Lid for a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10004348-B2
Application number	US-201514598087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2015
Priority date	Jan 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A lid may include first and second openings disposed within a spout. The first opening may provide a first fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in an attached container and the second opening may provide a second fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in the container. The lid may also include a spout at least partially defined by an outer wall. First and second openings may be disposed within the spout and the openings may be at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout. A conduit, such as a straw, may be coupled to an opening. If desired, a closure may be connected to the lid and the closure may selectively close one or more of the openings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lid sized and configured to be attached to a container that is sized and configured to be filled with one or more fluids, the lid comprising:
a body including an upper portion and a downwardly extending sidewall;
a spout that has a height above the body;
a first opening disposed within the spout, the first opening providing a first fluid pathway, the first fluid pathway sized and configured to allow a fluid to flow from a container when the lid is connected to the container; and
a second opening disposed within the spout, the second opening providing a second fluid pathway, the second fluid pathway sized and configured to allow a fluid to flow from a container when the lid is connected to the container, wherein:
the second opening has a length in a direction orthogonal to the height of the spout and extending across a front of the first opening;
the second opening has a width in a direction orthogonal to the height of the spout and orthogonal to the length of the second opening;
the length of the second opening is longer in relation to the width of the second opening;
the second opening is disposed adjacent to the first opening; and
at least one of an upper portion of a front wall of the second opening or an upper portion of a common wall between the second opening and the first opening is angled forwardly and at a different angle than a rear wall of the first opening.

2. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the front wall of the second opening is angled forwardly at a different angle than the upper portion of the common wall separating the first opening and the second opening.

3. The lid as in claim 1 , further comprising a first surface of the common wall that defines at least a portion of the first opening and a second surface of the common wall that defines at least a portion of the second opening.

4. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein the first opening, the second opening and the common wall are each entirely disposed within the spout.

5. The lid as in claim 1 , further comprising a coupling portion in fluid communication with the second opening and a conduit selectively connected to the coupling portion, the first opening providing a fluid pathway to a first portion of the container, the second opening, the coupling portion and the conduit providing a fluid pathway to a second portion of the container.

6. The lid as in claim 5 , wherein when the lid is connected to a container and the container is filled with a fluid, the fluid disposed within the container can be poured through the first opening and the fluid disposed within the container may be sucked through the conduit and the second opening.

7. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein the first opening has a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration.

8. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein:
the first opening is at least partially defined by an outer wall of the spout; and
the second opening is at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout.

9. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein:
the first opening has a size that is at least twice a size of the second opening; and
a rate at which fluid can flow through the first opening is at least twice the rate at which fluid can flow through the second opening.

10. The lid as in claim 1 , further comprising a closure connected to the lid, the closure providing controlled access to the first opening and the second opening, the closure comprising:
an activator pivotally attached to the lid in a fixed position, the activator including an outwardly extending handle;
a cover pivotally attached to the lid in a fixed position, the pivotal attachment of the activator to the lid spaced apart from the pivotal attachment of the cover to the lid by a fixed distance, the cover movable between an open position in which the first opening and the second opening are open and a closed position in which the first opening and the second opening are closed; and
a connecting member pivotally attached to the activator and pivotally attached to the cover.

11. The lid as in claim 10 , wherein the activator, the cover and the connecting member form at least a portion of an over center latching mechanism.

12. The lid as in claim 10 , wherein the activator is pivotally attached to the lid about a first axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being disposed in a fixed position relative to the lid;
wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the lid about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being disposed in a fixed position relative to the lid;
wherein the connecting member is pivotally connected to the activator about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation movable within an arc about the first axis of rotation as the cover is moved between the open and the closed positions; and
wherein the connecting member is pivotally connected to the closure about a fourth axis of rotation, the fourth axis of rotation movable within an arc about the second axis of rotation as the cover is moved between the open and the closed positions.

13. The lid as in claim 10 , wherein the cover simultaneously closes the first opening and the second opening when the cover is in the closed position.

14. A lid sized and configured to be attached to a container that is sized and configured to be filled with a fluid, the lid comprising:
a body;
a spout extending upwardly and disposed in a fixed position relative to the body, the spout at least partially defined by an outer wall;
a first opening disposed within the spout and at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout, the first opening having a cross-sectional configuration selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, round, oblong, curved, semicircular, arc, rectangular, square, and polygonal; and
a second opening disposed within the spout and at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout, wherein:
the second opening is positioned in front of the first opening;
the second opening has a cross-sectional configuration that is elongate in a first direction along a front of the first opening relative to a second direction, wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal to each other and to a height direction of the spout; and
at least one of an upper portion of a front wall of the second opening or an upper portion of a common wall between the second opening and the first opening is angled forwardly and at a different angle than a rear wall of the first opening.

15. The lid as in claim 14 , wherein:
the first opening provides a first fluid pathway, the first fluid pathway sized and configured to allow a fluid to flow from a container when the lid is connected to the container; and
the second opening provides a second fluid pathway, the second fluid pathway sized and configured to allow a fluid to flow from a container when the lid is connected to the container.

16. The lid as in claim 15 , wherein the outer wall of the spout and the common wall define the first opening and the second opening.

17. The lid as in claim 14 , further comprising a coupling portion in fluid communication with the second opening and a conduit that is removably attached to the coupling portion, the conduit, the coupling portion and the second opening generally aligned along an axis.

18. The lid as in claim 14 , wherein the first opening is sized and configured to allow a first rate of fluid flow, the second opening is sized and configured to allow a second rate of fluid flow, and the first rate of fluid flow is at least twice the second rate

Assignees

• Runway Blue Llc

Inventors

• Sorensen Steven M
• Meyers David O

Classifications

• A47G19/2266

  Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids · CPC title

• A47J43/27

  for mixing drinks; Hand-held shakers (mechanically driven A47J43/042) · CPC title

• B65D47/0847

  located within a flat surface of the base element · CPC title

• B65D2543/00046

  Drinking-through lids · CPC title

• A47G19/2272 Primary

  from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers · CPC title