FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure relates generally to drinking containers, and more specifically to a drinking container with a multifunction lid that includes a straw.
BACKGROUND
Drinking containers, 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. In other cases, the opening is a hole or slot for sipping directly through the lid. Various forms of such drinking containers are known in the art. For example, paper disposable cups commonly include a plastic lid with an “X” shaped opening cut in the surface thereof for receiving a drinking straw. Many disposable coffee cups may be covered with a lid that includes a slot or spout for sipping directly through the lid. Such lids often include a secondary hole or opening for allowing passage of air through the lid, thereby equalizing the pressure inside the drinking vessel and the environment outside of the drinking vessel.
Some drinking containers are insulated to reduce thermal transfer between the fluid contained in the drinking containers and the external environment. For example, some disposable coffee cups are formed of an insulating material, such as polymer foam. Other insulated drinking containers may include an inner vessel and an outer shell, where at least a portion of the outer shell is spaced apart from a portion of the inner vessel. In some insulated drinking containers, the space between the inner vessel and the outer shell is filled with air. In other cases the space may be filled with an insulating material, such as a fibrous material, a polymer foam material, or the like. In other cases, the space between the inner vessel and the outer shell is vacuum-sealed. Known drinking containers are commonly made from paper, polymers, foam, plastic, metal, and the like.
People often use covered drinking containers when they are on the move. For example, it may be desirable to cover a drinking container when transporting the fluid on foot or in a vehicle to prevent the fluid from spilling from the container. Additionally, it may be desirable to use a covered drinking container in the outdoors to prevent contamination of the fluids by dirt, insects, or the like. Because covered drinking containers may be used in a variety of circumstances, and with a variety of different fluids, it may be useful to have a variety of access options. Unfortunately, drinking vessels are typically only provided with a lid configured for a single mode of access, such as with a straw, or with a drinking spout, and such openings often are not capable of being covered to prevent contamination and/or leaks, especially when the container is dropped, knocked over, or shaken to an extent that the contained liquid might otherwise spill.
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 a drinking container with a handle and a multifunction lid that includes a removable, spill-proof straw. In an embodiment, the lid is configured to engage an opening of the container to retain liquid within the container. The lid may further include a first opening for dispensing liquid across a rim of the lid. Additionally, the lid may include a second opening for receiving the removable, spill-proof straw. The lid may also include a first cover for covering the first opening in a first position and for allowing access to the first opening in a second position. The lid may also include a second cover for covering the second opening in a first position and for allowing access to the second opening in a second position. Additional embodiments and details of the invention are described below in the drawings and detailed description. The actual scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the multifunction lid, where the drinking opening and the straw opening are closed.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the multifunction lid, where the drinking opening is closed and the straw opening is open.
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the multifunction lid, where the drinking opening and the straw opening are open.
FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the multifunction lid, where the drinking opening is open and the straw opening is closed.
FIG. 11 is an exploded, top perspective view of an embodiment of the multifunction lid.
FIG. 12 a bottom view of an embodiment of the multifunction lid, including cross section lines 15-15 and 16-16.
FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of the multifunction lid.
FIG. 14 is a front view of an embodiment of the multifunction lid.
FIG. 15 is a cross section view of FIG. 12 taken along cross section line 15-15 in FIG. 12.
FIG. 16 is a cross section view of FIG. 12 taken along cross section line 16-16 in FIG. 12.
FIG. 17 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of the straw portion of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is side view of an embodiment of the straw portion of the present invention, including cross section line 19-19.
FIG. 19 is a cross section view of FIG. 18 taken along cross section line 19-19 in FIG. 18.
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 container with a handle and a multifunction lid that includes a removable, sealed, spill-proof straw. For example, FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing drinking vessel 102 and multifunction lid 104. As better shown in FIG. 2, multifunction lid 104 may engage an interior surface of vessel 102 when the two are seated together. Multifunction lid 104 may be attached to drinking vessel 102 via a threaded connection, a snap-on connection, or other connections known to those skilled in the art. In another embodiment, multifunction lid 104 also may engage an exterior surface of vessel 102 when seated. Beneficially, multifunction lid 104 contains (or keeps) a fluid or other contents within vessel 102. Vessel 102 may be insulated to reduce thermal conduction between its contents and the external environment. For example, vessel 102 may be a stainless steel vacuum-insulated tumbler.
