Patent Description:
A drinking vessel may include a spout with a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. Alternatively or additionally, a drinking vessel may include a spout with an upper surface that is curved or angled, or has another non-planar shape. It may be desirable to seal drinking openings provided in the spout when a user is not drinking from the drinking vessel. Drinking vessels are known from <CIT> and <CIT>.

The invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims. The embodiments described herein are directed to a drinking vessel including a beverage container and a closure assembly. The beverage container has a spout, and the spout defines a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. The closure assembly is attachable to the beverage container. The closure assembly includes a positioning member and a sealing member. When the positioning member is in a sealing orientation, the positioning member can extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening. When the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation, the positioning member cannot extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening.

The embodiments described herein are directed to a drinking vessel including a beverage container and a closure assembly. The beverage container has a spout, and the spout defines a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. The closure assembly is attachable to the beverage container. The closure assembly includes a positioning member, a sealing member, and a cap. When the closure assembly is not in a sealing position, the positioning member, the sealing member, and the cap are rotatable as a unit. When the positioning member is in a sealing orientation, the closure assembly can be lowered into the sealing position. When the closure assembly is in the sealing position, the cap is rotatable relative to the spout while the positioning member and the sealing member remain rotationally stationary relative to the spout. When the closure assembly is in the sealing position, the cap can be attached to the beverage container by rotating the cap so that threads located on the cap engage with threads located on the beverage container. Attaching the cap to the beverage container by engaging the threads located on the cap with the thread located on the beverage container compresses the sealing member between the cap and the spout, thereby sealing the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening.

Embodiments of the method described herein are directed to a method for sealing a drinking vessel including lowering a closure assembly over a spout of a beverage container, rotating the closure assembly in an engagement direction, when a positioning member of the closure assembly reaches a sealing orientation, further rotating the closure assembly in an engagement direction while the positioning member and an attached sealing member remain in the sealing orientation, and further lowering the closure assembly towards the spout so that threads of the closure assembly can engage with threads of the beverage container. The beverage container has a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. Lowering the closure assembly lowers a positioning member of the closure assembly into a positioning aperture of the spout. Rotating the closure assembly in the engagement direction causes the positioning member and the attached sealing member to rotate toward a sealing orientation. Engagement of the threads during the further rotating of the closure assembly causes the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening. Lowering of the closure assembly towards the spout is prevented by the positioning member when the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles thereof and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the same.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein comport with standards used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In some instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the disclosure.

References in the specification to "some embodiments" indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to apply such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present disclosure. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the scope of the disclosure.

People use reusable drinking vessels to carry a variety of beverages. Some drinking vessels may include a spout having a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. For example, a spout having a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening may allow a user both to drink a beverage through a straw and to drink a beverage without a straw, using the same spout. For example, a user may tilt a drinking vessel with such a spout in order to pour a beverage through the first drinking opening and into the user's mouth, while a user may suck a beverage up through the second drinking opening and a connected straw while keeping the drinking vessel upright.

It may be desirable for a spout having a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening to have an upper surface that is curved or angled, or has another non-planar shape. For example, positioning the upper surface of the drinking opening that is used to drink from the straw higher than the upper surface of the drinking opening that is used to drink by pouring may allow a user to more easily drink from the drinking vessel. As another example, positioning the upper surface at a front of the drinking opening that is used to drink from the straw higher than the upper surface at a rear of that drinking opening may allow a user to more easily suck the beverage up through that drinking opening.

It may also be desirable for a drinking vessel to include a spout with an upper surface that is curved or angled or has another non-planar shape, even if only a single drinking opening is provided. Such a configuration may, for example, allow a user to more easily drink from the drinking vessel.

It is also often desirable for a drinking vessel to have a closure to seal one or more drinking openings of the drinking vessel when a user is not drinking from it. Sealing the drinking openings can, for example, allow a user to carry the drinking vessel without worrying that the beverage being carried will leak on the user or the user's belongings. Sealing the drinking openings can also, for example, allow the beverage being carried to maintain a desired temperature. However, a spout with multiple drinking openings may be difficult to seal. A spout with an upper surface that is curved or angled, or has another non-planar shape, may also be difficult to seal.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a closure assembly that can be used to seal a beverage container with multiple drinking openings and/or a beverage container that has a spout with an upper surface that is curved or angled, or has another non-planar shape. As will be described in more detail below, the exemplifying closure assembly illustrated herein includes a sealing member, a cap, and a positioning member.

In some embodiments, a sealing surface of the sealing member may have a complex shape that corresponds to a complex shape of the upper surface of the spout. For example, a drinking vessel may include a spout that has an upper surface that curves from a rear portion of the spout up to a front portion of the spout, and a sealing surface of the sealing member may similarly curve from a rear portion of the sealing member up to a front portion of the sealing member. Thus the sealing member may be configured to contact or "mate" with the upper surface of the spout when the sealing member is in a sealing orientation; and the sealing member may not contact or "mate" with the upper surface of the spout when the sealing member is not in the sealing orientation. Accordingly, the sealing member may be capable of sealing the spout when the sealing member is in the sealing orientation and is compressed against the spout. The sealing member may not be capable of sealing the spout, or may not be capable of sealing the spout as effectively, when the sealing member is not in the sealing orientation.

