Abstract:
A cover assembly is capable of attaching to a container and has a dispensing orifice and a substantially perpendicular button opening on a side with a button. A single piece valve beam formed of a deflectable material has the actuator button located on one end and a fulcrum located on another end opposite the actuator button. An inner region of the cover has a retention surface opposite the button accommodating the fulcrum. The single piece valve beam is held inside the inner region of the cover between the button opening and the retention surface by deflection of the beam and rotation about the fulcrum such that the sealing surface moves away from the dispensing orifice when the actuator button is pressed. The deflectable material of the single piece valve beam acts as a spring that exerts force on the sealing surface and exerts force on the actuator against the button opening. The single piece valve beam can be configured to move away from the dispensing orifice when the button is pressed. An integral arm can be alternately cantilevered off of the single piece valve beam so the arm rotates in a same direction as the single piece valve beam rotates at the fulcrum. The arm can be alternatively cantilevered from a stem location so the arm rotates in a direction opposite a direction to which the single piece valve beam rotates at the fulcrum.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present inventions relate to sealed vessels and, more particularly, relate to a sealed vessel which is opened for drinking or pouring by pressing an actuator of a valve assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Covers for drinking containers that form a sealed vessel and provide a button to be pressed to drink or pour the liquid from the vessel are known to the art. These covers could be used to prevent spilling for urban commuters, especially when placed in a back pack next to an electronic device. In order to open the vessel to drink, an actuator was pressed on the opposite side of the drinking orifice which opened the drinking orifice. Most of the actuators were associated with several mechanisms to change the horizontal movement of the actuator into a vertical movement needed to open the drinking orifice and to provide the spring force to seal both the actuator and the drinking orifice. Once the actuator was pressed, the user could drink from the container through a drinking orifice. After taking a drink, the actuator was released and the container was sealed to prevent leakage. Kenneth J Albert has several patents which illustrate variations of this mechanism (U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,631) (U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,443). 
         [0005]    One problem associated with these drinking containers was the number of mechanisms required to provide the movement and provide the necessary spring force. First, the cost to manufacture and assemble multiple pieces increased the cost of a cover assembly for the container. Since liquid also flowed over the valve, the valve needed to be cleaned, which was difficult with so many pieces. In some cases, the mechanism was so complex that the valve assembly could not be removed and could only be cleaned by a dishwashing machine which allowed for an accumulation of undesirable matter. U.S. Pat. No. 7,546,933 is an example of a complex valve assembly which could not be cleaned or removed for cleaning. 
         [0006]    Another version of the art of a commonly available product was the pull ring on the center of the cover of the drinking container. A nipple in the middle, when pressed down was sealed, when the nipple is pulled up, the liquid was able to flow through the nipple. Although a simple solution, the valve wore out over time and leaked. Also, the inside of the nipple could not be manually cleaned and the nipple could not be removed. This type of valve was common on disposable containers as well because of the low cost to produce. 
         [0007]    Richard Lee (U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,134) constructed a valve using an elongated arm to provide both the seal and the spring force to maintain the seal of the orifice plug. Squeezing the container together pulled the arm down by a string attached to a flexible bridge to open the drinking orifice. Like the aforementioned approaches, an arrangement of several mechanisms changed horizontal motion into vertical motion and the problem of cleaning was not resolved. 
         [0008]    There exists a need for a cover assembly for a drinking container that forms a sealed vessel which can be opened by pressing an actuator for a valve mechanism and which can be easily removed and cleaned. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and is not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements. Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. 
           [0010]    The details of the preferred embodiments will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vessel with a valve of a first, center orifice embodiment according to the present inventions; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section plan view of a cover assembly through the valve beam of the first, center orifice embodiment in an unactuated mode according to the present inventions; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section plan view of a cover assembly through the valve beam of the first, center orifice embodiment in an actuated mode according to the present inventions; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a vessel with a valve of a second, rotational embodiment in an unactuated mode according to the present inventions; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a vessel with a valve of the second, rotational embodiment in an actuated mode according to the present inventions; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a valve beam of a third, finger embodiment according to the present inventions; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a cover assembly with a valve of the third, finger embodiment in an unactuated mode according to the present inventions; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a cover assembly with a valve of the third, finger embodiment in an actuated mode according to the present inventions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and is not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements. Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. 