As also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, drinking vessel 102 may include a first portion 202 and a second portion 206, with a transition 204 between first portion 202 and second portion 206. In one embodiment, an average outer diameter of first portion 202 may be greater than an average outer diameter of second portion 206. More specifically, the outer diameter along second portion 206 may be within a range that is suitable for fitting in an average cup holder of an automobile. Additionally, drinking vessel 102 may include a bottom 208. As described in more detail below, multifunction lid 104 may also included drinking opening cover 106, straw opening cover 107, and lid tab 108. Optionally attached to drinking vessel 102 is handle 103, which in this embodiment is attached with a ring around the drinking vessel but can be attached by other means known to those skilled in the art.
Drinking vessel 102 may be manufactured from one or more sheets of stainless steel, or other metal material, where the ends of the sheet are welded together, or otherwise attached to form a generally cylindrical profile, and bottom piece 208 is attached to a bottom edge of the cylinder for forming a vessel suitable for holding a fluid. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom and sides of the vessel 102 may be a single piece of material, which has been stamped, pressure formed, forged, extruded, or otherwise formed into the shape of vessel 102.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. Like FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates drinking vessel 102, multifunction lid 104, first portion of drinking vessel 202, second portion of drinking vessel 206, transition 204 between the first and second portion of drinking vessel 102, bottom 208, handle 103, straw 105, drinking opening cover 106, straw opening cover 107, and lid tab 108. FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. Each of FIGS. 2-6 show common features of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 7-10 illustrate various configurations of an embodiment of multifunction lid 104. Specifically, FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of multifunction lid 104, where drinking opening cover 106 and straw opening cover 107 are closed. FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of multifunction lid 104, where drinking opening cover 106 is closed and straw opening cover 107 is open. FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of multifunction lid 104, where drinking opening cover 106 and straw opening cover 107 are open. FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of multifunction lid 104, where drinking opening cover 106 is open and straw opening cover 107 is closed. FIG. 11 is an exploded, top perspective view of an embodiment of multifunction lid 104.
As the name for drinking opening cover 106 and straw opening cover 107 implies, there is a drinking opening 816 in multifunction lid 104 (best shown in FIGS. 9-11) that allows a user to directly drink from drinking vessel 102 (when drinking vessel 102 and multifunction lid 104 are assembled/combined together) and there is a straw opening 812 in multifunction lid 104 (best shown in FIGS. 8-9 and 11) that allows a user to insert drinking straw 105 through lid 104 and to drink there-from. The pertinent FIGS. show straw opening 812 and drinking opening 816 aligned with one another along a diameter of lid 104, but other embodiments (i.e., where the openings are not aligned) are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The FIGS. likewise show straw opening 812 and drinking opening 816 seated in a depressed/lower surface of lid 104, which can beneficially retain inadvertent spilled liquids, but it should be understood that the openings need not be located in such region of the lid.
As also shown in FIGS. 7-11, drinking opening cover 106 can be attached to multifunction lid 104 by one or more pivot pins 808 (on one end of drinking opening cover 106), which are configured to engage mating pivot pin receivers 810 in multifunction lid 104 (as best shown in FIG. 11). Only one pivot pin 808 and only one mating pivot pin receiver 810 is visible in FIG. 11, but those skilled in the art will understand that a second pivot pin and a second pivot pin receiver 810 is located opposite the one that is visible. As shown, pivot pin receivers 810 may include one or more holes in a surface of multifunction lid 104. Accordingly, drinking opening cover 106 may be configured to cover (and/or seal) drinking opening 816 (best shown in FIGS. 7-8) in a first/closed position and allow access to drinking opening 816 (best shown in FIGS. 9-10) in a second/open position by rotating about an axis formed by pivot pins 808 inserted into pivot pin receivers 810. Due to pivot pin receivers 810 being located in the depressed/lower surface of lid 104, the top surface of drinking opening cover 106 is substantially flush with a remaining top surface of lid 104 when drinking opening cover 106 is in its first/closed position. A user can drink from drinking vessel 102 through drinking opening 816 when drinking opening cover 106 is in its second/open position.
