Patent Publication Number: US-2022227548-A1

Title: Drink container and leak proof plug lid for use therewith

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to drink containers and removable lids for use therewith, and more precisely to plug lids. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Drink containers or drinking vessels with lids having sealing mechanisms are known in the art. Many require the lid to be threadably attached to a drink container body. One disadvantage of threadably attached lids is the time, effort and motion required to attach or remove the lid from the drink container body, and also the difficulty of doing so in some situations. Known plug lids overcome some of these issues, but generally do not permit drinking from the drinking container unless the plug lid is fully removed from the drinking container. A sealing problem exists with some plug lid designs when used with drink container bodies having variations in the interior diameter of the bodies, thus requiring a lid with a wide size tolerance to insure a good fluid-tight seal with the interior wall of the container body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a drink container with a plug lid in a first operational position. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top plan view of the drink container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 1  taken substantially along the line  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a partial enlargement of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the drink container of  FIG. 1  with the plug lid in a second operational position. 
         FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of the drink container of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 2  taken substantially along the line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a partial enlargement of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the drink container lid of  FIG. 1  with the plug lid in a third operational position. 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the drink container lid of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container lid of  FIG. 3  taken substantially along the line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  is a partial enlargement of  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the drink container of  FIG. 1  with the plug lid in the third operational position shown in  FIG. 3  and removed from a body of the drinking container. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the drink container of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective exploded view of the drink container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational exploded view of the drink container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a left side elevational exploded view of the drinking container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a drink container with a second embodiment of the plug lid in a closed operational position. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the closed operational position. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the closed operational position taken substantially along the line A-A of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the closed operational position taken substantially along the line B-B of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in an intermediate operational position. 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the intermediate operational position. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the intermediate operational position taken substantially along the line C-C of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the intermediate operational position taken substantially along the line D-D of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top perspective view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in a closed operational position. 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the closed operational position. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the closed operational position taken substantially along the line E-E of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the drink container of  FIG. 9  with the plug lid in the closed operational position taken substantially along the line F-F of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 21  is a partial cross-sectional, elevational exploded view of the drinking container of  FIG. 9  taken substantially along the line A-A of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 22  is a partial cross-sectional, elevational exploded view of the drinking container of  FIG. 9  taken substantially along the line B-B of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 23  is a top perspective exploded view of the drink container of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 24  is a bottom perspective exploded view of an upper member of a seal assembly of the drink container of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 25  is a bottom perspective exploded view of a lower member of the seal assembly of the drink container of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A drinking vessel or drink container  10  in accordance with the present embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . The drink container  10  includes a substantially cylindrical body  12  and a lid  14 . The illustrated body  12  has a double wall construction for improved thermal insulation, using an inner body  16  positioned and secured within an outer body  18 . In other embodiments not shown, a single wall construction may be used. 
     The inner body  16  has a lower inner body portion  20  and an upper inner body portion  22  forming a hollow interior chamber  19 . The outer body  18  has a lower outer body portion  24  and an upper outer body portion  26 . A drinkable liquid (not shown) may be stored in the lower inner body portion  20  when the drink container  10  is in an upright position. The upper inner body portion  22  defines an interior fluid passageway  28  having a longitudinal axis  29 , and an upper end opening  30  at an upper end of the body  12  through which the liquid stored in lower inner body portion  20  may flow for drinking or pouring when the drink container  10  is sufficiently tilted. An upper end portion  32  of the upper inner body portion  22  and an upper end portion  34  of the upper outer body portion  26  are joined at their upper ends to define a drinking lip  36  at the upper end of the body  12  which the lips of a user may be placed for drinking the liquid stored in lower inner body portion  20  when the drink container  10  is sufficiently tilted. A handle  37  is attached to the body  12  by a ring portion  37 A which extends about the upper outer body portion  26  to facilitate the user holding the drink container  10 . 
     The upper inner body portion  22  has an interior, circumferentially extending body inward protrusion or body ridge  38  projecting inward within the fluid passageway  28 . The body ridge  38  extends continuously about the circumference of the upper inner body portion  22 . The body ridge  38  has a circumferentially extending upper wall portion  38 A which slopes downward in the inward direction, and a circumferentially extending lower wall portion  38 B which slopes upward in the inward direction. As will be described, the body ridge  38  serves as a stop to support the lid  14  when within the fluid passageway  28  and limit its downward movement within the fluid passageway. In alternative embodiments not illustrated, the body ridge  38  may not be continuous. 
