DRINKING CONTAINER SYSTEM AND LID THEREOF

Abstract

A lid for a drinking container includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes two or more chambers and a spout. The lower portion includes a wall and an aperture through the wall. The upper portion is coupled to the lower portion and rotatable relative to the lower portion to bring each of the two or more chambers and the spout into alignment with the aperture of the lower portion for fluidic communication therethrough, the storage chambers being configured to store and selectively release a powder through the aperture.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to drinking containers and, in particular, drinking container systems and lids therefor.

BACKGROUND

The use of powdered supplements has risen in recent years. People use supplements to increase their general health and well-being and also to improve their performance during workouts in the gym. Supplements for general health and well-being include vitamins, athletic greens, and more. Supplements for performance during workouts at the gym include pre-workout powder, protein powder, creatine, and more.

As the use of gym supplements has increased, so has the popularity of gym shakers (e.g., shaker drinking containers). Gym shakers are used to mix a powdered supplement with a liquid. With shaker drinking containers, the user is required to pour the powder into the drinking container when ready and mix it with the liquid. The powders themselves come in tubs, bags, large containers, and other forms that are generally not portable or otherwise not provided in a manner for conveniently carrying to the gym or other workout locations. These tubs can range in size with larger sizes being too large to fit in a standard backpack. It is important to bring supplements on-the-go for a multitude of reasons, including need to be used at specific times throughout the day (e.g., within 30 minutes of working out or with each meal).

From nearly 100 interviews, people address the problem of on-the-go use of powdered supplements in various ways: pouring a single serving of the powdered supplement into a drinking container without liquid (i.e., requiring a later source of water or other liquid), carrying a water drinking container and a separate container of the powdered supplement (i.e., requiring a funnel or other means of emptying the powdered supplement into the drinking container), delayed access to the powdered supplement (e.g., when at home or another storage location), or foregoing powdered supplements altogether (e.g., purchasing premade shakes).

It would therefore be advantageous to provide consumers of powdered supplements a convenient way to bring their powdered supplements, in multiple servings and/or multiple types, with them on-the-go for transport, mixing, and consumption at a gym or other workout location.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are implementations of a drinking container system and a lid thereof. In one implementation, a lid for a drinking container includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes two or more chambers and a spout. The lower portion includes a wall and an aperture through the wall. The upper portion is coupled to the lower portion and rotatable relative to the lower portion to bring each of the two or more chambers and the spout into alignment with the aperture of the lower portion for fluidic communication therethrough, the storage chambers being configured to store and selectively release a powder through the aperture.

Each of the storage chambers may a peripheral wall extending from a lower chamber end to an upper chamber end, the wall may include an upper surface, and the lower chamber end of each of the storage chambers may slide against the upper surface of the wall to seal the storage chamber as the upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to bring the two or more chambers into alignment with the aperture. The spout may include another peripheral wall extending from a lower spout end to an upper spout end, the wall may include an upper surface, and the lower spout end of spout may slide against the upper surface of the wall as the upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to bring the spout into alignment with the aperture. The upper portion of the lid may include an upper component and a lower component coupled to the upper component, and the upper component may form an upper wall of the storage chambers and the lower component forms a lower wall of the storage chambers.

In an implementation, a lid for a drinking container includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a lower component and an upper component coupled to and positioned above the lower component. The lower component and the upper component form multiple storage chambers for receiving, storing, and selectively releasing powders. The upper portion is rotatably coupled to the lower portion. The lower component forms lower walls that extend below the storage chambers to form lower chamber ends that define lower chamber openings of the storage chambers, and the upper component forms upper walls that extend above the storage chambers to form upper chamber ends that define upper chamber openings of the storage chambers. The lower portion includes a lateral wall that defines an aperture. The upper portion is rotatable relative to the lower portion to align the lower chamber openings with the aperture to release the powders from the storage chambers through the aperture and into a drinking container to which the lid is coupled.

The lateral wall may include an upper surface that engages the lower chamber ends to seal the lower chamber openings of the storage chambers. The upper surface of the lateral wall may be concave.

The upper component and the lower component may be coupled to each other with snap fit interfaces at outer peripheries thereof, proximate a central axis about which the upper portion rotates relative to the lower portion, or both. Each of the lower chamber openings and the upper chamber openings may be kidney shaped.

