Beverage container cover and beverage container using same

Abstract

A lid may be used with a beverage container and a refillable reservoir positioned within the container. The lid has a mixing chamber, an additive passage extending between the mixing chamber and the reservoir, and a beverage passage extending between the mixing chamber and the container. The sliding door is movable between: a first position that closes communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber but provides communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber; a second position providing communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber and between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber; and a third position providing communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber, but sealing communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber. The second position includes a plurality of selectable second door positions that each provide a different ratio of permitted flow of additive and beverage to the mixing chamber.

Description

Background of the Invention Technical Field

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a lid for a beverage container and a beverage container using the lid. More specifically, the lid includes a reservoir isolated from the contents of the beverage container for containing and dispensing an additive substance to be mixed with the contents of the beverage container.

[0003] Related technical notes

[0004] Reusable beverage containers and insulated tumblers and mugs are known in the art and there are many conventional models on the market. Standard models of these refillable and reusable "tumblers", travel mugs and water bottles are usually sold with removable lids, and these removable lids usually include a sealable drinking orifice. Some mug models are double-walled vacuum sealed to further improve insulation.

[0005] Insulated cups are widely used for both hot and cold beverages. Rambler cups are particularly popular, and these cups can keep drinks cool or warm very well. These cups are also very popular during social activities including sporting events and outdoor adventures. Since seasonings, creamers, liquor or spirits are used in a smaller proportion in the main beverage, when people wish to supplement the main beverage on the road, there is a demand for these additives to be transported separately from the insulated cup. If a cocktail is desired, the individual must carry a flask or some other glass or plastic container with him / her to pour the liquid into the main beverage. In addition, the selection and quantity of additives are only a matter of private choice, so although the main beverage may be easier to refill the main container, the additives may need to be transported by an individual or many various containers may be transported to serve multiple individuals. On hot days, transporting additives separately from insulated containers may cause the additives to become too warm to be eaten, and cause the beverage mixed with the additives to be warmer than desired, or diluted due to the melting of the ice in the beverage. When on the go, measuring the correct amount of additives is challenging and can result in an undesirable ratio of additive to main beverage in the mix, causing the mixed drink to be over-poured or under-poured.

[0006] Individuals have turned to separate containers, such as flasks or mini-bar-sized bottles to transport spirits or liquor. Companies have begun to provide flavorings and creamers with plastic disposable servings to satisfy the tastes of people on the go. Previous attempts to allow beverage additives (such as flavorings) to be transported together with tumblers have failed because tumblers usually need to be disposable by destroying the film or tearing or piercing the seal. Although some prior art has taught that button actuation is performed to release the contents from the compartment to the cup without removing the lid, these attempts require a single use of at least the additive vessel inserted into the lid. The personalization of the insertion of flavoring additives into travel cups has been solved only by using multiple compartments, which requires destroying or tearing multiple single-use films. In many cases, the activation of the additive chamber will result in preventing any further use of the entire lid, so the entire lid must be discarded.

[0007] While multiple compartments have the ability to release only a pre-measured set amount, multiple compartments are cumbersome to operate because each compartment requires a separate release mechanism, or the ability to turn or move an actuation mechanism to release the contents of the compartment. Most prior art generally teaches that a vented container should be locked open and any additives stored in a compartment should be completely vented upon dispensing.

[0008] Many inventions must be removed to drink the contents of the beverage container. Other inventions seek to add a small amount of additives when the container is tilted for pouring. In one example, the compartment will release the additive into the outflow of the container only when the lid is properly rotated and the beverage container is tilted horizontally. Although a compartment for additives is created in the lid, these efforts eliminate the ability of the lid to allow fluid transfer for direct drinking. Another invention drips additives into the stream of soda after a large lid and cover are attached to the outside of the soda can. As with the previous example, the additive will only mix with the beverage flow when it leaves the mouth of the container. The prior art carries a bulky attachment that is difficult to manufacture and requires wasteful use of single-use vessels or complicated titration with a reservoir that is not reusable or refillable. There are also problems when it is desired to control the amount of additives added when less than the total amount.

[0009] Applicant has overcome many of these problems with the products described in its U.S. Patents 10,112,752, 10,421,590, 10,935,406, 11,428,562 and related allowed U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 17 / 878,791 (U.S. Publication No. 2022-0412786).

[0010] However, some users have demonstrated a desire to have a convenient way to manually change the amount of additive added from the additive reservoir to each variable number of gulps (i.e., to each variable number of beverages drunk from the beverage container), such that each gulp can contain a different amount of additive as selected by the user to cater to the user's taste when drinking, and still maintain the beverage remaining in the body of the beverage container without the additive. It has also proven desirable to allow the user to selectively drink the beverage from the body of the beverage container without the additive, and selectively drink the additive from the additive reservoir without mixing the additive with the beverage in the body of the beverage container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a beverage container utilizing a beverage container lid according to the present invention with the handle / lock assembly in a locked position.

[0012] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Side elevation view of a beverage container with the handle / lock assembly in an unlocked position.

[0013] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A side perspective cross-sectional view of a beverage container.

[0014] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A side perspective cross-sectional view of a beverage container.

[0015] Figure 5 For Figure 2 and Figure 4 An enlarged partial top perspective cross-sectional view of a beverage container is shown with the handle / lock assembly in an unlocked position and the sliding door positioned for drinking the beverage without mixing with an additive.

[0016] Figure 6 For Figure 2 and Figure 4 An enlarged partial top perspective cross-sectional view of a beverage container is shown with the handle / lock assembly in an unlocked position and the button depressed inwardly to position the sliding door to move into position for drinking the beverage after mixing with an additive.

[0017] Figure 7 For Figure 2 and Figure 4 An enlarged partial top perspective cross-sectional view of a beverage container shown with the handle / lock assembly in an unlocked position and the button depressed inwardly relative to the Figure 6 Shown further to move the sliding door into position to allow only drinking of the additive without mixing with the beverage.

[0018] Figure 8For Figure 1 and Figure 3 An enlarged side elevation cross-sectional view of a beverage container is shown with the handle / lock assembly in a locked position but with the beverage container body removed.

[0019] Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a sliding door shown removed from a beverage container.

[0020] Fig.10 for Fig.10 A side elevation cross-sectional view of a sliding door.

[0021] Fig.11 for Fig.10 view of sliding doors.

[0022] Fig.12 For is shown as from Figure 1 A top perspective view of a beverage container with a separated beverage container lid and additive reservoir removed from a beverage container body.

[0023] Fig.13 for Fig.12 A top perspective cross-sectional view of a separated beverage container lid and additive reservoir.

[0024] Fig.14A For use with a first size and shape additive reservoir Figure 1 A side elevation cross-sectional view of a beverage container.

[0025] Fig. 14B For use with a second size and shape of additive reservoir Figure 1 A side elevation cross-sectional view of a beverage container.

