Lid and drink container with lid

Abstract

A lid for a drink container includes a cover (146) hingedly mounted to a lid body (140). A button mechanism (260) controls latching and unlatching of the cover and includes a front button (264) slidable downwardly relative to a rear button (266). When the front button is in the downward position, the button mechanism is rotatable to an unlatching position. A first spring (280) biases the front button to the upward position relative to the rear button. A second spring (320) biases the button mechanism to a latching position. The button mechanism autolatches. Angled surfaces (214, 274) engage one another to move the edge of lid inwardly, and the upper end of rear button and the upper end of front button to move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other. Then the catches re-engage one another to re-secure the lid closed.

Description

Attorney Docket No. 19159.0456WOU 1LID AND DRINK CONTAINER WITH LIDCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is being filed as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 729,376, filed December 7, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Drink containers with various types of lids are used to contain a liquid or beverage for drinking as needed. Such lids may include a drinking opening through which a beverage may be consumed, for example, by tilting the drink container. The drinking opening may be blocked by a tab formed with the cover, but this tab rarely sufficiently seals the drinking opening, causing leakage if the container is shaken or tilted. Certain lids may enable access to the liquid via a straw inserted through a slit in the lid, but these slits often allow leakage as well. The drinking opening may be formed by a flip straw, pivoted from a closed position to a drinking position. Still other lids may include a flip cover that selectively covers the drinking opening.

[0003] Reducing or preventing leaks is a concern for drink containers.

[0004] Reducing the chances of accidental opening of the drink containers is a further concern.

[0005] For some drink containers, ease of use may be an issue.

[0006] Improvements are desired.SUMMARY

[0007] A lid for a drink container is disclosed. The drink container defines an interior volume for holding liquid or other substances, materials or items as required or desired. The lid allows selective access to the interior volume. The lid includes a cover hingedly mounted to a lid body. A button mechanism controls latching and unlatching of the cover. When the cover is latched, the lid seals the interior volume.

[0008] The button mechanism of the lid includes a front button and a rear button. The front button is slidable downwardly by the user relative to the rear button. When thefront button is in the downward position, the button mechanism is rotatable by the user relative to the lid body to an unlatching position to release the cover. A first spring biases the front button to the upward position relative to the rear button. A second spring biases the button mechanism to a latching position relative to the cover.

[0009] In one example, the button mechanism is rotated by the user by pressing on a lower portion of the front button.

[0010] A third spring may be used to bias the cover to an open position for drinking or dispensing.

[0011] The button mechanism autolatches closed by rotating the cover of the lid closed. To re-secure the lid, the free end of the lid is pivoted by the user toward the button mechanism. Angled surfaces then engage one another to force the edge of the lid to move inwardly, and the upper end of rear button and the upper end of front button to move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other. Then catches re-engage one another to re-secure the lid closed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a bottle or drink container.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective of the drink container of FIG. I .

[0015] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the drink container of FIG. 1, with the lid removed, and the carry loop deployed.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the drink container of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top perspective view of the lid.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the lid.

[0019] FIGS. 7A - 7C show the lid in a closed position, a drinking position and a partially closed position.

[0020] FIG. 8 is an exploded top perspective view of the lid.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a bottom exploded view of the lid of FIG. 8.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a still further exploded top perspective view of the lid.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a bottom exploded view of the lid of FIG. 10.

[0024] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid in the closed position.

[0025] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid with a front button of the button mechanism pushed to a second downward position from the view of FIG. 12.

[0026] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid with the button mechanism pivoted to a second pivoted position from the view of FIG. 13.

[0027] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid with the cover in an open position.

[0028] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid with the cover being moved toward the closed position.

[0029] FIG. 17 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the button mechanism.

[0030] FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the front button of the button mechanism of FIG. 17.

[0031] FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of the rear button of the button mechanism of FIG. 17.

[0032] FIG. 20 is a rear perspective view of the rear button of the button mechanism of FIG. 17.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] A container lid for a beverage container (examples of which may be described as a reusable or disposable bottle, cup, tumbler, vessel, or the like) is described herein. The container lid is structured so as to allow a user to selectively drink from the container or pour the contents of the container out into another container or elsewhere. In a first position, the lid is positioned such that a cover of the lid is in a closed position and the contents of the container are sealed from leaking out. This prevents leakage of liquid if the container is agitated or tipped over. In a second position, the cover of the lid is positioned such that the drinking opening of lid is exposed and accessible, thereby enabling a user to drink or dispense from the container.

