Abstract:
A device for transporting and drinking liquids includes a body having a sidewall extending longitudinally between an upper surface and a lower surface. The sidewall has an inner surface that defines at least part of an aperture through the body and an outer surface, opposite the inner surface. The device also includes a sealing surface projecting from the inner surface of the body and a seal actuator including a linkage engaged with a seal. The seal is engaged with the inner surface of the body; the linkage is adapted to translate rotational displacement of the linkage into a linear displacement of the seal towards and away from the sealing surface of the body between closed and open positions. A lever engaged with the linkage is adapted to impart a rotational force onto the linkage to rotate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present disclosure is generally related to liquid travel containers, and more particularly, to a lid with a lever actuated seal for a travel cup. 
         [0003]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Devices and methods for use in transporting and drinking liquids that resist spills, yet are easily openable can aid in preventing spills. A variety of devices have been developed over the years in an attempt to reduce spills associated with traveling with liquids. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present disclosure is directed to devices and methods for use in transporting and drinking liquids. In one particular embodiment, a device includes a body that has a sidewall extending longitudinally between an upper surface and a lower surface. The sidewall having an inner surface that defines at least part of an aperture through the body and an outer surface, opposite the inner surface. The device also including a sealing surface projecting from the inner surface of the body and a seal actuator including a linkage engaged with a seal. The seal being engaged with inner surface of the body, the linkage configured to translate rotational displacement of the linkage into a linear displacement of the seal. The linear displacement being towards and away from the sealing surface of the body and between respective closed and open positions. A lever engaged with the linkage and configured to impart a rotational force onto the linkage to rotate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a lever actuated thermal lid, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the components of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , in a closed configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the seal assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in the closed configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6A  is the cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4  in an open configuration. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6B  is a top perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in the open configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the seal assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in the open configuration. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the seal assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a locked open configuration. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a right side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a left side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  coupled to a cup. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The following detailed description is directed toward apparatus and methods for making a lid with a lever actuated seal for a travel cup. The detailed description and corresponding figures are intended to provide an individual of ordinary skill in the art with enough information to enable that individual to make and use embodiments of the invention. Such an individual, however, having read this entire detailed description and reviewed the figures, will appreciate that modifications can be made to the illustrated and described embodiments, and/or elements removed therefrom, without deviating from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and deviations fall within the scope of the invention, and the invention is limited only by construction of following claims. 
         [0023]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed structures and/or methods. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1-14  illustrate one particular embodiment of a device  10  for use in transporting and drinking liquids that resist spills.  FIG. 15  shows the device  10  coupled to a cup for carrying a beverage or the like. The illustrated device  10  primarily comprises a body  12 , a rim  14 , and a lever actuated seal assembly  16 . The device  10  can be sized and shaped to comfortably fit in a user&#39;s hand when attached to a cup, such as the thermal cups shown in  FIGS. 15-34 . The user can use the device with a single hand by holding the device and attached cup in one hand and then pressing down on the lever  18 . 
         [0025]    Pressing down on the lever  18  actuates the seal assembly  16  (see, for example,  FIG. 4 ) to displace the seal  20  of the seal assembly  16  away from the rim  14  and the sealing surface  22  (see, for example,  FIGS. 4-7 ) of the body  12 . When the seal  20  is displaced away from the sealing surface  22  of the body  12  an annular opening  24  forms between the perimeter of the seal  20  and the sealing surface  22 . The annular opening  24  places the interior of a thermal cup in fluid communication with an environment external to the thermal cup. This allows liquid to flow from the interior of the thermal cup, through the annular opening  24  in the device  10 , and into the environment external to the thermal cup, for consumption by the user. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the components of the device  10 . These components work together to operably open and close the device  10 , which may also be referred to as a lid. The body  12  of the lid  10  includes a coupling  23  for coupling the lid  10  to a cup. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the coupling  23  is a threaded coupling for screwing into corresponding threads on a cup, such as the threads  302  of the cup  300 , shown in  FIG. 28 . 
         [0027]    The rim  14  may slide over and around the upper portion of the body  12 . In some embodiments, the rim  14  may press fit onto the body  12 . In some embodiments, the rim  14  and the body  12  may be combined in a single part. In other embodiments, the lid may be held in place by the lever  18  and a linkage  26 . 