[0026] Fig. 14C For use with a third size and shape additive reservoir Figure 1 A side elevation cross-sectional view of a beverage container.

[0027] Fig.15A for Fig.14A Shown is a side perspective view of an additive reservoir of a first size and shape shown removed from a beverage container and with a reservoir travel lid attached.

[0028] Fig. 15B for Fig. 14B Shown is a side perspective view of a second size and shape additive reservoir shown removed from a beverage container and with a reservoir travel lid attached.

[0029] Fig. 15C for Fig. 14C Shown is a side perspective view of a second size and shape additive reservoir shown removed from a beverage container and with a reservoir travel lid attached.

[0030] Fig.16 A bottom view of a beverage container lid with the handle / lock assembly and cap removed.

[0031] Fig.17 is a side elevation view of a first alternative beverage container with the handle / lock assembly in a locked position and using an alternative angle offset "C".

[0032] Fig.18 for Fig.17 is a side elevation view of a first alternative beverage container with the handle / lock assembly in an unlocked position.

[0033] Fig.19 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative sliding door shown removed from a second alternative embodiment of a beverage container, corresponding to the first described embodiment Fig. 9 .

[0034] Fig. 20 for Fig.19 A side elevation cross-sectional view of an alternative sliding door corresponding to the first described embodiment Fig.10 .

[0035] Fig.21 for Fig.19 A top view of an alternative sliding door corresponding to the first described embodiment Fig.11 .

[0036] Fig. 22 is an enlarged partial top perspective cross-sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a beverage container, corresponding to the first described embodiment Figure 5 , wherein the handle / lock assembly is in an unlocked position and replaces the sliding door and is positioned for drinking the beverage without mixing with an additive.

[0037] Fig.23 is an enlarged partial top perspective cross-sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a beverage container, corresponding to the first described embodiment Figure 6 , wherein the handle / lock assembly is in an unlocked position and the button is pressed inwardly to a position to move the alternative sliding door into a position for drinking the beverage after mixing with an additive.

[0038] Fig.24 is an enlarged partial top perspective cross-sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a beverage container, corresponding to the first described embodiment Figure 7 , wherein the handle / lock assembly is in the unlocked position and the button is pressed inwardly relative to Fig.23 Shown further to allow the alternative sliding door to be moved into position to allow only the additive to be drunk, without mixing with the beverage.

[0039] The same reference numerals have been used in the drawings to identify the same parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figure 1 and Figure 2 1 and 2. The beverage container 10 is shown in a fully assembled state utilizing a beverage container lid 12 attached to a beverage container body 14 of the beverage container. Figure 1 The beverage container lid 12 is shown with the handle / lock assembly 16 in a locked position for carrying by the handle / lock assembly and in Figure 2 The beverage container 10 has a handle / lock assembly in an unlocked position, ready for use of the beverage container 10 to drink the liquid / beverage stored in the beverage container body 14.

[0041] The beverage container 10 described herein is shown as a drinking tumbler, but may also take the form of a glass, mug, cup, goblet, decorated tankard, single-handled tankard, vessel, beaker, drinkware, drinkware, food container, or other vessel for holding a beverage or liquid food for drinking or eating. The beverage container lid 12 may or may not have a handle / lock assembly 16 attached thereto. Although "beverage container" and "beverage" are used herein for the purpose of convenience, it should be understood that the beverage container 10 described includes containers for food to which additives are to be added, not just containers for liquid beverages.

[0042] If respectively Figure 1 and Figure 2 Corresponding Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the beverage container body 14 has a cylindrical profile, with an internal body cavity 17 for accommodating a beverage "B" and an upwardly open upper end portion 18 at which the beverage container lid 12 is detachably attached. The body cavity 17 is defined by a side wall 17A and a bottom wall 17B that closes the bottom end of the body cavity, and has an open upper end 17C. If desired, the beverage container 10 can be constructed using a beverage container body of any other desired shape. In addition, the beverage container body 14 can have a single-wall or double-wall construction, or any other desired structure.

[0043] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As best shown, the beverage container lid 12 has a lid body 20 having a lid upper body portion 22 and a lid lower body portion 24 extending about a vertically oriented central lid axis 26. The body cavity sidewall 17A is fully extended and symmetrical about the lid axis 26. Other shapes of body cavity sidewalls may be used. The lid lower body portion 24 is sized and shaped to be inserted into the upper end portion 18 of the beverage container body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, and Figures 5 to 7 As best seen in the drawings, the lid lower body portion 24 of the beverage container lid 12 has external threads 30 by which the beverage container lid can be removably attached to the upper end portion 18 of the beverage container body 14, which has corresponding internal threads 32. Other forms of removably connecting the beverage container lid 12 to the beverage container body 14 may be used, such as a friction fit.

[0044] Typically, a seal (not shown) is provided between the lid lower body portion 24 and the upper end portion 18 of the beverage container 14 to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween. If a friction fit is used to removably connect the beverage container lid 12 to the beverage container body 14, rather than a threaded attachment, the seal may also be used to provide the friction required to prevent the beverage container lid from being unintentionally separated from the beverage container body during normal use when the lid lower body portion 24 is inserted into the upper end portion 18 of the beverage container body.

[0045] As noted, the interior body cavity 17 of the beverage container body 14 serves as the primary vessel for containing the beverage. Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the beverage container lid 12 has a refillable additive recess or reservoir 34 attached thereto, which is used as an auxiliary vessel to hold an additive "A" that is intended to be selectively added to a sip or portion of the beverage "B" being consumed when the beverage "B" is consumed, without the need for the additive agent to be directly added to the internal body cavity 17 of the beverage container body 14. The additive can be a powder additive or a liquid additive. The additive reservoir 34 has a generally cylindrical profile, which has an internal additive reservoir cavity 36 for accommodating the additive and an upwardly open upper end portion 38 at which the additive reservoir is removably attached to the beverage container lid 12. The additive reservoir cavity 36 is defined by a side wall 36A and a bottom wall 36B that closes the bottom end of the additive reservoir cavity, and has an open upper end 36C. If desired, the additive reservoir 34 can be configured to have other sizes and shapes. As will be described below, the additive reservoir 34 holds the additive "A" and isolates it from the beverage "B" in the beverage container 10 until the user permits the additive to be released so as to mix with a portion of the beverage in the beverage container before the mixture is consumed, or so as to be consumed directly without mixing with the beverage in the beverage container.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the lid lower body portion 24 of the beverage container lid 12 has internal threads 40 located inside the external threads 30. The upper end portion 38 of the additive reservoir 34 has corresponding external threads 42 by which the additive reservoir can be removably attached to the lid lower body portion 24. Figure 8 , an additive reservoir 34 is shown attached to the lid lower body portion 24 of the beverage container lid 12 before the lid lower body portion 24 is attached to the upper end portion 18 of the beverage container body 14. When the additive reservoir 34 is attached to the lid lower body portion 24 and the lower body portion is attached to the beverage container body 14, the additive reservoir 34 extends downward from and over the lid lower body portion and into the interior body cavity 17 of the beverage container body 14 and can be immersed in the beverage within the interior body cavity; however, the side walls 36A and bottom wall 36B of the additive reservoir cavity 36 isolate the additive therein from the beverage and prevent the additive from being released into the beverage. The additive reservoir 34 can be unscrewed from the lid lower body portion 24 to add additives to the additive reservoir and for cleaning. Fig.12 and Fig.13 , the additive reservoir 34 is shown separated from the lower body portion 24 of the lid.