     The lid  14  is a plug-type closure which is insertable by the user into the fluid passageway  28  through the upper end opening  30  for use of the drink container  10  for storing, transporting and drinking a liquid, and removable therefrom when desired by the user for washing the lid and/or body  12  of the drink container. The lid  14  may be operated to move between three states, a closed and securely retained state as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B and 1C , an opened but retained state as shown in  FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B and 2C , and an opened and removable state as shown in  FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4 and 5 . In the closed and securely retained state shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B and 1C , the fluid passageway  28  is closed so no liquid can be drunk from the drink container  10  and the lid  14  cannot be removed from the body  12  (or inserted into the fluid passageway). In the opened but retained state shown in  FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B and 2C , the lid  14  is opened for drinking but retained within the fluid passageway  28  against unintended removal. In the opened and removable state shown in  FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4 and 5 , the lid  14  is opened but not retained within the fluid passageway  28  so as to be removable by the user for filling the lower inner body portion  20  with a liquid or for washing the lid and/or the body  12 . The individual component parts of the drink container  10  are separately illustrated in the exploded views of  FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 . 
     The lid  14  includes an upper seal carrier  40 , a lower seal carrier  42  and a flexible tubular seal  44 . The upper seal carrier  40  has an upper portion  40 A and a smaller diameter lower portion  40 B. The upper portion  40 A of the upper seal carrier  40  is sized to engage and be supported by the body ridge  38  when the lid  14  is inserted by the user into the fluid passageway  28  through the upper end opening  30 , while the lower seal carrier  42  is smaller and sized to pass by the body ridge  38  and reside within the fluid passageway below the body ridge. When the lid  14  is positioned within the fluid passageway  28 , the upper seal carrier  40 , the lower seal carrier  42  and tubular seal  44  are coaxially arranged within the fluid passageway  28 . The upper seal carrier  40  and the lower seal carrier  42  are axially spaced apart and each extend transverse to the longitudinal axis  29 . As will be described in greater detail below, the lower seal carrier  42  is axially movable relative to the upper seal carrier  40  within the fluid passageway  28 . 
     The tubular seal  44  has the shape of a bellows with a single convolution and may be made of a soft silicon material. The tubular seal  44  has a circumferential upper end portion  46  sealingly attached to the upper seal carrier  40  and a circumferential lower end portion  48  sealingly attached to the lower seal carrier  42 . The tubular seal  44  has a thin perimeter sidewall  44 A and a hollow interior space  44 B located within the perimeter sidewall and extending the full length of the tubular seal upper and lower end portions  46  and  48 . The interior space  44 B spans a substantial portion of the interior cross-sectional area of the fluid passageway  28 , in the illustrated embodiment when in the opened and removable state shown in  FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5 , the interior space spans approximately  93 % of the interior cross-sectional area of the fluid passageway, and preferably spans at least  50 % of the interior cross-sectional area of the fluid passageway. While the tubular seal  44  is illustrated as having a generally tubular shaped flexible perimeter sidewall  44 A and the hollow interior space  44 B as extending fully between its upper and lower end portions  46  and  48 , the sidewall and interior space may have other shapes and configurations. 
     When the lid  14  is positioned within the within the fluid passageway  28 , the upper portion  40 A of the upper seal carrier  40  is positioned above and in engagement with an upper portion of the body ridge  38  of the upper inner body portion  22  of the body  12 , which supports the upper seal carrier and prevents further downward movement of the lid within the fluid passageway. When the lid  14  is so positioned, a perimeter sidewall  50  of the upper portion  40 A of the upper seal carrier  40  is positioned adjacent to an upper interior wall surface portion  52  of the upper inner body portion  22 , except for a drink dispensing aperture  54  formed by an inwardly recessed region at the perimeter of the upper portion of the upper seal carrier through which liquid may pass for drinking when the drink container  10  is sufficiently tilted and the lid is in the opened but retained state as shown in  FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B and 2C , or the opened and removable state as shown in  FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B and 3C  (although when in the opened and removable state the lid is not securely retained within the fluid passageway). 
     When the lid  14  is positioned within the fluid passageway  28  with the upper portion  40 A of the upper seal carrier  40  positioned above and engagement with the body ridge  38 , a perimeter sidewall  56  of the lower seal carrier  42  is positioned inward away from a lower interior wall surface portion  58  of the upper inner body portion  22 . This forms a circumferentially extending, perimeter fluid flow pathway  60  between the perimeter sidewall  56  and the lower interior wall surface  58  through which liquid may pass for drinking when the drink container  10  is sufficiently tilted. 
     The lower portion  40 B of the upper seal carrier  40  has a perimeter sidewall  62  and is positioned within an upper edge portion  64  of the upper end portion  46  of the tubular seal  44 . The perimeter sidewall  62  of the lower portion  40 B of the upper seal carrier  40  has a circumferential extending outward facing protrusion  66  over which the upper edge portion  64  of the tubular seal  44  extends to position the protrusion  66  in a circumferentially extending inward facing groove  68  of the upper edge portion to sealingly secure the upper edge portion to the upper seal carrier  40 . 
     The perimeter sidewall  50  of the upper portion  40 A of the upper seal carrier  40  has a circumferentially extending outward facing groove  70  in which a circumferentially extending seal  72  is positioned to provide a fluid-tight seal between the upper seal carrier  40  and the upper interior wall surface portion  52  of the upper inner body portion  22  when the lid  14  is positioned within the within the fluid passageway  28 , except at the drink dispensing aperture  54 . 
