Patents by Inventor William Drinkwater

William Drinkwater has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250057294
    Abstract: A container device may have an outer shell that has an opening that is sealed by a closure mechanism. The closure mechanism may include resealable closure elements that are configured to partially or wholly seal the opening. In some examples, the closure elements may include magnetic strips that are formed with a first member, a second member, and a plurality of magnetic elements. In addition, the closure mechanism may include curved members to prevent the opening from closing when the closure mechanism is in an open configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Isabelle Cochran, John Warren Dow, Andy Bondhus, Mark D. Miller, William Drinkwater, Xi Huang, Quan Xiao, Fuzhen Lai
  • Patent number: 12167808
    Abstract: A leak resistant lid assembly for a beverage container where the lid assembly has a straw or similar means for a user to drink liquid is disclosed. The lid assembly may include a base, a straw that extends through the base, a gasket, and a grommet. The base may have a primary opening that receives the straw and a secondary opening in the top of the base, where the secondary opening acts as a vent to prevent a vacuum from occurring when drinking from a straw. The grommet may have a spiral ring may help create a flow path for air from inside the beverage container to the exterior environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: YETI Coolers, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin R. Bullock, Nicholas James Lombardi, William Drinkwater
  • Publication number: 20240101319
    Abstract: An example lid assembly can include a lid and a slider. The lid can include a wall defining a recess. The slider can be configured to slide in the recess and can be configured to move between a closed position where the slider covers an opening to aid in preventing spilling of contents of the container, and an opened position where the slider uncovers the opening such that the contents may be poured from the container. The slider can be configured to be removable from the lid and can be replaced back on the lid. Additionally, the slider can be formed from upper and lower sled elements 130,136 that are magnetically coupled to one another. In some examples, the lower sled of the slider may include an air vent with rounded entry portions, and the lid assembly may include engaging members with ramped surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Cody Jinkins, Andy Bondhus, Mark Carlson Rane, Dustin Bullock, John Fritz, William Drinkwater, Matthew Bryson, Elizabeth Ruchte
  • Publication number: 20230397746
    Abstract: A leak resistant lid assembly for a beverage container where the lid assembly has a straw or similar means for a user to drink liquid is disclosed. The lid assembly may include a base, a straw that extends through the base, a gasket, and a grommet. The base may have a primary opening that receives the straw and a secondary opening in the top of the base, where the secondary opening acts as a vent to prevent a vacuum from occurring when drinking from a straw. The grommet may have a spiral ring may help create a flow path for air from inside the beverage container to the exterior environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: YETI Coolers, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin R. Bullock, Nicholas James Lombardi, William Drinkwater
  • Patent number: 11712124
    Abstract: A leak resistant lid assembly for a beverage container where the lid assembly has a straw or similar means for a user to drink liquid is disclosed. The lid assembly may include a base, a straw that extends through the base, a gasket, and a grommet. The base may have a primary opening that receives the straw and a secondary opening in the top of the base, where the secondary opening acts as a vent to prevent a vacuum from occurring when drinking from a straw. The grommet may have a spiral ring may help create a flow path for air from inside the beverage container to the exterior environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: YETI Coolers, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin R. Bullock, Nicholas James Lombardi, William Drinkwater
  • Publication number: 20220218132
    Abstract: A leak resistant lid assembly for a beverage container where the lid assembly has a straw or similar means for a user to drink liquid is disclosed. The lid assembly may include a base, a straw that extends through the base, a gasket, and a grommet. The base may have a primary opening that receives the straw and a secondary opening in the top of the base, where the secondary opening acts as a vent to prevent a vacuum from occurring when drinking from a straw. The grommet may have a spiral ring may help create a flow path for air from inside the beverage container to the exterior environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin R. Bullock, Nicholas James Lombardi, William Drinkwater