U.S. patent application number 13/031045 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-25 for lid with rotating closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to WILTON INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Traci Chapple, Jeffrey Chiu, David Starr, Mason Umholtz.
Application Number | 20110204053 13/031045 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44475641 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110204053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Umholtz; Mason ; et
al. |
August 25, 2011 |
LID WITH ROTATING CLOSURE
Abstract
A lid for a container. The lid comprising a plate circumscribe
by a wall, the plating having an opening therethrough. A twisting
closure movably affixed to the plate. The twisting closure movable
from first position covering the opening to a second position
wherein the opening is not covered. The twisting closure secured to
the plate by a post protruding from the plate and a cap engaging
the post and capturing a portion of the twisting closure
therebetween.
Inventors: |
Umholtz; Mason; (Woodridge,
IL) ; Starr; David; (Woodridge, IL) ; Chiu;
Jeffrey; (Woodridge, IL) ; Chapple; Traci;
(Woodridge, IL) |
Assignee: |
WILTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
|
Family ID: |
44475641 |
Appl. No.: |
13/031045 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61306249 |
Feb 19, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/265
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.8 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18 |
Claims
1. A lid for a container, the lid comprising: a plate having an
upper surface and a lower surface proximate thereto and at least
one opening; a wall circumscribing about the plate and sealingly
affixed thereto; a twisting closure rotatably attached to the upper
surface, the twisting closure covering a portion of the upper
surface; wherein the twisting closure covers the at least one
opening in the closed position and the opening is not covered by
the twisting closure in the open position.
2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the twisting closure is rotatable
about a central axis between the closed position and the open
position.
3. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a cap engagable with the
plate and configured to attach the twisting closure to the upper
surface.
4. The lid of claim 3, further comprising a spring disposable
between the cap and the twisting closure, the spring further
configured to bias the twisting closure against the upper
surface.
5. The lid of claim 1, wherein the twisting closure further
comprises at least one seal configured to seal the at least one
opening in the closed position.
6. The lid of claim 5, wherein the seal seals the twisting closure
over the at least one opening.
7. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed about a
lower circumference of the wall and configured to seal the lid onto
the container.
8. The lid of claim 1, wherein the twisting closure further
comprises a lip engageable with the spring.
9. A lid for a container, the lid comprising: a plate having a wall
extending downward from the plate and an upper surface configured
to face away from the container when the lid is engaged with the
container; at least one opening; a post located on the plate and
extending upwards; a twisting closure having an opening for
receiving the post, the twisting closure disposed upon a portion of
the plate and rotatable about the post between an open position and
a closed position, the twisting closure configured to cover the at
least one opening in the closed position , the twisting closure
further configured to expose the at least one opening in the open
position.
10. The lid of claim 9, further comprising: a spring at least
partially disposable within the opening of the twisting closure;
and a cap configured to connect to the post, the cap further
configured to hold the spring and the twisting closure in
place.
11. The lid of claim 10, wherein the spring is positioned between
the cap and the twisting closure such that the spring presses
against the cap and presses the twisting closure against the upper
surface.
12. The lid of claim 9, further comprising at least one seal
configured to seal the at least one opening when the twisting
closure is in the closed position.
13. The lid of claim 12, wherein the seal seals the twisting
closure over the at least one opening.
14. The lid of claim 9, further comprising a gasket configured to
seal the lid onto the container.
15. The lid of claim 9, wherein the wall extends upward from the
upper surface.
16. A lid for a container, the lid comprising: a plate having a
wall extending from a periphery of the wall; at least one opening;
a post located on the plate; a twisting closure having a central
aperture configured to receive the post, the twisting closure
configured to rotate about the post between an open position and a
closed position, the twisting closure further configured to cover
the at least one opening in the closed position, the twisting
closure further configured to expose the at least one opening in
the open position; and a cap connected to the post, wherein the
twisting closure is rotatably secured to the plate.
17. The lid of claim 16, further comprising a spring configured to
press against the cap and to press the twisting closure against the
upper surface.
18. The lid of claim 16, further comprising at least one seal
configured to seal the at least one opening when the twisting
closure is in the closed position.
19. The lid of claim 18, wherein the seal seals the twisting
closure over the at least one opening.
20. The lid of claim 16, further comprising a gasket configured to
seal the lid onto the container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/306,249,
filed on Feb. 19, 2010, the disclosure of which is expressly
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Present Disclosure
[0003] The present disclosure is directed to a lid for a container.
The lid may include a twisting closure located on the upper surface
of the lid. Furthermore, the lid may substantially seal the
container, isolating its contents from the surrounding environment.
