A lip-openable lid is provided for use in connection with a container or container cap having a valve seat and an opening for egress of container contents. A lip-openable container is also provided that employs the lip-openable lid. The lid is comprised of a gasket with a lip-engageable annular wall, a central portion radially inward of the wall, and a peripheral flange that is engageable with the valve seat. The lid includes a rigid support that has liquid flow openings, supports the central portion of the gasket and positions the gasket against the valve seat. The lid can also include means for securing the gasket to the support. The central portion of the gasket is comprised of a flexible elastomer and is capable of flexing and stretching to displace the flange from the valve seat when downward pressure is applied against the gasket. When downward pressure is applied, the central portion of the gasket contacts the rigid support and flexes and stretches downward from and/or over the rigid support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to drinking containers for liquids. More
 particularly, the present invention is directed to drinking containers and
 lids for drinking containers that are openable by the user's lips.
 Lip-openable containers are known. Such containers are desirable for
 children in their progression from use of a container whose lid has a
 spout, to an adult open-ended drinking container. Lip-openable containers
 are desirable because, as compared to containers with a spout, they do not
 require orientation of the cup to bring a spout to the children's lips,
 and they help children learn the sipping action needed for use of an
 open-ended container, such as a glass. Also, lip-openable containers are
 highly convenient since only one hand is required to drink from the
 container, and when drinking is completed the container closes
 automatically.
 Heretofore, lip-openable containers have employed a movable lid seated
 within a central opening of the container closure cap. The lid functions
 as a valve. In its normal position, the lid is urged or biased upward by
 an underlying spring device, so that the periphery of the lid seats
 against an overlying, surrounding valve seat that is part of the closure
 cap. To drink from the container, a person uses his or her upper lip to
 push downward on a portion of the periphery of the lid, against the bias
 of the spring, to create an opening between the lid and the valve seal
 that allows liquid to flow therethrough.
 Heretofore, the movable lid has been constructed of a rigid material. The
 application of lip pressure to the rigid lid, for example, at about 9
 o'clock on its circumference, would depress the lid from a pivot point
 seeking a location at about 3 o'clock, i.e., about 180.degree. opposite
 from where the pressure is applied. This is disadvantageous because with
 downward pressure of a user's lip that is necessarily exerted in a
 relatively localized area, a portion of the rigid lid substantially wider
 than the localized area of pressure, e.g., a segment of an arc approaching
 180.degree. or more of the periphery of a circular lid, is removed from
 the valve seat. This causes spillage at the sides of the user's lips.
 Also, a rigid lid does not have a natural feel and is uncomfortable to the
 user's lips.
 It would be desirable to have an improved lip-openable container that does
 not require a spring device. It would also be desirable to have a
 lip-openable container that does not employ a rigid lid, and that when
 open, allows liquid flow into the user's mouth and not outside or beyond
 it. It would thus be desirable to have a non-rigid lid that avoids
 spillage of liquid from an excessively wide opening, as is created between
 a rigid lid and its surrounding valve seat when a user applies localized
 lip pressure to the rigid lid.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved
 lip-openable container that does not require a spring member to bias the
 lid against a valve seat.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide such an improved
 lip-openable container whose movable lid is a non-rigid, flexible
 material.
 It is another object of this invention to provide an improved flexible lid
 that is a flexible material that stretches and recovers to move the lid
 away from and into contact with a valve seat.
 It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved
 flexible lid that is spill-proof.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an improved
 flexible lid that does not leak.
 It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a
 flexible lid that is adapted to bend or flex in response to the
 application of localized lip pressure on the lid and create a localized
 graduated opening in the container in the area of applied lip pressure.
 It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such a
 flexible lid that localizes flow of liquid into the user's mouth and not
 outside or beyond the user's mouth.
 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a
 flexible lid that is made of a soft material that has a comfortable,
 natural feel to the user's lips.
 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a
 flexible lid that is easy to use, even for young children.
 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a
 flexible lid that is advantageous for young children in that in use it can
 provide a metered flow of liquid and prevent the child from receiving an
 excessive amount of liquid at one time.
 These and other objects of the present invention will be achieved by a
 container closed by a lid having a lip-openable flexible gasket with a
 portion, preferably a peripheral portion thereof, in tension and
 releasably seated against an overlying valve seat. Upon the application of
 lip pressure to the gasket, the gasket bends or flexes and/or stretches
 in, from, adjacent and/or about the area of applied pressure, to remove
 the flexed or bent area from the valve seat and create an opening that
 allows liquid container contents to flow through the opening into the
 user's mouth. Upon the release of the lip pressure on the gasket, the
 flexed or bent or stretched area automatically returns and seats against
 the valve seat.
 Thus, the present invention is directed to a lid for use in connection with
 a container or container cap having an inwardly extending ledge that forms
 a valve seat and defines an opening for egress of container contents
 therethrough.
 The present invention is also directed to a lip-openable container
 comprising a container body, a removable cap having a ledge that forms a
 valve seat and defines a central opening, and a removable lip-openable
 lid.
 The lid is a gasket having a central panel having a flexible elastomer and
 a flange that is engageable with the valve seat. The lid includes a
 support that supports the central panel of the gasket and is capable of
 positioning the gasket against the valve seat of the cap. The lid can also
 include means for securing the central panel, preferably a central portion
 thereof, to a central section of the support. The central portion of the
 gasket is capable of flexing and stretching to allow a portion of the
 flange to be displaced from the valve seat when downward pressure is
 applied against a portion of the gasket. The gasket preferably has an
 upstanding lip-engageable wall that can be rigid or flexible and
 preferably is annular.
 The support preferably is rigid, has a base, and has a central section
 connected to the base. When downward pressure is applied against the
 gasket, the central panel of the gasket can contact the rigid support,
 preferably a central section thereof, e.g. a rigid bearing surface, such
 that a portion of the central panel of the gasket flexes downward from or
 about, or stretches downward from, or stretches over the rigid support, to
 displace the flange of the gasket from the valve seat.