[0047] like Figures 5 to 7As best seen in , the lid upper body portion 22 includes an upper wall portion 44 and a lower wall portion 46 spaced below the upper wall portion. The upper wall portion 44 has an upper wall aperture 48 therein. An upwardly extending cylindrical wall portion 50 extends around the upper wall aperture 48 and projects upwardly from the upper wall portion 44 and terminates in an open upward end 52. The upwardly extending wall portion 50 serves as a mouth from which the user can drink the contents of the beverage container 10, i.e., beverage "B", additive "A", or a mixture of the two, as desired, and the volume within the upwardly extending wall portion serves as a mixing chamber when an additive in the additive reservoir 34 is released into the mixing chamber 54 by a user of the beverage container, as will be described in more detail below. The upwardly extending wall portion 50 has an external thread 51. As shown in FIG. Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 8 As shown, a cap 56 having internal threads 57 corresponding to the threads 51 can be screwed onto the upwardly extending wall portion 50 to close its open upper end 52 to seal it from leaking the contents of the beverage container 10. A seal is provided in the cap to sealingly engage the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth) at its open end 52.

[0048] When the beverage container lid 12 is attached to the beverage container body 14, and the additive reservoir 34 is attached to the lid lower body portion 24, the lower wall portion 46 of the lid upper body portion 22 extends partially across the upper end 58 of the lid lower body portion 24 transverse to the lid axis 26 and covers a portion of the upper end 36C of the additive reservoir 34 to define an orifice 60 in the lower wall portion 46 through which the additive in the additive reservoir can pass before entering the mixing chamber 54, as will be described in more detail below. The lower side 62 of the lower wall portion 46 has a sealing element 64 that is positioned to sealingly engage with the upper end portion 38 of the additive reservoir 34 when the additive reservoir 34 is attached to the lid lower body portion 24.

[0049] like Figures 3 to 8As shown, the lid lower body portion 24 supports the additive reservoir 34 when attached to the additive reservoir 34 at a position laterally offset from the lid axis 26 to define a side channel 66 extending between the body cavity 17 and the mixing chamber 54. An inner dividing wall 68 projects upward from an inward end portion 70 of the lower wall portion 46 toward the upper wall portion 44, and when the beverage container lid 12 is attached to the beverage container body 14 and the additive reservoir 34 is attached to the lid lower body portion 24, the inner dividing wall serves as an inward side wall portion that partially defines the side channel 66 and as an outward side wall portion that partially defines an additive passage 72 extending between the orifice 60 in the lower wall portion 46 and the mixing chamber 54. The upper end 74 of the inner dividing wall 68 terminates a distance "D1" below the underside of the upper wall portion 44 to define a laterally extending space 76 directly below the outer wall opening 48, the size of which is determined to slidably receive a valve in the form of a planar sliding door 78 of a manually operated control valve assembly 80, as will be described in more detail below.

[0050] The inner partition wall 68 is positioned below the upper wall aperture 48 and substantially divides the upper wall aperture into an additive aperture portion 48A and a beverage aperture portion 48B. The additive aperture portion 48A communicates with the additive passage 72 and the additive reservoir 34, and the beverage aperture portion 48B communicates with the side channel 66 and the body cavity 17.

[0051] When the sliding door 78 of the control valve assembly 80 is positioned so that the additive orifice portion 48A is sealed and the beverage orifice portion 48B is open so that only the beverage without additives can be drunk from the main body cavity 17 of the beverage container main body 14 (see Figure 5 and Figure 8 ), and when the beverage container is tilted so that the user drinks from the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth), the additive cannot enter the mixing chamber 54 and the internal dividing wall 68 prevents the additive received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 from entering the side channel 66, and thus prevents the additive from entering the main body cavity 17, thereby keeping the beverage in the main body cavity free of additives.

[0052] When the sliding door 78 of the control valve assembly 80 is positioned so that the additive orifice portion 48A is at least partially open and the beverage orifice portion 48B is at least partially open (see Figure 6), and when the beverage container is tilted so that the user drinks from the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth), the inner dividing wall 68 prevents the additive received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 from entering the side channel 66 and prevents the beverage received from the body cavity 17 in the side channel 66 from entering the additive passage, and forces the additive and beverage to enter the mixing chamber 54 to be mixed and then drunk from the mouth without the additive entering the side channel 66 and the body cavity 17, thereby again keeping the beverage in the body cavity free of additives. The range of movement of the sliding door 78 is sufficient to allow the user to adjust the amount of opening of the additive orifice portion 48A and the beverage orifice portion 48B to adjust the relative amounts of the additive and beverage that enter the mixing chamber 54 to be mixed before being drunk.

[0053] When the sliding door 78 of the control valve assembly 80 is positioned so that the additive orifice portion 48A is open to drink only the additive (usually liquid additive) received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 and the beverage orifice portion 48B is closed (see Figure 7 ), and when the beverage container is tilted so that the user drinks from the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth), the beverage cannot enter the mixing chamber 54 and the internal dividing wall 68 prevents the beverage received in the side channel 66 from the main body cavity 17 from entering the additive passage 72 and mixing with the additive therein.

[0054] The manually operated control valve assembly 80 is best shown below: Figures 5 to 8 , showing an exemplary operating position within a beverage container lid 12; Figures 9 to 11 , showing the control valve assembly removed from a beverage container lid; and Fig.16 , shows a bottom view of the beverage container lid 12 with the handle / lock assembly 16 and the cap 56 removed. As described above, when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking in response to the position of the variably positionable sliding door 78 selected by the user before or during drinking from the beverage container 10, the control valve assembly 80 controls the flow of additives into the mixing chamber 54 through the additive hole portion 48A and the flow of beverage into the mixing chamber through the beverage orifice portion 48B. As described above, the control valve assembly 80 provides three operating modes resulting from the position to which the user moves the sliding door 78. As described above, the control valve assembly 80 provides three operating modes resulting from the position to which the user moves the sliding door 78. Figure 5 One mode shown allows the beverage in the beverage container 10 to be consumed through the side passage 66 without mixing with any additives from the additive reservoir 34 .

