LID HAVING A FLIP TOP COVER

Abstract

A lid for a container. The lid includes a planar surface, a wall surrounding the planar surface, and a recess. The recess is formed on a portion of the planar surface and has a defined perimeter. The recess has a gradually sloping surface from a middle portion of the planar surface to the wall and an opening formed therein. The lid also includes a cover pivotably connected with the recess and is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position. The cover has a perimeter configured to rest within the recess when in one of the first position and the second position. The cover also has a cavity sized to engage the opening in the recess.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/913,063 filed on Apr. 20, 2007. The contents of Application Ser. No. 60/913,063 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Children's drinking cups are generally provided with lids to help prevent large spills. The lids generally include an opening such as those commonly found in drinking spouts extending from the lid. These cups are sometimes called “sippy cups.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes a container having a removable lid with a flip top cover.

The invention provides a container comprising a main body and a removable lid. The main body defines an interior cavity accessible through an opening at an upper end of the main body, and the main body has a rim about the opening. The removable lid is removably secured to the rim of the main body to enclose the interior cavity. The removable lid includes a planar surface, a wall surrounding the planar surface, an outside surface of the wall configured to contact an inside surface of the rim, a recess formed in the planar surface, the recess having a gradually sloping surface from a center portion of the planar surface to the wall, an opening in the recess for communication with the interior cavity, and a cover pivotably connected with the recess and configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, the cover having a cavity sized to engage the opening.

The invention also provides a lid for a container. The lid includes a planar surface, a wall surrounding the planar surface, and a recess. The recess is formed on a portion of the planar surface and has a defined perimeter. The recess has a gradually sloping surface from a middle portion of the planar surface to the wall and an opening formed therein. The lid also includes a cover pivotably connected with the recess and is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position. The cover has a perimeter configured to rest within the recess when in one of the first position and the second position. The cover also has a cavity sized to engage the opening in the recess.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a lid for a container in a closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the lid illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lid illustrated in FIG. 1 in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the lid illustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

Although directional references, such as upper, lower, downward, upward, rearward, bottom, front, rear, etc., may be made herein in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form. In addition, terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a lid 10 for a container 12, such as a cup or bowl or any type of storage container. The lid 10 is generally circular shaped, but could also include other suitable shapes, such as oval, square, rectangular, or irregular shapes. The lid 10 includes a generally planar surface 14 surrounded about the perimeter by a first wall 18 that extends upward from the planar surface 14. The first wall 18 is connected to a second wall 22 generally oriented parallel with the planar surface 14. The second wall 22 is connected to a third wall 26 generally oriented parallel with the first wall 18 and generally concentric about the first wall 18. The first wall 18, the second wall 22, and the third wall 26 form a recess 30 around the planar surface 14 and on the underside of the lid 10. The recess 30 is adapted to receive an upper rim of the container to form an air-tight and/or liquid/tight seal at the top of container. The lid 10 can include a tab that extends laterally from one of the walls 18, 22, 26 of the lid for ease of removing the lid 10 from the container.

The lid 10 can be molded from a suitable polypropylene material having a suitable thickness and durability. Other suitable materials and/or combinations of materials may also be used to manufacture the lid 10. The container also can be molded from a suitable polypropylene material having a suitable thickness, but is not limited to polypropylene material.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the planar surface 14 includes an integrally molded recess 34 having a surface 38 with a slope extending gradually downward from an off-center portion 42 of the planar surface 14 toward the first wall 18. The recess 34 includes an opening 46 for communication with the interior of the container. The opening 46 includes a lip 50 surrounding the opening 46 and extending downward into the container. The sloped surface 38 of the recess 34 provides a receptacle for liquid contents on the planar surface 14 and a flow path for returning the liquid back into the container.

The lid 10 includes a cover 54 supported by the recess 34. The cover 54 includes a hinge 58 coupled to the sloped surface 38. The hinge 58 provides a pivot point for manipulating the cover 54 between open and closed positions. The hinge 58 provides a range of motion for the cover 54 from about zero degrees to about 180 degrees. More particularly, the range of motion is from about zero degrees to about 150 degrees. The range of motion of the hinge 58 allows the cover 54 to be sufficiently open so as not to interfere with the user while drinking from the container.

The cover 54 includes a planar surface 60 and a cavity 62 formed within the planar surface 58. The cavity 62 includes a bottom wall 66 and a plurality of walls 70 surrounding the bottom wall 66. The cavity 62 extends downwardly from the planar surface 60 and is adapted to engage the opening 46 in the surface 38 of the recess 34 when the cover 54 is in a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The underside surface walls 70 of the cavity 62 seal the opening 46 to prevent the container contents from exiting the container.

The cover 54 includes a tab 74 adjacent the cavity 62 and extending from an edge 78 of the planar surface 60. The tab 74 is vertically oriented and generally perpendicular to the sloped surface 38 of the recess 34. The tab 74 includes an end 80 adjacent the cavity 62 and a distal end 82 that extends beyond a height of the rim or second wall 22 of the lid 10. The end 80 of the tab 74 rests upon the surface 38 of the recess 34 when the cover 54 is in a closed position. The tab 74 provides the user a means of manipulating the cover 54 and disengaging the cavity 62 of the cover 54 from the opening 46.

The cover 54 can be moved to an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to allow the contents in the container to exit through the opening 46. The cover 54 can be moved to an open position where it rests upon the wall 22. The hinge 58 is sufficiently stiff such that the cover 54 can remain in contact with the wall 22. In this manner, the cover 54 will not close while the user is drinking from the container for example.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a main body defining an interior cavity accessible through an opening at an upper end of the main body, the main body having a rim about the opening; and

a removable lid secured to the rim of the main body to enclose the interior cavity, the removable lid including a planar surface, a wall surrounding the planar surface, an outside surface of the wall configured to contact an inside surface of the rim, a recess formed in the planar surface, the recess having a gradually sloping surface from a center portion of the planar surface to the wall, an opening in the recess for communication with the interior cavity, and a cover pivotably connected with the recess and configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, the cover having a cavity sized to engage the opening.

2. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cover includes a tab positioned adjacent the cavity and extending upwardly therefrom.

3. The container as set forth in claim 2 wherein the tab is oriented substantially perpendicular to the recess.

4. The container as set forth in claim 2 wherein the tab includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end extends beyond a height of the wall of the lid.

5. The container as set forth in claim 4 wherein the second end of the tab is configured to rest upon the recess when the cover is in one of the first position and the second position.

6. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the removable lid further includes a hinge connected to the cover and the recess.

7. A lid for a container, the lid comprising:

a planar surface;

a wall surrounding the planar surface;

a recess formed on a portion of the planar surface and having a defined perimeter, the recess being integrally formed with the planar surface, the recess having a gradually sloping surface from a middle portion of the planar surface to the wall;

an opening in the recess; and

a cover pivotably connected with the recess and configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, the cover having a perimeter configured to rest within the recess when in one of the first position and the second position, the cover having a cavity sized to engage the opening.

8. The container as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cover includes a tab positioned adjacent the cavity and extending upwardly therefrom.

9. The container as set forth in claim 8 wherein the tab is oriented substantially perpendicular to the recess.

10. The container as set forth in claim 8 wherein the tab includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end extends beyond a height of the wall.

11. The container as set forth in claim 10 wherein the second end of the tab is configured to rest upon the recess when the cover is in one of the first position and the second position.

12. The container as set forth in claim 7 wherein the lid further includes a hinge connected to the cover and the recess.