BUTTON ACTUATED SPILL-PROOF LID FOR TRAVEL MUG

• US 20080272134A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey T. Rohe
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey T. Rohe
• Inventors: Rohe, Jeffrey T.
• Application Number:
  US12/115,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/713
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/16 Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Abstract

A lid assembly for a travel mug, comprising a top shell portion having a top drink aperture and top drink passage extending downwardly therefrom; a bottom member engaged with a bottom portion of the top shell portion, the bottom member having a wall that receives the top drink passage on a top end, and having a bottom drink aperture through a bottom end; a valve member having a portion that normally closes the bottom drink aperture; and an actuator assembly comprising a camming member that biases the valve member away from the bottom drink aperture to open the bottom drink aperture.

Claims

1. A lid assembly for a travel mug, comprising:

a top shell portion having a top drink aperture and top drink passage extending downwardly therefrom;

a bottom member engaged with a bottom portion of the top shell portion, the bottom member having a wall that receives the top drink passage on a top end, and having a bottom drink aperture through a bottom end;

a valve member having a portion that normally biases against the bottom drink aperture to a closed position; and

an actuator assembly comprising a camming member that biases the valve member away from the bottom drink aperture to an open position.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly further comprises a push button.

3. The lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the push button is located on a sidewall of the lid assembly.

4. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein when the push button is fully pressed and released a first time, the valve member is biased to and remains in the open position.

5. The lid assembly of claim 4, wherein when the push button is fully pressed and released a second time, the valve member returns to the closed position biased against the bottom drink aperture.

6. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the valve member comprises a central shaft that extends upward and contacts the camming member.

7. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the central shaft terminates in a bulbous camming surface.

8. The lid assembly of claim 7, wherein the camming member has a camming surface that contacts the bulbous camming surface of the central shaft, the camming member camming surface having a notch therein to provide an intermediate position for the bulbous camming surface between the open position and the closed position.

9. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve member further comprises a bottom drink aperture plug.

10. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the bottom member further comprises a vent aperture through the bottom end.

11. The lid assembly of claim 10, wherein the valve member further comprises a vent aperture plug.

12. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the valve member further comprises a bottom drink aperture plug.

13. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the valve member comprises a plurality of base flow passages.

14. The lid assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of base flow passages comprises at least four passages.

15. The lid assembly of claim 3, further comprising an indicator visible from an outer portion of the lid assembly that indicates whether the valve is open or closed.

16. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator assembly further comprises, a retaining collar, a spinner, a multi-shafted hub, and a biasing member.

17. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein when the push button is pressed and released a first time, the valve member is biased away from the bottom drink aperture.

18. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the push button is round.

19. A method of operating a lid assembly attached to a travel mug at least partially filled with liquid, comprising the steps of:

providing a lid assembly attached to a travel mug, the lid assembly comprising a drink aperture through which liquid can selectively flow, and a push button on an outer sidewall of the lid assembly, the push button actuating a valve that opens and closes the drink aperture;

pressing and releasing the push button a first time to open the valve;

dispensing at least some of the liquid in the travel mug through the drink aperture; and

pressing and releasing the push button a second time to close the valve.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the lid assembly comprises:

a top shell portion having a top drink aperture and top drink passage extending downwardly therefrom;

a bottom member engaged with a bottom portion of the top shell portion, the bottom member having a wall that receives the top drink passage on a top end, and having a bottom drink aperture through a bottom end;

a valve member having a portion that normally closes the bottom drink aperture; and

an actuator assembly comprising a camming member that biases the valve member away from the bottom drink aperture to open the bottom drink aperture.