CONTAINER WITH LOCKABLE FLIP TOP LID AND HANDLE
Described are embodiments of an apparatus that include and/or consist of a drinking vessel with a lockable flip top lid and handle. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a container and a lid, where the lid includes a spill-proof drinking spout that can be covered by a drinking spout cover. When the drinking spout cover is in its covering position, it can be locked or unlocked. The apparatus may also include a rotatable handle for more easily carrying the apparatus.
This disclosure generally relates to drinking vessels and, more specifically, to a drinking vessel with a lockable flip top lid and handle.
BACKGROUNDDrinking vessels, such as cups, insulated beverage containers, canteens, and the like are used to contain fluids for drinking. Fluids tend to spill if left in an open container, so many drinking vessels often include a lid. Some lids include openings for allowing controlled passage of the fluid to a user of the vessel. In some cases, the opening is a hole or slot for receiving a drinking straw. In some such cases the drinking straw is removable, and in other cases the drinking straw is permanently affixed to the container's lid. In either case, it is known that the handling of such straws—when inserting them, removing them, adjusting them, or otherwise—can contaminate the straw. Preventing and/or at least limiting such contamination has become more important than ever in modern society, especially in light of the recent emphasis on and the spread of harmful viruses, germs, and other contaminants.
SUMMARYThe following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later.
Described herein are embodiments of an apparatus that include and/or consist of a drinking vessel with a lockable flip top lid and handle. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a container and a lid, where the lid includes a spill-proof drinking spout that can be covered by a drinking spout cover. When the drinking spout cover is in its covering position, it can be locked or unlocked. In an embodiment, the apparatus may also include a rotatable handle for more easily carrying the apparatus. The combination and arrangement of the container, lid, drinking spout, drinking spout cover, and lock form a novel and non-obvious combination. Additional embodiments and details of the invention are described below in the drawings and detailed description. The actual scope and bounds of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
The disclosure may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the subject matter disclosed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONVarious features and advantageous details are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, and equipment are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is implied. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.
The present embodiments describe a drinking vessel with a lockable flip top lid and handle.
Construction and operation of the embodiment of
Drinking spout cover 18 can be attached generally at one end or edge of lid base 58. This embodiment shows that drinking spout cover 18 is rotatably attached between pivot point receptacles 50 (only one of which is shown in
As shown in the embodiments of
Spill-proof drinking spout 30 in this particular embodiment is a separate piece that can be installed from the underside of lid base 58 so that at least its spout portion protrudes through opening 60 in the lid base (so that a user can drink there-from when drinking spout cover 18 is in its open position). Spill-proof drinking spout 30 can be made at least partially from a flexible material that deforms slightly so that a slightly larger diameter of the spout portion can be forced through a slightly smaller diameter of opening 60 in the lid base. The spout portion also can have a region of smaller diameter substantially equal to the diameter of opening 60 so that it provides stability to spill-proof drinking spout 30 while mounted in the lid base, while the region of larger diameter (when forced through opening 60) also operates to maintain the spill-proof drinking spout 30 in the lid base by preventing it from easily falling down and out of the lid base.
The spout portion of spill-proof drinking spout 30 can be made “spill-proof” in ways known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including using a one-way valve, such as an umbrella valve. In this particular embodiment, a valve at the top of the drinking spout (as shown) can be a piece of solid silicone that is molded near the top of the drinking spout, which can optionally be done while molding the drinking spout itself. After molding, the solid piece of silicon is cut by a die to create a shape that allows it to open, thereby allowing liquid to flow from the container through the valve and out the tip of the drinking spout (to a user). In effect, the valve acts as a “gate” for liquid to pass (in one direction only) only when pressure is applied. In other words, without such pressure applied below the valve (such that pressure below the valve is greater than pressure above the valve), liquid will not be able to pass the valve to flow from the container out through the tip of the drinking spout. Such pressure can be applied in a number of ways, including a user sucking on the drinking spout or squeezing container 12. In this manner, if container with lid 10 is knocked over or otherwise disposed to inadvertently spill its contents, no liquid will exit the drinking spout due to the valve therein.
