Patent Publication Number: US-2023159231-A1

Title: Drinking and sealing lids for vessels and associated devices and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63,281,470, entitled “Drinking and Sealing Lid for Baby Bottles,” filed on Nov. 19, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present technology relates to drinking vessels and, in particular, to drinking and sealing lids for drinking containers and associated systems and methods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally sip cups and sip bottles include lids that only fit specific cups and bottles for which they are designed. Conventional sippy cups can also leak when inverted or tipped on their side. Some require the user to close the lid (e.g., with an additional top) and seal them up after consuming liquids to avoid leaks. Children may forget or be unable to close the tops. This is particularly problematic when caregivers are traveling with the vessels in their diaper bags, luggage, or vehicles. Liquids may leak and spill to cause messes and damage. 
     Because conventional sippy lids only fit specific bottles and cups, caregivers are often required to bring entire vessels with the connective sip lids with them whether they are traveling, on a short outing, or in their own homes. When beverages are purchased and come in vessels with differently sized mouths, caregivers must empty the contents into the sip lid vessel. This creates circumstances where caregivers must purchase specialized drinking vessels for toddlers with sip lids rather than using sip lids that would work with a variety of different bottles and cups. 
     Caregivers must also dispose of readily available beverage containers and also wash multiple sip lid drink vessels rather than allowing their child to drink directly from the commercial, easily accessible vessels provided or utilizing the baby bottles they already have on hand from when the child was an infant. As a result of prior art deficiencies, children and caregivers must carry entire sip lid vessels with them to allow children to consume beverages without spilling or aspirating the beverage. 
     The various features of novelty that characterize the disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the disclosure, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the disclosure. Other objects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the disclosure, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
     Other features of the disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  1 A  is an isometric view of a sip lid configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a first side view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  1 C  is a bottom view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  1 D  is a top view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  1 E  is a second side view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a side view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  coupled with a drinking vessel in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a side view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  uncoupled from the drinking vessel of  FIG.  2 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  2 C  is a partial cross-sectional view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  coupled with the drinking vessel representing area A in  FIG.  2 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a side view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  coupled with a drinking vessel in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a side view of the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  uncoupled from the drinking vessel of  FIG.  3 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram of a method of using the sip lid of  FIG.  1 A  in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein is a sip lid configured to be coupled with differently sized and shaped drinking vessel mouths. The sip lid is made of an elastic material (e.g., silicone) that allows the sip lid to be stretched around the mouth and a neck of a drinking vessel. An inner surface of the sip lid can include one or more ridges that are configured to form a liquid-tight seal with the mouth of the drinking vessel. In some examples, the one or more ridges form a friction fit within threads of the mouth of the drinking vessel to form the liquid-tight seal. The disclosed sip lid provides for a convenient and economical sip lid that can be used for a variety of drinking vessels having different shaped and sized mouths that include or do not include threads. Importantly, the sip lid provides for a liquid-tight coupling to the differently sized bottles without spilling. As an example, the sip lid can be used for standard baby bottles thereby extending the usage time of the baby bottles as a child grows out of using nipples. The disclosed sip lid can also allow caregivers to carry a small flexible sip top that can readily connect to drink bottles purchased on the go. 
     Specific details of several embodiments of the present technology are described herein with reference to  FIG.  1 A  through  FIG.  4   . The present technology, however, can be practiced without some of these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and techniques often associated with nipple shields and the like, have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the present technology. The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the disclosure. Certain terms can even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section. 
     The accompanying Figures depict embodiments of the present technology and are not intended to be limiting of its scope. The sizes of various depicted elements are not necessarily drawn to scale, and these various elements can be arbitrarily enlarged to improve legibility. Component details can be abstracted in the Figures to exclude details such as the position of components and certain precise connections between such components when such details are unnecessary for a complete understanding of how to make and use the present technology. Many of the details, dimensions, angles, and other features shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, angles, and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present technology. 
