Travel mug with a twist lid

Abstract

A drinking vessel having a container with a hollow interior and a lid. The lid is connectable to the container and having an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion. The upper lid portion has a top surface and a drinking aperture located at the top surface. The lower lid portion includes a twist ring rotatable with respect to the upper lid portion. The lid also includes a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture. Further, the lid includes a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring. When the twist ring is in its initial position, the sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing the drinking aperture, and when the twist ring is rotated into a first open position, the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and the spring mechanism is biased to return the twist ring into its initial position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drinking vessel comprising:
 a container having a hollow interior; and   a lid configured to be connected to the container and having an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion, the upper lid portion having a top surface and a drinking aperture located at the top surface, the lower lid portion including a twist ring rotatable with respect to the upper lid portion, the lid further comprising a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture, the lid further comprising a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the twist ring,   
       wherein when said twist ring is in its initial position, said sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing said drinking aperture; and wherein said twist ring is configured to rotate into a first open position in which the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and said spring mechanism is biased to return said twist ring into said initial position. 
     
     
         2 . The drinking vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein said twist ring is configured to rotate into a second open position in which the twist ring is prevented from rotating unless additional force is applied, and said sealing mechanism is locked in its open position. 
     
     
         3 . The drinking vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein said twist ring further comprises a notch extending from an outer surface of the twist ring and configured to accommodate a user's finger. 
     
     
         4 . The drinking vessel according to  claim 3 , wherein said upper lid portion further comprises a second notch extending from an outer surface of said upper lid portion, and wherein in said initial position of said twist ring, said notch and said second notch are vertically aligned. 
     
     
         5 . The drinking vessel according to  claim 3 , wherein said twist ring further comprises a locking mechanism located at said notch, and wherein, when said locking mechanism is activated, said twist ring is blocked from twisting. 
     
     
         6 . The drinking vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper lid portion comprises a lip extending from said top surface, said lip being ergonomically shaped to allow liquid to flow from said drinking aperture into a user's mouth. 
     
     
         7 . A drinking vessel comprising:
 a container having a hollow interior; and   a lid configured to be connected to the container and having a first lid portion and a second lid portion, the first lid portion having a drinking aperture, the second lid portion being at least partially rotatable with respect to the first lid portion, the lid further comprising a sealing mechanism mechanically coupled to the second lid portion so as to move between a closed position in which the sealing mechanism seals the drinking aperture and an open position in which the sealing mechanism unseals the drinking aperture, the lid further comprising a spring mechanism mechanically coupled to the second lid portion,   
       wherein when said second lid portion is in its initial position, said sealing mechanism is positioned in the closed position sealing said drinking aperture; and wherein said second lid portion is configured to rotate into a first open position in which the sealing mechanism is positioned in its open position and said spring mechanism is biased to return said second lid portion into said initial position.