Container lid with multiple openings

A lid for use with a container may include a panel and a first dispensing opening on the panel. The lid may also include a first closure on the panel, where the first closure may include a second dispensing opening. The first closure may be configured to at least partially cover the first dispensing opening. The lid may further include a second closure on the panel, where the second closure may be configured to cover the second dispensing opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to a container lid and, more particularly, to a container lid having a plurality of differently-configured openings having a different dispensing function.

BACKGROUND

Conventional container lids include at least one opening for dispensing a liquid, a semi-solid, a powder, a flake, a granular article, or the like. For example, a conventional lid for a beverage container may include an opening for pouring, an opening for chugging, an opening for sipping, an opening configured to receive a straw, or the like. Often times, the lid includes a flap for covering, closing, and/or sealing the opening.

Similarly, a conventional lid for a powdery, flaky, or granular article may include a large opening for rapid dispensing and/or receiving a spoon or one or more small openings for a more controlled dispensing, for example, by shaking. Again, the lid may include a flap for covering, closing, and/or sealing the opening or openings.

Other conventional container lids include more than one opening. For example, a liquid container may have a lid with a large, rapid-pour opening and a small, drinking opening. As another example, a conventional lid for spices may include a large opening configured to receive a spoon and a smaller opening for shaking the product from the container. Typically, conventional lids with a plurality of openings have the openings positioned at opposite sides of the lid from one another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a lid for use with a container may comprise a panel and a First dispensing opening on the panel. The lid may also include a first closure on the panel, where the first closure may include a second dispensing opening and may be configured to at least partially cover the first dispensing opening. The lid may further include a second closure on the panel, where the second closure may be configured to cover the second dispensing opening.

According to another aspect of the invention, a closure for use with a container may include a panel, a dispensing opening on the panel, a first flap on the panel, and a second flap on the panel. The first flap may be configured to reduce a size of the dispensing opening, and the second flap may be configured to close the dispensing opening.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a container assembly may include a container, a lid configured for mounting to the container, and a dispensing opening on the lid. The lid may include a first flap that may be configured to reduce a size of the dispensing opening and a second flap that may be configured to close the dispensing opening.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a closure for use with a container may comprise a panel, a first dispensing opening on the panel, a first flap on the panel, and a second flap on the panel. The first flap may include a second dispensing opening may be configured to be pivotal between an open position exposing the first dispensing opening and a closed position modifying the first dispensing opening to the second dispensing opening. The second flap may be configured to be pivotal between an open position exposing the first flap and the second dispensing opening and a closed position covering the first flap and the second dispensing opening.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a lid for use with a container containing a beverage may include a pouring assembly in the lid through which a beverage may be dispensed through a dispensing opening. The lid may also include a straw access assembly facilitating dispensing of the beverage through a straw, and the pouring assembly and the straw access assembly may be superimposed in a same lid region. The pouring assembly and the straw access assembly may also be interconnected and may facilitate selective use of one of the pouring assembly and the straw access assembly for dispensing through the lid.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, a method of selectively dispensing a beverage from a container through a wall thereof may include providing a pouring assembly in the wall and providing a straw access assembly superimposed in a same lid region as the pouring assembly. The method may also include selectively utilizing one of the pouring assembly and the straw access assembly for dispensing through the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, a container lid is provided. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a container lid10may include a wall or panel12that may be configured to substantially cover an opening of a container. The panel12may be shaped to match an opening of a container. For example, an outer periphery13of the panel12may be circular to match a circular opening of a container. However, it should be appreciated that the outer periphery may be shaped as an oval, a square, a triangle, a rectangle, or the like so as to match a shape of a container opening.

The panel12may include a first opening14that may be used to dispense a product from a container. The panel12may also include a first closure16. The first closure16may be movably associated with the panel12such that the first closure16may be configured to cover, at least partially, the first opening14. For example, the first closure16may include a flap116pivotally mounted along a first edge118to the panel12.

The first closure16may include a second opening18. The second opening18may modify the size and/or the configuration of the first opening14. For example, the first opening14may be a large opening configured for chugging a liquid beverage, while the second opening14may include a reduced opening configured to receive a straw or configured for sipping a liquid beverage. In the case of a solid product, the first opening14may be a large opening configured to receive a spoon or configured to rapidly pour out a product, while the first closure may include a reduced second opening or a plurality of reduced openings configured to shake out a product or to pour out a product at a slower rate. It should be appreciated that the first and second openings14,18may take on any of a plurality of configurations, for example, where the second opening18modifies the first opening14.

The panel12may further include a second closure20. The second closure20may be movably associated with the panel12such that the second closure20may be configured to cover, at least partially, the first opening14and the second opening18. For example, the second closure20may include a flap202pivotally mounted along a first edge204to the panel12. In addition, the first and second closures16,20may be pivotally mounted about edges118,204that are substantially parallel to one another.