In some aspects, the lid may be operated with just one hand.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Many devices, such as travel mugs for hot or cold beverage;
reusable water bottles, and sport bottles, have lids and closures
that do not meet all of the users' needs and desires. In
particular, many travel coffee cups, for example, do not provide
very good seals. They may leak with any but the slightest jostle,
or they may leak when the user is drinking, which often results in
the user spilling coffee all over his clothes. Many of these travel
mugs have rudimentary closures that nonetheless require two hands
to open or close. Alternatively, the user may grasp the mug between
his knees and open it with one hand, but neither solution is very
safe when the user is also driving a car.
[0006] Reusable water bottles, sport bottles, and the like often
provide better seals so that the bottles do not leak under normal
conditions. The tradeoff, however, is a closure that requires two
hands, although some users may choose to use their teeth in place
of a hand, e.g., when riding a bicycle. Furthermore, water and
sports bottle are typically made from plastic or other
non-insulating materials, making them less than ideal for a user
who wants to carry a hot beverage, such as, e.g., coffee, to keep
it hot and not burn herself.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a lid with a closure that
creates a strong seal, prevents more or all leaks, and can be
operated with one hand. Such a lid may have applications beyond
beverage containers. In fact, any container that would benefit from
being sealed against the surrounding environment while providing
convenient access to its contents is contemplated for use with the
present disclosure. In particular, dry ingredient containers for
storing, e.g., sugar or flour, water bottles, sports bottles,
travel mugs, thermal mugs, carafes, pitchers, and the like may all
be used with the herein described lid.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0008] The present disclosure meets the foregoing need and
describes a lid with a sealed closure that can be opened or closed
with one hand, which results in a significant satisfaction of
consumer desires and needs and other advantages apparent from the
discussion herein.
[0009] Accordingly, in one aspect of the present disclosure a lid
for a container. The lid comprises a plate having an upper surface
and a lower surface proximate thereto and at least one opening. The
lid further comprises a wall circumscribing about the plate and
sealingly affixed thereto. A twisting closure is rotatably attached
to the upper surface, the twisting closure covering a portion of
the upper surface. Wherein the twisting closure covers the at least
one opening in the closed position and the open is not covered by
the twisting closure in the open position.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a lid
for a container comprises a plate having a wall extending downward
from the plate and an upper surface configured to face away from
the container when the lid is engaged with the container. The lid
further comprises at least one opening and a post located on the
plate and extending upwards. A twisting closure provided having an
opening for receiving the post, the twisting closure disposed upon
a portion of the plate and rotatable about the post between an open
position and a closed position, the twisting closure configured to
cover the at least one opening in the closed position , the
twisting closure further configured to expose the at least one
opening in the open position.
[0011] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure a lid for a
container is provided. The lid comprises a plate having a wall
extending from a periphery of the wall and at least one opening.
The lid further comprises a post located on the plate and a
twisting closure having a central aperture configured to receive
the post, the twisting closure configured to rotate about the post
between an open position and a closed position, the twisting
closure further configured to cover the at least one opening in the
closed position, the twisting closure further configured to expose
the at least one opening in the open position. A cap is connected
to the post, wherein the twisting closure is rotatably secured to
the plate.
[0012] Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the
present disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration
of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims.
Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of
the present disclosure and the following detailed description are
exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without
limiting the scope of the present disclosure as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the present disclosure, are incorporated
in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the
detailed description serve to explain the principles of the present
disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the
present disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a
fundamental understanding of the present disclosure and the various
ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a lid that is constructed according to the
present disclosure and attached to a thermal mug;
[0015] FIGS. 2A, 2B show top views of the lid of FIG. 1 with the
twisting closure in the closed position and in the open position,
respectively;
[0016] FIG. 3A shows a front view of the lid of FIG. 1 attached to
a thermal mug;
[0017] FIG. 3B shows a side view of the lid of FIG. 1 attached to a
thermal mug;
[0018] FIG. 4A shows a cutaway of the lid of FIG. 1 with the
twisting closure in an open position and the lid attached to a
thermal mug;
[0019] FIG. 4B shows a cutaway of the lid of FIG. 1 with the
twisting closure in a closed position; and
[0020] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the lid of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0021] The embodiments of the present disclosure and the various
features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully
with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that
are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the
features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to
scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other
embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not
explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and
processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily
obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples
used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of
ways in which the present disclosure may be practiced and to
further enable those of skill in the art to practice the
embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the examples
and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the
scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the
appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like
reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several
views of the drawings.
[0022] According to the present disclosure, a lid 10 may be
designed or constructed to attach to a container 11. The container
11 may be, for example, a thermal mug, an insulated mug, a thermal
carafe, an insulated carafe, a paper cup, a plastic cup, a plastic
beverage container, a plastic tumbler, a dry ingredients container,
an aluminum can, a metal beverage container, a plastic bottle, a
drinking glass, a glass tumbler, a glass bottle, or the like. As
shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the lid 10 comprises a plate 28
having upper surface 30 and a lower surface 36 (shown in FIGS. 4A
and 4B). The lower surface 36 may also be known as an inner
surface, as in certain embodiments this is the surface of the lid
10 that may face the interior of the container 11.