[0055] Figure 6Another mode shown dispenses additives from the additive reservoir 34 in user-selected amounts to mix with a portion of the beverage from the beverage container 10 in the mixing chamber 54, and then the mixture passes out of the open end 52 of the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth) and into the user's mouth for drinking the mixture. In this mode, the user can select a desired position for the sliding door 78, and thereby meter the flow of additives and beverages entering the mixing chamber 54, wherein each selected position of the sliding door will produce a different ratio of the allowed flow of additives and beverages to the mixing chamber to allow the additives and beverages to be mixed in the mixing chamber at a range of different ratios. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding door 78 is sequentially movable between a plurality of selectable positions in a first and a second direction. When moving in the first direction, the ratio of the allowed flow of additives and beverages to the mixing chamber is progressively increased, and when moving in the opposite second direction, the ratio of the allowed flow of additives and beverages to the mixing chamber is progressively reduced.

[0056] Figure 7 Yet another mode shown allows an additive (typically a liquid additive) to be consumed without mixing it with any beverage from the body cavity 17 of the beverage container 10 .

[0057] The upper side of the sliding door 78 serves as a sealing surface through its engagement with the lower end peripheral portion 53 of the upwardly extending wall portion 50, and may be covered with a material that increases its sealing capabilities (such as by overmolding, such as discussed below).

[0058] The sliding door 78 of the control valve assembly 80 is slidably retained by the beverage container lid 12 to slide within the laterally extending space 76 for selective lateral linear movement therethrough in response to a user pressing inwardly on a spring-loaded button 82 that is slidably retained within and projects out of a tubular housing portion 84 of the upper body portion 22. A button shaft 86 has an outward axial end portion 88 attached to the button 82 and an inward axial end portion 90 threadably attached to a downwardly extending arm 92 that is attached to an outward end portion 94 of the sliding door 78. User pressing of the button 82 transmits an inward moving force on the button shaft 86 that is applied to the arm 92 and the sliding door 78 to cause the sliding door to move inwardly to a variable position of the sliding door to control the operation of the beverage container lid 12. The sliding door 78 has an additive control orifice 96 extending therethrough and has a solid inward end portion 98 on the inside thereof terminating in an inward end 100. The additive control orifice 96 is located in the sliding door 78 so that when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking, the flow / movement of additives through the additive orifice portion 48A can be controlled in certain positions of the sliding door by being selectively positioned by the user to be completely misaligned with the additive orifice portion 48A or at least partially aligned with the additive orifice portion. The solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 is positioned and sized so that when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking, the flow / movement of beverage through the beverage orifice portion 48B can be controlled in certain positions of the sliding door by being selectively positioned by the user to partially or completely block the flow / movement of beverage through the beverage orifice portion 48B. In the user-variable position, as will be described below, the sliding door 78 controls the flow / movement of additives in the additive passage 72 and beverage in the side channel 66 into the mixing chamber 54.

[0059] exist Figure 5 and Figure 8 In the illustrated position of the sliding door 78, the additive control orifice 96 is not fully aligned with the additive orifice portion 48A, and the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 is sized to completely overlap the additive orifice portion so as to prevent all flow / movement of additives received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 through the additive orifice portion and into the mixing chamber 54 when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking. However, in this position, the inward end 100 of the sliding door 78 is positioned above the upper end 74 of the interior wall 68, and the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 does not completely (or at all in the illustrated embodiment) overlap with the beverage orifice portion 48B, thereby allowing beverage received in the side channel 66 from the body cavity 17 to flow / move into the mixing chamber 54 when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking. Thus, the user is allowed to drink the beverage without adding any additives.

[0060] When the user presses the button 82 inwardly to cause the sliding door 78 to move from Figure 5 and Figure 8 When the sliding door 78 moves to the position shown in FIG. Figure 6 4. The position shown is where the additive control orifice 96 is at least partially aligned with the additive orifice portion 48A to allow some flow / movement of additive received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passageway 72 through the additive orifice portion and into the mixing chamber 54. In this position, the inward end 100 of the sliding door 78 will extend inwardly beyond the upper end 74 of the interior wall 68, and the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 will at least partially overlap with the beverage orifice portion 48B, thereby reducing the amount of beverage received from the body cavity 17 in the side channel 66 that is allowed to flow / move into the mixing chamber 54.

[0061] If the user presses the button 82 inwardly with sufficient force to move the sliding door 78 further inwardly, the sliding door 78 will move into a position where the additive control orifice 96 is more aligned with the additive orifice portion 48A to allow increased flow / movement of additive received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 through the additive orifice portion and into the mixing chamber 54, and where the inward end 100 of the sliding door 78 will extend further inwardly beyond the upper end 74 of the interior wall 68, and the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 will overlap more with the beverage orifice portion 48B to reduce the amount of beverage received from the body cavity 17 in the side channel 66 that is allowed to flow / move into the mixing chamber 54. As the user presses the button 82 further inwardly, the rate at which the additive flows / moves into the mixing chamber 54 will increase, while the rate at which the beverage flows / moves into the mixing chamber will decrease. Thus, by selecting how far to move the button 82 inwardly, the user can select the desired ratio of additive and beverage to enter the mixing chamber 54 to suit the user's taste, and can do so during a sip or select different ratios between sips.

[0062] In other words, the user can move the sliding door 78 through a series of positions to achieve essentially an infinitely variable range of ratios of the mixed additive and beverage, and the user can choose to change the ratio of the additive and beverage mixed in the mixing chamber 54 to cater to the user's taste during or between sips, where the additive and beverage are mixed before exiting the open end 52 of the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth) and entering the user's oral cavity.

[0063] If the user moves the button 82 sufficiently inward Figure 7In the position of the sliding door 78 shown, the additive control orifice 96 will be maximally aligned with the additive orifice portion 48A to allow maximum flow / movement of additives received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 through the additive orifice portion and into the mixing chamber 54, and the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 will completely overlap the beverage orifice portion 48B to prevent all flow / movement of beverage received from the body cavity 17 in the side passage 66 into the mixing chamber 54. In other words, in Figure 7 In the position shown, a user is able to drink an additive (typically a liquid additive) received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 without mixing it with any beverage received from the body cavity 17 in the side passage 66 .

[0064] Thus, in the user-variable position of the sliding door 78, the sliding door permits additive received from the additive reservoir 34 in the additive passage 72 to flow through the additive control orifice 96 and the additive orifice portion 48A and into the mixing chamber 54, with different flow rates depending on the position of the sliding door, and in particular, the amount of alignment of the additive control orifice with the additive orifice portion 48A, and permits beverage received from the body cavity 17 in the side channel 66 to flow through the beverage orifice portion 48B and into the mixing chamber, with the flow rate depending on the position of the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78.