In an implementation, a drinking container system includes a drinking container and a lid. The lid includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes two or more chambers and a spout. The lower portion includes a wall and an aperture through the wall. The upper portion is coupled to the lower portion and rotatable relative to the lower portion to bring each of the two or more chambers and the spout into alignment with the aperture of the lower portion for fluidic communication therethrough, the storage chambers being configured to store and selectively release a powder through the aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a drinking container system in which hidden features are depicted in dashed lines.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the drinking container system in which hidden features are depicted in dashed lines.

FIG. 3A is a bottom view of an upper portion of a lid of the drinking container system.

FIG. 3B is a top view of a lower portion of the lid of the drinking container system.

FIG. 4A is a top view of the lid of the drinking container system in a first configuration of the upper portion relative to the lower portion with an aperture of the lower portion depicted in dashed lines (i.e., with a spout of the upper portion in fluidic communication with the aperture of the lower portion).

FIG. 4B is a top view of the lid with the upper portion in a second configuration relative to the lower portion (i.e., with a second chamber of the upper portion in fluidic communication with the aperture of the lower portion).

FIG. 4C is a top view of the lid with the upper portion in a third configuration relative to the lower portion (i.e., with a second chamber of the upper portion in fluidic communication with the aperture of the lower portion).

FIG. 5A is an upper perspective view of an embodiment of a lid of the drinking container system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is a lower perspective view of the lid of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is an upper exploded perspective view of the lid of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5D is a lower exploded perspective view of the lid of FIG. 5A.

FIGS. 5E-5H are top, bottom, front, and side views of the lid of FIG. 5A.

FIGS. 5I-5K are cross-sectional views taken along line 5I-5I in FIG. 5G and lines 5J-5J and 5K-5K in FIG. 5F.

FIG. 6A is an exploded upper perspective view of an embodiment of a lid of a drinking container system shown in FIG. 6F.

FIG. 6B is a top view of an upper cap of the lid of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a top view of a lower cap of the lid of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D is an upper perspective view of the upper cap and the lower cap of the lid of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6E is an upper perspective view of tub lids of the lid of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6F is an upper perspective view of a drinking container system having the lid of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the figures, a drinking container system generally includes a drinking container and a lid that is configured to store and selectively release powdered contents into the drinking container. The drinking container includes a main body that defines an interior for storing a liquid and an opening configured for contents to be inserted into and released from the interior. The lid is coupleable to the drinking container to seal the contents therein. The lid further includes a spout and multiple chambers. The spout allows a user to consume or otherwise empty the contents contained in the interior of the drinking container. The multiple chambers are configured to store powdered contents separately from the interior of the drinking container and to selectively release the powdered contents contained therein into the interior of the drinking container.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4C, a drinking container system 100 generally includes a drinking container 110 and a lid 120 that couples to the drinking container 110 to seal liquid contents therein and that further contains powdered material for selective release into the drinking container 110.

The drinking container 110, for example, includes a main body 112 and an upper opening 114 in communication with an interior of the main body 112 and through which contents are inserted into and removed from the interior the main body 112. The drinking container 110 may further include threads (not illustrated) around the upper opening 114, which are configured to threadably couple to the lid 120 to seal the contents within the interior of the main body 112 of the drinking container 110.

The lid 120 includes multiple chambers 132 that are configured to receive, contain, and selectively release a powder (e.g., a powder supplement) into the interior of the drinking container 110 and a spout 136 through which the user may remove (e.g., drink) contents of the drinking container 110. While two chambers 132 are depicted, the lid 120 may include fewer chambers (e.g., one) or more of the storage chambers (e.g., three, four, or more).

The lid 120 generally includes an upper portion 130 and a lower portion 140, which are cooperatively configured to seal the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 from the interior of the drinking container 110 and to selectively bring each of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 into fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110. The upper portion 130 is rotatable relative to the lower portion 140 to selectively bring each of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 into fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110. More particularly, the lower portion 140 includes a lateral wall 142 that separates the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 from the interior of the drinking container 110 and that defines an aperture 142a. As the upper portion 130 is rotated relative to the lower portion 140, the storage chambers 132 (see FIGS. 4B and 4C) and the spout 136 (see FIG. 4A) are brought into alignment with aperture 142a through the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 to, thereby, be in fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110 via the aperture 142a.

