FI ELD OF THE I NVENTION

This invention relates generally to beverage tumblers, and more particularly to beverage tumblers having a lid with a drinking hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drinking cups (also called“tumblers”) made for rugged environments are popular with a large consumer market. These rugged drinking cups include a beverage tumbler that is typically made from a durable material, such as stainless steel, and often have a vacuum between the walls of the container. The vacuum provides good thermal insulation to keep a beverage in the cup either hot or cold for several hours. Examples of rugged tumblers include YETI® brand stainless steel vacuum insulated tumblers.

Rugged drinking cups also often include a lid that is shaped so as to be inserted into the mouth of the cup. The lid also has a flexible sealing ring around the periphery of the lower portion of the lid that presses snugly against the upper portion of the inner wall of the cup. The lid is typically made of molded clear plastic and has a drinking hole through which a user can sip the beverage.

Optionally, some rugged drinking cups include a lid with sliding door over the drinking hole. The sliding door can be pushed open to permit drinking, and pushed closed to prevent spillage.

The sliding door prevents spillage from the drinking hole when closed, and prevents debris from entering the cup through the drinking hole. Nevertheless, the top surface of the lid, including the sliding door, can accumulate dirt, dust, and other debris. Consequently, when one opens the sliding door to drink from the cup, or if one forgets to close the sliding door, then dirt, dust, and other particulate debris can enter the cup, and can contact one’s mouth when one drinks from the cup.

These rugged cups are often used in outdoor environments, such as at the beach, on camping trips, or while cutting the lawn, where the top surface of the lid can become contaminated with debris such as pollen, dust, dirt, sand, or grass clippings. In addition, beverage residue accumulated near the drinking hole can further collect and trap debris on the top surface of the lid, as well as attract insects that can land and stick to the top surface of the lid. Dirt and insects can cause the lid to become unsanitary, and may even fall into the drinking hole, causing the beverage to become contaminated, with the possibility that the user will inadvertently drink debris or bugs along with their beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The protected tumbler lid of the invention is advantageously used with tumbler lids having a drinking hole. Even when the hole has a sliding door that can be used to close the drinking hole, many people leave the drinking hole open while they drink their beverage, and dust, hair, grass clippings, pollen, insects, or other airborne particulate matter can get into the tumbler and contaminate the beverage. The protected tumbler lid of the invention prevents the particulate matter from entering the drinking hole, resulting in a more sanitary, uncontaminated beverage.

Further, after drinking a beverage for an extended period of time, the top of the tumbler lid can become coated with sticky and therefore dust-attracting and/or insect-attracting residue. The protective cap of the protected tumbler lid of the invention covers the top and side of the tumbler lid, thereby substantially protecting the top and side of the tumbler lid from

accumulating dust, grass clippings, and/or insects that ordinarily would find their way to the top surface of the tumbler lid. The result is a more clean, neat, sanitary, and more aesthetically appealing tumbler lid that is more suitable for active outdoor use than known tumbler lids.

A general aspect of the invention is a protected tumbler lid with a protective cap for use with a beverage tumbler. The protective tumbler lid includes: a tumbler lid having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a sealing gasket, the lower portion being configured so as to accommodate the sealing gasket, and the lower portion being configured to be pressed into the mouth of a tumbler so as to fit snugly and prevent leakage past the sealing gasket; a protective cap having a cap side portion, the cap side portion being configured to cover the upper portion of the tumbler lid when the protective cap is in a closed position; and a spring-biased hinge connected to both the protective cap and to the upper portion of the tumbler lid, the spring-biased hinge being configured to enable pivoting of the protective cap between the closed position and an open position.

In some embodiments, the protective cap includes a finger tab which can be pressed on so as to open the protective cap. In some embodiments, the protective cap includes an opening tab that can be used to lift open the protective cap.

In some embodiments, an opening tab is located along the cap side portion of the protective cap, directly opposite the location of the spring-biased hinge.

