Lid with actuator for valve assembly

Abstract

A lid is described to reduce spillage or leakage of fluids contained in a beverage container. The lid includes the actuator that opens and closes a dispensing opening of the lid and also opens and closes a valve of the lid to reduce spillage or leakage from the beverage container. As the actuator is opened, the dispensing opening is uncovered and the valve opened.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid assembly, comprising:
 a lid body comprising a fluid passage and a vent passage passing through the lid body;   an actuator engaged to the lid body;   a valve comprising a valve stem and a valve body, and the valve body configured to seal the fluid passage and the vent passage of the lid body;   the actuator configured to interact with the valve stem, whereby the actuator moves to a first position relative to the lid body thereby driving the valve body away from the fluid passage and the vent passage, which opens the fluid passage and the vent passage; and,   the actuator configured to move to a second position relative to the lid body thereby driving the valve body toward the fluid passage and the vent passage, which closes the fluid passage and the vent passage.   
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve stem includes a stem retaining portion that slidably engages with the actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is configured to slide relative to an indentation in the lid body to open and close the valve, wherein a sloped lower surface of the actuator engages with the stem retaining portion to drive the stem retaining portion downward. 
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve stem is integral with the stem retaining portion and the valve body. 
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passage leads to a dispensing opening, and the actuator is configured to move to open and close the dispensing opening and to also simultaneously open and close the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve body includes a fluid passage closing member and a vent passage closing member. 
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the fluid passage closing member and the vent passage closing member protrude upward from the valve body on opposite sides of the valve stem. 
     
     
         8 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises the valve stem extending generally perpendicular from the valve body. 
     
     
         9 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises the valve stem extending generally perpendicular from the valve body, wherein the valve stem passes through a central passage of the lid body, and an upper end of the valve stem interacts with a lower surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the indentation includes indentation sidewalls having protrusions, and wherein the actuator includes sidewalls having openings, which leads to channels, wherein the protrusions of the indentation sidewalls enter into the openings and the channels of the sidewalls to slidably lock the actuator to the lid body. 
     
     
         11 . The lid assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusions or channels comprise ramps or inclines that prevent removal of the actuator from the indentation. 
     
     
         12 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to fully disengage from the lid body and the valve. 
     
     
         13 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a lever is engaged to the actuator, wherein the lever releasably holds the actuator to the lid body, and wherein the lever is movable to release the actuator from the lid body. 
     
     
         14 . The lid assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a release assembly comprising a drive member, wherein the drive member is configured to disengage the actuator from the lid body. 
     
     
         15 . The lid assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the drive member passes through an interior of the valve stem and engages the actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The lid assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a button member, wherein the button member holds a lower end of the drive member. 
     
     
         17 . The lid assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein a pressing force applied to the button member is transmitted to the drive member, and the drive member presses against the actuator to disengage the actuator from the lid body. 
     
     
         18 . A beverage container assembly comprising the lid assembly according to  claim 1  and a beverage container, wherein the lid assembly is configured to engage to the beverage container. 
     
     
         19 . A lid assembly, comprising:
 a lid body comprising a fluid passage and a vent passage passing through the lid body;   an actuator slidably engaged to the lid body;   a valve comprising a valve stem and a valve body, wherein the valve stem is integral with the valve body, and the valve body configured to seal the fluid passage and the vent passage of the lid body;   the actuator interacts with the valve stem;   the valve body includes a fluid passage closing member and a vent passage closing member;   the actuator configured to slide with respect to the lid body to an open position to drive the fluid passage closing member away from a lower opening of the fluid passage and to drive the vent passage closing member away from a lower opening of the vent passage; and,   the actuator configured to slide with respect to the lid body to a closed position to drive the fluid passage closing member against the lower opening of the fluid passage and to drive the vent passage closing member against the lower opening of the vent passage.   
     
     
         20 . A lid assembly, comprising:
 a lid body comprising a fluid passage passing through the lid body;   a valve comprising a valve stem, a valve body, and a release assembly, and the valve body configured to seal the fluid passage;   an actuator slidably engaged to the lid body, and the actuator engaged to the valve stem;   the release assembly comprising a button member and a drive member, wherein the drive member is configured to disengage the actuator from the lid body;   the actuator configured to slide with respect to the lid body to drive the valve body away from the fluid passage, thereby opening the fluid passage; and,   the actuator configured to slide with respect to the lid body to drive the valve body toward the fluid passage, thereby closing the fluid passage.