     The lower seal carrier  42  is positioned at least partially within a lower edge portion  74  of the lower end portion  48  of the tubular seal  44 . The perimeter sidewall  56  of the lower seal carrier  42  includes a circumferentially extending outward facing slot  76  in which an end portion  75  of the lower edge portion  74  is positioned and secured to sealingly secure the lower edge portion  74  to the lower seal carrier  42 . 
     A midportion  77  of the tubular seal  44  has a circumferentially, outwardly projecting extending bulge which is mostly positioned below the upper seal carrier  40  and the body ridge  38 . The midportion  77  has a circumferentially extending upper wall portion  77 A and a circumferentially extending lower wall portion  77 B. When the midportion  77  is compress by moving the lower seal carrier  42  upward to be closer to the upper seal carrier  40 , as will be described in greater detail below, the upper and lower wall portions  77 A and  77 B move closer together, and the upper wall portion  77 A moves closer to the body ridge  38 . In the closed and securely retained state shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B and 1C , the upper wall portion  77 A is pressed against the body ridge  38  to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween and close the fluid passageway  28 , thus preventing fluid stored in the lower inner body portion  20  from flowing upward through the fluid pathway  60  to the drink dispensing aperture  54  even when the drinking container is tilted. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper wall portion  77 A presses against the lower wall portion  38 B of the body ridge  38 . 
     A connector member  78  has an exteriorly threaded base portion  79  which is threadably received in an interiorly threaded central opening  80  of the lower seal carrier  42  for axial movement of the connector member with axial movement of the lower seal carrier. The connector member  78  has a lifter member  82  located inward of the perimeter sidewall  44 A of the tubular seal and within the interior space  44 B, and which projects axially upward from the lower seal carrier  42  and through a central aperture  84  in the upper seal carrier  40 . An upper end portion  86  of the lifter member  82  extends above the upper seal carrier  40  and has a transverse lifter member bore  88 . 
     A cam member  90  is positioned about the upper seal carrier  40  and has a pair of spaced apart cam portions  92  and  94  located at a lower end thereof. The upper end portion  86  of the lifter member  82  is positioned between the cam portions  92  and  94 . The cam portions  92  and  94  each have a transverse cam portion bore  96  which axially aligns with the lifter member bore  88 . A pivot pin  98  extends through the cam portion bores  96  and the lifter member bore  88  to rotatably attach the cam member  90  to the upper end portion  86  of the lifter member  82  to permit rotation of the cam member  90  about a transverse axis of rotation  100 . 
     The cam member  90  has a handle portion  102  to which the cam portions  92  and  94  of the cam member are rigidly attached for rotation with the handle portion. Each of the cam portions  92  and  94  has a first cam  104  and a second cam  106  extending in opposite directions away from the handle portion  102  transverse to the pivot pin  98 , with both of the first cams  104  extending to one side of the handle portion and both of the second cams  106  extending to an opposite side of the handle portion. The first cam  104  is longer than the second cam  106  to provide a greater amount of lift than the second cam. The handle portion  102  is rotatable about the pivot pin  98  between a first rotational/operational position shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B and 1C , a second rotational/operational position shown in  FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B and 2C , and a third rotational/operational position shown in  FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B and 3C . The third rotational/operational position of the handle portion  102  is located between the first and second rotational/operational positions of the handle portion. Rotation of the handle portion  102  directly produces rotation of the first and second cams  104  and  106 . The handle portion  102  projects away from the cam portions  92  and  94  and provides a grip for grasping by a user for rotation of the cam member  90  about the pivot pin  98  and rotation of the handle portion  102  between its first, second and third rotational/operational positions. The handle portion  102  has a central aperture  108  sized to allow at least one finger of the user to fit therethrough to facilitate grasping of the handle portion for rotation of the cam member  90  or for removal of the lid  14  from the fluid passageway  28  and insertion of the lid into the fluid passageway. 
     When the handle portion  102  is in the third operational position, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , with the handle portion  102  extending straight upward, the first and second cams  104  and  106  extend laterally outward in opposite directions and transverse to the longitudinal axis  29  and are oriented generally parallel to an upper surface  110  of the upper seal carrier  40 . In this position, the lower seal carrier  42  is at a maximum distance positioned below the upper seal carrier  40  such that the flexible tubular seal  44  is axially stretched out with the midportion  77  having a width which permits it to be easily moved past the body ridge  38  of the upper inner body portion  22  of the body  12 , both when removing the lid  14  from the fluid passageway  28  and when inserting the lid  14  into the fluid passageway. In this position, the lid  14  is opened but not retained within the fluid passageway  28  so as to be removable by the user for filling the lower inner body portion  20  with a liquid or for washing the lid and/or the body  12 . 
