Beverage container closure

Abstract

A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable cover that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The cover is pivotably connected to the lid. The lid also includes a rotatable handle that may be pivoted by a user from a first position to a second position. When pivoted, the handle is operative to cause the cover to pivotably rotate about a pivot point between an open position wherein a user may access a liquid contained in the beverage container and a closed position wherein the liquid is sealed within the beverage container. Thus, a user may simply rotate the handle of the lid to selectively open and close the cover.

1 . A lid for use with a drinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising:
 a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the main body including a top portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;   a cover pivotably coupled to the body, the cover operative to pivot between an open position wherein the cover is disposed in a downward-directed position and a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the top portion to prevent the liquid from exiting the drinking vessel; and   a handle pivotably coupled to the main body and operatively coupled to the cover such that selective rotation of the handle causes pivotal rotation of the cover between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a lower portion configured for removable engagement with the drinking vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover seal disposed around a perimeter of the opening of the body, wherein the cover seal is operative to provide a fluid-tight seal between the body and the cover when the cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a front sidewall connected to two laterally spaced sidewalls, and wherein the handle is pivotably coupled to each of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 4 , wherein each of the laterally spaced sidewalls include an aperture, and wherein the handle includes two pivot members each configured for insertion through one of the apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises two laterally spaced raised portions, each of the laterally spaced raised portions including a slot sized to receive a portion of the handle, wherein when the handle is rotated by a user the portion of the handle slidably engages with the slot to move the cover between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises two laterally spaced raised portions, each of the laterally spaced raised portions including an arcuate slot, and wherein the handle includes laterally spaced members each sized to fit within one of the slots, wherein the members are operative to exert a force on the raised portions of the cover to move the cover between the open position and the closed position when the handle is rotated between a first position and a second position, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking mechanism configured to releasably secure the handle in at least one of a first position corresponding to a position wherein the cover is in the open position and a second position corresponding to a position wherein the cover is the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a front sidewall connected to two laterally spaced sidewalls, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a locking dimple disposed on at least one of the sidewalls; and   a locking protrusion disposed on the handle and configured to be seated within the locking dimple when the handle is in one of the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         10 . A lid for use with a drinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising:
 a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the main body including a top portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;   a cover pivotably coupled to the body, the cover operative to pivot between an open position wherein the cover is disposed in a downward position spaced away from the opening and a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the top portion to close the opening and prevent the liquid from exiting the drinking vessel; and   a handle pivotably coupled to the body;   means for translating pivotal movement of the handle to pivotal movement of the cover such that selective rotation of the handle causes pivotal rotation of the cover relative to the body between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the body includes a lower portion having coupling means configured for selective engagement with the drinking vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for sealing the opening when the cover is in the closed position to prevent the liquid stored in the drinking vessel from leaking therethrough.   
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the main body comprises a front sidewall integrally connected to two laterally spaced sidewalls, and wherein the handle is pivotably coupled to the sidewalls. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein each of the laterally spaced sidewalls include an aperture, and wherein the handle includes two pivot members each configured for insertion through one of the apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the means for translating comprises:
 two laterally spaced upwardly extending tabs disposed on the cover, each of the tabs including a slot; and   two protrusions disposed on the handle each configured to fit within one of the slots, wherein when the handle is rotated by a user the protrusions disposed on the handle slidably engage with the slots to move the cover between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the means for translating comprises:
 two laterally spaced upwardly extending members disposed on the cover, each of the laterally spaced members including an arcuate slot; and   two laterally spaced protrusions disposed on the handle, each sized to fit within one of the slots, wherein the protrusions are operative to exert a force on the laterally spaced members of the cover to move the cover between the open position and the closed position when the handle is rotated between a first position and a second position, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 locking means configured to releasably secure the handle in at least one of a first position corresponding to a position wherein the cover is in the open position and a second position corresponding to a position wherein the cover is the closed position.   
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the body comprises a front sidewall integrally connected to two laterally spaced sidewalls, wherein the locking means comprises:
 a locking dimple disposed on at least one of the sidewalls; and   a locking protrusion disposed on the handle and configured to be seated within the locking dimple when the handle is in one of the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         19 . A drinking vessel and lid assembly, comprising:
 a drinking vessel; and   a lid comprising:   a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the body including a top portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;   a cover pivotably coupled to the body, the cover operative to pivot between an open position wherein the cover is disposed in a downward position spaced away from the opening and a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the top portion to close the opening and prevent the liquid from exiting the drinking vessel through the opening; and   a handle pivotably coupled to the body and operatively coupled to the cover such that selective rotation of the handle causes pivotal rotation of the cover between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The drinking vessel and lid assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cover further comprises two laterally upwardly extending member portions, each of the laterally spaced member portions including a slot sized to receive a portion of the handle, wherein when the handle is rotated by a user the portions of the handle slidably engages with the slots to move the cover between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         21 . The drinking vessel and lid assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cover further comprises at least one upwardly extending member having a slot sized to slidably receive a portion of the handle spaced away from the location the handle is pivotably coupled to the body, wherein when the handle is rotated by a user the portion of the handle positioned in the slot moves the cover between the open position and the closed position.