Twist-actuated cap for a beverage container

Abstract

Caps for beverage containers having an upper body defining a first drinking aperture and a first vent aperture and a lower body defining a second drinking aperture and a second vent aperture, where the lower body is couplable to the upper body. In a first configuration of the cap the first drinking aperture is not in fluid communication with the second drinking aperture. In a second configuration the first drinking aperture is in fluid communication with the second drinking aperture, and the first vent aperture is in fluid communication with the second vent aperture, permitting fluid to pass through the combined drinking aperture. The first configuration and the second configuration of the caps being related by rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap for a beverage container, comprising:
 an upper body defining a first drinking aperture and a first vent aperture; and   a lower body defining a second drinking aperture and a second vent aperture, the lower body being couplable to the upper body;   wherein in a first configuration of the cap the first drinking aperture is not in fluid communication with the second drinking aperture; and   in a second configuration of the cap the first drinking aperture is in fluid communication with the second drinking aperture, and the first vent aperture is in fluid communication with the second vent aperture, permitting fluid to pass through the combined drinking aperture;   wherein the first configuration and the second configuration being related by rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , further having a third configuration in which the upper body and the lower body are separable, the third configuration and the second configuration being related by a further rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the upper body and the lower body are couplable via a twist lock. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein the twist lock comprises a horizontal radial flange on an underside of the upper body, and one or more tabs on an upper side of the lower body; wherein the twist lock is configured so that each tab can pass through a corresponding notch in the radial flange, and that when the upper body and the lower body are in abutment and each tab is radially aligned with its corresponding notch the cap is in the third configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 4 , wherein the upper body further comprises a tab stop on the radial flange for each tab, wherein the tab stop defines a rotation limit for the upper body relative to the lower body when each tab contacts the corresponding tab stop. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 5 , wherein the radial flange defines a first depression adjacent each tab stop, the first depression being sized to accommodate the corresponding tab of the lower body and being disposed between and defined by the tab stop at one side and a thickened radial flange portion at the other side, such that the thickened radial flange portion resists a rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body that would translate the tab out of the first depression; and wherein the cap is configured so that when each tab is disposed in its corresponding first depression the cap is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 6 , wherein the radial flange defines a second depression for each tab of the lower body, each second depression being sized to accommodate the corresponding tab, and each second depression being disposed between the thickened radial flange portion and a raised detent adjacent to the corresponding flange notch in the radial flange, such that when each tab is disposed in the corresponding second depression the cap is in the second configuration; and when the cap is in the second configuration the first and second vent apertures align, and the first and second drinking apertures align, such that a fluid can pass through the aligned drinking apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 7 , wherein each raised detent is configured to contact the corresponding tab and thereby resist a rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body and thereby into the third configuration of the cap. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein conversion of the cap from the first configuration to the second configuration includes a counterclockwise rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body, and conversion of the cap from the second configuration to the third configuration includes a further counterclockwise rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein
 the upper body has a planar undersurface the defines a lower entrance to the first drinking aperture and a lower entrance to the first vent aperture;   the lower body has an upper surface defining an upper entrance to the second drinking aperture and an upper entrance to the second vent aperture;   the lower body includes a first raised sealing member disposed around a periphery of the upper entrance of the drinking aperture, and a second raised sealing member disposed around the upper entrance of the vent aperture;   such that an interaction of the tabs of the lower body and the radial flange of the upper body results in the lower body and the upper body being urged towards one another, thereby creating a seal between the planar undersurface of the upper body and each of the first and second raised sealing members.   
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the seal created by the coupling of the upper body and the lower body substantially prevent fluids from passing through the drinking aperture when the cap is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the upper body and the lower body incorporates thermal insulation. 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 12 , wherein the thermal insulation includes a plurality of voids, each void having a hexagonal horizontal cross-section, and wherein the plurality of voids are disposed in a honeycomb arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 12 , wherein each of the upper body and the lower body incorporates thermal insulation that includes a plurality of hexagonal voids disposed in a planar close-packed honeycomb arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a beverage container having a mouth configured to receive the cap. 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 15 , wherein the cap further comprises a sealing element configured to mate the cap with the container and prevent leaking. 
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the sealing element includes a gasket disposed around a periphery of the lower body of the cap, where the gasket is configured to be compressed by and form a seal with the mouth of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the sealing element includes threading disposed on the lower body of the cap, where the threading is configured to mate with a complementary threading disposed within the mouth of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The cap of  claim 15 , wherein the beverage container includes thermal insulation. 
     
     
         20 . The cap of  claim 19 , wherein the beverage container thermal insulation includes a double-walled vacuum jacket.