Abstract:
A lid includes a top having a cover receiving portion having a first aperture and a second aperture formed therein, a hinge positioned about a center of the cover receiving portion such that the first aperture is on one side of the hinge and the second aperture is on an opposite side of the hinge, and a cover having two directly opposing sidewalls rotatably attached to the cover receiving portion via the hinge. Each sidewall includes a protrusion extending therefrom shaped to fit within one of the first and second apertures. The cover pivots relative to the cover receiving portion so as to engage either the first aperture or the second aperture, and when the protrusion on one sidewall of the cover is pivoted towards the first aperture, the protrusion on the other sidewall simultaneously pivots away from the second aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to a lid for a container, and more particularly, to a removable lid having two apertures therein and a cover adapted to contact either of the apertures by pivoting on the lid.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    During outdoor activities, objects in the environment such as flies, mosquitoes, hornets, dust, rain, and the like seem to find their way into open beverage containers. People prefer to avoid contact with such extraneous matter, and especially do not desire to have it in and about the containers from which they drink. Children, and even many adults, sometimes refuse to consume the contents of a container after witnessing various insects moving thereabout. More importantly, consuming a beverage into which minute particles from the air have fallen may prove unhealthy. In addition, whether indoors or outdoors, many people desire a drinking container that does not readily spill its contents when accidentally tipped or dropped.  
           [0005]    Similarly, beverages are often consumed while in a vehicle in motion. Drivers and passengers alike generally desire beverage containers that, when tipped, shaken, or dropped, do not simply spill their contents about the vehicle cabin and its occupants. Further, whether indoors, outdoors, or in a vehicle, not everyone prefers to drink from a container in the same manner. That is, some people prefer to use a straw, while others prefer to simply drink directly from a spout. Moreover, most consumers consider beverage containers to be fungible commodities. As such, a market exists for a simple, low cost, easily manufacturable product that renders a beverage container spill proof, prevents objects from the environment from contacting its contents, and at the same time provides a consumer with the option of consuming its contents either through a straw or directly from a spout.  
           [0006]    Conventional container lids directed towards that market generally include an opening for a straw and an opening for pouring or sipping the contents of a container. Such lids may have pairs of covers to close off the openings, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,113 to Stymiest, or single removable covers to close off both openings, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,312 to Mueller. However, the container lid disclosed by Stymiest requires separate first and second closures for closing off the two openings, and both the first and second closures are separately connected to the lid. This increases manufacturing complexity and requires additional assembly steps and material, which raises the cost per lid. The container lid disclosed by Mueller includes a cover that does not attach to the lid. As such, that cover is easily separated and lost.  
           [0007]    Therefore, there is a continuing need in the art for a simple, low-cost, easily manufacturable container lid having a plurality of apertures therein that can be alternately covered by a single cover, which is hingedly attached to the lid even when none of the plurality of apertures is covered.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    This invention addresses the foregoing needs in the art by providing a container lid having two apertures therein, and comprising a cover hingedly attached to the lid and adapted to cover one of the two apertures at a time by pivoting on the lid.  
           [0009]    In a first embodiment of the invention, a container lid comprises a top including a cover receiving portion having a first aperture and a second aperture formed therein, a hinge positioned substantially about a center of the cover receiving portion, and a cover pivotally attached to the cover receiving portion via the hinge. The first aperture is positioned on one side of the hinge and the second aperture is positioned on an opposite side of the hinge. The cover comprises at least two opposing sides, with each of the opposing sides having a protrusion shaped to sealingly engage or fit within one of the first aperture and the second aperture.  
           [0010]    In another aspect of the first embodiment, one of the apertures is adapted to receive a straw.  
           [0011]    In yet another aspect of the first embodiment, the hinge comprises at least one protruding fork integral with the cover receiving portion, the cover comprises at least one aperture therein, and the at least one protruding fork is adapted to releasably engage the aperture in the cover.  
           [0012]    In yet another aspect of the first embodiment, the container lid comprises a peripheral wall depending from the top. The peripheral wall comprises a ridge adapted to removably secure the lid to a container.  
           [0013]    In a second embodiment of the invention, a container assembly comprises a container having a flanged upper lip and a lid. The lid comprises a top including a substantially flat portion having a first aperture and a second aperture formed therein, a hinge positioned substantially about a center of the flat portion, a cover pivotally attached to the flat portion via the hinge, and a peripheral wall depending from the top of the lid. The first and second apertures are positioned on opposite sides of the hinge, and the peripheral wall is adapted to releasably engage the flanged upper lip. The cover comprises at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side. Each of the first and second sides comprises a protrusion shaped to sealingly engage one of the first aperture and the second aperture.  
