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 stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user by the user pressing a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.

1 .- 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A lid for use with a beverage container, comprising:
 a lid housing configured for removable attachment to the beverage container, the lid housing having a main body with an upper portion and a sidewall portion extending downward from the upper portion, the upper portion being stationary relative to the sidewall portion, the upper portion and the sidewall portion defining a downwardly open interior lid cavity extending downward from the upper portion and having an open lower end, the upper portion including a drink opening;   a drink seal support member connected to the lid housing and having a drink seal positioned at least partially within the lid cavity and below the upper portion, the drink seal being movable between a closed position closing the drink opening and an opened position opening the drink opening;   a trigger connected to the lid housing and operable to move the drink seal support member to move the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position, movement of the trigger in an actuation direction resulting in the drink seal support member moving the drink seal downward away the upper portion to position the drink seal in the opened position; and   a retainer member releasably retaining the drink seal support member in a use position for movement of the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction, the retainer member being operable to release the drink seal support member to permit movement of the drink seal support member to a cleaning position whereat the drink seal is moved away from an underside surface portion of the upper portion through which the drink opening extends such that the drink opening is open for cleaning the lid.   
     
     
         91 . The lid of  claim 90 , further including an air vent separate from the drink opening and a vent seal, the trigger being operable to move the vent seal from a closed position closing the vent to an opened position opening the vent. 
     
     
         92 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein the actuation direction of the trigger is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lid housing when the trigger is operated to move the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position. 
     
     
         93 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein the drink seal has non-rotational movement when moving between the closed position and the opened position. 
     
     
         94 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein the drink seal moves between the closed position and the opened position along a linear path of travel. 
     
     
         95 . The lid of  claim 94 , where the linear path of travel is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the lid housing. 
     
     
         96 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein when the drink seal support member is in the cleaning position, movement of the trigger in the actuation direction does not produce movement of the drink seal between the closed position and the opened position. 
     
     
         97 . A lid for use with a beverage container, comprising:
 a lid housing configured for removable attachment to the beverage container, the lid housing having a main body with an upper portion and a sidewall portion extending downward from the upper portion, the upper portion being stationary relative to the sidewall portion, the upper portion and the sidewall portion defining a downwardly open interior lid cavity extending downward from the upper portion and having an open lower end, the upper portion including a drink opening;   a drink seal positioned at least partially within the lid cavity and below the upper portion, the drink seal being movable between a closed first position closing the drink opening and an opened second position fully opening the drink opening for drinking through the drink opening;   a trigger connected to the lid housing and operable to move the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position, movement of the trigger in an actuation direction resulting in movement of the drink seal downward away from the upper portion to position the drink seal in the opened second position; and   a retainer member releasably retaining the drink seal in a use position for movement of the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction, the retainer member being operable to release the drink seal to permit movement of the drink seal to a cleaning third position whereat the drink seal is moved farther away from an underside surface portion of the upper portion through which the drink opening extends than when the drink seal is in the opened second position such that the drink opening is open for cleaning the lid.   
     
     
         98 . The lid of  claim 97 , further including an air vent separate from the drink opening and a vent seal, the trigger being operable to move the vent seal from a closed position closing the vent to an opened position opening the vent. 
     
     
         99 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein the actuation direction of the trigger is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lid housing when the trigger is operated to move the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position. 
     
     
         100 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein the drink seal has non-rotational movement when moving between the closed first position and the opened second position. 
     
     
         101 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein the drink seal moves between the closed first position and the opened second position along a linear path of travel. 
     
     
         102 . The lid of  claim 101 , where the linear path of travel is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the lid housing. 
     
     
         103 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein when the drink seal is in the cleaning third position, movement of the trigger does not produce movement of the drink seal between the closed first position and the opened second position. 
     
     
         104 .- 110 . (canceled) 
     
     
         111 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a container body having an open upper end portion; and   a lid having:
 a lid housing removably attachable to the open upper end portion of the container body, the lid housing having a main body with an upper portion and a sidewall portion extending downward from the upper portion, the upper portion being stationary relative to the sidewall portion, the upper portion and the sidewall portion defining a downwardly open interior lid cavity extending downward from the upper portion and having an open lower end, the upper portion including a drink opening; 
 a drink seal positioned at least partially within the lid cavity and below the upper portion, the drink seal being movable between a closed first position closing the drink opening and an opened second position fully opening the drink opening for drinking through the drink opening; 
 a trigger connected to the lid housing and operable to move the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position, movement of the trigger in an actuation direction resulting in movement of the drink seal downward away from the upper portion to position the drink seal in the opened second position; and 
 a retainer member releasably retaining the drink seal in a use position for movement of the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction, the retainer member being operable to release the drink seal to permit movement of the drink seal to a cleaning third position whereat the drink seal is moved farther away from an underside surface portion of the upper portion through which the drink opening extends than when the drink seal is in the opened second position such that the drink opening is open for cleaning the lid. 
   
     
     
         112 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , further including an air vent separate from the drink opening and a vent seal, the trigger being operable to move the vent seal from a closed position closing the vent to an opened position opening the vent. 
     
