TILTABLE LID ASSEMBLY
A tiltable lid assembly includes a base that is secured to a cup that holds a liquid substance. The base has an opening that is aligned with an opening on the cup. A cap assembly is secured to the base and includes a first seal for sealing the opening of the base and a second seal for sealing an air vent on the base. The cap assembly is tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position, the cap assembly is in a level, non-inclined position and the first and second seals seal the opening and the air vent, respectively. In a second position, the cap assembly is inclined and the first and second seals are displaced from the opening and air vent. Releasable locking means secures the cap assembly in the first and second position.
The present principles generally relates to lids for sealing cups, more particularly, it relates to a tiltable lid assembly which seals a cup in an effective and efficient manner.
2. Description of Related ArtCups and containers for holding liquid beverages or food products must be configured to securely seal the contents of the cup in order to prevent the contents from accidentally flowing out of the spout which may lead to injury to the user or damage to property. Many cups, such as travel mugs, have been developed which have lids that releasably seal a cup. However, many existing cups do not have lids that securely seal the spout/opening of the cup. Furthermore, many known cups have lids with sealing means that are cumbersome to activate or deactivate by the user. Additionally, many existing cups do not clearly indicate whether the spout is in an opened or closed position. Many of the existing lids also have structures that are overly complex and are subject to degradation over time.
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a lid assembly that is configured to be releasably locked in both a position in which the spout and the air vent are opened and the user may drink from the cup and in a position in which the spout and air vent are sealed closed.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide a lid assembly that has releasable locking means which permits the user to easily open or close the spout and the air vent.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide a lid assembly that clearly indicates to the user whether the spout and air vent are opened or closed.
It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a lid assembly that is cost effective to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present principles, a tiltable lid assembly is provided. The tiltable lid assembly includes a base configured to be secured to a cup that holds a liquid substance. The cup includes an opening for release of the liquid substance. The base includes a first end having an opening that is aligned with the opening in the cup to permit release of the liquid substance from the cup portion. A cap assembly is secured to the base. The cap assembly includes a first end having a first seal that is configured to be positioned over the opening of the base to seal the liquid substance within the cup and a second end opposite the first end. The cap assembly is configured to be tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position on the axis the first seal is positioned within the opening on the base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening and in a second position on the axis the first seal is displaced from the opening on the base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.
In another embodiment, a cup is provided. The cup includes a cup portion that is configured to hold a liquid substance. The cup portion includes an opening for release of the liquid substance. A base is configured to be secured to the cup. The base includes a first end having an opening that is aligned with the opening in the cup to permit release of the liquid substance from the cup portion. A cap assembly is secured to the base. The cap assembly includes a first end having a first seal that is configured to be positioned over the opening of the base to seal the liquid substance within the cup portion and a second end opposite the first end. The cap assembly is configured to be tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position on the axis the first seal is positioned within the opening on the base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening and in a second position on the axis the first seal is displaced from the opening on the base to permit the liquid substance to flow out.
In another embodiment, a method for releasably locking a tiltable lid assembly that seals a cup in an open or closed position is provided, the tiltable lid assembly having a base and a cap assembly. The method includes the steps of locking the tiltable lid assembly in the open position starting from the closed position by: releasing releasable locking means, depressing a second end of the cap assembly to incline an opposed first end of the cap assembly and activating releasable locking means. The method also includes the steps of locking the tiltable lid assembly in the closed position starting from the open position by: releasing releasable locking means, depressing a first end of the cap assembly so that the cap assembly is in a level, non-inclined orientation and activating releasable locking means.
The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from a detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures. Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent the same or similar elements:
In accordance with the present principles, a tiltable lid assembly 2 is provided. The tiltable lid assembly 2 is configured to be secured to a cup 6 or container that holds a substance, such as a liquid beverage or food product. The cup 6 or container may comprise a body having a bottom wall, side walls and an open top.
As shown in
The base 10 has raised sidewalls 16 extending around its circumference. In one embodiment, the sidewalls 16 may have an increased height at the first end 14 of the base. As shown in
The cap assembly 4 is configured to be secured to the base 10 in order to cover the base and releasably seal the substance inside of the cup. As shown in
As shown in
The second seal 24 on the cap assembly 4 is configured to sealingly cover the air vent 18 on the base 10. The second seal 24 may be configured so that the distal portion 1 of the second seal may be received within the air vent 18 and completely cover the air vent to prevent gas from flowing through the air vent. The second seal 24 may be dimensioned with an increasing width from the distal end 25 to the bottom surface of the cap assembly. In the embodiment shown in
In one embodiment, the cap assembly 4 may be configured to be releasably secured to the base 10. For example, the bottom portion 5 of the cap assembly may have fastening means 26 which is configured to be releasably secured to fastening means on the base 10. In the embodiment shown in
The tiltable lid assembly 2 also includes releasable locking means 34 which is configured to secure the cap assembly 4 in a plurality of positions with respect to the axis which it tilts about. For example, in a preferred embodiment shown in
In another preferred embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In one embodiment, the tiltable lid assembly 2 also includes a tab 46 that is connected to the releasable locking means 34 which is configured to permit the user to apply pressure opposing the biasing force to release the releasable locking means and permit axial motion of the cap assembly 4. The tab 46 is preferably positioned on the top surface 20 of the cap assembly. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The releasable locking means 34 are configured so that the user may push down on the inclined portion of the top surface 20 of the cap assembly to oppose the biasing force and force the distal end 38 of the latch away from the resting surface 48 to release the releasable locking means. This permits the user to easily release the securement provided by the releasable locking means. Alternatively, the user may slide the tab 46 towards the second end 9 of the cap assembly to release the releasable locking means 34. The user can then tilt the lid to a level position with gentle downward pressure on the first end 7 of the cap assembly. When the user releases the tab 46, the distal end 38 of the latch is forced into the aperture 44 of the locking member 42 to secure the tiltable lid assembly 2 in a sealed position.
