LID ASSEMBLY FOR DRINKING VESSEL AND DRINKING VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME
A lid assembly for a drinking vessel holding a beverage is disclosed. The lid assembly includes a lid and a slider. The lid comprises a top wall having a port and a vent hole, each configured for communication with the interior of the vessel when the lid assembly is mounted thereon. The slider is mounted on the top wall and is slidable along an axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa. In the closed state, the slider seals the port. In the opened state it exposes the port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through the port. The slider includes a slot extending transversely to the axis and is configured such that any liquid attempting to exit through the vent hole when the slider is in the open state is channeled away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from the port.
This utility application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/361,224 filed on Jul. 12, 2016, entitled LID ASSEMBLY FOR DRINKING VESSEL AND DRINKING VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME. The entire disclosure of the provisional application is incorporated by reference herein.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT“Not Applicable”
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK“Not Applicable”
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to drinking vessels and more particularly to lid assemblies for mounting on vessels holding beverages to enable a user to drink or pour the beverage through the lid assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany double walled drinking vessels are commercially available from various sources, including Tervis Tumbler Company (hereinafter “Tervis Tumbler”), the assignee of this invention. Such vessels typically are formed of an inner vessel located within and spaced from outer vessel by an annular air or vacuum space to thermally insulate the inner vessel from the ambient atmosphere. A lid is commonly provided for releasable mounting on the vessel to seal the contents of the beverage (hot or cold) within the vessel, while enabling the user to drink or pour the beverage through the lid without removing it when desired. For example, Tervis Tumbler currently sells a line of travel lids, each of which includes a slidable cover or slider that when opened provides access to a port in communication with the interior of the vessel through which the user can drink or pour the beverage. A vent hole is provided in the lid to enable air to enter into the vessel as the user drinks from the vessel through the port or pours the beverage from the port. In particular, the Tervis Tumbler travel lids include a vent hole on the centerline of the slider which when the slider is in an open position is aligned with a vent hole in the lid so that air can enter into the vessel through the aligned vent holes. While those travel lids are suitable for their intended purposes, they may have a tendency for the beverage within the vessel to “spit” or “leak” through the vent holes. Moreover, since the vent hole in the slider is on the centerline of the slider, it may be blocked by the user's nose contacting it when the user drinks from the vessel through the lid. Accordingly, there is a need to overcome those drawbacks as well as other drawbacks of the prior art. The subject invention addresses those needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of this invention a lid assembly is provided for releasable mounting on a drinking vessel having a hollow body bounding an internal cavity configured for receipt of a beverage to enable a user to drink through the lid assembly. The hollow body has an annular rim at a top edge thereof. The lid assembly comprises a lid and a slider. The lid comprises a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending about the top wall. The top wall includes a port in communication with the internal cavity when the lid assembly is mounted on the vessel. The top wall also includes a vent hole in communication with the internal cavity when the lid assembly is mounted on the vessel. The slider is located at the top wall and is slidably connected thereto along a longitudinal axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa. The slider, when in the closed state, seals the port and when in the opened state exposes the port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through the port. The slider includes a portion sealing the vent hole when the slider is in the closed state and a portion exposing the vent hole when the slider is in the opened state. The slider includes a slot extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and is configured such that any beverage or steam attempting to exit through the vent hole when the slider is in the open state is channeled by the slot away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from the port.
In accordance with one preferred aspect of the lid assembly the vent hole is located in the top wall remote from the port and laterally of the longitudinal axis.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the lid assembly the lid comprises a peripheral sidewall extending about the top wall. The peripheral sidewall has a top edge located above the top wall and an inner surface tapering downward from the top edge to the top wall. The inner surface merges with top wall at gently curved interface.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the lid assembly a detent mechanism is provided for holding the slider in either the closed state or the opened state.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the lid assembly the slider includes an outer surface in the form of a depression configured for engagement by the finger of a user to facilitate the sliding of the slider between the closed state and the opened state, and vice versa.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the lid assembly the slider is releasably secured to the top wall of the lid.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the lid assembly the top wall includes at least one slot extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the slider includes an undersurface having at least one tab projecting downward therefrom. The at least one tab is configured for releasable receipt within the at least one slot, whereupon when the tab is within the at least one slot the slider is enabled to slide along the at least one slot to carry the slider between the closed state and the open state, and vice versa.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the lid assembly the least one tab includes a cam surface which enables the tab to be snap-fit within the at least one slot to prevent it from coming out of that slot, thereby preventing the slider from being accidentally disconnected from the top wall.
Another aspect of this invention constitutes the combination of a drinking vessel and a lid assembly. The drinking vessel comprises a hollow body bounding an internal cavity. The hollow body has an annular rim at a top edge thereof. The lid assembly is constructed as set forth above and configured to be releasably secured to the top edge of the drinking vessel.
Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at 20 in
It should be pointed out at this juncture that the particular lid assembly 24 shown and described herein is merely exemplary. Thus, other lid assemblies can be constructed in accordance with this invention. Moreover, the drinking vessel 22 shown and described hereinafter is exemplary of numerous vessels with which the lid assembly of the subject invention can be used.
As can be seen in
The top portion 22C of the sidewall of the inner vessel 22B is thickened to form the annular rim of the vessel 22 and is undercut on its outer surface for engagement with the top edge of the outer vessel 22A when the inner vessel is located within the outer vessel. The inner and outer vessels are secured together by a welded, e.g., ultrasonically welded, joint at the interface where the undercut surface of the top portion 22C of the inner vessel meets the top surface of the outer vessel. While not shown in the drawing, the outer diameter of the outer surface of the portion 22C is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the top edge of the outer vessel to create a slight undercut surface thereat. This undercut surface is arranged to be engaged by a small annular ridge (to be described later) of the lid assembly to facilitate the releasable securement of the lid assembly on the vessel 22.
With the inner vessel 22A located within the outer vessel the outer surface of the inner vessel is disposed opposite and confronting the inner surface of the outer vessel, but is spaced slightly therefrom to form an annular thermally insulating space 26 therebetween. Thus, the inner vessel 22B, which is arranged to hold a hot beverage in its internal cavity 22D, is thermally insulated from the ambient atmosphere. If desired, and if at least the outer vessel is transparent, like shown in
The lid assembly 24 basically comprises a lid 28 and a slider 30. The lid 28 is an integral unit formed of any suitable material, e.g., polypropylene, and includes a planar top wall 32 and a peripheral sidewall 34 extending about the top wall. The top wall is planar and of generally circular profile. The top wall includes an opening or port 36 adjacent the front of the lid. The port 36 is located on a central longitudinal axis B (
The slider 30 of the lid assembly serves to close off the port 36 to keep the beverage within the vessel until access to the beverage via the port is desired. As best seen in
The outer or upper surface of the slider 30 is ergonomically designed to facilitate the sliding of the slider to either the closed or opened position by a finger of the user. To that end as best seen in
The slider 30 is releasably secured within the recess 42 by a pair of linear walls 44. The walls 44 are in the form of two short length tabs that project downward from the underside of the slider. The walls are configured to be releasably received within respective ones of a pair of linear slots 46 in the recess 42. The slots 46 extend parallel to and along the central longitudinal axis B of the lid on opposite sides of that axis and are spaced from each other by the spacing between the walls 44. As best seen in
It should be pointed out at this juncture that the slider 30 is reversible. In particular, it can be connected within the recess 42 so that its arcuate end edge 30C engages the front edge 42C of the recess when the slider is in the closed state, or can be connected within the recess 42 so that its arcuate edge 30D engages the front edge 42C of the recess when the slider is in the closed state.
As best seen in
As mentioned earlier, the lid assembly 20 includes a vent to enable air to enter the vessel when the beverage is drank or poured out of the port 36. That vent is in the form of a small hole or aperture 48 in the lid 28. In particular, as best seen in
As can be seen in
As mentioned earlier the lid includes a tab for facilitating the removal of the lid assembly from the vessel. That tab is best seen in
In accordance with one preferred aspect of this invention, the lid assembly is designed so that the slider 30 is preferably in either its open or closed state, and not in some partially opened state, since partial opening may present a hazard that the beverage within the vessel could spill out of the partially opened port unexpectedly. To that end, the lid assembly includes a detent mechanism for holding the slider in either the closed state or the opened state. The detent mechanism basically comprises a pair of rounded recesses 58A and 58B (
As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art the lid assemblies of this invention have particular utility as a travel lid. However, they can be used for any application wherein they will be mounted on a vessel or container holding a beverage to enable a user to drink or pour the beverage through the lid, whether the vessel or container is insulated or not. Moreover, various changes can be made to the lid assembly within the teachings of this invention. For example, the slider need not be configured to be reversibly mountable. In such a case, the slider would only need to include one channel or slot for communication with the vent hole when the slider is in the open state. Further still, the lid may include a pair of appropriately placed vent holes, so that when the slider is in the open position or state one of the slots or channels is in communication with one of the vent holes, while the other one of those slots or channels is in communication with the other of the vent holes. Moreover, the lid assembly may not make use of a detent mechanism to hold the slider in either the closed or opened position. If a detent mechanism is desired it can be constructed differently than that described above. Thus, for example, the components making up the detent mechanism can be reversed, i.e., the slider may include the rounded recesses and the lid may include the rounded projection. Many other changes can be made to the structure of the lid assembly than those described above, yet still be within the teachings of this invention.
Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.
