TWIST LID

Abstract

A lid including a positionable stopper nested inside an upper body that is nested inside a lower body. A user applies a rotational force to the upper body, which rotates about an axis of rotation relative to the lower body to translate the rotational movement of the upper body into linear movement of the stopper along the axis of rotation. The stopper is configured to move axially along the axis of rotation relative to the upper body toward and away from the vessel based upon the direction in which the upper body is rotated. When the stopper is farthest from the vessel along the axis of rotation, the stopper abuts the upper body and seals the liquid inside the vessel. When the stopper is sufficiently near the vessel, an opening is defined between the stopper and the upper body through which the contents of the vessel may exit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to lids for liquid storage vessels such as for beverage or food containers and more particularly to lids with movable components.

2. Description of the Related Art

Prior art lids are typically of one of three types. The first type is a solid unitary lid that does not include openings or apertures through which the contents of a liquid storage vessel may exit the vessel. To drink from the vessel, a user must remove the lid. The second type, which may also be of a unitary construction, includes one or more unobstructed apertures through which the liquid may exit the vessel. In the second type, the apertures are always open. If the vessel is inadvertently tipped or dropped, the contents of the vessel may spill. The third type of lid includes one or more apertures through which the liquid may exit the vessel and a means for selectively opening and closing the apertures. When using the third type of lid, the user may selectively open the apertures to remove the contents from the vessel and selectively close the apertures to maintain the contents inside the vessel. Further, by closing the apertures, the lid may help insulate the contents from the environment outside the vessel.

Unfortunately, many conventional lids of the third type do not adequately seal the liquid inside the vessel. If the vessel to which one of these lids is attached is tipped or dropped, the contents may leak out of the vessel through the lid. Therefore, a need exists for a lid that allows for the selective opening and closing of one or more exit apertures and at the same time adequately seals the contents of the vessel therein. Because many conventional lids of the third type are difficult to disassemble for cleaning and reassemble for reuse of the lid, a need also exists for a lid that can be readily disassembled for cleaning and reassembled for use. The lid described herein provides these and other advantages as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid constructed in accordance with the present invention depicted above a beverage or food container.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an upper body of the lid of FIG. 1 taken substantially through line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the upper body of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a center stopper of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the underside of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a lower body of the lid of FIG. 1 taken substantially through line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1 taken substantially through line 8-8 of FIG. 1 with the stopper and upper body arranged in a closed position.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1 taken substantially through line 8-8 of FIG. 1 with its stopper and upper body arranged in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, aspects of the present invention include a twist lid 10 for a beverage or food container 12, such as a cup, mug, thermos, tumbler, or similar storage vessel. The container 12 may be reusable or disposable. Likewise, the lid 10 may be constructed to be either reusable or disposable. For ease of illustration, the lid 10 is depicted and described as being coupled to the container 12, which is positioned in an upright orientation. However, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that during use, the lid 10 and the container 12 may be positioned in any orientation. Therefore, terms that relate to directions, such as top, bottom, upward, downward, and the like, have been assigned arbitrarily and are not intended to limit the invention.

The lid 10 is configured to be selectively opened and closed by a user, when the user twists a top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the lid 10. The container 12 has a hollow interior portion 15 for storing liquid or semi-liquid contents. Non-limiting examples of liquid or semi-liquid contents stored by the container include beverages, soups, and the like. When the lid 10 is opened, the contents residing in the interior portion 15 of the container 12 may flow therefrom through the lid 10. When the lid 10 is closed, the contents residing in the interior portion 15 of the container 12 are sealed therein by the lid 10.

The lid 10 is configured to be attached to a rim portion 16 of the container 12 by a connector portion 17. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the rim portion 16 has threads 18 formed on its inside surface 20. The connector portion 17 includes threads 22 disposed about a lower portion 24 of an outer surface 26 of the lid 10. The threads 22 of the connector portion 17 are configured to threadedly engage the threads 18 of the rim portion 16 for removable engagement therewith.

The lid 10 has three nested component parts: an upper body 30; a center stopper 34; and a lower body 38. The upper body 30 nests inside the lower body 38. The stopper 34 nests inside both the upper body 30 and the lower body 38. The top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the lid 10 is formed in the upper body 30. When the outer ring-shaped portion 14 is twisted or rotated about an axis of rotation “α,” the stopper 34 moves between a closed position (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8) and an open position (illustrated in FIG. 9) relative to the upper body 30, the lower body 38, and the container 12. In this manner, the positionable stopper 34 may be selectively positioned relative to the upper body 30. When in use, the upper body 30 and the lower body 38 do not move relative to one another or the container 12 along the axis of rotation “α.” However, as will be described below, the lid 10 may be disassembled by moving the upper body 30 and the lower body 38 along the axis of rotation “α.”

