Dispensing Lid

Abstract

A lid includes an integration unit formed of a continuous material in common amongst components, which include a spout and a fastener. Another lid includes a selectively extendable and retractable carrying mechanism including a handle having two parallel arms, a bridge, and two posts. A further lid includes an integration unit formed of a continuous material in common amongst components, which include a spout and a gasket with a concave profile. A still further lid includes a well recessed into and defining part of an outside surface of a lid body and a tube projecting outward from a bottom of the well. An integration unit is formed of a continuous material in common amongst components, which include a spout and a socket, the tube seating inside the integration unit socket. The features of the described lids may be combined.

1 . A dispensing lid for use with a container, the dispensing lid comprising:
 a body;   an integration unit selectively engageable with and disengageable from the body, the integration unit being formed of a continuous material in common amongst integration unit components, which include:
 a spout having a spout conduit passing through the continuous material in common and allowing dispensing through the lid via the spout conduit; and 
 a gasket with a concave profile; 
   a valve insert selectively engageable with and disengageable from the integration unit, the valve insert including a valve controlling the dispensing through the lid via the spout conduit;   the body including a body conduit passing through the body, the body conduit having a gasket seat complementary to the concave profile of the gasket and circumscribing the body conduit; and   the gasket sealing with the gasket seat when the integration unit is engaged with the body, thus aligning the spout conduit with the body conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein the valve insert is an assembly comprising:
 an insert body; and   an insert cap discrete from, but attached to, the insert body, a periphery of the valve being held between the insert body and the attached insert cap.   
     
     
         3 . The dispensing lid of  claim 2 , wherein the valve is formed of a different material in comparison to the insert body and insert cap. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein the integration unit further comprises a seat for the valve insert, the valve insert sealing with the valve insert seat when the valve insert is engaged with the integration unit, thus aligning the valve with the spout conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing lid of  claim 4 , wherein the valve insert comprises a collar and the valve insert seat comprises a socket complementary to the collar that receives the collar when the valve insert is engaged with the integration unit, thus releasably retaining the valve insert in engagement with the integration unit, or wherein the valve insert comprises the socket and the valve insert seat comprises the collar. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is positioned within the spout conduit when the valve insert is engaged with the integration unit. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a jet valve. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket further comprises an upper sloped surface, a lower sloped surface, and a neck joining the upper and lower sloped surfaces such that the upper and lower sloped surfaces decrease in diameter toward the neck and the spout conduit passes within the neck. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing lid of  claim 8 , wherein the neck of the gasket is in tension when the integration unit is engaged with the body, thus pulling the upper and lower sloped surfaces into contact with the gasket seat. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing lid of  claim 8 , wherein the smallest diameter of the upper and lower sloped surfaces occurs at the neck. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing lid of  claim 8 , wherein the neck comprises a fillet between the upper and lower sloped surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing lid of  claim 8 , wherein the upper and lower sloped surfaces continuously decrease in diameter toward the neck across any portions thereof that contact the gasket seat when the integration unit is engaged with the body. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing lid of  claim 8 , wherein the upper sloped surface corresponds to a portion of the shape of a first right, circular cone and the lower sloped surface corresponds to a portion of the shape of a second right, circular cone. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein respective portions of the continuous material that form the spout and gasket lack material interfaces within the continuous material between the spout and gasket. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing lid of  claim 1 , wherein the integration unit further comprises a key profile as a projection of the integration unit and including a portion of a vent of the dispensing lid and the body further comprises a corresponding lock profile as a recess in the body complementary to the projection and including another portion of the dispensing lid vent. 
     
     
         16 . A dispensing lid for use with a container, the dispensing lid comprising:
 a body;   an integration unit selectively engageable with and disengageable from the body, the integration unit being formed of a continuous material in common amongst integration unit components, which include:
 a spout having a spout conduit passing through the continuous material in common and allowing dispensing through the lid via the spout conduit; and 
 a gasket with a concave profile including an upper sloped surface, a lower sloped surface, and a neck joining the upper and lower sloped surfaces such that the upper and lower sloped surfaces decrease in diameter toward the neck and the spout conduit passes within the neck; 
   a valve insert selectively engageable with and disengageable from the integration unit, the valve insert being an assembly including:
 a valve controlling the dispensing through the lid via the spout conduit; 
 an insert body; and 
 an insert cap discrete from but attached to the insert body, a periphery of the valve being held between the insert body and the attached insert cap and the valve being formed of a different material in comparison to the insert body and insert cap; 
   the body including a body conduit passing through the body, the body conduit having a gasket seat complementary to the concave profile of the gasket and circumscribing the body conduit;   the gasket sealing with the gasket seat when the integration unit is engaged with the body, thus aligning the spout conduit with the body conduit; and   the integration unit further including a seat for the valve insert, the valve insert sealing with the valve insert seat when the valve insert is engaged with the integration unit, thus aligning the valve with the spout conduit.   
     
     
         17 . A dispensing lid for use with a container, the dispensing lid comprising:
 a body;   an integration unit selectively engageable with and disengageable from the body, the integration unit being formed of a continuous material in common amongst integration unit components, which include:
 a spout having a spout conduit passing through the continuous material in common and allowing dispensing through the lid via the spout conduit; and 
 a gasket with a concave profile including an upper sloped surface, a lower sloped surface, and a neck joining the upper and lower sloped surfaces such that the upper and lower sloped surfaces decrease in diameter toward the neck and the spout conduit passes within the neck; 
   a valve insert selectively engageable with and disengageable from the integration unit, the valve insert being an assembly including:
 a valve controlling the dispensing through the lid via the spout conduit and positioned within the spout conduit when the valve insert is engaged with the integration unit; 
 an insert body; and 
 an insert cap discrete from but attached to the insert body, a periphery of the valve being held between the insert body and the attached insert cap and the valve being formed of a different material in comparison to the insert body and insert cap; 
   the body including a body conduit passing through the body, the body conduit having a gasket seat complementary to the concave profile of the gasket and circumscribing the body conduit;   the neck of the gasket being in tension when the integration unit is engaged with the body, thus pulling the upper and lower sloped surfaces into contact with the gasket seat;   the upper and lower sloped surfaces continuously decreasing in diameter linearly toward the neck across any portions thereof that contact the gasket seat when the integration unit is engaged with the body;   the gasket sealing with the gasket seat when the integration unit is engaged with the body, thus aligning the spout conduit with the body conduit; and   the integration unit further including a seat for the valve insert, the valve insert sealing with the valve insert seat when the valve insert is engaged with the integration unit, thus aligning the valve with the spout conduit.