In some embodiments, the cap of the closure assembly may be attachable to the beverage container to compress the sealing member between the cap and the spout. In some embodiments, the cap of the closure assembly may be attachable to the beverage container via a threaded connection.

In embodiments in which the sealing member is not rotationally symmetric (e.g., as described above), the positioning member of the closure assembly may help ensure that the sealing member is in the sealing orientation when the sealing member is compressed against the spout. For example, in embodiments in which the closure assembly is attachable to the beverage container via a threaded connection, the positioning member may help ensure that the sealing member is in the sealing orientation when the sealing member is compressed between the cap and the spout, regardless of the orientation of the cap as it is threaded to the beverage container. In some embodiments, this is achieved by having the sealing member attached to the positioning member, by having the positioning member configured such that it extends fully into the spout in only a single orientation corresponding to the sealing orientation of the sealing member, and by having both the positioning member and the sealing member free to rotate relative to the cap.

With such embodiments, when the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation, the positioning member cannot extend deep enough into the spout for threads on the cap to engage with threads on the beverage container. Accordingly, the sealing member is not compressible between the cap and the spout when the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation. However, a user may rotate the cap, thereby rotating the positioning member and the sealing member toward the sealing orientation. Once the positioning member is in the sealing orientation, the positioning member can extend deep enough into the spout for threads on the cap to engage with threads on the beverage container. As the user rotates the cap to attach the cap to the beverage container, the positioning member may remain in the sealing orientation due to interference between an inner surface of the spout and a portion of the positioning member that extends into the spout. In this way, a user can attach the closure assembly to the spout via the threaded connection without rotating the sealing member away from the sealing orientation. Once the cap is attached to the beverage container, the sealing member is compressed between the cap and the spout, thereby sealing the spout.

In some embodiments, when the closure assembly is attached to the beverage container, the sealing member seals the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening and at least partially defines a fluid pathway between the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening such that the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening are in fluid communication. This may, for example, help reduce the possibility of an undesirable pressure release through one of the drinking openings (e.g., the second drinking opening) when the drinking vessel is opened.

These and other embodiments are discussed below in more detail with reference to the figures.

<FIG> show a drinking vessel <NUM> according to some embodiments. Drinking vessel <NUM> may include a beverage container <NUM> and a closure assembly <NUM> that is attachable to beverage container <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, drinking vessel <NUM> is shown with closure assembly <NUM> attached to beverage container <NUM>. In <FIG>, drinking vessel <NUM> is shown with closure assembly <NUM> removed.

As shown, for example, in <FIG>, beverage container <NUM> may include a container body <NUM> and a spout <NUM>. In some embodiments, spout <NUM> is formed as a separate component from container body <NUM>. In other embodiments, spout <NUM> may be formed integrally with container body <NUM>.

Spout <NUM> may include a first drinking opening <NUM> and a second drinking opening <NUM> through which a user may drink a beverage contained within beverage container <NUM>. In some embodiments, an upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> may have a curved, angled, or other non-planar shape. In some embodiments, first drinking opening <NUM> may be aligned with a central axis <NUM> of spout <NUM> (that is, central axis <NUM> may extend through opening <NUM>), and second drinking opening <NUM> may be offset from central axis <NUM>. As mentioned above, it may be difficult to seal a spout with multiple drinking openings (such as spout <NUM> with first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>). It may also be difficult to seal a spout (such as spout <NUM>) with upper surface <NUM> that is curved or angled, or has another non-planar shape.

<FIG> and <FIG> show exploded views of drinking vessel <NUM> according to some embodiments. As shown, drinking vessel <NUM> includes container body <NUM>, spout <NUM>, and closure assembly <NUM>. Drinking vessel <NUM> may also include a straw <NUM>. In some embodiments, drinking vessel <NUM> may include a container sealing member <NUM>. In such embodiments, when drinking vessel <NUM> is assembled, container sealing member <NUM> may be pressed between container body <NUM> and spout <NUM> to create a seal between container body <NUM> and spout <NUM>. Container sealing member <NUM> may be a removable component (e.g., a removable gasket), or may be an integrally-formed part of container body <NUM> or spout <NUM>. Closure assembly <NUM> may include multiple components including a carry loop <NUM>, a cap <NUM>, a positioning member <NUM>, and a sealing member <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> are shown in the sealing orientation relative to spout <NUM>.

