Abstract: A liquid dispensing lid is described and which includes a lid body defining a drinking aperture, and an internal cavity, and wherein the lid body cooperates with a drinking vessel for enclosing a source of a liquid to be consumed, and a fluid regulating plate is provided, and which movably cooperates with the lid body, and which further is operable to move along a path of travel from a first position which impedes the movement of the liquid to the drinking aperture, to a second position which allows liquid to move to the drinking aperture.

Abstract: A drinking vessel for determining an amount of a liquid which is consumed and which includes a first portion, which has a base portion and a vertically, upwardly extending wall, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending wall defines an internal cavity, and the exterior-facing surface thereof defines a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves; and a multiplicity of continuous, elastomeric members are individually received in the respective spaced grooves and which can be moved along the exterior-facing surface of the drinking vessel so as to permit a user to readily account for the amount of fluid they have consumed during a given time interval.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing lid is described and which includes a lid body which cooperates with a fluid dispensing vessel, and where the lid body defines a drinking aperture; an elongated fluid dispensing member movably cooperates with the upper surface of the lid body so as to selectively occlude the drinking aperture; and an elastomeric biasing member biasingly couples the elongated fluid dispending member to the lid body and further biasingly urges the elongated fluid dispensing member into an orientation where the elongated fluid dispensing member occludes the drinking aperture.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing lid is described and which includes a lid body which cooperates with a fluid dispensing vessel, and where the lid body defines a drinking aperture; an elongated fluid dispensing member movably cooperates with the upper surface of the lid body so as to selectively occlude the drinking aperture; and an elastomeric biasing member biasingly couples the elongated fluid dispending member to the lid body and further biasingly urges the elongated fluid dispensing member into an orientation where the elongated fluid dispensing member occludes the drinking aperture.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing lid is described and which includes a lid body defining a drinking aperture, and an internal cavity, and wherein the lid body cooperates with a drinking vessel for enclosing a source of a liquid to be consumed, and a fluid regulating plate is provided, and which movably cooperates with the lid body, and which further is operable to move along a path of travel from a first position which impedes the movement of the liquid to the drinking aperture, to a second position which allows liquid to move to the drinking aperture.

Abstract: A drinking vessel for determining an amount of a liquid which is consumed and which includes a first portion, which has a base portion and a vertically, upwardly extending wall, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending wall defines an internal cavity, and the exterior-facing surface thereof defines a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves; and a multiplicity of continuous, elastomeric members are individually received in the respective spaced grooves and which can be moved along the exterior-facing surface of the drinking vessel so as to permit a user to readily account for the amount of fluid they have consumed during a given time interval.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing lid includes a lid body having an upper lower surface and a peripheral edge, and is sized so as to releasably cooperate with a fluid dispensing vessel having an internal cavity, and the lid body further defines a drinking aperture and a vent aperture; an elongated fluid dispensing member is mounted on the upper surface of the lid body; and an elastomeric valve member is releasably borne by the elongated fluid dispensing member, and which further is operable to move the elongated fluid dispensing member along a predetermined path of travel between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser and dispensing valve are described, and wherein the dispensing valve includes a valve housing having a wall which defines an internal cavity, and wherein a passageway is formed through the wall of the valve housing; a valve control element is provided and which has a deformable sidewall which is placed within the valve housing in one of a plurality of possible configurations. At least a portion of the sidewall of the valve control element deforms when a vacuum is created in the internal cavity of the valve housing so as to facilitate the controllable delivery of a fluid into the valve housing. The sidewall of the valve control element has a variable thickness dimension.

Abstract: A cooking vessel is described and which includes a floor having a multiplicity of spaced upwardly extending ribs for supporting a food product during a cooking process, a circumscribing side wall which defines, at least in part a fluid collecting channel, and a pouring spout made integral with the circumscribing sidewall and which allows for the convenient removal of fluids which have been utilized during or which have been generated as a result of a cooking process.