         [0020]    The details of the preferred embodiments will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vessel with a valve of a first, center orifice embodiment. A cover assembly  100  is adaptable to seal a container  130  such that the cover assembly  100  and container  130  form a leak-proof vessel in which a button  122  needs to be pressed to open an orifice  102  for drinking or pouring or dispensing. Besides sealing the container  130 , the cover  101  has an orifice for pouring or drinking  102  and an opening for the button  103 . Internal to the cover  101  is a single piece valve beam  120  that acts as the actuator, the seal to the button opening in the cover  126 , and the seal to the drinking orifice  127 , while also being slightly deflected to act as a spring exerting force to seal the button opening  103  and the drinking orifice of the cover  102 . Once the button of the valve beam  122  is pressed with a finger, the valve beam  120  releases the seal at the actuator  126  and the beam  120  deflects which opens the drinking orifice  102 . 
         [0022]    The cover assembly  100  has a cover  101 , container seal  115 , and a single piece valve beam  120 , in which the assembly is rotationally attached to a container  130 . The cover  101  has an orifice  102  for drinking or pouring or dispensing, an opening for an actuator button  103 , sealing surface for container seal  104 , threads  105  for attaching to a container, and a stop surface for thread engagement  106 . Besides threads  105 , there are other ways to attach the cover assembly to the container such as a snapping or press fitting. The container seal  115  forms a leak-proof seal between the cover  101  and the container  130 . The container seal  115  is retained on the cover  101  by sliding over the cover threads  105  to locate on surface  104 . The single piece valve beam  120  consists of a plastic beam  121  with an actuator button  122  on one end and a fulcrum  123  located on the other end. In the middle is a projection  124  for sealing the drinking orifice of the cover  102  and opposite projection  124  is an access arm  125  for removing and inserting the valve beam. The access arm  125  is formed of a size and shape capable of being grasped by the human hand. Elastic material forms a seal pad that attaches to the plastic beam  121  near the button  126  and on the middle projection  127  for sealing. The valve beam  120  assembles to the cover  101  by grasping the access arm  125  and initially inserting the fulcrum end of the beam  123  into the cover  101  and further pressing of the access arm  125  until the actuator button  122  snaps out of the button opening  103  of the cover. Once inserted, the valve beam  120  seals both the drinking orifice  102  and the button opening  103 . The cover assembly  100  is attached to the container  130 , which holds the media for drinking or pouring, with threads from the cover  105  mating with threads from the container  133  until the top of the container  131  meets the stop surface of the cover  106  and the container seal  115  is engaged with the container seal surface  132  to form a leak-proof vessel. 
         [0023]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the single piece valve beam  120  can be easily removed for accessibility to all surfaces and easy cleaning. By pulling on the access arm  125  of the valve beam  120 , the button of the valve beam  122  can be pulled through the actuator opening of the cover  103  to release the valve beam  120 . The cover  101  and the valve beam  120  can be either manually cleaned or cleaned by an automatic dish washer. The valve beam  120  is re-inserted by pushing the access arm  125  of the valve beam  120  into the cover  101  until the button  122  snaps through the opening for the button in the cover  103  thereby sealing the drinking orifice  102  and the button opening in the cover  103 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section plan view of a cover assembly through the valve beam of the first, center orifice embodiment in an unactuated mode and  FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section plan view of a cover assembly through the valve beam of the first, center orifice embodiment in an actuated mode. In the first, center orifice embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the drinking orifice  202  is centrally located on the cover  201  such that the valve beam  220  deflects away from said drinking orifice  202  when the button  222  is pressed. The fulcrum end of the valve beam  223  presses against the inside wall of the cover  211  furthest away from the button and the deflection of the valve beam  220  seals both the centrally located orifice  202  and the button opening  203 . When the button  222  is pressed horizontally, the valve beam  220  releases the seal  226  from the actuator opening  203  and also deflects vertically to open the drinking orifice  202 . 
