PIVOTING FLIP TOP AND HANDLE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Many containers such as bottles include lids having integrated handles. Some containers can also employ a flip top to facilitate quick access to the contents of the container. When including a handle on such lids, there is a trade-off between positioning the handle in a convenient and efficient location, and minimizing the risk that the flip top will be opened unintentionally due to forces on the handle.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention is directed to a container lid that includes a handle and a flip top that are each independently pivotable along the same axis. In this manner, the container lid increases the efficiency of using a container to carry, store, or consume contents.

[0004] In one embodiment, a lid for a container comprises a lid base having an opening for dispensing contents of the container, and a mount. The lid also comprises a handle, and a flip top for sealing the opening. The flip top includes a flip top pivot that is positioned between the handle when the handle is inserted into the mount. The handle and the flip top are each independently pivotable within the mount.

[0005] In another embodiment, a container comprises a bottle and a lid for sealing an opening of the bottle. The lid comprises a lid base having an opening for dispensing contents of the bottle, and a mount. The lid further comprises a handle, and a flip top for sealing the opening. The flip top includes a flip top pivot that is positioned between the handle when the handle is inserted into the mount. The handle and the flip top each are independently pivotable within the mount. [0006] In another embodiment, a container comprises a bottle, and a lid that connects to the top of the bottle to seal the bottle. The lid comprises a lid base that includes an opening for dispensing contents of the bottle, and a mount that secures a handle and a flip top to the lid base. The handle includes a handle pivot on both sides which insert into openings on posts of the mount, and the flip top includes a flip top pivot having a protrusion on both sides that insert into openings on each side of the handle to secure the handle between the flip top and the mount. The flip top remains independently pivotable within the openings in the handle, and the handle remains independently pivotable within the openings in the posts.

[0007] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0008] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention, The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to describe the manner in which the above -recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary container lid according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates the assembled container lid of Figure 1 ;

[0012] Figures 3-4 illustrate the container lid of Figure 1 when attached to a bottle; and

[0013] Figure 5 illustrates a locking slot for maintaining the position of the handle of the container lid of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention is directed to a container lid that includes a handle and a flip top that are each independently pivotable along the same axis. In this manner, the container lid increases the efficiency of using a container to carry, store, or consume contents.

[0015] In one embodiment, a lid for a container comprises a lid base having an opening for dispensing contents of the container, and a mount. The lid also comprises a handle, and a flip top for sealing the opening. The flip top includes a flip top pivot that is positioned between the handle when the handle is inserted into the mount. The handle and the flip top are each independently pivotable within the mount.

[0016] In another embodiment, a container comprises a bottle and a lid for sealing an opening of the bottle. The lid comprises a lid base having an opening for dispensing contents of the bottle, and a mount. The lid further comprises a handle, and a flip top for sealing the opening. The flip top includes a flip top pivot that is positioned between the handle when the handle is inserted into the mount. The handle and the flip top each are independently pivotable within the mount. [0017] In another embodiment, a container comprises a bottle, and a lid that connects to the top of the bottle to seal the bottle. The lid comprises a lid base that includes an opening for dispensing contents of the bottle, and a mount that secures a handle and a flip top to the lid base. The handle includes a handle pivot on both sides which insert into openings on posts of the mount, and the flip top includes a flip top pivot having a protrusion on both sides that insert into openings on each side of the handle to secure the handle between the flip top and the mount. The flip top remains independently pivotable within the openings in the handle, and the handle remains independently pivotable within the openings in the posts.

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary container lid 100 according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Lid 100 comprises a base 103 having a spout (or opening) 105 and a mount 104. A pivoting handle 102 and flip top 101 connect to mount 104 as is shown in Figure 2.

[0019] Lid 100 can be attached to a container such as a bottle to seal the container. Although the Figures illustrate that spout 105 is sealed by pressing the protrusion in flip top 101 into spout 105, other means of sealing a spout or opening in the lid using a flip top can equally be employed (e.g. a flip top that extends around a spout, a flip top that clips to base 103, etc.).