As will be explained in more detail below, in use, sealing member <NUM> may be positioned around positioning member <NUM> (e.g., around a protrusion of positioning member <NUM> beneath a top flange <NUM> of positioning member <NUM>), such that when positioning member <NUM> extends into spout <NUM> in a sealing orientation, sealing member <NUM> may be pressed against drinking openings <NUM>, <NUM> of spout <NUM> to seal drinking openings <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show drinking vessel <NUM> with an alternative positioning member 700b and an alternative sealing member 800b. Sealing member 800b may have a greater height and be positioned within a larger recess of positioning member 700b. Positioning member 700b can include some or all of the features, structures, or characteristics discussed herein with respect to positioning member <NUM>. Sealing member 800b can include some or all of the features, structures, or characteristics discussed above with respect to sealing member <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show drinking vessel <NUM> with a combined positioning member and sealing member 700c/800c. In this case, rather than the sealing member being a separate component positioned around the positioning member, a single component acts as both the positioning member and the sealing member. Combined positioning member and sealing member 700c/800c can include some or all of the features, structures, or characteristics discussed herein with respect to positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM>.

As mentioned, spout <NUM> may include first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>. Spout <NUM> may also include a straw coupling portion <NUM> (shown, for example, in <FIG>) in fluid communication with second drinking opening <NUM>. Straw <NUM> may be attachable to straw coupling portion <NUM> such that straw <NUM> is in fluid communication with second drinking opening <NUM>. When straw <NUM> is attached to straw coupling portion <NUM>, and spout <NUM> is attached to container body <NUM>, straw <NUM> may extend into a lower portion of an interior <NUM> of container body <NUM>. Accordingly, second drinking opening <NUM> may be in fluid communication with a lower portion of interior <NUM> of container body <NUM>. Accordingly, a user may suck a beverage contained within container body <NUM> up through straw <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM> while keeping drinking vessel <NUM> upright. Alternatively or additionally, a user may tilt drinking vessel <NUM> to pour the beverage through first drinking opening <NUM> and into the user's mouth.

Straw <NUM> may be attachable to straw coupling portion <NUM> via a friction fit connection, threaded connection, snap-fit connection, or any other suitable releasable attachment mechanism. In some embodiments, straw <NUM> may be formed integrally with spout <NUM>.

Straw <NUM> may be formed of food-grade plastic (e.g., polypropylene, copolyester, the copolymer sold as Eastman Tritan, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)), glass, or metal (e.g., steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or titanium).

As shown, for example, in <FIG>, in some embodiments, upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> may have a curved, angled, or other non-planar shape. As a result, a first portion of upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> may be vertically offset from a second portion of upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> at a rear of spout <NUM> may be positioned lower than upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> at a front of spout <NUM>. This configuration may, for example, allow a user to more easily pour a beverage from first drinking opening <NUM> into the user's mouth and/or suck a beverage through straw <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>. As another example, as shown in <FIG>, upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> at a rear of drinking opening <NUM> may be positioned lower than upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> at a front of drinking opening <NUM>. This configuration may, for example, allow a user to more easily suck a beverage contained within beverage container <NUM> through straw <NUM> and drinking opening <NUM>.

In some embodiments, first drinking opening <NUM> may be aligned with a central axis <NUM> of spout <NUM> (that is, central axis <NUM> may extend through opening <NUM>), and second drinking opening <NUM> may be offset from central axis <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, second drinking opening <NUM> may be positioned at a front of spout <NUM>. This configuration may, for example, allow a user to more easily sip or suck a beverage contained within beverage container <NUM> through straw <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>.

As mentioned, closure assembly <NUM> may include sealing member <NUM> to seal first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>. Sealing member <NUM> may have any shape sufficient to seal first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM> when sealing member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation and compressed against spout <NUM>. The term seal as used here and elsewhere in this document does not necessarily require a perfect hermetic seal; rather a seal capable of inhibiting passage of liquid fluid is sufficient.

In some embodiments, sealing member <NUM> has a shape that corresponds to the shape of upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> when sealing member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> at a rear of spout <NUM> may be positioned lower than upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> at a front of spout <NUM>; sealing member <NUM> may be similarly shaped such that when sealing member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation, a first sealing portion <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> located above the front of spout <NUM> is positioned higher than a second sealing portion <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> located above the rear of spout <NUM>. In some embodiments, sealing member <NUM> has a shape that corresponds to at least a portion of upper surface <NUM> surrounding both first opening <NUM> and second opening <NUM> such that sealing member <NUM> can seal both first opening <NUM> and second opening <NUM> together.

Sealing member <NUM> may be formed of a food-grade material suitable to create a seal around first drinking opening <NUM> or second drinking opening <NUM>.

As mentioned, closure assembly <NUM> may include cap <NUM> to attach closure assembly <NUM> to beverage container <NUM>. Attaching cap <NUM> to beverage container <NUM> may, for example, compress sealing member <NUM> between spout <NUM> and cap <NUM> in order to seal spout <NUM>.

Cap <NUM> may include a top surface <NUM> and side walls <NUM>. When closure assembly <NUM> is attached to spout <NUM>, side walls <NUM> of cap <NUM> may at least partially enclose spout <NUM> such that side walls <NUM> inhibit dirt or debris from contacting upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> which a user is likely to contact when drinking from drinking vessel <NUM>.