In some embodiments, the protective cap includes a cap gasket that provides a seal when engaged with a lid rim of the upper portion when the protective cap is in the closed position. In further embodiments, the cap gasket is made from one of: silicone, rubber, or flexible plastic.

In some embodiments, the upper portion of the tumbler lid includes an attachment element, and the spring-biased hinge is attached to the upper portion of the tumbler lid at the attachment element.

In some embodiments, the spring-biased hinge is configured to allow the protective cap to open at angle with respect to the upper portion of the cap body of no more than 135 degrees.

In some embodiments, the tumbler lid includes a hole, and a sliding cover that is configured to open and close the hole.

In some embodiments, the sealing gasket of the tumbler lid is made from one of:

silicone, rubber, or flexible plastic.

In some embodiments, the cap side portion extends at least one quarter inch downward over the upper portion of the tumbler lid.

In some embodiments, the cap side portion extends at least halfway around the upper portion of the tumbler lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1A is a side view of a protected tumbler lid having a spring-biased hinged protective cap, showing the spring-biased hinged protective cap in a closed position.

FIG. 1 B is a side view of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 1 A, showing the spring-biased hinged protective cap in a partially open position.

FIG. 1 C is a side view of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 1A, showing the spring-biased hinged protective cap in a fully open position.

FIG. 2 is a close-up cutaway side view of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 1A, showing the circumferential lid channel and the flexible sealing ring of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 1 C.

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 1A, also showing the spring-biased hinged protective cap in the fully open position, the top of the lid having a drinking hole, and a slidable drinking hole cover in the open position.

FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 1A, showing the protected tumbler lid mounted on a tumbler, also showing the spring-biased hinged protective cap in the fully open position, and the top of the lid having a drinking hole with the slidable drinking hole cover in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the protected tumbler lid of FIG. 3B, showing the protected tumbler lid mounted on a tumbler, also showing the spring-biased hinged protective cap in the closed position covering the top of the lid, including the drinking hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1 B, and 1C, a protected tumbler lid 100 includes a spring- biased hinged protective cap 106 and a tumbler lid 101. The tumbler lid 101 has an upper portion 102 and a lower portion 104 (see FIG. 1 B). The protective cap 106 covers the upper portion 102 (shown in Figure 1 B) of the tumbler lid 101 when the protective cap 106 is in the closed position.

The protective cap 106 is attached to the tumbler lid 101 via a spring-biased hinge 1 12. The spring-biased hinge 112 is attached to the upper portion 102 (shown in FIG. 1 B) of the tumbler lid 101 at an attachment element 114. The spring-biased hinge 1 12 is configured to enable pivoting of the protective cap 106 between the closed position (FIG. 1A) and an open position (FIG. 1 C). The spring-biased hinge 1 12 may also include a detent that enables it to also rest in an intermediate open position as shown in FIG. 1 B. The protective cap 106 also includes a finger tab 1 10 which can be pressed on using a finger or thumb to open the protective cap 106. The protective cap 106 also includes a cap side portion 1 16 which extends outside and over the upper portion 102 (shown in FIG. 1 B). The protective cap 106 also has an opening tab 120 that can be used to more easily open and close the protective cap 106. Further, the protective cap 106 has a cap gasket 1 18 that provide a seal when engaged with a lid rim 122 of the upper portion 102 (shown in FIG. 1 B) when the protective cap 106 is in the closed position (see FIG. 1A).

The tumbler lid 101 includes a lower portion 104 (shown in FIG. 1 B) that is configured to be placed onto and then pressed into the top of a tumbler 306 (such as shown in FIG. 3B). The lower portion 104 is shaped to accommodate a flexible sealing gasket 108 that fits snugly against the inside of the tumbler 306 so as to prevent leakage of the beverage out of the tumbler 306.

