Abstract:
The present invention relates to a lid assembly for a drinking container, the lid assembly comprising a drinking orifice, a gas vent, and a mechanism to ensure that the drinking orifice can be opened only after the gas vent is opened. Furthermore, the present invention provides a lid assembly for a drinking container, which lid assembly allows for easy disassembling for purposes such as cleaning the inside of the lid assembly.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a drinking container, and particularly, to a drinking container that comprises respective closing and triggering mechanisms for the drinking and gas vents thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various drinking containers that are able to keep the fluids contained therein warm exist in the art. These containers are usually comprised of a lid secured to a container body, the lid having a drinking orifice through which the fluid flows from the container into the drinker&#39;s mouth. When drinking a hot fluid from the container, the hot air contained in the container often rushes out of the drinking orifice together with the fluid, and spurts onto the drinker&#39;s face, causing discomfort. 
     To solve this problem some of the recent drinking containers comprise a gas vent formed in the lid through which the hot air inside the container exits, and a mechanism to open and close the gas vent. Generally, some of these containers are configured to open simultaneously the gas vent and the drinking orifice, and there is no time for the hot air to escape through the gas vent before the drinker drinks the liquid from the drinking orifice. Other containers require the drinker to perform an extra operation (for example, switching a switch) to manually open the gas vent. This design may have a problem that the drinker forgets to open the gas vent before drinking the liquid, disabling the function of the gas vent. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a drinking container that comprises a mechanism to ensure that the user opens the gas vent before opening the drinking orifice to drink the liquid from the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the principle objects of the invention is to provide a drinking container that comprises a mechanism to ensure that the drinking orifice can only be opened only after the gas vent is opened. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a lid assembly for a drinking container, which lid assembly can be easily disassembled for purposes of, for example, cleaning the inside of the lid assembly. 
     These and other objects are satisfied by the present invention, which provides a lid assembly for a drinking container, which lid assembly may comprise: 
     an upper lid member comprising a drinking orifice and a gas vent formed therethrough; 
     a closure member pivotally mounted on a top surface of the upper lid member for pivotal movement to close and open the gas vent; 
     a lower lid member having a window in fluid communication with the drinking orifice and the gas vent to allow a flow of liquid and gas therethrough; 
     a lever pivotally mounted on the lower lid member; 
     a baffle plate for closing the drinking orifice and mounted atop the lever to move pivotally along with the pivotal movement of the lever; and 
     a piston movable within the upper lid member in a direction in order to pivotally move the lever downwardly so that the baffle plate moves away from the drinking orifice, said piston having a piston head exposed externally; 
     wherein the piston is configured such that the piston is permitted to enable the pivotal movement of the lever only when the closure member is moved to open the gas vent. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the piston may extend through a piston passage formed through a side wall of the upper lid member, and may be configured such that an inner end of the piston abuts against the lever and moves to force the lever to pivot downwardly. Preferably, a torsion spring may be provided to constantly apply an upward pressure to the lever. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a groove may be formed on an upper side of the piston, and an opening may be formed on an upper side of the piston passage and positioned to correspond to the groove so as to allow for housing of a part of the closure member in the groove for prevention of the movement of the piston when the gas vent is closed. A recess formed on the closure member may be adapted to face away from the groove when the gas vent is closed, and adapted to face the groove to allow for the movement of the piston when the closure member is moved to open the gas vent. Preferably, a piston spring may be provided to constantly apply an outward pressure to the piston head. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the closure member may comprise a hinge and a closure plate extending from the hinge, the closure member being mounted on the top surface of the upper lid member in such a manner that the closure plate is pivotal around the hinge. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the gas vent may be formed with an opening direction thereof perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the hinge, and the lid assembly may comprise a pin protruding beyond the gas vent and received in a niche formed on the hinge to close the gas vent, and the pin being caused to disengage from the niche by the pivotal movement of the closure member and pressed by the closure member to move down away from the gas vent to create a venting space together with the gas vent. Preferably, the pin may be slidably supported by a holder secured below the gas vent to an inner surface of the upper lid member, and a resilient ring may be provided to surround the pin and push the pin to move up when pressed. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the gas vent may be formed with an opening direction thereof in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the hinge, the lid assembly may comprise a pin protruding beyond the gas vent and having a first cam face in corporation with a second cam face formed on an end of the hinge to close the gas vent, wherein a flat surface of the hinge adjoining the second cam face rotates with the pivotal movement of the closure member to force against the first cam face of the pin, so that at least a part of the pin is pushed to move away from the gas vent to create a venting space together with the gas vent. Preferably, a resilient member may be coupled to an opposite end of the pin to the first cam face in order to operably push the pin towards the gas vent. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the lower lid member may be mounted to the upper lid member in a detachable manner. Preferably, the lid assembly may further comprise a lock mechanism for detachably locking the upper and lower lid members together. The lock mechanism may comprise a hook member extending downwardly from the upper lid member; an unlocking member comprising a body extending through the lower lid member and having a hooked head, and a grip portion extending from the body and restrained below the low lid member; and a hook linkage pivotally mounted on the lower lid member and between the hook member and the unlocking member, the hook linkage configured to have a respective slot formed on opposite side surfaces thereof or a respective hooked end on opposite ends thereof, which are engagable with the hook member and the hooked head; wherein a downward movement of the grip portion drives the hooked head to cause the hook linkage to pivot downwardly and to disengage from the hook member to allow the lower lid member to be detached from the upper lid member. Preferably, a resilient block may be placed below the hook linkage to apply an upward pressure to the hook linkage. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a handle may be pivotally mounted to a bottom surface of the lower lid member to facilitate detachment of the lower lid member from the upper lid member. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the window may comprise a main portion and a notch, and a blocking member, which for example takes shape of a ball, may be seated on the window and dimensioned so as to block the main portion with the notch remaining open. Preferably, a restraint having a profile matchable with the blocking member may be provided for restraining the movement of the blocking member. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member may be shaped to have a stem extending through the window, a top flange extending from one end of the stem, a bottom flange extending from the other end of the stem and sized to fully cover the window, and a constricted spring coiled about the stem and carried on the stem below the top flange so that it acts to bias the bottom flange to fully cover the window, wherein the top flange comes into contact with the lever and is caused to move downwardly when the lever is forced to pivot downwardly by the piston, thereby driving to move the bottom flange away from the window. Preferably, a hollow cylinder for allowing passage of a lower part of the stem may be secured within the window by a plurality of connectors formed on an inner surface of the window, and the hollow cylinder may be sized such that the constricted spring coiled about an upper part of the stem is carried between the hollow cylinder and the top flange. Preferably, a blocking ring is secured on top of the bottom flange and is caused to press against a bottom surface of the lower lid member by the constricted spring to block the window. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the lever may be configured to comprise a first pivoting member having an arm on which the baffle plate is mounted, and a second pivoting member. The second pivoting member is adapted to be acted on by the piston to pivot downwardly thereby causing downward movement of the blocking member so as to expose the window; and the first pivoting member is configured to remain immobilized while the second pivoting member moves to expose the window, and after the window is exposed, is caused to pivot downwardly with the baffle plate moving away from the drinking orifice. Preferably, the first pivoting member may comprise two spaced apart legs extending from the arm and pivotally mounted on the lower lid member; and the second pivoting member protrudes beyond the two legs such that the inner end of the piston moves to act on the second pivoting member only which is caused to pivot downwardly in a space defined by the two legs until the second pivoting member presses towards the first pivoting member causing the first pivoting member to pivot downwardly together. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a drinking container comprising a container body in which a cavity is formed, and a lid assembly of the present invention detachably secured on top of the container body. Preferably, the container body may comprise a dual wall structure comprised of an inner wall component and an outer wall component. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the lid assembly may further comprise an intermediate bracket secured around a periphery of the low lid member and having external threads formed on an outer surface thereof, which external threads cooperate with internal threads formed on an inner surface of the inner wall component to secure the lid assembly to the container body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein both the drinking orifice and the gas vent are closed. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1A  wherein the drinking orifice is closed and the gas vent is open. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1A  wherein both the drinking orifice and the gas vent are open. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the container body of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the lower lid member according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the container taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the container taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the container taken along line C-C of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the container taken along line D-D of  FIG. 1C . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the closure member and the piston head according to an embodiment of the present invention with the gas vent in the closed position. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the closure member and the piston head of  FIG. 9  with the gas vent in the open position. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the lid assembly with the upper lid member and the closure member removed. 
