Lockable beverage container closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9282838-B2
Application number	US-201414321675-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container is provided. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable cover that, when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The lid is provided with a dual-locking mechanism including an actuation disk locking mechanism and a press-button locking mechanism. Each locking mechanism is operable to transition between a locking position and an unlocking position and opening the cover to permit the passage of fluid requires that both locking mechanism be in their respective unlocking positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lid for use with a drinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising:
a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the body including an upper portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel; and
a cover rotatably coupled to the body and operative to rotatably transition between a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the body to prevent the liquid from exiting the drinking vessel through the opening and an open position wherein the cover is spaced apart from the body to allow fluid passage through the opening, the cover comprising:
a first locking mechanism including an actuation disk rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position, the actuation disk having a first locking member preventing the cover from transitioning from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the locking position, and permitting the cover to transition from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position,
a second locking mechanism including a second locking member holding the cover in the closed position and operable to permit transition of the cover from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position,
an upper wall with an aperture and the actuation disk disposed above the upper wall over the aperture,
a support member disposed below the upper wall and supporting the first locking member for rotation therewith, and
a connector member extending through the aperture and having an upper end portion attached to the actuation disk and a lower end portion attached to the support member, and configured for rotation of the actuation disk from the locking position to the unlocking position moving the first locking member from a first position preventing the cover from transitioning from the closed position to the open position to a second position permitting the cover to transition from the closed position to the open position.

2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the second locking mechanism of the lid includes a press button operable to move the second locking member from a first position holding the cover in the closed position to a second position permitting transition of the cover from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position.

3. The lid of claim 1 , wherein a drinking opening plug is disposed on an interior surface of the cover, and the drinking opening plug being configured to seal the opening of the upper portion of the body when the cover is in the closed position.

4. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a locking ring and the first locking member is an outwardly projecting tab, and the body includes a ledge, and wherein rotation of the actuation disk from the unlocking position to the locking position when the cover is in the closed position moves the tab to a position below the ledge to prevent the cover from transitioning from the closed position to the open position.

5. The lid of claim 4 , wherein:
the connector member has a plurality of legs extending through the aperture of the cover; and
the plurality of legs are configured to snap-fit about a shoulder disposed on an interior surface of the locking ring so as to couple together the actuation disk and the locking ring.

6. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the aperture includes a first wall portion defining a first stop and a second wall portion defining a second stop, and the actuation disk includes an actuation disk tab extending from a lower surface of the actuation disk and into the aperture and is positioned to engage the first stop when the actuation disk tab is rotated to the locking position and to engage the second stop when the actuation disk is rotated to the unlocking position.

7. The lid of claim 1 , wherein:
the upper portion of the body is configured with a drinking spout having an exterior wall; and
an interior surface of the cover has a wall operative to abut the exterior wall of the drinking spout when the cover is in the closed position to reduce lateral movement of the cover with respect to a vertical axis of the body of the lid.

8. A lid for use with a drinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising:
a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the body including an upper portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel; and
a cover rotatably coupled to the body and operative to rotatably transition between a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the body to prevent the liquid from exiting the drinking vessel through the opening and an open position wherein the cover is spaced apart from the body to allow fluid passage through the opening, the cover comprising:
a first locking mechanism including an actuation disk rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position, the actuation disk having a first locking member preventing the cover from transitioning from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the locking position, and permitting the cover to transition from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position, and
a second locking mechanism including a second locking member holding the cover in the closed position and operable to permit transition of the cover from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position; and

wherein the upper portion of the body is configured with a drinking spout including the opening; and the drinking spout is configured with a ledge operative to receive the first locking member therebelow and thereby prevent the cover from transitioning from the closed position to the open position.

9. A drinking vessel and lid assembly, comprising:
a drinking vessel; and
a lid comprising:
a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the body including an upper portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel; and
a cover rotatably coupled to the body and operative to rotatably transition between a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the body to prevent fluid from exiting the drinking vessel through the opening and an open position wherein the cover is spaced apart from the body to allow fluid passage through the opening, the cover comprising:
a first locking mechanism including an actuation disk rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position, the actuation disk having a first locking member preventing the cover from transitioning from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the locking position, and permitting the cover to transition from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position,
a second locking mechanism including a second locking member operable to permit transition of the cover from the closed position to the open position when the actuation disk is in the unlocking position,
an upper wall with an aperture and the actuation disk disposed above the upper wall over the aperture,
a support member disposed below the upper wall and supporting the first locking member for rotation therewith, and
a connector member extending through the aperture and having an upper end portion attached to the actuation disk and a lower end portion attached to the support member, and configured for rotation of the actuation disk from the locking position to the unlocking position moving the first locking member from a first position preventing the cover from

Assignees

• Pacific Market Int Llc

Inventors

• Sims Randy

Classifications

• B65D2251/0021

  of the B65D43/16-type · CPC title

• B65D2251/0028

  of the 51-type · CPC title

• B65D2543/00972

  Collars or rings · CPC title

• B65D2543/00092

  circular · CPC title

• B65D55/02

  Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure · CPC title