The first and second closures16,20may be movably positioned such that the first opening14is exposed or such that the second opening18is exposed or such that the first and second openings14,18are both closed. For example, while the first opening14is exposed, the first and second closures16,20may be superimposed on one another and on a first offset region22of the panel12, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. While the first and second openings14,18are closed, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the first and second closures16,20may be superimposed on one another and on a second offset region40of the panel12.

Further, the first and second closures16,20may both pivot in a first direction when exposing the first opening14and in a second direction when closing the lid10. For example, when viewed from the side as inFIG. 2, the first and second closures16,20pivot in a clockwise direction when exposing the first opening14and in a counter-clockwise direction when closing the lid10.

It should also be appreciated that the second closure20may include a third opening (not shown) that may modify the size and/or the configuration of the second opening18. For example, the panel12may include a large first opening14configured for chugging or rapidly pouring a liquid beverage, the first closure16may include a smaller second opening18configured for sipping or more slowly pouring a liquid beverage, and the second closure20may include a further reduced third opening (not shown) to receive a straw, for example, an opening formed by a plurality of retaining fingers configured to resiliently separate so that a straw may be inserted through and held by the retaining fingers.

In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the first and second closures16,20may be securely latched to open positions exposing the first opening14. In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, the second opening18may reduce the size and/or shape of the first opening14and may be configured to receive an object, for example, a straw. A straw may be received in a substantially interference fit relationship. The first closure16may be latched to the second closure20by way of, for example, an interference fit relationship between the closures16,20. It should be appreciated that the first closure16may be latched to the second closure20by any other mechanism known in the art.

The second closure20may be latched to a first offset region22of the panel12by way of, for example, an interference fit relationship between the second closure20and at least one wall24,26,28of the offset region22. The first offset region22lies below a plane of a non-offset region212of the panel12, when viewed from the side as inFIG. 4. The first closure16may be latched to the second closure20regardless of whether the second closure20is attached to the panel12. It should be appreciated that the second closure20may be latched to the panel12by any other mechanism known in the art.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the second closure20may be latched to the panel12in an open position while the first closure16occupies a closed position that at least partially covers the first opening14. In the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 5, the second opening18may include a plurality of converging retaining fingers30configured to separate upon insertion of an object, for example, a straw, and to hold the object sufficiently securely that the object does not fall out of the second opening18. The first closure16may latch to the second offset region40through, for example, an interference fit or similar means. For example, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 6, an outward-most portion162of the first closure16may be configured to engage a raised lip on the second offset region40.

As shown inFIGS. 7–9, the second closure20may occupy a closed position that covers the first closure16and closes the second opening18. Referring toFIG. 8, the second closure20may include side edges32,34configured to securely latch the second closure20to the panel12by an interference fit relationship with corresponding side walls36,38of a second offset region40(shown inFIGS. 3–6) of the panel12. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 6, the second offset region40may be further offset from the non-offset region212than the first offset region22, when viewed from the side. Alternatively or additionally, the second closure20may latch to the first closure16, for example, by an interference fit, when disposed in a closed position. It should be appreciated that the second closure20may be securely latched to the panel12in a closed position by any other mechanism known in the art.

FIG. 9illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a container lid10, such as those described above, in combination with a container50, for example, a liquid beverage container. The container lid10may be secured to the container50by, for example, a first projection41extending from the panel12and having screw threads42engaging screw threads52on the container50. The panel12may include a second projection43extending substantially parallel to the first projection41and configured to engage a side of the container50opposite the screw threads42,52. The lid10may be secured to the container50by other known mechanisms, for example, a lid snap fit over a lip on a container, an interference relationship between lid and container, and the like.

As shown throughout the drawings, the container lid10may include a flange44, for example, a corrugated flange, about the periphery of the panel12. The flange may extend downward and slightly outward from the panel12, when viewing the lid10from the side. When viewed from the top, as inFIGS. 3,5, and7, the shape of the lid, including the corrugated flange, may simulate the appearance of a bottle top design, for example, a COCA-COLA® bottle top design, including a bottle cap, for example, a COCA-COLA® bottle cap.

The panel12may also include one or more upwardly-extending projections46, when viewing the lid10from the side. The projections46may be configured to be indented upon application of a predetermined force. The projections46may be labeled such that indentation of a projection46may provide an indication of a product in a container covered by the lid10.

It should be appreciated that a container lid in accordance with the invention may be formed by, for example, molding, extrusion, thermoforming, or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, a container lid may be formed by injection molding and may have an initial configuration, for example, substantially similar to that shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Regardless of the initial configuration of a molded container lid formed, for example, of plastic, the first and second closures may be resiliently biased to the initial configuration.

In use, a beverage may be selectively dispensed from a container50through the panel12of the container lid10. A user may selectively position the first closure16and the second closure20so as to selectively utilize the first opening14or the second opening18for dispensing through the lid10. Additionally, the first and second closures16,20may be selectively positioned to cover the first and second openings14,18, which may thereby close the lid10.