 The securing means of the lid can comprise a flexible elastomer and can be
 part of the gasket, preferably part of its central portion, part of the
 support, preferably part of its central section, or part of the gasket and
 the support. The securing means of the gasket can be a flexible member, e.
 g., a trunk, that is integral with and depends from the central panel,
 preferably a central portion thereof, and that includes retaining means
 for engaging structure of the support. The trunk can have a dead end bore
 extending upward into it, and the lid can include a rigid plug having a
 stem seated in the bore to compress the trunk against the central section
 of the support and improve the engagement of the retaining means of the
 gasket to the support.
 The securing means of the support can include structure, e.g., engaging
 means, of the central section of the support, for engaging structure,
 e.g., retaining means, of the gasket. The securing means of the central
 section of the support can include a rigid hub with engaging means that
 engage the retaining means of the trunk of the gasket to flexibly secure
 the gasket to the support. The hub can include an annular bearing surface
 that engages a concavely curved surface of the trunk and facilitates
 flexing of the central panel of the gasket downward and radially outward
 of the annular bearing surface. The bearing surface can be positioned
 under the central panel, preferably under the central portion thereof.
 The securing means of the support can include upstanding rigid structure
 with openings therethrough and the securing means of the gasket can
 include portions of the central portions of the gasket that extend through
 the openings and engage the rigid structure.
 The rigid wall of the gasket can have a lower portion with a radially
 inwardly extending lip to which the flexible elastomer of the central
 portion of the gasket is attached, and a radially outwardly extending lip
 whose upper surface has a layer of an elastomer with an upstanding
 peripheral annular sealing bead thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Referring to the drawings and, in particular, in FIG. 1, there is shown a
 preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention generally
 represented by the reference numeral 10. Container 10 has a closure 20 and
 a container body 300. As shown in. FIGS. 1A and 2, closure 20 has a cap
 ring 22 and, mounted to it, a lid 50. Lid 50 is a gasket assembly having a
 movable gasket 100 and a gasket support 200.
 Gasket 100 functions as a valve. It is made of a flexible elastomeric
 material, and has an annular upwardly extending outwardly-flared conical
 wall 102. About the base of wall 102, there is an annular radially
 outwardly extending, peripheral flange 104. Gasket support 200 is made of
 a rigid material and has an annular peripheral ring portion 210 and an
 annular depending skirt 212. Container body 300 has a body wall 302 whose
 upper end portion includes a helical thread 304, a radially inwardly
 recessed wall 306, and a rim 308 having a peripheral side edge 310.
 As shown in FIG. 4, cap ring 22 is a cylindrical structure having an
 outwardly flared, conically shaped upper wall 24 and a depending skirt 26.
 The outside surface of the upper portion of the wall 24 is concavely
 curved for receiving a user's lower lip. The inside surface of wall 24 is
 also concavely curved and communicates with a radially inwardly extending
 ledge 28 having a lower corner 32 and an inner edge 30, and an outwardly
 extending lower surface 34. Corner 32 and/or, at times, substantially all
 or a portion of lower surface 34 functions as a valve seat for flange 104
 of gasket 100. Lower surface 34 communicates with a cylindrical wall 36
 having an radially inwardly protruding member or members, here shown as
 four equally circumferentially spaced snap lugs 38, for mounting lid 50
 onto cap ring 22.
 FIGS. 3 through 3B show lid 50 assembled to cap ring 22 to form closure 20
 that is secured to container body 300. To assemble closure 20, lid 50 is
 pushed upwardly into cap ring 22. Gasket support ring 210 is snapped into
 place on snap lugs 38 which support and maintain gasket support 200 and
 lid centrally located and in horizontal disposition within cap ring 22.
 The lower surfaces of snap lugs 38 are coplanar and merge with a radially
 outwardly extending horizontal surface that forms a ridge 40 on which cap
 ring 22 rests on rim 308 of container body 300. Ridge 40 merges with a
 cylindrical wall 42 through a downwardly and outwardly angled sealing
 surface 44, that is engaged by rim 308 and side edge 310 to form a
 hermetic seal between cap ring 22 and container body 300. As shown in FIG.
 3, the upper end of the inside surface of container body wall 302 merges
 into a rim 308 through a concavely curved surface 312. The outer surface
 of body wall 302 can have an annular area, and recessed panel 306 for
 mounting an annular sealing ring therein and thereon (not shown) to
 assist, if necessary, in providing a hermetic seal between cap ring 22 and
 container body 300.
 FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, 5A and 7, show that gasket support 200 of lid 50
 includes an annular ring 210, a depending skirt 212, radially spokes 214
 and structure for securing gasket 100 to gasket support 200. Such
 structure is shown as including central, annular hub 216 extending
 upwardly from ring spokes 214. Hub 216 has a lower portion 217 that
 includes an annular U-shaped channel 218 formed by a radially outer wall
 220 and a taller, radially inner wall 222 having a radially inwardly
 extending annular rim 224. Hub 216 has an upwardly extending upper portion
 226 (FIG. 8) having upper spokes 228 extending from a central web 230 with
 a central hole 231 (FIG. 7). Spokes 214 of ring 210, hub 216, and annular
 ring 210 between them define openings 232 for flow of liquid therethrough.
 Between upper spokes 228 of hub upper portion 226 are openings 234. Web
 230 has a hole 231 therein for the flow of gasket material therethrough
 and into bore 217 of hub 216 during overmolding of gasket 100 onto gasket
 support 200. Ring 210 of gasket support 200 has a radially outwardly
 extending peripheral edge 211 with an undersurface 213 on which gasket
 support 200 rests on snap lugs 38 of cap ring 22. Gasket support 200 also
 has structure, here shown as circumferentially spaced support ribs 236,
 for radially supporting and thereby centrally and horizontally positioning
 gasket support 200 in cap ring 22. As shown in FIG. 3, support ribs 236
 engage curved surface 312 adjacent rim 308 of container body wall 300.
