Reclosable container lid

Abstract

A reclosable lid 10 for a container holding a flowable substance has a first piece or cover 12 , and a movable second piece or disk 50 . The cover 10 has a top wall 14 , a side wall 16 and a mounting portion 22 for connecting the lid 10 on the container. The cover 12 has an opening 28 adapted to permit the flow of the substance through the lid 10 . The cover 12 further includes a slot 30 located in the top wall 14 . The disk 50 has at least one aperture 78 , a post 54 , and a projection 52 . The aperture 78 and the projection 52 are each cooperatively dimensioned with the opening 28 . The post 54 is adapted to be received by the slot 30 in the cover 12 . The disk 50 is movable between a first position wherein at least a portion of the projection 52 is received in the opening 28 in the first position, and a second position wherein the aperture 78 is aligned with the opening 28 in the second position. A support ledge 102 and a support edge 104 on an inner surface 100 of the cover 12 are adapted to provide rotatable support to the disk 50.

1 . A lid for a container holding a liquid, the lid comprising: 
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening and a slot; and    a moveable element rotatably supported by the cover, the element having an aperture and an actuator accessible through the slot, wherein the element is moveable by manipulation of the actuator between a first position wherein the aperture is misaligned with the opening, and a second position wherein the aperture is aligned with the opening.    
   
   
       2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a top wall and a side wall, the opening and slot positioned in the top wall.  
   
   
       3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a support member that extends radially inward from the cover, the element rotatably supported by the support member.  
   
   
       4 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced support members extending radially inward from a sidewall of the cover.  
   
   
       5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the element further has a projection wherein the projection is received in the opening when the element is in the first position.  
   
   
       6 . The lid of  claim 5 , wherein the projection is a color perceptively different from a color of the cover to indicate a closed position.  
   
   
       7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a post received by the slot, and wherein a user moves the element between the first position and the second position by manipulating the post.  
   
   
       8  The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the element has one of a disk configuration and a ring configuration.  
   
   
       9 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a recessed central portion, and wherein the element has a recessed portion corresponding to the recessed central portion.  
   
   
       10 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a recess, the opening positioned within the recess.  
   
   
       11 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the element has a second aperture, wherein the element is further moveable to a third position wherein the second aperture is aligned with the opening.  
   
   
       12 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is fabricated from thermoformed material.  
   
   
       13 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the cover is thermoformed.  
   
   
       14 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the element is thermoformed.  
   
   
       15 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising: 
 a thermoformed cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an having an opening and a slot, the cover having a support member; and    a moveable element having an aperture and an actuator accessible through the slot, the element rotatably mounted on the support member, wherein the element is moveable between a first position wherein the aperture is misaligned with opening, and a second position wherein the aperture is aligned with the opening    
   
   
       16 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the moveable element is thermoformed.  
   
   
       17 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the cover has a top wall and a side wall, the opening and slot positioned in the top wall.  
   
   
       18 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the support member extends radially inward from the cover.  
   
   
       19 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the element has a projection wherein the projection is received by the opening when the element is in the first position.  
   
   
       20 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of spaced circumferentially spaced support members extending radially inward from a sidewall of the cover.  
   
   
       21 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising: 
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening and a slot, the cover further defining an interior region; and    a moveable element rotatably supported in the interior region of the cover, the element having an aperture and an actuator accessible through the slot, wherein the element is moveable by manipulation of the actuator between a first position wherein the aperture is misaligned with the opening, and a second position wherein the aperture is aligned with the opening.    
   
   
       22 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the cover has a top wall and a side wall, the opening and slot positioned in the top wall.  
   
   
       23 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein cover has a support member, the element rotatably supported by the support member.  
   
   
       24 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of spaced circumferentially spaced support members extending radially inward from a sidewall of the cover.  
   
   
       25 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein one of the cover and the element is thermoformed.  
   
   
       26 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the cover has a top wall with an annular configuration, the opening being positioned in the top wall.  
   
   
       27 . The lid of  claim 26 , wherein the cover has a recessed central portion positioned radially inward of the top wall.  
   
   
       28 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising: 
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening and a slot; and    a moveable element rotatably supported by the cover, the element having an aperture and an actuator accessible through the slot, wherein the element is moveable by manipulation of the actuator between a first position wherein the aperture is misaligned with the opening, and a second position wherein the aperture is aligned with the opening, wherein in the first position, the element displays a color through the cover perceptively different from a color of the cover.    
   
   
       29 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising: 
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening and a slot; and,    a moveable element rotatably supported by the cover, the element having an actuator accessible through the slot, wherein the element is moveable by manipulation of the actuator between a first position and a second position, the element further having structure such that when the element is in the first position, the opening is closed and when the element is in the second position, a passageway is provided between the opening and the element.    
   
   
       30 . The lid of  claim 29 , wherein the passageway in the element is an aperture.  
   
   
       31 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising: 
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening and a slot;    a moveable element rotatably supported by the cover, the element having a first aperture, a second aperture and an actuator accessible through the slot; and,    wherein the element is rotatable by manipulation of the actuator between a closed position wherein the first and second apertures are misaligned with the cover opening, a first open position wherein the first aperture is aligned with the cover opening, and a second open position wherein the second aperture is aligned with the cover opening.    
   
   
       32 . The lid of  claim 31 , wherein rotation from the first open position to the second open position occurs in the same direction as rotation from the second open position to the third open position.  
   
   
       33 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising: 
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening, a slot, and a recessed central portion; and,    a moveable element rotatably supported by the cover, the element having an aperture and an actuator, wherein the element is moveable by manipulation of the actuator between a first position wherein the aperture is misaligned with the opening, and a second position wherein the aperture is aligned with the opening.    
   
   
       34 . The lid of  claim 33 , wherein the element has a projection that is aligned with the opening in the second position.  
   
   
       35 . A thermoformed lid for a container that holds a beverage, the lid comprising: 
 a thermoformed cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having an opening, a slot, and at least one support member extending radially inward from an outer wall of the cover; and    a thermoformed moveable element rotatably supported by the support member, the element having an aperture and an actuator accessible through the slot, wherein the element is moveable by manipulation of the actuator between a first position wherein the aperture is misaligned with the opening, and a second position wherein the aperture is aligned with the opening.