Insulated beverage container and lid assembly

• US 6,702,138 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Inventors: Jensen, Michael, Nowack, Tim, Bielecki, Andy, Furlong, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US10/235,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 220/711, 220/714, 220/715, 220/592.17, 220/592.2, 220/254.9, 220/254.1, 220/348, 222/545, 222/546
• US Class Current: 220/254.9
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0022 the stopper comprising two or more pieces movable relatively to each other for opening or closing the dispensing passage

Abstract

An insulated beverage container (100) has a tumbler (110), a handle assembly (120) including a collar (122) attached to the top of the tumbler, and a valved lid assembly (200). The tumbler has multiple wall construction, wherein the inner two walls (114, 116) define an insulating volume (118) therebetween that may be partially evacuated. The valved lid assembly includes an upwardly biased valve (240), near the top of the lid assembly, that may be moved from a closed position wherein the valve abuts a valve seat (214) in the lid assembly, and an open position wherein the valve is spaced apart from the valve seat. A non-skid base (102) with integral, upwardly extending grip elements provides a grip to facilitate handling of the tumbler.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for a beverage container, the valve assembly comprising:

a lower body;

an upper body attached to the lower body, the upper body including a downwardly-facing valve seat, wherein the upper body and the lower body cooperatively define a fluid channel;

an upwardly-biased valve member disposed below the valve seat, the valve member having an upwardly disposed sealing surface adapted to engage the valve seat such that the valve member blocks the fluid channel; and

a gear assembly disposed below the valve member and attached to the valve member, the gear assembly having a closed position wherein the upwardly-biased valve member engages the valve seat, and an open position wherein the upwardly-biased valve member is disposed away from the valve seat.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises a generally disc-shaped body portion having a peripheral edge, and an elastomeric sealing ring attached to the peripheral edge such that the sealing ring engages the valve seat when the gear assembly is in the closed position.

3. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the valve member further comprises an upper button portion and further wherein the gear assembly is adapted to alternate between the open and closed position by depressing downwardly on the upper button portion.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower body further comprises a cylindrical center channel, and wherein the gear assembly is disposed in the center channel.

5. The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the upper body further comprises a generally cup-shaped upper surface.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a means for sealingly attaching the valve assembly to a beverage container.

7. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper body is releasably attached to the lower body such that the upper body and lower body can be disassembled to facilitate cleaning the valve assembly.

8. A beverage container comprising:

a tumbler having a lower end and an upper end;

an annular collar attached to the upper end of the tumbler; and

a valve assembly releasably attachable to the collar, the valve assembly comprising;

(i) a lower body,

(ii) an upper body attached to the lower body, the upper body including a downwardly-facing valve seat, wherein the upper body and the lower body cooperatively define a fluid channel,

(iii) an upwardly-biased valve member disposed below the valve seat, the valve member having an upwardly disposed sealing surface adapted to engage the valve seat such that the valve member blocks the fluid channel, and

(iv) a gear assembly disposed below the valve member and attached to the valve member, the gear assembly having a closed position wherein the upwardly-biased valve member engages the valve seat, and an open position wherein the upwardly-biased valve member is disposed away from the valve seat.

9. The beverage container of claim 8, wherein the annular collar further comprises a generally L-shaped handle portion.

10. The beverage container of claim 8, wherein the tumbler comprises a first wall portion and an inner cup portion nested generally within the first wall portion and wherein the first wall portion and inner cup portion define a sealed insulating volume therebetween.

11. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the tumbler further comprises an outer wall portion disposed generally around the first wall portion.

12. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the tumbler further comprises a non-skid base attached at the lower end of the tumbler.

13. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the non-skid base further comprises a plurality of elongate, upwardly extending grip elements that are attached to the outer wall of the tumbler to facilitate gripping the beverage container.