The upper portion 130 of the lid 120 includes the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136. The first chamber 132 includes a peripheral wall 132a that extends upward (e.g., axially) between lower and upper ends 132b, 132c of the first chamber 132. The lower end 132b defines a lower opening 132d of the first chamber 132 and engages an upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 to form a seal therewith to, thereby, seal or otherwise maintain the powder material in the storage chamber 132. As the upper portion 130 is rotated relative to the lower portion 140, the lower end 132b of the first chamber 132 maintains contact with the upper surface 142b of the wall of the lower portion 140 to maintain the seal there with until the lower opening 132d of the first chamber 132 comes into alignment with the opening 142b in the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion of the lid 120. The lower opening 132d may, as shown, be larger than the aperture 142a through the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid (e.g., the lower opening 132d being pie-shaped, as shown, and surrounding a circular aperture 142a).

The upper end 132c of the first chamber 132 defines an upper opening 132e through which the powder may be deposited into the first chamber 132. The upper portion 130 further includes a cap 132f that is configured to couple to the upper end 132c to seal the upper opening 132e of the first chamber 132.

The spout 136 may be configured similar to the storage chambers 132 albeit with a different cross-sectional shape and/or dimensions (e.g., having a lower opening 136d that has substantially the same shape and size as the aperture 142a through the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120). For example, the spout 136 may have a side wall 136a that is substantially cylindrical and extends between a lower end 136b that defines the lower opening 136d and an upper end 136c that defines an upper opening 136e to which a cap 136f is coupleable to seal the spout 136.

To distinguish between various features and components, labels may be used such as first or second, one and another or, and according to an associated or parent feature. For example, the various upper and lower ends and of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 134 and other components, various components and features may be labeled for distinguishing therebetween. For example, the upper end 132c of the first chamber 132 may also be referred to as the first chamber upper end 132c or chamber upper end 132c, while the upper end 136c of the spout 136 may also be referred to as a third upper end 136c or the upper spout end 136c.

The lower portion 140 of the lid 120 generally includes a tubular portion 144 and the lateral wall 142. The tubular portion 144 extends axially along a central axis 120a from a lower end to an upper end (not labeled). The tubular portion 144 is configured to couple to the drinking container 110, for example, having threads (not shown) on an inner periphery thereof. To couple the drinking container 110 to the lid 120, an upper end of the drinking container 110, having complementary threads, is threadably received by the tubular portion 144 through the lower end by thereof and by the threads.

The lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 extends laterally across the upper end of the tubular portion 144 around the inner periphery thereof. The lateral wall 142 has an upper surface 142b and a lower surface (not labeled) and defines the aperture 142a that extends entirely through the lateral wall 142 in the axial direction (e.g., generally parallel with the central axis 120a). The upper surface 142b is smooth to allow the upper portion 130 to slide thereagainst and form seal therewith and, more particularly, for the lower ends 132b, 136b of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 to slide and seal thereagainst.

The upper portion 130 is rotatable relative to the lower portion 140 about the central axis 120a to selectively bring the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 into alignment with the aperture 142a and, thereby, through the lateral wall 142 of the upper portion 130 of the lid 120 and into fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110. Thereby, the powdered contents of the storage chambers 132 is selectively released from the storage chambers 132 into the interior of the drinking container 110 (e.g., into water contained therein), and the contents of the interior of the drinking container 110 may be selectively released from the interior of the drinking container 110 (e.g., for a user to drink the contents from the spout).

Referring to FIGS. 5A-5H, a drinking container system 500 is an embodiment of the drinking container system 100, which includes a drinking container 110 (not shown) and a lid 520, which is an embodiment of the lid 120. The lid 520 generally includes the upper portion 130 and the lower portion 140 as described previously with the various features and functions described previously.

As referenced above, the upper portion 130 of the lid 120 includes the storage chamber 132. Each of the storage chambers 132, as described above, is defined by a peripheral wall 132a that extends upward between lower and upper ends 132b, 132c that define lower and upper openings 132d, 132e of the storage chamber 132. The peripheral wall 132a generally includes an outer section 532-1, an inner section 532-2, a first radially-extending section 532-3, and a second radially extending section 532-4. The peripheral wall 132a may extend between a lower wall 532-5 and an upper wall 532-6 that extend partially below and above, respectively, the storage chamber 132. The storage chamber 132 is defined between inner surfaces of the aforementioned wall sections 532-1, 532-2, 532-3, 532-4, 532-5, 532-6.