[0023] The embodiment of FIG. 1 further includes a wall 35
circumscribing the plate 28 (best shown in FIG. 2A and 2B). The
wall 35 may extend upward from the plate 28, i.e. away from the
container 11 to when the lid 10 is attached. The wall 35 may also
extend downward from the plate 28, i.e. engaging the container 11
when the lid 10 is attached. In one embodiment, such as illustrated
in FIG. 1, the wall 35 may extend both above and below the plate
28. It should also be appreciated that the wall 35 may extend
substantially perpendicular to the plate 28, or at one or more
angles with respect to the plate 28 such that a user is able to
utilize the lid to drink 10 from the container 11.
[0024] A twisting closure 20 may be connected to the upper surface
30 and held in place by retainer 21 such as, but not limited to a
cap, pin, clip, or similar structure. In one embodiment, the
twisting closure 20 is secured to the plate 28 at substantially the
center of the plate 28, such that the twisting closure 20 is at
least partially rotatable about the center of the plate 28. The
twisting closure 20 may have one or more vertical flanges 26. It
should be appreciated that the vertical flanges 26 may make it
easier for a user to rotate the closure, particularly via one-hand
operation. In an alternative embodiment, the vertical flanges 26
may be formed by a recess or depression in the twisting closer 20.
In one embodiment, the twisting closure 20 extends the diameter of
a substantially circular plate 28 and the vertical flanges 26
extend along the longitudinal axis of the twisting closure 20. In
some aspects, the twisting closure 20 may be rotated from an open
position of the lid to a closed position of the lid, and vice
versa, with a one-handed operation.
[0025] The lid 10 may include one or more openings 31 for
dispensing the contents of the container 11. For aspects that have
more than one opening 31, the openings may be the same size or they
may be different sizes. For example, a lid with two openings 31 may
have a larger opening 31, which may be intended for dispensing the
contents of the container 11, and a smaller opening 31, which may
be intended to allow a smooth air flow into container 11 to replace
the contents as it is dispensed.
[0026] FIGS. 2A, 2B show top views of the lid 10 with the twisting
closure 20 in the closed position and in the open position,
respectively. When the twisting closure 20 is in the closed
position, shown in FIG. 2A, openings 31 may be covered by the
twisting closure 20. Instead, non-opening areas 32 of the lid 10
may be exposed. When the twisting closure 20 is placed in the open
position, shown in FIG. 2B, openings 31 may be exposed while
non-opening areas 32 may be covered by the twisting closure 20.
Note that cap 21 may not rotate with closure 20 and instead may
remain in a fixed orientation relative to the body of the lid
10.
[0027] FIG. 3A shows a front view of the lid 10 attached to a
container 11, while FIG. 3B shows a side view of the lid 10
attached to a container 11. In this regard, the wall 35 may include
a higher portion 35' adjacent opening 31 and a lower portion 35''
adjacent the non-opening areas 32 (shown in FIG. 2A and 2B).
[0028] FIG. 4A shows a cutaway of the lid 10 with the twisting
closure 20 in an open position. The twisting closure 20 is located
over non-opening areas 32 of the lid 10. Twisting closure 20 may
fit over a post 33 located on the upper surface 30 of the lid. Post
33 may also hold twisting closure 20 in place as it is rotated
between the closed position and the open position. In one
embodiment, the twisting closure 20 rotates about an axis defined
by the post 33, which may be positioned substantially in at the
center of the plate 28. In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4A,
the twisting closure 20 includes an central opening, passage, or
slot 27 which is adapted to receive the post 33.
[0029] Cap 21 may mate to post 33 to attach the twisting closure 20
to the lid 10. As seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, cap 21 may fit inside
post 33. FIGS. 4B and 5 show that cap 21 may include bumps or posts
40 on its side to retain it inside slots of post 33. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will understand, different types of
fitting between cap 21 and post 33 may utilize different
orientations or arrangements of these parts without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, including the
claims. Lid 10 may employ adhesive, such as glue, epoxy, or the
like, friction, or other means known to one skilled in the art to
further secure the connection of cap 21 to post 33. In one
embodiment, the cap 21 is disposed within the opening 27. As shown
in FIG. 4A, the opening 27 of the twisting closure 20 may include a
cap retention flange 42, against which the cap 21 retains the
twisting closure 20.
