Lid assembly and method

Abstract

A resealable lid assembly may provide a substantially resealable lid for a container. The resealable lid assembly may include a lid assembly, external lid layer, valve lid layer, pivot, tab, outlet, vent, tab slot, flow seal and vent seal. A method to provide a substantially resealable lid for a container using the resealable lid assembly is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid assembly installable on a container comprising:
 an external lid layer;   a valve lid layer operatively connected to the external lid layer via a pivot;   a tab operatively connected to the valve lid layer; and   a sealant applied to at least part of the lid assembly;   wherein the valve lid layer is rotatable via the pivot;   wherein the lid assembly is substantially continuously variable between a closed configuration and an opened configuration via the tab.   
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer engagement channel of the external lid layer; and   an outer engagement rim of the valve lid layer receivable by the outer engagement channel;   wherein the outer engagement rim is locatable at least partially within the outer engagement channel to substantially seal a space enclosable by the lid assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is configurable between a tab up position and a tab down position. 
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the valve lid layer is substantially immobilized while the tab is in the tab down position, and wherein the valve lid layer is substantially rotatable via the pivot while the tab is in the tab up position. 
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the external lid layer further comprises:
 a flow outlet hole; and   a tab slot hole.   
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve lid layer further comprises:
 a flow upset; and   a tab slot upset.   
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 :
 wherein the external lid layer comprises a flow outlet hole;   wherein the valve lid layer comprises a flow upset; and   wherein the valve lid layer is rotatable via the pivot to vary a flow aperture.   
     
     
         8 . The lid assembly of  claim 7 :
 wherein the external lid layer further comprises a tab slot hole;   wherein the valve lid layer further comprises a tab slot upset; and   wherein the tab is operatively connected to the valve lid layer approximately at the tab slot upset;   wherein the tab is at least partially locatable within a length of the tab slot hole; and   wherein moving the tab within at least part of the length of the tab slot hole causes the valve lid layer to rotate via the pivot and vary the flow aperture.   
     
     
         9 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 :
 wherein the external lid layer further comprises a vent hole;   wherein the valve lid layer further comprises a vent upset;   wherein a vent aperture is substantially opened while the lid assembly is in the opened configuration; and   wherein the vent aperture is substantially closed while the lid assembly is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         10 . A lid assembly installable on a container comprising:
 an external lid layer comprising a flow outlet hole and a tab slot hole;   a valve lid layer comprising a flow upset and a tab slot upset;   a tab operatively connected to the valve lid layer approximately at the tab slot upset and at least partially locatable about a length of the tab slot hole; and   a pivot operatively connecting the external lid layer and the valve lid layer;   wherein the lid assembly is substantially continuously variable between a closed configuration and an opened configuration;   wherein moving the tab at least partially within the length of the tab slot hole causes the valve lid layer to rotate via the pivot to vary a flow aperture;   wherein the tab is configurable between a tab up position and a tab down position;   wherein the valve lid layer is substantially immobilized while the tab is in the tab down position;   wherein the valve lid layer is substantially rotatable via the pivot while the tab is in the tab up position.   
     
     
         11 . The lid assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the tab slot upset comprises a dimple to receive at least part of the tab while oriented approximately in the tab up position. 
     
     
         12 . The lid assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an outer engagement channel of the external lid layer; and   an outer engagement rim of the valve lid layer receivable by the outer engagement channel;   wherein the outer engagement rim is locatable at least partially within the outer engagement channel to substantially seal a space enclosable by the lid assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The lid assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the external lid layer further comprises a vent hole;
 wherein the valve lid layer further comprises a vent upset;   wherein a vent aperture is substantially opened while the lid assembly is in the opened configuration; and   wherein the vent aperture is substantially closed while the lid assembly is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The lid assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a sealant at least partially applied to the valve lid layer. 
     
     
         15 . A method of reversibly sealing a container via a lid assembly, the lid assembly comprising an external lid layer, a valve lid layer, a tab, and a pivot, the method comprising:
 (a) configuring the tab in a tab up position to enable rotation of the valve lid layer, the tab being operatively connected to the valve lid layer;   (b) moving the tab within a length of a tab slot hole of the external lid layer, causing the valve lid layer to be rotated via the pivot; and   (c) altering the lid assembly between a closed configuration and an opened configuration via rotation of the valve lid layer to vary a flow aperture.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising after step (c):
 (d) configuring the tab in a tab down position to substantially immobilize the valve lid layer;   wherein the tab is operatively connected to the valve lid layer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the lid assembly is substantially continuously variable between the closed configuration and the opened configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot operatively connects the external lid layer and the valve lid layer, wherein the tab is operatively connected to the valve lid layer approximately at a tab slot upset of the valve lid layer, and wherein the tab is movable at least partially about the length of the tab slot hole of the external lid layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 :
 wherein the external lid layer comprises a vent hole;   wherein the valve lid layer comprises a vent upset;   wherein a vent aperture is substantially opened while the lid assembly is in the opened configuration; and   wherein the vent aperture is substantially closed while the lid assembly is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the lid assembly further comprises a sealant at least partially applied to the valve lid layer.