Drinking container lid apparatus with manually actuated valve

Abstract

A lid for controlled drinking from a drinking container having a mouth includes a central portion defining an edge. The lid includes a linear actuator having an outer portion extending beyond the edge and a inner portion extending within the edge. The lid further includes a gate valve having a pivot positioned proximate a center of the central portion, about which the gate valve can pivot between a closed position wherein the gate valve essentially occludes an opening defined in the central portion, and an open position wherein the gate valve does not essentially occlude the opening. The gate valve is engaged with the linear actuator and responsive to motion thereof to move the gate valve between the closed and open positions. A biasing mechanism biases the gate valve towards the closed position.

1 . An apparatus forming a lid to facilitate controlled drinking from a drinking container having a mouth, comprising:
 a central portion defining an edge configured to engage with an upper portion of the drinking container such that the central portion covers the mouth of the drinking container when the apparatus is engaged therewith;   a linear actuator having a outer portion extending beyond the edge, and a inner portion extending within the edge, the linear actuator being slidably coupled to the central portion and responsive to a force applied to the linear actuator to urge outer portion the towards the edge;   an opening defined in the central portion adjacent the edge to facilitate a person tipping the apparatus and drinking container to obtain a drink therefrom;   a gate valve having a pivot positioned proximate a center of the central portion, about which the gate valve can pivot between a closed position wherein the gate valve essentially occludes the opening, and an open position wherein the gate valve does not essentially occlude the opening, the gate valve being in engaged communication with the linear actuator and responsive to motion thereof to move the gate valve between the closed and open positions;   at least one biasing mechanism configured to bias the gate valve towards the closed position so that a drinker can depress the linear actuator to drink and thereafter release the linear actuator and the gate valve is biased into a closed position to essentially prevent spillage from the drinking container when fitted with the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing mechanism comprises a spring disposed between the linear actuator and the central portion and biased to urge the outer portion away from the edge of the central portion. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing mechanism comprises a plastic spring which is part of a unitary body including the linear actuator, the plastic spring having a proximal portion coupled to the linear actuator and a distal portion in contact with the central portion, the plastic spring being driven into compression responsive to motion of the linear actuator to move the gate valve towards the open position. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is adjacent the edge at a location distal from the outer portion of the linear actuator. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central portion defines a wall, the central portion further including a collar formed at the edge and surrounding the wall, the collar defined by a lower peripheral portion including an inwardly extending lip to affirmatively engage the mouth. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central portion defines a wall, the central portion further including a collar formed at the edge and surrounding the wall, the collar defined by a lower peripheral portion including threads for affirmatively and threadingly engaging the mouth. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the gate valve is responsive to translational motion of the linear actuator towards the pivot to thereby move the gate valve between the closed and open positions, the apparatus further comprising a clip connected to the central portion and configured to limit translational movement of the linear actuator towards the pivot. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the inner portion of the linear actuator includes a narrowed portion offset from the pivot, the gate valve includes a tang, and the narrowed portion and the tang are engaged with one another to thereby place the linear actuator and the gate valve in engaged communication with one another. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central portion includes a gate stopper configured to prevent over-rotation of the gate valve past the opening when the gate valve is in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus forming a drinking cap for a beverage container, the cap including in combination:
 a wall having a circular shape and defining a periphery;   an opening extending through the wall near the periphery to allow a person to drink from the beverage container;   at least one engagement feature for engaging the cap in substantially sealed relationship with the beverage container such that the cap covers a mouth of the beverage container and may prevent spillage therefrom;   an actuator engaged with the wall for linear movement along a substantially planar portion thereof, the actuator having a outer portion extending past the periphery and a inner portion extending inward of the periphery;   a gate valve mechanically coupled to the inner portion of the actuator and having a pivot point centrally positioned on the wall, the gate valve pivoting parallel to the wall about the pivot point to uncover the opening, responsive to depression of the actuator towards the periphery; and   a spring biasing the actuator outwardly from the periphery and the gate valve towards a closed position covering the opening.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the spring comprises a plastic spring having a first end coupled to one of the linear actuator or the wall. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the spring includes a first end coupled to the linear actuator and therefrom extends to contact one of the wall, or a protrusion therefrom, to bias the gate valve into the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuator slidably moves between a first position where one edge of the gate valve is biased against a gate stopper secured to the wall and a second position where the gate valve is not biased against the gate stopper. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the engagement feature comprises a collar extending about the periphery, the collar including an inwardly extending rib for affirmatively engaging an outer portion of the mouth. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus forming a removable closure device for a drinking vessel having a mouth through which liquid contents are drank, the closure device comprising:
 a cover portion capable of completely covering the mouth, the cover portion defining a periphery and an aperture adjacent the periphery;   a collar formed along the periphery, the collar configured to snap onto and affirmatively engage the mouth to attach the closure device to the vessel, and to snap off the mouth to remove the closure device from the vessel;   an actuator having a first end extending beyond the periphery and a second end proximate a center of the cover portion, the actuator being slidably moveable between a first position and a second position, where in the first position the first end extends farther outward of the periphery than in the second position;   a valve coupled to the actuator and moving responsive to motion of the actuator, the valve having an open position away from the aperture when the actuator is in the first position, and a closed position over the aperture when the actuator is in the second position, the valve being mechanically biased towards the closed position.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a plastic spring providing the mechanical bias. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising mechanical stops excluding motion of the gate valve outside of a range of positions extending between and including the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the valve includes a body and a tang, the body being rotatably secured to the cover portion by a pivot pin, the valve rotating about the pivot pin and parallel to the cover portion, and away from the closed position, responsive to pressure being applied to the first end of the actuator. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the valve includes a body and a tang, the body being rotatably secured to the cover portion by a first pivot pin and being rotatably secured to the second end of the actuator by a second pivot pin proximate the first pivot pin, the valve rotating about the first pivot pin and parallel to the cover portion, and away from the closed position, responsive to pressure being applied to the first end of the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising a drinking vessel having a mouth through which liquid contents are drank, wherein the cover portion is engaged with the mouth of the vessel. 
     
     
         21 . A method of enabling contents to be removed from a drinking container having a mouth through which the contents can be removed, comprising:
 providing a drinking cap having an opening formed there through;   providing a gate valve slidably movable from a closed position over the opening to an open position away from the opening;   providing an actuator engaged with the gate valve, and configured to move the gate valve from the closed position to the open position in response to moving the actuator in a lineal motion;   placing the drinking cap over the mouth of the container;   moving the actuator in a lineal motion to thereby move the gate valve away from the opening thereby allowing contents to be removed from the drinking container through the mouth and the opening.