           [0014]    In another aspect of the first and second embodiments, the first aperture in the flat portion comprises a seal disposed therein, so that when the cover is sealingly engaged with the second aperture, the container assembly is spill-proof and prevents environmental objects from contacting contents of the container.  
           [0015]    In a third embodiment of the invention, a container lid comprises a top including a substantially flat portion having a first aperture and a second aperture formed therein, a cover removably attached to the flat portion, and means for removably and pivotally attaching the cover to the flat portion. The first and second apertures are positioned on opposite sides of the means for removably and pivotally attaching the cover to the flat portion. The cover comprises two sides, with each side comprising a protrusion shaped to sealingly engage (or alternatively to fit within) the first or second aperture. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top of a lid in accordance with this invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of a cover for use in this invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an underside of the lid shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid of this invention attached to a container; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line I-I in FIG. 4 while FIG. 5A is a partial cut-out sectional view of the portion  5 A shown in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    This invention relates generally to a container lid, comprising a top including a hinge and a plurality of apertures disposed therein and positioned on opposite sides of the hinge, and a cover pivotally connected to the lid via the hinge. The cover comprises two sides and a protrusion on each side, each protrusion being adapted to sealingly engage (or alternatively to fit within) one of the plurality of apertures in the lid.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lid  100  according to the preferred embodiment. The lid  100  comprises a top  124  and a peripheral wall  102  depending therefrom. A circumference of the top  124  is generally circular, and a cross section of the top  124  is generally arcuate, rising from a low point at a periphery of the top  124  to a high point near a center of the top  124 . A cover receiving portion, preferably a flat portion  104 , extends across the top  124  and through the center of the top  124 . The flat portion  104  comprises two apertures formed therein. These apertures can be the same or different. Preferably, however, one aperture is, for example, a straw hole  106  suitable for receiving a conventional straw, and another aperture is, for example, a spout  108  suitable for pouring or sipping contents of the container. Various shapes for the apertures, such as circular, elliptical, polygonal, rectangular, and the like, can be formed in the flat portion  104  without departing from the scope of the invention. Near the spout  108 , the lid  100  further comprises an extending lip  110  to aid in sipping.  
         [0023]    A tongue  112  is provided on one side of the lid  100  and is integrally formed with the wall  102  to facilitate removal and handling of the lid  100 . Of course, the tongue  112  may be a separate piece, or may be disposed of altogether without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the tongue  112  can be a variety of shapes and sizes, such as an arcuate, rectangular, or triangular extension from the lid.  
         [0024]    Preferably, the straw hole  106  is provided with a gasket  200  fixedly disposed therein. Such gaskets are produced by Liquid Molding Systems, Inc., Midland, Mich., and marketed through Sequist Closures of Mukwanago, Wis., under the SIMPLISQUEEZE™ line. The gasket  200  allows for insertion of a conventional straw therethrough. When a straw or similar tube is not inserted through the gasket  200 , then the gasket  200  provides a spill-proof seal, meaning that fluid contents of the container coming in ephemeral contact with the gasket  200  will not pass through the gasket  200 . Although a separate gasket  200  is shown in FIG. 1, for example, the gasket  200  may be integrally formed with the lid  100 . In addition, other sealers or means for receiving an object therethrough and for providing an ephemeral seal when the object is not disposed therethrough may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 2A and 2B show a cover  300  for use in this invention. The cover  300  comprises two sides  302 ,  302 ′ each with a protrusion  304 ,  306 , respectively disposed thereon and shaped to sealingly engage, fit within, or mate with one of the apertures in the flat portion  104 . As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and  2 B, the side  302  of the cover  300  nearest the straw hole  106  includes the protrusion  304 , which is shaped similarly to the straw hole  106 , and the side  302 ′ of the cover  300  nearest the spout  108  includes the protrusion  306 , which is shaped similarly to the spout  108 . Of course, the protrusions  304 ,  306  and the apertures  106 ,  108  may take on a variety of shapes, such as contoured, elliptical, polygonal, and the like, other than the straw holes and spouts shown.  
