WO2021081197A1

WO2021081197A1 - Valve for a lid to a container, and related systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2021081197A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/056853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoff Henkel
Original assignee: Miir Holdings, Llc
Priority date: 2019-10-24
Filing date: 2020-10-22
Publication date: 2021-04-29

Abstract

A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a lid, includes a body that is impermeable to fluid and positionable on a disk of the lid in first position and in a second position. In the first position, the body covers a first hole in the lid's disk through which fluid may flow, to prevent the fluid from flowing through the first hole. In the second position, the body uncovers the first hole in the lid's disk to allow fluid to flow through the first hole. The device also includes a coupler, a passage in which fluid may flow, and a boss. The coupler is operable to releasably couple the body with the lid's disk in the first and second positions.

Description

VALVE FOR A LID TO A CONTAINER, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[1] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/925,581 filed 24 October 2019 and titled “Slider Valve For Lid, And Related Systems And Methods”. This application also incorporates by this reference the entirety of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/925,581.

BACKGROUND

[2] Many containers designed to hold a liquid that one drinks over a period, such as coffee, or water while one drives a car, or beer while one sits around a campfire, include a lid that has valve that one can open and close. When open the valve allows the liquid to pass through the lid and into onto one’s mouth. When closed the valve prevents the liquid from passing through the lid. Often such lids restrict or confine the flow of liquid out of the container to a single opening. But, when flow is confined to a single opening, the rate of the flow leaving the container varies as the air pressure inside the container varies. When air is not allowed to flow into the container while liquid flows out of the container, a vacuum or low air pressure develops inside the container and hinders the flow liquid out of the container. To solve this problem, many such lids include a second hole that allows air to flow into the container while liquid flows out of the container.

[3] Unfortunately, such holes also provide an avenue for liquid inside the container to escape. This can be problematic when one is driving or doing something active while holding the container. If the liquid in the container is hot, such as coffee, its inadvertent escape through the second hole could damage one’s hand or someone else nearby - especially when the escape is a surprise. To solve this problem, many valves for such lids include a component that plugs the second hole through the lid when the valve is closed. Unfortunately, the second hole must remain unobstructed when the valve is open to allow the liquid in the container to flow out through the lid at a constant rate of flow. Thus, while drinking through the lid, a person remains exposed to an inadvertent escape of the liquid inside the container, especially as one tilts the container to raise the container’s bottom above the lid.

[4] Thus, there is a need for a device that mitigates the escape out through the second hole of a lid, any liquid held in a container.

SUMMARY

[5] In one aspect of the invention, a device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a lid, includes a body that is impermeable to fluid and positionable on a disk of the lid in a first position and in a second position. In the first position, the body covers a first hole in the lid’s disk through which fluid may flow, to prevent the fluid from flowing through the first hole. In the second position, the body uncovers the first hole in the lid’s disk to allow fluid to flow through the first hole. The device also includes a coupler, a passage in which fluid may flow, and a boss. The coupler is operable to releasably couple the body with the lid’s disk in the first and second positions. The passage is located in the body and configured such that the passage covers a second hole in the lid’s disk when the body is in the first position and when the body is in the second position. The boss is located in the passage and configured such that when the body is in the first position, the boss covers the second hole of the lid to prevent fluid from flowing through the second hole to the second passage, and when the body is in the second position, the boss does not cover the second hole to allow fluid to flow through the lid’s second hole.

[6] The second hole in the lid’s disk allows air to flow into a container that the lid covers while liquid inside the container flows out through the first hole. This allows air pressure inside the container to remain relatively constant, which allows liquid to smoothly flow out through the first opening of the lid’s disk. With the passage of the device covering the second hole while the device is in both the first and the second positions, and the boss of the device located in the device’s groove, the device mitigates the escape of any liquid in the container out through the second hole. More specifically, any liquid that does escape through the second hole while the device is in the second position remains trapped in the passage to allow the liquid to drain back into the container.