 FIGS. 3, 5, 5A and 7 show gasket 100 of lid 50 overmolded onto and
 positively secured to gasket support 200. As shown in FIG. 7, during the
 overmolding process, gasket material flows into upper openings 238 and
 hole 231 in upper hub portion 226, and into annular U-shaped channel 218
 of hub 216. Accordingly, gasket 100 is preferably made integral or unitary
 with gasket support 200.
 As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 5A, conical wall 102 of gasket 100 preferably
 has a downwardly and inwardly angled outer surface 106 and a more
 gradually downwardly and inwardly angled inner surface 108 that merges
 through a radius of curvature into a recessed central panel 110. Panel 110
 need not be, but preferably is, in the same plane as upper surface 112 of
 flange 104. Gasket 100 has an annular peripheral undersurface 114 that
 merges with depending cylindrical central trunk or base 116, for securing
 gasket 100 to gasket support 200. Base 116 includes a depending annular
 retaining ring 118 positioned and held in U-shaped channel 218 of gasket
 support 200. The upper portion of base 116 preferably is undercut with a
 concavely curved, reduced diameter portion 120 that merges with
 undersurface 114. Concave portion 120 facilitates bending or flexing of
 outer peripheral portion 122 at or adjacent junction 124 when a user of
 the container applies downward and radially outward lip pressure to inner
 surface 108 of conical wall 102. Flange 104 of gasket 100 need not have,
 but preferably includes structure, here shown as a rigid annular ring 126
 of a material for rigidifying flange 104. Annular ring 126 can be secured
 to or radially inwardly contained in flange 104 in any suitable manner,
 for example, here shown by opposed upper and lower peripheral edge 105.
 FIG. 3A shows annular flange 104 in tension and urged or biased and seated
 against and along most of lower surface 34 of ledge 28. This creates the
 hermetic seal between gasket 100 and cap ring 22. FIG. 3A shows a gap or
 space S between the outer side edge 107 of flange 104 and wall 36 of the
 cap ring. As will be explained, this space S allows liquid to flow
 therethrough. FIG. 3A also shows the inner diameter dimension of ledge 28
 and the outer diameter of flange 104.
 FIG. 3B shows a left side portion of gasket 100 bent or flexed downwardly
 by the application of pressure of a user's upper lip on the inner surface
 108 of conical wall 102. As shown, the pressure moves flange 104 away from
 ledge 28 and creates passageway for flow of liquid therethrough. The
 bending or flexing of gasket 100 occurs at or about a central portion of
 the gasket, adjacent or at the junction 124 of undersurface and base 116
 of gasket 100, and along and through the portion of gasket 100 radially
 outward of junction 124. Unexpectedly, the application of lip pressure
 against the underlying area of the gasket usually does not move flange 104
 to an interstitial position between ring 210 such that liquid flows under
 flange 104. Rather, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 14, it has been found that
 flange 104 usually or always engages ring 210 under the area where the
 pressure is applied such that little or no liquid flows between the
 engaging surfaces. It has been found that, given the flexibility of
 gasket, and that, as shown in FIG. 14, portions of the flange 104
 circumferentially to either side of the area of engagement are spaced from
 ring 210, liquid flows out of the open areas to either side of the
 engaging surfaces. As shown in FIG. 15, some liquid passes
 circumferentially along and about outer peripheral edge 107 of flange 104
 in the spaces between edge 107 and wall 36 of ring cap 22 in the area
 where the flange engages ring 210, and that liquid passes into the user's
 mouth. Thus, despite the engaging surfaces, the flow is into the user's
 mouth as if the liquid had passed directly radially outward from a gap
 between the portion of the flange where the pressure was applied, and an
 underlying portion of ring 210.
 FIGS. 6 through 10 show different views of a preferred embodiment of gasket
 support 200 and particularly its hub 216 onto which base 116 of gasket 100
 is overmolded and secured. FIG. 6 shows the upper portion of hub 216,
 including upper spokes 228 and portions of rim 224 that are visible
 through upper openings 234 between spokes 228.
 FIG. 7 shows the wagon-wheel appearance of gasket support 200. Annular ring
 210 of gasket support 200 is joined to central hub 216 by radial spokes
 214. These structures define openings 232 between them and through gasket
 support 200. Hub 216 includes about its periphery outer and inner walls
 220, 222, respectively, that define U-shaped channel 218. Extending
 radially inward from inner wall 222 is annular rim 224 that underlies and
 shows through openings 234 between spokes 228. Hub 216 has a central web
 230 with a central hole 231. Spokes 228 extend radially outward from web
 230 and turn downward and merge into inner wall 222. Web 230, spokes 228
 and inner wall 222 define conically shaped openings 234. Under and visible
 near the tip of each opening 234 is a passageway 238 that communicates
 with bore 217 of hub 216.
 FIG. 8 shows spokes 228 of hub 216, and between them, rim 224 and a portion
 of bore 217.
 FIG. 9 shows the portions of central web 230 of hub 216 that in FIG. 5 are
 embedded in gasket material.
 FIG. 10 shows rim 224, web 230, hole 231 and passageways 238 of hub 216.
 FIG. 10 also shows support ribs 236 spaced about the periphery of ring
 210.
 FIG. 11 shows a portion of gasket support 200 but with gasket material M
 molded thereto and appearing through openings 232 and in bore 217 of hub
 216.
 FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment of a gasket support 2000 of the
 present invention. The elements of gasket support 2000 are the same,
 except where indicated otherwise. Gasket support 2000 includes an annular
 ring 2010 whose upper surface has a plurality of variously-shaped,
 upwardly-extending circumferentially spaced protrusions 2015. The spokes
 and openings in a gasket support can be variously shaped.
 FIG. 13 shows protrusions 2015 on an annular ring 2010 that does not have a
 depending skirt 212 or support ribs as in FIG. 8. Protrusions 2015 help to
 break up turbulence in flow of liquid from container body 300, through
 openings 2032, and over ring 2010 prior to exiting the opening of cap ring
 22. Protrusions 2015 also prevent under surface 114 of flange 104 of
 gasket 100 from coming fully into contact with the upper surface of ring
 and, at that location, preventing flow between ring 2010 and undersurface
 114.
