The present disclosure relates generally to liquid containers, and more particularly to lids for portable beverage containers.
Portable beverage containers are ubiquitous, with users carrying their beverages in water bottles, canteens, travel mugs, and the like. These portable beverage containers often have lids of various types to limit or prevent spillage when the containers are not in use. For example, many portable coffee mugs utilize lids that allow users to drink coffee and other beverages with relative ease while they are on the go. Simpler lids can merely have small drinking openings, while others can include a mechanism that allows the drinking opening to be closed off.
Unfortunately, many such closing mechanisms can be cumbersome to operate, often requiring full attention of the user and the use of both hands. Simpler closing mechanisms may also allow some leakage while closed and/or provide inadequate venting when the mechanism is open and the beverage container is in use. Further, many such closing mechanisms have designs that are not aesthetically pleasing. For example, some simpler travel mug lids have a sliding closing mechanism that can be operated with one hand while the other hand holds the travel mug. While these sliding closing mechanisms can be slid into a closed position, they sometimes allow leakage while closed. They can also provide poor venting while in an open position.
Although traditional portable beverage lids have worked in the past, improvements are always helpful. In particular, what is desired are portable beverage container lids that fully prevent leakage, provide good venting, are easy to operate, and are aesthetically pleasing.
It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide improved lids for fluid containers, which can include portable beverage containers such as coffee travel mugs, among other possible fluid containers. The disclosed lids fully prevent leakage, provide good venting, are easy to operate, and are aesthetically pleasing, among other improvements. These advantages can be accomplished at least in part by utilizing a slide-lock lid arrangement that is leak proof, has multiple fluid passages and seals, requires only one hand to operate, and has a sleek and attractive appearance. A cooling well built into the slide-lock lid also minimize burning from coffee and other hot beverages during use.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus can include a main outer housing, a slider top assembly, a carrier, a first fluid seal, and a second fluid seal. The main outer housing can have a first fluid opening for a first fluid to pass therethrough and a second fluid opening for a second fluid to pass therethrough. The slider top assembly can be coupled to the main outer housing and can be configured to slide laterally between an open position and a closed position with respect to the main outer housing. The carrier can be disposed within the main outer housing and can be configured to move when the slider top assembly slides laterally with respect to the main outer housing. The first fluid seal can be coupled to the carrier and can be configured to close the first fluid opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position and allow the first fluid to pass through the first fluid opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position. The second fluid seal can be coupled to the carrier and can be configured to close the second fluid opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position and allow the second fluid to pass through the second fluid opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position.
In various detailed embodiments, the apparatus can be configured to be a lid for a portable beverage container. In such instances, the first fluid can be a beverage, the first opening can be a beverage opening, the second fluid can be air, and the second opening can be an air vent. In some arrangements, the slider top opening can be configured to be operated by a user with one hand while the one hand also holds a fluid container associated with the apparatus. The apparatus can also include a piston disposed within the main outer housing and coupled to the carrier, wherein the piston causes the carrier to move when the slider top assembly slides laterally with respect to the main outer housing. The piston and carrier can move vertically as a combined assembly when the slider top assembly slides laterally. Also, the piston can be spring-loaded to force the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal to close when the slider top assembly is in the closed position. The slider top assembly can define a bottom surface having a feature that contacts and slides along the top of the piston when the slider top assembly slides laterally between the open position and the closed position. This feature can include a curved portion that pushes the piston downward as the slider top assembly slides from the closed position to the open position.
In further detailed embodiments, the slider top assembly can define an upper surface that is disposed at a first angle with respect to the main outer housing when the slider top assembly is in the closed position. The upper surface can also be disposed at a second angle with respect to the main outer housing when the slider top assembly is in the open position. The difference between the first angle and the second angle can be about ten degrees. In some arrangements, the main outer housing can include a cooling well integrally formed therein, with the cooling well being configured to allow the first fluid to cool after the first fluid passes through the first opening and is still within the main outer housing. The slider top assembly can include integrally formed rails and the main outer housing can include integrally formed tracks, and the rails can slide along the tracks when the slider top assembly slides laterally between the open position and the closed position with respect to the main outer housing.