[7] In another aspect of the invention, a method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a lid, includes moving a body of a device that is releasably coupled to a disk of a lid, relative to the disk toward a first position in which the body covers a first hole of the disk to prevent the flow of a fluid through the first hole. The method also includes covering, while the body is in the first position, a second hole of the disk with a boss of the device. The boss is located in a passage of the device’s body that covers the disk’s second hole. The passage is configured such that, when the device’s body is in a second position in which the device’s body uncovers the disk’s first hole to allow fluid to flow through the first hole, the passage covers the disk’s second hole while the boss uncovers the disk’s second hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[8] FIG. 1 shows a perspective, exploded view of a lid for a container, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[9] Each of FIGS. 2A and 2B shows a view of the lid shown in FIG. 1 , with a device for controlling the flow of fluid through the lid in a first position that prevents the flow of fluid through the lid, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the lid, and FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the lid.

[10] Each of FIGS. 3A and 3B shows a view of the lid shown in FIG. 1 , with the device for controlling the flow of fluid through the lid in a second position that allows the flow of fluid through the lid, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3A shows a plan view of the lid, and FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the lid.

[11] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device for controlling the flow of fluid through the lid, that is shown in FIGS. 1 - 3B, according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[12] FIG. 1 shows a perspective, exploded view of a lid 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. The lid is designed to fit in an opening of a container (not shown) such as those typically used to hold hot coffee and cold water or beer. The lid 10 includes a seal 12 that elastically deforms when the lid 10 is inserted into a container’s opening and forms a fluid tight seal to prevent liquid in the container from escaping between the container’s wall and the lid 10, and to prevent air outside the container from entering the container between the wall and the lid 10. Here fluid includes both liquid, such as water, and gas, such as air. Liquid does not include gas. The lid 10 includes a disk 14, and a device 16 that is releasably coupled with the disk 14 via a slot 18 (here two), and positionable relative to the disk 14 to a first position and to a second position. In the first position (shown and discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2A and 2B), the device 16 covers a first hole 20 in the lid’s disk 14 to prevent the flow of a liquid, here coffee, through the disk 14, and thus, out of the container. In this first position, the device 16 also covers a second hole 22 in the lid’s disk and prevents the inadvertent escape of the coffee from the container. The second hole 22 is designed to allow gas, here air, into the container while liquid flows out of the container through the first hole 20 to maintain a consistent air pressure inside the container. In the second position (shown and discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3A and 3B), the device 16 uncovers the first hole 20 to allow coffee to flow through the disk 14, and out of the container. In this second position, the device 16 also covers the second hole 22 but allows air to flow through the second hole 22 and into the container to maintain a consistent air pressure inside the container.

[13] With the device 16 covering the second hole 22 while the device 16 is in both the first and the second positions, the device 16 mitigates the escape of any liquid in the container out through the second hole 22 and beyond the device 16. More specifically, any liquid that does escape through the second hole 22 while the device 16 is in the second position remains trapped between the device 16 and the disk 14, and is thus allowed to drain back into the container before it can escape from under the device 16 and contact anything outside of the lid, such as one’s hand, lip, or someone else’s body.

[14] The disk 14 may be configured as desired to cover a container’s opening. For example, in this and other embodiments the disk 14 includes a material that is impermeable to fluid, such as recyclable plastic, so that fluid flow through the lid 10 is confined to flow through the first hole 20 and the second hole 22. The disk 14 also has a circular shape to match the typical shape of a container, such as a coffee mug or cup, and is tilted or inclined such that when the lid is coupled with a container, the first hole 20 lies further inside the container than the second hole 22. This promotes the draining back into the container of any liquid spilled on the lid’s disk while drinking. In addition, the disk 14 includes a bed 24 in which the device lies when the device 16 is releasably coupled with the disk 14. The bed 24 is sized such that the device remains in the bed 24 when the device is in the first position, in the second position, and while moving between the two positions. By tilting the disk 14 as previously discussed and having the device 16 lie in the bed 24, any liquid that inadvertently flows out of the container through the second hole 22 will remain between the device 16 and the disk 14 and drain back into the container.

[15] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the bed may be shallower or deeper than shown. In addition, the bed may also include a top that encloses the device 16 to further mitigate the escape of liquid out of the container through the second hole.

[16] Each of FIGS. 2A - 3B shows a view of the lid 10 shown in FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of FIGS. 2A and 2B shows the lid 10 with the device 16 in the first position (closed), and each of FIGS. 3A and 3B shows the lid 10 with the device 16 in the second position (open).

