Patent Application
20180118417
A liquid vessel may be used to store a liquid therein. The liquid vessel may be equipped with a variety of features such as temperature retaining surfaces. The liquid vessel may also be configured to couple a lid on a surface of the liquid vessel. The lid may effectively seal the liquid vessel such that liquid stored in the liquid vessel does not leak or spill out unless the lid is removed and/or a mechanism of the lid enables the liquid to be removed from the liquid vessel. However, the lid may still be susceptible to inadvertent leakage or spillage despite being securely coupled to the liquid vessel.
The exemplary embodiments describe a lid having an upper half configured to remain external when the lid is coupled to a liquid vessel holding a liquid therein, a lower half configured to be received in the liquid vessel when the lid is coupled to the liquid vessel and an actuator configured to move the lid between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration sealing the liquid in the liquid vessel from a plunger being adjacent to a gasket that is coupled to a bottom edge of the lower half, the second configuration allowing the liquid to be removed using a predetermined manner through the lid from the plunger being separated from the gasket to create a space therebetween.
The exemplary embodiments further describe a system having a liquid vessel configured to hold a liquid therein and a lid configured to couple to the liquid vessel. The lid includes an upper half configured to remain external when the lid is coupled to the liquid vessel, a lower half configured to be received in the liquid vessel when the lid is coupled to the liquid vessel and an actuator configured to move the lid between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration sealing the liquid in the liquid vessel from a plunger being adjacent to a gasket that is coupled to a bottom edge of the lower half, the second configuration allowing the liquid to be removed using a predetermined manner through the lid from the plunger being separated from the gasket to create a space therebetween.
The exemplary embodiments also include an actuator having an activating end including a surface upon which the actuator is used, a connecting end configured to couple to a plunger and a connector including a first end coupled to the activating end and a second end coupled to the connecting end, wherein the actuator is configured to move a lid that is coupled to a liquid vessel between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration seals the liquid in the liquid vessel from a plunger being adjacent to a gasket that is coupled to a bottom edge of the lid, wherein the second configuration allows the liquid to be removed using a predetermined manner through the lid from the plunger being separated from the gasket to create a space therebetween.
The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and the related appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments are related to a leak-proof push button lid. Specifically, the exemplary embodiments provide a lid that couples to a liquid vessel that creates a seal therewith and prevents any liquid from within the vessel from leaking or spilling. The lid may also be equipped with various features to enable liquid to be removed, equalize pressure associated therewith, and reduce issues associated with other lids.
The lid 100 may have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape in a lateral direction such as when viewed from the top view (e.g.,
The lid 100 may have an upper half 102 and a lower half 104 as illustrated in
The lid 100 may include a spout 105 along a top edge on the upper half 102 where the liquid from within the liquid vessel 200 may be dispensed when the lid 100 is in a particular configuration. Specifically, the lid 100 may be placed into a first configuration that wholly seals the liquid within the liquid vessel 200. The lid may 100 also be placed into a second configuration that enables the liquid to be removed from the liquid vessel 200. When the lid 100 is in the second configuration, the spout 105 may provide an egress point. It should be noted that the spout 105 having the illustrated shape and position is only exemplary. That is, the top disposition and the lip shape of the spout 105 is only exemplary. Those skilled in the art will understand that in other exemplary embodiments, the spout 105 may be any shape (e.g., cylindrical projection), may have no shape (e.g., a hole on a surface of the lid 100), may be disposed at appropriate positions on the lid 100, etc.
The lid 100 may couple to the liquid vessel 200 in a variety of different manners. As illustrated, the lid 100 may include threading 110 disposed around a periphery of the lower half 104 of the lid 100. Accordingly, the liquid vessel 200 may include corresponding threading. Thus, to couple the lid 100 to the liquid vessel 200, the lid 100 may be rotated in a first direction for the lower half 104 to be received into the liquid vessel 200 and the threading 110 engages the corresponding threading. The lid 100 may be rotated until a bottom edge of the upper half 102 is flush against a top edge of the liquid vessel 200. In an opposite operation, to decouple the lid 100 from the liquid vessel 200, the lid 100 may be rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction for the lower half 104 to be removed from the liquid vessel 200 and the threading 110 disengaging the corresponding threading.
It should be noted that the use of the threading 110 as the coupling mechanism is only exemplary. The lid 100 may couple to the liquid vessel 200 using any type of coupling mechanism. In a first example, the bottom half 104 may have an outer circumference that is substantially similar to an inner circumference of the liquid vessel 200. The bottom half 104 may also be manufactured with a high coefficient of friction material. Accordingly, the coupling mechanism may be a friction fit. In a second example, the bottom half 104 may include other types of mechanical coupling mechanisms such as snaps, clips, etc. In a third example, the bottom half 104 may include other types of coupling mechanisms such as magnets. Therefore, the lid 100 may utilize any of these types of coupling mechanisms to couple the lid 100 to the liquid vessel 200.