The outer section 532-1 of the peripheral wall 132a extends circumferentially about the central axis 120a at a constant radius, such the inner surface thereof and/or an outer surface thereof are circular. The inner section 532-2 may also extend circumferentially about the central axis 120a at another constant radius that is smaller than and spaced radially inward of the outer section 532-1, for example, when the inner section 532-2 is configured to receive a post of the lower portion 140 (as discussed in further detail below) or may be omitted (e.g., with the first and second radially extending sections 532-3, 532-4 intersection each other. Each of the outer section 532-1 and the inner section 532-2 extend between the lower wall 532-5 and the upper wall 532-6. The first and second radially extending sections 532-3, 532-4 extend radially between the outer section 532-1 and the inner section 532-2, as well as axially between the lower wall 532-5 and the upper wall 532-6. One or both of the first and second radially extending sections 532-3, 532-4 may be substantially planar and/or be parallel with the central axis 120a. The first and second radially extending sections 532-3, 532-4 may be spaced apart rotationally between approximately 90 and 160 degrees (e.g., approximately 140 degrees as shown). As used in this context, approximately means a +/−10 degrees. The first radially extending section 532-3 may divide (e.g., separate) the first of the storage chambers 132 from the second of the storage chambers 132. The second radially extending section 532-4 may divide (e.g., separate) the first chamber 132 from another region containing the spout 136.

The lower wall 132-5 may be sloped downward and inward from the peripheral wall 132a (e.g., the various sections thereof) to the lower opening 132d, such that gravity will tend to carry the powder contained in the storage chamber 132 to the lower opening 132d.

The lower end 132b of the storage chamber, which is formed by the lower wall 132-5 and is configured to engage the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120. The lower end 132b may include a gasket 532g, such as an elastomeric seal, which forms a seal with the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 to prevent release of powder from the storage chamber 132.

Referring to FIGS. 5C, 5D, and 5I, the lower opening 132d is configured to overlap the aperture 142a through the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 for the storage chamber 132 to be in fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110. The lower opening 132d may have an inner periphery that is convex (protruding radially inward into the lower opening 132d) with a radius from the central axis 120a that corresponds to (e.g., is approximately equal to, such as within +/−10% of thereof) the radially inward most edge of the aperture 142a of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120. The lower opening 132d may have an outer periphery that is concave (protruding radially outward from the lower opening 132d) with another radius from the central axis 120a that corresponds to (e.g., is approximately equal to, such as within +/−10% of thereof) the radially outward most edge of the aperture 142a of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120. In this manner, as the upper portion 130 of the lid 120 is rotated about the central axis 120a relative to the lower portion 140, the inner and/or outer periphery of the lower opening 132d correspond to (e.g., be aligned with) the inner and/or outer edges, respectively, of the aperture 142a of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120. Between the inner and outer peripheries of the lower opening 132d, the lower opening 132d may have a leading and/or trailing peripheries that correspond to leading and/or trailing edges of the aperture 142a. For example, as shown, the aperture 142a is circular, while the leading and/or trailing peripheries of the lower opening 132d are partially circular and of substantially the same dimension (i.e., radius) as the aperture 142a. As a result, the lower opening 132d may have a kidney shape. The gasket 532g may follow the periphery of the lower opening 132d to have the same shape thereof.

The spout 136, as referenced above, generally includes a side wall 136a that extends axially between lower and upper ends 136b, 136c that define lower and upper openings 136e, 136e, respectively. The lower end 136c may further include a gasket 536g that surrounds the lower opening 136e and engages the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120. The spout 136 may further be arranged in the region between radially extending sections 532-4 of the two chambers 132.

The upper portion 130 may be formed of an upper component 530a and a lower component 530b that are coupled to each other. By forming the upper portion 130 from two or more components, such as the upper component 530a and the lower component 530b, the upper portion 130 may be formed via conventional injection molding processes, which allow for the geometry the storage chambers 132, which is defined between the lower wall 532-5 extending thereunder and the upper wall 532-6 extending thereover. The upper component 530a and the lower component 530b may be coupled to each at radially outer, radially inward, or both around the central axis 120a, for example, using male-female interfaces (e.g., snap-fit). As shown, the upper component 530a includes a peripheral wall 530a-1 having a circumferential channel (not labeled), while the lower component 530b includes another peripheral wall 530b-1 that forms a circumferential protrusion (not labeled) that is received and retained in the circumferential channel 530a-2 (e.g., forming a peripheral snap-fit connection). The peripheral walls 530a-1, 530b-1 of the upper and lower components 530a, 530b cooperatively form the outer sections 532-1 of the peripheral wall 532a that defines the storage chamber 132. As also shown, the upper component 530a also includes a central post 530a-2 that defines a recess, while the lower component 530b includes a central protrusion 530b-2 that is received and retained in the recess of the central post 530a-2 (e.g., forming a central snap-fit connection). The upper component 530a and, in particular, the central post 530a-2 may form the inner section 532-2 of the peripheral wall 530a that defines the storage chamber 132. The upper component 530a further includes the upper wall 532-6 that extends over and defines the storage chamber 132. The lower component 530b further includes the lower wall 532-5 that extends below and defines the storage chamber 132, along with radially extending sections 532-3, 532-4 of the peripheral wall 532a that defines the storage chamber 132.