In some embodiments, cap <NUM> may include an attachment mechanism <NUM> (shown, for example, on cap <NUM> in <FIG>), and spout <NUM> may include a corresponding attachment mechanism <NUM> on an upper portion of spout <NUM>. Attachment mechanism <NUM> may be configured to engage with attachment mechanism <NUM> to removably attach cap <NUM> to spout <NUM>. In some embodiments, for example, as shown in <FIG>, attachment mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> may be or include threads <NUM> (located, for example, on an external surface of spout <NUM>) and threads <NUM> (located, for example on an internal surface of cap <NUM>). However, attachment mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> may be friction fit connectors, snap-fit connectors, or any other suitable releasable attachment mechanism. The attachment of closure assembly <NUM> to spout <NUM> is not limited to the arrangement shown in the figures. For example, in some embodiments, closure assembly <NUM> may attach inside spout <NUM> rather than outside spout <NUM>.

As mentioned, closure assembly <NUM> may include positioning member <NUM> to help ensure that sealing member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation when sealing member <NUM> is compressed between cap <NUM> and spout <NUM>. For example, in embodiments in which cap <NUM> is attachable to spout <NUM> via a threaded connection, positioning member <NUM> may help ensure that sealing member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation when sealing member <NUM> is compressed between cap <NUM> and the spout <NUM>, regardless of the orientation of cap <NUM> as it is threaded to spout <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, for example, positioning member <NUM> may be a separate component from sealing member <NUM>. However, in some embodiments, sealing member <NUM> may be integrally formed as part of positioning member <NUM>. For example, in <FIG> and <FIG>, sealing member 800c and positioning member 700c are formed as a unitary component. In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, sealing member 800c and/or positioning member 700c may be supported by supporting member <NUM>.

In some embodiments, sealing member <NUM> may be fixed in position relative to positioning member <NUM> such that rotation of positioning member <NUM> also rotates sealing member <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, for example, sealing member <NUM> includes a receiving opening <NUM> that can receive protrusion <NUM> of positioning member <NUM>. Receiving opening <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> may be shaped such that sealing member <NUM> cannot rotate relative to protrusion <NUM> when sealing member <NUM> is positioned on protrusion <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, for example, rotating positioning member 700c also rotates sealing member 800c because positioning member 700c and sealing member 800c are combined as a single component.

In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a portion of sealing member <NUM> may be received in a recess <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> to further hold positioning member <NUM> in place. The size and position of recess <NUM> is not limited to the size and position of recess <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, recess 750c may be larger than recess <NUM> of <FIG> so that more of sealing member 800b is positioned within recess 750b. In this case, portions of a protrusion 825b of sealing member 800b may correspond to the shape of protrusion 720b of positioning member 700b, so that sealing member 800b can act as a continuation of positioning member 700b when closure assembly <NUM> is nearing a sealed position relative to spout <NUM>.

As shown, for example in <FIG>, positioning member <NUM> may be coupled to cap <NUM> through a snap-fit connection in which stud <NUM> of cap <NUM> engages with socket <NUM> of positioning member <NUM>. However, positioning member <NUM> can be coupled to cap <NUM> through any suitable attachment mechanism that allows rotation of positioning member <NUM> relative to cap <NUM>.

In some embodiments, when closure assembly <NUM> is assembled, a portion of positioning member <NUM> may be positioned inside cap <NUM> such that side walls <NUM> of cap <NUM> extend around positioning member <NUM>.

In some embodiments, both sealing member <NUM> and positioning member <NUM> are free to rotate relative to cap <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the snap-fit connection between stud <NUM> of cap <NUM> and socket <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> securely couples positioning member <NUM> to cap <NUM> (because stud <NUM> is held in socket <NUM>) but still allows positioning member <NUM> to rotate relative to cap <NUM> (because stud <NUM> can rotate within socket <NUM>). For example, positioning member <NUM> may rotate about central axis <NUM> extending through stud <NUM> and socket <NUM>. When closure assembly <NUM> is assembled, an outer perimeter of positioning member <NUM> may be spaced away from an inner surface of cap <NUM> to facilitate rotation of positioning member <NUM> relative to cap <NUM>. An outer perimeter of sealing member <NUM> may be spaced away from an inner surface of cap <NUM> to facilitate rotation of positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> relative to cap <NUM>.

Positioning member <NUM> may include a protrusion <NUM> that extends down from a top flange <NUM> of positioning member <NUM>. Protrusion <NUM> may be configured such that protrusion <NUM> can extend down fully into first drinking opening <NUM> of spout <NUM> when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation relative to spout <NUM> (e.g., as shown in <FIG>), and so that protrusion <NUM> cannot extend down fully into first drinking opening <NUM> of spout <NUM> when positioning member <NUM> is in not in the sealing orientation (e.g., as shown in <FIG>).

