Lid for a container

Abstract

A lid for covering the open end of a beverage container having: an annular base adapted to detachably and sealably engage with the circumference of a drinking edge of a container; an elevated portion projecting upwardly from the annular base; and a spout; the lid arranged and formed such that when in use with a container containing liquid and wherein the lid is securely fitted to the container a user is able to move the spout between a closed configuration which closes the open end of a container such that liquid is substantially prevented from escaping from the container and a drinking configuration which allows a user to drink the liquid contained within the container and also wherein in use the lid is adapted such that a user can squeeze the container or the elevated portion which results in the spout moving from a closed configuration to a drinking configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid for closing an opening of a container that is adapted to contain a flowable material, the lid comprising a peripheral region engaging, or able to engage, about, within, or both about and within, the container, and
 a non-peripheral region inwardly of the peripheral region;   wherein the non-peripheral region has a formation, the formation being
 i. able to be pressed or already pressed, to a closed condition that at least substantially closes a flowable material egress opening of the non-peripheral region, and 
 ii. able to be released from the closed condition to an open condition to allow material egress from the container via the material egress opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formation is a spout. 
     
     
         3 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formation is triangular in shape having a base adjacent the material egress opening and an apex that is more proximate an opposed edge of the non-peripheral region. 
     
     
         4 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formation is live hinged save for where it is to define part of the material egress opening. 
     
     
         5 . The lid as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the live hinging is in a depression of the non-peripheral region preferably thereby to enable retention of part of the formation inwardly of the peripheral region. 
     
     
         6 . The lid as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein when not retained, the formation assumes a stable condition above the peripheral region. 
     
     
         7 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral region is annular. 
     
     
         8 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formation is biased to the open condition. 
     
     
         9 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formation extends across over half of distance of the non-peripheral region inwardly of the peripheral region. 
     
     
         10 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a catch that is adapted to capture of part of the formation for retaining the formation in its closing condition. 
     
     
         11 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material egress opening is in part arcuate. 
     
     
         12 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises an annular internal extension projecting downwardly from or relative to the base, the annular internal extension being configured to fit at least partially inside the container during use. 
     
     
         13 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formation extends from or proximal to a lid top to or towards a base of the lid with the material egress opening facing towards the lid top or upwardly. 
     
     
         14 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a first gripping portion formed at one side of the formation and a second gripping portion formed on at another side of the spout, wherein squeezing of the first and second gripping portions is adapted to cause the formation to transition from the closed condition to the open condition. 
     
     
         15 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein applying the force on the formation towards the peripheral region is adapted to cause the formation to transition from the open condition to the closed condition. 
     
     
         16 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises an air circulation hole for improving the fluid flow. 
     
     
         17 . The lid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a horizontal surface allow stacking of the container onto the lid. 
     
     
         18 . A lid for covering a rim defined open end of a container for containing a flowable material, the lid comprising:
 an annular base adapted to detachably engage the rim of the container;   an elevated wall portion projecting upwardly from the annular base; and   a spout;   the lid arranged and formed such that when in use, with a container containing a flowable material and the lid is fitted to the container, a user is able to move the spout between a closed configuration which closes the open end of the container such that the material is substantially prevented from escaping from the container and an open configuration which allows a user to pour the material contained within the container and also wherein in use the lid is adapted such that a user can squeeze the container or the lid which results in the spout moving from the closed configuration to the open configuration.   
     
     
         19 . A lid for closing, an opening of a container that is able to contain a flowable material, the lid comprising a peripheral region engaging, or able to engage, about, within or both about and within the container at the opening of the container and
 a lid top provided inwardly of the peripheral region;   wherein the lid top includes an integrally formed spout formation that, by a live hinge, is substantially separated from the rest of the lid top, the spout formation:
 i. able to be pressed, or already pressed, in a direction towards the container when engaged to the container, to a retainable or retained condition that at least substantially closes a flowable material egress opening of the non-peripheral region and 
 ii. able to be released from that condition to move away from the container when engaged to the container to allow flowable material egress via the opening. 
   
     
     
         20 . A lid to releasably engage to the rim of an open topped cup or container, the lid comprising
 a. a lip engaging, or able to engage, about, within or both about and within the rim of the container,   b. an annular wall extending upwardly relative the lip,   c. a lid top at the top of the annular wall the lid top comprising an elongate formation presenting an spout, the end of which is elevated above the annular wall and defines a closable opening with and at the annular wall via which material in the container can egress, the formation separated at least partially from the remainder of the lid top by a live hinge to allow:
 i. the spout to be depressed towards the lip to cause the end of the spout to contact the annular wall to thereby close the closable opening, and 
 ii. the lid top to be compressed in a direction lateral to the elongate direction of the formation to deform the spout and the annular wall.