Referring to FIGS. 5C and 5K, the side wall 136a of the spout 136 may be formed cooperatively by the upper component 530a and the lower component 530b.

The upper portion 130 of the lid 120 further includes the caps 132f for the storage chambers 132 and the cap 136f for the spout 136. The caps 132f, 136f correspond in shape to the upper ends 132c, 136c and/or the upper openings 132e, 136e. For example, being kidney shaped (i.e., having an inner edge that protrudes radially outward into the opening and/or an outer edge that protrudes radially outward from the opening (as seen in FIGS. 5A-5I), being pie-shaped (as shown in FIGS. 6A-6F, or circular (as shown for the spout 136). The caps 132f, 136g are rigid structures that snap fit to the upper ends 132c, 136c to seal the upper openings 132e, 136e of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136, respectively. The caps 132f, 136f may, as shown, be pivotably coupled to axles (not labeled) that coupled to (e.g., formed with) the upper component 530a and about which the caps 132f, 136g pivot to open and close the upper openings 132e, 136e. The caps 132f, 136f may be configured in other manners, for example, being formed of a flexible material (e.g., an elastomer, such as silicone) and/or being coupled the lid 120 with a flexible member (e.g., a string or elastomer formed with or coupled to the caps 132f, 136f). The caps 132f for the storage chambers 132 may have a radially inward edge that protrudes inward relative to the cap 132f and radially outer edge that protrudes outward relative to the cap 132f (e.g., being kidney shaped).

Still referring to FIGS. 5A-5H, the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 generally includes the lateral wall 142 and the tubular portion 144. The lateral wall 142 defines the aperture 142a and includes the upper surface 142b and the lower surface 142c. The aperture 142a, as shown, may be circular and correspond in size to the openings 132e of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136.

As referenced above, the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 is engaged by lower ends 132b, 136b of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 to form a seal therebetween. The upper surface 142b is smooth, such that the seals are maintained as the lower ends 132b, 136b are maintained as the upper portion 130 of the lid 120 is rotated relative to the lower portion 140 (i.e., to bring each of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 into alignment and, thereby, fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110. The upper surface may be convex, as best seen in the cross-sectional view of FIGS. 5J and 5K.

The upper portion 130 is rotatably coupled to the lower portion 140, such that the upper portion 130 rotates around the central axis 120a to selectively bring each of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 into alignment with aperture 142a of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 and, thereby, into selective fluidic communication with the interior of the drinking container 110. The upper portion 130 may be able to rotate with an unlimited range of motion or with a limited range of motion (e.g., the back and forth). The lid 120 may include indexes at which the upper portion 130 is hindered from rotating relative to the lower portion 140 (e.g., requiring more torque to rotate the upper portion 130 than at locations between the indexes. The indexes may, for example, correspond to rotational orientations at which the spout 136 is aligned with the aperture 142a and/or the lower openings 132d of the storage chambers 132 are aligned with the aperture 142a. The indexes may be provided in different manners, for example, by the lower openings 132d, 136e receiving a feature surrounding the aperture 142a or vice versa, one or more axial protrusions (e.g., a ball detent) extending downward from the upper portion 130 and being received in an upwardly open recess of the lower portion 140 or vice versa, or a radial protrusions extending radially outward from the upper portion 130 and being received in a radial recess of the lower portion 140 or vice versa.