As discussed above, the lid 100 may be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration. Again, the first configuration may prevent any liquid from within the liquid vessel 200 from escaping, particularly through the lid 100. The second configuration may enable liquid to be removed through the lid 100. The lid 100 may include an actuator 115 that moves the lid 100 between the first and second configurations. The actuator 115 may be a button that may be depressed into the lid 100 from a top side as illustrated in
The lid 100 may include a gasket 120. The gasket 120 may be a component that enables the leak and spill proof nature of the lid 100. As illustrated in
The gasket 120 may be sized and shaped to extend from the bottom edge of the lower half 104 such that the gasket 120 contacts an inner side of the liquid vessel 200. Accordingly, when the lid 100 is coupled to the liquid vessel 200, the gasket 120 may create a seal with the inner side of the liquid vessel 200. This seal may prevent any liquid from spilling out of the liquid vessel 200 through inadvertent leakage passed the gasket 120. Accordingly, this is one way that the lid 100 provides the leak and spill proof nature of the exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that this feature may be present so long as the lid 100 has been properly coupled to the liquid vessel 200. Thus, independent of whether the lid 100 is in the first or second configuration, the gasket 120 may prevent liquid from escaping along an outer edge of the gasket 120.
As discussed above, the gasket 120 may include a hole near a center portion to accommodate the plunger 125.
Accordingly, the lid 100 may include the plunger 125 which is a component that cooperates in the operation performed by the actuator 115. Specifically, the plunger 125 may be moved from a first position to a second position where the first position corresponds to the first configuration of the lid 100 that prevents any liquid from being removed and the second position corresponds to the second configuration of the lid 100 that enables liquid to be removed through the lid 100 out the spout 105. As illustrated in
As will be described in further detail below, the plunger 125 may be moved via the actuator 115 between the first and second positions. In the first position, the plunger 125 may be adjacent the gasket 120. As those skilled in the art will understand, the gasket 120 is any component that seals a junction between two surfaces. In the exemplary embodiments, the two surfaces may be the bottom half 104 (specifically a bottom surface) and the plunger 125 (specifically a top surface). Thus, when the lid 100 is in the first configuration and the plunger 125 is in the first position, a seal may be created to prevent liquid from escaping through the lid 100 and out the spout 105. In the second position, the plunger 125 may be separated from the gasket 120. That is, the plunger 125 may be moved away from the gasket 120 to create a space therebetween. This space may enable the liquid to be moved into the space and escape through the lid 100 and out the spout 105.
As described above, the spout 105 may be a conduit in which the liquid may be removed from the liquid vessel 200 when the lid 100 is in the second configuration and the plunger 125 is in the second position. As illustrated in the cross-sectional view, the spout 105 may include a cylindrical space extending from an inner end to an outer (external) end. The outer end of the spout 105 may be shaped to accommodate a person directly contacting the spout 105 such as a person's mouth. The inner end of the spout 105 may be coupled to the reservoir 130. That is, the spout 105 may be in fluid communication with the reservoir 130. The reservoir 130 may be configured to hold the liquid being moved from within the liquid vessel 200 prior to being moved out of the lid 100 via the spout 105 (when the lid 100 is in the second configuration). The reservoir 130 may therefore be a small linear chamber to provide this feature. Accordingly, the liquid from within the liquid vessel 200 may travel from a space of the liquid vessel 200, passed the plunger 125 into the space created between the plunger 125 and the gasket 120, into the reservoir 130, and out the spout 105.
It is noted that the use of the reservoir 130 is only exemplary. That is, the cylindrical space of the spout 105 may extend directly to the space created from the plunger 125 being moved to the second position. However, through inclusion of the reservoir 130, the lid 100 may be configured to substantially reduce residual droplets from accumulating which may result in liquid being inadvertently spilling out of the lid 100 despite the seals being present. It should also be noted that the relative size of the reservoir 130 in the cross-sectional view is only exemplary. That is, the reservoir 130 may be adjusted to further optimize the functionality of the reservoir 130. It is further noted that the cross-sectional view of
The cross-sectional view of the gasket 120 and the plunger 125 also illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a shape that may be used for these components. As described above, the gasket 120 may have a substantially disc-shape with a hole at a center portion. Specifically, the disc-shape may relate to a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the cross-sectional view of
As illustrated in the cross-sectional view, the gasket 120 and the plunger 125 may have corresponding shapes. Specifically, the gasket 120 may have a first shape on the bottom surface near the hole (and extending therefrom toward an outer edge). The plunger 125 may have a second shape corresponding to the first shape on the top surface such that actuation of the actuator 115 that places the lid 100 in the first configuration moves the plunger 125 toward the gasket 120 and is adjacent thereto. Although the gasket 120 and the plunger 125 may have any shape, the cross-sectional view according to the exemplary embodiments shows the gasket 120 to have a concave surface while the plunger 125 has a convex surface. Thus, in the first configuration of the lid 100, the plunger 125 may nest in the gasket 120. It is noted that the plunger 125 may have a substantially flat bottom surface although this too is only exemplary.