Figure 1 B is a side view of the protected tumbler lid 100 showing the protective cap 106 in a partially open position above the upper portion 102 of the tumbler lid 101. The protective cap 106 is attached to the upper portion 102 at an attachment element 114. The attachment element 1 14 secures a spring-biased hinge 112 which is configured to support pivoting of the protective cap 106 between at least one open position and a closed position. The protective cap 106 also includes a finger tab 1 10 shaped to help a user to open the protective cap 106 with a finger. The protective cap 106 also includes a cap side portion 1 16 which extends downward over the side of the upper portion 102 of the tumbler lid 101. The protective cap 106 also includes an opening tab 120 that can be used to open and close the protective cap 106.

A cap gasket 1 18 is configured to provide a seal against a lid rim 122 when the protective cap 106 is in the closed position (FIG. 1A).

The tumbler lid 101 includes a lower portion 104 (shown in FIG. 1 B) that is configured to be placed onto and then pressed into the top of a tumbler 306 (such as shown in FIG. 3B). The lower portion 104 is shaped to accommodate a flexible sealing gasket 108 that fits snugly against the inside of the tumbler 306 so as to prevent leakage of the beverage out of the tumbler 306.

Figure 1 C is a side view of the protected tumbler lid 100 showing the protective cap 106 in the fully open position, the angle between the protective cap 106 and the lid rim 122 of the upper portion 102 being substantially 135 degrees. The finger tab 1 10 of the protective cap 106 can be pressed completely downward until it presses against the attachment element 1 14 by the user's finger.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the protected tumbler lid 100 showing the protective cap 106 in a fully open position, the angle between the protective cap 106 and a lid rim 122 being substantially 135 degrees. The lid rim 122 is on the upper surface of the upper portion 102.

The protective cap 106 is attached to the upper portion 102 at an attachment element 1 14. The attachment element 1 14 secures the spring-biased hinge 112 which is here shown as configured to support pivoting of the protective cap 106 between the open position and a closed position.

The protected tumbler lid 100 includes a lower portion 104 configured to be inserted over and into the top portion of a tumbler 306 so as to form a liquid-tight seal (as shown in Figure 3B).

The lower portion 104 includes a circumferential lid channel 202 configured to receive a flexible sealing gasket 108. FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view of the flexible sealing gasket 108 to reveal the circumferential lid channel 202 which is configured to receive the flexible sealing gasket 108. The flexible sealing gasket 108 fits snugly against the inner surface of the tumbler 306 (shown in Figure 3B) near the rim of the tumbler 306 (shown in Figure 3B), so as to prevent leakage of the beverage.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the tumbler lid assembly 100, showing the lid 101 which includes a drinking hole 304 that can be closed using the drinking hole cover 302, shown in an open position.

The protected tumbler lid 100 also includes a protective cap 106 which is shown in the fully open position, the angle between the protective cap 106 and the lid rim 122 being substantially 135 degrees.

The protective cap 106 is attached to the upper portion 102 via the attachment element 1 14. The attachment element 114 secures a spring-biased hinge 1 12 (shown in Figure 1A) which is configured to support pivoting of the protective cap 106 between the open position and the closed position.

A cap gasket 1 18 is configured to provide a fluid-tight seal against a lid rim 122 when the protective cap 106 is in the closed position. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a protected tumbler lid 100 inserted into the opening of a tumbler 306, thereby leaving exposed only the upper portion 102, including the drinking hole 304, which can be closed by the sliding drinking hole cover 302. The protective cap 106 is shown in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protected tumbler lid 100 (as shown in FIG. 1A) inserted into the opening of a beverage container 306, showing the protective cap 106 in a closed position. The protective cap 106 includes a finger tab 110. Pressing on the finger tab 110 causes the protective cap 106 to pivot around the spring-biased hinge 112, which resists the pressure on the finger tab 110. Removing the pressure on the finger tab 110 causes the protective cap 106 to move back into the closed position, thereby causing the outside cap side 116 and the cap gasket 118 to seal around the upper surface of the upper portion 102. The opening tab 120 can be used to lift the protective cap into the open position. Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.