         FIG. 12A  is a bottom perspective view of the upper lid member according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12B  is a top perspective view of the upper lid member shown in  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of the closure member and the pin according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with the gas vent in the closed position. 
         FIG. 13B  is a perspective view of the closure member and the pin shown in  FIG. 13A , with the gas vent in the open position. 
         FIG. 14A  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the closure member and the pin shown in  FIG. 13A . 
         FIG. 14B  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the closure member and the pin shown in  FIG. 13B . 
         FIG. 15A  is an exploded bottom perspective view of a lower lid member and a blocking member according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15B  is a top perspective view of the lid assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention with the upper lid member and the closure member removed. 
         FIG. 15C  is a bottom perspective view of the lid assembly shown in  FIG. 15B  with the handle in the resting position. 
         FIG. 15D  is a bottom perspective view of the lid assembly shown in  FIG. 15B  with the handle in the ready-to-use position. 
         FIG. 16A  is a top perspective view of a lever according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16B  is a bottom perspective view of the lever shown in  FIG. 16A . 
         FIG. 16C  is a top perspective view of the lid assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention with the upper lid member and the closure member removed. 
         FIG. 16D  a cross sectional view of the lid assembly taken along line E-E of  FIG. 16C  with the window and the drinking orifice blocked. 
         FIG. 16E  a cross sectional view of the lid assembly taken along line E-E of  FIG. 16C  with the window and the drinking orifice opened. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While this invention is illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, the drinking container of the present invention may be produced in many different configurations, sizes, forms and materials. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate in a perspective view a drinking container according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in three different states respectively. The container  1  is generally comprised of a container body  2  for accommodating liquid, and a lid assembly  3  that can be detachably secured on top of the container body  2 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , a drinking orifice  4  for drinking the liquid accommodated in the container body  2 , and a gas vent  5  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) for releasing the gas in the container, are formed on the lid assembly  3 . 
     The lid assembly  3  comprises a closure member  6  and a piston  27  having a piston head  7 . The closure member  6  is configured to be pivotally movable between a fully closed position as shown in  FIG. 1A  where the gas vent  5  is fully closed, and a fully open position as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C  where the gas vent  5  is fully open. The piston  27  is configured in such a manner that when the piston head  7  is pressed, as shown in  FIG. 1C , the drinking orifice  4  is caused by the piston  27  to be opened, and when the piston head  7  is released, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the piston  27  moves in a direction towards the piston head  7  to cause the drinking orifice  4  closed. 
     Preferably, the closure member  6  and the piston  27  are configured in such a manner that only when the closure member  6  is in the open position can the piston head  7  be pressed to cause the piston  27  to move. In other words, the drinking orifice  4  can be opened only when the gas vent  5  is open. Such a configuration is advantageous, especially in the case of drinking hot liquid from the container, because it ensures that the hot gas in the container exits from the gas vent  5  before the drinking orifice  4  is allowed to open, preventing the hot gas from spurting out the drinking orifice  4  and at the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the container body  2  is formed of a dual-walled structure comprising an inner wall component  51  and an outer wall component  52 , with a cavity  53  formed inside the inner wall component  51 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , the lid assembly  3  is comprised of a number of components, including an upper lid member  8 , an intermediate bracket  9  and a lower lid member  10 , which are assembled together in a detachable manner by means of a lock mechanism (which will be discussed in details below) to constitute the main structure of the lid assembly  3 . The intermediate bracket  9  secured around a periphery of the low lid member ( 10 ) takes the shape of a ring, and comprises external threads formed on an outer surface thereof, which cooperate with internal threads formed on an inner surface of the inner wall component  51  of the container body  2  to secure the lid assembly  3  to the container body  2 . 
