safe lid closure system 2009

© Right Brain LLC 2006, 2007 and 2008 Patents Pending for Container Closure in these and other permutationsWilliam S. Shadrach III, Principal and Inventor (801) 583-0090 office (801)414-1925 cell email [email protected]

Safe LidA Differentiating Innovation to

Safely Grow Your Hot Beverage Business

Safe LidA Differentiating Innovation to

Safely Grow Your Hot Beverage Business

The following presentation outlines aspects of a newly developed container closure system. US utility patents have been filed covering all of the material disclosed in this presentation. Sharing of this information without the express permission of the inventor is strictly prohibited.

Confidential Information


Safe LidA Differentiating Innovation to Safely Grow Your Hot Beverage Business

Published US Patent Applications #20080073343 and #20080073343

Safe LidA Differentiating Innovation to Safely Grow Your Hot Beverage Business

Published US Patent Applications #20080073343 and #20080073343


• In 2005, Americans drank more than 100 billion cupsof coffee.1

• 14.4 billion cups of coffee were are served indisposable paper or foam cups…most with hot lids ofsome type. 1

• Based on anticipated growth of specialty coffees, it is expected that sales in disposable cups will grow to23 billion by 2010. 1

• Vast majority of current lids provide no protectionto scalding spills!

1. Facts from International Paper Company and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Market for Hot Beverage Lids


$301G flap-accino Starbucks owes big bucks in java scalding lawsuit

A bad experience at Starbucks turned into big bucks - 301,000 of them - for a Manhattan lawyer who got a painful hotfoot when a steaming cup of coffee toppled onto her at the Java Palace. "Ijumped back and looked down," Alice Griffin, 42, testified. "My foot was steaming, and the puddle was steaming." The jury's April verdict was upheld yesterday by Supreme Court Justice Emily Jane Goodman………..”

NY Daily NewsAugust 16, 2006

Hot Coffee is a Substantial Liability


Hot Coffee is a Substantial Liability

How a Jury Decided That a Coffee Spill Is Worth $2.9 Million

“McDonald's callousness was real issue, jurors say, in case of burned woman. Consultants and industry groups that say hot temperatures are necessary to fully extract the flavor during brewing. Before trial, McDonald's gave the opposing lawyer its operations and training manual, which says its coffee must be brewed at 195-205 degrees and held at 180-190 degrees for optimal taste. Since the verdict, McDonald's has declined to offer any comment…”

The Wall Street JournalSeptember 1, 1994


• Safe Lid is sold to the consumer in a “locked” closed position (transfers spill liability to user)

• Safe Lid uses a detent and dimple system to effectively close drink hole and vent hole.

• Unlike all other “spill resistant” lids, Safe Lid has an intuitive, one finger, open and close mechanism; push to open and pull to close.

• Positive open/close device tells user when the lid is open or closed…without looking.

• Safe Lid is a patent-pending hot beverage lid design which can be licensed to differentiate your brand(s).

Features of the Safe Lid


• By selling coffee with a lid that is in a locked “closed” position, only the end user will open the lid and thus, spill/scald liability should be transferred to end user.

• Patent-pending detent/dimple system plugs (not just covers) both the drink hole and the vent hole. This feature will reduce hot beverage spillage or geysering and the resultant liability.

• Positive open/close feel tells user when the lid is open or closed…without looking.

• By using less material than other 2 piece lids, Safe Lid is more ecologically friendly, creating less waste/landfill per unit.

• With volume, less material should translate to lower cost than the Solo “Traveler Plus” lid.

Benefits of the Safe Lid


Solo “Traveler Plus” Lid

Solo 2 PieceRotational Operation

“Round” is not an efficient shape

• Sold in closed but notlocked position

• Rotational operation isnot intuitive

• Vent hole covered but always venting

• Patent licensed to Solo which sells to 7/11 stores

7/11 proprietary 2 Piece


McDonald’s “WinCup” Lid

McDonald’s proprietary 1 Piece

• Sold in locked position• Does not reclose• Vent hole not covered• Patent licensed to WinCup

who sells to McDonald’s• US Patent # 6,612,456• Issued September 2, 2003


Burger King “Dart Container” Lid

Burger King / Dunkin Donuts proprietary 2 Piece

• Sold closed but not locked • Operation is not intuitive • User must look at lid when they

open and reclose. • Vent hole indirectly covered

but always allowing venting • Patent licensed to Dart

Container who sells as “Optima”to BK and Dunkin’ Donuts


Safe Lid 2 Piece DesignUS Patent Application # 11/505,622

US Patent Publication # 2008 00733473




Drawings of Safe Lid Design

•The Safe Lid closure device is made out of flat plastic sheeting(probably polystyrene) although other plastics may be used.

• As the beverage lid is being manufactured, this part 1a ismounted to a lid top and “welded” using ultrasonic welding.