Referring to FIG. 9, when the stopper 34 is in the open position, the stopper 34 is located nearest the container 12 (see FIG. 1) along its path of travel along the axis of rotation “α.” In this position, a circumferential opening 39 defined between the stopper 34 and the upper body 30 through which the contents of the container 12 may flow thereby allowing the contents of the container to exit therefrom.

Conversely, referring to FIG. 8, when the stopper 34 is in the closed position, the stopper 34 is located farthest from the container 12 (see FIG. 1) along its path of travel along the axis of rotation “α.” When the stopper 34 is in the closed position, the stopper 34 contacts the upper body 30 and the opening 39 (see FIG. 9) is no longer defined there between. Thus, the lid 10 seals the container 12 preventing its contents from exiting the container. The stopper 34 may be positioned between the closed and open positions and such positions are referred to herein as partially open positions (not shown).

Upper Body 30

Turning to FIG. 2, an exploded perspective view of the lid 10 is provided. The upper body 30 is configured to nest inside the lower body 38. The upper body 30 is generally ring or cylindrically-shaped having an outer surface 40 upon which one or more outwardly extending projections or tabs 42 are disposed. The outer surface 40 of the upper body 30 includes a lower recessed portion 44 and an upper portion 46. The lower recessed portion 44 is adjacent to a lower edge portion 48 of the upper portion 46, with the lower edge portion 48 (best viewed in FIG. 3) overhanging the lower recessed portion 44. In the embodiment depicted, the tabs 42 are disposed along the lower recessed portion 44 and project radially outward. Referring to FIG. 3, the upper portion 46 of the outer surface 40 includes an outwardly opening annular shaped channel 50 configured to receive a generally ring-shaped seal 52. In particular embodiments, the seal 52 may be affixed to the interior of the channel 50. The seal 52 may include a grip portion 56 and a continuous ring portion 57. A bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 may be chamfered or otherwise relieved.

The upper portion 46 of the outer surface 40 includes the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the lid 10. The top outer ring-shaped portion 14 translates rotational force it receives to the remainder of the upper body 30. In the embodiment depicted, the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the lid 10 includes the outwardly opening channel 50 with the seal 52 disposed therein. The user may grasp or grip the grip portion 56 of the seal 52 and twist or rotate the upper body 30 relative to the lower body 38 (see FIG. 1) about the axis of rotation “α”. The seal 52 may be constructed to reduce or eliminate its rotation relative to the upper body 30 when the user rotates or twists the top outer ring-shaped portion 14. In this manner, the seal 52 is configured to translate substantially all of the rotational force applied to it to the upper body 30.

The upper body 30 also includes an interior surface 60 opposite the outer surface 40. The interior surface 60 defines an interior portion 61. The interior surface 60 has an upper portion 62 separated from a lower portion 63 by an annularly-shaped continuous overhang portion 64 that projects radially inward toward the center of the cylindrically-shaped upper body 30. The upper portion 62 of the interior surface 60 may be contoured or otherwise shaped to direct the flow of the contents of the container 12 exiting therefrom through the opening 39 (see FIG. 9) and toward the mouth of the user when the user drinks the contents of the container flowing through the lid 10.

At least one helical shaped track 66A is formed in the lower portion 63 of the interior surface 60 below the overhang portion 64. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-4, three helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C are formed in the lower portion 63 of the interior surface 60 below the overhang portion 64. However, as is apparent to those of ordinary skill alternate numbers of helical shaped tracks may be formed in the lower portion 63 of the interior surface 60 below the overhang portion 64. Each of the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C includes a bump or obstruction 67 flanked by a first track portion 68 and a longer second track portion 69. The first track portions 68 of the tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C are each terminated by a stop wall 76.

Optionally, the interior surface 60 includes a lower recessed portion 70. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an opening or channel 74 connects each of the tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C with the lower recessed portion 70. In the embodiment depicted, the channels 74 each connect an end of the second track portions 69 of the tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C to the lower recessed portion 70. A bump or other obstruction 75 may be included in each channel 74.

The interior surface 60 includes an annular groove 80 formed under an annular shaped overhang portion 64. A ring-shaped seal 82 may be disposed inside the groove 80. In particular embodiments, the seal 82 may be affixed to the interior of the groove 80.