When closure assembly <NUM> is not in the sealing position (i.e., when positioning member <NUM> is not in the sealing orientation with protrusion <NUM> extended fully into first drinking opening <NUM>), positioning member <NUM>, sealing member <NUM>, and cap <NUM> may rotate as a unit. In this way, a user may rotate protrusion <NUM> toward the sealing orientation by rotating cap <NUM> (e.g., in an engagement direction). When positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation (e.g., as shown in <FIG>), protrusion <NUM> can be extended down fully into first drinking opening <NUM> of spout <NUM>. When the closure assembly is in the sealing position (i.e., when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation with protrusion <NUM> extended fully into first drinking opening <NUM>), cap <NUM> may be rotatable relative to spout <NUM> while positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> remain rotationally stationary relative to spout <NUM>. For example, interference between the inner surface of first drinking opening <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> may cause protrusion <NUM> to remain in the sealing orientation while a user rotates cap <NUM>.

When the closure assembly is in the sealing position, cap <NUM> may be sufficiently low over spout <NUM> such that threads <NUM> located on cap <NUM> may be able to engage with threads <NUM> located on spout <NUM>. As a result, when closure assembly <NUM> is in the sealing position, a user may be able to attach cap <NUM> to spout <NUM> via a threaded connection without rotating protrusion <NUM> away from the sealing orientation. In turn, attaching cap <NUM> to beverage container <NUM> may compress sealing member <NUM> between cap <NUM> and spout <NUM>, thereby sealing first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>.

To facilitate this operation, a cross sectional shape of protrusion <NUM> may correspond to a cross sectional shape of first drinking opening <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, a cross section of first drinking opening <NUM> may not be rotationally symmetric about central axis <NUM>. In such an embodiment, a cross section of protrusion <NUM> may also not be rotationally symmetric about central axis <NUM>. Such a configuration may contribute to protrusion <NUM> being fully extendable into first drinking opening <NUM> when positioning member <NUM> is in a sealing orientation but not when positioning member <NUM> is in another orientation. As a result, such a configuration may also help guide positioning member <NUM> to the sealing orientation or keep positioning member <NUM> is the sealing orientation.

As another example, in some embodiments, a cross section of first drinking opening <NUM> may have a length (e.g., measured in a left-right direction) and a width (e.g., measured in a front-back direction). The length of the cross section of first drinking opening <NUM> may be greater than the width of the cross section of first drinking opening <NUM>. In such an embodiment, a cross section of protrusion <NUM> may have a length (e.g., measured in a left-right direction when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation) and a width (e.g., measured in a front-back direction when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation). The length of the cross section of protrusion <NUM> may similarly be greater than the width of the cross section of protrusion <NUM>. Such a configuration may contribute to protrusion <NUM> being fully extendable into first drinking opening <NUM> when positioning member <NUM> is in a sealing orientation but not when positioning member is in another orientation. As a result, such a configuration may help guide positioning member <NUM> to the sealing orientation or keep positioning member <NUM> is the sealing orientation.

In some embodiments, protrusion <NUM> may be tapered such that a lower portion of protrusion <NUM> has a smaller cross sectional area than an upper portion of protrusion <NUM> does. Such a configuration may allow protrusion <NUM> to begin to extend into first opening <NUM> when a user first places closure <NUM> over spout <NUM>, regardless of whether positioning member <NUM> is initially in the sealing orientation. Then, the user may rotate cap <NUM> in an engagement direction, thereby rotating positioning member <NUM> toward the sealing orientation. The taper of protrusion <NUM> allows protrusion <NUM> to extend further into first drinking opening <NUM> as positioning member <NUM> approaches the sealing orientation. Thus, such a configuration may allow a user to simultaneously rotate positioning member <NUM> to the sealing orientation and lower protrusion <NUM> into first drinking opening <NUM>.

In some embodiments, protrusion <NUM> may be more oblong at a lower portion of protrusion <NUM> than at an upper portion of protrusion <NUM>. That is, protrusion <NUM> may have a length-to-width ratio in a first horizontal plane, and a second length-to-width ratio in a second horizontal plane located above the first horizontal place. The first length-to-width ratio may be greater than the second length-to-width ratio. Such a configuration may allow protrusion <NUM> to begin to extend into first opening <NUM> when a user first places closure <NUM> over spout <NUM>, regardless of whether positioning member <NUM> is initially in the sealing orientation. Then, the user may rotate cap <NUM> in an engagement direction, thereby rotating positioning member <NUM> toward the sealing orientation. The changing cross sectional shape of protrusion <NUM> allows protrusion <NUM> to extend further into first drinking opening <NUM> as positioning member <NUM> approaches the sealing orientation. Thus, such a configuration may allow a user to simultaneously rotate positioning member <NUM> to the sealing orientation and lower protrusion <NUM> into first drinking opening <NUM>.

In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG>, protrusion <NUM> may define a channel <NUM>. Channel <NUM> may least partially define a fluid pathway between first drinking opening <NUM> and the second drinking opening <NUM> when closure assembly <NUM> is attached to beverage container <NUM>. This may, for example, help reduce the possibility of an undesirable pressure release through one of the drinking openings (e.g., second drinking opening <NUM>) when drinking vessel <NUM> is opened. In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG>, sealing member <NUM> may define a channel <NUM>. Channel <NUM> may least partially define a fluid pathway between first drinking opening <NUM> and the second drinking opening <NUM> when closure assembly <NUM> is attached to beverage container <NUM>. This may also, for example, help reduce the possibility of an undesirable pressure release through one of the drinking openings (e.g., the second drinking opening <NUM>) when the drinking vessel is opened.

