Container closure

Abstract

A closure for a container, such as a water bottle, includes a recess in the body of the closure and a hinged lid that can be latched to secure the contents of the recess. A mirror is placed on the interior of the lid and is exposed whenever the lid is open. If cosmetics are stored in the recess, the mirror is useful in the application of such cosmetics.

Description

CROSS REFRENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to container closures, and, more particularly, a container closure with a hinged lid in which a vanity mirror is mounted.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A container closures of the prior art can be used with containers of all types including containers holding liquids. Such closures are intended to be water tight and allow the container to be inverted without the contents leaking or spilling. Some lids and closures can become complex. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a container closure includes a base portion with an interior void and has interior threads that mate with complementary exterior threads in the neck of a container. This permits the closure to engage the container in a liquid tight seal.

The void in the closure can accommodate small objects such as vanity articles, items of make up, coins or currency and the like. A hinged lid is provided to cover the void and safeguard the articles placed therein. In the preferred embodiment, the lid has a spring which holds the lid in a normally opened configuration. A latch assembly is provided to keep the lid closed until access to the contents is desired.

In the preferred embodiment, the interior surface of the lid has a mirror mounted thereon which can be utilized as a vanity mirror for the application of the cosmetic articles that may be stored in the void of the closure. Obviously, the function of the mirror is not so limited and can be used for any purpose.

A bail is provided to prevent inadvertent opening of the latch. The latch assembly can be a spring loaded rocker arm mounted on the closure with an extending lip that engages a corresponding surface on the lid. Further, as in other containers with removable lids, a keeper assembly includes a loop that encircles the container and a connected loop that encircles the closure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container closure having an interior compartment and a cap to cover the compartment with a mirror inside of the cap.

It is a further object of the invention to have a vanity mirror integral with the closure of a container wherein the closure of the container has an interior void suitable for the storage of small, personal grooming items.

It is yet another object of invention to have a container closure that has an interior storage void and a latchable lid to cover the void including a locking bail to prevent inadvertent opening of the lid. The closure includes a vanity mirror on an interior surface of the lid.

The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, both as to structure and method of operation thereof, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and they are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container showing an open lid on the container closure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage container of FIG. 1 showing a closed lid on the container closure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container closure of FIG. 1 with the lid opened;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of container closure of FIG. 3 with the lid open; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the closure of FIG. 3 with the lid closed and latched;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a beverage container 10 according to the present invention. The container includes a bottle portion 12, a lid 14 and a restraining loop 16. The lid 14 has a cap 18 with a hinge 20 and a latch assembly 22. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 18 is open and contains, on the interior surface, a vanity mirror 24. Also visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a storage recess 26 in the base portion 28 of the lid 14.

The cap 18 includes an extending flange 30 which is engaged by the latch assembly 22. The latch assembly 22 includes a rocker switch 32 with an extending hook 34 that is adapted to engage the flange 30. A bail 36 is provided which engages a shoulder 38 on the cap 18 to lock the cap 18 in the closed configuration. These elements are also seen in FIGS. 3-5.

In normal use, a liquid can be stored in the bottle 12 and the closure 14 secured, usually by threads on the interior of the closure base portion 28 cooperating with threads on the neck of the bottle 12. Once the closure 14 is in a liquid tight seal, the bail 36 can be removed from the shoulder 38 and the rocker switch 32 of the latch assembly 22 can be depressed. This action releases the hook 34 from the flange 30. Springs in the hinge 20 rotate the lid 18 to the open position, revealing the mirror 24 on the inside surface of the lidl8. Also accessible is the storage recess 26 in the base portion 28 of the closure 14.

At the same time, a user can store or retrieve small articles in the storage recess 26 and, when finished, can close the lid 18 by rotating it against the spring force in the hinge 20 until the hook 34 engages the flange 30. With the lid 18 in the latched and closed configuration, the bail 36 is rotated to egage the shoulder 38, thus assuring that there will be no inadvertent opening of the lid 18.

Thus there has been disclosed a closure for a container that includes a compartment and a mirror for use by the user. However the invention should be limited only by the breadth of the claims appended below.

Claims

1. A container closure comprising:

a. a main body having a recess for the storage of articles;

b a lid member, hingedly mounted on said main body for covering said recess in a closed configuration and affording access to said recess in an open configuration;

c latching means connected to said main body for securing said lid member in the closed configuration; and

f a mirror attached to an interior surface of said lid member.

2. The closure of claim 1 including a bail member attached to said latching means for securing said lid member in the closed configuration.

3. The closure of claim 1, further including retainer means mounted on the closure and a container for attaching the closure to the container.

4. The container closure of claim 1, wherein the container is a water bottle and said closure main portion has a collar adapted to engage the water bottle.

5. The container closure of claim 1 wherein the hinged mounting includes a spring bias to urge said lid member into the open configuration.

6. A container closure comprising:

a. a main body having a first recess in the exterior surface thereof for the storage of articles and an interior recess to receive a container to be closed;

b a lid member, hingedly mounted on said main body for covering said first recess in a closed configuration and affording access to said first recess in an open configuration;

c latching means connected to said main body for securing said lid member in the closed configuration; and

f a mirror attached to an interior surface of said lid member.

7. The closure of claim 6 including a bail member attached to said latching means for securing said lid member in the closed configuration.

8. The closure of claim 6, further including retainer means mounted on the closure and on a container for attaching the closure to the container.

9. The container closure of claim 6 wherein the hinged mounting includes a spring bias to urge said lid member into the open configuration.

10. A container closure comprising:

a. a main body;

b a lid member, hingedly mounted on said main body;

c latching means connected to said main body for securing said lid member in the closed configuration; and

f a mirror attached to an interior surface of said lid member.

11. The closure of claim 10 including a bail member attached to said latching means for securing said lid member in the closed configuration.

12. The closure of claim 10, further including retainer means mounted on the closure and a container for attaching the closure to the container.

13. The container closure of claim 10, wherein the container is a water bottle and said closure main portion has a collar adapted to engage the water bottle.

14. The container closure of claim 10 wherein the hinged mounting includes a spring bias to urge said lid member into the open configuration.

15. A container closure comprising:

a. a main body having a top surface and an under surface with first recess in the exterior of said under surface to receive a container to be closed;

b a lid member, hingedly mounted on said main body top surface;

c latching means connected to said main body for securing said lid member in the closed configuration; and

f a mirror attached to an interior surface of said lid member.

16. The closure of claim 15 including a bail member attached to said latching means for securing said lid member in the closed configuration.

17. The closure of claim 15, further including retainer means mounted on the closure and on a container for attaching the closure to the container.

18. The container closure of claim 15 wherein the hinged mounting includes a spring bias to urge said lid member into the open configuration.