Reclosable Container Lid

Abstract

A reclosable lid ( 10 ) for a container holding a flowable substance has a cover ( 12 ) having an opening ( 28 ) and a moveable element ( 850 ) connected to the cover ( 12 ). The moveable element ( 850 ) is moveable between at least one open position, wherein the flowable substance may flow through the opening, and at least one closed position, wherein the opening is obstructed. In some embodiments, the lid ( 10 ) may include an overlay ( 250 ) moveable between at least one open position and at least one closed position.

1 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising:
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having a top wall, a side wall having a mounting portion configured for connecting the lid to the container, and an opening, the cover having a track extending along a center of the cover; and   a moveable element slidably mounted on the track,   wherein the moveable element is moveable by sliding along the track between a first position wherein the moveable element obstructs the opening, and a second position wherein the moveable element does not obstruct the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable element further comprises a gripping element extending from the moveable element. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable element further comprises a plug, wherein when the moveable element is in the first position, a portion of the plug is received in the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the track extends along the top wall of the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 4 , wherein the track extends along a top surface of the top wall, and the moveable element is slidably mounted above the top surface of the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the track has a flat surface and the moveable element has a flat surface, and wherein the flat surface of the moveable element is positioned in confronting relation to the flat surface of the track and slides against the flat surface of the track. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the track comprises two elongated members, each elongated member engaging a portion of the moveable element to slidably mount the moveable element on the track. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the track comprises two elongated, parallel, linear grooves, and the moveable element is slidably mounted on the track such that portions of the moveable element are received in each of the two grooves. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the moveable element has two opposed, linear edges, and wherein each of the edges is received in one of the two grooves to slidably mount the moveable element on the track. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the track further comprises generally vertical portions adjacent each groove, the vertical portions and the grooves forming a channel, and wherein the moveable element is received in the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the track comprises a channel formed on the top wall of the lid, and the moveable element is received in the channel to slidably mount the moveable element on the track. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the channel is located on a top surface of the top wall of the lid and is recessed from an uppermost point of the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further has a lip recess proximate the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting portion is located below the lip recess. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable element is elongated and has a length dimensioned such that the moveable element is positioned within an outer periphery of the top wall when the moveable element is in the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein moveable element and the track are elongated in a direction of sliding of the moveable element. 
     
     
         17 . A lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising:
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having a top wall, a side wall having a mounting portion configured for connecting the lid to the container, an opening, and a track thereon extending along the cover, the track comprising two parallel grooves; and   a moveable element slidably mounted on the track, wherein portions of the moveable element are received in each of the two grooves,   wherein the moveable element is moveable by sliding along the track between a first position wherein the moveable element obstructs the opening, and a second position wherein the moveable element does not obstruct the opening.   
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the moveable element further comprises a gripping element extending from the moveable element. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the moveable element further comprises a plug, wherein when the moveable element is in the first position, a portion of the plug is received in the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the track extends across a top surface of the top wall, and the moveable element is slidably mounted above the top surface of the top wall. 
     
     
         21 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the track has a flat surface located between the two grooves and the moveable element has a flat surface, and wherein the flat surface of the moveable element is positioned in confronting relation to the flat surface of the track and slides against the flat surface of the track. 
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the moveable element has two opposed, linear edges, and wherein each of the edges is received in one of the two grooves to slidably mount the moveable element on the track. 
     
     
         23 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the track further comprises generally vertical portions adjacent each groove, the vertical portions and the grooves forming a channel, and wherein the moveable element is received in the channel. 
     
     
         24 . The lid of  claim 23 , wherein the channel is located on a top surface of the top wall of the lid and is recessed from an uppermost point of the top surface. 
     
     
         25 . A thermoformed lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising:
 a cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having a top wall, a side wall having a mounting portion configured for connecting the lid to the container, an opening, and an elongated track thereon extending laterally across the top wall proximate a center of the cover, the track comprising two parallel, linear grooves and generally vertical portions adjacent each groove, the vertical portions and the grooves forming a channel; and   an elongated moveable element slidably mounted on the track, the moveable element having two opposed, linear edges, wherein the moveable element is received in the channel and each of the edges is received in one of the two grooves to slidably mount the moveable element on the track, the moveable element further comprising a gripping element extending from the moveable element,   wherein the moveable element is moveable by sliding along the track between a first position wherein the moveable element obstructs the opening, and a second position wherein the moveable element does not obstruct the opening.   
     
     
         26 . The lid of  claim 25 , wherein the track extends across a top surface of the top wall, wherein the channel is recessed from an uppermost point of the top surface of the top wall, and wherein the moveable element is slidably mounted above the top surface of the top wall.