FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure generally relates to containers used as drinking vessels and, more specifically, to a drinking vessel with a combination lid and handle.
BACKGROUND
Drinking 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 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. While a drinking straw enables a user to withdraw liquid from the container, it leaves the container/lid combination susceptible to spills. Liquid can leak out from around the straw-lid interface as well as through the straw itself if the container/lid combination is knocked over or shaken to an extent that liquid is able escape to the dismay of the user. Preventing (or at least reducing) such spills from a container having a lid with a straw opening is an object of the present invention.
Likewise, people are ever more mobile these days. As such, people tend to carry their drinking containers with them. Carrying such containers can be difficult or cumbersome if the person is occupied or carrying other things. Accordingly, containers that are easy to carry can be important and, as such, is another object of the present invention.
SUMMARY
The 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 spill-proof lid for a drinking container. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a lid, where the lid is configured to include a straw having a leak-proof engagement with the lid and may also include a one-way valve disposed in a portion of the straw that only allows liquid to exit the container (through the straw) when the pressure inside the container is sufficiently greater than the pressure outside the container. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include a handle attached to the spill-proof lid that moves between an open and a closed position and that makes carrying the apparatus easier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a drinking vessel with a spill-proof lid including a handle in the closed position.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a back view of FIG. 1, including cross-section line 14-14.
FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a left side view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a drinking vessel with a spill-proof lid including a handle in the open position.
FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a back view of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a right side view of FIG. 8.
FIG. 12 is a left side view of FIG. 8.
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a drinking vessel with a spill-proof lid including a handle in the closed position.
FIG. 14 is a cross-section of FIG. 3 along cross-section line 14-14 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a spill-proof lid including a handle in the closed position.
FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a spill-proof lid including a handle in the open position.
FIG. 17 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a spill-proof lid including a handle.
FIG. 18 is a top view of FIG. 15.
FIG. 19 is a bottom view of FIG. 15.
FIG. 20 is a front view of FIG. 15, including cross-section line 21-21.
FIG. 21 is a cross-section of FIG. 20 along cross-section line 21-21 in FIG. 20.
FIG. 22 is a front view of FIG. 17, including cross-section line 23-23.
FIG. 23 is a cross-section of FIG. 22 along cross-section line 23-23 in FIG. 22.
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 DESCRIPTION
Various 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 by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meeting, 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 spill-proof lid and handle. FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a drinking vessel with a spill-proof lid including a handle in the closed position. The vessel combination 10 includes container 11 and lid 12. Lid 12 preferably is attached to container 11 via a threaded connection (see FIG. 13), but it also can be attached in other ways known to those skilled in the art, such as snap-on or other substantially leak-proof manners. Container 11 can be made from any suitable material, including vacuum-sealed layers to preserve the temperature of the container's contents.
Lid 12 also may include straw 14 protruding there-through, which can be used by a user to withdraw liquid housed by container 11. Lid 12 may further include straw hole 13 (better shown in FIG. 13) surrounded by straw hole seal 18, which in combination with the particular design of straw 14 (as described in more detail below) collectively assists in sealing the straw-lid interface from allowing liquid contained in container 11 from spilling or otherwise exiting the container via the straw-lid interface.
As also shown in FIG. 1, lid 12 may also include handle 15, which is shown in its closed position. As described below in more detail, handle 15 may be attached to lid 12 via a hinged connection so that it may move (in this particular embodiment) substantially 180 degrees between an open and a closed position. Although handle 15 is shown attached to lid 12 in this embodiment, it should be appreciated that it also could be attached to container 11 and, likewise, that it could be attached by means known to those skilled in the art other than via a hinge. Handle 15 may also include handle tab 24, which can be a surface extending slightly from the handle to provide a user with a better means of gripping handle 15 to move it between its open and closed positions.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a back view of FIG. 1, including cross-section line 14-14. FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a left side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 1. FIGS. 2-7 show many of the same features of the embodiment of the invention as shown by FIG. 1, including container 11, lid 12, straw 14, handle 15, straw hole seal 18, and handle tab 24. Also shown, for example in FIGS. 3-5, is axel receptacles 25. As described in more detail below, axel receptacles 25 form a bore through at least a portion of handle 15 and lid 12 for receiving axel 21 (shown in FIG. 17), which operates to at least assist in attaching handle 15 to lid 12 and providing an axis of rotation about which handle 15 rotates between its open and closed position.