[17] As discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 4, the device 16 includes a passage 26, and a boss 28 located in the passage 26. The passage 26 provides an avenue for fluid to flow between the device 16 and the lid’s disk 14, and is configured to cover the second hole 22 when the device 16 is in the first position (FIGS. 2A and 2B), and also when the device 16 is in the second position (FIGS. 3A and 3B). The passage 26 includes an opening 30 that exposes the passage 26 to the ambient environment to allow air outside of the container to flow into the container to maintain a consistent air pressure inside the container. The boss 28 is configured to prevent liquid from flowing through the second hole 22 when the boss covers the hole 22. The boss 28 is located in the passage 26 such that when the device 16 is in the first position, the boss 28 covers the second hole 22, and when the device 16 is in the second position, the boss 28 does not cover the hole 22.

[18] The device 16 may be configured to move, as desired, from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position. For example, in this and other embodiments, the device 16 slides across the lid’s disk 14, in the bed 24, in either of the two directions indicated by a respective one of two arrows labeled 32 and 34. In this manner, the movement of the device 16 between the two positions is translation, as opposed to rotation or a combination of translation and rotation. When the device 16 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow 34 and positioned at the first position (FIGS. 2A and 2B), the boss 28 covers the second hole 22 and prevents liquid from flowing through the second hole 22 into the device’s passage 26. The device 16 also covers the first hole 20 to prevent liquid from flowing through the lid’s disk 14.

When the device 16 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow 32 and positioned at the second position (FIGS. 3A and 3B), the boss 28 uncovers the second hole 22 and allows ambient air to flow through passage’s opening 30, into the passage 26 and through the second hole 22 into the container. The device 16 also uncovers the first hole 20 to allow liquid in the container to flow through the lid’s disk 14 and into one’s mouth.

[19] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the device may be positioned to relative to the disk at more than two positions, each configured to allow a consistent yet different flow rate of liquid through the disk. In such embodiments, the boss 28 may partially cover the second hole 22 at each position between the first and second positions. Likewise, the device 16 may partially cover the first hole 20 at each position between the first and second positions. [20] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device 16 for controlling the flow of fluid through the lid 10, that is shown in FIGS. 1 - 3B, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[21] The passage 26 of the device 16 may be configured as desired to cover the second hole 22 in the lid’s disk 14 when the device 16 is in the first position, and in the second position. For example, in this and other embodiments the passage 26 includes an opening 30, an end 40, and a groove 42 that has a length, a width, and a depth. The length of the groove 42 is longer than the distance between the location of the device’s first position and the second position. More specifically, the length of the groove is slightly longer than the distance between the two positions so that the boss 28 may be located adjacent the opening 30 of the passage. The width of the passage 26 varies with the location of the width along the passage’s length. More specifically, the width of the groove 42 from the end 40 to where the boss 28 is located, is slightly longer than the width of the second hole 22 so that groove 42 covers all of the hole 22 when the device 16 is in the second position. The width of the passage 26 then increases as the groove 42 extends to the opening to accommodate the size of boss 28 and still allow fluid to flow between the passage’s end 40 and the opening 30, around the boss 28.

The depth of the groove may be any desired depth that allows enough fluid to flow from the opening 30 to the end 40 to maintain a consistent air pressure inside the container while one drinks.

[22] By locating the boss 28 adjacent the opening 30 of the passage 16, and configuring the groove 42 so that gas has to flow around the boss 28, not simply by it, the boss 28 obstructs the escape of liquid inside the container from the end 40 to the opening 30 when the device 16 is in the second position, and thus allows any liquid that does flow out through the second hole 22 to drain back through the second hole 22 and return into the container.

[23] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the boss 28 may be located elsewhere in the passage 16. [24] The boss 28 of the device 16 may also be configured as desired to cover the second hole 22 when the device 16 is in the first position, and prevent liquid from escaping out through the second hole 22 into the passage 26. For example, in this and other embodiments the boss 28 is cylindrical in shape and extends from the bottom of the groove 42 the length required to just kiss (barely make contact or just miss making contact) the region of the disk 14 surrounding the second hole 22. To help accomplish this the boss 28 may include a material that is elastic and flexible, such as silicone.

