Sanitary Lid Assembly For Container And Methods Of Producing And Using Same

Abstract

A lid assembly for sealingly closing an interior of a container that is configured to receive a liquid substance. The lid assembly has a lid and a collapsible funnel. The lid defines an opening, a hinge, and a sealing element. The sealing element is configured for pivotal movement relative to the hinge about and between an open position and a closed position. The collapsible funnel defines a spout and is operatively coupled to the lid. The collapsible funnel is positioned in a compressed state when the sealing element of the lid is in the closed position. When the sealing element of the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, the collapsible funnel moves from the compressed state to an expanded state. In the expanded state, the collapsible funnel extends outwardly from the outer surface of the lid relative to the central axis of the opening of the lid. Optionally, the lid assembly can be integrally formed with a body of a liquid container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid assembly for sealingly closing an interior of a container, the interior of the container configured to receive a substance, the lid assembly comprising:
 a lid having an inner surface and an outer surface, the lid defining a hinge, an opening extending from the inner surface of the lid to the outer surface of the lid, and a sealing element, the sealing element being configured for pivotal movement relative to the hinge about and between an open position and a closed position, the opening of the lid having a central axis; and   a collapsible funnel defining a spout, the collapsible funnel being operatively coupled to the lid, wherein the collapsible funnel is maintained in a compressed state within the interior of the container when the scaling element of the lid is in the closed position, and wherein the collapsible funnel is biased toward an expanded state,   wherein the sealing element defines a male projection proximate the hinge of the lid, wherein the lid defines a stop element configured for engagement with the male projection of the sealing element when the sealing element is moved to the open position,   wherein, when the scaling element of the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, the collapsible funnel is configured to move from the compressed state to the expanded state, and wherein, in the expanded state, the collapsible funnel extends outwardly from the outer surface of the lid relative to the central axis of the opening of the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a rim that extends upwardly from the outer surface of the lid relative to the central axis of the opening of the lid, wherein the sealing element of the lid comprises a pull tab, wherein the pull tab is configured to releasably engage the rim of the lid to thereby form a seal over the opening of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing element defines a pull tab hinge, and wherein the pull tab is configured for selective pivotal movement relative to the pull tab hinge to effect engagement and disengagement of the rim of the lid by the pull tab. 
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element of the lid has an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of the scaling element defines a receptacle configured to securely receive the spout of the funnel when the sealing element is in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing element comprises a gasket positioned within the receptacle of the inner surface of the sealing element, and wherein the gasket is configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the spout of the funnel when the scaling element is in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element of the lid is configured for movement from the open position to the closed position to re-close the interior of the container, wherein when the sealing element of the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position, the collapsible funnel is configured to move from the expanded state to the compressed state. 
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stop element comprises a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the male projection of the sealing element. 
     
     
         8 . A container for receiving liquid substance, the container comprising:
 a container body defining an interior, the interior of the container body being configured to receive the liquid substance   a lid assembly for sealingly closing the interior of the container body, the lid assembly comprising:
 a lid having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a peripheral edge secured to the container body, the lid defining a hinge, an opening extending from the inner surface of the lid to the outer surface of the lid, and a sealing element, the sealing element being configured for pivotal movement relative to the hinge about and between an open position and a closed position, the opening of the lid having a central axis and being positioned in fluid communication with the interior of the container body; and 
 a collapsible funnel defining a spout, the collapsible funnel being operatively coupled to the lid, wherein the collapsible funnel is maintained in a compressed state within the interior of the container body when the sealing element of the lid is in the closed position, and wherein the collapsible funnel is biased toward an expanded state, 
   wherein the sealing element defines a male projection proximate the hinge of the lid, wherein the lid defines a stop element configured for engagement with the male projection of the sealing element when the sealing element is moved to the open position.   wherein, when the sealing element of the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, the collapsible funnel is configured to move from the compressed state to the expanded state, and wherein, in the expanded state, the collapsible funnel extends outwardly from the outer surface of the lid relative to the central axis of the opening of the lid.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises a rim that extends upwardly from the outer surface of the lid relative to the central axis of the opening of the lid, wherein the sealing element of the lid comprises a pull tab, wherein the pull tab is configured to releasably engage the rim of the lid to thereby form a seal over the opening of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing element defines a pull tab hinge, and wherein the pull tab is configured for selective pivotal movement relative to the pull tab hinge to effect engagement and disengagement of the rim of the lid by the pull tab. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the container has a front portion and an opposed rear portion, wherein the pull tab is positioned proximate the front portion of the container, and wherein the hinge of the lid is positioned proximate the rear portion of the container to provide sufficient clearance for the funnel when the sealing element is moved to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing element of the lid has an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of the sealing element defines a receptacle configured to securely receive the spout of the funnel when the sealing element is in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the sealing element comprises a gasket positioned within the receptacle of the inner surface of the sealing element, and wherein the gasket is configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the spout of the funnel when the sealing element is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing element of the lid is configured for movement from the open position to the closed position to re-close the interior of the container, wherein when the sealing element of the lid is moved from the open position to closed position, the collapsible funnel is configured to move from the expanded state to the compressed state. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the stop element of the lid comprises a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the male projection of the sealing element. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the container body comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the container body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard, plastic, and glass. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the lid of the lid assembly is integrally formed with the container body. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a container for receiving a liquid substance, comprising:
 securing a lid assembly to a container body to sealingly close an interior of the container body, the interior of the container body being configured to receive the liquid substance, the lid assembly comprising:
 a lid having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge is secured to the container body, the lid defining a hinge, an opening extending from the inner surface of the lid to the outer surface of the lid, and a sealing element, the sealing element being configured for pivotal movement relative to the hinge about and between an open position and a closed position, the opening of the lid having a central axis and being positioned in fluid communication with the interior of the container body; and 
 a collapsible funnel defining a spout, the collapsible funnel being operatively coupled to the inner surface of the lid, wherein the collapsible funnel is positioned in a compressed state when the sealing element of the lid is in the closed position, and wherein the collapsible funnel is biased toward an expanded position, 
   wherein the sealing element defines a male projection proximate the hinge of the lid, wherein the lid defines a stop element configured for engagement with the male projection of the sealing element when the sealing element is moved to the open position, and   wherein, when the sealing element of the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, the collapsible funnel is configured to move from the compressed state to the expanded state, and wherein, in the expanded state, the collapsible funnel extends outwardly from the outer surface of the lid relative to the central axis of the opening of the lid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the container body comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the container is a beverage container. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein lid of the lid assembly is integrally formed with the container body.