Container system including lid with improved finger accommodativeness

Abstract

The invention provides a container lid with a connected (e.g. pivotally connected) handle and methods thereof. The handle includes a handle stem, a first carrying, extension, and a second carrying extension that are converged to a central region of the handle. The lid exhibits numerous technical merits such as improved finger accommodativeness, simplicity in usage, and easy manufacturability, among others.

1 . A container system comprising a lid and a container,
 wherein the lid is sized and configured to be attached to the container;   wherein the container is fillable or filled with a human drink such as water, coffee, beverages, sodas, and juices; and   wherein the lid comprises:
 a body; and 
 a handle comprising a handle stem, a first carrying extension, and a second carrying extension; 
 wherein the handle stem is coupled or connected to the body of the lid, and is foldable/movable toward/from the body of the lid; and 
 wherein the handle stem, the first carrying extension, and the second carrying extension are converged to a central region of the handle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle stem is made of elastic material such as rubber and flexible plastics, and the handle stem is bendable toward/from the body of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle stem is made of rigid material such as metal and hard plastics and the handle stem is pivotally and indirectly coupled to the body of the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle stem is made of rigid material such as metal and hard plastics and the handle stem is pivotally and directly coupled to the body of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the lid includes a top wall, and a skirt wall depending from the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container system according to  claim 5 , wherein the body of the lid includes a recessed area configured to receive/accommodate the handle, when the handle is in a storage position and is folded, moved or pivoted onto the body of the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The container system according to  claim 6 , wherein the recessed area is located at the skirt wall of the body, and the handle is folded, moved or pivoted into the recessed area when the handle is in the storage position. 
     
     
         8 . The container system according to  claim 6 , wherein the recessed area is located at the top wall of the body, and the handle is folded, moved or pivoted into the recessed area when the handle is in the storage position. 
     
     
         9 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein one, two, three, or all four of (1) the handle stem, (2) the first carrying extension, (3) the second carrying extension, and (4) the central region each includes a void structure. 
     
     
         10 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein two, three, or all four of (1) the handle stem, (2) the first carrying extension, (3) the second carrying extension, and (4) the central region each includes a void structure, and said two or more of the void structures are merged into a single continuous void structure. 
     
     
         11 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central region includes a void structure such as a hole or a hook, and wherein said void structure permits a direct attachment of the lid to other items, or an indirect attachment of the lid to other items via a connector such as a clip. 
     
     
         12 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein only the first carrying extension has a bent-down terminal portion or a hook-shaped terminal portion, which permits hanging of the lid and container on other items such as a tree twig, a railing bar; or wherein both the first carrying extension and the second carrying extension have a bent-down terminal portion or a hook-shaped terminal portion. 
     
     
         13 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a hanger selected from a loop, a hook, and a clip, and wherein the hanger is separated from the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The container system according to  claim 13 , wherein the hanger is pivotally coupled to the body of the lid, the handle stem is also pivotally coupled to the body of the lid, and the handle stem and the hanger are pivotable along a same axis, or movable about a common axis. 
     
     
         15 . The container system according to  claim 14 , wherein a longest dimension of the hanger is 30%-80% of a longest dimension of the handle stem, and wherein the hanger is confined, and therefore only rotatable, between the handle and the skirt wall. 
     
     
         16 . The container system according to  claim 15 , wherein the lid further includes a hanger recess located onto the skirt wall. 
     
     
         17 . The container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the recessed area includes a fixation groove having a shape and size same as the handle stem, and wherein the fixation groove is configured to accommodate and secure the handle stem therein, when the handle stem is pivoted or folded toward/into the body of the lid. 
     
     
         18 . The container system according to  claim 17 , wherein the recessed area further includes an open recessed area extended from the fixation groove, and the open recessed area is configured to receive/accommodate the first carrying extension, the second carrying extension, and the central region, when the handle is pivoted or folded toward or into the body of the lid. 
     
     
         19 . The container system according to  claim 18 , wherein the open recessed area includes a first area and a second area, wherein the first area is covered by the first carrying extension, the second carrying extension, and the central region, when the handle is pivoted or folded toward or into the body of the lid. 
     
     
         20 . The container system according to  claim 19 , wherein the second area is not covered by any of the first carrying extension, the second carrying extension, and the central region, when the handle is pivoted or folded toward or into the body of the lid. 
     
     
         21 . The container system according to  claim 20 , wherein a top surface of the second area is not in parallel with a top surface of the first area. 
     
     
         22 . The container system according to  claim 21 , wherein the top surface of the second area is tilted downward. 
     
     
         23 . The container system according to  claim 22 , wherein the second area includes a finger recess or notch for a user to insert a finger into, and lift the handle in a storage position upward into a carrying position. 
     
     
         24 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises an outlet opening. 
     
     
         25 . The container system according to  claim 20 , wherein the lid further comprises an outlet opening located on the second area. 
     
     
         26 . The container system according to  claim 23 , wherein a first magnetic member is affixed to the first area; a second magnetic member is affixed to the first carrying extension, the second carrying extension, and/or the central region; and the two magnetic members are connected to each other to secure the handle into the recessed area. 
     
     
         27 . The container system according to  claim 26 , wherein the second magnetic member is affixed to the central region of the handle. 
     
     
         28 . The container system according to  claim 23 , wherein a part of the top wall that has not been recessed is extended to the first area through a vertical wall, and wherein the vertical wall includes one or more ridges configured to push against the first carrying extension and/or the second carrying extension, to secure the handle into the recessed area. 
     
     
         29 . A method of increasing a finger accommodativeness of a lid of a container system, comprising:
 (i) providing a body of a lid which is sized and configured to be attached to a container, wherein the container is fillable or filled with a human drink such as water, coffee, beverages, sodas, and juices;   (ii) providing a handle comprising a handle stem, a first carrying extension, and a second carrying extension, wherein the handle stem, the first carrying extension, and the second carrying extension are converged to a central region of the handle; and   (iii) coupling the handle stem to the body of the lid, so that the handle stem is foldable/movable toward/from the body of the lid.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising
 (iv) placing one or more human fingers selected from thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger between the handle stem and the first carrying extension,   (v) placing one or more human fingers selected from index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger between the handle stem and the second carrying extension,   (vi) lifting up the lid and container, and   (vii) carrying the lid and container around.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the human thumb and fingers are covered within a thick/heavy glove. 
     
     
         32 . A method of storing and transporting a human drink such as a beverage comprising:
 (a) providing a container which is sized and configured to be filled with a human drink such as water, coffee, beverages, sodas, and juices;   (b) filling the container with a human drink such as water, coffee, beverages, sodas, and juices;   (c) providing a lid which is sized and configured to be attached to the container, wherein the lid comprises a body and a handle, wherein the handle comprises a handle stem, a first carrying extension, and a second carrying extension, and wherein the handle stem, the first carrying extension, and the second carrying extension are converged to a central region of the handle;   (d) coupling the handle stem to the body of the lid, wherein the handle stem is foldable/movable toward/from the body of the lid; and   (e) securing the lid to the container filled with the human drink.