[25] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the boss 28 may have a shape other than circular, such as rectangular or triangular. For another example, the boss 28 may be configured such that it extends into the second hole 22 when the boss 28 covers the hole 22 to further mitigate against liquid escaping out through the second hole 22 when the device 16 is in the first position.

[26] Still referring to FIG. 4, the device 16 may be configured as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments the device 16 includes a body 44 that has first end 46 and a second end 48, and is rectangular in shape. The body 44 also includes a material that is impermeable to fluid, such as recyclable plastic. The first end 46 is configured to cover the first hole 20 when the device 16 is in the first position, and to uncover the hole 20 when the device 16 is in the second position. Like the boss 28, the first end 46 may include material that is elastic and flexible, such as silicon, so that when the first end 46 covers the first hole 20 the end 46 prevents or substantially prevents liquid from flowing out through the first hole 20. The second end 48 is configured to include the passage’s groove 42.

[27] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the body 44 may have a shape other than rectangular, such as circular or oval or triangular.

[28] The device 16 also includes a coupler 50 to releasably couple the device 16 with the lid’s disk 14. The coupler 50 may be configured as desired to accomplish this. For example, in this and other embodiments the coupler 50 includes two tongues 52, each of which includes a distal end having a lip 54. Each of the tongues 52 extends from the body 44 and is configured to fit and slide within a respective one of the two slots 18 (FIG. 1). To hold each of the tongues 52 in their respective slot 18, the lip 54 contacts the surface of the disk 14 (FIG. 1) that is opposite the surface that the device 16 slides across - the surface of the disk 14 that is exposed to the inside of a container when the lid 10 is coupled with a container. To allow each of the tongues 52 to releasably couple the device 16 to the disk 14, each of the tongues’ lips 54 includes an elastic and flexible material that can deform when urged through the slot 18 with enough force and then reform back to its original shape (shown in FIG. 4) after the tongue 52 has been sufficiently inserted into the slot 18.

[29] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the coupler 50 may include fewer that two tongues 52, or more than two tongues 52. For another example, the coupler 50 may not include any tongues, but rather a track that is releasably or fixedly mounted to the disk 14, and that can hold the device 16 when the device is in the first position and in the second position.

[30] The device 16 also includes an interface 56 to allow one to position the device 16 at the first position and at the second position. The interface 56 may also be configured as desired to accomplish this. For example, in this and other embodiments the interface 56 includes a ridge 58 that extends across the width of the body 44. The ridge 58 provides and region of material that one can push against, as opposed to push along, to position the device 16 in the first position and in the second position. By pushing against the ridge 58, one does not substantially rely on friction between one’s thumb or finger and the surface of the ridge to transmit the motion of one’s thumb or finger to the device 16.

[31] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the interface 56 may include a depression or cavity in the body 44 that allows one to push against as opposed to along the body 44 of the device 16.