[0065] When the user has taken a desired amount during a sip and before lowering the beverage container 10 to the upright position, the sliding door 78 may be returned to the upright position. Figure 5 and Figure 8 4. The beverage container 10 is shown in the position shown, in which the sliding door completely closes the additive orifice portion 48A and the beverage orifice portion 48B is completely open. Then, after the mixture remaining in the mixing chamber 54 is completely consumed, when the user returns the beverage container 10 to the upright position, any additive remaining in the additive passage 72 will fall back into the additive reservoir 34, and since all of the mixture in the mixing chamber has been consumed, no mixture will be left in the mixing chamber to drain back into the main body cavity 17. It should be appreciated that after the mixture in the mixing chamber 54 is completely consumed, when the beverage container 10 is returned to the upright position, the beverage in the side channel 66 will flow back into the main body cavity 17, but this beverage will contain little or no additive.

[0066] The button shaft 86 extends through a coil spring 102 which is arranged to provide a force that a user must overcome to move the button 82 inwardly to move the sliding door 78 inwardly, as described above. When the user sufficiently removes the user's inward force applied to the button, the spring 102 applies sufficient outwardly directed return force to return the button 82 and the sliding door 78 to their original positions. Figure 5 and Figure 8 The button shaft 86 extends through an aperture in an interior wall 104 that serves as a side wall that partially defines the additive passage 72. A seal 106 that the button shaft 86 extends through and sealingly engages is installed in the aperture to prevent additives in the additive passage 72 from leaking into the housing portion 84 of the upper body portion 22 in which the button 82 is slidably retained.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the additive control orifice 96 has a triangular shape with an apex region 97 oriented toward the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding door 78 and terminating inboard of the inward end 100 of the solid inward end portion 98. Thus, when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking and the sliding door 78 is initially moved inwardly by the user to move the additive control orifice 96 into alignment with the additive orifice portion 48A, the flow / movement of additives in the additive passage 72 through the additive control orifice and into the mixing chamber 54 is initially through the apex region 97 of the triangular shaped additive control orifice. This tends to initially inject the stream-like flow of additives into the center portion of the mixing chamber 54, and therefore into the center of the beverage flow passing from the side passage 66 into the mixing chamber. This tends to initially concentrate the additive in the center of the beverage flow within the mixing chamber to provide a desired mix and beverage taste when drunk from the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth) by the user.

[0068] If desired, as the sliding gate 78 is moved further inwardly by the user, the amount of additive flow, and therefore the amount of additive added to the beverage flow entering the mixing chamber 54, gradually increases. However, as this occurs, the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding gate 78 will move inwardly and increasingly overlap with the beverage orifice portion 48B to reduce the flow / movement of beverage in the side channel 66 into the mixing chamber 54. If the sliding gate 78 is fully moved inwardly by the user, the additive control orifice 96 reaches its maximum alignment with the additive orifice portion 48A to allow maximum flow / movement of additive into the additive passage 72, and the solid inward end portion 98 of the sliding gate 78 will completely overlap with the beverage orifice portion 48B to prevent all flow / movement of beverage in the side channel 66 received from the body cavity 17 into the mixing chamber 54.

[0069] By selecting the shape and size of the additive control orifice 96 for the sliding door 78, the rate and location of change in the flow / movement of additive from the additive passage 72 into the mixing chamber 54 can be varied, which can affect the type of mixing that occurs in the mixing chamber. It should be understood that additive control orifices with shapes other than triangular can be used.

[0070] The refillable additive reservoir 34 may have a number of shapes and sizes, such as: Fig.14A , 14B 14C. Although the beverage container lid 12 can be sold in combination with the beverage container body 14, the beverage container lid can also be sold as a separate product for use with other existing beverage container bodies. When sold for use with existing beverage container bodies, the size and shape of the additive reservoir used will need to be determined to fit within the existing beverage container body.

[0071] like Fig.15A , 15B 15C, a reservoir travel cap 107 may be used with the additive reservoir 34 to seal the open upper end 36C of the additive reservoir and securely contain the additives within the additive reservoir prior to attaching the additive reservoir to the beverage container cap 12. The reservoir travel cap 107 also allows the user to carry one or more additional additive reservoirs with the same or different additives when traveling to increase the amount and variety of mixed beverages possible with the beverage container 10. When carrying additional additive reservoirs, the currently installed additive reservoir 34 may be easily swapped out and replaced with a different additive reservoir and its reservoir travel cap 107 (serving as a closure for the swapped out additive reservoir).

[0072] remove Figure 1 outside, Figure 3 , 8 , 12, 13 and 14A to 14C also show the beverage container lid 12 with the handle / lock assembly 16 in the locked position. Figure 2 outside, Figures 4 to 7 1 and 2 , the beverage container lid 12 is also shown with the handle / lock assembly 16 in the unlocked position. The handle / lock assembly 16 has a left mounting portion 108 and a right mounting portion 110, wherein the left mounting portion is pivotally attached to a left boss 112 on the left side of the lid upper body portion 22, and wherein the right mounting portion is pivotally attached to a right boss 114 on the right side of the lid upper body portion, so that the handle / lock assembly can be selectively rotated by a user relative to the lid upper body portion between a locked position and an unlocked position about a common transverse rotation axis 116. Fig.16 1 shows the left and right mounting portions 108, 110 being pivotally attached to the left and right bosses 112, 114 using screws. Alternatively, pins or other means may be used to achieve the pivotal attachment.

[0073] The handle / lock assembly 16 also includes a lock member portion 118 and a handle member portion 120, each having a left inner end portion rigidly attached to the left mounting portion 108 and a right inner end portion rigidly attached to the right mounting portion 110, and each having a left outer end portion and a right outer end portion rigidly connected to each other by a bridge portion 111, so that the lock member and the handle member rotate together. The lock member portion 118 and the handle member portion 120 each have an outwardly protruding / arched shape between their left and right inner end portions, so that when the handle / lock assembly 16 is rotated about the rotation axis 116 between the locked position and the unlocked position by the user, the resulting rotational movement of the lock member and the handle member portion is not blocked by engagement with the main body portion 22, the cap 56 or the button 82 on the lid.

[0074] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As may be best seen in FIG. 1 , the lock member portion 118 and the handle member portion 120 are separated from each other by an angular offset “C” of approximately 70 degrees, wherein the handle member portion is positioned above the lock member portion so that a distance separation “D2” exists between the bridging portions of the lock member and handle member portions to provide sufficient access for the user to operate the button 82 when the handle / lock assembly 16 is rotated by the user into the unlocked position, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 shown. Fig.17 and Fig.18 A first alternative beverage container 10 is shown in FIG. 1 having an alternative angular offset “C” of approximately 56 degrees.