     The lower lid member  10  comprises an upper plate  11  and a lower plate  12  formed integrally with a connecting member  13  therebetween. A window  14  allowing a flow of liquid and gas therethrough is formed through both the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12  and is in fluid communication with the drinking orifice  4  and the gas vent  5 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the window  14  comprises a circular main portion  15  and a relatively small notch  16  formed on the edge of the main portion  15 . When the container  1  is in an upright state, a blocking member  17 , preferably a ball is movably seated on the window  14 , and dimensioned so as to block the main portion  15 , with the notch  16  remaining open. When the container  1  is tilted to allow the user to drink the liquid inside the cavity  53  of the container body  2 , the ball would move to leave the window uncovered partially or fully and the liquid is allowed to flow through the window  14  out of the container body  2 . When the drinking operation is finished and the container  1  is put back into the upright state, the blocking member  17  returns to be seated on the window  14 , blocking the main portion  15  with the notch  16  remaining open. Such a design helps to maintain the temperature of the liquid in the container  1 , while allowing the hot gas to escape from the cavity  53  into the lid assembly  3  through the notch  16 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a restraint  39  configured in shape and size to be matchable with the ball is provided at the turning point  40  of the L-shaped lever  33 . This restraint  39  serves to restrain or guide the movement of the blocking member  17  within the defined space. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , the drinking orifice  4  and the gas vent  5  are formed through a top surface of the upper lid member  8 . The closure member  6  comprises a hinge  19  configured as a substantially cylindrical sleeve in this embodiment, and a closure plate  20  extending from a wall of the hinge  19  in a plane parallel to an axis of the hinge  19 . The closure member  6  is mounted on the top surface of the upper lid member  8  in such a manner that the closure member  6  is able to pivot around the axis of the hinge  19  by about 180 degrees, between the fully closed position and the fully open position. In this embodiment, the gas vent  5  is formed with an opening direction thereof perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the hinge  19 . In other words, the gas vent  5  is formed perpendicular to the top surface of the upper lid member  8 . A niche  21  is formed on the wall of the hinge  19  and positioned right above the gas vent  5 . The niche  21  is configured to face the gas vent  5  when the closure member  6  is in the closed position and rotate away from the gas vent  5  when the closure member  6  moves to the open position. 
     A pin  22  is slidably supported by a holder  23  secured below the gas vent  5  to an inner surface of the upper lid member  8  and protrudes beyond the upper lid member  8  through the gas vent  5 , and is received in the niche  21  when the closure member  6  is in the closed position. A silicon resilient ring  24  surrounding the pin  22  serves as a resilient member applying an upward pressure on the pin  22 , causing the pin  22  to move up and block the gas vent  5 . The niche  21  rotates to face away from the gas vent  5  along with the pivotal movement of the closure member  6 , and therefore the wall of the hinge  19  presses to cause the pin  22  to move downwardly away from the gas vent  5 , creating a venting space between the pin  22  and the gas vent  5 , which venting space allows the gas within the lid assembly  3  to exit. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the upper lid member  8  further comprises a piston passage  25  extending horizontally through a side wall  26  of the upper lid member  8 . The piston head  7  of the piston  27  is arranged to expose externally, and the piston  27  extends through the piston passage  25  and is displaceable within the piston passage  25  when the piston head  7  is pressed. Preferably, a piston seal  50  is provided on the piston  27  to prevent the liquid and gas from escaping from the container  1  through the piston passage  25 . A lateral recess  30  is formed in the middle of the wall of the hinge  19  on a side opposite to the niche  21 . Preferably, the recess  30  extends onto the closure plate  20 . An opening  31  is formed on an upper side of the piston passage  25  and positioned to correspond to the recess  30  to allow for a part of the hinge  19  protruding beyond the opening  31 . A lateral groove  29  is formed on an upper side of the piston  27  and also positioned to correspond to the opening  31 . The lateral recess  30  and the lateral groove  29  are such arranged that the lateral recess  30  is adapted to face away from the lateral groove  29  and a part of the closure member  6  protrudes beyond the opening  31  to be housed in the lateral groove  29  for prevention of the displacement of the piston relative to the piston passage  25  when the gas vent is closed, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 ; and the lateral recess  30  is adapted to face the lateral groove  29  to allow for the movement of the piston  27  when the closure member  6  is moved to open the gas vent  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . In other words, when the closure member  6  is in the closed position, the piston head  7  cannot be pressed. Therefore, only when the closure member  6  is in the open position will the user be able to press the piston head  7  to move the piston  27 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 7, 8 and 11 , a hollow cylinder  32  is formed integrally with the lower lid member  10  and extends through both the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , a L-shaped lever  33  is pivotally mounted on the cylinder  32  by inserting two stubs  34  extending from opposite outer surfaces of the cylinder  32  into respective holes  35  of two spaced apart legs at a lower end of the lever  33 . A torsion spring  36  is provided to constantly apply an upward pressure to the lever  33 . 
     A baffle plate  37 , preferably made of rubber, for closing the drinking orifice  4  is mounted atop an upper end of the lever  33 , and moves pivotally along with the pivotal movement of the lever  33 . The piston  27  has an inner end  38  in abutment against the upper end of the lever  33 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the baffle plate  37  is pressed against the drinking orifice  4  under the action of the torsion spring  36  to close the drinking orifice  4 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the piston head  7  is pressed by the user, the piston  27  moves inwardly along a longitudinal direction of the piston passage  25 , and the inner end  38  of the piston  27  pushes to cause the lever  33  to pivot downwardly with the baffle plate  37  carried thereon, thereby to drive the movement of the baffle plate  37  away from the drinking orifice  4 . In this way the drinking orifice  4  is opened by the pressing of the piston head  7 , allowing the liquid comes out from the container  1 . As described above, the piston  27  is permitted to enable the pivotal movement of the lever  33  only when the closure member  6  is moved to open the gas vent, that is, when the closure member  6  is in the open position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a spring chamber  41  is formed integrally with the upper lid member  8  below the piston passage  25 , and a piston spring  42  is accommodated in the spring chamber  41 . The piston spring  42  is configured to constantly apply an outward pressure to the piston head  7 , that is, against the force exerted by the user pressing the piston head  7 . When the piston head  7  is released and returns by the piston spring  42  to its original position, the lever  33  is forced to pivot upwardly by the torsion spring  36  until the baffle plate  37  returns to a position for closing the drinking orifice  4 . A bulge  28  (see  FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 ) extends from an inner surface of the piston head  7  into the spring chamber  41  to facilitate to restrain the displacement of the piston head  7  in the longitudinal direction of the piston  27 . 
     In order for a detachable structure of the lid assembly  3 , a lock mechanism is provided, which comprises a hook member  43 , a hook linkage  44  and an unlocking member  46 . The hook member  43  is formed integrally with and extends downwardly from the spring chamber  41  of the upper lid member  8 . The hook linkage  44  is pivotally mounted on a post  45  integral with the upper plate  11  of the lower lid member  10  and is positioned between the hook member  43  and the unlocking member  46 . The unlocking member  46  comprises a grip portion  47  restrained below the lower lid member  10 , and a body  48  extending upwardly from the grip portion  47  through the cylinder  32  and having a hooked head  55  in engagement with one hooked end of the hook linkage  44 , the other hooked end of the hook linkage  44  engages with the hook member  43 . Also, it is possible that a respective slot may be formed on opposite side surfaces of the hook linkage  44  to engage with the hook member  43  and the hooked head  55  respectively for the same locking purpose. A resilient silicon block  49  is placed below the hook linkage  44  to constantly force the hook linkage  44  to pivot upwardly, that is, forcing the hook linkage  44  to be into engagement with the hook member  43 . The engagement between the hook member  43  and the hook linkage  44  results in the lower lid member  10  secured to the upper lid member  8 . To detach the lower lid member  10  from the upper lid member  8 , for example, for the sake of cleaning, the grip portion  47  may be pulled downwardly drive the hooked head  55  to move down, which in turns causes the hook linkage  44  to pivot downwardly and to disengage from the hook member  43 . In this way, the lower lid member  10  can be detached from the upper lid member  8 . The lower lid member  10  and upper lid member  8  can also be easily assembled together by bringing them towards each other until the hook linkage  44  is forced to engage with the hook member  43 . 
       FIGS. 12A-14B  show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, this embodiment is structurally similar to the first embodiment discussed above, except for the arrangement of the gas vent  5 . As illustrated, the gas vent  5  is formed parallel to the top surface of the upper lid member  8 . In other words, the gas vent  5  is formed with an opening direction thereof in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the hinge  19 . The pin  22  has a first cam face  56  formed on an end thereof adjacent to the closure member  6 . Correspondingly, the closure member  6  has a second cam face  57  formed on an end of the hinge  19  facing towards the pin  22 . Like the silicon resilient ring  24  discussed in the first embodiment, a resilient silicon member  58  is coupled to the other end of the pin  22  and is pressed to move the pin  22  in the direction towards the gas vent  5  until the gas vent  5  is blocked by the pin  22 . The pin  22  protrudes beyond the gas vent  5  with the first cam face  56  of the pin  22  in abutment against and in corporation with the second cam face  57  of the hinge  19  of the closure member  6 , thereby to achieve the closing of the gas vent  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 13A and 14A . A flat surface  59  of the hinge  19  adjoins the second cam face  57  and rotates with the pivotal movement of the closure member  6  to force against the first cam face  56  of the pin  22 , with a result of at least a part of the pin  22  is pushed to move away from the gas vent, as shown in  FIGS. 13B and 14B . This would create a venting space between the pin  22  and the gas vent  5 , which venting space allows the gas within the container to come out of the lid assembly  3 . 
       FIGS. 15A-15D  show a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is structurally similar to the first embodiment described above, except for the blocking member  17 , the window  14  and the lock mechanism. In this third embodiment, a hollow cylinder  65  extends through the window  14  and is secured within the window  14  by a plurality of connectors  66  formed on an inner surface of the window  14 . The blocking member  17  has a stem  60  extending through the hollow cylinder  65 , a top flange  61  extending from one end of the stem  60  and having a diameter greater than the stem  60 , and a bottom flange  62  extending from the other end of the stem  60  and sized to fully cover the window  14 . A blocking ring  67  is secured on top of the bottom flange  62 . A constricted spring  63  is coiled about an upper part of the stem  60  and carried between a top surface of the hollow cylinder  65  and the top flange  61 , and constantly applies an upward pressure to the top flange  61  of the blocking member  17 , such that the blocking ring  67  is pressed against a bottom surface of the lower lid member  10  to block the window  14 . A lower part of the stem  60  is allowed to slide vertically within the hollow cylinder  65  which servers to guide the movement of the stem  60 . When the piston head  7  is pressed to force the piston  27  to move inwardly, which in turn forces the lever  33  to pivot downwardly, the lever  33  presses on the top flange  61  and forces the blocking member  17  to move downwardly, causing the blocking ring  67  to move away from the bottom surface of the lower lid member  10 , allowing liquid to flow from the cavity  53  into the lid assembly  3  and to be drunk by the user through the drinking orifice  4 . 
     For the sake of simplicity, the lock mechanism described above in the first embodiment is not present in this third embodiment, and the upper lid member  8  and the lower lid member  10  are attached to each other in a conventional detachable manner, for instance by cooperating threads or by snap-fit. As shown in  FIGS. 15A, 15C and 15D , in this embodiment, a handle  64  is pivotally mounted to a bottom surface of the lower lid member  10  to facilitate detachment of the lower lid member  10  from the upper lid member  8 . In a resting position shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15C , the handle  64  is positioned parallel and approximate to the bottom surface of the lower lid member  10 . When the lid assembly  3  needs to be disassembled, for example, for the purpose of cleaning the inside thereof, the handle  64  can be pivoted to a ready-to-use position wherein the handle  64  is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the lower lid member  10 , as shown in  FIG. 16D . The user can then pull the handle  64  to detach the lower lid member  10  from the upper lid member  8 . 
       FIGS. 16A-16E  show a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is structurally similar to the third embodiment described above but differs in the structure of the lever  33 . In this fourth embodiment, the lever  33  is configured to comprise a first pivoting member  68  and a second pivoting member  69 . The first pivoting member  68  comprises an arm  71  on which the baffle plate  37  is mounted, and two spaced apart legs  70  extending from the arm  71 . The second pivoting member  69  is insertable and able to pivot in a space defined by the two legs  70 . Both the two legs  70  and the second pivoting member  69  are pivotal about a common hinge fixed on the lower lid member  10 . 
     In this embodiment, the second pivoting member  69  protrudes beyond the two legs  70  such that the inner end  38  of the piston  27  moves to act on the second pivoting member  69  only. The second pivoting member  69  is caused by the piston  27  to pivot downwardly in the space defined by the two legs  70  and comes into contact with the top flange  60  of the blocking member  17 . Continued downward movement of the second pivoting member  69  causes the blocking member  17  to move downwardly so as to expose the window  14 . The first pivoting member  68  remains immobilized and the baffle plate  37  arranged on the arm  71  of the first pivoting member  68  is kept in place while the second pivoting member  69  moves and before the window ( 14 ) is exposed. After the window ( 14 ) is exposed, the second pivoting member  69  reaches and presses towards the first pivoting member  68  causing the first pivoting member  68  to pivot downwardly together with the second pivoting member  69 . As a result, the baffle plate  37  is driven to move away from the drinking orifice  4 . 
     Such a configuration ensures that the window  14  is opened before the drinking orifice  4  is opened. Since the window  14  can be opened only when the gas vent  5  is opened, this embodiment ensures that the hot gas contained in the cavity  53  of the container body  2  is released through the window  14  and the gas vent  5  before the user is able to drink the liquid from the drinking orifice  4 , thus preventing the hot gas from spurting at the user. 
     While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, and is intended to closure member various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     NUMERICAL REFERENCES 
     
         
           1  container 
           2  container body 
           3  lid assembly 
           4  drinking orifice 
           5  gas vent 
           6  closure member 
           7  piston head 
           8  upper lid member 
           9  intermediate bracket 
           10  lower lid member 
           11  upper plate 
           12  lower plate 
           13  connecting member 
           14  window 
           15  main portion 
           16  notch 
           17  blocking member 
           19  hinge 
           20  closure plate 
           21  niche 
           22  pin 
           23  holder 
           24  resilient ring 
           25  piston passage 
           26  side wall 
           27  piston 
           28  bulge 
           29  groove 
           30  recess 
           31  opening 
           32  cylinder 
           33  lever 
           34  stub 
           35  hole 
           36  torsion spring 
           37  baffle plate 
           38  inner end 
           39  restraint 
           40  turning point 
           41  spring chamber 
           42  piston spring 
           43  hook member 
           44  hook linkage 
           45  post 
           46  unlocking member 
           47  grip portion 
           48  body 
           49  resilient block 
           50  piston seal 
           51  inner wall component 
           52  outer wall component 
           53  cavity 
           55  hooked head 
           56  first cam face 
           57  second cam face 
           58  silicon resilient member 
           59  flat surface 
           60  stem 
           61  top flange 
           62  bottom flange 
           63  constricted spring 
           64  handle 
           65  hollow cylinder 
           66  connector 
           67  blocking ring 
           68  first pivoting member 
           69  second pivoting member 
           70  leg 
           71  arm