       FIGS.  1 A- 1 E  illustrate different views of a sip lid  100  configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. More specifically,  FIG.  1 A  is an isometric view of the sip lid  100 ,  FIG.  1 B  is a first side view of the sip lid  100 ,  FIG.  1 C  is a top view of the sip lid  100 ,  FIG.  1 D  is a bottom view of the sip lid  100 , and  FIG.  1 E  is a second side view of the sip lid  100 . The sip lid  100  includes a base component  102  and a spout component  104 . The sip lid  100  including the spout component  104  and the base component  102  is made of an elastic (e.g., flexible, deformable, resilient, stretchable, etc.) material. The material can be silicone such as medical-grade silicone. The sip lid  100  is monolithic such that the spout component  104  and the base component  102  are a single unitary structure. For example, the sip lid material can be molded as a single integral structure using a single mold or other manufacturing procedure to form a single unitary structure. 
     The base component  102  of the sip lid  100  is configured to be stretched around differently sized and shaped mouths of drinking vessels to couple the sip lid  100  to the drinking vessels. When the sip lid  100  is stretched around a mouth and/or neck of a drinking vessel, the base component  102  can form a friction fit with the mouth and/or neck of the drinking vessel thereby forming a liquid-tight seal between the base component  102  and the drinking vessel. 
     The spout component  104  is shaped and sized to be received within a child&#39;s mouth. For example, the spout component  104  is shaped and sized to be used by a toddler. The spout component  104  includes a first end region  106   a  and a second end region  106   b . The first end region  106   a  includes one or more openings (e.g., openings  116  shown in  FIGS.  1 C and  1 D ). The openings  116  extend through the first end region  106   a  of the spout component  104  and allow liquid to be extracted through the first end region  106   a  as a child applies suction to the spout component  104 . The openings  116  can have different shapes. In some embodiments, the openings  116  have a shape of a thin slit. In some embodiments, the openings have circular or elliptical shapes. For example, the opening  116  can correspond to a slit extending through the first end region  106   a  of the spout component  104 . When a child is sucking liquid from the drinking vessel, the slit formed by the elastic material expands to allow the liquid to flow through. When no suction is applied, the slit remains closed or nearly closed (e.g., to prevent the liquid from spilling when the drinking vessel is tipped). In some embodiments, the one or more openings  114  can be sealable with a flap (not shown in the drawings). 
     The second end region  106   b  is positioned opposite to the first end region  106   a  so that the base component  102  extends from the second end region  106   b  and at least partially surrounds the spout component  104  (e.g., at least half of a periphery). The spout component  104  has an elliptical peripheral shape that is configured to fit comfortably in a child&#39;s mouth. The base component  102  has a circular shape that is configured to fit over vessel mouths (e.g., circular or elliptical bottle mouths). 
     The base component  102  includes a top portion  108   a  and a side portion  108   b . The side portion  108   b  extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the top portion  108   a . As shown in  FIG.  1 E , the top portion  108   a  includes a top surface of the component  102 . The second end region  106   b  of the spout component  104  extends upwards from the top portion  108   a  of the base component. The side portion  108   b  extends downward from the top portion  108   a . When the sip lid  100  is coupled with a mouth of a drinking vessel, the side portion  108   b  is configured to be at least partially in contact a the neck of the drinking vessel and the top portion  108   a  is configured to be positioned on top of the opening defined by the mouth of the drinking vessel. 
     The side portion  108   b  of the base component  102  can include smooth and non-smooth portions. For example, a peripheral edge  118  of the side portion  108   b  in  FIG.  1 E  includes a smooth surface. In some embodiments, the side portion  108   b  includes a non-smooth grip portion  110  that includes a plurality of grip regions  110   a  that form indentations or protrusions along an outer surface of the side portion  108   b . The grip regions  110  are separated by smooth regions  110   b  (e.g., regions that are not indented or protruded). The grip portion  110  is configured to improve a user&#39;s grip on the sip lid  100  when the user is coupling the sip lid  100  with, or uncoupling the sip lid from, a drinking vessel. 