[0075] When the handle / lock assembly 16 is rotated by the user to the locked position (eg Figure 1 , 3, 8, 12, 13 and 14A to 14C), the bridging portion 111 of the lock member portion 118 is aligned with and overlaps the button 82 to prevent the user from having convenient access to operate the button 82 and to protect the button from unintended actuation by the user or by contact of the button with an object (such as when the beverage container 10 is carried in a bag or falls on its side). A pawl is provided to resist unintended rotation of the handle / lock assembly 16 out of its locked and unlocked positions, and a narrow slot is used to limit the rotational travel of the handle / lock assembly. It should be understood that, as used in this application, the handle / lock assembly 16 is referred to as being in a "locked" position because the button 82 is protected from intentional or unintentional actuation by the bridging portion 111 of the lock member portion 118, thereby substantially locking the button from moving inwardly, even if the button itself remains movable inwardly. It is contemplated that other configurations may be utilized in which the button 82 will not be movable inwardly when the handle / lock assembly 16 is in the locked position. Of course, the basic design of the beverage container lid 12 can be utilized to provide the three modes of operation described above without the use of the handle / lock assembly 16, or with or without any other style of push button lock.

[0076] When the handle / lock assembly 16 is in the locked position, the bridge portion 11 of the handle member portion 120 is sufficiently spaced from the main body portion 22 on the lid, the cap 56 or the button 82 to allow sufficient unobstructed space below the bridge portion for a user to conveniently grasp the bridge portion of the handle member portion and carry the beverage container with the handle / lock assembly remaining locked.

[0077] When the handle / lock assembly 16 is rotated by the user into the unlocked position, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 7 As shown, the bridge portion 111 of the lock member portion 118 is rotated away from the button 82 to a position below the button and does not prevent the user from operating the button. In this way, when the button 82 is pressed inwardly by the amount required to produce the desired ratio of additives and beverages to enter the mixing chamber 54 and the beverage container is tilted to drink the additives and / or beverages in the mixing chamber from the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth), the beverage container 10 is ready for drinking the liquid / beverage stored in the beverage container body 14. The sequence can be to first actuate the button and then tilt the beverage container when it is located at the user's mouth, or first tilt the beverage container when it is located at the user's mouth and then actuate the button.

[0078] In the unlocked position, the bridge portion 111 of the handle member portion 120 is rotated away from the cap 56 and the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth) to allow room for the user's nose when drinking from the mouth.

[0079] Figures 19 to 24 (corresponding to Figures 5 to 7 and Figures 9 to 11 ) shows a second alternative embodiment of the beverage container 10, which is Figures 1 to 18 Except as noted below, the second alternative embodiment uses the same Figures 1 to 18 The same construction as shown and described in the embodiment of FIG. In a second alternative embodiment, instead of using a sliding door 78 having a smooth upper side for engaging with the lower end peripheral portion 53 of the above-mentioned upwardly extending wall portion 50, a seal is attached to the sliding door 78 by overmolding the seal 122 onto the sliding door 78. The seal 122 includes a precision sealing portion 122A that protrudes upward from the upper surface 81 of the sliding door 78. The arcuate sealing portion 122A has an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the inward end portion 124 of the wall portion 126 of the upper wall portion 44, which protrudes laterally inside the upwardly extending wall portion 50 (mouth) so as to provide an improved fluid seal between the sliding door 78 and the upper wall portion 44 when the sliding door is positioned so that the additive orifice portion 48A is closed and the beverage orifice portion 48B is open to drink only the beverage without additives from the body cavity 17 of the beverage container body 14 (see Fig. 22 , corresponding to Figure 5 and Figure 8 ).

[0080] The seal 122 also includes left and right portions 122B, 122C that extend along the length of the sides of the sliding door 78, respectively, and a leading edge seal 122D that extends along the inboard end 100 of the sliding door.

[0081] In the second alternative embodiment, unlike the above-described triangular-shaped additive control orifice 96 having an apex region 97, the additive control orifice 96 has a larger, generally rectangular shape with an inward end 128 that curves outward. This provides a larger opening for the additive control orifice 96 of the second alternative embodiment, which helps break the surface tension of the additive when the beverage container 10 is tilted for drinking and the sliding door 78 is initially moved inward by the user to move the additive control orifice 96 into alignment with the additive orifice portion 48A. Thus, improved flow of additives in the additive passage 72 through the additive control orifice 96 and into the mixing chamber 54 is provided.

[0082] In a second alternative embodiment (such as Fig. 22 (which corresponds to Figure 5 ), instead of using the above-mentioned sealing element 64, a circular flat seal 130 is positioned between the lower side 62 of the lower wall portion 46 and the upper end 132 of the upper end portion 38 of the additive reservoir 34 to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween when the additive reservoir is attached to the lower body portion 24 of the lid.

[0083] In a second alternative embodiment, the lock member portion 118 and the handle member portion 120 are separated by an angular offset "C" of approximately 55 degrees from one another.

[0084] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects.

Claims

1. A cap for use with a beverage container and a refillable reservoir, the beverage container having an interior body cavity defined by a body sidewall, the body sidewall having an upper sidewall portion and a lower sidewall portion, the upper sidewall portion having an open upper end and the lower sidewall portion being sized to accommodate a beverage, the reservoir having a reservoir chamber sized to be inserted through the open upper end of the sidewall upper portion and at least partially positioned within the interior body cavity of the beverage container, the reservoir chamber having an upper reservoir portion, a lower reservoir portion, the upper reservoir portion having an open upper end, the lower reservoir portion being sized to accommodate a beverage additive, the cap comprising: a lid body having a lid body upper portion and a lid body lower portion, the lid body lower portion being removably attached to the reservoir upper end portion, the lid body lower portion being removably attached to the side wall upper end portion, the lid body upper portion having a mixing chamber, an additive passage, and a beverage passage, the additive passage extending between the mixing chamber and the open upper end of the reservoir chamber so as to provide an additive flow between the reservoir chamber and the mixing chamber when the lid body upper portion is attached to the reservoir upper end portion, and the beverage passage extending between the mixing chamber and the inner body cavity of the beverage container so as to provide a beverage flow between the inner body cavity and the mixing chamber when the lid body lower portion is attached to the side wall upper end portion of the beverage container; and a door movable between first, second and third door positions, (a) in the first door position, the door seals fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber, (b) in the second door position, the door provides fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber, so as to allow the additive and beverage to reach the mixing chamber to mix, and (c) in the third door position, the door provides fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and closes fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber.

2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the second door position comprises a plurality of selectable second positions, wherein each selectable second position provides a different ratio of permitted flow of additive and beverage to the mixing chamber to allow the additive and beverage to be mixed in the mixing chamber at a plurality of different ratios.

3. A lid according to claim 2, wherein the door is sequentially movable between the plurality of selectable second positions in first and second directions, the ratio of the permitted flow of the additive and the beverage to the mixing chamber progressively increasing when moving in the first direction, and the ratio of the permitted flow of the additive and the beverage to the mixing chamber progressively decreasing when moving in the second direction.

4. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the door is a sliding door slidably supported by the cover body upper portion.

5. The lid of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber includes a drinking mouth portion from which a user can drink the beverage and additives in the mixing chamber.

6. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises an actuator operably connected to the door to move the door between the first, second and third door positions.