 FIG. 14 shows downward pressure being applied, as by a user's upper lip,
 onto conical wall 102 of gasket 100. This causes gasket 100 to flex
 downward about the junction of base 116 and flange undersurface 114 (not
 shown; see FIG. 3B), such that a radially outer portion of conical wall
 102 flexes downward and an underlying localized portion of flange 104
 flexes and engages a portion of ring 210 of gasket support 200.
 FIG. 15 shows that downward pressure applied as in FIG. 14 typically
 provides a seal opening along a localized circumferential portion, which
 may vary but is here shown to be about 75 degrees or less of flange 104.
 FIG. 15 also shows (dashed lines) the approximate circumferential path of
 liquid flow around outer edge 107 of the portion of flange 104 that
 engages ring 210 of gasket support 200.
 FIG. 16 shows dimensions of key components of a preferred embodiment of
 container 10. "Ref" herein refers to millimeters.
 FIG. 17 shows gasket support 200 having chamfered surfaces 233 about
 openings 232 in ring 210. FIG. 17 also shows the diameter of gasket
 support 200. FIG. 18 shows further dimensions of gasket support 200.
 To assemble closure 20, lid 50 is inserted gasket first into the bottom
 opening of cap ring 22 until conical wall 102 protrudes through opening 23
 at the upper end of cap ring 22. Upper surface 112 of flange 104 engages
 and is bent downward by corner 32 of ledge 28, and ring 210 of gasket
 support 200 passes over and snaps into place and its lower edge 213 sits
 on snap lugs 38. Lid 50 is held tightly in place from above by ledge 28
 and from below by snap lugs 38. Since the axial distance between
 undersurface 34 of ledge 28 and the upper surface of snap lugs 38 is less
 than the axial distance between the upper surface of flange 104 and the
 undersurface 213 of outer edge 211 of ring 210, gasket 100 is held in
 compression such that its flange 104 is urged and biased against corner 32
 of ledge 28. With lid 50 seated in position, the six support ribs 234 that
 are equally circumferentially spaced about ring 210, and that are
 preferably positioned circumferentially between snap lugs 38 engage curved
 surface 312 of container body wall 302 and thereby help to stabilize lid
 50 and maintain it in a horizontal plane. Support ribs 234 also assist in
 preventing lid 50 from being pushed downwardly off of snap lugs 38 by a
 downward force exerted on gasket wall 102 or central panel 110.
 Once closure 20 is assembled, it is threaded onto container body 300 until
 ridge 40 seats fully and tightly against rim 308, and side edge 310 of rim
 308 engages angular surface 44 of cap ring 22. This forms a hermetic seal
 between cap ring 22 and container body wall 302.
 To drink from the container, the user tips container 300. While resting the
 curved upper outer surface of wall 24 on the lower lip, the upper lip is
 placed on and applies downward pressure against a portion of curved inner
 surface of wall 102 of gasket 100. As shown in FIGS. 3B, 14 and 15, this
 causes gasket 100 to flex or bend at and about the junction of base 116
 and flange undersurface 114, such that an underlying radially outer
 portion of gasket 100 that includes a localized portion of flange 104
 flexes or bends and moves downward away from and unseats from corner 32 or
 valve seat of ledge 28. With flange 104 held or positioned either between
 the valve seat and the upper surface of ring 210, or, more likely, in
 engagement with ring 210, liquid flows from the container through openings
 232, 2032, over ring 210 between it and flange 104, around the outer
 peripheral portion of edge 107 of any portion of flange 104 that engages
 ring 210, and over the inside surface of cap ring wall into the user's
 mouth. By use of the upper lip, the user can control the initiation,
 termination and volume of flow of liquid from the container body 300. By
 varying the pressure applied by the upper lip, it is possible to vary the
 gap between ring 210 and flange 104 and thereby vary the height and width
 of the flow stream. By narrowing or widening of the circumferential arc of
 expanse of applied pressure, it is possible to localize or widen the flow
 stream. It is also possible to localize, narrow or widen the
 circumferential extent of the engagement of the surfaces flange 104 and
 ring 210. With the application of lip pressure, the flexibility of gasket
 100 provides for a localized graduated area of flexing. The amount of
 flexing is greatest at, under and adjacent the circumferential focal area
 or location of the applied pressure and the amount of flexing being
 gradually less progressively away from the area or location. FIG. 14 shows
 a downwardly concave area of flange 104 whose longest radius of curvature
 would be under or near the area of greatest applied pressure. As shown in
 FIG. 15, flexing and consequent release of flange 104 from the valve seat
 or ledge 28 can be localized to a segment about 75.degree. or less of the
 circumference of a gasket flange having a thickness of about 3.90 mm and
 made of an elastomer having a durometer of about 30. Thus, in accordance
 with the present invention, the use of a flexible lid provides localized
 bending or flexing of gasket 100 and localized flow of liquid into, rather
 than outside either or both sides of, the user's mouth.
 The operation of a particular lid 50 as an effective valve can depend upon
 several interrelated factors. These include, for example, the nature,
 properties and characteristics of the respective materials used to form
 the gasket and gasket support, the initial and operative spatial
 relationships between key elements of the components (e.g. between ledge
 28 of cap ring 22 and flange 104, between flange 104 and ring 210 of lid
 50, and between outer edge 107 of flange 104 and wall 36 of the cap ring),
 the physical dimensions of those elements, and the intended application.
 As will be explained, these factors may individually or in combination
 affect one another and tradeoffs may be necessary. Typically, the approach
 is to strive to employ the most flexible gasket that will obtain and
 maintain an effective seal given the application and intended use.
 In accordance with the present invention, shown in the embodiments of FIGS.
 1 through 18, gasket 100 is one or more flexible moldable materials.
 Preferably, the gasket material is one or more elastomeric materials.
 These materials are referred to herein as elastomers. They can have any
 suitable durometer. Suitable durometers can be from about 10 to about 70,
 more preferably from about 20 to about 45, and even more preferably from
 about 25 to about 35. The most preferred elastomer has a durometer of
 about 30. Preferably, it is employed to form the entirety of gasket 100.