     In some embodiments, an inner surface of the side portion  108   b  includes one or more ridges  112  as shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 D . The one or more ridges  112  can include one or more raised portions (e.g., rings) that extend around a portion (e.g., at least half of a periphery) of the base component  102 . The one or more ridges  112  can extend radially inward from the inner surface of the side portion  108   b  of the base component  102 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  1 D , an edge of the base component  102  can have a diameter (e.g., diameter D 1  in  FIG.  1 D ) ranging from about 45 mm to about 50 mm while the ridge  112  can have a diameter (e.g., diameter D 2  in  FIG.  1 D ) ranging from about 30 mm to about 35 mm. The one or more ridges  112  are configured to form a liquid tight seal between the base component  102  and differently sized mouths of drinking vessels. For example, the one or more ridges  112  are configured to concur within threads around a mouth of the drinking vessel to form the liquid-tight seal. The differently sized mouths of drinking vessels can have diameters ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm. The liquid-tight seal formed by the one or more ridges  112  coupled with a neck of a drinking vessel is described with respect to  FIG.  2 C . In some embodiments, the base component  102  also includes one or more ridges that extend outward from an outer surface of the side portion  108   b . The side portion  108   b  can include ridges that extend inward as well as outward from the side portion  108   b.    
     In some embodiments, the top portion  108   a  of the base component  102  includes one or more openings (e.g., an opening  114  in  FIGS.  1 A,  1 C, and  1 D ) that extend through the top portion  108   a . The one or more openings  114  are configured to allow airflow to the drinking vessel when a child is sucking liquid through the openings  116  of the spout component  104  (e.g., to prevent negative pressure within the drinking vessel). The one or more openings  114  can have different shapes and sizes. For example, the one or more openings can have an elongated shape (e.g., an oval, elliptical, or slit shape) or a circular shape. The one or more openings  114  can have a greater size than the one or more openings  116 . The one or more openings  114  can be sealable. For example, the opening  114  can correspond to a slit extending through the top portion  108   a . When a child is sucking liquid from the drinking vessel, the top portion  108   a  made of the elastic material deforms thereby expanding the slit to allow air to flow through the slit. When no suction is applied, the slit remains closed (e.g., to prevent liquid from spilling). In some embodiments, the one or more openings  116  can be sealable with a flap (not shown in the drawings). 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are side views of the sip lid  100  coupled and uncoupled with a drinking vessel  200 , respectively, in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. The drinking vessel  200  can correspond to, for example, a standard-sized baby bottle. The drinking vessel  200  includes a mouth having a diameter D 3  (e.g., the diameter D 3  ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm). As shown in  FIG.  2 B , the mouth of the drinking vessel  200  includes external threads  202  for coupling the drinking vessel  200  to conventional threaded lids and caps. However, the sip lid  100  is configured to couple with the drinking vessel without threaded engagement (i.e., the sip lid  100  does not include threads). Instead, the sip lid  100  is configured to couple with the drinking vessel  200  by a friction fit between the base component  102  and the neck of the drinking vessel. The sip lid  100  can also be configured to couple with the drinking vessel  200  by contacting the one or more ridges  112  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 D ) with the threads  202  of the drinking vessel  200 .  FIG.  2 C  is a partial cross-sectional view of the sip lid  100  coupled with the drinking vessel  200  representing area A shown in  FIG.  2 A . As shown, when the sip lid  100  is coupled with the drinking vessel  200 , the ridge  112  of the base component  102  of sip lid  100  is in contact with the threads  204  of the neck of the drinking vessel  200  to form a liquid-tight seal. In particular, the elastic material of the sip lid  100  allows the ridge  112  to concur with the shape of the threads  204  so that the sip lid  100  conceals the mouth of the drinking vessel in a manner that prevents liquid from the drinking vessel  200  from spilling out. 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are side views of the sip lid  100  coupled and uncoupled with a drinking vessel  300 , respectively, in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. The drinking vessel  300  includes a mouth having a diameter (e.g., diameter D 4  ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm). As shown in  FIG.  3 B , the mouth of the drinking vessel  200  includes external threads  302 . As shown, the drinking vessel  300  has a different shape than the drinking vessel  200  in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B . In particular, the drinking vessel can have a mouth that has a different shape and/or size than the mouth of the drinking vessel  200 . For example, the diameter D 4  of the mouth of the drinking vessel  300  is greater than the diameter D 3  of the mouth of the drinking vessel  200 . The drinking vessel  300  can include different coupling features than the drinking vessel  200 . For example, the threads  302  of the drinking vessel  300  can have a different thread pitch than the threads  202  of the drinking vessel  200 . Alternatively, the drinking vessel  300  can include different types of coupling features than threads (e.g., ridges or dots) or not include any coupling features (e.g., the neck of the drinking vessel  300  is smooth). 