7. The lid of claim 6, wherein the mixing chamber includes a drinking mouth portion from which a user can drink the beverage and additives in the mixing chamber, the actuator includes a manually-operated button, the manually-operated button protruding outwardly from the lid body upper portion and being depressible inwardly to move the door between the first, second and third door positions, and the lid further includes a handle lock member pivotally attached to the lid body upper portion to allow the handle lock member to be selectively rotated relative to the lid body upper portion, the handle lock member including a handle portion and a lock portion, the handle lock member The handle portion and the lock portion rotate in unison when the handle lock member rotates relative to the lid body upper portion between a first and a second handle lock member rotational position, in which the handle portion is positioned for grasping by a user's hand and the lock portion is positioned at the button to inhibit inward movement of the button, and in the second handle lock member rotational position, the handle portion is positioned further away from the drinking spout portion than when the handle lock member is in the first handle lock member rotational position, and the lock portion is positioned away from the button to avoid inhibiting inward movement of the button.

8. A lid according to claim 7, wherein the handle lock assembly includes a first base portion and a second base portion, each of which is pivotally attached to the lid main body upper portion on two opposite sides of the lid main body upper portion, and wherein the handle portion and the lock portion each have a first and a second end portion, the first end portion is rigidly attached to the first base portion, and the second end portion is rigidly attached to the second base portion, the handle portion and the lock portion extending upward and above the lid main body upper portion are the first base portion and the second base portion.

9. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid body lower portion is sized and shaped to be inserted through the open upper end of the side wall upper end portion of the beverage container and at least partially positioned within the side wall upper end portion of the beverage container.

10. A beverage container, comprising: a beverage container body having an interior body cavity defined by a body sidewall, the body sidewall having an upper sidewall portion having an open upper end and a lower sidewall portion sized to accommodate a beverage; a refillable reservoir chamber sized to be inserted through said open upper end of said sidewall upper end portion and positioned at least partially within said inner body cavity, said reservoir chamber having an upper reservoir end portion and a lower reservoir end portion, said lower reservoir end portion sized to accommodate a beverage additive; and A cover, the cover having: a cover body having a cover body upper portion and a cover body lower portion, the cover body lower portion and the reservoir upper end portion being removably attached together, the cover body lower portion and the side wall upper end portion being removably attached together, the cover body upper portion having a mixing chamber, an additive passage, and a beverage passage, the additive passage extending between the reservoir chamber and the mixing chamber to provide an additive flow therebetween, and the beverage passage extending between the inner body cavity and the mixing chamber to provide a beverage flow therebetween; and a door movable between first, second and third door positions, (a) in the first door position, the door seals fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber, (b) in the second door position, the door provides fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber, so as to allow the additive and beverage to reach the mixing chamber to mix, and (c) in the third door position, the door provides fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and closes fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber.

11. A beverage container according to claim 10, wherein the second door position includes a plurality of selectable second positions, wherein each selectable second position provides a different ratio of permitted flow of additive and beverage to the mixing chamber to allow the additive and beverage to be mixed in the mixing chamber at a plurality of different ratios.

12. A beverage container according to claim 11, wherein the door is sequentially movable between the plurality of selectable second positions in a first and a second direction, the ratio of the permitted flow of the additive and the beverage to the mixing chamber progressively increasing when moving in the first direction, and the ratio of the permitted flow of the additive and the beverage to the mixing chamber progressively decreasing when moving in the second direction.

13. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the door is a sliding door slidably supported by the lid body upper portion.

14. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the mixing chamber includes a drinking mouth portion from which the beverage and additives in the mixing chamber can be drunk by a user.

15. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the lid further comprises an actuator operably connected to the door to move the door between the first, second, and third door positions.

16. The beverage container of claim 15 , wherein the mixing chamber includes a drinking mouth portion from which a user can drink the beverage and additives in the mixing chamber, the actuator includes a manually-operated button that projects outwardly from the lid body upper portion and can be pressed inwardly to move the door between the first, second and third door positions, and the lid further includes a handle lock member that is pivotally attached to the lid body to allow the handle lock member to be selectively rotated relative to the lid body upper portion, the handle lock member including a handle portion and a lock portion, the The handle portion and the lock portion rotate in unison when the handle lock member rotates relative to the lid body upper portion between a first and a second handle lock member rotational position, in which the handle portion is positioned for grasping by a user's hand and the lock portion is positioned at the button to inhibit inward movement of the button, and in the second handle lock member rotational position, the handle portion is positioned further away from the drinking spout portion than when the handle lock member is in the first handle lock member rotational position, and the lock portion is positioned away from the button to avoid inhibiting inward movement of the button.

17. A beverage container according to claim 16, wherein the handle lock member includes a first base portion and a second base portion, each of which is pivotally attached to the lid body on two opposite sides of the lid body, and wherein the handle portion and the lock portion each have a first and a second end portion, the first end portion is rigidly attached to the first base portion, and the second end portion is rigidly attached to the second base portion, the handle portion and the lock portion extending upward and above the upper portion of the lid body being the first base portion and the second base portion.

18. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the lid body lower portion is sized and shaped to be inserted through the open upper end of the side wall upper end portion and to be at least partially positioned within the side wall upper end portion.

19. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the reservoir chamber is positioned within the inner body cavity and is laterally offset relative to the inner body cavity to define a side channel within the inner body cavity, and the beverage passage is laterally offset from the additive passage and is aligned with and in fluid communication with the side channel.

20. A cap for use with a beverage container having an open upper end portion and an interior body cavity sized to hold a beverage, and a refillable reservoir sized to be inserted through the open upper end portion of the beverage container and at least partially positioned within the interior body cavity of the beverage container, the reservoir having an open upper end portion and an interior body cavity sized to hold a beverage additive, the cap comprising: a lid body having a lid body upper portion and a lid body lower portion, the lid body lower portion being removably attached to the open upper end portion of the reservoir, the lid body lower portion being removably attached to the open upper end portion of the beverage container, the lid body upper portion having a mixing chamber, an additive passage, and a beverage passage, the additive passage extending between the mixing chamber and the open upper end portion of the reservoir so as to provide an additive flow between the inner body cavity of the reservoir and the mixing chamber when the lid body upper portion is attached to the open upper end portion of the reservoir, and the beverage passage extending between the mixing chamber and the inner body cavity of the beverage container so as to provide a beverage flow between the inner body cavity of the beverage container and the mixing chamber when the lid body lower portion is attached to the open upper end portion of the beverage container; and a valve movable between a first, a second and a third valve position, (a) in the first valve position, the valve closes fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber, (b) in the second valve position, the valve provides fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber, so as to allow the additive and beverage to reach the mixing chamber to mix, and (c) in the third valve position, the valve provides fluid communication between the additive passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the additive through the additive passage to the mixing chamber, and closes fluid communication between the beverage passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the beverage through the beverage passage to the mixing chamber.

21. A lid according to claim 20, wherein the second valve position includes a plurality of selectable second positions, wherein each selectable second position provides a different ratio of permitted flow of additive and beverage to the mixing chamber to allow the additive and beverage to be mixed in the mixing chamber at a plurality of different ratios.