[0034] Thus, the structure of the lid helps prevent liquid within the container from leaking out of the container during movement thereof and allows drinking or other dispensing of the liquid.

[0035] FIGS. 1-20 illustrates an exemplary drink container 100 having a container body 102 and a container lid 104.

[0036] The container 100 is illustrated as a reusable bottle, but may alternatively take the form of a tumbler, glass, mug, goblet, stein, tankard, vessel, beaker, drinkware, beverageware, or other vessel for holding liquid beverages for consumption. While thecontainer 100 is described as being for liquids, the container 100 may be used for containing any other substances, materials, or items as required or desired.

[0037] The container body 102 has an upper end portion 106, an opposite lower end portion 108, and a middle portion 110 extending therebetween. The container body 102 defines an interior chamber 112 configured to hold liquids therein. The upper end portion 106 is open for access to the interior chamber and the lower end portion 108 is enclosed. The interior chamber 112 extends from the upper end portion 106 into the middle portion 110 and towards the lower end portion 108. In the example, the container body 102 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The container body 102 may be formed from plastic, glass, ceramics, stainless steel, etc., or combinations thereof. The container body 102 may also be manufactured so as to provide insulation for the liquids contained therein from a surrounding environment. For example, the container body 102 may have a single or a double wall construction.

[0038] The container lid 104 is configured to removably couple to the container body 102. For example, the upper end portion 106 of the container body 102 includes a container engaging portion 114 to be secured to the container lid 104. In the example, the container lid 104 includes a lid body 140 and a cover 146. Cover 146 is hingedly mounted to lid body 140 at a cover hinge or first hinge 148 at end 150 of lid body 140. A button mechanism 260 latches and unlatches cover 146 to lid body 140.

[0039] Lid 104 includes a carry loop 130 that is pivotally mounted to lid body 140 about first axis about a first rotation axis 500.

[0040] Lid body 140 may include a threaded inner interface 142 on a lower end 144 to threadably engage with mating threads 116 disposed on the container engaging portion 114, although other types of attachment systems are contemplated, such as bayonet, press fit, etc.

[0041] A perimeter seal 120 carried by the container lid 104 seals between container body 102 and container lid 104.

[0042] Lid body 140 oflid 104 includes a drink opening 160. Lid body 140 includes a button mechanism socket 164 at a first side or end 166 lid body 140 for receiving button mechanism 260 which controls latching and unlatching of cover 146.

[0043] Cover 146 includes a cover body 200 hingedly mounted to lid body 140 by first hinge 148 at a first end 204 of cover body 200. Cover body 200 carries a first seal 240 for sealing drink opening 160. Drink opening 160 includes a seating surface 162 forsealing engagement with first seal 240. Sealing surface 162 is located in a lower throat area 168 of drink opening 160 positioned below a top edge 170 of drink opening 160.

[0044] Cover body 200 includes a cover catch 210 and an angled surface 214 at an opposite end 206 of cover body 200.

[0045] Button mechanism 260 includes a front button 264, and a rear button 266. Rear button 266 includes a button catch 270 and an angled surface 274. A first spring 280 is positioned to bias front button 264 relative to rear button 266. Front button 264 is slidably mounted to the rear button in a vertical direction. Front button 264 is spring biased by first spring 280 upwardly relative to rear button 266. In the illustrated example, first spring 280 is a coil spring.

[0046] Front button 264, rear button 266, and first spring 280 form a button assembly 290. A second hinge 300 is between button assembly 290 and lid body 140. Button assembly 290 is hingedly mounted to button mechanism socket 164 by a first pin 304 to form second hinge 300.

[0047] A second spring 320 is positioned to bias button assembly 290 relative to button mechanism socket 164, wherein button catch 270 is biased toward lid body 140. In the illustrated example, second spring 320 is a torsion spring with two coil spring portions 322 and a connecting portion 324.

[0048] To open lid 104, front button 264 is moved by the user from the home position of FIG. 12 downward relative to rear button 266 against first spring 280 to the lower position as shown in FIG. 13. Button catch 270 of button assembly 290 is rotatable away from cover catch 210 about second hinge 300 and second rotation axis 600 when the user presses inwardly on a lower end 268 of front button 264 to allow opposite end 206 of cover body 200 to be rotated away from first end 166 of lid body 140 as shown in FIG. 14.