As discussed above, the actuator 115 may be configured to move the lid 100 between the first and second configurations. Accordingly, the actuator 115 may also be configured to move the plunger 125 between the first and second positions. As will be described in further detail below, the actuator 115 may further be configured to move the locking feature between a first locking position and a second locking position as well. Thus, the actuator 115 may be used to move the lid 100 between the first configuration in which the plunger 125 is in the first position and the locking feature is in the first locking position and the second configuration in which the plunger 125 is in the second position and the locking feature is in the second locking position.
The actuator 115 may include a plurality of components including the activating end 135, the connecting end 140, and the connector 145. The activating end 135 may be an end or surface used for manual activation to move the lid 100 between the first and second configurations. As illustrated, the activating end 135 may be a button that is pressed down for actuation. The mechanism by which the actuator 115 is utilized may depend on the mechanical aspects used with the lid 100. For example, the activating end 135 may simply be moved down for the lid 100 to move from the first configuration to the second configuration. Subsequently, the activating end 135 may be moved up for the lid 100 to return from the second configuration to the first configuration. Further examples of how the actuator 115 may be used will be described below.
The connecting end 140 may be an opposing side of the actuator 115 relative to the activating end 135. The connecting end 140 may be configured to couple with the plunger 125. In this manner, the actuator 115 may be coupled to the plunger 125 such that moving the lid 100 between the first and second configurations also results in the plunger moving between the first and second positions, respectively. The connecting end 140 may couple with the plunger 125 using any type of coupling such as those discussed above and may also be a permanent coupling. As illustrated, the connecting end 140 may include a threading and the plunger 125 may include a recess that receives the connecting end 140 and includes a corresponding threading.
The activating end 135 and the connecting end 140 may be connected to each other via the connector 145. The connector 145 may be a substantially rod-shaped component that couples the activating end 135 at a first end and the connecting end 140 at a second, opposite end. The actuator 115 may be manufactured separately and may be assembled to result in the actuator 115 shown in the cross-sectional view of
As discussed above, the actuator 115 may be used to move the lid 100 between the first and second configurations. In a first example noted above, the actuator 115 may be manually positioned to correspond to the configurations as well as the positions of the plunger 125. Accordingly, in this first example, the activating end 135 may include a surface upon which the activating end 135 may be depressed and move the actuator 115 downward. This may translate into a downward motion of the plunger 125 to separate from the gasket 120. Thus, the actuator 115 may move the lid 100 from the first configuration to the second configuration. Subsequently, the activating end 135 may have another surface (e.g., a ring structure) that may be pulled and move the actuator 115 upward. This may translate into an upward motion of the plunger 125 to be placed adjacent the gasket 120. Thus, the actuator 115 may move the lid 100 from the second configuration to the first configuration. The actuator 115 may be moved within the lid 100 using any type of motion such as a sliding motion. The actuator 115 may also incorporate features such as a frictional engagement or a ratcheting mechanism with walls of the lid 100 so that the lid 100 may be placed into the appropriate configuration and maintained in the desired configuration.
In a second example, the actuator 115 may utilize a biasing mechanism (not shown) such as a spring. The biasing mechanism may enable the actuator 115 to be biased to one of the configurations. For example, the biasing mechanism may bias the lid 100 into the first configuration where the liquid is sealed in the liquid vessel 200 having the lid 100 coupled thereto. Thus, the actuator 115 may be used to move the lid 100 from the first configuration to the second configuration and upon release of the activating end 135, the actuator 115 may automatically move the lid from the second configuration back to the first configuration via the biasing mechanism. In this manner, the activating end 135 may be required to be held and pressed to maintain the second configuration while liquid is to be removed.
In a third example, the actuator 115 may utilize the locking feature including the locking mechanism 150 on the actuator 115 and the corresponding locking mechanism 155 within the lid 100 such as within the upper half 102 and/or the lower half 104. The locking mechanism 150 and the corresponding locking mechanism 155 may enable the desired configuration of the lid 100 to be maintained until the other configuration is the desired one. For example, the locking mechanism 150 and the corresponding locking mechanism 155 may hold the lid 100 in the first configuration. Subsequently, liquid is desired to be removed. Thus, the actuator 115 may be used to move the lid 100 to the second configuration and the locking mechanism 150 with the corresponding locking mechanism 155 may be used to hold the lid 100 in the second configuration. The actuator 115 may be used such that a single motion or a series of motions may be used to utilize the locking mechanism 150 with the corresponding locking mechanism 155. Thus, in one example, the motion to move the lid 100 between the first and second configurations may also result in the locking mechanism 150 engaging the corresponding locking mechanism 155. In another example, the actuator 115 may move the lid 100 between the first and second configurations with a separate locking actuator (not shown) to have the locking mechanism 150 engage/disengage the corresponding locking mechanism 155.
