Lid of beverage container

Abstract

A lid of a beverage container includes a lid body and a cover. The lid body includes a first engaging portion and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw. The cover includes a second engaging portion adapted to be slidably engaged with the first engaging portion of the lid body. The cover is adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the second engaging portion is slidably moved along the first engaging portion.

Description

The present application relates to a lid of a beverage container.

BACKGROUND

Containers such as a cup, a bottle, a canteen, or a mug are used to contain beverage. A lid is usually provided to removably cover an open top of a beverage container to define an enclosure for containing beverage therein. A straw can also be provided on the lid of the beverage container.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,273,172, 5,339,982, 5,361,934, 5,518,142 and 5,897,013 disclose a straw-equipped lid having a cap rotatable or pivotable relative to the lid. The rotatable or pivotable cap has an aperture through which a straw extends. The cap can be rotated or pivoted in one direction allowing the straw to extend freely upwards, and in an opposite direction such that the straw is retracted and bent underneath the cap.

The above description of the background is provided to aid in understanding the lid of the present application, but is not admitted to describe or constitute pertinent prior art, or consider the cited patent documents as material to the patentability of the appending claims of the present application.

SUMMARY

A lid of a beverage container includes a lid body and a cover. In one aspect, the lid body includes a first engaging portion and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw. The cover includes a second engaging portion adapted to be slidably engaged with the first engaging portion of the lid body. The cover is adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the second engaging portion is slidably moved along the first engaging portion.

In another aspect, the lid body includes a sliding channel and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw. The cover includes a guiding member received in the sliding channel of the lid body. The cover is adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the guiding member is slidably moved along the sliding channel.

In a further aspect, the lid body includes two oppositely facing arcuate grooves on two oppositely facing walls, respectively, and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw. The cover includes two guide rods on two opposite lateral sides of the cover, respectively. The two guide rods are received in the two grooves, respectively. The cover is adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the guiding member is slidably moved along the sliding channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a lid of a beverage container.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the lid.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the lid.

FIG. 4a is a cross sectional view of the lid showing a cover in an open position.

FIG. 4b is a cross sectional view of the lid showing the cover in an intermediate position.

FIG. 4c is a cross sectional view of the lid showing the cover in an opening/closing position.

FIG. 4d is a cross sectional view of the lid showing the cover in a closed position.

FIG. 5a is a cross sectional view of the lid showing a cover in an open position where a straw extends freely upwards.

FIG. 5b is a cross sectional view of the lid showing the cover in an intermediate position where both the straw and the cover extend upwards.

FIG. 5c is a cross sectional view of the lid showing the cover in an opening/closing position where the straw is urged by the cover towards one side.

FIG. 5d is a cross sectional view of the lid showing the cover in a closed position where the straw is bent underneath the cover and pressed against the lid body blocking the flow of beverage through the straw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the lid. Exemplary embodiments of the lid are described in detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not particularly important to an understanding of the lid may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the lid is not limited to the illustrated embodiments described below and that various changes and modifications thereof may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a lid 10 of a beverage container. The beverage container can be a cup, a bottle, a canteen, a mug, a vessel, or a flask, etc. The lid 10 is adapted to removably engage with an open top of the container so as to define an enclosure for containing beverage therein. The lid 10 may engage with the beverage container by any possible conventional means such as mating threads, snap-fitting, press-fitting, hinges, or a combination thereof.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the lid 10 has a lid body 12 including a skirt portion 14. The lid body 12 has a straw opening 16 provided at a central portion of the lid body 12, as shown in the drawings, or at any other suitable position. A drinking straw 18 extends through the straw opening 16 of the lid body 12.

The lid 10 may be made of plastic or other suitable material. The straw 18 may be made of silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, or other flexible materials, and possesses resilience characteristic. The straw opening 16 may be circular in shape and is dimensioned to permit the straw 18 of circular cross section to snugly and sealingly fitted therethrough.

The lid 10 has a cover 20 adapted to flip over the opening 16. The cover 20 has a proximal end 22, a distal end 24, and two opposite lateral sides 26, 26. The proximal end 22 of the cover 20 is adapted to abut against the lid body 12.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end 22 of the cover 20 may include a projection 30 having a generally tail-shaped cross section, and two generally horn-shaped projections 32, as depicted in FIG. 3.

The projection 30 is configured to abut against a recess 40 provided on the lid body 12 at one side of the opening 16. The surfaces of the projection 30 and the recess 40 define abutment 50 along which the cover 20 flips between an opening position as shown in FIG. 4a and an intermediate position as shown in FIG. 4b.

The two projections 32 are configured to abut against two recesses 42 provided on the lid body 12 at two opposite sides of the opening 16 respectively. The surfaces of the two projections 32 and respective recesses 42 define two abutments 52 along which the cover 20 flips between the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 4b and a closed position as shown in FIG. 4d. FIG. 3c shows the cover 20 in an opening/closing position.

