Liquid-dispensing container with multiple-position selector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10737845-B2
Application number	US-201916548403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2019
Priority date	Aug 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid-dispensing container comprising:
a vessel;
a lid body attached to the vessel; and
a selector attached to the lid body, the selector rotatably movable relative to the lid body between a closed position, a first open position and a second open position;
wherein when the selector is in the closed position, fluid flow from the vessel is prevented;
wherein when the selector is in the first open position, fluid is able to be removed from the vessel along a first fluid pathway by suction through a straw; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, fluid is able to be removed from the vessel along a second fluid pathway by at least one of inverting or squeezing the vessel.

2. The liquid-dispensing container of claim 1 , wherein when the selector is in the closed position, fluid is restricted from flowing through the first fluid pathway or the second fluid pathway;
wherein when the selector is in the first open position, fluid is restricted from flowing into an interior passage of the selector through the second fluid pathway; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, fluid is restricted from flowing into the interior passage of the selector through the first fluid pathway.

3. The liquid-dispensing container of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the selector to the first open position aligns an interior passage of the selector with a first opening into the vessel, the first opening providing the first fluid pathway through the straw, and
wherein rotation of the selector to the second open position aligns the interior passage of the selector with a second opening into the vessel, the second opening providing the second fluid pathway directly into the vessel.

4. The liquid-dispensing container of claim 1 , further comprising a passage, wherein the fluid flows through the passage after entering at least one of the first fluid pathway or the second fluid pathway.

5. The liquid-dispensing container of claim 1 , further comprising:
a position indicator configured to indicate a position of the selector;
a first open position marker that corresponds to the first open position; and
a second open position marker that corresponds to the second open position,
wherein when the selector is in the first open position, the position indicator is substantially aligned with the first open position marker, and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, the position indicator is substantially aligned with the second open position marker.

6. The liquid-dispensing container of claim 1 , wherein the selector is movable relative to the lid body into a detachment position.

7. An apparatus comprising:
a selector comprising a conduit, the conduit comprising an interior passage and a conduit opening in fluid communication with the interior passage; and
a body coupled to the selector, the body comprising a first opening and a second opening;
wherein the selector is rotatable relative to the body between a first open position and a second open position;
wherein the conduit opening aligns with the first opening of the body when the selector is in the first open position,
wherein fluid is prevented from passing through the second opening of the body when the selector is in the first open position;
wherein the conduit opening aligns with the second opening of the body when the selector is in the second open position, and
wherein fluid is prevented from passing through the first opening of the body when the selector is in the second open position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the body is a valve body.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the selector is rotatable relative to the body between the first open position, the second open position, and a closed position,
wherein the conduit opening aligns with neither the first opening of the body nor the second opening of the body when the selector is in the closed position, and
wherein fluid is prevented from passing through either of the first opening of the body or the second opening of the body when the selector is in the closed position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a straw in fluid communication with the first opening of the body,
wherein when the selector is in the first open position, a first fluid pathway is formed extending from an interior passage of the straw to the interior passage of the conduit through the first opening of the body; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, a second fluid pathway is formed that does not include the interior passage of the straw.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the selector provides a form of feedback to a user when placed in at least one of the first open position, the second open position, or the closed position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the feedback is tactile.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the selected position of the selector is changed when the conduit is moved.

14. A lid for a beverage container, the lid comprising:
a lid body;
a selector rotatable relative to the lid body, the selector rotatable between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position; and
a straw coupled to the lid body,
wherein when the selector is in the first open position a first fluid pathway is formed through the lid body, wherein the first fluid pathway extends through the straw,
wherein when the selector is in the second open position a second fluid pathway is formed through the lid body, wherein the second fluid pathway does not extend through the straw, and
wherein when the selector is in the closed position, no fluid pathway extends through the lid body.

15. A beverage container, comprising:
a vessel; and
the lid of claim 14 , wherein the lid is removably coupled to the vessel.

16. The beverage container of claim 15 , wherein when the selector is in the first open position, the first fluid pathway is the only fluid pathway from an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel, and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, the second fluid pathway is the only fluid pathway from the interior of the vessel to the exterior of the vessel.

17. The lid of claim 14 , further comprising:
notches; and
detents,
wherein when the selector is in one of the first open position or the second open position, at least one notch is received by at least one detent.

18. The lid of claim 17 , wherein when the selector is in the closed position, at least one notch is received by at least one detent.

19. The lid of claim 17 , wherein when at least one notch is received by at least one detent, resistance to rotation of the selector relative to the lid body is increased relative to when a notch is not received by a detent.

Assignees

• Runway Blue Llc

Inventors

• Hirst Nathan K
• Colby Jim A
• Meyers David O
• Jacobsen Joseph O

Classifications

• A47G19/2266 Primary

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

• B65D47/24

  with poppet valves {or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat} · CPC title

• B65D47/263

  between tubular parts · CPC title

• A47G21/18

  Drinking straws or the like ({as integral parts of drinking containers A47G19/2266;} for therapeutic purposes A61J15/00 {; adapted to emerge from drinking containers when opened B65D77/283}) · CPC title

• B65D35/46 Primary

  with valves (bureau accessories for applying liquids, e.g. adhesive, B43M11/00) · CPC title