Vent 28 assists in equalizing the pressure inside container with lid 10 with the pressure outside container with lid 10 so that liquid therein can be more easily withdrawn through spill-proof drinking spout 30, such as when a user drinks there-through. As shown in
Cover release 22 and its function will next be described. As described above, drinking spout cover 18 is biased (by spring 46) to its open position when it is not closed and latched or locked on to lid base 58. It is cover release 22 that latches drinking spout 18 into its closed position on lid base 58. Specifically, in the particular embodiment shown in
This embodiment also shows biasing spring 36 attached to lid base 58 by being anchored at its opposite ends along axel 34 so as to bias cover release 22 in its first/latched position. Accordingly, if a user wants to open drinking spout cover 18 in order to drink there-from, the user will press the lower portion of cover release 22 (inwardly toward lid base 58) until cover release tooth 38 is retrieved at least out of cover release tooth slot 42 in drinking spout cover 18, thereby allowing spring 46 to bias drinking spout cover 18 to its open position. Similarly, if a user wants to close drinking spout cover 18 in order to protect vent 28 and/or spill-proof drinking spout 30 from contamination or otherwise, the user will physically move drinking spout cover 18 from its open position to its closed position (against the biasing force of spring 46). During this closing process/movement, cover release tooth slot 42 on drinking spout cover 18 ultimately will engage with and move cover release 22 into its second/unlatched position until cover release tooth slot 42 aligns with cover release tooth 38 and the biasing force of spring 36 causes cover release tooth 38 to travel/extend through cover release tooth slot 42, thereby latching/holding drinking spout cover 18 in its closed position against the biasing force of spring 46.
As shown in this embodiment, cover release 22 is positioned on lid base 58 opposite handle 16 and opposite points of rotation 26 for drinking spout cover 18, thereby enabling drinking spout cover 18 to open away from cover release 22 and toward handle 16. Likewise, cover release tooth slot 40, cover release tooth slot 42, and spring 36 are positioned below the flush surface (described above) of lid base 58 and drinking spout cover 18 so the slots and spring and their associated latching operation are protected at least from surface contamination.
As mentioned above, drinking spout cover 18 can also be locked in its closed position, as opposed to merely being latched closed. Locking drinking spout cover 18 into its closed position ensures the cover does not open when a user wants to make sure it stays closed. In this particular embodiment, drinking spout cover 18 is locked in its closed position using lock bar 20. As illustrated in
As it was with cover release 22, the manner in which lock bar 20 is attached to lid base 58 allows lock bar 20 to move/rotate between a first/unlocked position and a second/locked position. More specifically, lock bar 20 is in its second/locked position when, as shown in
The embodiment of the various FIGS. also illustrates a mechanism for maintaining lock bar 20 in either its locked or unlocked position. Specifically, as shown in
Although the invention(s) is/are described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention(s), as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention(s). Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims.
Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The terms “coupled” or “operably coupled” are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless stated otherwise. The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Similarly, a method or process that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more operations possesses those one or more operations but is not limited to possessing only those one or more operations.
Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
Claims
1. A drinking container, comprising:
- a container and a detachable lid,
- the detachable lid including a first end and a second end,
- the detachable lid including a drinking spout cover attached to the lid to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the drinking spout cover covers a drinking spout in the lid in its first position and allows drinking access to the drinking spout in its second position;
- the detachable lid including a cover release attached to the lid to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein when the cover release is in its first position it prevents the drinking spout cover from rotating from its first position to its second position, and when the cover release is in its second position it allows the drinking spout cover to rotate from its first position to its second position;
- the detachable lid including a lock bar attached to the lid to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein when the lock bar is in its first position it allows the drinking spout cover to rotate from its first position to its second position, and when the lock bar is in its second position it prevents the drinking spout cover from rotating from its first position to its second position.
2. The drinking container of claim 1 wherein the drinking spout cover rotates about a first axis of rotation.
3. The drinking container of claim 2 wherein the cover release rotates about a second axis of rotation.
4. The drinking container of claim 3 wherein the lock bar rotates about a third axis of rotation.
5. The drinking container of claim 4 wherein the second and third axis of rotation is the same axis of rotation.
6. The drinking container of claim 5 wherein a spring biases the drinking spout cover to its second position.
7. The drinking container of claim 6 wherein a spring biases the cover release to its first position.
8. The drinking container of claim 7 wherein the cover release is located inside the lock bar.
9. The drinking container of claim 8 wherein the lock bar and the drinking spout cover include a locking interface that locks the lock bar in its second position.
10. The drinking container of claim 9 wherein the lock bar and the lid include a locking interface that locks the lock bar in its first position.
11. The drinking container of claim 10 wherein the detachable lid includes a handle attached to the lid to rotate between a first position and a second position.
12. The drinking container of claim 11 wherein the handle rotates about a fourth axis of rotation.
13. The drinking container of claim 12 wherein the first and fourth axis of rotation is the same axis of rotation.
14. The drinking container of claim 13 wherein the locking interface that locks the lock bar in its second position includes a lip on the lock bar and an upper lock latch on the drinking spout cover.
15. The drinking container of claim 14 wherein the locking interface that locks the lock bar in its first position includes the lip on the lock bar and a lower lock latch on the lid.
16. The drinking container of claim 15 wherein the lid includes a vent that is covered by the drinking spout in its first position but not in its second position.
17. The drinking container of claim 16 wherein the drinking spout is spill-proof.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 27, 2023
Publication Date: Mar 27, 2025
Applicant: Base Brands, LLC
Inventors: Jamison Corey Harris (Brookhaven, GA), Patrick Spivey (Atlanta, GA), Kenneth Kreafle (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 18/475,556