Container lid

Abstract

A lid configured for use with a fluid container is provided. The lid includes a body member including an outer periphery configured to couple to a rim of a fluid container. The body member includes a pair of apertures extending therethrough. A valve operably coupled to an interior surface of the body member includes a pair of protuberances configured to selectively engage the pair of apertures. The pair of protuberances configured such that depression of one protuberances moves the pair of protuberances out of sealed engagement with the pair of apertures for dispensing a fluid contained within the fluid container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid configured for use with a fluid container, the lid comprising:
 a body member including an outer periphery configured to couple to a rim of a fluid container, the body member including a pair of apertures extending therethrough; and   a valve operably coupled to an interior surface of the body member and including a pair of protuberances configured to selectively engage the pair of apertures,   wherein the pair of protuberances are configured such that depression of one protuberances moves the pair of protuberances out of sealed engagement with the pair of apertures for dispensing a fluid contained within the fluid container, each protuberance being disposed in registration with one of the pair of apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of protuberances is in vertical registration with the pair of apertures so as to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis that is defined through the fluid container. 
     
     
         3 . The lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a generally elliptical configuration having side portions at opposite ends of a major axis defined through the valve and top and bottom portions at opposite ends of a minor axis defined through the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The lid according to  claim 3 , wherein the side portions of the valve are configured to flex as a result of depressing at least one of the pair of protuberances. 
     
     
         5 . The lid according to  claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the top portion of the valve is different from the thickness of the bottom portion to facilitate stable movement and flexibility of the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The lid according to  claim 3 , wherein a mounting bracket is operably coupled to the interior surface of the body member and contacts the bottom portion of the valve to couple the valve to the interior surface of the body member such that both protuberances are depressible for dispensing the fluid through the aperture in registration with the other protuberance. 
     
     
         7 . The lid according to  claim 3 , wherein a mounting bracket is operably coupled to the interior surface of the body member and contacts the bottom portion of the valve to couple the valve to the interior surface of the body member such that one of the protuberances is depressible for dispensing the fluid through the aperture in registration with the other protuberance. 
     
     
         8 . The lid according to  claim 6 , wherein the mounting bracket is coupled to the lid via at least one biocompatible adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The lid according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the apertures is provided in a corresponding recess provided on the body member and the corresponding recesses are configured to receive a corresponding one of the pair of protuberances therein so as to allow depression thereof by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The lid according to  claim 9 , wherein the corresponding recesses have a generally circumferential configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The lid according to  claim 1 , wherein a generally elongated recess is provided on the body member and positioned between the pair of corresponding recesses so as to allow stacking of a plurality of lids. 
     
     
         12 . A lid configured for use with a fluid container, the lid comprising:
 a body member including an outer periphery configured to couple to a rim of a fluid container, the body member including a pair of apertures extending therethrough;   a valve operably coupled to an interior surface of the body member and including a pair of depressible protuberances disposed in selective sealed engagement with the pair of apertures so as to prevent dispensing of a fluid contained within the fluid container; and   a mounting bracket operably coupled to an interior surface of the body member and configured to couple the valve to the body member,   wherein the pair of protuberances are configured such that depression of one protuberance moves the pair of protuberances out of sealed engagement with the pair of apertures for dispensing the fluid contained within the fluid container, each protuberance being disposed in registration with one of the pair of apertures.   
     
     
         13 . The lid according to  claim 12 , wherein the pair of protuberances is in vertical registration with the pair of apertures so as to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis that is defined through the fluid container. 
     
     
         14 . The lid according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve includes a generally elliptical configuration having side portions at opposite ends of a major axis defined through the valve and top and bottom portions at opposite ends of a minor axis defined through the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The lid according to  claim 14 , wherein the side portions of the valve are configured to flex as a result of depressing at least one of the pair of protuberances and, wherein the top portion of the valve is thicker than the bottom portion to facilitate selective sealing engagement between the pair of protuberances and the apertures when the valve is coupled to the body member. 
     
     
         16 . The lid according to  claim 15 , wherein each protuberance is in registration with one of the pair of apertures, and wherein a mounting bracket is operably coupled to the interior surface of the body member and contacts the bottom portion of the valve to couple the valve to the interior surface of the body member such that both protuberances are depressible for dispensing the fluid from the aperture in registration with the other protuberance. 
     
     
         17 . The lid according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the apertures is provided in a corresponding recess provided on the body member and the corresponding recesses are configured to receive a corresponding one of the pair of protuberances therein so as to allow depression thereof by the user, wherein the corresponding recesses have a generally circumferential configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The lid according to  claim 12 , wherein a generally elongated recess is provided on the body member and positioned between the pair of corresponding recesses so as to allow stacking of a plurality of lids. 
     
     
         19 . The lid according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve includes at least two side portions.