Tiltable lid assembly

Abstract

A tiltable lid assembly includes a base that is secured to a cup that holds a liquid substance. The base has an opening that is aligned with an opening on the cup. A cap assembly is secured to the base and includes a first seal for sealing the opening of the base and a second seal for sealing an air vent on the base. The cap assembly is tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position, the cap assembly is in a level, non-inclined position and the first and second seals seal the opening and the air vent, respectively. In a second position, the cap assembly is inclined and the first and second seals are displaced from the opening and air vent. Releasable locking means secures the cap assembly in the first and second position.

1 . A tiltable lid assembly, comprising:
 a base configured to be secured to a cup that holds a liquid substance, said cup including an opening for release of the liquid substance;   said base including a first end having an opening that is aligned with the opening in the cup to permit release of the liquid substance from the cup portion;   a cap assembly secured to the base, said cap assembly including a first end having a first seal that is configured to be positioned over the opening of the base to seal the liquid substance within the cup and a second end opposite said first end;   said cap assembly is configured to be tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position on the axis the first seal is positioned within the opening on the base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening and in a second position on the axis the first seal is displaced from the opening on the base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tiltable lid assembly includes releasable locking means that secures the cap assembly in the first and second position. 
     
     
         3 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the releasable locking means comprises:
 a latch connected to the cap assembly, said latch having a distal end portion;   biasing means connected to the cap assembly that is configured to exert force on the latch; and   a locking member secured to the base, said locking member having an aperture configured to receive the distal end portion of the latch;   wherein in the first position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch into the aperture of the locking member to secure the first seal within the opening of the base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening; and   wherein in the second position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch against a resting surface of the locking member to secure the first seal in a position that is displaced from the opening on the base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.   
     
     
         4 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the cap assembly further comprises a planar top surface;   in the first position, the planar top surface is in a level, non-inclined position; and   in the second position, the planar top surface is in an inclined position.   
     
     
         5 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the top surface of the cap assembly in the second position is inclined towards the first end of the cap assembly between 5-60 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base includes an air vent that is configured to permit gas in the cup to flow therethrough;   the cap assembly includes a second seal that is configured to be positioned within the air vent to seal the air vent;   wherein when the cap assembly is in the first position, the second seal is positioned within the air vent to seal the air vent and when the cap assembly is in the second position, the second seal is displaced from the air vent.   
     
     
         7 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the releasable locking means further includes a tab that is connected to the latch, said tab being configured to move the distal end portion of the latch away from the locking member and release the releasable locking means when slid by the user towards the second end of the cap assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the tab is positioned on a substantially planar top surface of the cap assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tiltable lid assembly includes fastening means to releasably secure the cap assembly to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening means comprises;
 mounting brackets having recesses that are configured to receive protrusions on a pair of arms;   wherein the fastening means is configured to permit the cap assembly to pivot along the axis when the cap assembly is releasably secured to the base.   
     
     
         11 . A cup, comprising:
 a cup portion configured to hold a liquid substance, said cup portion including an opening for release of the liquid substance;   a lid base configured to be secured to the cup, said lid base including a first end having an opening that is aligned with the opening of the cup to permit release of the liquid substance from the cup portion;   a cap assembly secured to the lid base, said cap assembly including a first end having a first seal that is configured to be positioned over the opening of the lid base to seal the liquid substance within the cup portion and a second end opposite said first end; and   said cap assembly is configured to be tiltable along an axis, wherein in a first position on the axis the first seal is positioned within the opening on the lid base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening and in a second position on the axis the first seal is displaced from the opening on the lid base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.   
     
     
         12 . The cup of  claim 11 , wherein the cup includes releasable locking means that secures the cap assembly in the first and second position. 
     
     
         13 . The cup of  claim 12 , wherein the releasable locking means comprises:
 a latch connected to the cap assembly, said latch having a distal end portion;   biasing means connected to the cap assembly that is configured to exert force on the latch; and   a locking member secured to the lid base, said locking member having an aperture configured to receive the distal end portion of the latch;   wherein in the first position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch into the aperture of the locking member to secure the first seal within the opening of the lid base to prevent the liquid substance from flowing out of the opening; and   wherein in the second position, the biasing means is configured to force the distal end portion of the latch against a resting surface of the locking member to secure the first seal in a position that is displaced from the opening on the lid base to permit the liquid substance to flow out of the opening.   
     
     
         14 . The cup of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the cap assembly further comprises a planar top surface;   in the first position, the planar top surface is in a level, non-inclined position; and   in the second position, the planar top surface is in an inclined position.   
     
     
         15 . The cup of  claim 13 , wherein the releasable locking means further includes a tab that is connected to the latch, said tab being configured to move the distal end portion of the latch away from the locking member and release the releasable locking means when slid by the user towards the second end of the cap assembly. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The tiltable lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap assembly comprises a planar top surface;   in the first position, the planar top surface is in a level, non-inclined position; and   in the second position, the planar top surface is in an inclined position.