Micro-perforations

Detent for drink holeAnd open lock dimple

Detent for vent hole

Nub to breakPerforationsand move slider open and closed



“Nesting” is far more efficient thana round shape, using less material

And with volume…costing less. Safe Lid Top Piece


• When the beverage lid is being manufactured, the part describedin figure 1a is mounted to a lid top (1b) as shown above.

• The lid (1b) shows drink hole (bottom left), vent hole (inside dimpletop right) and open lock dimple (above drink hole).

• As the beverage lid is being manufactured, this part 1a ismounted to a lid top and “welded” using ultrasonic welding.

Vent hole in dimple

Drink hole

Open lock dimple




• When the beverage lid is being manufactured, the part in figure 1a ismounted to a lid top (1b) as shown above in 1c and the slider device(1a) and lid top (1b) are “welded” to lid top.

• The slider containment is folded over the slider and nub and welded down to create an enclosed and locked slider device (1d).

Weld areaWeld area


•Safe Lid is sold closed with micro-perforations locking it shut.•When placed in use, after the Safe Lid is mounted to a cup, the

user can easily separate the micro-perforations by pushing on thenub to move back the slider. The user can now drink the beverage.

•When opened, the drink hole is exposed for use. The rear detentholds the slider up and away from the vent hole allowing free flow.

• When closed, the drink hole and vent holes are filled with a detent.


NubNub


•When closed as in the top side view, a detent fills the drink hole and the vent hole. This prevents inadvertent splashing and willreduce flow in case of an accidental tip.

• When open as in the bottom view, the drink hole detent fits intothe “open” dimple. The detent which formerly fit into the venthole now holds the slider off of the lid, allowing venting.


Side view of lid closedDrink hole Vent hole

Side view of lid openDrink hole Vent hole


Safe Lid Prototype


Drawings of 3 Piece Safe Lid Design

•The Safe Lid closure device is made out of flat plastic sheeting(probably polystyrene) although other plastics may be used.

• As the beverage lid is being manufactured, this part 2a isplaced onto a lid and , topped with a cover “welded” using to thebase using ultrasonic welding.

• The shapes of parts in 2a allows for efficient nesting in productionwhich creates maximum material usage and lower costs.

Detent for vent hole

Cover to hold Slider in place

Detent for drink holeAnd open lock dimple

Nub to breakPerforationsand move slider open and closed


• When the beverage lid is being manufactured, the parts describedin figure 2a are mounted to a lid top (2b) as shown above.

• The lid top (2b) shows slider track, drink hole (bottom left), venthole (inside dimple top right) and open lock dimple (above drink hole).

• As the beverage lid is being manufactured, the slider of 2a is mountedinto slider track, and cover is mounted to lid top and welded to lid.

Vent hole in dimple

Open lock dimple


Drink hole


When the beverage lid is being manufactured, the parts in figure 2c are mounted to a lid top with the slider in the slidertrack as shown above in 2c. The slider cover is “welded” to the lid top using ultrasonic welding.

Weld area



•Safe Lid 3 piece is sold closed but not locked (as in the 2 piece version of Safe Lid).

•When placed in use, after the Safe Lid is mounted to a cup, the user can easily use the lid by pushing on the nub to move back theslider. The user can now drink the beverage.

•When opened, the drink hole is exposed for use. The rear detentholds the slider away from the vent hole.

• When closed, the drink hole and vent holes are filled with a detent.



•When closed as in the top side view, a detent fills the drink hole and the vent hole. This prevents inadvertent splashing and willreduce flow in case of an accidental tip.

• When open as in the bottom view, the drink hole detent fits intothe “open” dimple. The detent which formerly fit into the venthole now holds the slider off of the lid, allowing venting.


Side view of lid closedDrink hole Vent hole

Side view of lid openDrink hole Vent hole


Licensing Safe LidLicensing Safe Lid


Desired Licensing Features The inventor has filed two independent utility patent applications and expects multiple patents to be allowed and issued with global patents to follow. Partner companies are sought to license these concepts by industry and/or channel based on the following:

• Early adopter and innovation culture.• Desire for products with consumer benefit and

functional differentiation.• Commitment of resources and personnel to

expediteproduct design, testing and launch.

• Volume and launch commitment for licensedproduct(s).


My goal is to rapidly commercialize the Safe Lid concepts by working with domestic and international licensee(s) to expedite the development, testing, launch and expansion of products founded upon them. Early adopter licensees will gain the market advantage of channel exclusivity and thus, maximize sales and profits generated by Safe Lid products during the life of my patent(s).

Thank you for your consideration in reviewing my patent-pending concept. I look forward to further discussions leading to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship.

Bill Shadrach, Inventor and Principal of Right Brain LLC

US patents #7,318,949; #7,306,138; 7,018,473; 6,817,287; D343,573 and 4,872,555

Pending applications #20080073343 A1 and #20080073347 A1

Inventor Goals

safe lid closure system 2009

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