Referring to
In block 210, the second end of the cap assembly is depressed to incline an opposed first end of the cap assembly. As previously described, the sliding of the tab that is connected to the releasable locking means towards the second end of the cap assembly may be sufficient to naturally depress the second end of the cap assembly and incline the first end of the cap assembly.
In block 220 the releasable locking means are activated. For example, the tab may be released so that the biasing force forces the distal end forward into a locked open position.
The method also includes locking the tiltable lid assembly in the closed position starting from the open position by performing the following steps. In block 230, the releasable locking means are released. As previously described, the releasable locking means may be released by the user depressing the inclined first end of the cap assembly. Alternatively, the user may slide the tab towards the second end to release the releasable locking means. In block 240, the first end of the cap assembly is depressed so that the cap assembly is in a level, non-inclined orientation. In block 250, the releasable locking means is activated. For example, the user may release the tab so that the latch is forced into the aperture of the locking member by the biasing means to secure the tiltable lid assembly in a closed position.
It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure.
Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A tiltable lid assembly, comprising:
- a base configured to be secured to a cup that holds a liquid substance, said cup including an opening for release of the liquid substance;
- said base including a first end having an opening that is aligned with the opening in the cup to permit release of the liquid substance from the cup portion;
- a cap assembly secured to the base, said cap assembly including a first end having a first seal that is configured to be positioned over the opening of the base to seal the liquid substance within the cup and a second end opposite said first end;
- said cap assembly is configured to be tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position on the axis the first seal is positioned within the opening on the base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening and in a second position on the axis the first seal is displaced from the opening on the base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.
2. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the tiltable lid assembly includes releasable locking means that secures the cap assembly in the first and second position.
3. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the releasable locking means comprises:
- a latch connected to the cap assembly, said latch having a distal end portion;
- biasing means connected to the cap assembly that is configured to exert force on the latch; and
- a locking member secured to the base, said locking member having an aperture configured to receive the distal end portion of the latch;
- wherein in the first position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch into the aperture of the locking member to secure the first seal within the opening of the base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening; and
- wherein in the second position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch against a resting surface of the locking member to secure the first seal in a position that is displaced from the opening on the base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.
4. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 3, wherein:
- the cap assembly further comprises a planar top surface;
- in the first position, the planar top surface is in a level, non-inclined position; and
- in the second position, the planar top surface is in an inclined position.
5. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 4, wherein the top surface of the cap assembly in the second position is inclined towards the first end of the cap assembly between 5-60 degrees.
6. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 1, wherein:
- the base includes an air vent that is configured to permit gas in the cup to flow therethrough;
- the cap assembly includes a second seal that is configured to be positioned within the air vent to seal the air vent;
- wherein when the cap assembly is in the first position, the second seal is positioned within the air vent to seal the air vent and when the cap assembly is in the second position, the second seal is displaced from the air vent.
7. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the releasable locking means further includes a tab that is connected to the latch, said tab being configured to move the distal end portion of the latch away from the locking member and release the releasable locking means when slid by the user towards the second end of the cap assembly.
8. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 7, wherein the tab is positioned on a substantially planar top surface of the cap assembly.
9. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the tiltable lid assembly includes fastening means to releasably secure the cap assembly to the base.
10. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastening means comprises;
- mounting brackets having recesses that are configured to receive protrusions on a pair of arms;
- wherein the fastening means is configured to permit the cap assembly to pivot along the axis when the cap assembly is releasably secured to the base.
11. A cup, comprising:
- a cup portion configured to hold a liquid substance, said cup portion including an opening for release of the liquid substance;
- a lid base configured to be secured to the cup, said lid base including a first end having an opening that is aligned with the opening of the cup to permit release of the liquid substance from the cup portion;
- a cap assembly secured to the lid base, said cap assembly including a first end having a first seal that is configured to be positioned over the opening of the lid base to seal the liquid substance within the cup portion and a second end opposite said first end; and
- said cap assembly is configured to be tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position on the axis the first seal is positioned within the opening on the lid base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening and in a second position on the axis the first seal is displaced from the opening on the lid base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.
12. The cup of claim 11, wherein the cup includes releasable locking means that secures the cap assembly in the first and second position.
13. The cup of claim 12, wherein the releasable locking means comprises:
- a latch connected to the cap assembly, said latch having a distal end portion;
- biasing means connected to the cap assembly that is configured to exert force on the latch; and
- a locking member secured to the lid base, said locking member having an aperture configured to receive the distal end portion of the latch;
- wherein in the first position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch into the aperture of the locking member to secure the first seal within the opening of the lid base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening; and
- wherein in the second position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch against a resting surface of the locking member to secure the first seal in a position that is displaced from the opening on the lid base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.
14. The cup of claim 13, wherein:
- the cap assembly further comprises a planar top surface;
- in the first position, the planar top surface is in a level, non-inclined position; and
- in the second position, the planar top surface is in an inclined position.
15. The cup of claim 13, wherein the releasable locking means further includes a tab that is connected to the latch, said tab being configured to move the distal end portion of the latch away from the locking member and release the releasable locking means when slid by the user towards the second end of the cap assembly.
16-20. (canceled)
21. The tiltable lid assembly of claim 1, wherein:
- the cap assembly comprises a planar top surface;
- in the first position, the planar top surface is in a level, non-inclined position; and
- in the second position, the planar top surface is in an inclined position.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2017
Publication Date: Apr 11, 2019
Inventors: Steven C. Cozzolino (New York, NY), Lyndon Treacy (New York, NY)
Application Number: 15/726,663