         [0025]    The cover assembly  200  consists of the cover  201 , single piece valve beam  220 , and the container seal  215 . Once inserted into the cover  201 , the single piece valve beam  220  is positioned such that the button  222  extends through the button opening in the cover  203  with the button seal  226  pressed against the inner surface of the button opening  210 , the fulcrum of the valve beam  223  presses against the fulcrum surface  211  on the opposite wall of the inside of the cover, and the centrally located drinking orifice seal  227  presses against the inner drinking orifice surface  212 . In this position, the single piece valve beam  220  is deflected between the button and the fulcrum end thereby providing the spring force to press the seals  226  and  227  against their respective surfaces. Since both the drinking seal  227  and the button seal  226  are made of elastic material, the drinking orifice  202  and the button opening  210  simultaneously seal from the deflection force. To achieve a leak-proof sealed vessel, the cover assembly  200  is threaded, or some other known method of attachment like snapping or friction fit, on a container such that the container seal  215  seals the container to the cover assembly. 
         [0026]    The media within the container could be any pourable content such as a liquid like water or small solids like pellets. The embodiments discussed reference a media, such as water, meant to be consumed by a user during a workout or carried along with the user at work to keep hydrated. 
         [0027]    Although sealing is described above as leak-proof with an elastic material  226  and  227 , the single piece valve beam  220  could be made without the elastic material and maintain a sealed vessel. If, for example, the media were pellets, then as long as the single piece valve beam  220  did not allow the pellets to pass through either the button opening or the drinking or pouring or dispensing orifice the resulting vessel would be a leak-proof seal. The amount of sealing required can also vary depending on intent. The vessel could be designed to only prevent splashing of the media from the vessel, thereby removing the need for elastic seals. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cover assembly  300  consists of the cover  301 , single piece valve beam  320 , and the container seal  315 . The cover assembly can be rotationally attached to a container to form a sealed vessel with a media such as water inside. To actuate the valve, the button  322  is pressed horizontally, which moves the button end of the single piece valve beam  320 , releasing the seal near the button  326  which vents the sealed vessel and the fulcrum end of the beam  323  rotates about the fulcrum surface on the inside of the cover  311  causing further deflection of the beam  320  moving the seal  327  away from the inner drinking orifice surface  312  opening the centrally located drinking orifice  302 . The media within the vessel can now be poured out of the drinking orifice  302  with the unsealed button opening  310  acting as a back vent for the released media. The vessel must be held by a user such that the button opening  310  is vertically higher than the drinking orifice when drinking to allow for the back venting. Releasing the button  322  returns the valve beam to the unactuated mode shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    Since the vessel could contain either hot or cold media, the pressure within the sealed vessel can change as the media changes temperature. If the media is hot, then the pressure within the sealed vessel decreases as the media cools, which pulls air into the vessel through the drinking orifice  302  or the button opening  303 . If the media is cold, such as ice water, then the pressure within the sealed vessel increases over time as the media warms. This positive pressure can be released by unscrewing the cover  301  or pressing the button  322  during actuation. Since the button opening  303  opening surface area is smaller than the drinking orifice  302 , the pressure releases first from the button opening  303  when the button  322  is actuated. If the pressure were released from the drinking orifice  302 , then any liquid from drinking previously trapped between the outside of the drinking orifice  302  and the seal  327  would be sprayed out of the drinking orifice  302  when the button  322  is pressed in actuation. When the media is a carbonated beverage, this same positive pressure issue exists. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a vessel with a valve of a second, rotational embodiment in an unactuated mode and  FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a vessel with a valve of the second, rotational embodiment in an actuated mode. In the second, rotational embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the drinking orifice  402  is transversely located from the button opening in the cover  403  and an extended portion of the valve beam  424  rotates to open the drinking orifice  402  when the button  422  is pressed. The end of the valve beam furthest away from the actuator forms a fulcrum  423  which also has an extension  424  which seals the drinking orifice  402 . The deflection of the valve beam  420  seals both the drinking orifice  402  and the button opening  403 . When the button  422  is pressed horizontally, the valve beam  420  releases the seal  426  from the button opening  403  and rotates at the fulcrum  411  to open the drinking orifice  402 . 
