushed therethrough.   
     
     
       11. A container as defined in claim 10, said top having another penetrable score line extending between said pair of score lines along and close to the edge of the top,   said sectorial portion between said right angular score lines and said edge score line being adapted to be easily broken out from the top of said container at said score lines.   
     
     
       12. A container as defined in claim 11, said top having a fold score line extending between the ends of said edge score line, so that a segmental flap portion may be broken off at said edge score line and bent down at said fold score line to provide a drinking opening. .Iadd. 13. A lid for a cup or the like comprising a thin disc, said disc having a peripheral flange formed on its edge around its periphery for frictional engagement with the rim of said cup to form a seal therewith for liquid contained in said cup,   an arcuate penetrating score line in said disc having terminal ends bounded by lines extending at an angle to each other from substantially the center of said lid, said arcuate score line extending adjacent said peripheral flange edge, and   a fold line formed of a chord of a circle subtending an arc between said terminal ends such that an opening bounded by the arcuate penetrating score line and said chord of a circle form an opening having a segmental flap, which opening is sufficient to permit fluid in said cup to flow substantially unimpeded to the mouth of the user and said segmental flap substantially prevents inadvertent spillage of the contents when said cup is nearly full with a liquid. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The invention defined in claim 13 wherein there are a pair of penetrating score lines along said lines extending at an angle to each other, the fold line of said segmental flap intersects said score lines at said flange portion of said lid. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A container having a top of thin impervious plastic material, said top having a rim for frictional engagement with the side walls of said container,   a pair of penetrable straight score lines in said top extending from said rim at a selected angle to each other so that the arc subtended thereby forms ample space for the upper lip of the user,   an arcuate penetrable score line adjacent said rim extending between said pair of lines,   a straight fold line intersecting said pair of penetrating score lines and said pair of penetrating score lines being extended at their interior ends to cross each other proximate the center of the top to provide an opening for a drinking straw when it is pushed therethrough. .Iaddend.