Positioning member <NUM> may be formed of food-grade plastic (e.g., polypropylene, copolyester, the copolymer sold as Eastman Tritan, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)), glass, or metal (e.g., steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or titanium).

When closure assembly <NUM> is assembled, carry loop <NUM> may be coupled to cap <NUM>. In some embodiments, carry loop <NUM> may be a separate component from cap <NUM>. In some embodiments, carry loop <NUM> may be integrally formed as part of cap <NUM>.

In embodiments in which carry loop <NUM> is a separate component from cap <NUM>, carry loop <NUM> may be attachable to cap <NUM>. For example, carry loop <NUM> may include an attachment mechanism <NUM> on a lower portion of carry loop <NUM>, and cap <NUM> may include a corresponding attachment mechanism <NUM>. Attachment mechanism <NUM> may be configured to engage with attachment mechanism <NUM> to removably attach carry loop <NUM> to cap <NUM>. Attachment mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> may be threaded connectors (as shown in <FIG>), friction fit connectors, snap-fit connectors, or any other suitable releasable attachment mechanism.

Carry loop <NUM> may define an opening <NUM> through which a length of cord, cable, rope, chain, or other material may be threaded or around which a cord, cable, rope, chain, or other material may be tied (e.g., using a cow's hitch knot or other type of knot). The cord, cable, rope, chain, or other material connected to or around opening <NUM> may create a loop or other extension which a user can utilize to carry drinking vessel <NUM>.

Container body <NUM> may be any type of container body. Container body <NUM> may be generally cylindrical in shape (as shown, for example, in <FIG>) or have another exterior or interior shape. In some embodiments, container body <NUM> may be double-walled to enhance thermal insulative properties of container body <NUM>. In some embodiments, an area between beverage container body <NUM>'s double walls may be hermetically sealed and may form at least a partial vacuum. In some embodiments, container body <NUM> may be formed of stainless steel. In some embodiments, container body <NUM> may be formed of another food-grade material, such as a food-grade plastic (e.g., polypropylene, copolyester, the copolymer sold as Eastman Tritan, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)), glass, or another metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, copper, or titanium).

As mentioned, spout <NUM> may be formed as a separate component from container body <NUM>, or may be formed integrally with container body <NUM>. In embodiments in which spout <NUM> is formed as a separate component from container body <NUM>, spout <NUM> may be attachable to container body <NUM>. For example, spout <NUM> may include an attachment mechanism <NUM> on a lower side wall <NUM> of spout <NUM> and container body <NUM> may include a corresponding attachment mechanism <NUM> near an upper edge of container body <NUM>. Attachment mechanism <NUM> may be configured to engage with attachment mechanism <NUM> to removably attach spout <NUM> to container body <NUM>. Attachment mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> may be threaded connectors (as shown in <FIG>), friction fit connectors, snap-fit connectors, or any other suitable releasable attachment mechanism. The attachment of spout <NUM> to container body <NUM> is not limited to the arrangement shown in the figures. For example, in some embodiments, spout <NUM> may attach over container body <NUM> rather than inside container body <NUM>.

The type of attachment mechanism used to attach spout <NUM> to container body <NUM> may be of the same or a different type than the attachment mechanism used to attach closure assembly <NUM> to spout <NUM>. In embodiments in which a threaded connection is used both to attach spout <NUM> to container body <NUM> and to attach closure assembly <NUM> to spout <NUM>, a different number of turns, a different direction or angle of rotation, and/or a different amount of force may be required to operate the two connections. For example, the spout <NUM> may be more firmly or tightly connected to container body <NUM> than to closure <NUM>. In this way, closure <NUM> may be more easily attached and/or detached from spout <NUM>, and spout <NUM> may be more difficult to detach from container body <NUM>, so that a user turning closure <NUM> intending to remove closure <NUM> does not inadvertently remove spout <NUM> from container body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, spout <NUM> may include a grip <NUM>. Grip <NUM> may be or include a high-friction surface. For example, grip <NUM> may include a three-dimensional pattern (as shown, for example in <FIG>), include a rough surface, or be formed of a high-friction material. Grip <NUM> may be accessible to a user when spout <NUM> is attached to container body <NUM> and when closure <NUM> is attached to spout <NUM>. Accordingly, a user may be able to hold spout <NUM> in place while detaching closure assembly <NUM> from spout <NUM> (e.g., by rotating closure assembly <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction). In this way, spout <NUM> can remain securely attached to container body <NUM> even as closure assembly <NUM> is removed from spout <NUM>.

In some embodiments, spout <NUM> may include a lip rest <NUM> on an upper portion of spout <NUM>. Lip rest <NUM> may allow a user to more comfortably drink from drinking vessel <NUM> when pouring a beverage from first drinking opening <NUM> into the user's mouth and/or when sucking the beverage through straw <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>.