[0049] Button assembly 290 is only rotatable when front button 264 is moved downwardly enough by the user such that first surface 450 on front button 264 no longer is positioned adjacent to second surface 454 on lid body 140. To allow front button 264 to slide vertically relative to rear button 266 slots 456 are provided on side flanges 458 of front button 264. Rear button 266 includes pin openings 476 on flanges 478. Slots 456 and pin openings 476 all receive pin 304. Socket 164 has side walls 440 with pin openings 442 for also receiving pin 304 to define the pivot or second rotation axis 600 for button assembly 290 relative to socket 164 and lid body 140.

[0050] Flanges 458 on front button 264 define projections 460 and slots 462. Slots 462 receive side projections 480 on rear button 266 to facilitate front button 264 and rear button 266 having relative sliding motion, and remaining together during rotation of both of front button 264 and rear button 266.

[0051] Socket 164 also includes a lower surface 444 to prevent over rotation of button assembly 290 by the user. Socket 164 also includes an upper stop 446 to prevent over rotation of the button mechanism 260 by spring 320 in the opposite rotation direction.

[0052] First spring 280 is positioned in a pocket 282 positioned between front button 264 and rear button 266. Ends of first spring 280 are positioned between top tab 284 and lower surface 286. First spring 280 is inserted into pocket 282 through opening 288 in rear button 266. Opening 288 has a wide middle portion 292, and narrower end portions 294. First spring 280 is compressed and inserted through wide middle portion 292, then allowed to expand in pocket 282 for retention with pocket 282.

[0053] Second spring 320 is retained with button mechanism 260 by projection 340 having a notch 342, and surfaces 344 for capturing connecting portion 324 of second spring 320.

[0054] Rear surface 466 of front button 264 can include various surfaces 468, and front surface 486 of rear button 266 can include various surfaces 488 to assure proper spacing and / or to engage one another to further guide relative sliding movement and / or to prevent over sliding.

[0055] FIG. 15 shows lid 104 and cover 146 in the open position for drinking or dispensing.

[0056] To close lid 104, the user rotates cover body 200 back towards the closed position wherein opposite end 206 of cover body 200 is rotated toward first end 204 of lid body 140 until angled surface 214 of cover body 200 engages angled surface 274 of rear button 266, as shown in FIG. 16. The user does not need to slide the front button 264 to re-latch the cover 146. The user does not touch the button mechanism 260 at all to resecure the cover. The cover is pressed downwardly by the user. The angled surfaces 214, 274 then engage one another to force the edge of the cover to move slightly inwardly, and the upper end of rear button and the upper end of the front button to move slightly outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other. The movement is due to the resilient properties of the plastic parts and manufacturing tolerances. Also factoring into the movement of the parts by the angled surfaces is the relative distances of theportions of the parts from their fixed ends. In this case, the hinge locations of the cover 146, and the button assembly 290. Once the angled surfaces 214, 274 clear each other, the catches 210, 270 re-engage one another to re-secure the lid closed as in FIG. 13.

[0057] The button mechanism 260 uses a relatively simple motion to open, by sliding down the front button 264, relative to the rear button 266. Then the user presses inwardly on the lower end 268 of the front button 264. The construction of the button mechanism 260 is such that the downwards and inwards movement directions are complimentarily aligned so that they are easy and intuitive for a user to perform. However, the two-step activation makes it less unlikely that the button will be triggered unintentionally by other buttons with a single step activation.

[0058] The construction of the button mechanism 260 is a balance between being too simple and too complex. The motion is just complex enough to not pop open if the button mechanism 260 is merely pressed, as might happen if the button mechanism is accidentally bumped. But the motion is not so complex that a user would struggle to figure out the correct motion to open the cover. For button mechanism 260 in one example, a user can hold container body 102 in one hand or two hands and open cover 146 using one of the user’s thumbs in the downward and inward motions.

[0059] Lid body 140 includes a socket 400 at end 150 as part of first hinge 148. Socket 400 includes an opening 402 which receives a second pin 410 and a torsion spring 416. At end 204 of cover body 200 two ears 420 are provided. Openings 424 in ears 420 receive second pin 410. Together these elements define a spring biased hinging of cover 146 relative to lid body 140. Once button mechanism 260 is activated and cover 146 is unlatched, torsion spring 416 automatically moves cover 146 to the open position as shown in FIG. 15. In the illustrated example, torsion spring 416 has two coil spring portions 432 and a connecting portion 434.

