Flow-control cups and lids

Abstract

A lower lid portion and an upper lid portion for flow-control of liquid from a bottle. The lower lid portion may be attached to the bottle via a threading structure. The lower lid portion a key mating structure and one or more pluralities of slots. The lower lid portion may be attached an upper lid portion via a key structure of the upper lid portion that rotationally engages the key mating structure of the lower lid portion such that the upper lid portion and the lower lid portion may be aligned at various flow-control positions. Flow-control positions may correspond to alignments of the upper lid's slots with slots of the lower lid. Alignment of upper lid slots with various lower lid slots may allow for various rates of liquid flow.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for controlling liquid flow from a bottle, comprising:
 a lower lid portion, wherein the lower lid portion comprises:
 a threading structure to secure the lower lid portion with the bottle; 
 a first plurality of slots; and 
 a key structure, 
   an upper lid portion, wherein the upper lid portion comprises:
 a second plurality of slots; and 
 a corresponding key structure; 
 wherein the corresponding key structure is configured to secure the upper lid portion to a lower lid portion and rotationally engage the key structure such that the upper lid portion and the lower lid portion may be aligned at a plurality of flow-control positions, wherein the plurality of flow-control positions comprises:
 a first flow-control position, wherein alignment of the first plurality of slots with the second plurality of slots allows a first rate of liquid flow to pass from the bottle and through the upper lid portion; 
 a second flow-control position, wherein alignment of the first plurality of slots with the second plurality of slots allows a second rate of liquid flow to pass from the bottle and through the upper lid portion, wherein the second rate of liquid flow is less than the first rate of liquid flow; and 
 a third flow-control position, wherein an upper surface of the lower lid portion engages a lower surface of the upper lid portion to create a seal between the lower lid portion and the upper lid portion, thereby substantially preventing liquid flow from the bottle and through the upper lid portion. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more flow-control positions further comprises a fourth flow-control position, wherein alignment of a portion of the first plurality of slots with the second plurality of slots allows a third rate of liquid flow to pass from the bottle and through the upper lid portion, wherein the third rate of liquid flow is greater than the first rate of liquid flow. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the corresponding key structure comprises a first key end having a first length and a second key end having a second length; and   the key structure comprises a first opening operable to receive the first key end and a second opening operable to receive the second key end.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the key structure further comprises a first ridge that extends inward from the first opening and a second ridge that extends inward from the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of slots is equal in length to the second plurality of slots. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of slots are greater in length than the second plurality of slots. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of slots is fewer in number than the second plurality of slots. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the upper lid portion comprises a gasket, the gasket comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 an interior wall of the upper lid portion comprises a notch; and   an exterior part of the lower lid portion comprises one or more insets corresponding to the one or more flow-control positions, wherein the notch rests at an inset of the one or more inset when at least one of the one or more flow-control positions is engaged.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of slots are uniformly distributed in a circular orientation around the upper lid portion. 
     
     
         21 . A lid for a bottle, the lid comprising:
 a base configured to secure the lid to the bottle; and   a rotatable insert coupled to the lid, wherein the rotatable insert is configured to rotate from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position, the rotatable insert comprising:
 a handle on an upper side of the rotatable insert; and 
 a plurality of openings disposed on a lower side of the rotatable insert, wherein fluid flows from the bottle, through the plurality of openings, and out of the lid; 
   wherein the fluid flows at a first rate when the rotatable insert is in the first predetermined position, and the fluid flows at a second rate when the rotatable insert is in the second predetermined position.   
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the rotatable insert is removably coupled to the base. 
     
     
         23 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the handle does not extend past an upper surface of the base. 
     
     
         24 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein a first vertical gap between the rotatable insert and the base when the rotatable insert is in the first predetermined position is greater than a second vertical gap between the rotatable insert and the base when the rotatable insert is in the second predetermined position. 
     
     
         25 . The lid of  claim 24 , wherein a first exposed area of the plurality of openings when the rotatable insert is in the first predetermined position is greater than a second exposed area of the plurality of openings when the rotatable insert is in the second predetermined position. 
     
     
         26 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the rotatable insert is flush with the base when the rotatable insert is in a closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The lid of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed between the base and the rotatable insert.   
     
     
         28 . The lid of  claim 27 , wherein the gasket comprises a reservoir configured to retain fluid when the rotatable insert is in a closed position. 
     
     
         29 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the rotatable insert is coupled to the base via a threaded coupling. 
     
     
         30 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the lid is configured to provide tactile feedback when the rotatable insert is rotated from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position.