Patent Application
20120125931
Reusable mugs are becoming increasingly popular as consumers seek to reduce the environmental impact associated with disposable coffee cups. Such mugs handle extremely hot liquids and are often transported in automobiles or public transportation. Many existing reusable mugs are susceptible to leaks, particularly as the mug ages and/or when holding hot liquids that may generate elevated vapor pressures.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved lids and containers that are preferably leak-proof.
One aspect of the invention provides a lid comprising: a base defining a first orifice; and a sealing member rotatably coupled to the base, the sealing member configured to seal the first orifice when placed in a sealing position. The base and the sealing member include one or more detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in the sealing position.
This aspect of the invention can have a variety of embodiments. The lid can include one or more detents include a tab positioned on the sealing member. The one or more detents can include a slot positioned on the sealing member. The one or more detents can include a tab positioned on the base. The one or more detents can include a slot positioned on the base.
The base and the sealing member can include one or more additional detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in a drinking position. The one or more additional detents can include a tab positioned on the sealing member. The one or more additional detents can include a slot positioned on the sealing member. The one or more additional detents can include a tab positioned on the base. The one or more additional detents can include a slot positioned on the base.
The sealing member can rotate about a pivot point and at least one of the one or more additional detents can be located proximal to the pivot point. The sealing member can be held substantially flush with a surface of the base when in the drinking position. The sealing member can be held when in the drinking position at an angle relative to a surface of the base selected from the group consisting of: 25° or less, 20° or less, 15° or less, 10° or less, and 5° or less.
The first orifice can be formed on a spout. At least one of the one or more detents can be formed on the spout. The sealing member can include a first projection configured for insertion into the first orifice when the sealing member is placed in the sealing position. The first projection can include an elastomer.
The base can define a second orifice and the sealing member can include a second projection configured to press against the second orifice when the sealing member is placed in the sealing position. The second projection can include an elastomer. The elastomer can be silicone.
The base can include a threaded portion for coupling with a bottle. The threaded portion can include female threads.
The base can include one or tabs configured to releasably mate with a twist-lock groove.
The lid can include a gasket configured to form a seal between the base and a bottle. The gasket can be an elastomer. The elastomer can be silicone.
Another aspect of the invention provides a lid including a base and a sealing member rotatably coupled to the base. The base can include a spout, a first orifice formed on the spout, and a second orifice. The sealing member can include a first elastomeric projection configured for insertion into the first orifice when the sealing member is placed in a sealing position and a second elastomeric projection configured to press against the second orifice when the sealing member is placed in the sealing position. The base and the sealing member include one or more detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in the sealing position. The one or more detents include a slot on the spout and a first tab on the sealing member. The base and the sealing member include one or more additional detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in a drinking position. The one or more additional detents include a second tab on the sealing member and a third tab on the base.
Still another aspect of the invention provides a container including a mug and a lid configured for releasable coupling with the mug. The lid includes a base defining a first orifice and a sealing member rotatably coupled to the base. The sealing member is configured to seal the first orifice when placed in a sealing position. The base and the sealing member include one or more detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in the sealing position.
This aspect of the invention can have a variety of embodiments. The mug can include a reversible sleeve. The mug and the base can include threaded portions. The mug and the base can include complimentary twist-lock geometries. The lid can further include a gasket configured to form a seal between the base and a bottle. The gasket can be an elastomer. The elastomer can be silicone.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and desired objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the figure wherein:
The instant invention is most clearly understood with reference to the following definitions:
As used in the specification and claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. “About” can be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term about.
As used in the specification and claims, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing,” “having,” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like.
Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 (as well as fractions thereof unless the context clearly dictates otherwise).
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “or” is understood to be inclusive.
Various aspects of the invention provide lids and containers.
Referring now to
As depicted in
Referring again to
Sleeve 112 can be bonded to mug 102 (e.g., with an adhesive or by friction) or can be removable. A removable sleeve can be advantageous for cleaning and allows for interchangeability of sleeves of various colors.
Sleeve 112 can, in some embodiments, have designs on both the interior and exterior surface, thereby enabling the user to change the appearance of the container 100 without the need to obtain a new sleeve 112. For example, an exterior surface of sleeve 112 can have a cardboard appearance as discussed above and the interior surface can have a winter-holiday-themed design. The user can easily invert sleeve 112 (particularly when the sleeve is constructed from an elastomer) to reveal the desired design.
As visible in
Lid also includes a sealing member 122 configured to seal the first orifice 116 (and the second orifice 118 when present) when placed in a sealing portion (depicted in
Sealing member 122 can include a first projection 124 configured to seal (e.g., by pressing against or insertion within) the first orifice 116 when the sealing member 122 is placed in the sealing position. Sealing member can also include a second projection 126 configured to seal (e.g., by pressing against or insertion within) the second orifice 118 when the sealing member 122 is placed in the sealing position. The first projection 124 and second projection 126 can included an elastomeric material such as silicone. In some embodiments, the first projection 124 and the second projection 126 are fabricated as unitary piece of material as depicted in
Referring now to
Referring now to
To further enhance the sealing function of lid 104, the first projection 124 and/or second projection 126 can be oversized with respect to the first orifice 116 and/or the second orifice 118 such that the first projection 124 and/or second projection 126 are compressed when the sealing member 122 is held in the sealing position. In some embodiments, the first projection 124 and/or second projection 126 can have a flared or hourglass shape such that a wider portion expands after insertion within the first orifice 116 and/or the second orifice 118.
Still referring to
Sealing member 122 can be held substantially flush with a surface of the base when in the drinking position. For example, referring to
Referring now to
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.
Although the drawings provided herein are black and white line drawings, the invention provided herein can optionally include various colors to enhance its aesthetic appearance. For example, in one embodiment, all components of the invention are made from opaque white plastic except for elastomeric sleeve 112 (which can be a brown thermoplastic rubber such as PANTONE 7504), gasket 110 (which can be a brown silicone such as PANTONE 7504), and projections 124 and/or 126 (which can be a green silicone such as PANTONE 382).
As appreciated by those of skill in the art, PANTONE 7504 and PANTONE 382 correspond to (152, 115, 74) and (181, 220, 16), respectively, on the RGB (red, green, blue) color model.
The entire contents of all patents, published patent applications, and other references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
