Lid for a fluid container having an integral valve member

Abstract

A lid for use with a fluid container includes a body member having an outer surface and a peripheral portion. The body member includes a drinking aperture extending therethrough. The valve member has a first end coupled to the peripheral portion via a hinge. The valve member extends from the hinge to a distal end. The valve member includes a sealing portion, is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the body member and configured to be slidably moveable between a first sealing orientation in which the sealing portion of the valve member substantially occludes the drinking aperture and a second drinking orientation in which the valve member does not occlude the drinking aperture so as to permit fluid flow therethrough. The body member, the hinge, and the valve member may be formed as a continuous one-piece member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid for use with a fluid container having a rim, the lid comprising:
 a body member having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion having an inner surface coupling portion of the body member inner surface configured for mounting in confronting relation with the rim of the fluid container to couple the lid to the fluid container, the body member including a drinking aperture extending therethrough;   a hinge;   a valve member coupled to the peripheral portion of the body member via the hinge, the valve member extending from a first end of the hinge to a distal end, the valve member including a sealing portion, wherein a portion of the valve member is adjacent the outer surface of the body member and configured to be slidably moveable between a first sealing orientation in which the sealing portion of the valve member substantially occludes the drinking aperture and a second drinking orientation in which the valve member does not occlude the drinking aperture so as to permit fluid flow therethrough, and wherein the body member, the hinge, and the valve member are formed as a continuous one-piece integral member and the valve member is adjacent the outer surface of the body member.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the body member includes a drinking spout extending from the outer surface of the body member to a tip defining the drinking aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the body member, the hinge and the valve member are formed of a polypropylene material. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 3  wherein the body member, the hinge and the valve member are formed of a polypropylene impact copolymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the body member, hinge and valve member are formed of one of a plastic, stainless steel and cellulose material. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the body member, the hinge and the valve member are formed of a material having a thickness between 0.005 and 0.050 inch. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein the body member, the hinge and the valve member are formed of a material having a thickness between 0.010 and 0.025 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member includes a first proximal portion having a first end that extends from the first end of the hinge and a second valve portion that extends from a second end of the first proximal portion to the distal end of the valve member, wherein the sealing portion comprises a portion of the second valve portion. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8  wherein the second valve portion is configured to releasably secure the second valve portion in at least one of the first sealing orientation and the second drinking orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the body member has a lower circumferential peripheral edge generally defining a first plane and the second valve portion includes a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to the first plane and a radial axis of the lid that extends through the drinking aperture, the second valve portion being slidably movable generally along the longitudinal axis in first and second opposing directions to cause the sealing portion to assume the first sealing orientation and the second drinking orientation, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the second valve portion includes an opening therethrough spaced along the longitudinal axis of the second valve portion from the sealing portion, wherein the opening in the second valve portion is generally aligned with the drinking aperture when the second valve portion is in the second drinking orientation to permit fluid flow through the drinking aperture and the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 11  wherein the sealing portion comprises one of:
 a generally flat portion of the second valve portion, and 
 a protuberance that at least partially extends into the drinking aperture when the second valve portion is in the sealing orientation. 
 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 11  wherein the body member includes a drinking spout that extends from the outer surface to a tip defining the drinking aperture and the sealing portion comprises one of:
 a generally flat portion of the second valve portion; 
 a protuberance that at least partially extends into the drinking aperture when the second valve portion is in the first sealing orientation; and 
 a protuberance that extends away from the drinking aperture and that forms a recess within the protuberance, wherein at least the tip of the drinking spout extends into the recess of the protuberance when the second valve portion is in the first sealing orientation. 
 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 11  wherein the body member includes a drinking spout that extends from the outer surface to a tip defining the drinking aperture and the drinking spout extends through the opening when the second valve portion is in the second drinking orientation to releasably secure the second valve portion in the second drinking orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 10  wherein the sealing portion comprises a protuberance and the protuberance at least partially extends into and is cooperative with the drinking aperture to releasably maintain the second valve portion in the first sealing orientation when the protuberance is aligned with the drinking aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 10  wherein the hinge is a spring-like member configured to urge the second valve portion to assume the first sealing orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 10  wherein the hinge is a spring-like member configured to urge the second valve portion to assume the second drinking orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 10  wherein the first proximal portion is disposed in generally confronting relation with an outer edge of the peripheral portion when the second valve portion is disposed in one of the first sealing orientation and the second drinking orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 10  wherein the second valve portion includes a guide member at the distal end of the valve member and the body member includes at least a pair of opposed retaining tabs extending from the outer surface of the body member, wherein the guide member includes opposing side edges disposed in confronting relation with opposed retaining tabs and wherein the retaining tabs and the guide member are cooperatively configured to retain the guide member of the second valve portion in substantially confronting relation with a portion of the outer surface of the body member while permitting slidable movement of the guide member between the retaining tabs upon slidable movement of the second valve portion between the first sealing orientation and the second drinking orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 8  wherein the second valve portion is slidably movable laterally away from a radial axis of the lid extending through the drinking aperture to cause the second valve portion to assume the second drinking orientation. 
     
     
         21 . The lid of  claim 20 , wherein the sealing portion comprises one of:
 a generally flat portion of the second valve portion; and   a protuberance that at least partially extends into the drinking aperture in the first sealing orientation.   
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 20  further including a drinking spout that extends from the outer surface to a tip defining the drinking aperture and the sealing portion comprises one of:
 a generally flat portion of the second valve portion; 
 a protuberance that at least partially extends into the drinking aperture when the second valve portion is in the first sealing orientation; and 
 a protuberance that extends away from the drinking aperture and that forms a recess within the protuberance, wherein at least the tip of the drinking spout extends into the recess of the protuberance when the second valve portion is in the first sealing orientation. 
 
     
     
         23 . The lid of  claim 20  wherein the hinge is a spring-like member configured to urge the second valve portion to assume the first sealing orientation. 
     
     
         24 . A lid for use with a fluid container having a rim, the lid comprising:
 a body member having an outer surface and a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion having an inner surface configured for mounting in confronting relation with the rim of the fluid container to couple the lid to the fluid container, the body member including a drinking aperture extending therethrough;   a hinge;   a valve member coupled to the peripheral portion of the body member via the hinge, the valve member extending from the hinge to a distal end, the valve member including a sealing portion, wherein a portion of the valve member is adjacent the outer surface of the body member and configured to be slidably moveable between a first sealing orientation in which the sealing portion of the valve member substantially occludes the drinking aperture and a second drinking orientation in which the valve member does not occlude the drinking aperture so as to permit fluid flow therethrough.   
     
     
         25 . The lid of  claim 24  wherein the hinge includes first and second ends, the first end of the hinge being formed as an integral one piece continuous member with one of the body member and the valve member and the second end of the hinge being attached to the other one of the body member and the valve member. 
     
     
         26 . The lid of  claim 24  wherein the hinge includes first and second ends, the body member, the valve member and the hinge are formed as three distinct structures and the first and second ends of the hinge are affixed to the body member and the valve member, respectively, to form the lid.