Center Stopper 34

FIGS. 2 and 5 provide elevational perspective views of the center stopper 34. The stopper 34 is configured to nest inside both the upper body 30 when the upper body is nested inside the lower body 38. The stopper 34 includes a generally cylindrically shaped sidewall 90 having an upper end portion 92 opposite a lower end portion 94. As may best be viewed in FIG. 6, the sidewall 90 defines a generally hollow interior portion 104 inside the stopper 34; however, this is not a requirement. In alternate embodiments, the interior portion 104 of the stopper 34 may be solid or only partially hollow. Returning to FIG. 5, the upper end portion 92 is closed to limit the flow of the contents from the container 12 (see FIG. 1), when the stopper 34 is in the open position (see FIG. 9) and to seal the interior portion 15 of the container 12 when the stopper 34 is in the closed position (see FIGS. 1 and 8).

The stopper 34 includes an circumferential lip 96 adjacent to the upper end portion 92 that projects outward beyond the sidewall 90 of the stopper 34. Referring to FIG. 8, when the stopper 34 is nested inside the upper body 30 and the lid 10 is in the closed position, the lip 96 abuts (and in some embodiments, compresses) the ring-shaped seal 82 disposed inside the groove 80. The seal 82 provides a liquid tight seal between the lip 96 and the overhang portion 64 when the lid 10 is in the closed position. As discussed above, when the lid 10 is in the open position, the opening 39 is defined between the stopper 34 and the upper body 30 through which the contents of the container 12 may flow. As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the lid 10 is in the open position, the lip 96 is spaced from and does not abut the seal 82.

Referring to FIG. 5, the stopper 34 includes guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C for slideably positioning in the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C, respectively, of the upper body 30. The guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C extend radially outward from the sidewall 90 and are configured to be received inside a corresponding one of the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C.

In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C are positioned below the lip 96. The guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C are each sized and shaped to be received within the optional lower recessed portion 70 of the upper body 30 (see FIG. 3) if one is present in the upper body. The guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C are also sized and shaped such that when rotated they can be aligned with and received inside the channels 74 that connect the lower recessed portion 70 of the upper body 30 to one end of the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C. The guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C are also configured to traverse the channels 74 to gain entry into the second track portion 69 of a corresponding one of the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C. Once the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C are inside the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C they are able to traverse the helical tracks as the upper body 30 is rotated about the stopper 34 about the axis of rotation “α”. As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, to traverse the helically shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C, the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C (and consequently the entirety of the stopper 34) not only rotates about the axis of rotation “α” but also depending on the direction of rotation moves axially and longitudinally upward and downward along the axis of rotation “α” (see FIG. 1) relative to the upper body 30.

The obstructions 75 in the channels 74 are configured to allow the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C to traverse or travel over the obstructions 75 when sufficient force directed toward the upper body 30 is applied to the stopper 34. Once inside one of the helically shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C, sufficient opposite force must be applied to the upper body 30 to remove the stopper 34 therefrom. In this manner, the obstructions 75 help maintain the guide projections inside the helically shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C and thereby help maintain the nesting of the stopper 34 inside the upper body 30 during use.

As may best be viewed in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the lower end portion 94 of the stopper 34 includes axially and longitudinally extending rails or anchor projections 110A, 110B, and 110C that project radially outward from the sidewall 90. As will be described in greater detail below, these anchor projections engage and are guided by the lower body 38 to inhibit rotational movement of the stopper 34 relative to the lower body but permit longitudinal movement of the stopper relative to the lower body along the axis of rotation “α”. So restrained, the only permitted operational movement of the stopper 34 during normal opening and closing of the stopper is the longitudinal movement of the stopper along the axis of rotation “α”.

The operation of the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C in the helically shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C, respectively, will now be described during normal opening and closing of the stopper 34. For purposes of illustration, the operation of the guide projection 100A in the helically shaped track 66A will be described in detail; however, the guide projections 100B and 100C in the helically shaped track 66B and 66C operate in the same manner. Assuming the guide projection 100A is located within the first track portion 68 of the helically shaped track 66A which corresponds to a fully closed position of the lid 10 with the lip 96 of the stopper 34 in sealing engagement with the seal 82, the user must twist the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the upper body 30 in a first rotational direction (counterclockwise when viewed from above) to move the guide portion 100A toward the second track portion 69 of the helically shaped track 66A with sufficient force to cause the guide projection 100A to travel over the obstruction 67 and into the second track portion 69 of the helically shaped track 66A. Once the guide projection 100A has passed over the obstruction 67, continued rotation of the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the upper body 30 in a first rotational direction moves the guide projection 100A further down the helically shaped track 66A. As noted above, since the stopper 34 is inhibited by the anchor projections 110A, 110B, and 110C from rotation relative to the lower body 38, the helically shaped track 66A translates the rotational force on the upper body into a downward linear force on the stopper to move the lip 96 of the stopper away from sealing engagement with the seal 82 and create the opening 39 between the stopper 34 and the upper body 30 through which the contents of the container 12 may flow. Further rotation in a first rotational direction progressively moves the guide projection 100A further down the helically shaped track 66A and results in a progressively increased size of the opening 39 at least until rotation in the first rotational direction causes the guide projection 100A to reach a position in the second track portion 69 above the channels 74 of the helically shaped track 66A.