     The drinking vessels  200  and  300  in  FIGS.  2 A- 3 B  are bottles that include threads. However, the sip lid  100  is configured to be used with a variety of different types of drinking vessels (e.g., cups, mugs, cans, and glasses) including mouths of different sizes and/or shapes. The drinking vessels can be made of different materials (e.g., plastic, glass, or metal). The drinking vessel may or may not include coupling features (e.g., external threads, ridges, or dots). 
       FIG.  4    is a block diagram of a method  400  of using the sip lid  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. At step  402 , the method  400  includes stretching a base component of the sip lid (e.g., the base component  102  of the sip lid  100  in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 E ) to extend around threads of a neck of a drinking vessel (e.g., the threads  202  of the drinking vessel  200  in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ). This step can include positioning the sip lid over the mouth of the drinking vessel and pressing it against the top lip of the drinking vessel so that the flexible material of the base component stretches, expands, or otherwise extends around the neck (e.g., upper portion) of the drinking vessel (e.g., and any threads or connectors thereon) to allow the sip lid to be positioned around the neck of the drinking vessel. For example, when a drinking vessel is positioned on a table, a user can position the sip lid on top of the mouth of the drinking vessel and couple the sip lid with the drinking vessel by pressing the sip lid down using just one hand, without the need to physically stretch opposing sides of the base component apart. Coupling the sip lid with the drinking vessel thereby does not require rotation of the sip lid and/or the drinking vessel. As a result of stretching the base component of the sip lid around the threads, at step  404  the method  400  includes forming a liquid-tight seal. As explained above, the sip lid  100  can be made of an elastic material (e.g., silicone) and does not include threads. Therefore, the base component is coupled with the neck of the drinking vessel without using threaded engagement. Instead, for example, a ridge (e.g., ridge  112  in  FIGS.  1 A,  1 D, and  2 C ) on an inner surface of the base component is positioned in contact with the threads to form the liquid-tight seal when the sip lid is stretched around the neck of the drinking vessel. The sip lid can therefore be stretched around drinking vessels having mouths and/or necks of different sizes, shapes, and/or coupling features (e.g., threads with different pitches). For example, the base component of the sip lid is configured to be stretched over the necks of drinking vessels having diameters ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm. 
     At  402 , the method  400  includes uncoupling the sip lid from the drinking vessel by pulling (e.g., translating in a linear manner) at least one of the sip lid and the drinking vessel relative to each other in an opposite direction until the sip lid is no longer in contact with the drinking vessel. For example, transitioning from  FIG.  2 A  to  FIG.  2 B , the sip lid  100  can be uncoupled from the drinking vessel  200  by pulling the sip lid  100  upright. The elastic material of the sip lid  100  can deform to allow the ridge  112  in  FIG.  2 C  to detach from the threads  202  when the sip lid  100  is pulled apart from the drinking vessel. The pulling of at least one of the sip lid and the drinking vessel relative to each other does not include rotating. 
     The method  400  can further include attaching the sip lid to a neck of another drinking vessel (e.g., drinking vessel  300  in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B ) after uncoupling the sip lid from the drinking vessel. For example, the neck of the drinking vessel  300  in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  can be shaped and/or sized differently than the neck of the drinking vessel  200  in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C . 