     When the handle portion  102  is rotated from the third operational position to the first operational position, with the handle portion  102  rotated to extend to the left (as viewed in  FIG. 1B ), as best illustrated in  FIG. 1B  the longer first cams  104  have been rotated counter-clockwise to engage the upper surface  110  of the upper seal carrier  40  (which rests atop the body ridge  38 ) and apply an upward axial force on the lifter member  82  which transmits that upward lifting force to the lower seal carrier  42  and moves the lower seal carrier closer to the upper seal carrier  40 . During this movement the shorter second cams  106  are out of contact with the upper surface  110 . This results in flexing of the tubular seal  44  radially outward (transverse to the longitudinal body axis  29 ), thus increasing the lateral width of the outward bulge of the midportion  77  of the tubular seal sufficiently and moving the midportion into fluid-tight sealingly engagement with a lower portion of the body ridge  38  of the upper inner body portion  22  of the body  12 , creating a fluid-tight compression seal therewith. In this position, the lower seal carrier  42  is at a minimum distance positioned below the upper seal carrier  40  such that the flexible tubular seal  44  is compressed. As a result, the lid  14  is closed and securely retained within the fluid passageway  28  so no liquid can pass fully through the fluid passageway  28  and be drunk from the drink container  10 , and the lid  14  cannot be removed from the body  12 . If the handle portion  102  was moved to the first operational position with the lid  14  removed from the fluid passageway  28 , the expanded midportion  77  of the tubular seal  44  would prevent it from being reinserted into the fluid passageway. 
     When the handle portion  102  is rotated from third operational position to the second operational position, with the handle portion  102  rotated to extend to the right (as viewed in  FIG. 2B ), as best illustrated in  FIG. 2B  the shorter second cams  106  have been rotated clockwise to engage the upper surface  110  of the upper seal carrier  40  (which rests atop the body ridge  38 ) and apply an upward axial force on the lifter member  82  which transmits that upward lifting force to the lower seal carrier  42  and moves the lower seal carrier closer to the upper seal carrier  40 . During this movement the longer first cams  104  are out of contact with the upper surface  110 . This results in flexing of the tubular seal  44  radially outward (transverse to the longitudinal body axis  29 ), thus increasing the lateral width of the outward bulge of the midportion  77  of the tubular seal, but not sufficiently that it sealingly engages the lower portion of the body ridge  38  of the upper inner body portion  22  of the body  12  and thus does not close off the flow of liquid through the fluid passageway  28 . In this position, the lower seal carrier  42  is at a middle distance positioned below the upper seal carrier  40 , which is greater than the minimum distance resulting when the handle portion  102  is in the first operational position, but less than the maximum distance resulting when the handle portion is in the third operational position. As a result, the flexible tubular seal  44  is only partially compressed compared to when the handle portion  102  is in the first operational position. The partial compression of the tubular seal  44  causes the midportion  77  to move outward sufficiently that it will engage the lower portion of the body ridge  38  to inhibit removal of the lid  14  from within the fluid passageway  28  and prevent unintended removal should the lid experience an axial force moving tending to move it toward the upper end opening  30  of the upper inner body portion  22 , while still permitting drinking liquid from the drink contain  10 . For example, when the handle portion  102  is in the second operational position, if during drinking or carrying the drink container  10  it is sufficiently tilted or upwardly jarred such that an axial force is exerted on the lid  14  that would otherwise cause the lid to move out of the fluid passageway  28 , before doing so the expanded midportion  77  of the tubular seal  44  will move into engagement with the lower portion of the body ridge  38  and thereby prevent the unintended lid removal. Depending on the extent of compression of the tubular seal  44  selected for the design, the user might still be able to apply enough intentional upward force on the handle portion  102  to flex the midportion  77  inward sufficiently to result in removal of the lid  14  from the fluid passageway  28 . 
     The three position lid  14  allows the user to drink from the drinking container  10  while at the same time keeping the lid securely and safely retained within the fluid passageway  28  against unintended lid removal, and to both open the fluid passageway for drinking and close the fluid passageway for transport without having to remove the lid from or reinsert the lid into the fluid passageway. These operations and features are accomplished simply by rotating the handle portion between its three operational positions without removal and reinsertion of the lid  14 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a drinking vessel or drink container  200  in accordance with the present embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9-25 . The drink container is shown in a closed state in  FIGS. 9-12 . The drink container  200  includes a substantially cylindrical body  212  and a lid  214 . As discussed above for the body  12 , the body  212  may have a double wall construction for improved thermal insulation, using an inner body positioned and secured within an outer body. In this illustrated alternative embodiment, the body  212  has a single wall construction, which in a double wall construction drink container would serve as the inner body. 
     The body  212  has a lower body portion  220  and an upper body portion  222  defining a hollow interior chamber  218 . A drinkable liquid (not shown) may be stored in the lower body portion  220  when the drink container  200  is in an upright position. As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the upper body portion  222  has an interior fluid passageway  228  with a longitudinal axis  229  and an upper end opening  230  at the upper end of the upper body portion  222  through which the liquid stored in lower body portion  220  may flow for drinking or pouring when the drink container  200  is sufficiently tilted. An upper end portion  232  of the upper body portion  222  defines a drinking lip at the upper end of the body  212  on which the lips of a user may be positioned for drinking the liquid stored in lower body portion  220  when the drink container  200  is sufficiently tilted. The body  212  may include a handle  216  to facilitate the user holding the drink container  200 . 
