Beverage container lid with adjustable flow rate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683147-B2
Application number	US-201715785310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 13, 2017
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A lid assembly that includes a lid body member, a stopper, and a flow control. The lid body member includes a pouring aperture configured to allow a fluid to flow therethrough. The stopper allows the fluid to flow through the pouring aperture at first and second flow rates when the stopper is positioned in first and second open positions, respectively. The second flow rate is faster than the first flow rate. The flow control is operable to position the stopper in the first and second open positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lid assembly comprising:
a lid body member comprising a pouring aperture, a first inner wall, and a second inner wall, the second inner wall being spaced inwardly from the first inner wall, a fluid chamber being defined at least in part between the first and second inner walls, the pouring aperture being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, the second inner wall defining a through-channel;
a flow control that is moveable with respect to the lid body member, the flow control comprising a first threaded portion positioned inside the through-channel; and
a stopper assembly comprising a second threaded portion, the flow control being operable to move the stopper assembly between first and second open positions with respect to the first inner wall when the flow control is moved with respect to the lid body member, the second threaded portion engaging the first threaded portion inside the through-channel by first and second amounts when the stopper assembly is in the first and second open positions, respectively, the second amount being greater than the first amount, the stopper assembly being non-rotatable with respect to the lid body member when the stopper assembly is in the first and second open positions, the stopper assembly being spaced apart from the first inner wall by a first distance when the stopper assembly is in the first open position, the stopper assembly being spaced apart from the first inner wall by a second distance when the stopper assembly is in the second open position, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the first and second distances allowing a fluid to flow between the first inner wall and the stopper assembly, into the fluid chamber, and out the pouring aperture at first and second flow rates, respectively, the first flow rate being less than the second flow rate.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member between first and second positions,
the stopper assembly is connected to the flow control and is movable by the flow control as the flow control is rotated, and
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in the first and second open positions when the flow control is in the first and second positions, respectively.

3. The lid assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member to a third position,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in a closed position when the flow control is in the third position, and
the stopper assembly forms a fluid tight seal with the first inner wall when the stopper assembly is in the closed position.

4. The lid assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member to a fourth position,
the flow control comprises a projection,
the lid body member comprises a pair of ledges that extend into the through-channel,
a gap is defined between the pair of ledges and along the second inner wall, and
the projection is positioned to travel through the gap only when the flow control is in the fourth position.

5. The lid assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flow control positions the stopper assembly in a cleaning position when the flow control is in the fourth position, and
the second threaded portion is disengaged from the first threaded portion when the stopper assembly is in the cleaning position.

6. The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stopper assembly comprises a track,
the second inner wall comprises a stop that extends into the through-channel,
the track is configured to receive the stop, and
engagement between the stop and the track prevents the stopper assembly from rotating with respect to the lid body member as the flow control is moved with respect to the lid body member.

7. The lid assembly of claim 6 , wherein the stopper assembly comprises a tab positioned in the track, and
the tab helps maintain the stop inside the track.

8. The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow control comprises a seal positioned inside the through-channel, and
the seal is configured to form a fluid tight seal between the flow control and the second inner wall of the lid body member.

9. The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member between first and second positions,
the stopper assembly is connected to the flow control and is movable by the flow control as the flow control is rotated,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in the first and second open positions when the flow control is in the first and second positions, respectively,
the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member to a third position,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in a closed position when the flow control is in the third position,
the stopper assembly forms a fluid tight seal with the first inner wall when the stopper assembly is in the closed position,
the lid body member comprises a groove with stop walls defining first, second, and third stop positions,
the flow control comprises a projection configured to travel within the groove as the flow control is rotated,
the flow control is in the third position when the projection is positioned in the first stop position,
the flow control is in the first position when the projection is positioned in the second stop position, and
the flow control is in the second position when the projection is positioned in the third stop position.

10. The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member between first and second positions,
the stopper assembly is connected to the flow control and is movable by the flow control as the flow control is rotated,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in the first and second open positions when the flow control is in the first and second positions, respectively,
the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member to a third position,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in a closed position when the flow control is in the third position,
the stopper assembly forms a fluid tight seal with the first inner wall when the stopper assembly is in the closed position,
the stopper assembly comprises a stopper seal, and
the stopper seal is pressed against the first inner wall to form the fluid tight seal when the stopper assembly is in the closed position.

11. The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member between first and second positions,
the stopper assembly is connected to the flow control and is movable by the flow control as the flow control is rotated,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in the first and second open positions when the flow control is in the first and second positions, respectively,
the flow control is rotatable with respect to the lid body member to a third position,
the flow control positions the stopper assembly in a closed position when the flow control is in the third position,
the stopper assembly forms a fluid tight seal with the first inner wall when the stopper assembly is in the closed position,
the lid body member comprises a vent,
the flow control blocks the vent and prevents fluid communication between the fluid chamber and an outside environment when the flow control is in the third position,
the flow control comprises a recess configured to be positioned adjacent the vent when the flow control is in the first position or the second position, and
the recess allows fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the outside environment through the vent when

Assignees

• Pacific Market Int Llc

Inventors

• Choltco-Devlin Evan Michael
• Silsby Jacob D

Classifications

• B65D47/244 Primary

  being rotated without axial translation, whilst transmitting axial motion to an internal valve stem or valve seat · CPC title

• B65D47/265 Primary

  between planar parts (B65D47/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D43/0225

  secured by rotation · CPC title

• A47G19/2205

  Drinking glasses or vessels (A47G19/23 takes precedence) · CPC title