[0020] Flip top 101 includes a flip top pivot 101a having a protrusion 101b on each side. Handle 102 includes a loop 102a and a handle pivot 102b on each side. Flip top 101 and handle 102 are mounted within mount 104 such that flip top 101 and handle 102 can each independently pivot. Although the Figures illustrate a handle having a round loop, loops of other shapes could also be used. Further, handle 102 can also be formed in a shape other than a loop as long as the handle includes handle pivots 102b on both sides (e.g. a hook, a clip, etc.). [0021] As shown in Figure 1 , mount 104 includes posts 104a positioned on opposite sides of the mount. Each of posts 104a includes an opening 104b (only visible on one side) for receiving a corresponding handle pivot 102b.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, handle 102 is attached to mount 104 by inserting handle pivots 102b into openings 104b. With handle 102 attached to mount 104, flip top pivot 101a can be inserted between handle 102 such that protrusions 101b insert into openings 102c.

[0023] In this manner, flip top 101 and handle 102 are securely attached to the lid while enabling flip top 101 and handle 102 to remain independently pivotable. For example, while flip top 101 remains inserted into spout 105, handle 102 can be freely pivoted around the axis of mount 104. Similarly, flip top 101 can be pivoted around the axis of mount 104 without pivoting handle 102.

[0024] This configuration facilitates the storage and handling of a container having lid 100. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an exemplary bottle on which lid 100 can be used. Such bottles can be used to store, carry, and/or mix ingredients of a beverage or other food product. The position of handle 102 facilitates carrying a container while minimizing the likelihood that flip top 101 will separate from spout 105 inadvertently. Also, because handle 102 can be pivoted independently from flip top 101, use of a container is further facilitated.

[0025] In some embodiments, such as is shown in Figure 5, handle 102 can include grooves 103c that interlock with corresponding rails 104c in mount 104. When handle 102 is pivoted downward to the orientation shown in Figure 2, rails 104c are positioned within grooves 103c thereby holding handle 102 in the orientation. Maintaining the position of handle 102 can be desirable in many situations such as when drinking a beverage through spout 105. Of course, more than one set of rails and grooves could be configured on handle 102 and mount 104 to provide more than one locking position for handle 102. [0026] As stated above, lid 100 can be assembled by first inserting handle pivots 102b into openings 104b in mount 104. Handle 102 can be manufactured from materials that are sufficiently flexible to allow handle pivots 102b to be inserted into openings 104b (e.g. by squeezing handle pivots 102b together). Because handle 102 can be squeezed together, handle pivots 102b can therefore have a substantial length for insertion into openings 104b.

[0027] To retain handle pivots 102b within openings 104b, flip top pivot 101a is then pressed into handle 102 to insert protrusions 101b within openings 102c. In this way, handle 102 is secured between flip top pivot 101a and posts 104a (i.e. flip top pivot 101a prevents handle 102 from being squeezed together) to allow handle 102 to support the weight of a container on which lid 100 is used.

[0028] Lid 100 can be manufactured from materials that are sufficiently flexible to allow posts 104a to deflect slightly when flip top pivot 101a is inserted, but sufficiently rigid to prevent handle 102 and flip top 101 from being removed from mount 104 without significant force.

[0029] In other words, while flip top pivot 101a is inserted between handle 102, handle 102 cannot be squeezed sufficiently to remove handle pivots 102b from openings 104b. Further, mount 104 can be sufficiently rigid such that flip top 101 cannot be removed without great force, thereby preventing the inadvertent removal of handle 102 even when substantial force is applied to handle 102 (e.g. when handle 102 supports a full container during rugged activities). In this manner, flip top 101, handle 102, and lid base 103 can be manufactured as separate components and easily assembled, thus simplifying the manufacture of lids 100.

[0030] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.