FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure generally relates to drinking vessels and, more specifically, to a drinking vessel with a lockable flip top 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 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.
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 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.
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 an embodiment of the drinking vessel with a lockable flip top lid and handle.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, top perspective view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof.
FIG. 4 is top view thereof.
FIG. 5 is a front view thereof.
FIG. 6 is a left side view thereof.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the lockable flip top lid having the lid portion closed and unlocked and the handle lowered.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the lockable flip top lid having the lid portion closed and locked and the handle lowered.
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the lockable flip top lid having the lid portion open and the handle lowered.
FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the lockable flip top lid having the lid portion closed and unlocked and the handle raised.
FIG. 11 is an assembly view of an embodiment of the lockable flip top lid and handle.
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. 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. FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment 10 of the present invention. As shown, embodiment 10 is the combination of container 12 and lid 14. As will be described in other embodiments, lid 14 can be attached via a threaded engagement between container 12 and lid 14, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that other engagements are possible, such as a snap-together container and lid, a press-on container and lid, a hinged container and lid, or otherwise. FIG. 1 also illustrates exemplary features of lid 14, including handle 16, drinking spout cover 18, lock bar 20, cover release 22, and upper lock latch 24. These features, as well as others, will be described in more detail below.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, top perspective view of an embodiment of drinking vessel with lockable flip top lid and handle 10. FIG. 2 better illustrates the embodiment described above in which lid 14 is connected via a threaded relationship with container 12. FIG. 2 likewise illustrates another embodiment including handle 16, drinking spout cover 18, lock bar 20, cover release 22, and upper lock latch 24. As shown in this embodiment, to fill container 12 with a liquid, lid 14 is removed from container 12 thereby exposing an open end of container 12, which can then receive the liquid. Container 12 and/or at least portions of lid 14 can be made from any suitable material, including vacuum-sealed layers to preserve the temperature of the vessel's contents.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of drinking vessel with lockable flip top lid and handle 10, whereas FIG. 4 is top view thereof. Once again, one or more of these Figures illustrate embodiments of lid 14, handle 16, drinking spout cover 18, lock bar 20, cover release 22, and upper lock latch 24. Shown for the first time in FIG. 4 is point of rotation 26 for handle 16 and drinking spout cover 18, which will be described in more detail below.
FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of drinking vessel with lockable flip top lid and handle 10, whereas FIG. 6 is a left side view thereof. Once again, these Figures illustrate embodiments of container 12, lid 14, handle 16, drinking spout cover 18, lock bar 20, cover release 22, and upper lock latch 24.
FIGS. 7-10 are top perspective views of an embodiment of lockable flip top lid 14, wherein handle 16, drinking spout cover 18, and lock bar 20 are in various positions described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 11. Specifically, FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of lockable flip top lid 14 where drinking spout cover 18 is closed, lock bar 20 is unlocked, and handle 16 is lowered. FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of lockable flip top lid 14 where drinking spout cover 18 is closed, lock bar 20 is locked, and handle 16 is lowered. FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of lockable flip top lid 14 where drinking spout cover 18 is open, lock bar 20 is unlocked, and handle 16 is lowered. FIG. 9 also shows for the first time vent 28 and spill-proof drinking spout 30, which will be described in more detail below. FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of lockable flip top lid 14 where drinking spout cover 18 is closed, lock bar 20 is unlocked, and handle 16 is raised.
FIG. 11 is an assembly view of an embodiment of lockable flip top lid 14. FIG. 11 shows some of the same components of lid 14 as shown in various of FIGS. 1-10, namely handle 16, drinking spout cover 18, lock bar 20, cover release 22, upper lock latch 24, point of rotation 26, vent 28, and spill-proof drinking spout 30. FIG. 11 also shows for this particular embodiment seal 32, axel 34, spring 36, cover release tooth 38, cover release tooth slot 40 in the lid, cover release tooth slot 42 in the drinking spout cover, pivot point 44, spring 46, lower lock latch 48, pivot point receptacle 50, axel receptacles 52, 54, and 56, lid base 58, opening 60 in the lid base, vent seal 62, and lip 64 on lock bar 20.