After the guide projection 100A has passed over the obstruction 67, to return to the fully closed position the user must twist the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the upper body 30 in a second rotational direction opposite the first direction (clockwise when viewed from above) to thereby move the guide projection 100A upward as it moves along the second track portion 69 of the helically shaped track 66A, which progressively bringing the lip 96 of the stopper toward sealing engagement with the seal 82 and decreases the size of the opening 39 between the stopper 34 and the upper body 30. When the guide projection 100A engages the obstruction 67 again, the user must twist the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the upper body 30 in the second rotational direction with sufficient force to cause the guide projection 100A to travel over the obstruction 67 and back into the first track portion 68 of the helically shaped track 66A whereat the lip 96 of the stopper is again in sealing engagement with the seal 82 and the lid 10 is fully closed position. The obstruction 67 helps to selectively maintain the guide projection 100A in the first track portion 68 of the helically shaped track 66A and thereby releasably lock the lid 10 in the fully closed position.

In summary, when the guide projection 100A is in the first track portion 68, the lid 10 is fully closed with the lip 96 of the stopper 34 in sealing engagement with the seal 82. Conversely, the guide projection 100A is in the second track portion 69, the lid 10 is at least partially open. The obstruction 67 acts as a stop for the guide projection 100A preventing inadvertent rotation of the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the upper body 30 from causing the stopper 34 to transition between the open and fully closed positions.

Lower Body 38

As mentioned above, the connector portion 17 includes threads 22 disposed about the lower portion 24 of the outer surface 26 of the lid 10. Returning to FIG. 2, the lower body 38 is generally ring or cylindrically-shaped having an outer surface 120. The outer surface 120 includes the lower portion 24 of the outer surface 26 of the lid 10 and the threads 22 that attach the lid to the container 12 (see FIG. 1). When the threads 22 are engaged with the threads 18 of the container 12 and the user rotates or twists the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the lid 10 (formed in the upper portion 30) about the axis of rotation “α”, the threaded engagement is tight enough to prevent the lower body 38 from rotating relative to the container 12. In other words, after being assembled with the container 12 and during use, the lower body 38 remains in a substantially stationary position relative to the container.

The outer surface 120 of the lower body 38 includes a lower recessed portion 124 and an upper portion 126. The lower recessed portion 124 is adjacent to a lower edge portion 128 of the upper portion 126, the lower edge portion 128 overhanging the lower recessed portion 124. Referring to FIGS. 2, 8 and 9, an optional sealing member 32, such as an o-ring seal, may be disposed between the lower edge portion 128 of the upper portion 126 and the rim portion 16 of the container 12. The sealing member 32 may be used to form a liquid tight seal between the lower body 38 and the container 12.

The lower body 38 also includes an interior surface 130 opposite the outer surface 120. The interior surface 130 defines an interior portion 131. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the interior surface 130 has an upper portion 132 offset radially outward from a lower portion 133. Referring to FIG. 8, the continuous ring portion 57 of the seal 52 may be configured to abut the upper portion 132 of the interior surface 130 to form a liquid tight seal between the upper body 30 and the lower body 38 when the upper body 30 is nested inside the lower body 38.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 7, for each of the tabs 42 of the upper body 30 (see FIG. 2), a channel 140 is formed in the lower portion 133 of the interior surface 130. Each of the channels 140 has an opening 142 adjacent the upper portion 132 of the interior surface 130. The channels 140 are configured and arranged to receive the tabs 42 of the upper body 30 (see FIG. 1). Thus, the upper body 30 may be nested inside the lower body 38 by passing the tabs 42 through the openings 142 and into the channels 140.