         [0031]    In an unactuated mode as shown in  FIG. 4 , the cover assembly  400  consists of the cover  401 , the single piece valve beam  420 , and the container seal  415 . The single piece valve beam  420  has a button  422  at one end with ledge for a seal  426  and on the opposite end is a fulcrum  423  with an extended arm  424  for the orifice seal  427 . The single piece valve beam  420  is positioned within the cover  401  such that the button  422  extends through the button opening in the cover  403  with the button seal  426  pressing against the inner surface of the button opening  410  of the cover, the fulcrum of the valve beam  423  presses against the fulcrum surface  411  on the wall opposite the button, and the extended arm  424  presses the orifice seal  427  against the inner drinking orifice surface  412 . In this position, the single piece valve beam  420  is deflected between the button and fulcrum end providing the spring force to linearly press the button seal  426  against the button opening inner surface  410  and rotationally press the orifice seal  427  against the inner drinking orifice surface  412 . Since both the drinking seal  427  and the button seal  426  are made of elastic material, the drinking orifice  402  and the button opening  403  simultaneously seal from the deflection force of the valve beam. To achieve a leak-proof sealed vessel, the container seal  415  assembles to the cover assembly  400  once pressed over the cover threads  405  and seals against the container seal surface of the cover  404 . When the cover assembly  400  is rotationally attached to the container  430 , the container seal  415  is captured between the container seal surface of the cover  404  and the container seal surface  432  forming a sealed vessel. 
         [0032]    The cover  401  may have an appendage or loop to attach a carabineer clip to hold the vessel to a backpack or briefcase. This appendage could be molded into the cover  401  or added as a separate piece. 
         [0033]    The valve is actuated, as shown in  FIG. 5 , by pressing the button  522  horizontally on the single piece valve beam  520 , which deflects the button end of the beam away from the orifice opening  502 , releasing the seal  526  from the inner surface of the button opening  510  which vents the sealed vessel, and the fulcrum end of the beam  523  rotates clockwise about the fulcrum surface  511  on the inside of the cover causing the extended arm  524  and orifice seal  527  to rotate clockwise away from the inner drinking orifice surface  512 , opening the drinking orifice  502 . The single piece valve beam  520  has an integrally formed arm  524  extended or cantilevered off of the single piece valve beam from a location near the fulcrum  523  such that, when the button  522  is pressed, the integrally formed arm  524  rotates relative to said location near the fulcrum surface  511  in a same direction as the single piece valve beam rotates at the fulcrum. The media within the vessel can now be poured out of the drinking orifice  502  with the unsealed button opening  503  acting as a back vent for the released media. The vessel must be held by a user such that the button opening  503  is vertically higher than the drinking orifice  502  when drinking or pouring to allow for the back venting. Releasing the button  522  returns the valve beam  520  to the unactuated mode shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a valve beam  620  of a third, finger embodiment.  FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a cover assembly  700  of the third, finger embodiment in an unactuated mode and  FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section perspective view of a cover assembly  800  of the third, finger embodiment in an actuated mode. 
         [0035]    In the third, finger embodiment of  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , the drinking orifice  702  is transversely located from the button opening in the cover  703  and a cantilevered arm extension of the valve beam  743  moves away from the drinking orifice  702  when the button  722  is pressed. The valve beam  720  opposite the button is divided into a pair of deflection fingers  741  which presses against the inside wall of the cover  744  which deflect to press against the button opening  703  and a separate cantilevered arm  743  seals the drinking orifice  702 . When the button is pressed horizontally, the valve beam  720  deflects vertically, causing the cantilevered arm  743  to move away from the drinking orifice  702  to thereby open the drinking orifice  702 . 
         [0036]    The integrally formed arm  743  is cantilevered off of the single piece valve beam from a stem location. The stem location is cantilevered operatively closer to the actuator button  722  than the fulcrum  744  such that, when the actuator button  722  is pressed, the integrally formed arm  743  rotates in a direction opposite a direction to which the single piece valve beam rotates at the fulcrum  744 . 