22. A lid according to claim 21, wherein the valve is sequentially movable between the plurality of selectable second positions in a first and a second direction, wherein the ratio of the permitted flow of the additive and the beverage to the mixing chamber progressively increases when moving in the first direction, and wherein the ratio of the permitted flow of the additive and the beverage to the mixing chamber progressively decreases when moving in the second direction.

23. The cover of claim 20, wherein the valve is a sliding door slidably supported by an upper portion of the cover body.

24. The cover of claim 20, wherein the cover further comprises an actuator operably connected to the valve to move the valve between the first, second and third valve positions.

25. The lid of claim 24, wherein the mixing chamber includes a drinking mouth portion from which a user can drink the beverage and additives in the mixing chamber, the actuator includes a manually-operated button, the manually-operated button protruding outwardly from the upper portion of the lid body and being depressible inwardly to move the valve between the first, second and third valve positions, and the lid further includes a handle lock member, the handle lock member being pivotally attached to the lid body to allow the handle lock member to be selectively rotated relative to the upper portion of the lid body, the handle lock member including a handle portion and a lock portion, the handle lock member The handle portion and the lock portion rotate in unison when the handle lock member rotates relative to the lid body upper portion between a first and a second handle lock member rotational position, in which the handle portion is positioned for grasping by a user's hand and the lock portion is positioned at the button to inhibit inward movement of the button, and in the second handle lock member rotational position, the handle portion is positioned further away from the drinking spout portion than when the handle lock member is in the first handle lock member rotational position, and the lock portion is positioned away from the button to avoid inhibiting inward movement of the button.

26. A lid for use with a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber being respectively used to contain a first fluid and a second fluid, the second chamber being at least partially located within the first chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber each having an open upper end portion, the lid comprising: a cover removably attached to the open upper end portion of the second chamber and removably attached to the open upper end portion of the first chamber, the cover having a mixing chamber, a first fluid passageway and a second fluid passageway, the first passageway extending between the mixing chamber and the first chamber to provide a flow of the first fluid between the first chamber and the mixing chamber when the cover is attached to the open upper end portion of the first chamber, and the second passageway extending between the mixing chamber and the open upper end portion of the second chamber to provide a flow of the second fluid between the second chamber and the mixing chamber when the cover is attached to the open upper end portion of the second chamber; as well as a valve movable between first, second and third positions, (a) in a first valve position, the valve closes fluid communication between the second passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the second fluid through the second passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the first passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the first fluid through the first passage to the mixing chamber, (b) in a second valve position, the valve provides fluid communication between the second passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the second fluid through the second passage to the mixing chamber, and provides fluid communication between the first passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the first fluid through the first passage to the mixing chamber to allow the second fluid to reach the mixing chamber and the first fluid to mix, and (c) in a third valve position, the valve provides fluid communication between the second passage and the mixing chamber to allow the flow of the second fluid through the second passage to the mixing chamber, and closes the fluid communication between the first passage and the mixing chamber to prevent the flow of the first fluid through the first passage to the mixing chamber.

27. A cover according to claim 26, wherein the second valve position includes a plurality of selectable second positions, wherein each selectable second position provides a different ratio of permitted flow of the second fluid and the first fluid to the mixing chamber to allow the second fluid and the first fluid to mix in the mixing chamber at a plurality of different ratios.

28. A cover according to claim 27, wherein the valve is movable sequentially between the plurality of selectable second positions in a first and second direction, wherein the ratio of the permitted flow of the second fluid to the mixing chamber to the first fluid progressively increases when moving in the first direction, and wherein the ratio of the permitted flow of the second fluid to the mixing chamber to the first fluid progressively decreases when moving in the second direction.

29. The cover of claim 26, wherein the valve is a sliding door slidably supported by the cover.

30. The cover of claim 26, wherein the cover further comprises an actuator operably connected to the valve to move the valve between the first, second and third valve positions.

31. The lid of claim 30, wherein the mixing chamber includes a mouth portion from which the first and second fluids in the mixing chamber can be dispensed, the actuator includes a manually-operated button that projects outwardly from the lid and can be pressed inwardly to move the valve between the first, second, and third valve positions, and the lid also includes a handle lock member that is pivotally attached to the lid to permit selected rotation of the handle lock member relative to the lid, the handle lock member including a handle portion and a lock portion that rotate in unison when the handle lock member is rotated relative to the lid between first and second handle lock member rotational positions, in the first handle lock member rotational position, the handle portion is positioned for grasping by a user's hand and the lock portion is positioned at the button to inhibit inward movement of the button, and in the second handle lock member rotational position, the handle portion is positioned further away from the mouth portion than when the handle lock member is in the first handle lock member rotational position, and the lock portion is positioned away from the button to avoid inhibiting inward movement of the button.

32. The cover of claim 26, wherein the second chamber is positioned within the first chamber and is laterally offset relative to the first chamber to define a side channel within the first chamber, and the first passage is laterally offset from the second passage and is aligned with and fluidly connected to the side channel.

33. A lid for use with a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber being respectively used to contain a first fluid and a second fluid, the second chamber being at least partially located within the first chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber each having an open upper end portion, the lid comprising: a cover removably attached to the open upper end portion of the second chamber and removably attached to the open upper end portion of the first chamber, the cover having a first fluid passage with a first exit orifice and a second fluid passage with a second exit orifice, the first passage being in fluid communication with the first chamber when the cover is attached to the open upper end portion of the first chamber to provide a flow of the first fluid between the first chamber and the first exit orifice, and the second passage being in fluid communication with the second chamber when the cover is attached to the open upper end portion of the second chamber to provide a flow of the second fluid between the second chamber and the second exit orifice; as well as a valve movable between first and second positions, (a) in a first valve position, the valve closes fluid communication between the second passage and the second exit orifice to prevent the flow of the second fluid through the second passage to the second exit orifice, and provides fluid communication between the first passage and the first exit orifice to allow the flow of the first fluid through the first passage to the first exit orifice, and (b) in a second valve position, the valve provides fluid communication between the second passage and the second exit orifice to permit the flow of the second fluid through the second passage to the second exit orifice, and closes fluid communication between the first passage and the first exit orifice to prevent the flow of the first fluid through the first passage to the first exit orifice.

34. A cover according to claim 33, wherein the valve has an additional position, in which the valve provides fluid communication between the second passage and the second exit orifice to allow the flow of the second fluid through the second passage to the second exit orifice, and provides fluid communication between the first passage and the first exit orifice to allow the flow of the first fluid through the first passage to the first exit orifice.

35. The cover of claim 33, wherein the second chamber is positioned within the first chamber and is laterally offset relative to the first chamber to define a side channel within the first chamber, and the first passage is laterally offset from the second passage and is aligned with and fluidly connected to the side channel.

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