     
         113 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein the actuation direction of the trigger is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lid housing when the trigger is operated to move the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position. 
     
     
         114 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein the drink seal has non-rotational movement when moving between the closed first position and the opened second position. 
     
     
         115 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein the drink seal moves between the closed first position and the opened second position along a linear path of travel. 
     
     
         116 . The beverage container of  claim 115 , where the linear path of travel is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the lid housing. 
     
     
         117 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein when the drink seal is in the cleaning third position, movement of the trigger does not produce movement of the drink seal between the closed first position and the opened second position. 
     
     
         118 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein a portion of the upper portion extending about the drink opening defines a drink opening seat for the drink seal, and when in the closed first position, the drink seal seals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to close the drink opening, and when in the opened second position, the drink seal unseals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to open the drink opening. 
     
     
         119 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein the retainer member is operable to permit selective physical disconnection of the drink seal from the lid housing for cleaning of the lid with the lid housing and drink seal separated from each other. 
     
     
         120 . The beverage container of  claim 111 , wherein when the drink seal is in the cleaning third position, the trigger is operably disengaged from the drink seal and thereby prevents movement of the trigger in the actuation direction from moving the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position. 
     
     
         121 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein the retainer member extends through an aperture of the drink seal support member, when the retainer member is retaining the drink seal support member in the use position, the drink seal support member is movable along the retainer member to move the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction. 
     
     
         122 . The lid of  claim 121 , wherein the retainer member has an upper end portion attached to the lid housing and a lower end portion extending downward beyond a lower end of the aperture of the drink seal support member. 
     
     
         123 . The lid of  claim 121 , wherein the retainer member has an upper end portion removably attached to the lid housing and a lower end portion, and when the upper end portion is detached from the lid housing, the retainer member is operable to release the drink seal support member to permit movement of the drink seal support member to the cleaning position. 
     
     
         124 . The lid of  claim 121 , wherein the retainer member has an upper end portion selectively detachable from the lid housing and removable from the aperture of the drink seal support member. 
     
     
         125 . The lid of  claim 124 , wherein the retainer member is rotatable relative to both the lid housing and the drink seal support member to detach the upper end portion from the lid housing. 
     
     
         126 . The lid of  claim 124 , wherein the upper end portion is threadably attached to the lid housing. 
     
     
         127 . The lid of  claim 121 , further including a spring, and wherein the retainer member has an upper end portion attached to the lid housing and a lower end portion, and when the drink seal support member is in the use position, the spring has an upper end spring portion engaging the drink seal support member and a lower spring portion engaging the lower end portion to bias the drink seal support member upward to move the drink seal toward the closed position, the spring being out of direct engagement with the lid housing. 
     
     
         128 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein the retainer member is operable to release the drink seal support member from the lid housing to permit selective physical disconnection of the drink seal support member from the lid housing for cleaning of the lid with the lid housing and drink seal separated from each other. 
     
     
         129 . The lid of  claim 90 , wherein when the drink seal support member is in the cleaning position, the trigger is operably disengaged from the drink seal support member and thereby prevents movement of the trigger in the actuation direction from moving the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position. 
     
     
         130 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein when the retainer member is retaining the drink seal in the use position, the drink seal is movable along the retainer member to move the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction. 
     
     
         131 . The lid of  claim 130 , wherein the retainer member has an upper end portion attached to the lid housing. 
     
     
         132 . The lid of  claim 131 , wherein the upper end portion is removably attached to the lid housing, and when the upper end portion is detached from the lid housing, the retainer member is operable to release the drink seal to permit movement of the drink seal to the cleaning third position. 
     
     
         133 . The lid of  claim 131 , wherein the retainer member is rotatable relative to both the lid housing and the drink seal to detach the upper end portion from the lid housing. 
     
     
         134 . The lid of  claim 130 , further including a spring, and wherein the retainer member has an upper end portion attached to the lid housing and a lower end portion, and when the drink seal is in the use position, the spring has an upper end spring portion engaging the drink seal and a lower spring portion engaging the lower end portion to bias the drink seal upward toward the closed first position, the spring being out of direct engagement with the lid housing. 
     
     
         135 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein a portion of the upper portion extending about the drink opening defines a drink opening seat for the drink seal, and when in the closed first position, the drink seal seals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to close the drink opening, and when in the opened second position, the drink seal unseals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to open the drink opening. 
     
     
         136 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein the retainer member is operable to permit selective physical disconnection of the drink seal from the lid housing for cleaning of the lid with the lid housing and drink seal separated from each other. 
     
     
         137 . The lid of  claim 97 , wherein when the drink seal is in the cleaning third position, the trigger is operably disengaged from the drink seal and thereby prevents movement of the trigger in the actuation direction from moving the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position. 
     
