Abstract:
A lid assembly including a lid defining openings therethrough and a guide channel, and a body slidably engaging the lid and defining protrusions that correspond in position with the openings and a resiliently deformable member guided within the guide channel, wherein the body is movable between a first position in which the openings and protrusions are aligned to block fluid flow and a second position in which the openings and protrusions are misaligned to allow fluid flow through the lid, and wherein the body is biased in the direction of the first position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/399,691 filed Jul. 16, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/401,406 filed Aug. 13, 2010, the contents of both of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The exemplary embodiments provided herein relate generally to the field of spill proof container lids, and more particularly, to lid assemblies including a lid having spaced-apart openings defined therethrough and a slider body defining corresponding protrusions that slidably engages the lid such that alignment of the protrusions and openings prevents the passage of fluid therethrough, and misalignment of the protrusions and openings permits the passage of fluid therethrough. 
         [0003]    Various configurations of spill proof lids are well known in the art, however, disadvantages of conventional designs include two-handed operation, complexity, cleanability, poor fluid flow and cooperation with existing handles for operation, among other disadvantages. Accordingly, embodiments of lid assemblies are provided herein that overcome the disadvantages of prior art designs. The lid assemblies provided herein can advantageously be used with cups, disposable cups, mugs, tumblers and other container types, thus broad application among containers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a lid assembly is provided herein including a lid defining openings therethrough and a guide channel, and a body slidably engaging the lid and defining protrusions that correspond in position with the openings and a resiliently deformable member guided within the guide channel, wherein the body is movable between a first position in which the openings and protrusions are aligned to block a flow of fluid through the lid, and a second position in which the openings and protrusions are misaligned to allow a flow of fluid through the lid, and wherein engagement of the resiliently deformable member within the guide channel biases the body in the direction of the first position. 
         [0005]    In a further aspect, the lid defines a recessed portion for receiving the body. 
         [0006]    In a further aspect, the lid defines a recess for receiving a projection of the body. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect, the openings are diametrically aligned on the lid. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect, the body includes a lever assembly that biases a lever in a direction apart from a container associated with the lid. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a lid assembly is provided herein including a lid defining a recess, first and second spaced-apart and diametrically aligned openings therethrough, and vertically-extending projections positioned between the first and second openings defining guide channels, and a slider body slidingly received within the recess, the slider body defining first and second protrusions on its underside that correspond in position with the first and second openings, and resiliently deformable features that are guided within the guide channels, wherein the slider body is movable between a first position in which the first and second openings and the first and second protrusions are aligned, respectively, to block a flow of fluid through the lid, and a second position in which the first and second openings and the first and second protrusions, respectively, are misaligned to allow a flow of fluid through the lid, and wherein engagement of the resiliently deformable features within the guide channels biases the slider body in the direction of the first position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Various features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a lid assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the lid assembly shown disassembled; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the lid assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the lid assembly shown disassembled; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the lid assembly shown disassembled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the lid assembly shown disassembled; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the lid assembly shown disassembled; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevation view of the lid assembly shown disassembled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , various illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of a container lid assembly are shown. It is intended that the lid assembly may be used with various container types including, but not limited to, mugs, tumblers, glasses, handled and non-handled containers, and other like containers, while requiring modification to the lid shape, size, sealing features etc. within routine skill of one in the art. 
         [0021]    The lid assembly is shown throughout the figures at reference numeral  10 , and generally operates through the sliding engagement of a slider body  12  with a lid  14 . The lid  14  is a generally disc-shaped member having a vertically-extending annular flange  16  adjacent its perimeter for capturing fluid. The annular flange  16  has a break or “slot”  18  for positioning and clearing a portion of the slider body  12 . The lid  14  defines diametrically-aligned first and second openings  20 ,  22  that are positioned inward of the perimeter of the lid. The openings  20 ,  22  are substantially spaced-apart such that, regardless of the orientation of an associated container, when handled, a typical drinking angle allows liquid to pass through one opening and air through the other. The openings  20 ,  22  are dimensioned to permit a sufficient amount of fluid to leave the container, and a sufficient amount of air to enter the container to prevent a vacuum effect. The openings  20 ,  22  may have a vertical sidewall or may define a chamfer for sealing engagement with protrusions of the slider body  12 , as described in detail below. The slot  18 , the first opening  20 , and the second opening  22  are diametrically aligned. 