In a fourth example, the actuator 115 may incorporate a combination of the above noted features. For example, the activating end 135 may be pressed to move the lid 100 from a biased first configuration into a stressed second configuration but maintained in the second configuration via the locking feature. Subsequently, the activating end 135 may be pressed again to move the lid 100 back to the biased first configuration from the locking feature disengaging. Accordingly, the locking feature may only be used for the stressed second configuration. It should be noted that the opposite orientation where the first configuration is stressed and the second configuration is biased may also be used.
Those skilled in the art will also understand that the mechanism by which liquid is dispensed via the lid 100 may be more efficient by incorporating a venting feature. Without a venting feature, the volume occupied by liquid that has flowed out of the liquid vessel 200 is not replaced and may cause a negative pressure to build within the liquid vessel 200. With no fluid replacing the liquid that has been removed since the seal was created by the gasket 120, the negative pressure may cause the liquid to flow very slowly out of the lid 100 or may even prevent any flow out of the lid 100 altogether. For example, this low or no flow may be caused by air travelling through the spout 105 in the opposite direction of the expected fluid flow to attempt to relieve the negative pressure, but this air flow causes the fluid within the vessel 200 to flow slowly or not at all through the spout 105. Thus, to solve this issue, a venting feature may be built into the lid 100 to equilibrate the negative pressure caused from the liquid flowing out of the liquid vessel 200 and allow the liquid to continue to flow freely through the spout 105.
According to the exemplary embodiments, the lid 100 may also include a venting feature. Specifically, the lid 100 may include the exterior venting port 160 on a top, exterior surface of the lid 100 (when coupled to the liquid vessel 200), the interior venting port 165 on a bottom, interior surface of the lid 100 (when coupled to the liquid vessel 200), and a vent 170 connecting the exterior venting port 160 and the interior venting port 165. As shown in
As described above, the actuator 115 may be used to place the lid 100 in a first configuration or a second configuration. Again, in the first configuration, the plunger 125 creates a seal with the bottom half 104 of the lid 100 to prevent any liquid to flow out of the spout 105. In the second configuration, the plunger 125 is separated from the bottom half 104 of the lid 100 to allow liquid to flow from the liquid vessel 200, passed the plunger 125, into the reservoir 130, and out the spout 105. In a substantially similar manner, in the first configuration, the plunger 125 creates a seal with the bottom half 104 of the lid to prevent any air to flow through the vent 170. Specifically, the interior vent port 165 is closed so that air cannot flow. In the second configuration, the plunger 125 is separated from the bottom half 105 of the lid 100 to allow air to flow. Specifically, the interior vent port 165 is open such that any negative pressure in the liquid vessel 200 causes air to flow from outside the lid 100, through the exterior vent port 160, into the vent 160, out the interior vent port 165, and into the liquid vessel 200.
It is noted that the interior vent port 165 being sealed when the lid 100 is in the first configuration with the plunger 125 creating the seal with the bottom half 104 of the lid 100 may be a first way to disable the venting feature. The lid 100 may also include a further gasket around the activating end 135 of the actuator 115. This further gasket may create a seal with the hole of the top half 102 in which the actuator 115 is disposed. In this manner, the lid 100 may be in the first configuration with the actuator 115 in a first position where the further gasket creates a seal over the exterior vent port 160. Accordingly, this may provide a second way or additional way to disable the venting feature.
It is also noted that the venting feature according to the exemplary embodiments are configured to compensate for any condition in which liquid enters the vent 170 via the exterior vent port 160 or the interior vent port 165. Specifically, any liquid that enters the vent 170 is eventually drained through the interior vent port 165 as air is passed into the liquid vessel 200.
The exemplary embodiments provide a lid that couples to a liquid vessel that seals liquid within the liquid vessel and lid unless the lid is moved into a proper configuration to enable liquid to be removed using a predetermined manner through the lid. The lid may include a gasket that seals the coupling between the lid and the liquid vessel along an outer edge of the coupling edge of the liquid vessel. The gasket may also seal the lid with a plunger so that liquid cannot be removed through the predetermined manner. The lid may include an actuator that separates the seal from the plunger so that the liquid may be removed in the predetermined manner. While the liquid is removed, a venting feature may compensate for any negative pressure that builds up in the liquid vessel due to the liquid removal.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent.