In various further embodiments of the present disclosure, a portable beverage container lid can include a main outer housing, a slider top assembly, a carrier, a beverage seal, and a vent seal. The main outer housing can have a beverage opening for a beverage to pass therethrough and a vent opening for air to pass therethrough. The slider top assembly can be coupled to the main outer housing and can be configured to slide laterally between an open position and a closed position with respect to the main outer housing. The carrier can be disposed within the main outer housing and can be configured to move when the slider top assembly slides laterally with respect to the main outer housing. The beverage seal can be coupled to the carrier and can be configured to close the beverage opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position and allow the beverage to pass through the beverage opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position. The vent seal can be coupled to the carrier and can be configured to close the vent opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position and allow air to pass through the vent opening when the slider top assembly is in the closed position. The portable beverage container lid can be configured so that sliding the slider top assembly to the open position can open both the beverage seal and vent seal simultaneously.
In various detailed embodiments, the portable beverage container lid can also include a spring-loaded piston disposed within the main outer housing and coupled to the carrier. The piston and carrier can move vertically as a combined assembly when the slider top assembly slides laterally with respect to the main outer housing. Also, the slider top assembly can define a bottom surface having a curved portion that contacts and slides along the top of the piston and pushes the piston downward when the slider top assembly slides laterally between the open position and the closed position. The slider top assembly can also define an upper surface that is disposed at a first angle with respect to the main outer housing when the slider top assembly is in the closed position and is disposed at a second angle with respect to the main outer housing when the slider top assembly is in the open position. The difference between the first angle and the second angle can be about ten degrees. The main outer housing can include a cooling well integrally formed therein, with the cooling well being configured to allow the beverage to cool after the beverage passes through the beverage opening and is still within the main outer housing.
In still further embodiments of the present disclosure, a portable beverage container can include a main reservoir configured to hold a beverage therein and a lid removably coupled to the main reservoir. The lid can include a main outer housing, a slider top assembly, a carrier, a beverage seal, and a vent seal. These components can have some or all of the foregoing features from the previous embodiments in any combination.
Other apparatuses, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional apparatuses, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and arrangements for the disclosed systems, apparatuses, features, and methods for beverage container lids. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the disclosure by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Exemplary applications of apparatuses, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure are described in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the disclosure. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details provided herein. In some instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of the present disclosure. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it is understood that these examples are not limiting, such that other embodiments may be used, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure relates in various embodiments to systems, apparatuses, and features for high-quality fluid container lids. In particular, the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and features provide portable beverage container lids that fully prevent leakage, provide good venting, are easy to operate, and are aesthetically pleasing, among other benefits. In various embodiments, slide-lock lids can include
Although the various embodiments disclosed herein focus on lids for beverage containers, such as portable coffee mugs, for purposes of simplicity in illustration, it will be readily appreciated that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and features can similarly be used for any other kind of fluid container. For example, the disclosed systems, apparatuses and features can be used for watering cans, fuel dispensers, and any other form of fluid holding device.
Referring first to
Lid 100 can be referred to as a “slide-lock” lid and can have various components to facilitate sleek and smooth opening and closing operations. For example, a slider top assembly 110 at the top of the slide-lock lid 100 can slide between open and closed positions. As shown in
Continuing with
Continuing with
When in the open position, a beverage opening (i.e., first fluid opening) 121 can be exposed. This beverage opening 121 can be integrally formed in main outer housing 120 of slide-top lid 100. A user can then drink a beverage contained within beverage container 10 through this beverage opening 121 when beverage container 10 is in this open position. In some arrangements, a cooling well 122 can be integrally formed in main outer housing 120. Such a cooling well 122 can facilitate a slight cooling of coffee or any other hot beverage after the beverage has passed through beverage opening 121 and is still within main outer housing 120.
Transitioning now to
Piston 130 can be coupled to carrier 140, which in turn is coupled to both vent seal 141 and beverage seal 142 to form a combined assembly of these components. Slider top assembly 110 can be arranged to provide a downward force to piston 130 when slider top assembly 110 slides from a closed position to an open position. This can result in piston 130 moving downward, which also moves carrier 140, vent seal 141, and beverage seal 142 downward as a combined assembly with piston 130. Downward motion of the piston, carrier, beverage seal and vent seal assembly correspondingly moves beverage seal 142 and vent seal 141 away from beverage and vent openings respectively to open the overall slide-lock lid 100. Biasing spring 131 can be configured to bias piston 130 in an upward direction such that the combined assembly of piston 130, carrier 140, vent seal 141, and beverage seal 142 is forced in an upward position to close the vent and beverage seals against their respective openings when slide-lock lid 100 is in the closed position. These relationships and details thereof can be seen with respect to the figures below, such as the cross-section view shown in
Turning next to
Each of features 121, 122, 123, 124 can be integrally formed within main outer housing 120. For example, main outer housing 120 can be a singularly formed molded plastic material. Alternatively, one or more of features 121, 122, 123, 124 can be formed from a separate component coupled to main outer housing 120. Main outer housing 120 can also be formed of any other suitable material besides a molded plastic material. For example, a suitable metal material may also be used.