Also shown in FIG. 6 is one embodiment of how straw 14 may be made leak-proof. In an embodiment, valve 27 may be a one-way valve installed in straw 14. In this particular embodiment, valve 27 is a piece of solid silicone that is molded near the top of straw 14, which can optionally be done while molding the straw 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 straw (to a user). In effect, valve 27 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 readily pass valve 27 to flow from the container out through the tip of the straw. Such pressure can be applied in a number of ways, including a user sucking on the drinking end of straw 14 or squeezing container 11. In this manner, if vessel/lid combination 10 (see e.g., FIG. 1) is knocked over or otherwise disposed to inadvertently spill its contents, no liquid will exit the straw due to valve 27. Likewise, as described above, due to the sealed relationship between the straw and the lid, liquid will not exit the straw-lid interface, effectively making vessel/lid combination 10 spill-proof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms could be used to make straw 14 spill-proof, other than the molded-and-then-cut valve disclosed herein.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of combination 10, where handle 15 is in its open position. When handle 15 is in its open position, a user may more easily carry combination 10 by its handle. As shown in FIG. 8, lid 12 may include sunken surface 28 around its outside circumference, where sunken surface 28 is sized to receive handle 15 in its closed position so that the top surface of handle 15 is substantially flush with the top surface of lid 12 and the outside circumference of handle 15 is substantially flush with the side surfaces of container 11 as shown in FIGS. 1-7. As shown in this particular embodiment, handle tab 24 is the only portion of handle 15 that extends beyond the outside diameter/circumference of combination 10, thereby providing an easily accessible means for a user to use handle tab 24 to lift/move handle 15 from its closed to its open position.
FIG. 8 also illustrates an embodiment including lid tab 22, which as shown can be a slight protrusion from lid 12 that is positioned and sized to interface with handle receptacle 23 (shown in FIGS. 9 and 22) to “lock” handle 15 in its closed position. More specifically, in this embodiment, when a user moves handle 15 into its fully closed position (see e.g. FIG. 1), lid tab 22 will seat into handle receptacle 23 such that the two can only become unseated by a user exerting a modicum of force to move handle 15 from its closed position to its open position. This prevents handle 15 from freely moving from its closed position to its open position.
FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a back view of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a right side view of FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is a left side view of FIG. 8. FIGS. 9-12 show many of the same features of the embodiment of the invention as shown by FIGS. 1-8, including container 11, lid 12, straw 14, handle 15, lid tab 22, handle tab 24, axel receptacles 25, and sunken surface 28.
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of one embodiment of combination 10. FIG. 13 better illustrates the manner in which lid 12 connects to container 11 via a threaded connection. As indicated above, other connection methods are known and within the scope of the present invention. As also shown, straw 14 and lid 12 are detachable such that straw 14 can be removed from lid 12. To remove straw 14 from lid 12, a user can simply remove the straw/lid combination from container 11 and then pull straw 14 from its bottom end until it slides out of its seated, spill-proof position in straw hole 13 of lid 12. To install straw 14 in lid 12, a user can simply push straw 14 through the underside opening of straw hole 13 until lip 30 on straw 14 is seated on top of straw hole seal 18, as shown in FIG. 1. As described in more detail below, the features of straw 14 and their corresponding interface with lid 12 form a substantially leak-proof barrier such that the contents of container 11 do not leak from the straw/lid interface.