         [0037]    The valve beam  620  in  FIG. 6  illustrates a bendable, rigid plastic material with a button  622  that has a ledge for a button seal of an elastic material  627  for sealing the button opening. The button  622  is attached to a rigid section of the valve beam  640  which divides into a pair of deflection fingers  641  and  642  and a cantilevered arm  643  at a stem location. The deflection fingers  641  and  642  extend from the rigid section  640  of the valve beam  620  to the fulcrums  644  and  645  located substantially opposite the button  622 . The cantilevered arm  643  extends from the rigid section  640  of the valve beam  620  and includes a projection  624  for the drinking orifice seal  627 . 
         [0038]    The valve beam  620  could be made in multiple forms accomplishing the same result by connecting the two or more deflection fingers  641  and  642  with an extension to add more rigidity. The valve beam could also be made with only one deflection finger or be made with an extension at the fulcrum end to balance the valve beam during actuation. 
         [0039]    In an unactuated mode as shown in  FIG. 7 , the single piece valve beam  720  is positioned within the cover  701  such that the button  722  is extending through the button opening  703  in the cover  701  with the button seal  726  pressed against the inner surface of the button opening  710 . The rigid section of the valve beam  740  divides the pair of deflection fingers  741  and a cantilevered arm  743  at the stem location, such that the fulcrum  744  therefore presses against the inner fulcrum surface  711  and the cantilevered arm  743  presses the orifice seal  727  against the inner drinking orifice surface  712 . In this position, the deflection of the pair of fingers  741  provide the spring force to seal the button seal  726  against the inner button surface  710  while the vertical deflection of the cantilevered arm  743  provides the spring force to seal the orifice seal  727  against the inner drinking orifice surface  712 . As with the previous described embodiments, the cover assembly  700  is rotationally attached to a container with the container seal  715  providing a seal between the cover assembly and the container, thereby providing a sealed vessel. 
         [0040]    The valve is actuated, as shown in  FIG. 8 , by pressing the button  822 , such that the button  822  travels though the button opening  803  in the cover  801 , unseating the button seal  826  from the inside button surface of the cover  810  which releases any internal pressure from the vessel. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the valve beam  820  deflects such that the rigid section of the beam  840  rotates counter clockwise away from the drinking orifice  802  when the button is pressed, while the pair of deflection fingers  841  deflects and rotates clockwise about the fulcrum surface on the inside of the cover  811  causing the cantilevered arm  843  to rotate away from the drinking orifice, pulling the orifice seal projection  824  and orifice seal  827  away from the inner drinking orifice surface  812 , opening the drinking orifice  802 . The media within the vessel can now be poured out of the drinking orifice  802  with the unsealed button opening acting as a back vent for the released media. The vessel must be held by a user such that the button  822  is vertically higher than the drinking orifice  802  when drinking to allow for the back venting. Releasing the button  822  returns the valve beam  820  to the unactuated mode shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0041]    Besides being of lower cost and having an advantage of disposability, one or more embodiments of the present inventions solve problems of cleaning the valve and valve mechanisms in part because they are removable. Previously coffee stains or residue would build up in the mechanism. All of the first, second, and third embodiments allow for the valve beam to be easily removed by pulling on an access arm, which allows for easy cleaning and access to all surfaces in contact with the drinking fluid. The valve beam can be easily removable without an access arm as well by allowing for finger access to remove the valve beam. 
         [0042]    One or more embodiments of the present inventions also solve the problems of release of pressure to atmosphere. Previously, when opened, some would cause liquid to squirt out. One or more embodiments of the present inventions vent to atmosphere at the button and provide a pre-release to atmospheric pressure to abate this squirting. 
         [0043]    All of the first, second, and third embodiments can be made using ‘two part injection’ molded of plastic and foam to be fitted together for the valve beam. The valve beam could also be made from spring steel with a seal pad attached to the valve beam. 
         [0044]    Although the invention described references a sealed vessel for drinking, the same approach can be applied to larger vessels and non-liquid media. Also, the method of actuation could be changed to centrally locate the button on the vessel by adding a mechanism to remove the valve beam. 
         [0045]    Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. 
         [0046]    Any trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners, and reference herein to such trademarks is generally intended to indicate the source of a particular product or service. 
         [0047]    Although the inventions have been described and illustrated in the above description and drawings, it is understood that this description is by example only, and that numerous changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the inventions. Although the examples in the drawings depict only example constructions and embodiments, alternate embodiments are available given the teachings of the present patent disclosure.