Similarly, straw opening cover 107 may be pivotally coupled to at least one end of drinking opening cover 106 by pivot pins 804 that engage a mated receiver 806 in one end of drinking opening cover 106 (best shown in FIG. 11). Only one pivot pin 804 and only one mating pivot pin receiver 806 is visible in FIG. 11, but those skilled in the art will understand that a second pivot pin 804 and a second pivot pin receiver 806 is located opposite the one that is visible. As shown, pivot pin receivers 806 may include one or more holes in a surface of drinking opening cover 106. Accordingly, straw opening cover 107 may be configured to cover (and/or seal) straw opening 812 (best shown in FIGS. 7 and 10) in a first/closed position and allow access to straw opening 812 (best shown in FIGS. 8-9) in a second/open position by rotating about an axis formed by pivot pins 804 inserted into pivot pin receivers 806. In this embodiment, the axis about which straw opening cover 107 rotates is the same axis about which drinking opening cover 106 rotates, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the pivot pins/receivers could be located in different positions so as to make the axes of rotation different. Due to pivot pin receivers 810 being located in a depressed/lower surface of lid 104 and the alignment of pivot pin receivers 806 with pivot pin receivers 810, the top surface of straw opening cover 107 is substantially flush with a remaining top surface of lid 104 when straw opening cover 107 is in its first/closed position. Given this flush surface between the covers, drinking opening cover 106 also may be provided with a beveled edge at an interface with straw opening cover 107 (as shown in FIGS. 1-2, 6-8, and 11) so as to allow a user to more easily access straw opening cover 107 to move it from its first/closed position to its second/open position.
Still further, as shown throughout the FIGS., due to a cutout in drinking opening cover 106, straw opening cover 107 nests in the cutout, and the top surface of drinking opening cover 106, straw opening cover 107, and a top surface of multifunction lid 104 are substantially flush when the opening covers are in their first/closed position. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 7-10, the cutout in drinking opening cover 106 allows straw opening cover 107 to rotate substantially 180 degrees between its first/closed position and its second/open position. Still further, as described and as at least shown in FIGS. 7-10, movement of drinking opening cover 106 between its first/closed and second/open positions and movement of straw opening cover 107 between its first/closed and second/open positions are independent of one another. As described in more detail below, a straw can be inserted into straw opening 812 when straw opening cover 107 is in its second/open position.
As shown throughout the various FIGS., multifunction lid 104 may also include a raised edge suitable for engaging a lip of a user during use. For example, when drinking from vessel 102 through lid 104, the user's bottom lip may engage the raised edge, rather than the vessel surface, which may be preferable in some embodiments. This raised edge on multifunction lid 104 may also create a recess on the inside, top surface of lid 104 such that the recess can retain inadvertently spilled liquid. The raised edge may also include tab 108 as shown at least in FIGS. 1-11. In embodiments that include it, tab 108 can be used to facilitate opening and/or closing multifunction lid 104 on drinking vessel 102.
Multifunction lid 104 may include a first and/or second locking mechanism for locking drinking opening cover 106 into its first/closed and/or its second/open position, respectively. In one embodiment, drinking opening cover 106 may include a first locking mechanism 814 (best shown in FIGS. 9-10) on an underside of a flange at one end of drinking opening cover 106. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8, when drinking opening cover 106 is in its first/closed position, the flange on one end of drinking opening cover 106 engages (or wraps over) the raised edge on multifunction lid 104 such that locking mechanism 814 seats under a slightly concave, upper surface of the raised rim, thereby keeping/maintaining drinking opening cover 106 in its first/closed position unless a user applies sufficient force to dislodge drinking opening cover 106 from its “locked” position.
A second locking mechanism 815 may be located on multifunction lid 104 opposite where drinking opening cover 106 locks in its closed position. In this case, locking mechanism 815 may include a cutout in the raised surface around the perimeter of multifunction lid 104, where the cutout has a larger/longer circumference at its top edge than it does at its bottom edge, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 7-11. The width of the cutout at its top edge is slightly smaller than the width of the interfacing portion of drinking cover 106 such that with a modicum of force a user can “force” drinking cover 106 through the cutout so that drinking cover 106 seats at the bottom of the cutout, which is slightly larger than the width of the interfacing portion of drinking cover 106. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, this causes drinking cover 106 to be “locked” in its second/open position until a user applies the modicum of force to move drinking cover 106 back past the top edge of the cutout toward its first/closed position. As shown in FIGS. 7-10, this cutout in the raised surface around the perimeter of multifunction lid 104 also allows drinking opening cover 106 to rotate substantially 180 degrees between its first/closed position and its second/open position.