The projections 30, 32 and recesses 40, 42 are shaped and dimensioned so that the projections 30, 32 are received, retained, and abutted against the respective recesses 40, 42 while the cover 20 is flipping between the open position and the closed positions.

As used herein, the term “abut” means that the projections 30, 32 and the respective recesses 40, 42 are in direct physical contact with each other or adjacent to each other, but are not directly attached to each other by any pivot pins or hinges.

Although it has been described that projections are provided on the cover and recesses are provided on the lid body, it is contemplated that the arrangement can be reversed, i.e. projections can be formed on the lid body and recesses can be formed on the lid body.

The lid body 12 includes a first engaging portion 70, and the cover includes a second engaging portion 60. The second engaging portion 60 is slidably engaged with the first engaging portion 70. The first engaging portion 70 can be a sliding channel, and the second engaging portion 60 can be a guiding member. The first engaging portion 70 can be arcuate. According to the illustrated embodiment, the second engaging portion may be in the form of two guide rods 60 provided on the two opposite lateral sides 26 of the cover 20, respectively, and the first engaging portion of the lid body 12 may be in the form of two oppositely facing arcuate grooves 70 provided on two oppositely facing walls 72 extending from the lid body 12 for receiving the two guide rods 60, respectively. In another embodiment, the first engaging portion of the lid body 12 may be in the form of two opposite elongated guide projections provided on two oppositely facing walls 72 extending from the lid body 12, and the second engaging portion may be in the form of two notches or indentations provided on the two opposite lateral sides 26 of the cover 20, respectively. The two notches or indentations are adapted to receive a portion of the two elongated guide projections, respectively.

The two oppositely facing walls 72, the part of the lid body 12 extending between the two oppositely facing walls 72, and the cover 20, when closed, define a compartment 90 for storing the part of the straw 18 bent underneath the cover 20.

The construction of the lid 10 renders the two arcuate grooves 70 and hence the two oppositely facing walls 72 to have a shallow curvature. This gives the lid 10 a relatively low profile, as compared to conventional high-profile dome-shaped lid.

Although it has been shown and described that there are two sets of projections 30, 32 and recesses 40, 42 to define two abutments 50, 52 along which the cover 20 flips, it is understood by one skilled in the art that there may be only one set of projections and recesses to define only one abutment along which the cover 20 flips between the open and the closed positions.

The distal end 24 of the cover 20 may be provided with a locking mechanism 80, 82 for releasably locking the cover 20 onto the lid body 12 in the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 4d and 5d.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism may include a recess 80 formed at the distal end 24 of the cover 20, and a protrusion 82 formed on the skirt portion 14 of the lid body 12. The distal end 24 of the cover 20 is adapted to deflect outwards when it is pressed against the lid body 12 such that the recess 80 rides over the protrusion 82 thereby snapping and holding the cover 20 onto the lid body 12 in the closed position.

The lid 10 may further include an air balancing valve 92 provided on a valve seat 94 of the lid body 12. The air balancing valve 92 may be located underneath the straw 18 when it is bent underneath the cover 20 as shown in FIG. 5d. The air balancing valve 92 allows air to enter the beverage container when the beverage is sucked from the beverage container through the straw 18.

The air balancing valve 92 may also be made of silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, or other flexible materials, and may be formed integrally with the straw 18.

The straw 18 may have a lower flared end 96 disposed at the underside of the lid body 12, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, to facilitate the insertion of a straw extension (not shown) adapted to extend into the beverage container.

FIGS. 5a-5d are cross sectional views of the lid 10, which show the flipping action of the cover 20 from an open position to a closed position and the bending of the straw 18 by the flipping cover 20.

FIG. 5a shows the lid 10 with the cover 20 in an open position. In this open position, the cover 20 is flipped towards one side of the opening 16 allowing the straw 18 to extend freely upwards from the opening 16.

FIG. 5b shows the lid 10 with the cover 20 in an intermediate position. The cover 20 is flipped, in the direction shown by the arrow, from the open position to this intermediate position by flipping the cover 20 along abutment 50 while the guide rods 60 slide along the respective arcuate grooves 70. In this intermediate position, the cover 20 is disposed at a substantially vertical position parallel and adjacent to the upwardly extending straw 18.

FIG. 5c shows the lid 10 with the cover 20 in a closing position. The cover 20 is flipped, in the direction shown by the arrow, from the intermediate position to this closing position by flipping the cover 20 along abutment 52 while the guide rods 60 slide along the respective arcuate grooves 70. In this closing position, the straw 18 is biased by the cover 20 towards one side.

