Beverage container with mouth opening and vent

Abstract

A container lid ( 10 ) includes a conventional main or pour opening, a vent opening separate from the main opening, and a mechanically attached tab ( 50 ) to create the openings. A vent score ( 40 ) defines the shape of the vent opening, and a vent panel ( 38 ) covers the vent opening. A mouth score ( 26 ) defines the shape of the pour opening, and a mouth panel ( 28 ) covers the pour opening. The action of creating the main opening using the tab ( 50 ) causes a moustache score ( 46 ) to break and create a vent opening in the same action. When the tab is returned to its original orientation the vent opening may be further enlarged by engaging a raised section on the vent panel ( 42 ) and the tab ( 50 ), by engaging a vent depressing means ( 44 ) on the tab ( 50 ) to the vent panel ( 38 ), or a combination of the two.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A container end comprising of:
 a peripheral rim for connecting to a body of a container;   a main panel formed interiorly of the peripheral rim;   a mouth panel formed on the main panel and having a peripheral outer edge defined by a mouth score;   a tab mechanically fastened to the main panel located centrally on the container lid;   said tab including a handle end, a pressure applying end, and a body interconnecting the handle end and the pressure applying end ; and   a vent panel formed on the main panel located opposite of the mechanical fastener from said mouth panel and spaced from said mouth panel and spaced from said mechanical fastener, said vent panel having a peripheral outer edge defined by a score line including a moustache score section proximal to said mechanical fastener;   whereby operating said tab to create a mouth opening defined by said mouth panel additionally creates a vent opening defined by said vent panel.   
     
     
         2 . A container end, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said vent panel having a raised convex interior portion;   whereby said raised convex interior portion provides means to further enlarge said vent opening after said mouth opening has been formed.   
     
     
         3 . A container end, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tab having a semi-circular shaped opening in said tab a predetermined distance from, and partially surrounding said mechanical attachment;   whereby said semi-circular shaped opening allows said tab to bend independent of said main panel.   
     
     
         4 . A container end, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tab having a vent depressing means formed in physical association with said body located at a predetermined distance from said mechanical attachment to allow contact with said vent panel;   whereby said vent depressing means provides a means to further enlarge said vent opening after said mouth opening has been formed.   
     
     
         5 . A method of opening a container and venting the container, providing:
 i. a peripheral rim for connecting to a body of a container;   ii. a main panel formed interiorly of the peripheral rim;   iii. a mouth panel formed on the main panel and having a peripheral outer edge defined by a mouth score;   iv. a tab connected to said main panel by mechanical attachment centrally located on said main panel; said tab including a handle end, a pressure applying end, and a body interconnecting said handle end and said pressure applying end; and   v. a vent panel formed on said main panel located opposite of the mechanical fastener from said mouth panel and spaced from said mouth panel and spaced from said mechanical fastener, said vent panel having a peripheral outer edge defined by a score line including a moustache score section proximal to said mechanical attachment;   lifting said handle end of the tab upward to force the contact of the pressure applying end downward against the mouth panel thereby breaking the mouth score and the moustache score and thereby creating a mouth opening and a vent opening;   
     
     
         6 . A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said vent panel having a raised convex interior portion;   pushing down on the tab after creating the mouth opening and vent opening to cause the tab to contact the raised convex interior portion of the vent panel thereby enlarging the vent opening.   
     
     
         7 . A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said tab having a vent depressing area formed in physical association with said body located at a predetermined distance from the mechanical attachment to allow contact with said raised convex interior portion of said vent panel; and   pushing down on the tab after creating the mouth opening and vent opening to cause the vent depressing area to contact the vent panel thereby enlarging the vent opening.   
     
     
         8 . A method, as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said tab is rotated to align said vent depressing area and said vent panel.