     The upper body portion  222  has an interior, circumferentially extending inward protrusion or body ridge  238  projecting inward within the fluid passageway  228 . The body ridge  238  extends continuously about the circumference of the upper body portion  222 . The body ridge  238  has a circumferentially extending upper wall portion  238 A which slopes downward in the inward direction, a circumferentially extending lower wall portion  238 B which slopes upward in the inward direction, and a circumferentially extending vertical middle wall portion  238 C positioned between the upper and lower wall portions. As will be described, the body ridge  238  serves as a stop to support the lid  214  when within the fluid passageway  228  and limit downward movement of the lid within the fluid passageway, and also as an engagement surface the lid grips when within the fluid passageway to inhibit its unintentional upward movement within the fluid passageway. In alternative embodiments not illustrated, the body ridge  238  may not be continuous. 
     The upper body portion  222  further has an interior, inwardly opening, circumferentially extending upper body recess  240  within the fluid passageway  228 , at a location above the body ridge  238  and below the upper end opening  230 , which extends continuously about the internal circumference of the upper body portion and serves as a seal seat, as will be described in greater detail below. An upper edge wall  242  of the recess  240  protrudes inwardly into the fluid passageway  228 . 
     The lid  214  is a plug-type closure which is insertable by the user into the fluid passageway  228  through the upper end opening  230  for use of the drink container  200  for storing, transporting and drinking a liquid, and is removable therefrom when desired by the user for washing the lid and/or body  212  of the drink container. The lid  214  may be operated to move between two states, i.e., a closed and securely retained first state as shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , and an opened and retained, but easily removable second state as shown in  FIGS. 17-20 .  FIGS. 13-16  show the lid  214  in an intermediate position through which the lid moves when transitioning between the first (closed) state and the second (opened) state, as will be described in more detail below. 
     In the first (closed) state the lid  214  is closed and securely retained within the fluid passageway  228  so no liquid can be drunk or spilled from the drink container  200  and the lid cannot be removed from the body  212  (or inserted into the fluid passageway). In the second (opened) state the lid  214  is opened for drinking and retained within the fluid passageway  228  against unintended removal, but with sufficient upward force applied by the user, the lid is removable for filling the lower body portion  220  with a liquid or for washing the lid and/or the body  212 . The individual component parts of the drink container  200  are separately illustrated in the exploded views of  FIGS. 21-23  and the component views of  FIGS. 24 and 25 . 
     The lid  214  includes a seal assembly  244  having an upper member  246 , a lower member  248  and a stretchable and a resilient ring seal  250 . In the illustrated embodiment the ring seal  250  is an  0 -ring but other shapes of ring-type seals may be used. The upper member  246  has a circumferentially extending, perimeter upper member portion  246 A, a smaller diameter circumferentially extending, perimeter lower member portion  246 B and a circumferentially extending, perimeter middle member portion  246 C positioned between the upper and lower member portions. A drink dispensing aperture  247  formed by an inwardly recessed region of the perimeter upper member portion  246 A is provided for liquid to pass for drinking when the drink container  200  is sufficiently tilted and the lid is in its second (opened) state. The perimeter lower member portion  246 B has a circumferentially extending vertical, outward facing perimeter wall  252 , and the perimeter middle member portion  246 C has a circumferentially extending, outward facing perimeter smooth ramp wall  254  which slopes upward in the outward direction with the shape of a conical wall section. 
     The perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246  has a smaller diameter than the perimeter upper member portion  246 A and is sized to pass by the upper edge wall  242  of the recess  240  to position the wall  254  of the perimeter middle member portion  246 C inward of the recess. The ring seal  250  is shown in FIGS.  19  and  20  with the lid  214  in the second (opened) position mounted on and extending about the wall  252  of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246  at a vertical position directly opposite the recess  240  and inward of the recess. In this position the ring seal  250  is in an initial perimeter position and has an initial interior diameter/perimeter the same size as the exterior diameter/perimeter of the wall  252  and an initial exterior diameter/perimeter. As will be described below, the upper member  246  is movable upward and downward by the user relative to the lower member  248 , and during that movement the ring seal  250  is movable upward and downward relative to the upper member  246  between the wall  252  of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B and positions on the ramp wall  254  of the perimeter middle member portion  246 C. 
     The lower member  248  of the lid  214  has a circumferentially extending, perimeter upper member portion  248 A, and a smaller diameter circumferentially extending, perimeter lower member portion  248 B. The perimeter upper member portion  248 A of the lower member  248  is sized to engage and be supported by the upper wall portion  238 A of the body ridge  238  when the lid  214  is inserted by the user into the fluid passageway  228  through the upper end opening  230  to support the lower member  248  when within the fluid passageway and limit its downward movement. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter upper member portion  248 A has four circumferentially extending, spaced-apart perimeter wall sections  248 A- 1 ,  248 A- 2 ,  248 A- 3  and  248 A- 4 , each sized and positioned to engage and be supported by the upper wall portion  238 A of the body ridge  238  when the lid  214  is inserted by the user into the fluid passageway  228 , as best shown in  FIGS. 12, 16 and 20 . 
