Resealable closure for a beverage container

Abstract

A closure for a beverage container that includes a base portion configured to couple to the beverage container, a top portion rotatably engaged with the base portion, the top portion comprising a drinking opening, and a central portion removably coupled to the base portion and to the top portion, wherein the central portion comprises a plug. The central portion moves in a first direction along a central axis when the top portion is rotated about the central axis from a first configuration to a second configuration. The central portion moves in a second direction along the central axis when the top portion is rotated about the central axis from the second configuration to the first configuration. The central portion seals the drinking opening when the top portion is in the first configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for a beverage container, the closure comprising:
 a base portion configured to removably engage with the beverage container;   a top portion rotatably engaged with the base portion, the top portion comprising:
 a drinking opening having a central axis; and 
 internal threads, 
 wherein the top portion is configured to rotate relative to the base portion from a first configuration to a second configuration; and 
   a central portion comprising a plug, wherein the central portion is removably coupled to the base portion and removably coupled to the threads of the top portion,   wherein the central portion is configured to move along the central axis away from the drinking opening when the top portion is rotated from the first configuration to the second configuration, and   wherein the central portion is configured to move along the central axis toward the drinking opening when the top portion is rotated from the second configuration to the first configuration such that the plug seals the drinking opening when the top portion is in the first configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion does not rotate relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion further comprises an outward projection and an external thread,
 wherein the base portion further comprises a groove configured to engage with the outward projection, and   wherein the top portion further comprises an internal thread configured to engage with the external thread.   
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein when the inward projection is coupled to the outward projection, the inward projection is configured to prevent the central portion from rotating when the top portion is rotated from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking opening has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the plug. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , further comprising a flange, wherein an inner diameter of the flange defines the drinking opening. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter of the flange is between 15 millimeters and 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the inner diameter of the flange is about 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the plug and the flange together form the seal. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the seal is water tight. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is configured to resealably seal the drinking opening when the top portion is moved from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein a fluid path through the closure is formed when the top portion is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion is configured to rotate about the central axis no more than 180 degrees from the first configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion is removable when the top portion is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises an opening in fluid communication with the drinking opening when the top portion is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion does not move along the axis relative to the base portion when the top portion rotates relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         17 . A closure for a beverage container, the closure comprising:
 a base portion configured to couple to the beverage container;   a top portion rotatably engaged with the base portion, the top portion comprising a drinking opening; and   a central portion removably coupled to the base portion and to the top portion, wherein the central portion comprises a plug,   wherein the central portion is configured to move in a first direction along a central axis when the top portion is rotated about the central axis from a first configuration to a second configuration,   wherein the central portion is configured to move in a second direction along the central axis when the top portion is rotated about the central axis from the second configuration to the first configuration, and   wherein the central portion is configured to seal the drinking opening when the top portion is in the first configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the central portion does not rotate about the central axis. 
     
     
         19 . A drinking vessel, comprising:
 the closure of  claim 17 ; and   a beverage container,   wherein the closure is coupled to the beverage container, and   wherein the beverage container has a volume of at least 500 milliliters.   
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the central portion is configured to abut a flange that extends circumferentially around the drinking opening such that a water-tight seal is formed between the central portion and the flange when the top portion is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The closure of  claim 20 , wherein the central portion further comprises a plug, and wherein the plug and the flange together form the seal. 
     
     
         22 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the the top portion does not move along the central axis relative to the base portion when the top portion rotates relative to the base portion.