Lid assembly for drinking vessel and drinking vessel including the same

Abstract

A lid assembly for a drinking vessel holding a beverage is disclosed. The lid assembly includes a lid and a slider. The lid comprises a top wall having a port and a vent hole, each configured for communication with the interior of the vessel when the lid assembly is mounted thereon. The slider is mounted on the top wall and is slidable along an axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa. In the closed state, the slider seals the port. In the opened state it exposes the port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through the port. The slider includes a slot extending transversely to the axis and is configured such that any liquid attempting to exit through the vent hole when the slider is in the open state is channeled away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from the port.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lid assembly for releasable mounting on a drinking vessel having a hollow body bounding an internal cavity configured for receipt of a beverage to enable a user to drink through the said assembly, the hollow body having an annular rim at a top edge thereof, said lid assembly comprising:
 a lid comprising a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said top wall including a port in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel and a vent hole in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel;   a slider located at said top wall and slidably connected thereto along a longitudinal axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa, said slider when in said closed state sealing said port and when in said opened state exposing said port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through said port, said slider including a portion sealing said vent hole when said slider is in said closed state and a portion exposing said vent hole when said slider is in said opened state, said slider including a slot extending transversely to said longitudinal axis and being configured such that any beverage or steam attempting to exit through said vent hole when said slider is in said open state is channeled by said slot away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from said port.   
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said vent hole is located in said top wall remote from said port and laterally of said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lid comprises a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said peripheral sidewall having a top edge located above said top wall and an inner surface tapering downward from said top edge to said top wall, said inner surface merging with said top wall at gently curved interface. 
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  additionally comprising a detent mechanism for holding said slider in either said closed state or said opened state. 
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said detent mechanism comprises a rounded projection and a pair of rounded recesses, wherein one of said rounded recesses is located on said longitudinal axis adjacent said port and the other of said rounded recesses is located on said longitudinal axis remove from said port, and wherein said rounded projection is located on said slider and configured for selective receipt in either of said rounded recesses. 
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein said slider includes an outer surface in the form of a depression configured for engagement by the finger of a user to facilitate the sliding of said slider between said closed state and said opened state, and vice versa. 
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein said slider is releasably secured to said top wall of said lid. 
     
     
         8 . The lid assembly of  claim 7  wherein said top wall includes at least one slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said slider includes an undersurface having at least one tab projecting downward therefrom, said at least one tab being configured for releasable receipt within said at least one slot, whereupon when said tab is within said at least one slot said slider is enabled to slide along said at least one slot to carry said slider between said closed state and said opened state, and vice versa. 
     
     
         9 . The lid assembly of  claim 8  wherein said at least one tab includes a cam surface which enables said tab to be snap-fit within said at least one slot to prevent it from coming out of that slot, thereby preventing said slider from being accidentally disconnected from said top wall. 
     
     
         10 . The lid assembly of  claim 7  wherein said slider includes a first end and a second end and wherein said slider is reversibly releasably secured to said lid, whereupon said first end can close said port when said slider is in said closed state or said second end can close said port when said slider is in said closed state. 
     
     
         11 . In combination a lid assembly and a drinking vessel,
 said drinking vessel comprising a hollow body bounding an internal cavity, said hollow body having an annular rim at a top edge thereof,   said lid assembly comprising:
 a lid comprising a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said top wall including a port in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel and a vent hole in communication with the internal cavity when said lid assembly is mounted on the vessel; and 
 a slider located at said top wall and slidably connected thereto along a longitudinal axis between a closed state and an open state, and vice versa, said slider when in said closed state sealing said port and when in said opened state exposing said port, whereupon a person can drink the beverage through said port, said slider including a portion sealing said vent hole when said slider is in said closed state and a portion exposing said vent hole when said slider is in said opened state, said slider including a slot extending transversely to said longitudinal axis and being configured such that any beverage or steam attempting to exit through said vent hole when said slider is in said open state is channeled by said slot away from the face of the user as the user drinks the beverage from said port. 
   
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said vessel comprises a double walled insulated vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said lid includes an annular recess configured for receipt of said annular rim of said drinking vessel to releasably mount said lid assembly on said drinking vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said vent hole is located in said top wall remote from said port and laterally of said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said lid assembly additionally comprises a detent mechanism for holding said slider in either said closed state or said opened state. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said lid comprises a peripheral sidewall extending about said top wall, said peripheral sidewall having a top edge located above said top wall and an inner surface tapering downward from said top edge to said top wall, said inner surface merging with said wall at gently curved interface. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said slider includes an outer surface in the form of a depression configured for engagement by the finger of a user to facilitate the sliding of said slider between said closed state and opened state, and vice versa. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said slider is releasably secured to said top wall of said lid. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein said top wall includes at least one slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said slider includes an undersurface having at least one tab projecting downward therefrom, said at least one tab being configured for releasable receipt within said at least one slot, whereupon when said tab is within said slot said slider is enabled to slide along said slot to carry said slider between said closed state and said opened state, and vice versa. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19  wherein said at least one tab includes a cam surface which enables said tab to be snap-fit within said at least one slot to prevent it from coming out of that slot, thereby preventing said slider from being accidentally disconnected from said top wall.