In an embodiment such as that shown in FIGS. 7, 10-12 and 16, multifunction lid 104 may also include vent 700. As those FIGS. show, vent 700 can be located in the depressed/lower surface of lid 104 at one edge of the lid, but it should be noted that the vent can be located in other areas of the lid. Vent 700 operates to equalize the pressure inside drinking vessel 102 with the ambient pressure outside the vessel so as to make it easier for a user to withdraw liquid contained in the vessel. The orientation of vent 700 relative to at least straw opening cover 107 is such that vent 700 is covered by straw opening cover 107 when straw opening cover 107 is in its second/open position. As also shown in FIG. 11, vent 700 may include vent diaphragm 701, which in an embodiment has a circular shape substantially the same as vent 700 and further includes a center pole designed to be inserted through a bore centered in vent 700 and retained therein by a lip on the center pole. Diaphragm 701 can be made from a flexible material that allows the center pole and its associated lip to be pushed through the bore centered in vent 700, and to likewise deform from its snug fit against the underside of vent 700 and its associated vent holes (see FIG. 11) to allow air to pass between the ambient and the inside of drinking vessel 102.
FIG. 12 a bottom view of an embodiment of multifunction lid 104, including cross section lines 15-15 and 16-16. FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of multifunction lid 104. FIG. 14 is a front view of an embodiment of the multifunction lid. FIG. 15 is a cross section view of FIG. 12 taken along cross section line 15-15 in FIG. 12. FIG. 16 is a cross section view of FIG. 12 taken along cross section line 16-16 in FIG. 12.
FIG. 17 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of straw 105. In this particular embodiment, of which there can be others, straw 105 includes first straw section 17 and second straw section 18. Irrespective of the number of sections in straw 105, the outside diameter of at least the lower portion of the first section just above straw seal 21 is sized such that it fits snuggly in straw opening 812 so as to form a removable yet sealed interface between straw 105 and straw opening 812. In this particular embodiment, at least first straw section 17 is sufficiently flexible such that drinking opening cover 106 can transition between its second/open position and its first/closed position, even when straw 105 is mounted in straw opening 812 as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, when drinking opening cover 106 is in its second/open position and is transitioned to its first/closed position, straw 105 can be sufficiently deformed/bent so as to force it through the cutout in drinking opening cover 106, thereby allowing drinking opening cover 106 to continue transitioning until it is fully transitioned to its first/closed position as shown in FIG. 1. Likewise, when drinking opening cover 106 is in its first/closed position and is transitioned to its second/open position, straw 105 can be sufficiently deformed/bent so as to extract/pull it through the cutout in drinking opening cover 106, thereby allowing drinking opening cover 106 to continue transitioning until it is fully transitioned to its second/open position as shown in FIG. 9.
In an embodiment, second straw section 18 is substantially rigid and includes at least an upper region having an outside diameter sized so that it snuggly, yet removably, interfaces with the lower portion of first straw section 17, as shown in FIGS. 17-19. The lower portion of second straw section 18 may also include straw stop 20, which is an area of increased outside diameter sized greater than the inside diameter of straw opening 18. This size differential between straw stop 20 and the inside diameter of straw opening 18 ensures that at least the second straw section 18 is not removable through the top surface of multifunction lid 104.
In an embodiment, the spout portion of straw 105 can be made “spill-proof”, including by using a one-way valve, such as an umbrella valve, as shown in FIG. 19. In this particular embodiment, valve 19 at the top of straw 105 can be a molded piece of silicone, which can optionally be done while molding straw 105 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 drinking vessel 102 through the valve and out the tip of straw 105 (to a user). In effect, the valve acts as a “gate” for liquid to pass 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 (easily) pass the valve to flow from the container out through straw 105. Such pressure can be applied in a number of ways, including a user sucking on straw 105 or squeezing container 12. In this manner, if the combination of drinking vessel 102 and multifunction lid 104 is knocked over or otherwise disposed to inadvertently spill its contents, no liquid will exit straw 105 due to valve 19 therein.
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
20250136335
