US Patent 10188231 Flexible membrane drinking cup lid

A lid device for a beverage cup. The lid is a multi-component annular structure with an outer ring of rigid material that attaches to the cup. Inside the outer ring is an inner flexible material, often with a rigid or flexible central structure with an opening for a drinking straw. In an absence of applied force, this opening (and the straw) will be held substantially perpendicular to the top of the central structure and lid. The inner flexible material is selected to deform easily under mild hand pressure (e.g. 5 Newtons or less), and thus when the user applies force to the straw, the inner flexible material distorts and bends allowing the user to more easily move the straw around and mix the contents of the drink.