The object of the invention is a lid for a drinking container or the like according to the preamble of claim 1, which can be removably mounted to the opening of a drinking container, wherein the lid comprises members for closing the lid in relation to the drinking container, whereby the beverage in the drinking container is pre vented from flowing out of the drinking container, and members for opening the lid in relation to the drinking container to allow the beverage to flow out of the drinking container.

Numerous solutions for lids for drinking containers are known in the prior art, but they are typically prepared from two or more pieces and involve opening a port for the liquid either by twisting an element of the lid in relation to another element or by opening the port using a separate closure. These are often complex structures, adding to their manufacturing cost and hindering their usability. In addition, they typically comprise a point from which the beverage is allowed to flow out when the container is tilted into the drinking position.

For example, the publication EP3345514A1 describes a solution for a lid comprising a separate collar, a sealing member and a twistable fastener that can be assembled together and mounted to a drinking container using a thread connection. The publi cation W02019/102210 describes a solution comprising a separate collar member and a closure member attachable thereto, locking in place as the collar member is treaded onto the container.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and easy-to- use solution for a lid for a drinking container preventing the beverage from flowing out when the lid is in the closed position and allowing consumption of the beverage from a desired point on the circumference of the lid when the lid is in the open posi tion.

In order to achieve this purpose, the invention is characterized in that the middle section of the lid is fitted with an actuator member pivotable between a lowered po sition and a lifted position, whereby in the lowered position of the actuator member the sealing lip is turned against the interior surface of the drinking container and the middle section of the lid is moved to a lowered position, and in the lifted posi tion of the actuator member the sealing lip is at a distance from the interior surface of the drinking container constituting an annular flow gap and the middle section of the lid is moved to the lifted position.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

Next, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of the lid for a drinking container according to the invention in a position closing the drinking container, figure 2 shows a direct top view image of the lid according to figure 1, figure 3 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the lid according to figure 1 in the open position, figure 4 shows a direct top view image of the lid according to figure 3, figure 5 shows the cross-section of the lid according to figure 1 mounted onto a drinking container in the closed position, figure 6 shows a cross-section of the lid according to figure 1 mounted onto a drinking container in the open position, figure 7 shows a partial enlargement of figure 5, and figure 8 shows a partial enlargement of figure 6.

The lid 1 shown as an example in the figures comprises a collar member 9 that sits tightly on both sides of the top edge of the drinking container 2, the collar member comprising an exterior face 10 to be positioned against the exterior surface 6 of the drinking container and an interior face 11 to be positioned against the interior sur face 5 of the drinking container. The collar member 9 holds the lid tightly in place in the top part of the drinking container during normal use, but allows for the lid to be removed by grabbing onto the outer surface of the collar member 9 and pulling the lid off the top of the container. A plurality of flow openings 8 are formed in the inte rior face 11, spaced preferably evenly across the circumference of the interior face 11. Apart from the flow openings 8, the interior face 11 sits tightly against the inte rior surface 5 of the drinking container. A closed middle section 3 to be positioned inside the drinking container 2 is connected to the interior face of the collar member 9, which closed middle section 3 is movable between a lowered and a lifted position. The middle section 3 together with the collar 9 form a cup-like space in the lid 1. At the bottom surface of the middle section 3, an annular sealing lip 4 surrounding the middle section has been arranged. The sealing lip has been arranged to turn in rela- tion to the middle section 3 such that in the lowered position of the middle section 3, it sits against the interior surface 5 of the drinking container 2 and in the lifted position of the middle section at a distance from the interior surface 5 of the drink ing container constituting an annular flow gap 7. In order to lift the middle section 3 and to turn the sealing lip to the open position, the middle section is fitted with an actuator member 12 which in the lowered position of the middle section sits in a re cess 13 formed in the middle section. The recess 13 is dimensioned such that a grip space 15 remains between its base and the bottom 16 of the actuator member 12, allowing the user to grab onto the bottom of the actuator member 12, using e.g. their fingers, in order to lift the actuator member.

As the actuator member 12 is lifted upwards from the position shown in figure 7, the middle section 3 meanwhile moves upwards and the sealing lip 4 turns from its position against the interior surface 5 of the drinking container 2 closing the annular flow gap 7 to a position shown in figure 8, opening the flow gap 7, whereby the beverage in the container 2 may, when the container is tilted, flow through the flow gap 7 and one or more flow openings 8, from the inside of the container and further along the interior surface 11 of the collar 9 to be consumed by a user. Figure 8 illus trates the course of the beverage by dotted-lined arrows A. The sealing lip 4 bends as a result of the opening and closing movement performed with the actuator mem ber 12 over the dead center and tightens in the closed position against the interior surface 5 of the container and remains at a distance from the interior surface 5 of the container in the open position.

The lid 1 is preferably prepared by extrusion from a polymer or composite material. The lid can be used in connection with regular drinking containers as well as with single-use containers.

Instead of the lever-like actuator member 12 described in the above embodiment according to figures 1 to 8, the lid can be fitted with e.g. a button-like actuator member, preferably positioned in the center area of the middle section 3.

The lid can also be used in other containers apart from drinking containers, e.g. in soup bowls. The lid according to the invention provides a spill-proof solution for drinking containers and the like.