Patent ID: 7413096

Claim:
A beverage container having a self-sealing valve, comprising: a cup portion formed with a bottom end, a top end and a first wall defining an interior volume and an outer wall; a cover adapted for engagement with said top end of said cup portion, said cover being formed with an opening extending therethrough; a valve assembly slidably disposed along said cover and having an open position and a closed position, said valve being positioned to seal said opening when in said closed position, said valve being positioned to unseal said opening when in said open position; an actuator positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of said first wall of said cup portion, said actuator being coupled to said valve assembly and configured to move said valve assembly into said open position in response to an external force; and a resilient member disposed along said cover for urging said valve assembly into said closed position; wherein said actuator includes a lever having a top end and a bottom end, said top end of said lever being selectively coupled to said sliding plate for sliding said sliding plate relative to said cover, said lever being adapted to rotate about a pivot pin; and wherein said outer wall has an opening provided therethrough for allowing a user to apply a force along said bottom end of said lever and said opening is provided along a mid-section of said cup portion and said cup portion is configured to be squeezed by a user for applying the force and a deformable rear grip portion disposed along said outer wall and covering said opening.