Claims
1. A lid assembly for releasable mounting on a drinking vessel having a hollow body bounding an internal cavity configured for receipt of a beverage to enable a user to drink through the said assembly, the hollow body having an annular rim at a top edge thereof, said lid assembly comprising:
- a lid comprising a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said top wall including a port in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel and a vent hole in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel;
- a slider located at said top wall and slidably connected thereto along a longitudinal axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa, said slider when in said closed state sealing said port and when in said opened state exposing said port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through said port, said slider including a portion sealing said vent hole when said slider is in said closed state and a portion exposing said vent hole when said slider is in said opened state, said slider including a slot extending transversely to said longitudinal axis and being configured such that any beverage or steam attempting to exit through said vent hole when said slider is in said open state is channeled by said slot away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from said port.
2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said vent hole is located in said top wall remote from said port and laterally of said longitudinal axis.
3. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said lid comprises a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said peripheral sidewall having a top edge located above said top wall and an inner surface tapering downward from said top edge to said top wall, said inner surface merging with said top wall at gently curved interface.
4. The lid assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising a detent mechanism for holding said slider in either said closed state or said opened state.
5. The lid assembly of claim 4, wherein said detent mechanism comprises a rounded projection and a pair of rounded recesses, wherein one of said rounded recesses is located on said longitudinal axis adjacent said port and the other of said rounded recesses is located on said longitudinal axis remove from said port, and wherein said rounded projection is located on said slider and configured for selective receipt in either of said rounded recesses.
6. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said slider includes an outer surface in the form of a depression configured for engagement by the finger of a user to facilitate the sliding of said slider between said closed state and said opened state, and vice versa.
7. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said slider is releasably secured to said top wall of said lid.
8. The lid assembly of claim 7 wherein said top wall includes at least one slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said slider includes an undersurface having at least one tab projecting downward therefrom, said at least one tab being configured for releasable receipt within said at least one slot, whereupon when said tab is within said at least one slot said slider is enabled to slide along said at least one slot to carry said slider between said closed state and said opened state, and vice versa.
9. The lid assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one tab includes a cam surface which enables said tab to be snap-fit within said at least one slot to prevent it from coming out of that slot, thereby preventing said slider from being accidentally disconnected from said top wall.
10. The lid assembly of claim 7 wherein said slider includes a first end and a second end and wherein said slider is reversibly releasably secured to said lid, whereupon said first end can close said port when said slider is in said closed state or said second end can close said port when said slider is in said closed state.
11. In combination a lid assembly and a drinking vessel,
- said drinking vessel comprising a hollow body bounding an internal cavity, said hollow body having an annular rim at a top edge thereof,
- said lid assembly comprising: a lid comprising a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said top wall including a port in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel and a vent hole in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel; and a slider located at said top wall and slidably connected thereto along a longitudinal axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa, said slider when in said closed state sealing said port and when in said opened state exposing said port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through said port, said slider including a portion sealing said vent hole when said slider is in said closed state and a portion exposing said vent hole when said slider is in said opened state, said slider including a slot extending transversely to said longitudinal axis and being configured such that any beverage or steam attempting to exit through said vent hole when said slider is in said open state is channeled by said slot away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from said port.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said vessel comprises a double walled insulated vessel.
13. The combination of claim 11 wherein said lid includes an annular recess configured for receipt of said annular rim of said drinking vessel to releasably mount said lid assembly on said drinking vessel.
14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said vent hole is located in said top wall remote from said port and laterally of said longitudinal axis.
15. The combination of claim 11 wherein said lid assembly additionally comprises a detent mechanism for holding said slider in either said closed state or said opened state.
16. The combination of claim 11 wherein said lid comprises a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said peripheral sidewall having a top edge located above said top wall and an inner surface tapering downward from said top edge to said top wall, said inner surface merging with said wall at gently curved interface.
17. The combination of claim 11 wherein said slider includes an outer surface in the form of a depression configured for engagement by the finger of a user to facilitate the sliding of said slider between said closed state and opened state, and vice versa.
18. The combination of claim 11 wherein said slider is releasably secured to said top wall of said lid.
19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said top wall includes at least one slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said slider includes an undersurface having at least one tab projecting downward therefrom, said at least one tab being configured for releasable receipt within said at least one slot, whereupon when said tab is within said slot said slider is enabled to slide along said slot to carry said slider between said closed state and said opened state, and vice versa.
20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said at least one tab includes a cam surface which enables said tab to be snap-fit within said at least one slot to prevent it from coming out of that slot, thereby preventing said slider from being accidentally disconnected from said top wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 21, 2017
Publication Date: Jan 18, 2018
Inventors: Kurt Karussi (Osprey, FL), Erik Steven Brown (Sarasota, FL), Aaron Abroff (Acton, MA), Joongoo Lee (Quincy, MA)
Application Number: 15/628,773