[0030] A spring 22 may surround post 33 and be held in place
against the underside of cap 21. Spring 22 may further press down
against a lip 25 formed in the twisting closure 20. In one
embodiment, the twisting closure 20 includes central opening,
passage, or slot 27. The opening 27 is adapted to receive the cap
21 and further includes the lip 25. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and
4B, in one embodiment, the post and cap are connected and at least
partially disposed in the opening 27 wherein the spring 22 is
disposed annularly about the post 33 and cap 21, engaging the cap
and lip 25. In this manner, twisting closure 20 may be pressed down
against the upper surface 30 of the lid 10. It should be
appreciated that a range of motion away from the plate 28 may be
provided to the twisting closure 20, such as by having the cap
retention flange 42 positioned as shown in FIG. 4A. Such a range of
motion, against which the spring biases, may be utilized for
embodiments where a seal 23 is provided that at least partially
disposes the opening 31 of the lid, for example, as illustrated in
FIG. 4B. In such embodiments, the twisting closure 20 is positioned
closer to the plate 28 when the seal 23 is disposed in the opening
31 than when the twisting closure is positioned such that the
opening 31 is uncovered and the seal 23 is engaging a non-opening
area 32 of the plate 28.
[0031] When twisting closure 20 is in the open or closed position,
as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively, a tab 24 located on the
underside of the twisting closure may rest in a groove 34 located
on the upper surface 30. While this structure is described as a
tab, it may be a post, bump, or similar structure depending on the
particular application at hand, as will be understood by one
skilled in the art. Alternatively, tab 24 may be located on upper
surface 30 and groove 34 may be on the underside of the twisting
closure 20. Operation of the tab 24 and groove 34 will be described
as shown in the picture, but one of ordinary skill in the art will
be able to adapt the operation to different arrangements without
undue experimentation and without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present disclosure, including the claims.
[0032] Groove 34 may have a sloped or curved bottom that merges
with upper surface 30 approximately midway between the open and
closed positions. As twisting closure 20 is rotated from one
position to the other, tab 24 presses against the bottom of the
groove 34. As tab 24 is twisted against the sloped or curved bottom
of groove 34, tab 24 rises and forces twisting closure 20 to rise
as well. When twisting closure 20 rises, lip 25 compresses the
spring 22 against cap 21. If the twisting closure is rotated far
enough that tab 24 leaves groove 34 and comes to rest on the upper
surface 30, the closure may be in a position of relative stability.
A slight nudge backward and tab 24 may slide down the groove 34
that it just left, returning twisting closure 20 to its original
position. A slight nudge forward and tab 24 will enter the next
groove 34. The pressure created by spring 22 may encourage tab 24
to slide along the bottom of groove 34 into the next position. In
this way, twisting closure 20 may snap or pop into either an open
or closed position. Likewise, twisting closure may be less likely
to accidentally or unexpectedly open or close.
[0033] Twisting closure 20 may include one or more seals 23 on its
underside. When twisting closure 20 is in a closed position, seal
23 may be in contact with opening 31. The pressure of the spring 22
against lip 25 may assist seal 23 in forming a substantially air-
or liquid-tight seal over opening 31. Lid 10 may also include a
lower groove 13 defined by an inner rim 14 and an outer rim 15.
Groove 13, rim 14, and rim 15 may serve to attach lid 10 to
container 11 by threads (i.e. screw top), a snap-top, or the like.
A gasket 12 may be located in groove 13 and may form a
substantially air- or liquid-tight seal when lid 10 is attached to
container 11. The combination of seal 23 and gasket 12 may create a
substantially air- or liquid tight seal around the contents of
container 11. Thus, lid 10 may substantially reduce or prevent the
contents of container 11 from spoiling, spilling, leaking, drying,
absorbing moisture, becoming contaminated, or the like.
[0034] Lid 10 and container 11 may have a size and shape that makes
them convenient for a user to hold in one hand. Furthermore, lid 10
and its component parts may be selected or designed so that
twisting closure 20 can be rotated from one position to the other
with just a thumb or forefinger. Thus, a thermal mug constructed
according to the principles of the present disclosure may provide,
for example, a thermal mug that is substantially free from leaks
and can be opened with one hand. Such a mug would provide a
tremendous benefit to, e.g., a driver who could now enjoy her
coffee without having to worry about her mug leaking and without
having to take both hands off the steering wheel to open or close
the mug, further reducing the possibility of leaks.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the lid 10. As shown in
FIG. 5, the twisting closure 20 and all associated parts, including
cap 21 and spring 22, may be located on and attached to the upper
surface 30 on the lid 10. This separates and isolates the moving
parts of the lid 10 from the contents of container 11, which may
extend the life of the mechanism and may make cleaning lid 10
easier.
[0036] While the present disclosure has been described in terms of
exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that
the present disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the
spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above
are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list
of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications
of the present disclosure.
* * * * *