     Exemplary Embodiments 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a sip lid for a children&#39;s drinking vessel includes a spout component having a first end region and a second end region opposite to the first end region. The spout component is shaped and sized to be received within a child&#39;s mouth. The first end region comprises one or more openings configured to allow liquid to be extracted through the spout component when the child is applying suction to the spout component. The sip lid also includes a base component extending from the second end region of the spout component and surrounding the spout component. The base component is made from an elastic material configured to allow the base component to stretch over differently sized mouths of drinking vessels to form a liquid-tight seal between the base component and the drinking vessels. 
     In some embodiments, the base component is configured to couple with and form the liquid-tight seal with mouths of drinking vessels having diameters ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm. 
     In some embodiments, the base component is configured to couple with mouths of drinking vessels having different shapes. 
     In some embodiments, the spout component and the base component are made of the same elastic material. For example, the elastic material is silicone. 
     In some embodiments, the sip lid is configured to form the liquid-tight seal between the sip lid and the drinking vessel by friction fit. The base component does not include threads. 
     In some embodiments, the spout component has an elliptical outer peripheral shape and the base component has a circular outer peripheral shape. 
     In some embodiments, the base component includes a top portion and a side portion that extends perpendicularly from the top portion. The spout component extends from the top portion of the base component. The side portion is configured to extend over to the mouths of drinking vessels. 
     In some embodiments, the side portion comprises an outer surface having a plurality of grip regions that form protrusions or indentations along the outer surface. 
     In some embodiments, an inner surface of the side portion includes one or more ridges configured to form the liquid-tight seal between the base component and the drinking vessel. The one or more ridges are configured to concur within threads of a neck of the drinking vessel to form the liquid-tight seal. 
     In some embodiments, the top portion of the base component further includes an opening extending through the top portion of the base component. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a sip lid for a vessel includes a spout component and a base component. The spout component has a first end region and a second end region opposite to the first end region. The first end region includes one or more openings configured to allow liquid to be extracted through the spout component. The base component extends from the second end region of the spout component and surrounds the spout component. The base component is made from an elastic material configured to allow the base component to stretch over differently sized mouths of drinking vessels to form a liquid-tight seal between the base component and the drinking vessels. 
     In some embodiments, the base component is configured to couple with and form the liquid-tight seal with mouths of drinking vessels having diameters ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm. 
     In some embodiments, the base component is configured to couple with mouths of drinking vessels having different shapes (e.g., circular, oval, or elliptical). 
     In some embodiments, a method of using a sip lid includes stretching a base component of the sip lid around threads of a neck of a drinking vessel to form a liquid-tight seal between the base component and the neck without using threads. The sip lid includes a spout component having a first end region with openings configured to allow for liquid extraction therethrough and a second end region coupled to the base component. The base component of the sip lid is configured to be stretched over the necks of drinking vessels having diameters ranging from about 30 mm to about 55 mm. 
     In some embodiments, the method includes uncoupling the sip lid from the drinking vessel by pulling at least one of the sip lid and the drinking vessel relative to each other in an opposite direction until the sip lid is no longer in contact with the drinking vessel. Pulling of at least one of the sip lid and the drinking vessel relative to each other does not include rotating. 
     In some embodiments, the drinking vessel is a first drinking vessel, the neck is a first neck. The method further includes uncoupling the sip lid from the first drinking vessel and attaching the sip lid to a second neck of a second drinking vessel. The second neck is being shaped and/or sized differently than the first neck. 
     CONCLUSION 
     The above detailed description of embodiments of the technology are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed above. Although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the technology as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, although steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments can perform steps in a different order. The various embodiments described herein can also be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the technology. Where the context permits, singular or plural terms can also include the plural or singular term, respectively. 
     Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in reference to a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the term “comprising” is used throughout to mean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same feature and/or additional types of other features are not precluded. It will also be appreciated that specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications can be made without deviating from the technology. Further, while advantages associated with some embodiments of the technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments can also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure and associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.