Construction and operation of the embodiment of FIG. 11 will now be described. Lid 14 begins with lid base 58 shown in the center of FIG. 11 as the “base” for which the other components of this embodiment of the invention are assembled/attached. Specifically, in this particular embodiment, lid base 58 includes a pair of points of rotation 26 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 11, but those skilled in the art will recognize that a second one is similarly positioned opposite the one shown) for respectively receiving two corresponding points of rotation 26 on handle 16. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, this arrangement of points of rotation enable handle 16 to move/rotate between a first/lowered position and a second/raised position, thereby allowing the container with lid assembly 10 to be more easily carried or attached to something else. Note that FIG. 10 shows handle 16 in its second/raised position, whereas FIGS. 1-4 and 6-9 show handle 16 in its first/lowered position.
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 FIG. 11, but those skilled in the art will recognize that a second one is similarly positioned opposite the one shown) on handle 16 so that spout cover 18 moves/rotates between a first/closed position and a second/open position, where spout cover 18 covers vent 28 and spill-proof drinking spout 30 in its closed position, and allows access (i.e., for drinking) to spill-proof drinking spout 30 and vent 28 (for venting purposes) in its open position. In this embodiment, drinking spout cover 18 is made rotatable on lid base 58 by one end of drinking spout cover 18 having a pair of pivot points or pins 44 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 11, but those skilled in the art will recognize that a second one is similarly positioned opposite the one shown) that are respectively inserted in pivot point receptacles 50 on handle 16. The orientation and placement of pivot points or pins 44 in pivot point receptacles 50 allows drinking spout cover 18 to rotate about an axis formed between pivot point receptacles 50 between its first/closed position and its second/open position. This embodiment also shows biasing spring 46 anchored at its opposite ends by pivot points 44 and disposed along the axis formed between pivot point receptacles 50 so as to bias drinking spout cover 18 in its open position when it is not closed and latched or locked into lid base 58 as will be further described below.
As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-2 and 4-11, drinking spout cover 18 may include a raised section so as to house or provide room there-under for spill-proof drinking spout 30. Likewise, this embodiment shows lid base 58 including a depressed or lower channel extending there-through shaped to snuggly receive drinking spout cover 18 so that when drinking spout cover 18 is in its first/closed position, a top surface of drinking spout cover 18 and a top of lid base 58 are substantially flush. This substantially flush relationship is also achieved by including (as shown) points of rotation 26 in the channel below the flush surface of lid base 58. Other embodiments are, of course, possible and within the scope of the present invention. Placing spill-proof drinking spout 30 under drinking spout cover 18 protects the drinking spout from contamination when drinking spout cover 18 is in its first/closed position.
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.
FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the valve in the drinking spout as having a cross cut through its surface. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials, geometries, and cut patterns are possible, so long as the effect is to substantially create a one-way valve that only allows the flow of fluid from the container to the exit of the drinking spout when the pressure within the container is sufficiently greater than the pressure outside the container (i.e., a sufficient pressure differential across the valve).
FIG. 11 also illustrates seal 32. Seal 32 in this embodiment is circular and has an inside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the opening in the upper end of container 12 so that seal 32 assists in sealing the boundary between lid 14 and container 12 so as to ensure a substantially leak-proof interface between the two. Seal 32 can be installed on the underside of lid base 58, including in a groove on the underside of the lid base sized substantially the same as the outside diameter of seal 32 so the seal remains substantially in place even when lid 14 is removed from container 12.
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 FIG. 11, in an embodiment, the base portion of vent 28 can be circular and positioned in the depressed or lower channel extending through lid base 58, were the vent includes one or more passages through the lid base such that air can travel between the outside/topside of lid 14 and the interior of container 12 when lid 14 is attached to container 12. In order to inhibit liquid from traversing through vent 28, a vent seal 62 can be installed to cover the passages through lid base 58 such that air can traverse the interface but liquids cannot. As shown, this particular embodiment utilizes a circular vent seal 62 that has an outside diameter at least as large at the outside diameter formed by a ring of passages through lid base 58, and further includes a center pole member with a varying diameter that serves to maintain vent seal 62 in position when it is forced through a center passage in vent 28, where (when installed) the center pole is centered within the ring of passages through lid base 58. Thus, vent seal 62 is removable, which can be useful when washing container with lid 10 and its various components. As also shown by this embodiment of FIG. 11, vent 28 can be positioned in line with opening 60 so that vent 28 also is covered when drinking spout cover 18 is in its closed position.
