Abstract: A vent assembly for use with a drinking vessel includes a flexible ventilation member configured to sealingly engage an opening in the drinking vessel and having an air passage extending therethrough, wherein the ventilation member is configured to allow an inflow of air when pressure within the drinking vessel enters a negative pressure state in relation to pressure outside the drinking vessel, wherein the ventilation member comprises one or more venting portions disposed within the air passage. A vent actuator is operably coupled to the ventilation member and configured to change a state of the ventilation member between a ventilation state and a closed state, wherein the vent actuator is integral with the ventilation member and configured to bring the ventilation member into the ventilation state upon contact with a cam portion.

Abstract: A food container has a container bottom and a container lid. The container bottom has a base and walls upstanding from the base to define a container bottom interior. The container lid has a top cover and side edges and the top cover overlies the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The top cover includes an elastically deformable portion and an inelastic portion. Each of the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion overlies different portions of the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The elastically deformable portion facilitates accommodation of an item within the container bottom interior that rests on the base that underlies the elastically deformable portion and that extends into contact with the elastically deformable portion as the lid is shifted into closed connection with the bottom by deforming elastically outwardly away from the base.

Abstract: A tether for connecting two different objects together has first and second elongate and flexible end portions having proximal and distal ends, and an elongate and flexible intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is releasably connectable with the first and second end portions, by the intermediate portion having connectors at either end and the first and second end portions having connectors at respective proximal ends to form first and second safety breakaways. The connections of the first and second safety breakaways, are made in-line with the general lengthwise axis of the tether. The first and second end portions are arranged for connection to a respective object. The safety breakaways between the intermediate portion and the first and second end portions are releasable at a predetermined release load.

Abstract: A food container has a container bottom and a container lid. The container bottom has a base and walls upstanding from the base to define a container bottom interior. The container lid has a top cover and side edges, and the top cover overlies the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The top cover includes an elastically deformable portion and an inelastic portion. Each of the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion overlies different portions of the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The elastically deformable portion facilitates accommodation of an item within the container bottom interior that rests on the base that underlies the elastically deformable portion and that extends into contact with the elastically deformable portion as the lid is shifted into closed connection with the bottom by deforming elastically outwardly away from the base.

Abstract: A drinking cup includes a container and a detachable closure. The closure has a connection end for connection to the container, the connection end being open for receipt of liquid from within the container. The closure has a closed end opposite the connection end and a drinking rim formed at the peripheral edge of the closed end. The closure has a side wall extending between the connection end and the closed end, and at least one opening that facilitates the passage of liquid from within the container to the drinking rim. A seal is supported by the closure and extends around an outside surface of the side wall, sealing the drinking rim against the passage of liquid through the drinking rim. The seal is flexible and responsive to pressure to lift away from the drinking rim to allow passage of liquid through the drinking rim for drinking from the cup.

Abstract: A dispensable food container has a container body having an interior for receipt of dispensable food, and a container lid. The container body has a base and an opening opposite the base, and side walls that are collapsible. The lid has a closed condition in which it closes and seals the opening of the container body and an open condition in which the opening of the container body is exposed for access into the interior. The lid has a dispensing opening which is in communication with the interior of the container body when the lid is in the closed condition. In use, when the lid is in the closed condition, the container body is collapsible by pressure applied to the lid and the base in opposite directions to cause the side walls to collapse and to force dispensable food within the interior of the container body through the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A food container has a container bottom and a container lid. The container bottom has a base and walls upstanding from the base to define a container bottom interior. The container lid has a top cover and side edges and the top cover overlies the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The top cover includes an elastically deformable portion and an inelastic portion. Each of the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion overlies different portions of the base when the lid is in closed connection with the bottom. The elastically deformable portion facilitates accommodation of an item within the container bottom interior that rests on the base that underlies the elastically deformable portion and that extends into contact with the elastically deformable portion as the lid is shifted into closed connection with the bottom by deforming elastically outwardly away from the base.

Abstract: A drink bottle comprises a container and a lid. The lid is removably connected to an open end of the container. A resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly is mounted in the lid. An actuator for actuating a function of the drink bottle is slidably mounted to the lid for sliding movement between a home position and an actuation position. The actuator has a push face accessible from outside the lid for receiving finger pressure for displacing the actuator from the home position toward the actuation position for performing a function of the drink bottle. The actuator has a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly such that movement of the actuator from the home position towards the actuation position resiliently deforms the spout or straw assembly and by the resilient deformation the actuator is biased towards the home position.

Abstract: A tether for connecting two different objects together has first and second elongate and flexible end portions having proximal and distal ends, and an elongate and flexible intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is releasably connectable with the first and second end portions, by the intermediate portion having connectors at either end and the first and second end portions having connectors at respective proximal ends to form first and second safety breakaways. The connections of the first and second safety breakaways, are made in-line with the general lengthwise axis of the tether. The first and second end portions are arranged for connection to a respective object. The safety breakaways between the intermediate portion and the first and second end portions are releasable at a predetermined release load.

Abstract: A drinking cup includes a container and a detachable closure. The closure has a connection end for connection to the container, the connection end being open for receipt of liquid from within the container. The closure has a closed end opposite the connection end and a drinking rim formed at the peripheral edge of the closed end. The closure has a side wall extending between the connection end and the closed end, and at least one opening that facilitates the passage of liquid from within the container to the drinking rim. A seal is supported by the closure and extends around an outside surface of the side wall, sealing the drinking rim against the passage of liquid through the drinking rim. The seal is flexible and responsive to pressure to lift away from the drinking rim to allow passage of liquid through the drinking rim for drinking from the cup.

Abstract: A vent assembly for use with a drinking vessel includes a flexible ventilation member configured to sealingly engage an opening in the drinking vessel and having an air passage extending therethrough, wherein the ventilation member is configured to allow an inflow of air when pressure within the drinking vessel enters a negative pressure state in relation to pressure outside the drinking vessel, wherein the ventilation member comprises one or more venting portions disposed within the air passage. A vent actuator is operably coupled to the ventilation member and configured to change a state of the ventilation member between a ventilation state and a closed state, wherein the vent actuator is integral with the ventilation member and configured to bring the ventilation member into the ventilation state upon contact with a cam portion.

Abstract: A drinking vessel has a cup with a removable lid having at least one inlet-outlet opening which receives an elastic straw-vent assembly having a flexible tubular straw or spout and a ventilation member that defines an air passageway and a vent opening. A vent actuator is operably coupled to the ventilation member and configured to change a state of the ventilation member between a ventilation state and a closed state. A cover movably mounted on top of the lid, shiftable between a closed and an open position, comprises a cam on an inward surface of the cover which is configured to contact the vent actuator during movement of the cover member to change the state of the ventilation member. In the closed position the cover engages the straw, folding the straw against the lid, and in the open position, the straw fluid passageway and the vent opening are unobstructed.