     The perimeter lower member portion  248 B has a smaller diameter than the perimeter upper member portion  248 A and is sized to pass by the upper wall portion  238 A of the body ridge  238  and reside within the fluid passageway  228  opposite the middle wall portion  238 C of the body ridge. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter lower member portion  248 B has four circumferentially extending, spaced-apart perimeter wall sections  248 B- 1 ,  248 B- 2 ,  248 B- 3  and  248 B- 4 , each having a circumferentially extending groove  256 , within which is positioned a friction member  258  sized to frictionally engage the middle wall portion  238 C with sufficient frictional force to resist upward movement of the lower member  248  as the lid  214  is operated to move between its first (closed) and second (opened) states, and when the drink container  200  is tilted for drinking. However, the frictional force is not so great as to prevent the user from manually moving the lower member  248  and the entire lid  214  upward for removal of the lid from the body  212  for filling the lower body portion  220  with a liquid or for washing the lid and/or the body. The spaced-apart perimeter wall sections  248 B- 1 ,  248 B- 2 ,  248 B- 3  and  248 B- 4  of the perimeter lower member  248 B are positioned immediately below and coextensive with the spaced-apart perimeter wall sections  248 A- 1 ,  248 A- 2 ,  248 A- 3  and  248 A- 4  of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A. 
     Inward of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A, the lower member  248  has four circumferentially distributed apertures  260 , each sized to slidably received one of four correspondingly positioned vertically oriented, elongated guide members  262  of the upper member  246  when the upper and lower members  246  and  248  are assembled. The slidable positioning of the guide members  262  in the apertures  260  prevents rotation of the upper member  246  relative to the lower member  248  as the upper member is moved upward and downward by the user relative to the lower member to move the lid  214  between its first (closed) and second (opened) states. 
     To provide for upward and downward movement of the upper member  246  relative to the lower member  248 , the upper member has a central collar portion  264  with an axially oriented opening  266  having a smooth interior sidewall  268 . The lower member  248  of the lid  214  also has a central collar portion  270  with an axially oriented opening  272 , in axial alignment with the opening  266  of the upper member  246 . The opening  272  has an interior wall with a screw thread  274 . 
     The lid  214  further includes an axially oriented, manually operable actuator member  276  with a manually gripable handle  278  at an upper end thereof and with a lower end portion  280  exteriorly threaded with an exterior screw thread  282  matching the threading of the interior screw thread  274  of the opening  272  of the lower member  248 . When the lid  214  is assembled, the actuator member  276  extends through the smooth sidewall opening  266  of the upper member  246  and the threaded opening  272  of the lower member  248  which threadably receives the threaded lower end portion  280  of the actuator member. An upper portion of the actuator member  276 , below the handle  278  and above the threaded lower end portion  280 , has a first circumferentially extending groove  284  sized to receive a ring seal  286 . When the lid  214  is assembled, the seal  286  is located within the opening  266  of the upper member  246  and in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the smooth interior sidewall  268 . 
     A second circumferentially extending groove  288  is provided in the lower end portion  280  of the actuator member  276 , below the first groove  284  and above the screw thread  282  of the lower end portion, and sized to receive a first C-clip  290 . When the lid  214  is assembled, the first C-clip  290  is located below the collar portion  264  of the upper member  246  to allow rotational movement of the actuator member relative to the upper member  246  and to carry the upper member upward with the actuator member when the actuator member moves upward relative to the lower member  248 . The handle  278  of the actuator member  276  has a circumferentially extending lower end wall  292  positioned above the first groove  284  and in sliding engagement with an upper end  266 A of the collar portion  264  of the upper member  246  when the lid  214  is assembled to allow rotational movement of the actuator member relative to the upper member  246  and to trap the collar portion  264  between the end wall and the first C-clip  290 . In such manner the actuator member  276  and the upper member  246  travel upward and downward together, but the actuator member is rotatable relative to the upper member to control the position of the upper member along the longitudinal axis  229  relative to the lower member  248 . 
     A third circumferentially extending groove  294  is provided in the lower end portion  280  of the actuator member  276  below the screw thread  282  of the lower end portion, and sized to receive a second C-clip  296 . When the lid  214  is assembled, the second C-clip  296  is located below the collar portion  270  of the lower member  246  to allow rotational movement of the actuator member  276  relative to the lower member  248  while limiting the upward movement of the actuator member within the collar portion  270  resulting from rotation of the actuator member. 