         [0026]    As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cover  300  comprises an L-shaped handle  308  extending orthogonally from the side  302 . The handle  308  has an orthogonal panel  310  perpendicular to the side  302  and a parallel panel  312  parallel to the side  302 , thus forming the “L-shaped” handle  308 . Near a comer formed by an intersection of the panels  310 ,  312  of the handle  308 , a first rib  314  is formed. When the cover  300  is closed over the straw hole  106 , the first rib  314  grips a bottom edge of the wall  102 , holding the cover  300  closed against the flat portion  104 , as illustrated in FIG. 3. The orthogonal panel  310  also includes a second rib  316  that engages with a notch  114 , shown in FIG. 5, formed in the lid  100 , thus keeping the cover  300  in place over the spout  108 . Although the first and second ribs  314 ,  316  and the notch  114  are preferably provided, they may be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0027]    The cover  300  is pivotally attached to the lid  100  near the middle of the flat portion  104 , as shown in FIG. 1. The flat portion  104  comprises at least one pair of protruding forks  116 , preferably two pairs of protruding forks  116 , and the cover  300  comprises a rod-shaped end  318  and a pair of windows  320 . The rod-shaped end  318  is received by the forks  116  (e.g., the rod-shaped end  318  snaps into the forks  116 ) at the location of the windows  320 , thereby allowing for hinged movement of the cover  300 . Of course, other hinge-like structures may be used without departing from the scope of the invention, such as extending the rod-shaped end  318  beyond an endwall of the cover  300  to form extended pins and using forks or pin receiving means to restrain the cover  300  on the lid  100  via the extended pins.  
         [0028]    An underside of the lid  100  according to the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. A cylindrical wall  120  depends from an underside of the flat portion  104  and surrounds the straw hole  106 , so as to provide a structure for securing the gasket  200  in place. A ridge  130  extends around the wall  102 , and a plurality of stops  118  protrude from the underside of the lid  100 . Three stops  118  are shown; however, there are three additional stops on the opposite side of the flat portion  104  that are obscured by the wall  102 . Nevertheless, any number of stops may be provided, from none to a continuous ridge, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide a mating surface between the lid  100  and the container  400 .  
         [0029]    The lid  100  is removably attachable to a container  400  having a flared top  402 , as shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5A, the ridge  130  of the lid  100  contacts the flared top  402  to removably secure the lid  100  to the container  400 . When the lid  100  is secured to the container  400 , a seal is formed as the ridge  130  contacts the flared top  402 . This seal may be a leak-resistant, a leak-proof, or a spill-proof seal. Preferably, the seal formed is a leak-proof seal. Also, when the lid  100  is secured to the container  400 , the stops  118  abut the flared top  402  of the container  400 . Moreover, in another aspect of the invention, the lid  100  preferably snaps onto or snap-fittingly engages with the container  400 , thus producing a snapping sound upon properly attaching the lid  100  to the container  400 .  
         [0030]    The lid  100 , cover  300 , and container  400  can be manufactured from a variety of materials, but are preferably plastic. Such plastics include high density polyethylene (HDPE), any polyolefin, including but not limited to linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and low density polytheylene (LDPE). The plastics used should preferably provide a rigidity between that of LDPE and polypropylene. That is, the plastics used should preferably be rigid enough to provide a solid snapping sound when the lid  100  and the container  400  are attached together, but pliable enough to provide a leak-proof seal therebetween.  
         [0031]    In operation, the lid  100  is attached to the container  400  containing a fluid, such as a beverage, and the cover  300  is selectively snapped down over one of the apertures, such as the spout  108 , as shown in FIG. 4. A conventional straw can then be placed into the straw hole  106 . Alternatively, if a user chooses to drink out of the spout  108 , the user can remove the straw and pivot the cover  300  so as to cover the straw hole  106  and expose the spout  108 . When done drinking, the user may pivot the cover  300  back over the spout  108 . In this position, the cover  300  seals the spout  108  to prevent fluid leakage, and the gasket  200  prevents fluid leakage through the straw hole  106  in the event the container  400  is tipped over.  
       Industrial Applicability  
       [0032]    This invention provides a container lid for removable attachment to a container. This lid includes apertures, such as a straw aperture and a spout aperture, through which a user may withdraw contents of the container, and a pivotally attached cover for selectively sealing the apertures. This lid allows a user to consume the contents of the container through a straw or from a spout, while preventing external environmental objects from contacting the contents and preventing accidental spilling of the contents. When not consuming the container contents, a user may seal the spout aperture with the cover and allow a gasket within the straw aperture to seal that aperture. In this state, the lid substantially prevents the container contents from contacting the environment external thereto, thus making this invention highly suitable for use outdoors or in vehicles.  
         [0033]    While this invention has been described with reference to what are currently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.