Container lid with push button operation

Abstract

A container assembly having a lid with a push button actuator that opens the lid with a first push of the button and closes the lid with a second push of the button is provided. The lid assembly includes a lower member threadedly attachable to a container and an up member hingedly or rotatably attached to the lower member. The lower member includes a horizontal aperture therethrough. A button member may be received within the aperture which includes a main shaft that is engageable with the hinge member of the upper member above the pivot point to open the lid when the button is first pushed. The main shaft includes an axially-extending recess that receives a rod member. The rod member is slidably attached to the main shaft on one end, and engageable with one or more bosses on the other end that are located below the pivot point.

1 . A container comprising:
 a body with an opening;   a lid connected to the body to close the opening, the lid having an axis of rotation about which the lid moves between an open and closed position; and   a button connected with the lid and having a surface that contacts the lid above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the closed position and that contacts the lid below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the open opposition.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid comprises a lower portion connected to the body and an upper portion moveably connected to the lower portion about the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the button is moveably received in the lower portion of the lid. 
   
   
       4 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end of the button contacts the lid at a point above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the closed position, and the distal end of the shaft contacts the lid at a point below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the open position. 
   
   
       5 . The lid of  claim 4 , wherein the button further comprises an axially-extending groove, and the lid further comprises a rod having a boss on a proximal end extending into the groove, such that the rod is translatable within the groove relative to the button. 
   
   
       6 . The lid of  claim 5 , wherein the rod engages a boss on the distal end of the button such that an angle between the rod and the button changes when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position. 
   
   
       7 . A lid for sealing a container comprising:
 a button having a shaft with a proximal end and a free distal end;   an upper lid member having a connecting member; and   a lower lid member forming a generally horizontal aperture which surrounds the shaft and a notch which is movably connected with the connecting member.   
   
   
       8 . The lid of  claim 7  further comprising a biasing member for biasing the button member in a resting position. 
   
   
       9 . The lid of  claim 7  further comprising a rod member received by the horizontal aperture, wherein a proximal end of the rod member engages grooves formed in the shaft, and wherein a distal end of the rod member engages a first boss on the connecting member such that an angle between the rod member and shaft changes when the upper lid member is moved from a closed position to an open position. 
   
   
       10 . The lid of  claim 9 , wherein the notch includes a second boss which is rotationally connected with an aperture formed in the connecting member, and wherein the second boss and aperture rotate about a rotational axis. 
   
   
       11 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in a closed position, and the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in an open position. 
   
   
       12 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the first boss is located vertically below the rotational axis. 
   
   
       13 . The lid of  claim 7 , wherein the lower lid member includes an attachment mechanism for removably connecting the lower lid member with the container. 
   
   
       14 . A lid for sealing a container comprising:
 an upper lid member having a connecting member;   a lower lid member which is movably connected with the connecting member; and   a button member engaging the upper lid member, wherein depressing the button with the upper lid member in a closed position moves the upper lid member to an open position, and wherein depressing the button with the upper lid member in the open position moves the upper lid member to the closed position.   
   
   
       15 . The lid of  claim 14  further comprising a biasing member for biasing the button member in a resting position. 
   
   
       16 . The lid of  claim 14  further comprising a rod member received by a horizontal aperture formed in the lower lid, wherein a proximal end of the rod member engages grooves formed in a shaft of the button member, and wherein a distal end of the rod member engages a first boss on the connecting member such that an angle between the rod member and shaft changes when the upper lid member is moved from a closed position to an open position. 
   
   
       17 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the lower lid member forms a notch which includes a second boss that is rotationally connected with an aperture formed in the connecting member, and wherein the second boss and aperture rotate about a rotational axis. 
   
   
       18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in a closed position, and the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in an open position. 
   
   
       19 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the first boss is located vertically below the rotational axis. 
   
   
       20 . The lid of  claim 14 , wherein the lower lid member includes an attachment mechanism for removably connecting the lower lid member with the container.