     The first C-clip  290  and the second C-clip  296  are axially spaced apart to allow sufficient axial movement of the actuator member  276 , and hence the upper member  246  which moves with the upper member, relative to the lower member  248  to move the lid  214  fully between its first (closed) and second (opened) states resulting from rotation of the actuator member  276  relative to the lower member  248 . When the actuator member  276  is rotated in a first rotational direction (counter-clockwise when viewed from above in the illustrated embodiment), the threaded engagement of the actuator member screw thread  282  with the interior screw thread  274  of the lower member moves the upper member  246  upward relative to the lower member  248  and hence moves the lid  214  toward the its second (opened) state shown in  FIGS. 17-20 , and when the actuator member is rotated in an opposite second rotational direction (clockwise), the threaded engagement of the actuator member screw thread with the interior screw thread of the lower member moves the upper member downward relative to the lower member and hence moves the lid  214  toward the its first (closed) state shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . The total axial movement of the upper member  246  relative to the lower member  248  being no greater than the axial spacing between the first and second C-clips  290  and  296 . 
     When the lid  214  is positioned within the fluid passageway  228 , the upper member  246 , the lower member  248 , the ring seal  250  and the actuator member  272  are coaxially arranged within the fluid passageway and in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis  229 . Since the body  212  in the illustrated embodiment is cylindrical, the upper member  246  and lower member  248  are generally disk shaped to correspond to the interior shape of the interior fluid passageway  228  within which the lid  214  is positioned. 
     The lid  214  is shown in  FIGS. 17-20  in its second (opened) state with the ring seal  250  in position on the wall  252  of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246  in a location directly opposite and spaced inward of the recess  240  of the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 . When the lid  214  is in this state, a circumferentially extending gap  298  exists between the upper body portion  222  of the body  212  and the ring seal  250 , and also between the upper body portion and the upper member  246  of the seal assembly  244 . Liquid in the lower body portion  220  may pass through the gap  298  when the drink container  200  is sufficiently tilted, and be dispensed through the drink dispensing aperture  247  for drinking by the user. It is noted that while the perimeter wall sections of  248 B- 1 ,  248 B- 2 ,  248 B- 3  and  248 B- 4  of the perimeter lower member  248 B are in contact with the middle wall portion  238 C of the body ridge  238  when the lid  214  is in its second (opened) state, the spaces between these perimeter wall sections are unobstructed and liquid in the lower body portion  220  may pass through those spaces. To achieve the second (opened) state, the actuator member  276  is rotated in the first rotational direction to move the upper member  246  axially upward away from the lower member  248 . 
     The lid  214  is shown in  FIGS. 9-12  in its first (closed) state with the ring seal  250  in a seated position in the recess  240  of the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 . In this position the gap  298  is completely closed and the ring seal is in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 , thus preventing the passage of liquid in the lower body portion  220  to the drink dispensing aperture  247  and generally to the upper end opening  230  of the interior fluid passageway  228  of the upper body portion. To achieve the first (closed) state, the actuator member  276  is rotated in the second rotational direction to move the upper member  246  axially downward closer to the lower member  248 . 
     When the lid  214  is in its second (opened) state shown in  FIGS. 17-20  with the ring seal  250  in position on the wall  252  of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246 , the ring seal is located immediately above a circumferentially extending, upwardly facing upper end wall  300  of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A of the lower member  248  and has its initial interior diameter which is the same size as the exterior diameter of the wall  252  of the upper member  246  and an initial cross-sectional size. The end wall  298  serves as a stop member to limit downward movement of the ring seal  250  as will be described below. To move the lid  214  toward the first (closed) state, the actuator member  276  is rotated in the second rotational direction which moves the upper member  246  axially downward toward the lower member  248  as a result of the threaded engagement of the actuator member screw thread  282  with the interior screw thread  274  of the lower member. 
     As the upper member  246  moves downward, a downward force is applied to the ring seal  250 , which is positioned on the wall  252  of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246 , to carry the ring seal downward into engagement with the upper end wall  300  of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A of the lower member  248  if not already in such engagement. Engagement of the ring seal  250  with the upper end wall  300  prevents any further downward movement of the ring seal. As a result, the continued downward movement of the upper member  246  toward the lower member  248  as the ring seal  250  is held stationary moves the wall  252  downward, eventually enough to move it out of the interior of the ring seal and move a lower end portion  254 A the ramp wall  254  into the interior of the ring seal. 
     The downward force continues to be applied by the ramp wall  254  as the upper member  246  continues to move downward. As the ramp wall  254  moves farther downward relative to the ring seal  250 , a progressively larger diameter portion of the ramp wall is positioned within the interior of the ring seal, thus applying an outwardly directed radial stretching force to the ring seal which progressively stretching the ring seal radially outward from its initial perimeter position and circumferentially stretching the ring seal and increasing the ring seal&#39;s circumference/perimeter and diameter/width until eventually the ring seal is moved radially outward from its initial perimeter position to a sealing perimeter position in the recess  240  and in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 , whereat the ring seal has a sealing interior diameter/perimeter and a sealing exterior diameter/perimeter, as well as a cross-sectional size smaller than its initial cross-sectional size. When the ring seal  250  is so positioned, the lid  214  is in its first (closed) state shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . 