FIG. 13 also illustrates straw 14 as a portion of the straw that extends below lid 12 and into container 11. It should be understood that straw 14 and straw 16 can be the same component (i.e., one continuous straw) or separate components that combine to function as one continuous straw. Nor is the disclosed invention limited to a single or a double component straw. In other words, the straw that operates to allow a user to withdraw liquid from container 11 can be a single or a multiple piece straw. In this particular embodiment (of which there are others within the scope of the present invention), the straw consists of two components, straw 14 and straw 16. The two components are coupled together on the underside of lid 12. In this particular embodiment, the coupling between the two straw pieces is accomplished by the lower portion of straw 14 having an insert region that receives one end of straw 16. The insert region has an inside diameter sized so that the outside diameter of straw 16 fits snuggly therein, i.e., so that the two components can be pushed together and pulled apart but not so easily that they separate without user interaction to separate them. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are other methods of connecting straw portions 14 and 16. Likewise, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the invention may include a single-piece straw as well as straws consisting of more than two pieces.
FIG. 13 further illustrates this particular embodiment of straw 14. In particular, this embodiment of straw 14 includes retainer/seal 29 positioned on a lower portion of straw 14. This embodiment of retainer/seal 29 consists of a circular structure that has an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the lower portion of straw 14 and an outside diameter sufficiently large to form a seal and/or support for straw 14 when it is inserted into the lid through straw hole 13. Straw 14 and retainer/seal 29 can be two separate pieces or they can be formed as a single, unitary piece. Also illustrated is an optional feature of straw 14, namely span 32. In this particular embodiment, span 32 is the concave portion of seal/retainer 29 that extends from the bottom of buttress 31 to the outside diameter of retainer 29. Span 32 is also illustrated in FIG. 14. While this embodiment of span 32 is illustrated as being a solid, concave member, other shapes and geometries are possible. Still another additional feature of this embodiment of straw 14 is lip 30. Lip 30 is as its name implies. It is a lip that encircles the lower portion of straw 14 so that it has a slightly greater outside diameter than straw 14. Lip 30 is oriented on the lower portion of straw 14 so that seal 18 snuggly sits between lip 30 and a bottom surface of lid 12, as shown in FIG. 14.
Also shown in FIG. 13 is buttress 31, which may be included in embodiments of straw 14, either as a pre-molded portion of straw 14 or a separate piece mounted on straw 14. Buttress 31 is spaced apart from lip 30 so that, when straw 14 is mounted in lid 12, buttress 31 abuts the underside of straw hole seal 18, as shown in FIG. 14. The tolerances/sizing/spacing between lip 30, seal 18, and buttress 31 are preferably selected so they create a substantially leak proof interface between the straw and the lid.
As will be more apparent from FIG. 14, the top surface of buttress 31 and the top, outer surface of retainer 29 are level (or in the same plane) such both the top surface of buttress 31 abuts the underside of straw hole seal 18 while the outer circumference/diameter of retainer 29 abuts the underside of lid 12 (see also FIG. 21), which in combination with lip 30 and seal 18 operate to hold straw 14 in lid 12 and create a substantially leak proof interface between straw 14 and lid 12.
FIG. 14 is a cross-section of FIG. 3 along cross-section line 14-14 in FIG. 3. As shown, FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the combination of straw 14 and straw 16, wherein the combination is made by straw 16 being inserted into an insert region on a lower portion of straw 14. FIG. 14 also better illustrates the orientation and operation of seal/retainer 29. Specifically, in this embodiment seal/retainer 29 extends from a lower portion of straw 14 so that a surface thereof seats against the underside of lid 12. Finally, FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment wherein seal 18 encircles straw 14 and has a cylindrical lower portion that extends down straw 14 so as to reside between the inside diameter of straw-hole 13 and the outside diameter of straw 14. The inside diameter of seal 18 (including its cylindrical lower portion) is measured so that it fits snuggly around the outside diameter of straw 14. Likewise, the outside diameter of at least the cylindrical lower portion of seal 18 is measured so that it fits snugly between the inside diameter of straw hole 13 and the outside diameter of straw 14. The object of the measurements of these portions of these components of the design is to create a substantially leak proof interface between the straw and the lid.
FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of lid 12 showing handle 15 in its closed position. FIG. 15 also shows other features of the embodiment previously shown, including straw hole 13, handle 15, straw hole seal 18, and handle tab 24.
FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of lid 12 showing handle 15 in its open position. FIG. 16 also shows other features of the embodiment previously shown, including straw hole 13, handle 15, straw hole seal 18, lid tab 22, and handle tab 24.