 The durometer of the flexible material employed, expressed herein in Shore
 A hardness, will depend on several factors, including the tightness and
 type of seal desired, the desired ease of use and the intended
 application. For example, generally speaking, materials with high
 durometers can be placed in greater tension and can form tighter seals
 with the valve seat. However, they require more pressure to release them
 from the valve seat and thus, they are more suitable for use by adults
 than for children. Also, with a high durometer material, for example for a
 gasket, flange and ledge shaped and disposed as shown in FIG. 3, when
 under tension, the flange will be at an angle to the horizontal cap ring
 ledge or valve seat, and the seal will only or mainly be effected by or at
 the corner 32 or edge of the ledge. The hardness of the flange material
 and sharpness of the angle corner determine whether and how much the
 corner bites into the flange. Materials with low durometers may form seals
 with less tension. Thus, they can be easier to release and can be more
 suitable for use by children. With a gasket made of a low durometer
 material, the flange can be under tension and sealed against, or more
 flush with, a horizontal valve seat surface, e.g. along a portion or more
 of the undersurface 34 of ledge 28.
 Preferred elastomers include those available from Shell Chemical Company
 under its trademark KRATON, preferably under the KRATON G family of
 polymer compounds. The KRATON G family of polymer compounds or elastomers
 are block copolymers of polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylene)-polystyrene.
 These block copolymers have three discrete polymer blocks of the A--EB--A
 type, the end blocks (A) being hard thermoplastic and the center block
 (EB) being an elastomer. Usually, these block copolymers are compounded
 with other materials such as oils, other polymers, fillers and additives
 to provide the block copolymers with desired properties, such as to make
 them thermoprocessable. The center blocks poly(ethylene/butylene) of the G
 family of KRATONs are saturated elastomers and usually contain propylene.
 The KRATON G family of polymer compounds normally can be thermally
 processed at from about 375.degree. F. to about 500.degree. F.
 For preferred embodiments of the present invention, the preferred KRATON G
 block copolymer elastomer has a durometer about 30. This elastomer has
 been found particularly useful for a gasket flange that has a diameter of
 about 61.00 mm, is about 3.90 mm thick, and is for use in a container for
 young children, such as, for example, ages 3 to 5. Elastomers having a
 durometer about 60 to 70 can lack sufficient flexibility, except perhaps
 for certain applications for adults. Gaskets having flanges made of
 elastomers having a durometer from about 10 to about 20 can be too
 flexible to form or maintain effective seals and may leak under certain
 conditions, such as when the container is dropped.
 Elastomers having high, medium or low durometers may be blended with each
 other, blended or treated with other materials, or physically modified to
 render them respectively more or less flexible generally or in desired
 localized areas. For example, one material of moderate or high durometer
 can be used with another material of low durometer, each material being
 used in a different part of the lid or gasket to achieve the desired seal,
 ease of use and flow characteristics. As examples, the low durometer
 material can form the base or upper central portion of the gasket, and the
 higher durometer material can be used to form all or a portion of the
 flange. As other examples, the high durometer material can form a more
 rigid central portion and/or base, either or both of which can joined
 directly or indirectly, e.g. through a moderate or low durometer joint, to
 a moderate or low durometer flange. Also, a low durometer material can be
 selectively positioned to be operative in a selected localized portion of
 an otherwise more rigid gasket, as when drinking is to be effected only at
 that location of the gasket or lid. Further, a lid 50 can be formed in one
 piece with a gasket support portion that is inflexible, i.e. rigid, an
 upper portion having the desired flexibility in the desired locations.
 Gasket support 100 can be made of any sufficiently rigid material. The
 gasket support should not bend or flex so that it does not become
 dislodged or mispositioned in the cap ring and so that bending or flexing
 occurs substantially or exclusively in the gasket material. Examples of
 suitable materials include a polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene and
 polycarbonate in either a polymer or copolymer. Although for certain
 applications, e.g. for containers for low temperature liquids, a high
 density polyethylene may be employed, the preferred material for forming
 gasket support is a propylene polymer or copolymer. The preferred
 propylene polymer is polypropylene.
 Likewise, cap ring 22 can be made of any rigid material. Although for
 certain applications it can be made of a polyolefin, such as high density
 polyethylene, the preferred material is a propylene polymer or copolymer.
 The preferred propylene polymer is polypropylene.
 Container body 300 can be made of the same materials as cap ring 22.
 Preferably, it is made of the same polypropylene.
 Important considerations for the effective operation of container 10 are
 the spatial relationships of elements of closure 20. For example, if the
 distance between ring 210 of gasket support 200 and ledge 28 is not great
 enough, there may be insufficient space available for flange 104 to bend
 downwardly to allow flow of liquid when flange 104 is unseated from ledge
 28. If ring 210 is lowered relative to ledge 28 to create space for the
 flange to bend downwardly sufficiently, there may not be enough tension
 exerted by ledge 28 against the flange to effectively seal it against the
 ledge 28.
 One factor that affects flow of liquid from lid 50 is the space S or
 distance between flange 104, especially its outer peripheral side edge
 107, and cap ring wall 36. Shortening flange 104 increases the space and
 the flow of liquid between its peripheral side edge 107 and wall 36 of cap
 ring 22, but may excessively reduce its flexibility and/or its ability to
 provide an effective seal that resists opening. Reinforcing flange 104 in
 some manner, as preferred, with an annular rigid ring 126 of polypropylene
 allows shorter flange diameters, better flow and sufficient resistance to
 flange pop-out during drop tests.