     The lower member  248  has a circumferentially extending, upwardly opening recessed area  302  positioned inward of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A to receive therein the perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246  as the upper member  246  moves axially downward toward the lower member  248 . The recessed area  302  is sufficiently large and deep to avoid the downward movement of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B from coming into engagement with the upper end wall  300  of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A before the ring seal  250  is sufficiently outwardly stretched to be moved sufficiently into the recess  240  to be in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 . 
     It is noted that when the user rotates the actuator member  276  in the second rotational direction to move the upper member  246  downward toward the lower member  248 , and thereby move the lid  214  toward the first (closed) state, the lower member is held in a stationary position relative to the body  212  of the drink container  200  against any upward movement by the friction members  258  of the perimeter wall sections  248 B- 1 ,  248 B- 2 ,  248 B- 3  and  248 B- 4  frictionally engaging the middle wall portion  238 C of the body ridge  238 , as well as by the user tending to apply a downward force on the actuator member when rotating it. Additionally, it is noted that rotation of the actuator member  276  moves the upper member  246  axially relative to the stationary lower member  248  without any rotational movement of the upper member relative to the lower member as a result of the guide members  262  of the upper member being slidably received in the apertures  260  of the lower member. 
     When the lid  214  is in its first (closed) state shown in  FIGS. 9-12  with the ring seal  250  within the recess  240  and in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 , to move the lid toward the second (opened) state, the actuator member  276  is rotated in the first rotational direction which moves the upper member  246  axially upward away from the lower member  248 , as a result of the threaded engagement of the actuator member screw thread  282  with the interior screw thread  274  of the lower member. As the upper member  246  moves upward, the ring seal  250 , which is positioned within the recess  240 , is at least initially prevented from moving upward with the upper member by the upper edge wall  242  of the recess which is located above the ring seal and protrudes over the ring seal and inwardly into the fluid passageway  228 . As the upper member  246  moves upward relative to the ring seal  250 , the ramp wall  254  extending through the interior of the ring seal also moves upward, and the farther the ramp wall moves upward the smaller the diameter of the portion of the ramp wall positioned within the interior of the ring seal which allows the outwardly stretched resilient ring seal to progressively relax radially inward and decrease its circumference and diameter until eventually the ring seal clears the upper edge wall  242  of the recess  240  and can be carried upward with the ramp wall, whereat the ring seal has returned substantially to the initial interior diameter and the initial exterior diameter, as well as to the initial cross-sectional size. In a preferred embodiment, the upper edge wall  242  of the recess  240  holds the ring seal  250  against upward movement until the upper member  246  has moved sufficiently upward to return the ring seal to a position on the wall  252  of the perimeter lower member portion  246 B of the upper member  246 . However, even if that does not occur and the ring seal  250  clears the upper edge wall  242  while still positioned on the ramp wall  254  and is carried slightly upward away from the upper end wall  298  of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A of the lower member  248 , when the user next rotates the actuator member  276  in the second rotational direction to move the upper member  246  downward, the ramp wall  254  will carry the ring seal  250  downward with it until it engages the upper end wall  300  of the perimeter upper member portion  248 A of the lower member  248 , thus locating the ring seal directly opposite and spaced inward of the recess  240  of the upper body portion  222  of the body  212  for again progressively outwardly stretching the ring seal outward and eventually into the fluid-tight sealing position in the recess  240 . 
     The lid  214  is show in  FIGS. 13-16  in the intermediate position through which the lid passes as it is moved between the first (closed) state shown in  FIGS. 9-12  and the second (opened) state shown in FIGS,  17 - 20 . In the illustrated intermediate position the ring seal  250  is not fully seated within the recess  240 . From this intermediate position, rotation of the actuator member  276  in the first rotational direction will move the upper member  246  axially upward away from the lower member  248  and allow the ring seal  250  to relax and pull farther away from the recess  240  as the lid moves toward its second (opened) state, and rotation of the actuator member in the second rotational direction will move the upper member axially downward toward the lower member and cause the ring seal to stretch outward and move into the fluid-tight sealing position in the recess in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222  of the body  212 . 
     While the perimeter middle member portion  246 C is described and illustrated as having a circumferentially extending, outward facing perimeter smooth ramp wall  254  with the shape of a conical wall section to provide a smooth and progressive expansion of the ring seal  250  from its relaxed state to its stretched state in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222 , it will be recognized by a person of skill in the art that the wall  254  may have other contours which stretch the ring seal as the actuator member  276  moves the upper member  246  away from the lower member  248  which do not utilize a smooth ramp wall or even a conical wall section. Such alternative shapes may be used so long as the ring seal  250  is in a sufficiently stretched state that it provided a fluid-tight sealing engagement with the upper body portion  222  when in the lid is in the first (closed) state and is sufficiently relaxed to provide the gap  298  between the upper body portion  222  of the body  212  and the ring seal  250  to permit fluid flow from the lower body portion  220  through the lid  214  to the drink aperture  247  or other portion of the lid intended to dispense the fluid. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). 
     It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare statement of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).