Drinking container having locking drinking orifice and vent aperture

• US 8,360,267 B1
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ignite USA LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Chiou, Joe, El-Saden, Sami M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van Buskirk, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/219,140
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 206/1.5, 215/207, 215/383, 220/715, 220/252, 220/260, 220/200, 220711-714, 292/302, 379/433.12
• US Class Current: 220/715
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Abstract

A locking mechanism for a trigger assembly in a lid of a drinking container is provided. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a button member, a stop and a manifold. The button member is moveable in a first direction from a first locked position to a second unlocked position. The button member is further moveable in a second direction toward an interior of the lid when the button is disposed in the second position. The button member has a locking protrusion portion. The locking protrusion portion of the button member is disposed proximate the stop in the first position, and distal the stop in the second position. The stop limits movement of the button member in the second direction with the button member disposed in the first position. A manifold is slidingly connected to the button member. The manifold is displaced by the button member when the button member is moved in the second direction. The manifold operates a seal assembly to allow fluid communication between the drink aperture and the container body.

Claims

1. A drinking container comprising:

a container body having a container cavity, a removable lid covering the container cavity, the lid having a top surface having a drink aperture and a vent aperture extending therethrough;

a trigger assembly controlling fluid communication between the container cavity and the drink aperture, the trigger assembly having a button member moveable from a first locked position to a second unlocked position about a generally longitudinal axis of the container body, the button member being prevented from movement in a second direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container body with the button member disposed in the first locked position, the button member moveable in a second direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container body with the button member disposed in the second unlocked position, the movement of the button in the second direction allowing fluid communication between the container cavity and the drink aperture.

2. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein the trigger assembly further comprises a button lock connected to the button member.

3. The drinking container of claim 2, further comprising a pin securing the button lock to the button member.

4. The drinking container of claim 1, further comprising a vent aperture in the top surface of the lid, the trigger assembly controlling fluid communication between the container cavity and the drink aperture and the vent aperture.

5. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein the trigger assembly further comprises a manifold, the button being slidingly secured to the manifold.

6. The drinking container of claim 2, wherein the trigger assembly further comprises a manifold, at least a portion of the manifold disposed between the button member and the button lock.

7. The drinking container of claim 6, wherein the manifold has at least one opening formed therein, wherein the button member has at least one protrusion extending therefrom, the at least one protrusion passing through the at least one opening formed in the manifold and being received by the button lock.

8. The drinking container of claim 7, wherein the at least one protrusion of the button member is generally bar-bell shaped.

9. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein the button member has a locking portion thereto, the locking portion being adjacent a stop of the lid when the button member is disposed in the first position.

10. A locking mechanism for a drinking container having a container body defining a container cavity, and a lid covering the container cavity, the locking mechanism comprising:

a stop on the lid;

a button member moveable in a first direction from a first position, where the button member is prevented from being actuated, to a second position about the lid assembly, the button member further being moveable in a second direction when the button is disposed in the second position, the button member having a locking portion thereto, the locking portion being adjacent the stop when the button member is disposed in the first position and,

a manifold, the button member being connected in a sliding engagement to the manifold, the manifold operably operating a seal assembly.

11. The locking mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a button lock connected to the button member and moveable with the button member.

12. The locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the movement of the button member in the first direction is generally about a longitudinal axis of the container body, and wherein the movement of the button member in the second direction is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the container body.

13. The locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the locking portion of the button member is disposed in a position so as not to contact the stop of the lid when the button member is disposed in the second position.

14. A locking mechanism for a drinking container having a container body defining a container cavity, and a lid covering the container cavity, the lid having a seal assembly to control fluid communication between a drink aperture and the container body, the locking mechanism comprising:

a button member moveable in a first direction from a first position to a second position, the button member further being moveable in a second direction toward an interior of the lid when the button is disposed in the second position, the button member having a locking protrusion portion;

the locking protrusion portion of the button member disposed proximate a locking wall in the first position, the locking wall limiting movement of the button member in the second direction with the button member disposed in the first position, the locking protrusion portion of the button member being disposed distal the locking wall in the second position; and

,

a manifold moveable in the second direction, the manifold being displaced by the button member when the button member is moved in the second direction, the manifold operating the seal assembly to allow fluid communication between the drink aperture and the container body.

15. The locking mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first direction of movement of the button member is about a generally longitudinal axis of the container body, and wherein the second direction of movement of the button member is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container body.

16. The locking mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a button lock connected to the button member and moveable with the button member.

17. The locking mechanism of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the manifold is disposed between the button lock and the button member.

18. The locking mechanism of claim 16, further comprising a pin connecting the button lock to the button member.

19. The locking mechanism of claim 14, wherein the button member is slidingly connected to the manifold.

20. The locking mechanism of claim 14, wherein an opening in the manifold limits movement of the button member in the first direction.