Twist lid for cup

Abstract

A drink-through lid for a beverage cup. The lid seals the open end of a cup containing liquid. A lower section and upper section are rotatably affixed for use, and detachable for cleaning. The lower section and the upper section each have liquid and vapor passageways therethrough. Each of the lower section and upper section include a coupler which enables the upper section and lower section to rotatably move with respect to the other. A first coupler in the lower section may be a downwardly extending annular cylinder having an inner circumferential sidewall. A second coupler in the upper section includes a first prong and a second pron. The first and second prongs each extend downward from a lower engaging surface of the upper section. A registration system is provided using detents and positioners, and bumps and bump seats, to provide haptic snap action between open and closed positions.

1 . A lid, the lid sized and shaped for engagement with an open end of a drink container, the drink container having circular interior sidewalls adjacent the open end, the lid comprising:
 (a) a lower section having a disc shaped body, the body having an upper engaging surface, the body including (1) a liquid conduit therethrough defined by a first interior passageway wall, and (2) a vent conduit therethrough defined by a second interior passageway wall, and
 a first coupler, 
   (b) an upper section, the upper section comprising an upper body, the upper body having
 a lower engaging surface, 
 a plurality of passageways therethrough, the plurality of passageways comprising (1) a drink passageway, and (2) a vent passageway; and 
 a second coupler; 
   (c) wherein the lower section and the upper section are rotatably joined by latching the first coupler and the second coupler together, and wherein the lower section and the upper section are detachable from each other by unlatching the first coupler and the second coupler from each other; and   (d) wherein the lower engaging surface and the upper engaging surface have an axis of rotation extending therethrough, wherein the lower section and the upper section are alternately positionable when coupled together, between (1) a first, fluid communication relationship wherein a fluid in the drink container may flow through the liquid conduit and through the drink passageway, and (2) a second, closed, spill resistant configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , further configured so that when the lower section and the upper section are coupled together in a first fluid communication relationship, the vent conduit and the vent passageway are oriented to provide a vapor passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , further configured so that when the lower section and the upper section are coupled together in a second, closed configuration, the vent conduit and the vent passageway are oriented to prevent vapor passage. 
     
     
         4 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first coupler comprises a downwardly extending annular cylinder, the downwardly extending annular cylinder having an inner circumferential sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The lid as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the downwardly extending annular cylinder further comprises a plurality of arcuate cutouts spaced apart around the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The lid as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the arcuate cutouts have a most radially outward sidewall, and where the most radially outward sidewall extends radially outward from the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder for a distance RC. 
     
     
         7 . The lid as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the distance RC is about zero point eight (0.8) millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The lid as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the downwardly extending annular cylinder comprises a distal end. 
     
     
         9 . The lid as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the second coupler comprises a first prong and a second prong, wherein the first prong and the second prongs each extend downward from the lower engaging surface of the upper section. 
     
     
         10 . The lid as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the first prong and the second prong each have an arcuate radial outward surface which is sized and shaped for insertion into the downwardly extending annular cylinder, and configured for and manufactured with material that provides outwardly biased engagement with the inner circumferential sidewall of the downwardly extending annular cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The lid as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the first prong and the second prong each further comprise, on their respective radially outward surface, a protruding positioner, each protruding positioner sized and shaped for manually rotatable friction fit within and between said arcuate cutouts spaced apart along the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder, and configured for manually rotatable engagement with respect to the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The lid as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein each of the protruding positioners comprises a most radially outward sidewall surface, and wherein the most radially outward sidewall surface extends radially outward from the outward surface of the respective first prong and the second prong for a distance of RP. 
     
     
         13 . The lid as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the distance RP is about zero point four one three (0.413) millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The lid as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein each protruding positioner further comprises a most radially outward sidewall surface, and wherein the most radially outward sidewall surface extends radially outward from the outward surface of the first prong and of the second prong for a distance of RP, and wherein the distance RC is greater than the distance RP. 
     
     
         15 . The lid as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the first prong and the second prong each comprise a lower portion having an outwardly biased latch, and wherein the outwardly biased latch is sized and shaped for rotatable latching attachment when engaged with the annular cylinder. 
     
     
         16 . The lid as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the lower engaging surface of the upper section further comprises a pair of spacing bumps, wherein a spacing bump is located radially outward from the first prong and from the second prong, wherein the spacing bumps are configured to slightly space apart the lower section from the upper section when the lid is moved between the (1) the first, fluid communication relationship and (2) the second, closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The lid as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the arcuate cutouts comprise detents and the protruding positioners comprise locating surfaces, and wherein together the detents and the protruding positioners establish a registration system that provides haptic snap action of the lid between the (1) the first fluid communication relationship and (2) the second closed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The lid as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the upper engaging surface of the lower section further comprises a plurality of bump seats spaced apart adjacent an upper end of the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder, wherein the bump seats are each sized and shaped to accommodate one of the spacing bumps therein. 
     