Continuing with
Each of features 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 can be integrally formed within slider top assembly 110. For example, slider top assembly 110 can also be a singularly formed molded plastic material. Alternatively, one or more of features 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 can be formed from a separate component coupled to slider top assembly 110. Slider top assembly 110 can also be formed of any other suitable material besides a molded plastic material. For example, a suitable metal material may also be used.
Moving next to
While slide-lock lid 100 is in the closed position, coffee or another beverage or fluid may enter a hollow region 125 within main outer housing 120 since the bottom of main outer housing 120 is open and hollow where it couples to an associated beverage container. The coffee or other fluid cannot exit or leak from the slide-lock lid, however, due to the presence of beverage seal 142 sealing off beverage opening 121 and vent seal 141 sealing off vent opening 123 when the entire arrangement is in the closed position.
When slider top assembly 110 is slid into an open position (not shown in
When slider top assembly 110 is slid into an open position, coffee, beverage, or other fluid contained within hollow region 125 can flow through open beverage opening 121 with adequate venting provided through open vent opening 123, such as when the entire arrangement is tilted to allow fluid flow. Notably, a single sliding operation of the slider top assembly 110 actuates both beverage and vent seals 142, 141 simultaneously. After the coffee or other beverage or fluid has passed through the beverage opening 121, it can be slightly cooled within a cooling well 122 prior to being consumed or otherwise expelled from the slide-lock lid 100.
When the slider top assembly 110 of slide-lock lid 100 is slid from an open position to a closed position, a biasing spring 131 situated about piston 130 can push the piston upward against the bottom surface of the slider top assembly 110. This can then cause the carrier 140 coupled to the piston 130 to be pushed upward, which also causes the beverage seal 142 and vent seal 141 to seal off their respective openings. In some arrangements, an additional protrusion on the bottom surface of the slider top assembly 110 can snap into a hollow region atop piston 130, such that a snapping or locking effect is achieved as the slider top assembly reaches a fully closed position. A slight static force can be provided by this protrusion and hollow region arrangement, which can prevent the entire device from slipping open but which can also be overcome with a slight manual force by a user.
In various embodiments, various components of slide-lock lid 100 can be disassembled to allow for easier cleaning, maintenance, and interchangeability of parts. For example, slider top assembly 110 can be completely removed from main outer housing 120 in some arrangements. This can be accomplished by allowing a user to manually override the function provided by detent 116. When slide-lock lid 100 is unscrewed or otherwise removed from an associated beverage container or other fluid reservoir, a user can reach into hollow region 125 and pull down on the bottom of carrier 140. This can override the force of biasing spring 131 and serve to pull the entire carrier, seal and piston assembly downward such that detent 116 will no longer cause slider top assembly 110 to stop at a fully open position, and the slider top assembly can continue to be slid completely off of the main outer housing 120.
Lastly,
As noted above, piston 130 and carrier 140 can be coupled together to form a combined assembly that moves as a single unit, which assembly can also include a beverage seal, a vent seal, or both. In various arrangements, piston 130 can be readily removably coupled from carrier 140. Again, separation of various slide-lock lid components can advantageously facilitate cleaning, maintenance and part maintenance or replacement. In some arrangements, beverage and vent seals can be affixed to the carrier 140 and can be formed of different materials from the carrier, which materials may be more suitable for forming seals against their respective openings.
In some arrangements, a coin slot 132 or other similar feature can be located atop the piston 130 to facilitate such a rotation of the piston. Of course, a user can also simply rotate the piston without such an additional coin slot 132 or other similar helpful feature. In addition, a knob 144 or other similar feature can be integrally formed at the bottom of carrier 140 to facilitate gripping and downward pulling by a user when the user wants to override the detent function and remove the slider top assembly from the main outer housing, as noted above.
Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be recognized that the above described disclosure may be embodied in numerous other specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Certain changes and modifications may be practiced, and it is understood that the disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing details, but rather is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10870522 | Lane | Dec 2020 | B2 |
20170066573 | Karussi | Mar 2017 | A1 |
20200055645 | Lane | Feb 2020 | A1 |
20200231345 | Lane | Jul 2020 | A1 |
20200391910 | Pinelli | Dec 2020 | A1 |