The upper portion 130 is rotatably coupled to the lower portion 140 at an outer periphery, a central axis, or both (as shown). At the outer periphery, the upper portion 130 of the lid includes a circumferential groove 530c extending around the central axis 120a (e.g., in the lower component 530a), and the lower portion includes a circumferential protrusion 540a (e.g., ridge) that extends radially outward from surrounding surfaces and is received by and retained in the circumferential groove 530c. The circumferential protrusion 540a may be snap fit into the circumferential groove 530c to form a rotationally sliding interface therebetween, while pressing the upper portion 130 and the lower portion 140 axially against each other (e.g., the lower ends 132b, 136b of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 against the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120). At the central axis, the upper portion 130 of the lid 120 includes a central recess 530d that is downwardly open, and the lower portion 140 of the lid 120 includes a central protrusion 540b protrudes upward from the upper surface 142b and that is received by and retained in the recess 530d. The central protrusion 540b may be snap fit into the circumferential groove 530c to form a rotationally sliding interface therebetween, while pressing the upper portion 130 and the lower portion 140 axially against each other (e.g., the lower ends 132b, 136b of the storage chambers 132 and the spout 136 against the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall 142 of the lower portion 140 of the lid 120). The snap fit interfaces retain the upper portion 130 axially against the lower portion 140 (e.g., the lower ends 132b of the storage chambers 132 against the upper surface 142b of the lateral wall), while permitting sliding therebetween for rotation of the upper portion 130 relative to the lower portion 140. The snap fit interfaces between the upper component 530a and the lower component 530b of the upper portion 130 do not permit the upper component 530a to rotate relative to the lower component 530b, such that torque applied to the upper component 530a causes the upper portion 130 of the lid 120 to rotate and the lower portion 140 but not the upper component 530a relative to the lower component 530b of the upper portion 130.

The lower surface 142c of the wall 142 is configured to receive and seal against an upper end of the drinking container 110. For example, the lower surface 142c defines a circumferential groove that receives the upper end of the drinking container 110 therein axially (e.g., as the lid 120 is screwed to the top of the drinking container 110).

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6F, a drinking container system 600 is an embodiment of the drinking container system 100, which includes a drinking container 110 (not shown) and a lid 620, which is an embodiment of the lid 120. The lid 620 generally includes an upper cap 630, a lower cap 640, a drink lid 636f, a latch 660 (or the safety-lock), and left and right tub lids 632f, which generally correspond to the upper portion 130 of the lid 120, the lower portion of the lid 120, the cap 136f for the spout 136, and the caps 132f for the storage chambers 132, respectively, described previously.

The upper cap 630 forms two or more chambers 632 that can be used to store the supplements. The storage chambers 632 correspond to the storage chambers 132 described previously. The lower cap 640 has an opening 642a (e.g., a vacancy) that can be in different shapes, forms, and sizes. The opening 642a corresponds to the aperture 142a described previously. As shown, the opening 642a in the lower cap 640 may be a triangular (e.g., shaped like a pizza slice). When aligned the storage chambers 632 of the upper cap 630, the opening 642a allows contents of the storage chambers 632 to pass from the upper cap 630 through the lower cap 640 and into the drinking container 110 (e.g., providing a floor-drop effect when properly aligned). An upper end (e.g., a top) of the lower cap 640 is cooperatively configured with the upper cap 630, such that the upper cap 630 can slide relative thereto, for example, by rotating about a central axis (e.g., slide, snug fit, snap, or otherwise fit onto). The lower cap 640 and the upper cap 630 are held together, for example, in a snap-fit arrangement having a protrusion on a periphery of one of the upper cap 630 or the lower cap 640 (e.g., an inner periphery of the upper cap 630) that is received in a groove on a periphery of the other of the upper cap 630 or the lower cap 640 (e.g., an outer periphery of the lower cap 640, as shown). The respective peripheries of the upper cap 630 and the lower cap 640 may be circular and concentric about the central axis to facilitate relative rotation therebetween. These ridges are at a height (i.e., in a radial direction relative to the central axis) in which it takes force to snap the two cap pieces together but once together, and unlocked, the upper cap 630 can rotate freely about the central axis relative to the lower cap 640. This rotation allows the user to twist the upper cap 630 to line up one of its multiple chambers 632 with the opening 642a (e.g., the floor-drop area) of the lower cap 640, thus releasing the selected supplement stored in the storage chambers 632 into the drinking container 110 and liquid contained therein to create drinkable emulsion or solution.