FIG. 17 is an exploded view of an embodiment of lid 12. As an initial matter, FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of lid 12 that includes a plurality of seal retainer grooves 26. These grooves receive corresponding/matching extensions (or tabs) on the underside of seal 18 so as to better hold seal 18 in place on lid 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are other known mechanisms for holding seal 18 in place. The seal retainer grooves 26 better maintain seal 18 in place so as to better seal the lid/straw interface against spills. Seal retainer grooves 26 are also illustrated as being placed in a recessed area of lid 12. In this embodiment, the recessed area is recessed in lid 12 at a depth that is substantially the same as a height of seal 18, so (in this particular embodiment) that the top of seal 18 is substantially flush with a surface of lid 12. FIG. 17 also illustrates gasket seal 17, which fits around an outside diameter of lid 12 so as to create substantially airtight connection with container 11 when the two are connected for use. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that gasket seal 17 can be made of an elastomeric material or other known materials for providing a substantially airtight and/or leak-proof seal.
FIG. 17 also illustrates an embodiment of handle 15 and how it is mounted to lid 12. In this particular embodiment, handle 15 may include one or more handle prongs 19 attached to (or formed as part of) opposite ends of handle 15. Handle prongs 19 are shaped so they can be inserted into corresponding lid prong receptacles 20, where their round shape allows them (and therefore handle 15) to rotate about the axis formed between handle prongs 19. Rotating handle 15 about this axis allows handle 15 to move between its open and closed position, as described above. As also shown, handle prongs 19 also may have an internal bore that acts as axis receptacle 25 through which axel 21 may pass.
As shown in FIG. 17, handle 15 can be rotatably mounted on lid 12 by slightly spreading handle 15 (made possible by its slightly pliable material), positioning handle prongs 19 in line with lid prong receptacles 20, and then releasing handle 15 so that as it returns to its original shape handle prongs 19 enter and nest in lid prong receptacles 20. Axel 21 can then be inserted through an axel receptacle 25 on one side of handle 15, through lid prong receptacle 20 on one side of handle 15, through a bore in lid 12 between lid prong receptacles 20, and finally through the opposite axel receptacle 25 on the opposite side of handle 15. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are other ways and mechanisms for rotatably attaching handle 15 to lid 12.
FIG. 18 is a top view of FIG. 15. FIG. 19 is a bottom view of FIG. 15. FIG. 20 is a front view of FIG. 15, including cross-section line 21-21. FIG. 21 is a cross-section of FIG. 20 along cross-section line 21-21 in FIG. 20. FIGS. 18-21 show some of the same features of lid 12 already illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 1-17, including straw hole 13, handle 15, straw hole seal 18, axel 21, handle tab 24, seal retainer grooves 26, and straw seal/retainer 29.
FIG. 22 is a front view of FIG. 17, including cross-section line 23-23. Here, lid 12 is shown in its open position. This view provides a better view of the positioning, size, and operation of lid tab 22 and handle receptacle 23. As explained above, lid tab 22 may be sized and positioned on one edge of sunken surface 28 to interface with handle receptacle 23 (when handle 15 is moved into its closed position) to “lock” handle 15 in its closed position. More specifically, when a user moves handle 15 into its fully closed position (see e.g. FIG. 1), lid tab 22 will seat into handle receptacle 23 such that the two can only become unseated by a user exerting a modicum of force to move handle 15 from its closed position to its open position. This prevents handle 15 from freely moving from its closed position to its open position.
FIG. 23 is a cross-section of FIG. 22 along cross-section line 23-23 in FIG. 22. FIG. 23 shows some of the same features of lid 12 already illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 1-22, including straw hole 13, handle 15, straw hole seal 18, axel 21, lid tab 22, and handle tab 24. FIG. 23 also shows recess 33 in the underside of lid 12. In this embodiment, recess 33 is sized to have a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of straw/seal retainer 29 so that straw/seal retainer 29 nests inside recess 33 as shown in FIG. 14.
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.
Patent Application
20250145349