Spout <NUM> may be formed of food-grade plastic (e.g., polypropylene, copolyester, the copolymer sold as Eastman Tritan, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)), glass, or metal (e.g., steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or titanium).

<FIG> and <FIG> show cross-sectional views of drinking vessel <NUM> when closure <NUM> is in the sealing position (i.e., when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation and protrusion <NUM> is extended fully into first drinking opening <NUM>). The section in <FIG> is taken vertically at the position of line VI-VI' of <FIG> (also shown as line VI-VI' in <FIG>). The section in <FIG> is taken horizontally at the position of line VII-VII' of <FIG> (also shown as line VII-VII' in <FIG>).

As shown for example in <FIG>, a cross section of protrusion <NUM> may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of a cross section of first drinking opening <NUM> of spout <NUM> such that protrusion <NUM> can extend into first drinking opening <NUM> of spout <NUM> in only one orientation. As a result, as can be understood from <FIG>, protrusion <NUM> can extended down fully into first drinking opening <NUM> (into the sealing position) when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation; but protrusion <NUM> cannot extend down fully into first drinking opening <NUM> in other orientations. For example, if positioning member <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> were rotated relative to spout <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in <FIG>, protrusion <NUM> would not fit within first drinking opening <NUM> with protrusion <NUM> at the depth shown. Similarly, if positioning member <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> were rotated relative to spout <NUM> in a clockwise direction from the position shown in <FIG>, protrusion <NUM> would not fit within first drinking opening <NUM> with protrusion <NUM> at the depth shown. In this way, the corresponding cross sectional shapes of protrusion <NUM> and first drinking opening <NUM> help ensure that positioning member <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> can be fully lowered into first drinking opening <NUM> when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation but not when positioning member <NUM> is in other orientations.

As shown, for example in <FIG>, when positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation, protrusion <NUM> can extend fully into first drinking opening <NUM>. In this configuration, sealing member <NUM> may contact or "mate" with upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM>. Additionally, in this configuration, threads <NUM> located on cap <NUM> may be able to engage with threads <NUM> located on spout <NUM> such that sealing member <NUM> can be compressed between cap <NUM> and spout <NUM> by attaching threads <NUM> to threads <NUM>, thereby sealing first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>. In embodiments in which upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> is curved or angled, or has another non-planar shape, (as in <FIG>), orienting sealing member <NUM> to the sealing orientation ensures that sealing member <NUM> properly contacts or "mates" with upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> such that sealing member <NUM> can seal first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM> when compressed against spout <NUM>. For example, sealing member <NUM> may have a first sealing portion <NUM> that is positioned higher than a second sealing portion <NUM> of sealing member <NUM>, and upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> has a first portion that is positioned higher than a second portion of spout <NUM>. When sealing member <NUM> is in a sealing orientation, the first portion of sealing member <NUM> is positioned above first sealing portion <NUM> of spout <NUM>, and second sealing portion <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> is positioned above the second portion of spout <NUM>. In this way, sealing member <NUM> properly contacts or "mates" with upper surface <NUM> of spout <NUM> when sealing member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation.

In some embodiments cap <NUM> may be attachable to spout <NUM> via a threaded connection, and cap <NUM> is rotatable relative to positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM>. Thus, once closure assembly <NUM> is in the sealing position shown in <FIG> (i.e., once positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation and fully lowered into first drinking opening <NUM> as shown), threads <NUM> located on cap <NUM> may be able to engage with threads <NUM> located on spout <NUM>. Cap <NUM> may then be rotated in an engagement direction (e.g., clockwise) to screw threads <NUM> of cap <NUM> and threads <NUM> of the spout <NUM> together. Because cap <NUM> is rotatable relative to positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM>, positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> may remain in the sealing orientation while cap <NUM> is tightened. Tightening cap <NUM> may compress sealing member <NUM> between cap <NUM> and spout <NUM>, thereby sealing first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>.

Under some circumstances, pressure may build up inside drinking vessel <NUM>, for example when drinking vessel <NUM> is sealed and used to carry a hot beverage. In some embodiments, sealing member <NUM> may seal first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM> together (i.e., such that first drinking opening <NUM> is not sealed independently of second drinking opening <NUM>). This may, for example, allow pressure to equalize between an interior volume of beverage container <NUM> and an interior volume of straw <NUM>. This avoids or reduces the likelihood of pressure buildup being relieved through straw <NUM>, which could force liquid out through second drinking opening <NUM> before a user is ready to drink, potentially creating a mess. In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG>, channel <NUM> provided in protrusion <NUM> and channel <NUM> provided in sealing member <NUM> may at least partially define a fluid pathway between first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM> when closure assembly <NUM> is attached to beverage container <NUM>. This configuration may similarly, for example, allow pressure to equalize between an interior volume of beverage container <NUM> and an interior volume of straw <NUM>, thereby avoiding or reducing the likelihood of pressure buildup being relieved through straw <NUM>.