The lid 620 may further include the latch 660. The interface between the lower and the upper caps 640, 630 enables the latch 660 (e.g., a safety lock mechanism) to avoid accidental spill or drop into the drinking container 110 (e.g., by preventing rotation between the upper cap 640 and the lower cap 630. In one embodiment, both the upper and lower cap 630, 640 have features (e.g., corresponding recesses 637, 647) on them in order to host and slidably receive the latch 660, which creates the safety lock. When the two cap pieces fit together and are oriented so that these recesses 637, 647 line up, the latch piece 660 is able to fit into the encasement created thereby (e.g., being received in the recesses 637, 647). The latch 660, being a generally rigid member, maintains the lid 620 in a locked position by preventing the upper cap 630 from rotating relative to the lower cap 640. In this locked position, the spout 636 of the upper cap 630 is aligned with the opening 642a of the lower cap 640 to allow the user to drink the contents of the drinking container 110, while the storage chambers 632, 634 are out of alignment with the opening 642a of the lower cap 640 for the user to store substances in the two or more chambers 632 of the upper cap 630 (i.e., openings of the storage chambers 632 of the upper cap 630 are then covered by material of the lower cap 640 surrounding the opening 642a thereof).

When the user activates the latch 660, the upper cap 630 is then able to freely rotate relative to the lower cap 640. The user can then rotate the upper cap 630 to line up one of its floor openings of the storage chambers 632 with the opening 642a of the lower cap 640 to allow the substances stored in that corresponding chamber 632 to fall into the drinking container 110.

The lid 620 and, in particular, the lower cap 640, is attached to the lower cap in any suitable manner, such as with a threaded connection that seals the lid 620 to the drinking container 610 to prevent escape of liquid from the drinking container 610. The user can then rotate the upper cap 630 back to its original orientation relative to the lower cap 640 and reactivate the latch (activating the safety lock) to render the lid 620 in its locked position.

The upper cap 630 also includes two or more openings, which correspond to and are in communication with the storage chambers 632. In one embodiment, the upper cap 632 includes two openings 632a. The upper cap further includes two lids 632f, which are hingedly coupled to the upper cap 630. The tub lids 632f there is a set of cylindrical protrusions, which are of similar diameter and spacing to corresponding holes 632a in the upper cap 630 so that the tub lids 632f can pivot and selectively fit into the holes 632a to seal the contents in the storage chambers 632. As shown, the tub lids 632f rotate about axes that are perpendicular to the central axis about which the upper cap 630 rotates relative to the lower cap 640 and which may also be perpendicular to each other 6. In other embodiments, there could be other conventional means, known in the arts, to achieve a similar sealing effect, for example, with the tub lids 632f being elastomeric and coupled to the upper lid 630 with an elongated, flexible string or portion of the elastomeric material and formed monolithically with the tub lids 632f The tub lids 632f may be of different shapes and sizes than depicted to correspond with the openings 632a of the storage chambers 632, such that when they are rotated to be flush with the surface of the storage chambers 632 of the upper cap, they cover the two or more openings 632a in the upper cap 632. In a similar fashion to the way the upper and lower caps 630, 640 fit together, the upper cap openings 632a and the tub lids 632f have ridges that require force to snap together in order to hold the tub lids 632f closed to seal the openings 632a.

The upper lid 630 further includes a drinking lid 636f that works in a similar fashion to the tub lids 632f to seal an opening 636a of the spout 636. The drinking lid 636f includes cylindrical protrusions that form an axle about which the drinking lid 636f rotates and includes ridges to releasably couple to the spout 636 (e.g., snap-fit closure). The drinking lid 636f creates the axle near the front of the upper cap 630 by the drinking spout 636 which it is able to rotate about, it also can snap closed firmly onto the drinking spout 636 in which it covers the opening completely.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. A lid for a drinking container comprising: an upper portion having two or more chambers and a spout; anda lower portion having a lateral wall and an aperture through the lateral wall;wherein the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion and rotatable relative to the lower portion to bring each of the two or more chambers and the spout into alignment with the aperture of the lower portion for fluidic communication therethrough, the storage chambers being configured to store and selectively release a powder through the aperture.

2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein each of the storage chambers includes a peripheral wall extending from a lower chamber end to an upper chamber end, the lateral wall includes an upper surface, and the lower chamber end of each of the storage chambers slides against the upper surface of the lateral wall to seal the storage chamber as the upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to bring the two or more chambers into alignment with the aperture; wherein the spout includes another peripheral wall extending from a lower spout end to an upper spout end, the lateral wall includes an upper surface, and the lower spout end of the spout slides against the upper surface of the lateral wall as the upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to bring the spout into alignment with the aperture; andwherein the upper portion of the lid includes an upper component and a lower component coupled to the upper component, wherein the upper component forms an upper wall of the storage chambers, and the lower component forms a lower wall of the storage chambers.