 Closure 20 has certain features to minimize the accumulation of liquids on
 upper surfaces of internal components, and the possibility of accumulated
 droplets of liquid from falling from the cap ring 22 onto the user or
 outside of the container body when the cap ring is removed from container
 body 300. Removal of cap ring 22 disturbs or breaks the surface tension
 between the accumulated liquid and the surfaces on which the droplets
 reside. Thus, surface areas for accumulation of liquid are minimized and
 features are provided to drain accumulated liquid into container 300. For
 example, the upper surfaces of spokes 214 of gasket support 200 are
 chamfered at 233 (FIG. 7). Also, the radial extent of rim 308 of container
 body wall 302 is minimized and inner curved surface 312 is provided on
 body wall 302 adjacent and below rim 208 to facilitate the desired
 drainage. Support ribs 236 and ring 212 about the periphery of gasket
 support also facilitate the desired drainage into container body 300.
 Lid 50 can be formed in the following manner. Gasket support 200 was the
 polypropylene copolymer injected into first mold cavity under conventional
 injection molding conditions and temperatures. Gasket support 200 was then
 transferred to another mold cavity where the KRATON G elastomer was
 overmolded onto gasket support 200 such that gasket material flowed into
 U-shaped channel 218, into and through hole 231 and openings 234, through
 passageways 238 and into bore 217 of hub 216. The resulting lid having
 gasket 100 overmolded onto and thereby unitary with gasket support 200 was
 cooled sufficiently and removed from the mold cavity.
 It is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that instead
 of, for example, locking lid 50 to cap ring 22 or confining it to an area
 in cap ring 22 between snap lugs 38 and ledge 28 to place gasket 100
 and/or its flange 104 in tension, this can be done in another manner. For
 example, lid 50 can be held or supported by suitable structure, e.g. on
 the container body, and cap ring 22 can place gasket 100 and/or its flange
 104 in tension when it is secured , e.g., threaded onto the container
 body.
 FIGS. 19 through 30 show a second, more preferred, embodiment of the
 container and lid of the invention. More particularly, FIG. 19 shows a
 container 10' comprised of a closure 20', a cap ring 22', a lid 50' and a
 container body 300'. Lid 50' is a gasket assembly comprised of a movable
 gasket 100' and a gasket support 200'.
 FIG. 20 shows that cap ring 22' of container 10' is basically the same as
 cap ring 22 of container 10, except that cap ring 22' does not have snap
 lugs (38) for supporting a lid thereon, and cap ring 22' has sealing means
 in the form of a depending integral annular conical sealing finger 46 for
 engaging and sealing rim 308' of container body 300' and assisting in
 hermetically sealing cap ring 22' to container body 300'.
 FIG. 21 shows lid 50' with its gasket 100' mounted on and secured to gasket
 support 200'. As shown in FIG. 21, and also in FIG. 22, gasket 100' has an
 upstanding lip-engageable rigid annular wall 102' that has a cylindrical
 outer surface 106' and a conical inner surface 108'. Gasket 100' has a
 recessed central panel 110', radially inward of wall 102', and an annular
 peripheral flange 104' extending radially outwardly from wall 102'. The
 upper surface of flange 104' preferably has an upstanding peripheral
 annular sealing bead 132' thereabout for improved sealing of flange 104'
 to valve seat 34 of cap ring 22'. Central panel 110' and flange 104' of
 gasket 100' are comprised of a flexible elastomer such as is previously
 described herein as being suitable for forming gasket 100'. Suitable
 durometers of the flexible elastomer, for the FIGS. 19 through 30
 embodiments, can be from about 30 to about 50. The most preferred
 elastomer has a durometer of about 40.
 Central panel 110' of gasket 100' has an undersurface 114' that merges into
 an integral depending cylindrical central trunk 116' for securing gasket
 100' to support 200'. Central panel 110' also has a central portion
 generally designated 103', that is an area adjacent, at or about,
 including radially inward of, the junction 124' of undersurface 114' and
 trunk 116'. Trunk 116' includes a neck 117', and retaining means in the
 form of an annular retaining ring 118' disposed about the lower end of
 trunk 116', for engaging support 200'. Trunk 116' also has an upwardly
 extending concave dead end bore 130'.
 Neck 117' of trunk 116' is undercut with an annular downwardly sloped
 concavely curved surface 119' that forms a reduced diameter portion 120'
 that extends between undersurface 114' and retaining ring 118' and merges
 with an outwardly extending horizontal locking surface 121'. Curved
 surface 119' and reduced diameter portion 120' facilitate bending or
 flexing and/or stretching of the elastomer material of gasket 100' in the
 area of central portion 103' and trunk 116' when downward pressure is
 applied to annular wall 102' of gasket 100'.
 Gasket support 200' preferably is a rigid structure. As shown in FIG. 21,
 gasket support 200' supports gasket 100', preferably its central portion
 103', and as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, positions gasket 100' against valve
 seat 34 of cap ring 22'. More particularly, gasket support 200' maintains
 the upper surface of flange 104' of gasket 100' in normal sealing
 engagement with valve seat 34 of cap ring 22'. Annular ring 210' of gasket
 support 200' is adapted in terms of size and having surfaces that permit
 ring 210' to be sustainable or supportable and maintained in position by
 contact or engagement with a surface of a container cap or cap ring, or of
 a container.
 As shown in FIG. 21, and also in FIG. 22, gasket support 200' is comprised
 of a base, preferably in the form of an annular peripheral ring 210'
 having a depending skirt 212', a central section 250', and one or more
 connecting members, preferably radially extending spokes 214', that
 connect ring 210' to hub 216'. Between them, these structures define
 liquid flow openings 232' through gasket support 200' to allow liquid to
 flow from the interior of a container body through gasket support 200',
 and, as shown in FIG. 28, under a displaced portion of flange 104' of
 gasket 100' and out opening 23 of cap ring 22'. The lower portion of outer
 edge 211' of skirt 210' and support ribs 236' are positioned to engage a
 cap or container to sustain gasket support 200' thereon.
 Central section 250' of gasket support 200' preferably is rigid and
 preferably includes an upstanding annular hub 216' comprised of an annular
 conical wall 252' with engaging means, preferably a head in the form of an
 annular bead 254' having a downwardly and inwardly sloped convex arcuate
 bearing surface 256' with an undercut 258', for engaging retaining ring
 118' at the bottom of trunk 116' of gasket 100', and securing, preferably
 flexibly, gasket 100' to gasket support 200'. Hub 216' has a cylindrical
 bore 260 therethrough and the lower end of hub 216' has a radially
 inwardly extending annular protrusion 262' thereabout.