         [0028]    In such an embodiment, a stud  28  is placed through the aperture  30  of the body  12 , and opposing keys  32  of the lever  18  are inserted through apertures  36  on either side of the rim  14  and into keyholes  34  of the respective linkages  26 . In this way, the linkages  26  and lever  18  hold the rim  14  to the body  12 . 
         [0029]    The gasket  38  is seated on the seal  20 , at the outer perimeter of the seal  20 . The gasket aids in forming a fluid tight seal between the seal  20  and the sealing surface  22  of the body  12 . During assembly, the seal  20  is inserted into an interior cavity  42  of the body  12 . In some embodiments, the gasket  38  may be integrated into the seal  20  or the body  12 . In some embodiments, the gasket  38  may form at least a portion of the sealing surface of the body. 
         [0030]    The body includes tracks  44  that project inwardly from an inner surface  46  of the body  12 . The inner surface  46  defines at least a portion of the interior cavity  42  of the body  12 . The guide arms  48  project from a bottom surface of the seal  20  and engage between parallel projections of respective tracks  44 . The guide arms  48  and the tracks  44  cooperate to allow the seal  20  to translate axially towards and away from the sealing surface  22  of the body  12 . 
         [0031]    The linkage  26  couples the seal  20  to the lever  18  such that when the lever is pressed, the linkage  26  rotates and translates the rotational force imparted by the lever  18  into linear movement of the seal  26 , causing the seal  26  to move linearly along a central axis of the body  12 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the lid  10  along the line  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 3 , with the seal in the closed position against the sealing surface  22 .  FIG. 4  shows how the linkage  26  engaged with the seal  20 . The linkage  26  includes a stud  50  that engages with an aperture  55  in the seal  20 . 
         [0032]    With reference to the exploded view,  FIG. 2 , and the view of the seal assembly  16  in the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the linkage  26  also includes an arm  52  that extends from an end of the linkage  26  opposite the end of the linkage  26  from which the stud  28  projects. The arm  52  includes a projection  54  that extends from an end of the arm  52 . The projection  54  engages with a recess  56  of the seal  20 . 
         [0033]    When the lever  18  is pressed downwards, the linkage  26  rotates about the stud  28  in a direction indicated by arrow A. As the linkage  26  rotates in the direction A, the stud  50  pushes on an inner perimeter of the aperture  55  of the seal  20  causing the seal to translate linearly away from the sealing surface  22  of the body  12 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7  show an embodiment of the lid  10  and seal assembly  16  in the partially open position, also referred to as a sipping or drinking position. In the sipping position, the projection  54  on the arm  52  of the linkage  26  is pressed against a stud  60  that is within the recess  56  of the seal  20 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 6B , the annular opening  24  is formed between the seal  20  and the sealing surface  22  of the body  12  when the seal  20  is in the sipping position. Thus, in this configuration, the interior of a cup is in fluid communication with an environment external to the interior of the cup. One flow path of fluid through the lid  10  is shown by arrows B. 
         [0036]    When the user releases the lever  14 , springs  63  act to rotate the linkage  26  in a direction opposite direction A, such that the seal  20  translates linearly towards the sealing surface  22  of the body  12  causing the lid  10  to close. 
         [0037]    The lid  10  may also include a configuration in which the seal  20  is locked in an open position, for example, as shown in  FIG. 8 . A user may engage the locked open position of seal  20  by pressing on the lever with greater force, causing the projection  54  to slide over the stud  60  within the recess  56  and into the detent  58 . The detent  58  holds the linkage  26  in place and thus holds the seal  20  in an open position. The detent  58  and the projection  54  are configured such that when the seal assembly  16  is locked in the open position, they cooperate to resist the closing force imparted by the springs  63  onto the linkage  26 . A user may place the lid  10  in the locked open position to facilitate cleaning of the lid  10 . 
         [0038]    To release the seal  20  from the locked open position, the user presses upward on the lever  18  with enough force to overcome the resistance between the projection  54  and the stud  60  such that the stud  54  is moved out of the detent  58 . With the stud out of the detent  58 , the springs  63  can then act on the linkage  26  to translate the seal  20  upwards towards the ceiling surface  22  of the body  12  and closed the lid  10 . 
         [0039]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the lid  10  may also include a gasket  62 . The gasket  62  can aid in sealing the body  12  of the lid  10  to, for example, a cup  200 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0040]    From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.