Dispensing vessels

Abstract

A drinking vessel comprising: an open-mouthed container; a lid for the open mouth of said container; and a rim or a rim-portion for a person to drink from; the lid at least partially defining a liquid outlet arranged below the level of the rim or rim-portion to allow liquid to flow from the interior of the container and over the rim or rim-portion as the drinking vessel is tilted; the lid having a support part extending partially across the open-mouth of the container and a closure flap hingedly connected to the support part across at least part of the open-mouth of the cup-shaped container, the closure flap being biased towards a closed position in which the closure flap closes the liquid outlet to prevent flow of liquid therethrough; there being provided a mechanism configured to move or deflect the closure flap against said bias to open said liquid outlet and permit the flow of liquid therethrough.

1 . A dispensing vessel, comprising: 
 an open-mouthed container;    a lid for the open mouth of said container; and a rim or a rim-portion;    the lid at least partially defining an outlet arranged below the level of the rim or rim-portion to allow contents of the vessel to flow from the interior of the container and over the rim or rim-portion as the vessel is tilted;    the lid having a support part extending partially across the open-mouth of the container and a closure flap hingedly connected to the support part across at least part of the open-mouth of the cup-shaped container, the closure flap being biased towards a closed position in which the closure flap closes the outlet to prevent flow of said contents therethrough; and    a mechanism configured to move or deflect the closure flap against said bias to open said outlet and permit the flow of said contents therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure flap has a free edge and is arranged such that when in said closed position, the closure flap extends from said support part to a position below the level of the rim or rim-portion where the free edge releasably seals against an inner wall-surface of the container or of the lid to prevent the flow of contents between the inner wall-surface and the closure flap; and wherein said mechanism is configured to move or deflect the closure flap from said closed position such that its free edge becomes released from its seal against said inner wall-surface, so as to permit contents to flow from the interior of the container, between said inner wall-surface and the closure flap, and over the rim or rim-portion as the dispensing vessel is tilted.  
   
   
       3 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein said inner wall-surface is provided with an inwardly directed formation against which said free edge of the closure flap seals.  
   
   
       4 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 3 , wherein said free edge is substantially arcuate.  
   
   
       5 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 2  wherein said free edge is generally dished in configuration.  
   
   
       6 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1  wherein the closure flap hinged connection comprises one of a fold or a crease or a living hinge extending generally diametrically across the open-mouth of the container.  
   
   
       7 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the outlet is defined between the lid and the container.  
   
   
       8 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 7  wherein the outlet is defined between the free edge of the closure flap and the inner wall-surface of a sidewall of the container.  
   
   
       9 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim or rim-portion has a raised circumference.  
   
   
       10 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 9  wherein the raised circumferential rim or rim-portion is provided on the lid.  
   
   
       11 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid is removable from the container.  
   
   
       12 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1  wherein the lid is formed integrally with the container.  
   
   
       13 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises at least one moveable element arranged for actuation by the hand of a person dispensing contents from the vessel.  
   
   
       14 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein said moveable element forms part of a handle.  
   
   
       15 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 14 , wherein the handle is pivotally mounted to the lid or container.  
   
   
       16 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein said moveable element comprises part of the container being resiliently deformable, the arrangement being such that deforming said part of the container causes movement or deflection of said closure flap.  
   
   
       17 . A drinking vessel according to  claim 6  wherein the mechanism comprises at least one moveable element arranged for actuation by the hand of a person dispensing contents from the vessel, and wherein actuation of the or each moveable element causes deflection or distortion of said fold or living hinge which, in turn, imparts said movement or deflection on said closure flap.  
   
   
       18 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1  having said rim-portion provided as part of a spout or mouthpiece.  
   
   
       19 . A dispensing vessel according to  claim 1  wherein the dispensing vessel comprises a drinking vessel, adapted to dispense liquid contents of the vessel as it is tilted.  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)