3. The lid according to claim 1, wherein each of the storage chambers includes a peripheral wall extending from a lower chamber end to an upper chamber end, the lateral wall includes an upper surface, and the lower chamber end of each of the storage chambers slides against the upper surface of the lateral wall to seal the storage chamber as the upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to bring the two or more chambers into alignment with the aperture.

4. The lid according to claim 3, wherein the lower chamber end of the peripheral wall of each of the storage chambers includes an elastomeric gasket that slides against the upper surface of the lateral wall of the lower portion of the lid.

5. The lid according to claim 3, wherein the lower chamber end of the peripheral wall of each of the storage chambers defines a lower opening through which the powder is released from the storage chamber through the aperture.

6. The lid according to claim 5, wherein the upper chamber end of the peripheral wall of each of the storage chambers defines an upper opening though which the storage chamber receives the powder to be stored therein.

7. The lid according to claim 6, further comprising two or more caps, each of the caps configured to couple to the upper chamber end of the peripheral wall defining one of the storage chambers to seal the upper opening of the one chamber.

8. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the spout includes a peripheral wall extending from a lower spout end to an upper spout end, the lateral wall includes an upper surface, and the lower spout end of the spout slides against the upper surface of the lateral wall as the upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to bring the spout into alignment with the aperture.

9. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the lid includes an upper component and a lower component coupled to the upper component, wherein the upper component forms an upper wall of the storage chambers, and the lower component forms a lower wall of the storage chambers.

10. A lid for a drinking container comprising: an upper portion having a lower component and an upper component coupled to and positioned above the lower component, the lower component and the upper component forming multiple storage chambers for receiving, storing, and selectively releasing powders; anda lower portion to which the upper portion is rotatably coupled;wherein the lower component forms lower walls that extend below the storage chambers to form lower chamber ends that define lower chamber openings of the storage chambers, and the upper component forms upper walls that extend above the storage chambers to form upper chamber ends that define upper chamber openings of the storage chambers; andwherein the lower portion includes a lateral wall that defines an aperture, the upper portion being rotatable relative to the lower portion to align the lower chamber openings with the aperture to release the powders from the storage chambers through the aperture and into the drinking container to which the lid is coupled.

11. The lid according to claim 10, wherein the lateral wall includes an upper surface that engages the lower chamber ends to seal the lower chamber openings of the storage chambers; wherein the upper surface of the lateral wall is concave;wherein the upper component and the lower component are coupled to each other with snap fit interfaces at outer peripheries thereof, proximate a central axis about which the upper portion rotates relative to the lower portion, or both; andwherein the each of the lower chamber openings and the upper chamber openings are kidney shaped.

12. The lid according to claim 10, wherein the lateral wall includes an upper surface that engages the lower chamber ends to seal the lower chamber openings of the storage chambers.

13. The lid according to claim 12, wherein the lower chamber ends include chamber gaskets that are engaged by and slide against the upper surface of the lateral wall to seal the lower chamber openings of the storage chambers.

14. The lid according to claim 12, wherein the upper portion has a spout having a lower spout end that defines a lower spout opening and an upper spout end that defines an upper spout opening, the lower spout end is engaged by and slides against the upper surface of the lateral wall to seal the lower spout opening, and the upper portion is rotatable relative to the lower portion to align the lower spout opening spout with the aperture to allow release of liquid from the drinking container through the spout.

15. The lid according to claim 12, wherein the upper surface of the lateral wall is concave.

16. The lid according to claim 10, wherein the upper component and the lower component are coupled to each other with snap fit interfaces at outer peripheries thereof, proximate a central axis about which the upper portion rotates relative to the lower portion, or both.

17. The lid according to claim 10, wherein the lower chamber openings each include an inner periphery that is convex protruding radially outward.

18. The lid according to claim 17, wherein the lower chamber openings each include an outer periphery that is concave protruding radially outward, and wherein a radial distance between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of each of the lower chamber openings is approximately equal to a diameter of the aperture.

19. The lid according to claim 10, wherein the each of the lower chamber openings and the upper chamber openings are kidney shaped.

20. A drinking container system comprising: a drinking container; anda lid coupleable to an upper end of the drinking container to seal liquid therein, wherein the lid includes: an upper portion having two or more chambers and a spout; anda lower portion having a lateral wall and an aperture through the lateral wall;wherein the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion and rotatable relative to the lower portion to bring each of the two or more chambers and the spout into alignment with the aperture of the lower portion for fluidic communication therethrough, the storage chambers being configured to store a powder therein and selectively release the powder through the aperture.