     
         138 . A lid for use with a beverage container, comprising:
 a lid housing configured for removable attachment to the beverage container, the lid housing having a main body with an upper portion and a sidewall portion extending downward from the upper portion, the upper portion being stationary relative to the sidewall portion, the upper portion and the sidewall portion defining a downwardly open interior lid cavity extending downward from the upper portion and having an open lower end, the upper portion including a drink opening;   a drink seal positioned at least partially within the lid cavity and below the upper portion, the drink seal being movable between a closed first position closing the drink opening and an opened second position opening the drink opening for drinking through the drink opening;   a trigger connected to the lid housing and operable to move the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position, with the trigger being in a first trigger position when the drink seal is in the closed first position and in a second trigger position when the drink seal is in the opened second position, movement of the trigger in an actuation direction being limited to movement of the trigger to the second trigger position, and movement of the trigger in the actuation direction to the second trigger position resulting in movement of the drink seal to the opened second position; and   a retainer member retaining the drink seal in a use position for movement of the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction from the first trigger position to the second trigger position, and without requiring movement of the trigger in the actuation direction, the retainer member is operable to permit movement of the drink seal to a cleaning third position whereat the drink opening is more open than when the drink seal is in the opened second position to permit greater access to the drink opening for cleaning the lid than when the drink seal is in the opened second position.   
     
     
         139 . The lid of  claim 138 , wherein a portion of the upper portion extending about the drink opening defines a drink opening seat for the drink seal, and when in the closed first position, the drink seal seals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to close the drink opening, and when in the opened second position, the drink seal unseals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to open the drink opening. 
     
     
         140 . The lid of  claim 138 , wherein the retainer member is operable to permit selective physical disconnection of the drink seal from the lid housing for cleaning of the lid with the lid housing and drink seal separated from each other. 
     
     
         141 . The lid of  claim 138 , wherein when the drink seal is in the cleaning third position, the trigger is operably disengaged from the drink seal and thereby prevents movement of the trigger in the actuation direction from moving the drink seal from the closed first position to the opened second position. 
     
     
         142 . A lid for use with a beverage container, comprising:
 a lid housing configured for removable attachment to the beverage container, the lid housing having a main body with an upper portion and a sidewall portion extending downward from the upper portion, the upper portion being stationary relative to the sidewall portion, the upper portion and the sidewall portion defining a downwardly open interior lid cavity extending downward from the upper portion and having an open lower end, the upper portion including a drink opening;   a drink seal support member connected to the lid housing and having a drink seal positioned at least partially within the lid cavity and below the upper portion, the drink seal being movable between a closed position closing the drink opening and an opened position opening the drink opening;   a trigger connected to the lid housing and operable to move the drink seal support member to move the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position, movement of the trigger in an actuation direction resulting in the drink seal support member moving the drink seal downward away the upper portion to position the drink seal in the opened position; and   a retainer member releasably retaining the drink seal support member in a use position for movement of the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction, the retainer member being operable to permit selective physical disconnection of the drink seal support member from the lid housing for cleaning of the lid with the lid housing and drink seal support member separated from each other.   
     
     
         143 . The lid of  claim 142 , wherein a portion of the upper portion extending about the drink opening defines a drink opening seat for the drink seal, and when in the closed position, the drink seal seals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to close the drink opening, and when in the opened position, the drink seal unseals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to open the drink opening. 
     
     
         144 . The lid of  claim 142 , wherein the retainer member is threadably attached to the lid housing. 
     
     
         145 . A lid for use with a beverage container, comprising:
 a lid housing configured for removable attachment to the beverage container, the lid housing having a main body with an upper portion and a sidewall portion extending downward from the upper portion, the upper portion being stationary relative to the sidewall portion, the upper portion and the sidewall portion defining a downwardly open interior lid cavity extending downward from the upper portion and having an open lower end, the upper portion including a drink opening;   a drink seal support member connected to the lid housing and having a drink seal positioned at least partially within the lid cavity and below the upper portion, the drink seal being movable between a closed position closing the drink opening and an opened position opening the drink opening for drinking from the lid;   a trigger connected to the lid housing and operable to move the drink seal support member to move the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position, movement of the trigger in an actuation direction resulting in the drink seal support member moving the drink seal downward away the upper portion to position the drink seal in the opened position; and   a retainer member releasably retaining the drink seal support member in a use position in operational connection with the trigger for movement of the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position for drinking in response to movement of the trigger in the actuation direction, the retainer member being operable to release the drink seal support member from operational connection with the trigger to permit movement of the drink seal support member to a cleaning position without requiring movement of the trigger in the actuation direction and when in the cleaning position the drink seal is moved farther away from an underside surface portion of the upper portion through which the drink opening extends than when in the opened position for drinking.   
     
     
         146 . The lid of  claim 145 , wherein a portion of the upper portion extending about the drink opening defines a drink opening seat for the drink seal, and when in the closed position, the drink seal seals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to close the drink opening, and when in the opened position, the drink seal unseals the drink opening at the drink opening seat to open the drink opening. 
     
     
         147 . The lid of  claim 145 , wherein when the drink seal support member is in the cleaning position, the trigger is physically disengaged from the drink seal support member and thereby prevents movement of the trigger in the actuation direction from moving the drink seal from the closed position to the opened position.