Drink-through lid for a beverage container

Abstract

The present invention is a leak resistant, automatically-sealing, drink-through lid for a beverage container. The lid is capable of being releasably sealably engaged with a top end of the container. The lid includes a tab portion. The tab portion is capable of being depressed so as to provide an opening in the lid. Upon removal of pressure against the tab portion, the tab portion is biased so as to return to a closed position to close the opening. In particular, the tab portion is biased by a curved hinge.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lid for use on a drinking container, wherein the lid is capable of being releasably sealably engaged with a top end of the container, comprising: 
 a tab portion, wherein the tab portion is capable of being depressed so as to provide an opening in the lid and wherein the tab portion is biased so as to return to a closed position to close the opening upon removal of pressure against the tab portion;    wherein the tab portion is biased by a curved hinge.    
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the curved hinge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein the curved hinge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein each of the plurality of side walls extend vertically downward from the top wall of the tab portion.  
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls is curved.  
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one side wall that is curved is the side wall closest to a side wall of the lid and wherein that side wall is curved outward in a direction toward the side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall, wherein the top wall is angled upward in a direction from a center of the lid to a side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall, wherein the top wall includes a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion comprises a plurality of edges, wherein at least one edge is capable of being opened, and wherein at least one other edge comprises the curved hinge.  
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one edge that is capable of being opened is at least one of a scored edge, a slit edge, or an edge formed of a weakened line of material.  
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 9 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein when the tab portion returns to the closed position, the tab portion closes to within about 5% of its starting closed position, wherein the starting closed position is before edges of the tab portion are opened.  
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein when the tab portion returns to the closed position, the tab portion closes to within about 2% of the starting closed position.  
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 14 , wherein when the tab portion returns to the closed position, the tab portion closes to within about 1% of the starting closed position.  
     
     
         16 . A lid for use on a drinking container, wherein the lid is capable of being releasably sealably engaged with a top end of the container, comprising: 
 an opening defined in the lid, wherein the opening is capable of being opened by depressing a tab portion of the lid and is capable of being closed by the tab portion    wherein the tab portion is capable of being pivoted downward to open the opening at a curved hinge by applying pressure on the tab portion; and    wherein the tab portion is biased upward by the curved hinge to close the opening upon removal of pressure on the tab portion.    
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the curved hinge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the curved hinge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein each of the plurality of side walls extend vertically downward from the top wall of the tab portion.  
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls is curved.  
     
     
         21 . The lid of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one side wall that is curved is the side wall closest to a side wall of the lid and wherein that side wall is curved outward in a direction toward the side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall, wherein the top wall is angled upward in a direction from a center of the lid to a side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         23 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall, wherein the top wall includes a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         24 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the tab portion comprises a plurality of edges, wherein at least one edge is capable of being opened, and wherein at least one other edge comprises the curved hinge  
     
     
         25 . The lid of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one edge that is capable of being opened is at least one of a scored edge, a slit edge, or an edge formed of a weakened line of material.  
     
     
         26 . The lid of  claim 24 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         27 . The lid of  claim 26 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         28 . A lid for use on a drinking container, wherein the lid is capable of being releasably sealably engaged with a top end of the container, comprising: 
 an opening defined in the lid, wherein the opening is capable of being opened by depressing a tab portion of the lid and is capable of being closed by the tab portion;    wherein the tab portion comprises a plurality of edges, wherein one of the plurality of edges comprises a curved hinge, and wherein the other of the plurality of edges are capable of being opened;    wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls;    wherein the tab portion is capable of being pivoted downward to open the opening at the curved hinge edge by applying pressure on the tab portion; and    wherein the tab portion is biased upward by the curved hinge edge to close the opening upon removal of pressure on the tab portion.    
     
     
         29 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         30 . The lid of  claim 29 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         31 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein each of the plurality of side walls extend vertically downward from the top wall of the tab portion.  
     
     
         32 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls is curved.  
     
     
         33 . The lid of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one side wall that is curved is the side wall closest to a side wall of the lid and wherein that side wall is curved outward in a direction toward the side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         34 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein the top wall is angled upward in a direction from a center of the lid to a side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         35 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein the top wall includes a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         36 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one edge that is capable of being opened is at least one of a scored edge, a slit edge, or an edge formed of a weakened line of material.  
     
     
         37 . The lid of  claim 28 , wherein the tab portion has at least one of a square shape or a rectangular shape.  
     
     
         38 . A method comprising: 
 biasing a tab portion of a lid by a curved hinge.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising releasably sealably engaging the lid with a top end of a container.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising pouring a beverage into the container before releasably sealably engaging the lid with the top end of the container.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising depressing the tab portion so as to provide an opening in the lid.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the biasing step comprises removing pressure against the tab portion so that the tab portion returns to a closed position to close the opening.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the curved hinge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the curved hinge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein each of the plurality of side walls extend vertically downward from the top wall of the tab portion.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls is curved.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one side wall that is curved is the side wall closest to a side wall of the lid and wherein that side wall is curved outward in a direction toward the side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall, wherein the top wall is angled upward in a direction from a center of the lid to a side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall, wherein the top wall includes a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the tab portion comprises a plurality of edges, wherein at least one edge is capable of being opened, and wherein at least one other edge comprises the curved hinge.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one edge that is capable of being opened is at least one of a scored edge, a slit edge, or an edge formed of a weakened line of material.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein when the tab portion returns to the closed position, the tab portion closes to within about 5% of its starting closed position, wherein the starting closed position is before edges of the tab portion are opened.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein when the tab portion returns to the closed position, the tab portion closes to within about 2% of the starting closed position.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein when the tab portion returns to the closed position, the tab portion closes to within about 1% of the starting closed position.  
     
     
         57 . A method comprising: 
 releasably sealably engaging a lid with a top end of a container;    depressing a tab portion defined in the lid so that the tab portion pivots downward at a curved hinge so as to provide an opening in the lid; and    removing pressure against the tab portion so that the tab portion pivots upward at the curved hinge to return to a closed position to close the lid opening.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising pouring a beverage into the container before releasably sealably engaging the lid with the top end of the container.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising drinking the beverage out of the container through the lid opening after depressing the tab portion and before removing pressure against the tab portion.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the curved hinge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the curved hinge comprising a groove has a V shape.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein each of the plurality of side walls extend vertically downward from the top wall of the tab portion.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the tab portion comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls, and wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls is curved.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the at least one side wall that is curved is the side wall closest to a side wall of the lid and wherein that side wall is curved outward in a direction toward the side wall of the lid.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the tab portion comprises a plurality of edges, wherein at least one edge is capable of being opened, and wherein at least one other edge comprises the curved hinge.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the at least one edge that is capable of being opened is at least one of a scored edge, a slit edge, or an edge formed of a weakened line of material.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprises a groove.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the curved hinge edge comprising a groove has a V shape.