[0060] Carry loop 130 is hingedly mounted to lid 104 about the first rotation axis 500 defined between cover 146 and lid body 140. Ends 132 of carry loop 130 are received in pin sockets 412. Bumps 208 (one on each side) provide a positive lock for carry loop 130 to be retained with cover body 200, and movable with cover body 200. Cover body 200 can be further constructed so that carry loop does not freely swing down toward the drink opening 160 when cover body 200, such by engaging cover catch 210. Carry loop 130 can be pivoted upwardly relative to cover body 200 and is freely pivotable about hinge 148 and first rotation axis 500. In one example, carry loop 130 can be made from a metal.

[0061] Carry loop 130 can include an outer tube 136 in the middle portion 138 to improve grip and / or to dampen impact of carry loop 130 with container body 102. Outer tube 136 can be an overmolded polymeric tube.

[0062] Carry loop 130 is sized and shaped to not be positionable in a way to interfere or block button mechanism 260 as shown in FIGS 12-16.

[0063] A similar bump to bumps 208 can be provided on socket 400 to help hold cover 146 in the open position.

[0064] In some examples, cover body 200 can be made from clear or translucent plastic. In some examples, a cover pad 220 can be placed on a top region 212 of cover body 200. Cover pad 220 can provide a dampening effect when cover 146 is opened and may contact container body 102. Cover pad 220 also can be used to visually cover internal parts of lid 104 otherwise visible through the rest of the clear or translucent cover body 200, if desired.

[0065] Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A lid for a drink container comprising: a lid body including a drink opening, and a button mechanism at a first end of the lid body; a cover hingedly mounted to the lid body by a first hinge at a first end of the cover; the cover including a seal for sealing the drink opening, the cover including a cover body with a cover catch and an angled surface at an opposite end of the cover body; the button mechanism including: a front button; a rear button including a button catch and an angled surface slidably mounted to the front button in a vertical direction; wherein the front button is spring biased upwardly relative to the rear button; wherein the front button, the rear button, and the first spring form a button assembly; a second hinge between the button assembly and the lid body; wherein the button catch is biased toward the lid body; wherein the cover catch and the button catch engage one another to secure the cover closed; wherein the button catch of the button assembly is rotatable away from the cover catch about the second hinge after the front button is moved downward relative to the rear button to allow the opposite end of the cover body to be rotated away from the first end of the lid body by pressing a lower end of the button assembly inward; wherein the angled surface of the cover body engages the angled surface of the rear button when the opposite end of the cover body is rotated toward the first end of the lid body, wherein the opposite end of the cover body moves inwardly, and an upper end of the rear button and an upper end of the front button move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other, wherein the cover catch and the button catch reengage one another to re-secure the cover closed.

2. The lid of claim 1 , further comprising a container body and a seal between the lid and the container body.

3. The lid of claims 1 or 2, further comprising threads on the lid body for securing the lid body to a container body.

4. The lid of claims 1-3, further comprising a pad positioned on a top of the cover body.

5. The lid of claims 1-4, further comprising a carry loop hingedly mounted to the lid body, and positionable above the button mechanism, and movable away from the button mechanism with the cover body, or separate from the cover body.

6. The lid of claim 5, wherein the carry loop includes a tube of a main body of the carry loop.

7. The lid of claims 1-6, wherein the cover is spring biased toward the open position.

8. A method for operating a lid for a drink container comprising: providing a lid body including a drink opening, and a button mechanism at a first end of the lid body; providing a cover hingedly mounted to the lid body by a first hinge at a first end of the cover; the cover including a seal for sealing the drink opening, the cover including a cover body with a cover catch and an angled surface at an opposite end of the cover body; wherein the button mechanism includes: a button catch and an angled surface; wherein the cover body is in a closed position relative to the lid body, wherein the cover catch and the button catch engage one another to secure the cover closed; sliding a first portion of the button mechanism downward in a vertical direction; rotating the button catch of the button mechanism away from the cover catch after the first portion is moved downward by pressing a lower end of the button mechanism inwardly; rotating the opposite end of the cover body away from the first end of the lid body;automatically rotating the button catch toward the lid body after the cover body is rotated away from the lid body; automatically moving first portion of the button mechanism upwardly after the cover body is rotated away from the lid body.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: rotating the opposite end of the cover body toward the first end of the lid body; engaging the angled surface of the cover body with the angled surface of the button mechanism, wherein the opposite end of the cover body moves inwardly, and an upper end of button catch move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other, wherein the cover catch and the button catch re-engage one another to re-secure the cover closed.

