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I've see the same lids every day but I never really thought about their construction. There is an indent in a "Solo Travel Lid" for coffee cups that is just above the hole that you drink the coffee from.

enter image description here

You can see the crescent shaped indent in the image. What is it for? Does it somehow increase fluid flow? Is it just a good spot for your upper lip? If so, why is there not a matching one for the nose? I tried googling this but I got no answer.

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From the "Solo Traveler" patent:

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a lid having an opening formed therethrough to enable drinking, and having a recess formed in the lid adjacent the opening to accommodate the upper lip of one drinking from the cup

This is also illustrated in the patent diagrams. Patent Image

I came across this interesting article on the history, use, design, and styles of disposable lids. The Solo Traveler is prominently featured for its excellent aesthetics and design . The article reiterates that:

the Solo Traveler lid was designed to accommodate the nose and lip of a drinker. In accomplishing this design goal, the necessary height of the lid made it useful for foam-topped gourmet coffees.

Additionally, when upright, the recess acts as a reservoir (complete with drainhole) to catch drips/spills/splashes that might otherwise run down the cup and create the infamous coffee stain ring.

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    $\begingroup$ Great response! That mouth is super creepy looking though $\endgroup$
    – Robert Stiffler
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 14:00
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    $\begingroup$ Based on all the patent drawings I have seen, I think there is some weird requirement that engineers must draw everything and are strictly forbidden from getting an artist to help. $\endgroup$
    – JPhi1618
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 14:22
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    $\begingroup$ lol creepy mouth. maybe i just have an extra large nose... :>) $\endgroup$
    – ruckus
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 15:45
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    $\begingroup$ Gotta love how there are at least fifty numbered items in the drawings. I could never come up with more than two. 1 - cup, 2 - lid. $\endgroup$
    – Mr Lister
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 18:14
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    $\begingroup$ @MrLister Those numbers aren't individual items, but specific features being referenced in the claims section. And the main reason there are so many is that all patents are intentionally over-complex and simultaneously cryptically vague. $\endgroup$
    – Trevor Archibald
    Commented Nov 23, 2015 at 19:05

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