Abstract: A liquid metering assembly is described and which includes a container for enclosing a source of liquid to be dispensed, a container cap defining a dispensing aperture, and a vent aperture, and which is releasably affixed to container; a movable diaphragm releasably cooperating with the container cap, and coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the dispensing aperture; and a movable liquid volume control member which cooperates with the movable diaphragm, and which further allows a user to withdraw a given volume of liquid from the beverage container.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser and dispensing valve are described, and wherein the dispensing valve includes a valve housing having a wall which defines an internal cavity, and wherein a passageway is formed through the wall of the valve housing; a valve control element is provided and which has a deformable sidewall which is placed within the valve housing in one of a plurality of possible configurations. At least a portion of the sidewall of the valve control element deforms when a vacuum is created in the internal cavity of the valve housing so as to facilitate the controllable delivery of a fluid into the valve housing. The sidewall of the valve control element has a variable thickness dimension.

Abstract: A drinking vessel is described, and which includes a container defining a neck region, and having an internal cavity which encloses a source of a liquid to be dispensed; a removable cover which has a drinking passageway, and which extends therethrough, and wherein the removable cover releasably mates with the container; and a foraminous container for enclosing a food product, and which is releasably coupled to the removable cover, and which is received in the internal cavity of the container, and wherein source of the liquid passes through the food product before exiting the container by way of the drinking passageway.

Abstract: A liquid metering assembly is described and which includes a container for enclosing a source of a liquid to be dispensed; a container cap defining a dispensing aperture and a vent aperture which is releasably affixed to the container; a moveable diaphragm releasably cooperating with the container cap, and coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the dispensing aperture, and wherein the moveable diaphragm has a valve member; and a moveable liquid volume control member which cooperates with the moveable diaphragm, and wherein, when a predetermined suction is applied to the dispensing aperture of the container cap, a user may withdraw a given volume of liquid from the beverage container.

Abstract: A flow control valve is described and which includes a first portion, and a second portion, and wherein the first portion rotates relative to the second portion and wherein the invention further includes a rigid locking member which cooperates with a resilient sealing and biasing member which is carried to positions which, on the one hand, either seals the vessel to prevent the escape of fluid from the vessel, or which allows the convenient dispensing of fluid from the vessel.

Abstract: A liquid metering assembly is described and which includes a container for enclosing a source of a liquid to be dispensed; a container cap defining a dispensing aperture and a vent aperture which is releasably affixed to the container; a moveable diaphragm releasably cooperating with the container cap, and coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the dispensing aperture, and wherein the moveable diaphragm has a valve member; and a moveable liquid volume control member which cooperates with the moveable diaphragm, and wherein, when a predetermined suction is applied to the dispensing aperture of the container cap, a user may withdraw a given volume of liquid from the beverage container.

Abstract: A liquid metering assembly is described and which includes a container for enclosing a source of liquid to be dispensed, a container cap defining a dispensing aperture, and a vent aperture, and which is releasably affixed to container; a movable diaphragm releasably-cooperating with the container cap, and coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the dispensing aperture; and a movable liquid volume control member which cooperates with the movable diaphragm, and which further allows a user to withdraw a given volume of liquid from the beverage container.

Abstract: A flow control valve is described and which includes a first portion, and a second portion, and wherein the first portion rotates relative to the second portion and wherein the invention further includes a rigid locking member which cooperates with a resilient sealing and biasing member which is carried to positions which, on the one hand, either seals the vessel to prevent the escape of fluid from the vessel, or which allows the convenient dispensing of fluid from the vessel.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage assembly is described and which includes a supporting collar, which defines an internal passageway and which includes a resilient locking member mounted on one end thereof; a plurality of resilient arms are mounted on the supporting collar and which are operable to locate the supporting collar in spaced relation relative to the mouth of the fluid dispensing vessel, and a thermal energy storage material enclosure matingly couples in a non-detachable fashion with the supporting collar and is operable to be positioned within a fluid dispensing vessel, and wherein the thermal energy storage material enclosure encloses a thermal energy storage material for changing the temperature of a fluid to be dispensed and which is enclosed in the fluid dispensing vessel.