For each of the tabs 42 of the upper body 30 (see FIG. 2), a track section 150 is formed in the lower portion 133 of the interior surface 130. Each of the track sections 150 has a first end portion 152 adjacent at least one of the channels 140. In the embodiment depicted, the first end portion 152 of each of the track sections 150 intersects one of the channels 140. Thus, when each of the tabs 42 passes through a corresponding one of the channels 140, the tab gains entry into the first end portion 152 of the track section 150 intersecting the channels 140. In this manner, each tab 42 may be inserted into a respective track section 150 and subsequently removed therefrom upon disassembly. The track sections 150 each extend along the interior surface 130 circumferentially terminating before reaching an adjacent track section. The channels 140 are oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation “α” (illustrated in FIG. 1).

Each of the track sections 150 is terminated by a stop wall 154 located at a second end portion 156 opposite the first end portion 152 and spaced from the first end portion of an adjacent track section. In this manner, when each of the tabs 42 is inserted into its respective track section 150, the tabs are confined within their respective track sections and limit the rotation of the upper body 30 to a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation “α” as the tabs move back and forth along the track section between its first and second end portions 152 and 156.

The lid 10 is in the fully open position when the upper body 30 is rotated to place the tabs 42 are in the first end portions 152 and in the fully closed position when the upper body is rotated to place the tabs in the second end portions 156.

As may best be viewed in FIG. 6, the lower body 38 includes anchor slots 180A, 180B, and 183C, each to receive therein a corresponding one of the anchor projection 110A, 110B, and 110C included in the lower end portion 94 of the stopper 34. Each anchor slot 180A, 180B, and 183C is defined by a pair of spaced apart radially inward extending projections 182 and 184 affixed to or formed integrally with the interior surface 130 of the lower body 38. When the stopper 34 is nested inside the lower body 38, the anchor projections 110A, 110B, and 110C of the stopper are each received inside a corresponding one of the anchor slots 180A, 180B, and 183C, respectively, of the lower body 38.

As mentioned above, after being assembled with the container 12 and during use, the lower body 38 remains in a substantially stationary position relative to the container. With the anchor projections 110A, 110B, and 110C within the anchor slots 180A, 180B, and 183C, each of the anchor projections is positioned between one of the pairs of spaced apart projections 182 and 184 of each slot thereby preventing the stopper 34 from rotating about the axis of rotation “α” (see FIG. 1) or otherwise moving laterally relative to the lower body 38. Thus, the substantially stationary lower body 38 prevents the stopper 34 from rotating when the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 is rotated relative to the lower body 38. However, the anchor slots 180A, 180B, and 180C are configured to allow the anchor projections 110A, 110B, and 110C to linearly move axially and longitudinally upward and downward along the axis of rotation “α” relative to the lower body 38 and the container 12 in response to rotation of the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 relative to the lower body 38.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper body 30 is illustrated nested inside the lower body 38. The lower body 38 may include a radially inward projecting lower ledge portion 192. When the upper body 30 is nested inside the lower body 38, the bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30 is located on the ledge portion 192, with a ring-shaped seal 194 disposed therebetween.

In particular embodiments, the seal 194 may be affixed to the ledge portion 192. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the seal 194 may be disposed on the bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30. Further, the seal 194 may be separate from both the ledge portion 192 of the lower body 38 and the bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30. Nevertheless, the seal 194 may be sandwiched between these components. When the upper body 30 is nested inside the lower body 38, the bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30 may abut or rest upon the seal 194 to provide a liquid tight seal between the upper body 30 and the lower body 38. The seal 194 may be contoured or otherwise configured to receive the chamfered bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30. Referring to FIG. 7, the seal 194 may include a continuous circumferential projection 196 configured to abut the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30.

When the upper body 30 is nested inside the lower body 38, the seal 194 (including the continuous projection 196) may be compressed between the bottom portion 54 of the lower recessed portion 44 of the upper body 30 and the ledge portion 192 to form a liquid tight seal between the upper and lower bodies 30 and 38, as described above. Further, the seal 194 may be configured to be received inside the lower recessed portion 70 shown in FIG. 3. In such embodiments, the seal 194 may seal the channels 74 thereby preventing the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C from exiting the helical shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C through the channels 74 while the assembled lid 10 is in use.

The upper body 30 is nested with the lower body 38 by aligning the tabs 42 with the openings 142 of the channels 140 and inserting the upper body 30 into the lower body 38. As discussed above, after passing through the channels 140, each of the tabs 42 is located inside one of the track sections 150. When the user twists the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 of the upper body 30 about the axis of rotation “α” clockwise and counterclockwise, the tabs 42 slide back and forth within their respective track sections 150. The length of the track sections 150 restrict the amount of rotation of the top outer ring-shaped portion 14 relative to the lower body 38. Further, the track sections 150 may restrict the rotation of the upper body 30 relative to the lower body 38 to rotation in a horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation “α”.

