Reclosable container lid

Abstract

A reclosable lid for a container holding a flowable substance has a cover having an opening and a moveable element connected to the cover. The moveable element 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 may include an overlay 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 comprising two elongated, parallel, linear grooves extending along a center of the cover, each of the grooves having a proximal end spaced toward a center of the cover from the opening and a distal end spaced further toward the center of the cover from the opening than the proximal end, wherein the cover further comprises two protruding portions protruding from the cover, the protruding portions being spaced from each other by a spacing portion of the top wall to define a channel between the protruding portions, each of the protruding portions having an elongated flange projecting inwardly into the channel to form one of the grooves between the flange and the spacing portion of the top wall; and   a moveable element slidably mounted on the track, the moveable element having two opposed edges, wherein each of the edges is received in one of the two grooves, such that each of the flanges and the spacing portion of the top wall combine to engage top and bottom sides of the moveable element to slidably mount the moveable element on the track,   wherein the moveable element is moveable by sliding along the track between a first position wherein an extending end of the moveable element extends beyond the proximal ends of the grooves and 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 located on the extending end, 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 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. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further has a lip recess proximate the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting portion is located below the lip recess. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein moveable element and the track are elongated in a direction of sliding of the moveable element. 
     
     
         12 . 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 depending from an entire outer periphery of the top wall, the side wall having a mounting portion configured for connecting the lid to the container, the mounting portion comprising an annular skirt located at a lower end of the side wall and located below a lowest point of the top wall, the skirt defining an internal channel adapted to receive a portion of a circular top of the container, an opening, and a track thereon extending along the cover, the track comprising two parallel, straight linear grooves, wherein the top wall and the side wall form a dome configuration to define a head space between the top of the container and the top wall of the lid; and   a moveable element slidably mounted on the track, wherein the moveable element has two opposed, straight 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,   wherein the moveable element is moveable by sliding along the track along a straight linear direction between a first position wherein the moveable element obstructs the opening, and a second position wherein the moveable element does not obstruct the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the moveable element further comprises a gripping element extending from the moveable element. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the track further comprises two protruding portions protruding from the cover, each of the protruding portions having one of the grooves formed therein, wherein the two protruding portions and the two grooves are spaced from each other to form the channel between the two protruding portions, and wherein the moveable element is received in the channel, and wherein each of the protruding portions has a base connected to the top wall and a free end protruding from the top wall, with the free ends of the two protruding portions being separate from each other. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , 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. 
     
     
         19 . A thermoformed lid for a container holding a flowable substance, the lid comprising:
 a circular cover adapted to be attached to the container, the cover having a top wall with a circular outer periphery, a side wall depending from the outer periphery of the top wall, the side wall having a mounting portion configured for connecting the lid to the container, the mounting portion comprising an annular skirt connected to a bottom end of the side wall and extending outwardly from the bottom end of the side wall, the annular skirt configured to receive a portion of a top of the container, an opening, and an elongated track thereon extending laterally across the top wall to define an axis of movement oriented along a diameter of the circular cover, the track comprising two parallel, straight linear grooves and two protruding portions protruding from the cover, each of the protruding portions having one of the grooves formed therein, wherein the two protruding portions and the two grooves are spaced from each other to form a channel between the two protruding portions; and   an elongated moveable element slidably mounted on the track, the moveable element having two opposed, straight 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 axis of movement defined by 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.   
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 19 , wherein the track extends across a top surface of the top wall, wherein the protruding portions protrude upwardly from a top surface of the top wall such that 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. 
     
     
         21 . The lid of  claim 19 , wherein each of the protruding portions has an elongated flange projecting inwardly into the channel to form one of the grooves between the flange and the spacing portion of the top wall, and wherein each of the edges is received in one of the two grooves, such that each of the flanges and the spacing portion of the top wall combine to engage top and bottom sides of the moveable element to slidably mount the moveable element on the track 
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portions protrude upwardly from a top surface of the top wall, and wherein the flanges engage the top side of the moveable element and a top surface of the spacing portion engages the bottom side of the moveable element. 
     
     
         23 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the protruding portions protrude upwardly from a top surface of the top wall. 
     
     
         24 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein each of the protruding portions has a base connected to the top wall and a free end protruding from the top wall, with the free ends of the two protruding portions being separate from each other. 
     
     
         25 . The lid of  claim 24 , wherein the top wall has a generally planar top surface that forms at least a majority of an outer periphery of the top wall, wherein the protruding portions extend upward above the top surface of the top wall, and wherein the extending end of the moveable element slides over at least a portion of the top surface to obstruct the opening. 
     
     
         26 . The lid of  claim 19 , wherein each of the protruding portions has a base connected to the top wall and a free end protruding from the top wall, with the free ends of the two protruding portions being separate from each other. 
     
     
         27 . The lid of  claim 26 , wherein the top wall has a generally planar and circular top surface that forms at least a majority of the outer periphery of the top wall, wherein the protruding portions extend upward above the top surface of the top wall, and wherein the moveable element slides over at least a portion of the top surface to obstruct the opening. 
     
     
         28 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the top wall has a generally planar top surface that forms at least a majority of the outer periphery of the top wall, wherein the protruding portions extend upward above the top surface of the top wall, and wherein the moveable element slides over at least a portion of the top surface to obstruct the opening.