Trainer cup adapter lid for a beverage can

• US 20040000551A1
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher M. Flink, Lauren H. Reeves
• Original Assignee: Christopher M. Flink, Lauren H. Reeves
• Inventors: Flink, Christopher M., Reeves, Lauren H.
• Application Number:
  US10/607,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/258.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0049 Straws, spouts, funnels, or other devices facilitating pouring or emptying
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26

Abstract

A lid for a rimmed beverage container. The lid has a body with a circular periphery. A lower wall depends from the periphery of the body portion in a first direction, and has an interior wall surface defining a sealing feature operable to sealably engage the rim of the container. A spout extends in a second direction from the body portion, and defines a flow limiting facility to permit passage of beverage fluids under suction, and to limit passage of fluids under gravity. The flow limiting facility may be one or more apertures of limited size, or a valve in the spout, and the wall may include several different diameter sealing features, such that different size containers may be used.

Claims

1. A lid for a beverage container having a rim comprising:

a body portion having a circular periphery;

a lower wall depending from the periphery of the body portion in a first direction;

the lower wall having an interior wall surface defining a sealing feature operable to sealably engage the rim of the container;

a spout extending in a second direction from the body portion; and

the spout having a flow limiting facility operable to permit passage of beverage fluids under suction, and to limit passage of fluids under gravity.

2. The lid of claim 1 wherein the flow limiting facility is an aperture of limited size.

3. The lid of claim 1 wherein the flow limiting facility is a valve.

4. The lid of claim 1 wherein the lid is formed of a flexible plastic material.

5. The lid of claim 1 wherein the sealing feature is a rib sized to engage a gap below the rim of a can.

6. The lid of claim 1 wherein the spout protrudes from the body at a position away from the center of the body.

7. The lid of claim 1 wherein the spout defines multiple apertures.

8. The lid of claim 1 including a vent aperture defined in the body.

9. The lid of claim 1 wherein the lower wall is tapered, and defines a plurality of sealing features, such that several different sizes of beverage containers may be accommodated.

10. A lid for a beverage container having an opening comprising:

a body portion having attachment means for removably sealably engaging the container about the opening; and

the body portion having a flow limiting facility operable to permit passage of beverage fluids under suction, and to limit passage of fluids under gravity.

11. The lid of claim 10 wherein the flow limiting facility is a valve.

12. The lid of claim 10 wherein the flow limiting facility is an aperture with a width less than a selected threshold.

13. The lid of claim 10 wherein the aperture is defined in a spout portion protruding from the body.

14. The lid of claim 10 wherein attachment means includes a skirt having an inner rib operable to engage the rim of a convention beverage can.

15. The lid of claim 10 wherein the skirt is flared, and defines a plurality of ribs, such that several different sizes of beverage containers may be accommodated.

16. The lid of claim 10 wherein the spout protrudes from the body at a position away from the center of the body.

17. The lid of claim 10 wherein the wherein the body portion defines multiple apertures, such that fluid may flow readily under suction, but not in response to gravity.

18. The lid of claim 10 including a vent aperture defined in the body.