Referring to FIG. 7, a bump or other obstruction 158 may be included in each channel 140. The obstruction 158 is configured to allow a tab 42 to traverse or travel over the obstruction 158 when sufficient force directed toward the lower body 38 is applied to the upper body 30. Once inside one of the track sections 150, sufficient opposite force must be applied to the upper body 30 to remove it from the track section 150 upon disassembly of the lid 10. In this manner, the obstructions 158 help maintain the tabs 42 inside the track sections 150 and thereby help maintain the nesting of the upper body 30 inside the lower body 38 during use of the lid 10.

Assembly/Disassembly of the Lid 10

The lid 10 is assembled by first nesting the stopper 34 inside the upper body 30. As discussed above, this is achieved by inserting each of the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C into one of the helically shaped tracks 66A, 66B, and 66C via the lower recessed portion 70 and the channels 74. Then, the upper body 30 with the stopper 34 nested therein is nested inside the lower body 38 by aligning the tabs 42 with the openings 42 of the channels 140 and aligning the anchor projections 110A, 110B, and 110C of the stopper 34 with the slots 180A, 180B, and 180C, respectively, of the lower body 38. Then, final assembly is accomplished by inserting the upper body 30 with the stopper 34 nested therein inside the lower body 38 with sufficient force to cause the tabs 42 to traverse the obstructions 158 in the channels 140. The lower body 38 may be threadedly engaged with the container 12 before or after the upper body 30 (with the stopper 34 nested therein) is inserted inside the lower body 38.

The lid 10 is disassembled by aligning the tabs 42 of the upper body 30 with the channels 140. Then, the upper body 30 (with the stopper 34 nested therein) is removed from inside the lower body 38 by passing the tabs 42 through the channels 140 over the obstacles 158. Next, if necessary, one of the stopper 34 and the upper body 30 is rotated relative to the other until the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C are located adjacent to the channels 74. Then, the stopper 34 is removed from inside the upper body 30 by passing the guide projections 100A, 100B, and 100C through the channels 74, over the obstacles 75, and into the lower recessed portion 70. The lower body 38 may be threadedly disengaged from the container 12 before or after the upper body 30 (with the stopper 34 nested therein) is removed from inside the lower body 38.

The upper body 30, the stopper 34, and the lower body 38 may be constructed from any suitable material known in the art including plastics, stainless steel, combinations thereof, and the like. The container 12 may be constructed from any suitable material known in the art including plastic, metals (such as stainless steel), ceramic, combinations thereof, and the like.

The sealing member 32 and the seals 52, 82, and 194 may be constructed from any suitable materials known in the art including rubber, resilient plastic, elastomers, combinations thereof, and the like. As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the seals 82 and 194 both provide seals between components with one moving relative to the other. Therefore, the materials used to construct the seals 82 and 194 may selected at least in part based on the amount friction desired between the components, which may help determine the amount of rotational force required to rotate the upper body 30 relative to the lower body 38. Further, the materials used to construct the seals 52, 82, and 194 may selected at least in part based on the amount of wear experienced by these seals.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).

Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lid for use with a vessel containing a liquid, comprising:

a lower body coupleable in stationary relation to the vessel;

an upper body extending at least partially within the lower body, the upper body rotatably coupled to the lower body and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the upper body comprising an interior surface and a track formed in the interior surface; and

a stopper disposed at least in part inside the upper body, the stopper being coupled to the lower body to prevent rotation of the stopper relative to the lower body and hence the vessel when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body, the stopper being movable relative to the lower body along the axis of rotation of the upper body, the stopper comprising a guide projection disposed inside the track formed in the interior surface of the upper body, the track being shaped such that when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body, the upper body rotates about the stopper and in response the track moves the guide projection and the stopper along the axis of rotation of the upper body between an open position and a closed position,

when the stopper is in the closed position, a sealing portion of the stopper abuts a corresponding sealing portion of the upper body to form a seal configured to seal the liquid inside the vessel, and

when the stopper is in the open position, the sealing portion of the stopper is spaced from the corresponding sealing portion of the upper body to define an opening between the stopper and the upper body through which the liquid inside the vessel may exit.

2. The lid of claim 1 for use with the vessel having threads disposed about its upper portion, wherein the lower body comprises threads disposed about its lower portion by which the lower body is coupleable to the vessel by threaded engagement between the threads disposed about the lower portion of the lower body and the threads disposed about the upper portion of the vessel, the threaded engagement preventing the lower body from rotating relative to the vessel when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body about the axis of rotation.

3. The lid of claim 1 wherein the lower body comprises a connector portion configured to fasten the lower body to the vessel and prevent the lower body from rotating relative to the vessel about the axis of rotation when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body.

4. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lower body comprises an interior portion having an annular cross-sectional shape, and a plurality of track sections each circumferentially traversing a portion of the interior portion, and

the upper body comprises a plurality of outwardly projecting tabs, each tab being disposed inside one of the plurality of track sections, the tab being retained within and traversing the track section when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body about the axis of rotation to rotatably couple the upper body inside the lower body.

5. The lid of claim 1, wherein the upper body comprises an interior portion having an annular cross-sectional shape,

the sealing portion of the upper body comprises a continuous overhang portion extending inwardly and circumferentially traversing the interior portion,

the sealing portion of the stopper comprises an outwardly extending lip, when the stopper is in the closed position, the lip abutting the continuous overhang portion of the upper body to form the seal sealing the liquid inside the vessel, and when the stopper is in the open position, the lip of the stopper being spaced from the continuous overhang portion of the upper body to define the opening between the stopper and the upper body through which the liquid inside the vessel may exit.

6. The lid of claim 5, further comprising a ring-shaped seal disposed between the continuous overhang portion of the upper body and the lip of the stopper when the stopper is in the closed position.

7. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lower body comprises an interior portion having a plurality of inwardly open anchor slots, and

the stopper comprises a plurality of outwardly projecting anchor projections each configured to be received inside one of the plurality of anchor slots when the upper body is received inside the lower body and the stopper is received inside the upper body, the plurability of anchor slots arranged such that engagement between the plurality of anchor projections and the plurality of anchor slots prevents the stopper from rotating about the axis of rotation when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body about the axis of rotation.

8. The lid of claim 1, wherein the upper body has an outer portion with an upper portion opposite a lower portion, and the lower body has an interior portion with an upper portion opposite a lower portion, the lid further comprising:

a first seal disposed between the lower portion of the outer portion of the upper body and the lower portion of the interior portion of the lower body; and

a second seal disposed between the upper portion of the outer portion of the upper body and the upper portion of the interior portion of the lower body.

9. The lid of claim 1, wherein the upper body has a lower portion with a lower portion interior surface comprising a portion of the interior surface of the upper body, the lower portion interior surface having a lower end portion, the lower portion interior surface comprising a channel connecting the track with the lower end portion of the interior surface, the channel being configured to allow the guide projection to travel from the lower end portion into the track.

10. The lid of claim 9, wherein the lower portion interior surface at the lower end portion has a recessed portion, and further comprising:

a seal disposed about the lower portion of the upper body and within the recessed portion of the upper body, the seal preventing the guide projection from traveling from the channel beyond the lower end portion.

11. The lid of claim 1 for use by a user, wherein the upper body has an outer portion with an upper portion and the lower body has an interior portion with an upper portion, the lid further comprising:

a seal having a sealing portion and a grip portion, the sealing portion being disposed between a first portion of the upper portion of the outer portion of the upper body and the upper portion of the interior portion of the lower body, the grip portion being disposed along a second portion of the upper portion of the outer portion exposed to grasping by the user, the grip portion being configured to translate rotation force applied by the user to the grip portion to the upper portion for rotation about the axis of rotation.

12. A lid coupleable to a vessel configured to store a liquid, the lid comprising:

a stopper nested inside an upper body with the upper body nested inside a lower body, the upper body being disposed at least in part within the lower body for rotational movement relative thereto about an axis of rotation;

means for coupling the lower body to the vessel; and

means for translating rotational movement of the upper body in opposite first and second rotational directions into longitudinal movement of the stopper relative to the lower body to respectively move the stopper into and out of sealing engagement with the upper body to selectively close and open an aperture defined between the stopper and the upper body, respectively.

13. The lid of claim 12, wherein the means for translation includes means for inhibiting rotation of the stopper relative to the lower body while allowing the stopper to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation with respect to the upper body.

14. The lid of claim 12, further comprising:

means for sealing the aperture defined between the stopper and the upper body when the aperture is closed to prevent the liquid stored in the vessel from leaking therethrough.

15. The lid of claim 12, further comprising:

means for sealing between the upper body and the lower body to prevent the liquid stored in the vessel from leaking out of the vessel between the upper body and the lower body.

