Airpot Lid Assembly

Abstract

An airpot beverage has a receptacle with an interior space capable of holding a liquid and a top opening near an upper edge of the receptacle. A lid assembly covers the top opening and has a lid cover, an actuator on the lid cover, and a lid bottom. The lid cover and the lid bottom together define an interior cavity within the lid assembly. A bellows housing is defined within the interior cavity and forms a chamber therein. A bellows is housed within the chamber and has a flexible sidewall substantially and closely surrounded by the bellows housing. The bellows is capable of being expanded and compressed. The bellows chamber can change in size to accommodate compression and expansion of the bellows.

1 . An airpot beverage container comprising:
 a receptacle with an interior space capable of holding a liquid and a top opening near an upper edge of the receptacle;   a lid assembly that covers the top opening, the lid assembly having a lid cover, an actuator on the lid cover, and a lid bottom, the lid cover and the lid bottom together defining an interior cavity within the lid assembly;   a bellows housing defined within the interior cavity and forming a chamber therein; and   a bellows within the chamber and having a flexible sidewall substantially and closely surrounded by the bellows housing, the bellows capable of being expanded and compressed and,   wherein the bellows chamber can change in size to accommodate compression and expansion of the bellows.   
   
   
       2 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the bellows housing includes a bellows cap positioned on a top of the bellows and movable with the bellows as the bellows is compressed and expanded. 
   
   
       3 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 2 , wherein the bellows housing includes a movable annular wall projecting downward from the bellows cap and a fixed annular wall projecting upwardly from the lid bottom. 
   
   
       4 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 3 , wherein the movable annular wall telescopes relative to the fixed annular wall. 
   
   
       5 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 4 , wherein the movable annular wall telescopes inside the fixed annular wall. 
   
   
       6 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 4 , wherein the fixed annular wall telescopes inside the movable annular wall. 
   
   
       7 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the bellows sidewall includes a plurality of convolutions. 
   
   
       8 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the bellows housing is a circular cylinder capable of changing in height. 
   
   
       9 . An airpot beverage container comprising:
 a receptacle having an interior space capable of holding a liquid and having a liquid outlet spout;   a lid assembly defining an interior cavity;   an actuator for pressurizing the interior space via compression of the bellows;   a bellows housing in the interior cavity and having a first annular wall projecting downward and a second annular wall projecting upward, the first and second annular walls movable telescopically relative to one another; and   a bellows chamber formed within the first and second annular walls; and   a flexible bellows within the bellows chamber and closely surrounded by the first and second annular walls, wherein the bellows and the bellows chamber can expand and compress upon movement of the actuator.   
   
   
       10 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the first annular wall fits telescopically inside the second annular wall. 
   
   
       11 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the second annular wall fits telescopically inside the first annular wall. 
   
   
       12 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the bellows has a convoluted circumferential sidewall. 
   
   
       13 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuator is a lever on the lid assembly. 
   
   
       14 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the bellows housing is a circular cylinder. 
   
   
       15 . An airpot beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the bellows housing has a bellows cap on a top of the bellows, the first annular wall depending from the bellows cap and the second annular wall projecting up from a surface of the lid assembly. 
   
   
       16 . An airpot lid assembly for an airpot beverage container comprising:
 a lid cover having a top, a circumferential wall, a bottom, an interior cavity between the top and bottom within the circumferential wall, and an actuator on the lid cover;   a bellows in the interior cavity and capable of expanding and of being compressed by movement of the actuator; and   a bellows housing including an annular wall surrounding the bellows, wherein the annular wall can change in height as the bellows is compressed and expanded.   
   
   
       17 . An airpot lid assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the bellows has a convoluted sidewall 
   
   
       18 . An airpot lid assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the annular wall is a circular cylinder. 
   
   
       19 . An airpot lid assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the annular wall includes a fixed part and a movable part vertically and telescopically movable relative to one another. 
   
   
       20 . An airpot lid assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the fixed part projects up from a surface of the bottom of the lid and the movable part depends from a bellows cap on a top of the bellows.