Closure for an opening in a lid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028603-B2
Application number	US-201615213360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2016
Priority date	Jan 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A closure for a lid that has at least one opening may include an activator pivotally coupled to the lid, a cover pivotally coupled to the lid, and a connecting member pivotally coupled to the activator and the cover. The activator, the cover and the connecting member may form an over center latching mechanism. In addition, the activator may be pivotally connected to the lid about a first axis of rotation, the cover may be pivotally connected to the lid about a second axis of rotation, the connecting member may pivotally connected to the activator about a third axis of rotation, and the connecting member may be pivotally connected to the cover about a fourth axis of rotation. The distance between the first and second axes of rotation may be constant, and the distance between the third and fourth axes of rotation may change as the cover is moved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a lid;
at least one opening in the lid;
an activator pivotally connected to the lid, the activator movable between an open position and a closed position, the activator movable in a first direction when the activator moves from the closed position to the open position, the activator movable in a second, opposing direction when the activator moves from the open position to the closed position;
a cover pivotally connected to the lid, the cover movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the at least one opening in the lid, the cover movable in a first direction when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the cover movable in a second, opposing direction when the cover moves from the open position to the closed position; and
a connecting member including a first portion connected to the activator and a second portion connected to the cover, the connecting member biasing the cover to remain in the closed position when the cover and the activator are in the closed position;
wherein movement of the activator from the closed position to the open position overcomes a biasing force of the connecting member and moves the cover from the closed position to the open position;
wherein movement of the activator from the open position to the closed position moves the cover from the open position to the closed position;
wherein the activator is pivotally coupled to the lid in a first fixed position;
wherein the cover is pivotally coupled to the lid in a second fixed position; and
wherein a distance between a coupling of a first portion of the connecting member to the activator and a coupling of a second portion of the connecting member to the cover increases and decreases as the activator moves between the open and closed positions.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein movement of the activator from the closed position to the open position causes the cover to move from the closed position to the open position at substantially the same time and in substantially the same direction as the activator; and
wherein movement of the activator from the open position to the closed position causes the cover to move from the open position to the closed position at substantially the same time and in substantially the same direction as the activator.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activator rotates relative to the lid between the open and closed position;
wherein the cover rotates relative to the lid between the open and closed position;
wherein the activator and cover rotate in generally the same direction relative to the lid between the open and the closed positions.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises a biasing portion, the biasing portion biasing the cover to remain in the closed position when the cover is in the closed position.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the biasing portion allows a length of the connecting member to vary and the length of the connecting member varies as the activator and the cover move between the open and the closed positions.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activator, the cover and the connecting member comprise an over center latch mechanism.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activator is pivotally connected to the lid about a first axis of rotation, the cover is pivotally connected to the lid about a second axis of rotation, the connecting member is pivotally connected to the activator about a third axis of rotation, and the connecting member is pivotally connected to the cover about a fourth axis of rotation; and
wherein the first axis of rotation is disposed in a first fixed position relative to the lid and the second axis of rotation is disposed in a second fixed position relative to the lid.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein when a force applied to the activator overcomes a biasing force of the connecting member, the cover can be moved from the closed position to the open position; and
wherein when a force applied to the activator to overcomes a biasing force of the connecting member, the cover can be moved from the open position to the closed position.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the connecting member provides a spring force; and
wherein movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position requires sufficient force to overcome the spring force.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the connecting member biases the cover into the closed position when the activator is moved into the closed position.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein a force applied to the activator must overcome a biasing force to allow the activator to be moved from the first position to the second position and the cover to be moved from the closed position to the open position.

12. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the closure is an over center latching mechanism;
wherein an amount of force applied to the activator must allow the activator to rotate past a center point of the over center latching mechanism to allow the activator to move from the closed position to the open position and to dispose the cover in the open position; and
wherein an amount of force applied to the activator must allow the activator to rotate past the center point of the over center latching mechanism to allow the activator to move from the open position to the closed position and the connecting member secures the cover in the closed position.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the closure is an over center latching mechanism;
wherein an amount of force applied to the activator must allow the activator to rotate past a center point of the over center latching mechanism to allow the activator to move from the closed position to the open position and to dispose the cover in the open position; and
wherein an amount of force applied to the activator must allow the activator to rotate past the center point of the over center latching mechanism to allow the activator to move from the open position to the closed position.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a lid;
one or more openings in the lid; and
a closure coupled to the lid, the closure movable between a first position and a second position, the closure comprising:
an activator coupled to the lid about a first axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation disposed in a fixed location relative to the lid, the activator movable between an open position and a closed position;
a cover coupled to the lid about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation disposed in a fixed location relative to the lid, a constant distance separating the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation, the cover movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a connecting member connected to the activator and the cover, the activator, the cover and the connecting member forming an over center latching mechanism, a length of the connecting member changing as the cover moves between the open and the closed positions;

wherein the cover in the closed position inhibits fluid flow through the one or more openings in the lid; and
wherein the cover in the open position allows fluid flow through the one or more openings in the lid.

15. The apparatus as in claim 14 , wherein the activator is pivotally coupled to the lid, the cover is pivotally coupled to the lid, the connecting member is pivotally connected to the activator about a third axis of rotation, and the connecting member is pivotally connected to the cover about a fourth axis of rotation;
wherein the

Assignees

• Runway Blue Llc

Inventors

• Sorensen Steven M
• Meyers David O

Classifications

• B65D2543/00046

  Drinking-through lids · CPC title

• A47G19/2272 Primary

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

• B65D2251/0028

  of the 51-type · CPC title

• B65D45/16

  Clips, hooks, or clamps {which are removable, or which remain connected either with the closure or with the container when the container is open}, e.g. C-shaped (U-shaped or bifurcated members B65D45/04) · CPC title

• B65D47/06

  with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages (with slidable spouts B65D47/26) · CPC title