 As shown in FIG. 22, lid 50' preferably also includes a plug, preferably a
 rigid plug 280', having a cylindrical stem 282' and a head 284' in the
 form of a disc whose peripheral side edge 286' has a radially inward
 annular groove 298' therein, for receiving and tightly engaging annular
 protrusion 262' of hub 216'. Plug 280' also has a radially outwardly
 extending peripheral stop surface 290' for preventing plug 280' from being
 inserted too far into bore 130 of trunk 116' of gasket 100'.
 To assemble lid 50' shown in FIG. 21 from the components of lid 50' shown
 in FIG. 22, flexible trunk 116' of gasket 100' is inserted into bore 260'
 of rigid hub 216' of gasket support 200' until retaining ring 118' of
 trunk 116' passes annular bead 254' of hub 216', bearing surface 256'
 enters the annular channel formed by curved surface 119' of trunk 116',
 and horizontal surface 121' of retaining ring 118' and annular bead 254'
 interengage. This secures gasket 100' to gasket support 200'. To improve
 the securement of these members, stem 282' of plug 280' is inserted into
 and seated in bore 130' of trunk 116' of gasket 100' until annular
 protrusion 290' of plug 280' engages annular groove 298' of plug 280'.
 Since the diameter of stem 282' of plug 284' is greater than the diameter
 of bore 130' of trunk 116', the insertion of stem 282' into bore 130'
 reduces space, if any exists, between the flexible material of trunk 116'.
 The insertion also compresses the flexible material of trunk 116' against
 hub 216'. The reduction in space and compression of material (compression
 not shown in drawings) improves the securement of gasket 100' to gasket
 support 200'. This securement of gasket 100' to gasket support 200' is
 advantageous because it renders lid 50' difficult to take apart, not only
 because of the above-mentioned engagements and compressive action, but
 also because of the tight joint between and the smooth outer surface
 contour of the periphery of head 284 of plug 280 and of the bottom of hub
 216' of gasket support 200'. These factors make it difficult, especially
 for a child, or without tools, to remove plug 280' from hub 216'. The
 securement is also advantageous because head 284' of plug 280'
 hermetically seals the lower end of hub 216'.
 FIGS. 23 through 25 show annular wall 102' before it has flexible moldable
 material, preferably, elastomeric material, overmolded or otherwise
 connected or joined to it. Wall 102' is comprised of a rigid structural
 material, such as is previously described herein as being suitable for
 forming gasket support 200'. Preferably, wall 102' is made of
 polypropylene. Wall 102' provides a rigid ring or annular frame onto which
 elastomeric material can be joined. Wall 102' has a central opening 142',
 and a portion with a radially inwardly extending annular lip 134', and a
 radially outwardly extending annular lip 136'. Each lip 136', 138' has
 elongated holes 138' extending vertically therethrough, and a bottom
 surface with cylindrical protrusions 140' depending therefrom. Holes 138'
 and protrusions 140' assist in joining elastomer material to lips 136' and
 138' of wall 102'. When elastomer material is joined with or molded onto
 (hereafter "overmolded") onto lips 136', 138' at elevated temperatures,
 the molten elastomer flows in a mold onto and about lips 136', 138'.
 Molten elastomer flows into, and preferably through, holes 138', joins,
 welds, or fuses to itself on opposite sides of the respective lips, and
 flows around and encompasses protrusions 140', to mechanically join the
 elastomer material to wall 102' and form integral gasket 100'.
 FIG. 26, a top view of gasket support 200' shown, for example, in FIG. 22,
 shows annular ring 210' joined to central annular hub 216' by
 circumferentially spaced radial spokes 214'. FIG. 26 also shows annular
 bearing surface 256' and bore 260' of hub 216', as well as openings 232'
 defined by ring 210', hub 216' and spokes 214'.
 FIG. 27 shows lid 50', more particularly, its ring 210' and its support
 ribs 236', seated on rim 308' of container body 300', and cap ring 22'
 threaded onto and hermetically sealed-to container body 300' with lid 50'
 held between rim 308' and. its curved inner surface 312 of container body
 308' and valve seat 34 of ledge 28 of cap ring 22'. The hermetic seal is
 obtained by the interengaging threads of cap ring 22' and container body
 300' and by integral annular sealing finger 46 of cap ring 22' that
 contacts and'seals against rim 308' of container body 300'. Gasket support
 200' could instead be supported or sustained by contact with any suitable
 surface, for example, radially inwardly projecting snap lugs 38 on the
 inner surface of cap ring 22, as employed in the first embodiment of the
 container of the invention.
 FIG. 27 shows flange 104' of gasket 100' in the closed position. As shown
 in FIG. 27, portions of central portion 103' of central panel 110' are in
 tension on hub 216' of gasket support 200', and flange 104' is biased and
 hermetically sealed against valve seat 34 of ledge 28 of cap ring 22'.
 FIG. 28 shows flange 104' in an open position. FIG. 28 shows that when
 downward pressure is applied by a user's lip or otherwise to a portion,
 here, a left-hand portion, of wall 102', the pressure bends or flexes and
 stretches a portion of central portion 103' of gasket 100' downward. This
 displaces flange 104' from valve seat 34 of ledge 28 of cap ring 22' and
 creates a passageway for flow of liquid from container body 300' through
 its opening 23. As shown in FIG. 28, when a rigid support such as bearing
 surface 256' of hub 216' is employed to support central panel 110' of
 gasket 100', some bending or flexing and stretching occurs downward from
 and over bearing surface 256', especially over its peripheral edge. Some
 bending or flexing and stretching also occurs along and through the
 portion of central panel 110' radially outward of junction 124' in the
 general direction toward where pressure is being applied to wall 102' of
 gasket 100'. Some stretching also occurs in or along the portion of
 central panel 110' above and even to the right of hub 216' of gasket
 support 200'.
