Container lid

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of ice dispensing and ice dispensing devices and systems. Example systems described herein can include a dispensing container with a container lid that includes a first cover portion, a second cover portion, and a third cover portion. The third cover portion can include an opening. A duct can be positioned so the duct extends through the opening in the third cover portion. The duct can dispense ice into the dispensing container through the opening in the third cover portion. The first cover portion and the second cover portion can move between a closed position and an open position, so the first cover portion and the second cover portion do not block the opening in the third cover portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing system comprising:
 a dispensing container comprising an enclosure and an opening configured to be adjacent to an outlet of a duct; and   a container lid comprising an opening configured to be adjacent the outlet of the duct,   wherein the container lid is coupled to the dispensing container and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the container lid is not disposed over at least a portion of the opening of the dispensing container, wherein in the closed position the container lid is disposed over the opening of the dispensing container, and   wherein the dispensing container is capable of being in communication with the duct when the container lid is in the open position and when the container lid is disposed in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the container lid comprises a first cover portion, a second cover portion, and a third cover portion. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the third cover portion comprises the opening of the container lid. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first cover portion and the second cover portion are aligned with or positioned under the third cover portion when the container lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the third cover portion comprises the opening of the container lid. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system of  claim 5 , further comprising a duct adaptor positioned in the opening of the container lid. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first cover portion and the second cover portion move in order to move the container lid between the open position and the closed position, and the third cover portion is stationary. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the container lid further comprises a base coupled to the dispensing container, wherein the first cover portion, the second cover portion, and the third cover portion are coupled to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the base comprises stoppers configured to prevent or inhibit the first cover portion and the second cover portion from moving to a position where the first cover portion and the second cover portion block the opening in the container lid. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein tops of the first cover portion, the second cover portion, and the third cover portion are sloped or inclined. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the second cover portion and the third cover portion comprise flanges. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing system of  claim 11 , wherein the flanges prevent or inhibit removal of the first cover portion and the second cover portion. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first cover portion comprises a handle. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the third cover portion is larger than a length of the second cover portion and a length of the first cover portion. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the first cover portion is larger than a length of the second cover portion. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein a height of the first cover portion is smaller than a height of the second cover portion, and the height of the second cover portion is smaller than a height of the third cover portion. 
     
     
         17 . A method of dispensing ice comprising:
 causing a container lid of a dispensing container to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the container lid comprises a first cover portion, a second cover portion, and a third cover portion, wherein the third cover portion comprises an opening,   wherein in the closed configuration, the first cover portion, the second cover portion, and the third cover portion cover an opening in the dispensing container, and   wherein in the open configuration, the first cover portion and the second cover portion are positioned at least partially in the third cover portion without blocking the opening in the third cover portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising causing ice to be dispensed from an ice source through a duct and into a dispensing container through the opening in the third cover portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the container lid to move between the closed configuration and the open configuration comprises sliding the first cover portion and the second cover portion into the third cover portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the container lid to move between the open configuration and the closed configuration comprises sliding the first cover portion and the second cover portion out from the third cover portion.