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 FIG. 11, cover release 22 is pivotally mounted to lid base 58 via axel 34 so that it pivots between a first/latched position and a second/unlatched position. This pivoting attachment is made possible in this embodiment by feeding axel 34 through a first axel receptacle 52 in lid base 58, then through a first axel receptacle 54 on cover release 22 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 11, but those skilled in the art will recognize that a second one is similarly positioned opposite the one shown), then through the second axel receptacle 54 on cover release 22, and then through the second axel receptacle 52 on lid base 58. In its first/latched position, cover release tooth 38 (on cover release 22) extends through cover release tooth slot 40 in lid base 58 and also through cover release tooth slot 42 in drinking spout cover 18, thereby latching/holding drinking spout cover 18 in its closed position against the biasing force of spring 46, which as described above seeks to force drinking spout cover 18 into its open position when it is not latched or locked (as described in more detail below) to lid base 58. Cover release 22 is further pivotally mounted such that when it is pivoted to its second/unlatched position, 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.
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 FIG. 11, lock bar 20 may include axel receptacles 56 so that it may be attached to lid base 58 by threading axel 34 through the first axel receptacle 52 on lid base 58, then through a first axel receptacle 56 on one end of lock bar 20, then through a second axel receptacle 56 on the opposite end of lock bar 20, and then through the second axel receptacle 52 on the opposite end of lid base 58. As also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 11, lock bar 20 can be u-shaped so that cover release 22 is sandwiched there-between, i.e., axel 34 supports both lock bar 20 and cover release 22 on lid base 58.
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 FIG. 8, it is rotated about the axis formed along axel 34 to be in an upright position spanning a top surface of drinking spout cover 18. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, and as shown in FIG. 8, the manner in which lock bar 20 is attached to lid base 58 and spans the top surface of drinking spout cover 18 prevents drinking spout cover 18 from moving into its open position (via the biasing force exerted by spring 46), even when cover release 22 is depressed as described above to unlatch drinking spout cover 18. On the other hand, lock bar 20 is in its first/unlocked position when, as shown in FIGS. 1-7 and 9-10, it is rotated about the axis formed along axel 34 to be in a hanging/lowered position such that its u-shape encircles cover release 22. In this position, it does not prevent drinking spout cover 18 from moving from its closed to open position when cover release 22 is depressed as described above to unlatch drinking spout cover 18.
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 FIG. 11, lock bar 20 may include lip 64 that, when lock bar 20 is rotated toward its unlocked position, has a height just slightly higher than the lowest extent of lower lock latch 48 such that lock bar 20 will not rotate toward lid base 58 past the interface between lip 64 and lower lock latch 48 unless a user forces its past, in which case lock bar 20 is considered “locked” in its unlocked position since it cannot/will not rotate back toward its locking position relative to drinking spout cover 18 unless a user forces it (in the opposite direction this time) past the interface between lip 64 and lower lock latch 48. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the materials used to make at least lip 64 and lower lock latch 48 will deform sufficient to allow lip 64 to pass lower lock latch 48 when a user exerts sufficient force to cause them to pass one another. Similarly, lock bar 20 may once again include lip 64 that, when lock bar 20 is rotated toward its locked position, has a height just slightly lower than the highest extent of upper lock latch 24 such that lock bar 20 will not rotate any more toward lid base 58 past the interface between lip 64 and upper lock latch 24 unless a user forces its past, in which case lock bar 20 is considered “locked” in its locked position since it cannot/will not rotate back toward its unlocking position relative to drinking spout cover 18 unless a user forces it (in the opposite direction this time) past the interface between lip 64 and upper lock latch 24. Once again, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the materials used to make at least lip 64 and upper lock latch 24 will deform sufficient to allow lip 64 to pass upper lock latch 24 when a user exerts sufficient force to cause them to pass one another.
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
20250100758