<FIG> show an example closing operation, whereby closure assembly <NUM> is lowered into first drinking opening <NUM> and rotated in an engagement direction (e.g., clockwise) such that positioning member <NUM> is rotated to the sealing orientation. The section in <FIG> is taken vertically at the position of line VIII-VIII' of <FIG>. The section in <FIG> is taken horizontally at the position of line IX-IX' of <FIG>. The section in <FIG> is taken vertically at the position of line X-X' of <FIG>. The section in <FIG> is taken horizontally at the position of line XI-XI' of <FIG>. The section in <FIG> is taken vertically at the position of line XII-XII' of <FIG>. The section in <FIG> is taken horizontally at the position of line XIII-XIII' of <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the relative positioning of the positioning member <NUM> and first drinking opening <NUM> at the beginning of a closing operation. As shown, a user may not perfectly orient positioning member <NUM> in the sealing orientation when first lowering closure assembly <NUM> over spout <NUM>. As can be understood from <FIG>, protrusion <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> cannot be fully lowered into first drinking opening <NUM> with protrusion <NUM> in the orientation shown in <FIG>. This is because as closure assembly <NUM> is further lowered, a portion of protrusion <NUM> located above the portion shown in <FIG> (e.g., the portion of protrusion <NUM> shown in <FIG>) will interfere with an inner surface of first drinking opening <NUM>, thereby preventing protrusion <NUM> from being further lowered while in the same orientation.

The interference between the inner surface of first drinking opening <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> may cause protrusion <NUM> to rotate toward the sealing orientation. Alternatively or additionally, a user may rotate closure assembly <NUM> in an engagement direction relative to spout <NUM> (e.g., going from <FIG>) in order to rotate protrusion <NUM> toward the sealing orientation. Alternatively or additionally, a user may apply a downward force to closure assembly <NUM> in order to rotate protrusion <NUM> toward the sealing orientation. Applying a downward force to closure assembly <NUM> may cause protrusion <NUM> to engage with the inner surface of the first drinking opening <NUM> such that positioning member <NUM> rotates toward the sealing orientation. As shown in <FIG>, as positioning member <NUM> rotates toward the sealing orientation, positioning member <NUM> can be further lowered into first drinking opening <NUM>.

Once positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing orientation (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), positioning member <NUM> may be stopped from further rotation. For example, an inner surface of first drinking opening <NUM> may interfere with an outer surface of positioning member <NUM>, thereby inhibiting rotation.

Once positioning member <NUM> is rotated to the sealing orientation (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), positioning member <NUM> can be fully lowered into first drinking opening <NUM> of spout <NUM> and into the sealing position (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). As mentioned, once positioning member <NUM> is in the sealing position, cap <NUM> may be attached to spout <NUM>. For example, threads <NUM> located on cap <NUM> may be able to engage with threads <NUM> located on spout <NUM>, and cap <NUM> may be rotated in an engagement direction to screw threads <NUM> of cap <NUM> and threads <NUM> of the spout <NUM> together. In embodiments in which cap <NUM> is rotatable relative to positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM>, positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> may remain in the sealing orientation while cap <NUM> is tightened. Tightening cap <NUM> may compress sealing member <NUM> between cap <NUM> and spout <NUM>, thereby sealing first drinking opening <NUM> and second drinking opening <NUM>.

Embodiments have been described above primarily with respect to positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> (e.g., of <FIG> and <FIG>). It should be understood however that the features, structures, and characteristics discussed herein with respect to positioning member <NUM> and sealing member <NUM> can also apply to sealing member 700b and positioning member 800b, respectively, of <FIG> and <FIG>, and to combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c of <FIG> and <FIG>. For example, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to top flange <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> can also apply to top flange 710b of positioning member 700b, and to top flange 710c of combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to protrusion <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> can also apply to protrusion 720b of positioning member 700b, and to protrusion 720c of combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to channel <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> can also apply to channel 740b of positioning member 700b, and to channel 740c of combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to recess <NUM> of positioning member <NUM> can also apply to recess 750b of positioning member 700b. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to receiving opening <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> can also apply to receiving opening 810b of sealing member 800b. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to channel <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> can also apply to channel 820b of sealing member 800b, and to channel 820c of combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to first sealing portion <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> can also apply to first sealing portion 830b of sealing member 800b, and to first sealing portion 830c of combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c. Similarly, the features, structures, and characteristics discussed with respect to second sealing portion <NUM> of sealing member <NUM> can also apply to second sealing portion 840b of sealing member 800b, and to second sealing portion 840c of combined positioning and sealing member 700c/800c.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A drinking vessel (<NUM>) comprising:
a beverage container (<NUM>) having a spout (<NUM>), the spout defining a first drinking opening (<NUM>) and a second drinking opening (<NUM>); and
a closure assembly (<NUM>) attachable to the beverage container, the closure assembly comprising:
a cap (<NUM>);
a positioning member (<NUM>); and
a sealing member (<NUM>),
wherein:
the cap is attachable to the beverage container via a threaded connection;
the cap is rotatable relative to the positioning member and the sealing member;
when the positioning member is in a sealing orientation, the positioning member can extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening, and
when the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation, the positioning member cannot extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening.