Various personal, liquid-dispensing containers and related covers or lids have been fabricated and sold over many decades. In the present day, such devices are often referred to generically as “water bottles,” though they frequently contain liquids other than water, or simply “bottles.” For many years, these personal, liquid-dispensing containers and their associated covers or lids, or water bottles, have been designed to meet the particular needs of users during their various events and activities. Water bottles have been designed to increase ease of use and comfort during drinking. For example, one water bottle described in CN Pat. App. No. 202023275216.9 shows in
At times, designs to increase the ease of use nevertheless decrease the ease of cleaning. With more complex structures to meet user needs often comes more difficult cleaning, especially when storing liquids other than water. Accordingly, designs that increase the ease of cleaning would be beneficial.
Some embodiments are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
One implementation for a dispensing lid that increases the ease of use as well as increases the ease of cleaning includes a removable slider with a detent enabling selection of a closed position, an open position, or removal from the lid. The removable slider disengages from the lid for easy cleaning of surfaces of the lid that interface with surfaces of the slider. Otherwise, residues may accumulate at the interface between the lid and the slider. Although known dispensing lids may include a slider, often the slider is pressed into place during manufacturing and is not considered removable by the user. Generally, attempted removal of such a slider results in damage to the slider, the lid, or both.
Even if a known slider might be removed without damage to the slider, the lid, or both, the opened and closed positions of known sliders are difficult to discern. Also, a known slider could accidentally slip into an open position when intended to remain a closed positon due to a weak engagement with the lid when in the closed position. The accidental opening may result in spillage. Similarly, a slider may accidentally slip past an open position and detach from the lid due to a weak engagement with the lid upon reaching the open position. The accidental detachment may result in soiling, damage, or loss of the slider.
Some examples described herein provide a detent on the slider. The detent may include a wall extending from the slider and a lever attached to the slider at a pivot and in an orientation opposing the wall with a gap between the lever and the wall when the lever is in a released position. A pawl extends from the lever and a catch extends from the pawl. The catch engages a first stop in the lid when the slider is in the closed position with the lever released, engages a second stop in the lid when the slider is in the open position with the lever released, and does not engage the lid when the slider is removed.
Therefore, some implementations described herein include a detent that provides a robust engagement with the lid. The detent may retain the slider in the closed position unless positively disengaged and may retain the slider in the open position unless positively disengaged. Accordingly, spilling of contents and soiling, damage, or loss of the slider may be reduced while still permitting slider removal, such as for cleaning.
A variety of structures is conceivable that enable sliding engagement of slider 2 with lid 1. As an example,
Tracks 22 are in a recess 26 forming a portion of lid 1 with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of lid 1. In some implementations, tracks extend upward, as shown for tracks 22 in
Slider 2 has a detent 6 that includes a wall 10 extending from slider 2 and a lever 8 attached to slider 2 at a pivot 14. Lever 8 is in an orientation opposing wall 10 with a gap 34 between lever 8 and wall 10 when lever 8 is in a released position, as shown in
A gasket 28, shown in the exploded view of
In
Recess 26 in lid 1 accommodates a user's nose to decrease the degree to which a user tilts their head back to dispense liquid into their mouth. In
From the closed position in
As one example of a biased lever,
In some implementations, as shown in the example of
As described herein, lid 1 of the example implementation increases the ease of use as well as increases the ease of cleaning with a removable slider having a detent enabling selection of a closed position, an open position, or removal from the lid. Therefore, spilling of contents and soiling, damage, or loss of the slider may be reduced while still permitting slider removal, such as for cleaning.
A variety of structures is conceivable that enable sliding engagement of slider 52 with lid 51. As an example,
Tracks 72 are in a recess 76 forming a portion of lid 51 with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of lid 51. In some implementations, tracks extend upward, as shown for tracks 72 in
Slider 52 has a detent 56 that includes a wall 60 extending from slider 52 and a lever 58 attached to slider 52 at a pivot 64. Lever 58 is in an orientation opposing wall 60 with a gap 84 between lever 58 and wall 60 when lever 58 is in a released position, as shown in
A gasket 78, shown in the exploded view of
In
Recess 76 in lid 51 accommodates a user's nose to decrease the degree to which a user tilts their head back to dispense liquid into their mouth. In
From the closed position in
As one example of a biased lever,
In some implementations, as shown in the example of
As described herein, lid 51 of the example implementation increases the ease of use as well as increases the ease of cleaning with a removable slider having a detent enabling selection of a closed position, an open position, or removal from the lid. Therefore, spilling of contents and soiling, damage, or loss of the slider may be reduced while still permitting slider removal, such as for cleaning.
In a further implementation, some features of the implementation of
Like
As described herein, lid 1a of the example implementation increases the ease of use as well as increases the ease of cleaning with a removable slider having a detent enabling selection of a closed position, an open position, or removal from the lid. Therefore, spilling of contents and soiling, damage, or loss of the slider may be reduced while still permitting slider removal, such as for cleaning.
Devices and Methods
The discoveries described herein identify a number of solutions that may be implemented in devices and methods also described herein. Multiple solutions may be combined for implementation, enabling still further devices and methods. The inventors expressly contemplate that the various options described herein for individual devices and methods are not intended to be so limited except where incompatible with other devices and methods. The features and benefits of individual devices herein may also be used in combination with methods and other devices described herein even though not specifically indicated elsewhere. Similarly, the features and benefits of individual methods herein may also be used in combination with devices and other methods described herein even though not specifically indicated elsewhere.
Device A is a dispensing lid for use with a liquid container. The lid includes a port through the lid, a slider in sliding engagement with the lid, and a detent on the slider. The slider is selectively movable between a closed position that closes the port, an open position that opens the port, and removal from the lid. The detent includes a wall extending from the slider, a lever attached to the slider at a pivot, a pawl extending from the lever, and a catch extending from the pawl. The lever is in an orientation opposing the wall with a gap between the lever and the wall when the lever is in a released position. The catch engages a first stop in the lid when the slider is in the closed position with the lever released, engages a second stop in the lid when the slider is in the open position with the lever released, and does not engage the lid when the slider is removed.
Additional features may be implemented in Device A. By way of example, the port may be through a top wall of the lid and the lid may further include a circumscribing side wall extending from the top wall, the lid being selectively detachable from the liquid container and engagable via the side wall with the liquid container in sealing association. The lid may include a recessed portion with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of the lid, the port being positioned in the recess along with the slider, when in the closed position.
The sliding engagement may include a pair of tracks in the lid and the slider may further include a corresponding pair of tabs on opposing sides of the slider that engage with the pair of tracks. The pair of tracks and the pair of tabs may be curved. Additionally, the pair of tracks may be in a recessed portion of the lid with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of the lid, the pair of tracks extending upward. In one implementation, the pair of tracks extend upward from the recessed portion to a rim of the lid from which the pair of tabs may slide out of engagement through a pair of open ends of the pair of tracks. In another implementation, the pair of tracks extend to a landing within the recessed portion of the lid from which the pair of tabs may slide out of engagement through a pair of open ends of the pair of tracks.
The catch may consist of one catch, the first stop may consist of one first stop, and the second stop may consist of one second stop. The pivot may bias the lever into the released position. In one implementation, the pivot may include a living hinge biasing the lever into the released position. In another implementation, the pivot includes an extension from the wall, a hole through the extension, a pin through the lever and the hole, and a spring biasing the lever into the released position. The pin may fix the lever rotationally to the extension.
The described additional features of Device A may also be implemented in other devices and methods herein.
Device B is a dispensing lid for use with a liquid container. The lid includes a port through the lid, a slider in sliding engagement with the lid, and a detent on the slider. The slider is selectively movable between a closed position that closes the port, an open position that opens the port, and removal from the lid. The sliding engagement includes a pair of tracks in the lid. The slider further includes a corresponding pair of tabs on opposing sides of the slider that engage with the pair of tracks. The detent includes a wall extending from the slider, a lever attached to the slider at a pivot, a pawl extending from the lever, and a catch extending from the pawl. The lever is in an orientation opposing the wall with a gap between the lever and the wall when the lever is in a released position, the pivot including a living hinge biasing the lever into the released position. The catch engages a first stop in the lid when the slider is in the closed position with the lever released, engages a second stop in the lid when the slider is in the open position with the lever released, and does not engage the lid when the slider is removed.
Additional features may be implemented in Device B. By way of example, the lid may further include a recessed portion with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of the lid, the port being positioned in the recess along with the slider, when in the closed position.
The pair of tracks and the pair of tabs may be curved and the pair of tracks may be in a recessed portion of the lid with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of the lid, the pair of tracks extending upward. Additionally, the pair of tracks may extend upward from the recessed portion to a rim of the lid from which the pair of tabs may slide out of engagement through a pair of open ends of the pair of tracks.
The described additional features of Device B may also be implemented in other devices and methods herein.
Device C is a dispensing lid for use with a liquid container. The lid includes a port through the lid, a slider in sliding engagement with the lid, and a detent on the slider. The slider is selectively movable between a closed position that closes the port, an open position that opens the port, and removal from the lid. The sliding engagement includes a pair of tracks in the lid. The slider further includes a corresponding pair of tabs on opposing sides of the slider that engage with the pair of tracks. The detent includes a wall extending from the slider, a lever attached to the slider at a pivot, a pawl extending from the lever, and a catch extending from the pawl. The lever is in an orientation opposing the wall with a gap between the lever and the wall when the lever is in a released position. The pivot includes an extension from the wall, a hole through the extension, a pin through the lever and the hole, and a spring biasing the lever into the released position. The pin fixes the lever rotationally to the extension. The catch engages a first stop in the lid when the slider is in the closed position with the lever released, engages a second stop in the lid when the slider is in the open position with the lever released, and does not engage the lid when the slider is removed.
Additional features may be implemented in Device C. By way of example, the lid may further include a recessed portion with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of the lid, the port being positioned in the recess along with the slider, when in the closed position.
The pair of tracks and the pair of tabs may be curved and the pair of tracks may be in a recessed portion of the lid with a lower elevational level compared to surrounding portions of the lid, the pair of tracks extending upward. Additionally, the pair of tracks may extend to a landing within the recessed portion of the lid from which the pair of tabs may slide out of engagement through a pair of open ends of the pair of tracks. Alternatively, the pair of tracks may extend upward from the recessed portion to a rim of the lid from which the pair of tabs may slide out of engagement through a pair of open ends of the pair of tracks.
The described additional features of Device C may also be implemented in other devices and methods herein.
Although minima and maxima are listed for the above described ranges and other ranges designated herein, it should be understood that more narrow included ranges may also be desirable and may be distinguishable from prior art. Also, processing principles discussed herein may provide an additional basis for the lesser included ranges.
In compliance with the statute, the embodiments have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiments are not limited to the specific features shown and described. The embodiments are, therefore, claimed in any of their forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.