Portable Beverage Container with a Robust and Easily Cleanable Seal Mechanism

• US 20180192800A1
• Filed: 01/10/2017
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ignite USA LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Coon, Robert, Chiu, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 10,455,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/46 Hinged, foldable or pivoted nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/065 with hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/066 the spout being either flexible or having a flexible wall portion, whereby the spout is foldable between a dispensing and a non-dispensing position B65D47/2043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0871 and elastically biased towards the open position only

Abstract

A portable beverage container includes a container body defining an interior adapted to store a liquid, and a lid assembly that includes a lid housing removably coupled to the container body and a spout coupled to the lid housing and movable between a stowed configuration and a dispensing configuration, the spout defining a fluid passageway in selective fluid communication with the interior of the container body. The lid assembly also includes a seal housing carrying a sealing element, the seal housing movably coupled to the lid housing between an in-use position, wherein the seal housing engages the spout such that the sealing element controls fluid flow through the fluid passageway of the spout, and a cleaning position, wherein the seal housing is spaced from the spout to permit cleaning of the sealing element.

Claims

1. A lid assembly for use with a portable beverage container, comprising:

a lid housing;

a spout coupled to the lid housing and movable between a stowed configuration and a dispensing configuration, the spout defining a fluid passageway; and

a seal housing carrying a sealing element, the seal housing movably coupled to the lid housing between an in-use position, wherein the seal housing engages the spout such that the sealing element controls fluid flow through the fluid passageway of the spout, and a cleaning position, wherein the seal housing is spaced from the spout to permit cleaning of the sealing element.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises a one-way valve, and wherein when the seal housing is in the in-use position, the one-way valve facilitates a controlled fluid flow through the fluid passageway of the spout.

3. The lid assembly of claim 1, further comprising a biasing element arranged to bias the seal housing to the cleaning position.

4. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid housing comprises an annular wall defining a flow opening in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, the spout having a dispensing end and a mounting end opposite the dispensing end, the mounting end arranged in the flow opening, and the seal housing having a portion removably arranged in the flow opening when the seal housing is in the in-use position.

5. The lid assembly of claim 4, wherein the portion of the seal housing is in threaded engagement with the annular wall of the lid housing.

6. The lid assembly of claim 1, further comprising an arm connecting the seal housing to the lid housing.

7. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the arm comprises a retaining ring that moves on the seal housing as the seal housing moves between the in-use position and the cleaning position.

8. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal housing is rotatable between the in-use position and the cleaning position.

9. The lid assembly of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the lid housing, the handle comprising a carabiner.

10. A portable beverage container, comprising

a container body defining an interior adapted to store a liquid;

and

a lid assembly, comprising;

a lid housing removably coupled to the container body;

a spout coupled to the lid housing and movable between a stowed configuration and a dispensing configuration, the spout defining a fluid passageway in selective fluid communication with the interior of the container body; and

a seal housing carrying a sealing element, the seal housing movably coupled to the lid housing between an in-use position, wherein the seal housing engages the spout such that the sealing element controls fluid flow through the fluid passageway of the spout, and a cleaning position, wherein the seal housing is spaced from the spout to permit cleaning of the sealing element.

11. The portable beverage container of claim 10, wherein the sealing element comprises a one-way valve, and wherein when the seal housing is in the in-use position, the one-way valve facilitates a controlled fluid flow from the interior of the container body through the fluid passageway of the spout.

12. The portable beverage container of claim 10, wherein the lid assembly does not include a straw fluidly coupling the interior of the container body with the fluid passageway of the spout.

13. The portable beverage container of claim 10, further comprising a biasing element arranged to bias the seal housing to the cleaning position.

14. The portable beverage container of claim 10, wherein the lid housing comprises an annular wall defining a flow opening, the spout having a dispensing end and a mounting end opposite the dispensing end, the mounting end arranged in the flow opening, and the seal housing having a portion removably arranged in the flow opening when the seal housing is in the in-use position.

15. The portable beverage container of claim 14, wherein the portion of the seal housing is threaded to the annular wall.

16. The portable beverage container of claim 10, further comprising an arm connecting the valve housing to the lid housing.

17. The portable beverage container of claim 16, wherein the arm comprises a retaining ring that moves on the seal housing as the seal housing moves between the in-use position and the cleaning position.

18. The portable beverage container of claim 10, wherein the seal housing is rotatable between the in-use position and the cleaning position.

19. A lid assembly for use with a portable beverage container, comprising:

a lid housing;

a spout coupled to the lid housing, the spout defining a fluid passageway; and

a seal mechanism comprising a seal housing carrying a sealing element, and a support arm, the seal housing movably coupled to the lid housing, via the support arm, between an in-use position, wherein the seal housing engages the spout such that the sealing element permits fluid flow through the fluid passageway in a single direction when negative pressure is applied to the sealing element via the spout, and a cleaning position, wherein the seal housing is spaced from the spout to permit cleaning of the sealing element.

20. The lid assembly of claim 19, wherein the seal mechanism further comprises a biasing element arranged to bias the seal housing to the cleaning position, and wherein the support arm comprises a retaining ring that moves on the seal housing as the seal housing moves between the in-use position and the cleaning position.