         [0022]    The lid  14  further defines a recessed portion  24  within its top surface that has a shape generally corresponding to the generally rectangular portion of the slider body  12 . The first and second openings  20 ,  22  are positioned spaced-apart and diametrically aligned within the recessed portion  24 . Within the recessed portion  24  are further recesses  26  that are spaced-apart and positioned adjacent the first opening  20 . The recesses  26  correspond in position with ramps  28  on the underside of the slider body  12  such that the recesses  26  and the ramps  28  are aligned and the slider body  12  can seat flush within recessed portion  24  in a first position in which the openings  20 ,  22  are “closed” and fluid is prevented from passing therethrough. In a second or “open” position, the ramps  28  and the recesses  26  are misaligned and the ramps  28  “ramp out” of the recesses  26  and move the slider body  12  upward relative to the lid  14 . The slider body  12  translates relative to the recessed portion  24  along a diametrical axis through the first and second openings  20 ,  22 , and is prevented from moving laterally within the recessed portion  24 . 
         [0023]    The lid  14  further defines vertically-extending protrusions  30  generally centrally located in recessed portion  24  that define guide channels for guiding corresponding features on the underside of the slider body  12 . Translation of the slider body  12  within the recessed portion  24  causes the features on the underside of the slider body  12  to resiliently deform as they move within the guide channels and bias the slider body  12  in the direction against the direction of movement. Movement of the slider body  12  is actuated by moving a lever portion of the slider body  12 , as described in detail below, relative to the associated container, which causes the slider body  12  to translate relative to the recessed portion  24 . As the slider body  12  moves, the features of the slider body  12  are guided together in the channels defined by the projections  30 . When the handled is released, the memory of the features of the slider body  12  causes them to move apart and travel in the opposite direction within the guide channels, causing the slider body  12  to return to the first or “closed” position. The features of the slider body  12  and the projections  30  can be oriented in either direction such that the slider body  12  can translate in either direction relative to the recessed portion  24 . Thus, actuation of the handle can either “push” or “pull” the slider body  12  relative to the lid  14 . 
         [0024]    The slider body  12  defines generally hemispherical protrusions  32  on its underside that correspond in position to the first and second openings  20 ,  22 . The protrusions  32  are generally hemispherical such that they sealingly engage within the first and second chamfered openings  20 ,  22 . Centrally positioned between the protrusions  32  are the features, such as the resiliently deformable fingers  34  shown. 
         [0025]    The slider body  12  may define tabs  36  on either side thereof that are received beneath flanges defined on opposing sides of the recessed portion  24 . The engagement of the tabs  36  beneath the flanges resists against upward pulling forces on the slider body  12  and prevents unintentional disengagement of the slider body  12  from the lid  14 . Installation of the slider body  12  in recessed portion  24  requires a slight downward pressing force on the slider body  12  to move the tabs  36  past their respective flanges. 
         [0026]    The slider body  12  further includes a lever assembly  38  that passes through the slot  18  and engages the underside of the annular flange  16 . The lever assembly  38  is outwardly biased, and in an exemplary embodiment includes a V-spring arrangement. In operation, the lever  40  is pressed toward the associated container, causing the protrusion carrying portion of slider body  12  to move toward the lever  40 , consequently causing the protrusions  32  to withdraw from their respective openings both longitudinally and vertically as a result of the ramping action. Release of the lever  40  causes the biasing member to return lever  40  to its outward state, causing slider body  12  to return to its aligned, lowered position within the recessed portion  24 , thus blocking openings  20 ,  22 . As stated above, lever assembly  38  may be arranged to move slider body  12  in either direction relative to lid  14  to open and close the openings  20 ,  22 . 
         [0027]    As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the slider body  12  defines a hook  42  that engages the underside of the lid  14  to further retain the slider body  12  on the lid  14 . As shown, lid  14  defines specific geometry that sealingly engages a corresponding container, however, it is intended that other sealing geometries may be practiced to accommodate any shaped container without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0028]    The slider body  12  and lid  14  may be constructed from any suitable material including various types of plastics known to those skilled in the art. It is intended that openings  20 ,  22  and protrusions  32  may have alternative positions, shapes and dimensions. 
         [0029]    While a spill proof lid assembly has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples, it is envisioned that various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.