Liquid-dispensing container with multiple-position selector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560259-B2
Application number	US-202016989260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Aug 19, 2016
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

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 lid for a drinking vessel, the lid comprising:
a lid body;
a selector movable relative to the lid body between a closed position, a first open position and a second open position;
a conduit coupled with the selector, the conduit comprising a first conduit opening, a second conduit opening, and a third conduit opening;
a valve body comprising a first valve body opening and a second valve body opening; and
a straw,
wherein when the selector is in the closed position, fluid flow from a reservoir of an attached vessel is inhibited,
wherein when the selector is in the first open position, fluid is able to be removed from the reservoir of the attached vessel along a first fluid pathway extending from the reservoir of the attached vessel through the straw, through the first valve body opening, through at least one of the first conduit opening and the second conduit opening, and through the third conduit opening,
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, fluid is able to be removed from the reservoir of the attached vessel along a second fluid pathway extending from the reservoir of the attached vessel, through the second valve body opening, through at least one of the first conduit opening and the second conduit opening, and through the third conduit opening, and
wherein the second fluid pathway does not extend through the straw.

2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises a third valve body opening, and
wherein the second fluid pathway comprises:
a first pathway portion that extends from the reservoir of the attached vessel, through the second valve body opening, through the first conduit opening, and through the third conduit opening; and
a second pathway portion that extends from the reservoir of the attached vessel, through the third valve body opening, through the second conduit opening, and through the third conduit opening.

3. The lid of claim 2 , wherein the first conduit opening and the second conduit opening are aligned with the second valve body opening and the third valve body opening when the selector is in the second open position.

4. The lid of claim 1 , wherein when the selector is in the first open position, the first fluid pathway is the only fluid pathway through the lid; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, the second fluid pathway is the only fluid pathway through the lid.

5. The lid of claim 1 , wherein when the selector is in the first open position, fluid is restricted from flowing through the second fluid pathway; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, fluid is restricted from flowing through the first fluid pathway.

6. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the selector and the conduit are formed as a unitary piece.

7. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conduit openings are disposed in a sidewall of the conduit.

8. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit opening and the second conduit opening are vertically offset from the first valve body opening.

9. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit opening or the second conduit opening is aligned with the second valve body opening when the selector is in the second open position.

10. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the selector is rotatable between the closed position, the first open position and the second open position.

11. A beverage container, comprising:
a vessel; and
the lid of claim 1 .

12. The lid of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fluid pathway and the second fluid pathway comprises a first pathway portion that extends from the reservoir through the first conduit opening and a second pathway portion that extends from the reservoir through the second conduit opening.

13. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the valve body is formed as a unitary piece.

14. A lid for a drinking vessel, the lid comprising:
a lid body;
a selector movable relative to the lid body between a closed position, a first open position and a second open position;
a conduit coupled with the selector, the conduit comprising a conduit opening disposed in a cylindrical sidewall of the conduit;
a valve body comprising a first valve body opening and a second valve body opening; and
a straw,
wherein when the selector is in the closed position, fluid flow from an attached vessel is inhibited,
wherein when the selector is in the first open position, fluid is able to be removed from the attached vessel along a first fluid pathway extending from an interior of the attached vessel through the straw, the first valve body opening, and the conduit opening,
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, fluid is able to be removed from the attached vessel along a second fluid pathway extending from the interior of the attached vessel through the second valve body opening and the conduit opening, and
wherein the second fluid pathway does not extend through the straw.

15. The lid of claim 14 , wherein the second valve body opening is disposed in a sidewall of the valve body.

16. The lid of claim 14 , wherein the first valve body opening is disposed in a lower wall of the valve body.

17. The lid of claim 14 , wherein when the selector is in the first open position, the first fluid pathway is the only fluid pathway through the lid; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, the second fluid pathway is the only fluid pathway through the lid.

18. The lid of claim 14 , wherein when the selector is in the first open position, fluid is restricted from flowing through the second fluid pathway; and
wherein when the selector is in the second open position, fluid is restricted from flowing through the first fluid pathway.

19. The lid of claim 14 , wherein the selector and the conduit are formed as a unitary piece.

20. The lid of claim 14 , wherein the conduit opening is aligned with the second valve body opening when the selector is in the second open position.

21. The lid of claim 14 , wherein the selector is rotatable between the closed position, the first open position and the second open position.

22. A beverage container, comprising:
a vessel; and
the lid of claim 14 .

Assignees

• Runway Blue Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• 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

• A47G19/2266 Primary

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

• B65D47/06

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

• B65D47/263

  between tubular parts · CPC title