Lid for a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10214328-B2
Application number	US-201715624421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2017
Priority date	Nov 24, 2015
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A lid may be sized and configured to be attached to a container, and the lid may include an activator, a fluid-flow member, and a connecting member. The activator, the fluid-flow member and the connecting member may be pivotally connected. The activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member may be movable between open and closed positions. When the activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member are in the closed position, fluid may be prevented from exiting the container. When the activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member are in the open position, fluid may exit the container through a fluid passageway.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lid comprising:
a body; and
a linkage coupled to the body, the linkage including an activator manipulable by a user and a fluid-flow member interconnected with the activator, the fluid-flow member having a fluid pathway comprising a mouthpiece that is movable relative to the body and relative to the activator responsive to movement of the activator;
wherein:
the linkage is movable between a first position and a second position through movement of the activator;
when the linkage is in the first position, a passageway through the fluid pathway is at least partially blocked; and
when the linkage is in the second position, the passageway through the fluid pathway is open.

2. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein the fluid pathway is at least partially disposed in the fluid-flow member.

3. The lid as in claim 2 , wherein the linkage further comprises a connecting member coupled to each of the activator and the fluid-flow member and wherein the connecting member is configured to pinch the fluid pathway to inhibit fluid flow through the fluid pathway when the linkage is in the first position.

4. The lid as in claim 2 , wherein when the linkage is in the first position, a portion of the fluid pathway is bent at least approximately ninety degrees.

5. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein the linkage further comprises a connecting member coupled to each of the activator and the fluid-flow member and wherein the activator is connected to a first portion of the body of the lid, the fluid-flow member is connected to a second portion of the body of the lid that is separated by a distance from the first portion, and the connecting member is at least substantially disposed between the connection of the activator to the first portion of the lid and the connection of the fluid-flow member to the second portion of the lid.

6. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein the linkage further comprises a connecting member coupled to each of the activator and the fluid-flow member and wherein the activator is pivotally connected to the body of the lid at a first pivotal connection, the connecting member is pivotally connected to the activator at a second pivotal connection, the fluid-flow member is pivotally connected to the body of the lid at a third pivotal connection, and the connecting member is pivotally connected to the fluid-flow member at a fourth pivotal connection.

7. The lid as in claim 6 , wherein the first pivotal connection and the third pivotal connection are disposed in a fixed location relative to the lid; and
wherein the second pivotal connection and the fourth pivotal connection are disposed in a non-fixed location relative to the lid.

8. The lid as in claim 1 , wherein:
the body selectively covers at least a portion of a mouth of a container to which the lid is selectively attachable;
the body includes a first opening through which the passageway passes to the container;
the body includes a second opening through which air enters the container when the second opening is uncovered; and
the linkage includes a gap;
when the linkage is in the second position, the gap is disposed directly above the second opening in the body to allow air to enter the container; and
when the linkage is in the first position, the gap is not aligned with the second opening in the body and the second opening in the body is covered by at least one component of the linkage.

9. The lid as in claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the linkage in the first position.

10. The lid as in claim 3 , wherein the fluid pathway comprises a flexible portion and wherein the connecting member is configured to pinch the flexible portion of the fluid pathway to inhibit fluid flow through the fluid pathway when the linkage is in the first position.

11. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-flow member is connected to the activator through a connecting member that moves relative to the fluid-flow member and the mouthpiece responsive to movement of the activator.

12. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the activator comprises a lever spaced apart from the mouthpiece of the fluid-flow member, the activator indirectly coupled to the fluid-flow member through an intervening connecting member.

13. The lid of claim 12 , wherein the lever is manipulable by a user's hand to operate the activator without the user's hand touching or being proximate to the mouthpiece.

14. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the activator is pivotally connected to the body of the lid at a first pivotal connection and the fluid-flow member is pivotally connected to the activator at a second pivotal connection that is separated by a distance from the first pivotal connection.

15. The lid of claim 1 , wherein:
when the linkage is in the first position, the activator covers at least a portion of the fluid-flow member; and
when the linkage is in the second position, the at least the portion of the fluid-flow member is uncovered.

16. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-flow member is connected to the activator through a connecting member.

17. The lid of claim 16 , wherein the fluid-flow member is pivotally connected to the connecting member and the activator is pivotally connected to the connecting member.

18. A lid comprising:
a body;
an activator connected to the body, the activator manipulable by a user and movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a fluid-flow member movably connected to the body and movably connected to the activator, the fluid-flow member having a fluid pathway comprising a mouthpiece;
wherein:
movement of the activator from the closed position to the open position moves the fluid-flow member from a closed position to an open position;
movement of the activator from the open position to the closed position moves the fluid-flow member from the open position to the closed position;
the fluid pathway is closed when the fluid-flow member is in the closed position; and
the fluid pathway is open when the fluid-flow member is in the open position.

19. The lid as in claim 18 , wherein the fluid-flow member is connected to the activator through a connecting member and wherein in response to movement of the activator from the open position to the closed position, the connecting member inhibits fluid flow through the fluid pathway.

20. The lid as in claim 18 , wherein in response to movement of the activator from the open position to the closed position, the fluid-flow member bends a portion of the fluid pathway.

21. The lid as in claim 18 , wherein in response to movement of the activator from the open position to the closed position, the fluid-flow member bends the fluid pathway approximately ninety degrees.

22. The lid as in claim 18 , wherein the fluid-flow member is connected to the activator through a connecting member and wherein at least a portion of the fluid-flow member is disposed adjacent to the connecting member when the activator and the fluid-flow member are in the closed position.

23. The lid as in claim 18 , wherein the fluid-flow member is connected to the activator through a connecting member, the activator is pivotally connected to a first portion of the body of the lid, the fluid-flow member is pivotally connected to a second portion of the body of the lid that is separated by a distance from the first portion, and the connecting member is at least substantially disposed between the pivotal connection of the activator to the first portion of the l

Assignees

• Runway Blue Llc

Inventors

• Sorensen Steven M
• Meyers David O

Classifications

• A47G19/2272 Primary

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

• B65D43/16

  hinged for upward or downward movement · CPC title

• B65D43/26

  Mechanisms for opening or closing, e.g. pedal-operated {(for refuse receptacles B65F1/1623)} · CPC title

• B65D47/065 Primary

  with hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts · CPC title

• A45F3/18

  of rigid material · CPC title