FIG. 5d shows the lid 10 with the cover 20 in a closed position. The cover 20 is flipped, in the direction shown by the arrow, from the closing position to this closed position by continuously flipping the cover 20 along abutment 52 while the guide rods 60 continuously slide along the respective arcuate grooves 70 until reaching the ends thereof. In this closed position, the straw 18 is bent underneath the cover 20 and pressed against the lid body 12.

The cover 20 may include a pressing member 28 at the lower side thereof proximate to the proximal end 22 of the cover 20. According to the illustrated embodiment, the pressing member 28 may be disposed between the two guide rods 60. The cover 20 acts as a lever arm to provide leverage for pressing the straw 18 by the pressing member 28 against the lid body 12 and blocking the flow of beverage through the straw 18. This makes closing the cover 20 and pressing the straw 18 against the lid body 12 easy for children and the elderly users.

The pressing member 28 may have a curved surface adapted to press against the straw 18 in a slightly rolling manner. This may reduce the likelihood of damaging the straw 18 when flipping the cover 20 between the open and closed positions thereby prolonging the life of the straw 18 and the lid 10.

To open the cover 20, the distal end 24 of the cover 20 is pushed upwards so that it deflects outwards until the recess 80 rides over the protrusion 82. When the recess 80 of the cover 20 is disengaged from the projection 82 of the lid body 12, the straw 18 underneath the cover 20 acts as a spring adapted to spring back by its resilience from a biased bending position to a free upright position. This automatically flips the cover 20 from the closed position as shown in FIG. 5d to the open position as shown in FIG. 5a under the influence of the spring back force exerted on the underside of the cover 20. This makes opening of the cover 20 easy for children and the elderly users.

While the present invention has been shown and described with particular references to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lid of a beverage container comprising:

a lid body comprising a sliding channel and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw; and

a cover comprising a guiding member received in the sliding channel of the lid body, the cover adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the guiding member is slidably moved along the sliding channel.

2. The lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding channel is arcuate.

3. The lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein an end of the cover is abutted against the lid body defining an abutment along which the cover flips.

4. The lid as claimed in claim 3 wherein the end of the cover comprises a projection and the lid body comprises a recess adapted to receive the projection of the cover.

5. The lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straw extends upwards when the cover is in the open position and the straw is bent underneath the cover when the cover is in the closed position.

6. The lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the guiding member of the cover comprises two guide rods on two opposite sides of the cover, respectively; and

the sliding channel of the lid body comprises two opposite grooves on two opposite walls, respectively, the two grooves adapted to receive the two guide rods, respectively.

7. The lid as claimed in claim 6 wherein the two opposite walls, the part of the lid body extending between the two opposite walls, and the cover, when closed, define a compartment for storing the part of the straw bent underneath the cover.

8. The lid as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism adapted to releasably lock the cover onto the lid body in the closed position.

9. The lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a pressing member at a lower side thereof, the pressing member is adapted to press the straw against the lid body when closing the cover.

10. The lid as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pressing member comprises a curved surface adapted to rollingly press the straw against the lid body when closing the cover.

11. The lid as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an air balancing valve.

12. A lid of a beverage container comprising:

a lid body comprising a first engaging portion and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw; and

a cover comprising a second engaging portion adapted to be slidably engaged with the first engaging portion of the lid body, the cover adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the second engaging portion is slidably moved along the first engaging portion.

13. The lid as claimed in claim 12. wherein:

the first engaging portion of the lid body comprises two opposite grooves on two opposite walls, respectively; and

the second engaging portion of the cover comprises two guide rods on two opposite sides of the cover, respectively, the two guide rods adapted to be received in the two grooves, respectively.

14. The lid as claimed in claim 12. wherein:

the first engaging portion of the lid body comprises two opposite elongated guide projections on two opposite walls, respectively; and

the second engaging member of the cover comprises two concaves on two opposite sides of the cover, respectively, the two concaves adapted to receive a portion of the two elongated guide projections, respectively.

15. The lid as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first engaging member of the lid body is arcuate.

16. The lid as claimed in claim 12 wherein an end of the cover is abutted against the lid body defining an abutment along which the cover flips.

17. The lid as claimed in claim 16 wherein the end of the cover comprises a projection and the lid body comprises a recess adapted to receive the projection.

18. A lid of a beverage container comprising:

a lid body comprising two oppositely facing arcuate grooves on two oppositely facing walls, respectively, and an opening shaped and sized to receive a straw; and

a cover comprising two guide rods on two opposite lateral sides of the cover, respectively, the two guide rods being received in the two grooves, respectively, the cover adapted to flip between an open position and a closed position while the guiding member is slidably moved along the sliding channel.

19. The lid as claimed in claim 18 wherein an end of the cover is abutted against the lid body defining an abutment along which the cover flips.

20. The lid as claimed in claim 19 wherein the end of the cover comprises a projection and the lid body comprises a recess adapted to receive the projection.