16. A lid coupleable to a vessel configured to store a liquid, the lid comprising:

a positionable stopper nested inside an upper body with the upper body nested inside a lower body,

the upper body being rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the lower body in one of a first direction and a second direction in response to first and second oppositely directed rotational forces applied thereto, respectively;

the lower body having a coupling portion coupleable to the vessel and remaining substantially stationary with respect to the vessel when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body, and

the stopper being configured to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation relative to the upper body in response to rotation of the upper body in the first direction to a closed position abutting the upper body to seal therein the liquid stored in the vessel, and to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation relative to the upper body in response to rotation of the upper body in the second direction to an opened position spaced away from the upper body to define an opening therebetween through which the liquid stored in the vessel may exit.

17. The lid of claim 16, further comprising:

a seal located between the stopper and a portion of the upper body abutted by the stopper when the stopper is in the closed position.

18. The lid of claim 16, wherein the lower body comprises an interior portion having an annular cross-sectional shape, and a plurality of track sections each circumferentially traversing a portion of the interior portion, and

the upper body comprises a plurality of outwardly projecting tabs, each tab being disposed inside one of the plurality of track sections, the tab being retained within and traversing the track section when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body in the first and second directions.

19. The lid of claim 16, wherein the upper body comprises an interior portion having an annular cross-sectional shape,

the upper body comprises a continuous overhang portion extending inwardly and circumferentially traversing the interior portion,

the stopper comprises an outwardly extending lip,

when the stopper is in the closed position, the lip of the stopper abuts the continuous overhang portion of the upper body to seal therein the liquid stored in the vessel, and

when the stopper is in the opened position, the lip of the stopper is sufficiently spaced from the continuous overhang portion of the upper body to define the opening between the stopper and the upper body through which the liquid stored in the vessel may exit.

20. The lid of claim 19, further comprising a ring-shaped seal disposed between the continuous overhang portion of the upper body and the lip of the stopper when the stopper is in the closed position.

21. The lid of claim 16, wherein the lower body comprises an interior portion having a plurality of anchor slots, and

the stopper comprises a plurality of outwardly extending anchor projections each received inside one of the plurality of anchor slots, engagement between the plurality of anchor projections and the plurality of anchor slots preventing the stopper from rotating relative to the upper body when the upper body is rotated in the first and second directions.

22. The lid of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one seal disposed between the upper body and the lower body to seal therein the liquid stored in the vessel by preventing leakage from the vessel between the upper body and the lower body.

23. The lid of claim 16, wherein one of the upper body and the stopper has a guide track circumferentially extending at least partially thereabout, and the other of the upper body and the stopper has a guide projection disposed in the guide track for following the guide track upon rotation of the upper body, the guide track being shaped to such that rotation of the upper body in the first direction through the interaction of the guide track and the guide projection moves the stopper longitudinally along the axis of rotation relative to the upper body to the closed position, and rotation of the upper body in the second direction through the interaction of the guide track and the guide projection moves the stopper longitudinally along the axis of rotation relative to the upper body to the opened position.

24. A lid for use with a vessel containing a liquid, comprising:

a lower body coupleable in stationary relation to the vessel, the lower body including an interior portion having an annular cross-sectional shape with a lower body track section circumferentially traversing a portion of the lower body interior portion, the lower body including a pair of inwardly projecting spaced-apart stops;

an upper body extending at least partially within the lower body, the upper body rotatably coupled to the lower body and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the upper body including an interior portion having an annular cross-sectional shape with an upper body track section circumferentially traversing a portion of the upper body interior portion, the upper body including an outwardly projecting tab disposed inside the lower body track section, the tab being retained within and traversing the track section when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body about the axis of rotation to rotatably couple the upper body inside the lower body, the upper body including a seal portion; and

a stopper disposed at least in part inside the upper body, the stopper having an outwardly projecting, axially extending rail positioned between the pair of stops to prevent rotation of the stopper relative to the lower body about the axis of rotation when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body while allowing axial movement of the stopper along the axis of rotation relative to the lower body, the stopper including a guide projection disposed inside the upper body track section and a seal portion, the upper body track section being shaped such that when the upper body is rotated relative to the lower body the upper body rotates about the stopper and in response the upper body track section moves the guide projection and the stopper axially along the axis of rotation of the upper body between an open position and a closed position, when the stopper is in the closed position, the stopper seal portion abuts the upper body seal portion of the upper body to form a seal configured to seal the liquid inside the vessel, and when the stopper is in the open position, the stopper seal portion is spaced from the upper body seal portion to define an opening between the stopper seal portion and the upper body seal portion through which the liquid inside the vessel may exit.