10. A lid for a drink container comprising: a lid body including a drink opening, and a button mechanism socket at a first end of the lid body; a cover hingedly mounted to the lid body by a first hinge at a first end of the cover; the cover including a seal for sealing the drink opening, the cover including a cover body with a cover catch and an angled surface at an opposite end of the cover body; a button mechanism received in the button mechanism socket, the button mechanism including: a front button; a rear button including a button catch and an angled surface; a first spring positioned to bias the front button relative to the rear button; wherein the front button is slidably mounted to the rear button in a vertical direction; wherein the front button is spring biased by the first spring upwardly relative to the rear button; wherein the front button, the rear button, and the first spring form a button assembly; a second hinge between the button assembly and the lid body; wherein the button assembly is hingedly mounted to the button mechanism socket by the second hinge;a second spring positioned to bias the button assembly relative to the button mechanism socket; wherein the button catch is biased toward the lid body; wherein the cover catch and the button catch engage one another to secure the cover closed; wherein the button catch of the button assembly is rotatable away from the cover catch about the second hinge after the front button is moved downward relative to the rear button to allow the opposite end of the cover body to be rotated away from the first end of the lid body to an open position; wherein the angled surface of the cover body engages the angled surface of the rear button when the opposite end of the cover body is rotated toward the first end of the lid body, wherein the opposite end of the cover body moves inwardly, and an upper end of the rear button and an upper end of the front button move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other, wherein the cover catch and the button catch reengage one another to re-secure the cover closed.

11. The lid of claim 10, further comprising a container body and a seal between the lid and the container body.

12. The lid of claims 10 or 11, further comprising threads on the lid body for securing the lid body to a container body.

13. The lid of claims 10-12, further comprising a pad positioned on a top of the cover body.

14. The lid of claims 10-13, further comprising a carry loop hingedly mounted to the lid body, and positionable above the button mechanism, and movable away from the button mechanism with the cover body, or separate from the cover body.

15. The lid of claim 14, wherein the carry loop includes a tube of a main body of the carry loop.

16. The lid of claims 10-15, wherein the cover is spring biased toward the open position.

17. A method for operating a lid for a drink container comprising: providing a lid body including a drink opening, and a buton mechanism at a first end of the lid body; providing a cover hingedly mounted to the lid body by a first hinge at a first end of the cover; the cover including a seal for sealing the drink opening, the cover including a cover body with a cover catch and an angled surface at an opposite end of the cover body; wherein the button mechanism includes: a front buton; a rear buton including a buton catch and an angled surface; a first spring positioned to bias the front buton relative to the rear buton; wherein the front buton, the rear buton, and the first spring form a buton assembly; providing a second hinge between the buton assembly and the lid body; providing a second spring positioned to bias the button assembly relative to the lid body; wherein the cover body is in a closed position relative to the lid body, wherein the cover catch and the buton catch engage one another to secure the cover closed; sliding the front buton downward relative to the rear buton in a vertical direction; rotating the buton catch of the buton assembly away from the cover catch about the second hinge after the front buton is moved downward relative to the rear buton by pressing a lower end of the front buton inwardly; rotating the opposite end of the cover body away from the first end of the lid body; automatically rotating the buton catch toward the lid body after the cover body is rotated away from the lid body; automatically moving front buton with the first spring upwardly relative to the rear buton after the cover body is rotated away from the lid body.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: rotating the opposite end of the cover body toward the first end of the lid body; engaging the angled surface of the cover body with the angled surface of the rear buton, wherein the opposite end of the cover body moves inwardly, and an upperend of the rear button and an upper end of the front button move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other, wherein the cover catch and the button catch reengage one another to re-secure the cover closed.

19. A method for operating a lid for a drink container comprising: providing a lid body including a drink opening, and a button mechanism at a first end of the lid body; providing a cover hingedly mounted to the lid body by a first hinge at a first end of the cover; the cover including a seal for sealing the drink opening, the cover including a cover body with a cover catch and an angled surface at an opposite end of the cover body; wherein the button mechanism includes: a front button; a rear button including a button catch and an angled surface; a first spring positioned to bias the front button relative to the rear button; wherein the front button, the rear button, and the first spring form a button assembly; providing a second hinge between the button assembly and the lid body; providing a second spring positioned to bias the button assembly relative to the lid body; wherein the cover body is in an open position relative to the lid body; rotating the opposite end of the cover body toward the first end of the lid body; engaging the angled surface of the cover body with the angled surface of the rear button, wherein the opposite end of the cover body moves inwardly, and an upper end of the rear button and an upper end of the front button move outwardly until the angled surfaces clear each other, wherein the cover catch and the button catch reengage one another to re-secure the cover closed.

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