 FIG. 29 is a side view showing gasket 100' of lid 50' in the tipped
 position shown in FIG. 28. Depending, for example, on the radially outward
 extent of lip 136' of wall 102', and the thickness of elastomer material
 above and peripherally beyond lip 136', there may be compression, flexion
 and/or elongation of elastomer material of flange 104' in an area
 approximately 180.degree. from where the downward pressure is exerted on
 wall 102', where that area of flange 104' is placed in greater than
 initial tension with valve seat 34 of cap ring 22'.
 FIG. 30 is a top view of gasket 100' of lid 50' shown in FIG. 29 in a
 tipped or open position. FIG. 30 schematically shows by shading, some of
 the flexing or bending and stretching of central panel 110' that occurs in
 the area over, about and radially outward from the portion of central
 panel 110' that overlies bearing surface 256' of hub 216' of gasket
 support 200'.
 The securing means of the invention for securing a gasket 100, 100' to a
 gasket support 200, 200' can be part of the gasket, part of the gasket
 support, part of both, part of neither, or a combination of the foregoing.
 The securing means of the invention can be any suitable means such that,
 upon the application of downward pressure to the gasket, the elastomer
 material of the gasket bends or flexes and possibly, preferably, stretches
 downward to displace a portion of the gasket, usually of the flange of the
 gasket, from the valve seat. Preferably, the displacement is effected by
 bending or flexing and stretching the elastomer material of the gasket
 downward from, and/or downward over underlying rigid structure, preferably
 of the gasket support.
 The securing means of the invention for securing gasket 100 to gasket
 support 200 include central trunk 116 that is integral with and depends
 from gasket 100, and retaining means in the form of annular retaining ring
 118 that is integral with trunk 116 and positioned and held in U-shaped
 channel 218 of gasket support 200. The securing means of gasket support
 200 for securing gasket 100 to gasket support 200 include an upwardly
 extending annular hub 216 having a lower U-shaped channel 218, an annular
 rim 224, and a central web 230 with a central hole 231 and spokes 228 with
 openings 234 therein, for flowing elastomer material thereabout and
 therethrough during overmolding of gasket 100 onto gasket support 200.
 Once overmolded, lid 50 is one piece.
 The securing means of the invention for securing gasket 100' to gasket
 support 200' include central trunk 116' that is integral with and depends
 from gasket 100', and retaining means in the form of annular retaining
 ring 118' that is integral with trunk 116' and that includes a locking
 surface 121' for interengaging and interlocking with undercut 256' of
 annular bead 254' of gasket support 200'. The securing means of gasket
 support 200' for securing gasket 100' to gasket support 200' include
 upwardly extending annular hub 216' having an annular conical wall 252'
 with engaging means in the form of an annular bead 254' with undercut
 surface 258', for engaging retaining ring 118' of trunk 116' of gasket
 100'.
 The securing means of the invention also includes a plug 280' that is not
 part of either the gasket or the support, for insertion into and engaging
 bore 130' of gasket 100' and receiving annular bead 262' of hub 216' of
 gasket support 200', to thereby join the gasket and the gasket support.
 The securing means of the invention further includes the use of a gasket
 that is formed in one piece or made integral with the gasket support. For
 example, the gasket and gasket support can be molded of a combination of
 elastomers of different durometers as discussed above, such that, for
 example, the gasket support can be formed of a high durometer elastomer
 and the gasket or portions thereof can be formed of a low durometer
 material.
 Securing means considered suitable include, but are not limited to, various
 openings and channels and forms, e g., webs and protrusions, employable in
 overmolding, as well as various male/female, tongue/groove, pin,snap,
 clamp, hook, latch, sleeve, and other couplers and systems. These securing
 means are such that the components of the lid will not come apart during
 use.
 As disclosed in the foregoing, a main concept of the invention is to use as
 a gasket material in a drinking container or lid assembly for a drinking
 container, an elastomer material, (which, by definition, is capable of
 flexing, stretching and recovering), as the, or a portion of, preferably
 the central portion of the, gasket, in combination with structure,
 preferably support structure, that causes the elastomer of the gasket to
 bend or flex and stretch, or just stretch, when downward pressure is
 applied to or through the gasket to displace it from a valve seat.
 Although in the preferred embodiments disclosed herein, a rigid support,
 preferably made of a structural polymer, e.g. a polypropylene, is
 employed, it is to be understood that a "rigid support" herein broadly
 includes a support that is merely sufficiently more rigid than the
 elastomer of the gasket, such that upon the application of pressure to or
 through the gasket, the gasket will bend or flex and possibly stretch, or
 merely stretch, to displace the gasket from a valve seat. It is also to be
 understood that in the first embodiment, there is bending or flexing and
 stretching of elastomer material of gasket 100 upon the application of
 downward pressure to gasket 100. For example, stretching occurs in neck
 117 in an area opposite to where pressure is applied to gasket 100. Also,
 in the embodiment shown, some stretching occurs in wall 102 adjacent where
 the pressure is applied to the wall. However, in the second embodiment,
 the bending or flexing of central panel 110' of gasket 100' is more
 gradual, and stretching thereof is less or non-existent, given the radial
 and axial offsetting of web 230 and ring 224 of hub 216 of gasket support
 200', and given that wall 102 of gasket 100 is itself comprised of
 elastomer material and undergoes some bending or flexing and possible
 stretching when it is subjected to downward pressure.
 The tensile modulus of the elastomeric material is from about 300 psi to
 about 550 psi, at 300% elongation. Preferably the tensile modulus of the
 elastomeric material is 339 psi. This elastomeric material is commercially
 available under the tradename Versaflex, and is sold by GLS Corp.
 Information concerning the Versaflex material and the range of the modulus
 of this material is shown on the attached technical data sheets that were
 submitted with this application. The most preferred material is Versaflex
 CL2042X.
 Having thus described the lid and container of the invention with
 particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent
 that various changes and modifications may be made therein without
 departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.