[32] The preceding discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a lid, the device comprising: a body that is impermeable to fluid and positionable on a disk of a lid in a first position and in a second position, wherein: in the first position the body covers a first hole in the lid’s disk through which fluid may flow, and in the second position the body uncovers the first hole in the lid’s disk to allow fluid to flow through the first hole; a coupler operable to releasably couple the body with the lid’s disk in the first and second positions; a passage in which fluid can flow, located in the body and configured such that the passage covers a second hole in the lid’s disk when the body is in the first position and when the body is in the second position; and a boss located in the passage and configured such that: when the body is in the first position, the boss covers the second hole of the lid to prevent fluid from flowing through the second hole to the second passage, and when the body is in the second position, the boss does not cover the second hole to allow fluid to flow through the lid’s second hole.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the body has a rectangular shape having an end that covers the first hole in the lid’s disk when the body is in the first position, and that does not cover the first hole when the body is in the second position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the body has a rectangular shape having: a first end that covers the first hole in the lid’s disk when the body is in the first position, and that does not cover the first hole when the body is in the second position, and a second end that includes the passage.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the body is operable to slide relative to the lid’s disk to change the position of the body from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the body is operable to slide relative to the lid’s disk to change the position of the body from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position, such that the body translates from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the coupler is operable to couple the body with the lid’s disk while the body is positioned from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the coupler includes a tongue that extends from the body and includes an end distal from the body that has a lip, wherein the tongue is operable to extend through a slot in the lid’s disk to locate the lip adjacent the side of the lid’s disk opposite the side that the body is adjacent, and the lip is operable to hold the tongue in the slot.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the coupler includes two tongues, each of which extends from the body and each of which includes an end distal from the body that has a lip.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the passage includes an opening that, while the body is in the first position and in the second position, exposes the passage to the ambient environment surrounding the body.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein: the passage includes an opening that, while the body is in the first position and in the second position, exposes the passage to the ambient environment surrounding the body, and the boss is located adjacent the opening.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the passage includes a length, and a width whose dimension changes depending on the location of the width along the length.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the passage includes: an end, an opening that, while the body is in the first position and in the second position, exposes the passage to the ambient environment surrounding the body, a length that extends from the end to the opening, and a width whose dimension increases as the location of the width nears the opening.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein: the passage includes an opening that has a width that, while the body is in the first position and in the second position, exposes the passage to the ambient environment surrounding the body, and the boss is located adjacent the opening, and has a diameter that extends in the same direction as the opening’s width and is less than the opening’s width.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the passage is oriented in the body such that when the body is in the second position and fluid flows through the second hole of the lid’s disk and into the passage, the fluid will drain back through the lid’s second hole.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the boss has a cylindrical shape.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the boss is configured to cover the second hole of the lid’s disk when the body is in the first position without extending into the second hole.

17. A lid for a container that one uses to keep fluid inside the container and to drink the fluid through, the lid comprising: a disk that is impermeable to fluid and includes a first hole through which fluid may flow and a second hole through which fluid may flow, wherein when one drinks through the lid, fluid flows through the first hole into one’s mouth, and air flows through the second hole into a container that the lid is attached to; a device for controlling the flow of the fluid through the disk, the device including: a body that is impermeable to fluid and positionable on the disk in a first position and in a second position, wherein: in the first position the body covers the disk’s first hole, and in the second position the body uncovers the disk’s first hole to allow fluid to flow through the first hole; a coupler that releasably couples the device’s body with the lid’s disk in the first and second positions; a passage in which fluid may flow, that is located in the device’s body and that covers the disk’s second hole when the device’s body is in the first position and when the device’s body is in the second position; and a boss located in the passage and configured such that: when the body is in the first position, the boss covers the disk’s second hole to prevent fluid from flowing through the second hole into the second passage, and when the body is in the second position, the boss does not cover the disk’s second hole to allow fluid to flow through the disk’s second hole.

18. The lid of claim 17 wherein the device’s body slides relative to the lid’s disk to position the device’s body from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

19. The lid of claim 17 wherein the devices body translates as it slides relative to the lid’s disk to position the device’s body from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

20. A method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a lid, the method comprising: moving a body of a device, that is releasably coupled to a disk of a lid, relative to the disk toward a first position in which the body covers a first hole of the disk to prevent the flow of a fluid through the first hole; and covering, while the body is in the first position, a second hole of the disk with a boss of the device, wherein the boss is located in a passage of the device’s body that covers the disk’s second hole, and wherein the passage is configured such that, when the device’s body is in a second position in which the device’s body uncovers the disk’s first hole to allow fluid to flow through the first hole, the passage covers the disk’s second hole while the boss uncovers the disk’s second hole.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein moving the body toward the first position includes sliding the device’s body relative to the lid’s disk.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein moving the body toward the first position includes translating toward the first position the device’s body relative to the lid’s disk.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein moving the body toward the first position includes releasably coupling the device’s body with the lid’s disk as the device’s body moves toward the first position.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising moving the device’s body relative to the lid’s disk toward a second position in which the body uncovers the first hole of the lid’s disk to allow fluid to flow through the first hole.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein moving the device’s body toward the second position includes sliding the device’s body relative to the lid’s disk.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein moving the device’s body toward the second position includes translating toward the second position the device’s body relative to the lid’s disk.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein moving the device’s body toward the second position includes releasably coupling the device’s body with the lid’s disk as the device’s body moves toward the second position.