     
         19 . The lid as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein haptic snap action of the registration system is enhanced by snap fit of spacing bumps in bump seats when the lid is rotated between (1) the first fluid communication relationship and (2) the second closed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The lid as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the first prong and the second prong each further include a manually engageable pinch surface, whereby the first and second prongs may be urged radially inward, for disengagement from the annular cylinder, so that the upper section and the lower section are separable. 
     
     
         21 . The lid as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the pinch surface further comprises a concave portion, the concave portion configured to receive a digit of a user for secure engagement while urging the first and second prongs radially inward, to facilitate separation of the upper section from the lower section. 
     
     
         22 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical circumferential seal, the vertical circumferential seal providing a liquid tight seal between the lower section and the upper section. 
     
     
         23 . The lid as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the upper section further comprises a downwardly oriented vertical circumferential sealing flange, the vertical circumferential sealing flange configured for tight fitting engagement with the vertical circumferential seal. 
     
     
         24 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the upper body comprises (a) an upper cap, (b) an intermediate gasket, and (c) a lower support. 
     
     
         25 . The lid as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the upper cap comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         26 . The lid as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the upper cap comprises a drink well. 
     
     
         27 . The lid as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the lower support includes an upper surface and circumferential vertically oriented sides, and wherein the upper cap extends over the upper surface and also downward to cover the circumferential vertically oriented sides. 
     
     
         28 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disc shaped body of the lower section further comprises an outer sidewall, and wherein the outer sidewall provides a manual gripping surface. 
     
     
         29 . The lid as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the manual gripping surface comprises Tritan™ plastic. 
     
     
         30 . The lid as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disc shaped body of the lower section further comprises (a) a lateral circumferential cup seal seat, and (b) a lateral circumferential cup seal, the lateral circumferential cup seal located in the lateral circumferential cup seal seat, and wherein the lateral circumferential cup seal is sized and shaped for manually removable fiction fit engagement with an open end of a drink container. 
     
     
         31 . A lid, the lid sized and shaped for engagement with an open end of a drink container, the drink container having circular interior sidewalls adjacent the open end, the lid comprising:
 (a) a lower section having a disc shaped body, the body having an upper engaging surface, the body including (1) a liquid conduit therethrough defined by a first interior passageway wall, and (2) a vent conduit therethrough defined by a second interior passageway wall, and
 a downwardly extending annular cylindrical receiver having an inner circumferential sidewall; 
   (b) an upper section, the upper section comprising an upper body, the upper body having
 a lower engaging surface, 
 a plurality of passageways therethrough, the plurality of passageways comprising (1) a drink passageway, and (2) a vent passageway, 
 a first prong and a second prong, wherein the first prong and the second prong each extend downward from the lower engaging surface, wherein the first prong and the second prong each have an arcuate radial outward surface which is sized and shaped for insertion into the downwardly extending annular cylindrical receiver, and wherein the first prong and the second prong are each configured for and manufactured with material and that provides outwardly biased engagement with the inner circumferential sidewall of the downwardly extending annular cylinder receiver; 
   (c) wherein the lower section and the upper section are rotatably joined by latching the first prong and the second prong to the annular cylinder, and wherein the lower section and the upper section are detachable from each other by unlatching the first prong and the second prong from the annular cylinder; and   (d) wherein the lower engaging surface and the upper engaging surface have an axis of rotation extending therethrough, wherein the lower section and the upper section are alternately positionable when rotatably joined, between (1) a first fluid communication relationship wherein a fluid in the drink container may flow through the liquid conduit and through the drink passageway, and (2) a second, closed, spill resistant configuration.   
     
     
         32 . The lid as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein the downwardly extending annular cylinder further comprises a plurality of arcuate cutouts spaced apart around the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder. 
     
     
         33 . The lid as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the first prong and the second prong each further comprise, on their respective radially outward surface, a protruding positioner, each protruding positioner sized and shaped for manually rotatable friction fit within and between said arcuate cutouts spaced apart along the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder, and configured for manually rotatable engagement with respect to the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder. 
     
     
         34 . The lid as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the arcuate cutouts comprise detents and the protruding positioners comprise locating surfaces, and wherein together the detents and the protruding positioners establish a registration system that provides haptic snap action of the lid between the (1) the first fluid communication relationship and (2) the second, closed configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The lid as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein the lower engaging surface of the upper section further includes spacing bumps located radially outward from each of the first and second prongs, and wherein the upper engaging surface of the lower section further comprises a plurality of bump seats spaced apart around an upper end of the inner circumferential sidewall of the annular cylinder, wherein the bump seats are each sized and shaped to accommodate one of the spacing bumps therein. 
     
     
         36 . The lid as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein haptic snap action of the registration system is enhanced by snap fit of spacing bumps in bump seats when the lid is rotated between (1) the first, fluid communication relationship and (2) the second, closed configuration.