TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to drinking lids with drinking openings, further provided with an external covering means. The invention also relates to beverage containers which comprise such a drinking lid.

PRIOR ART

Various drinking lids with lockable drinking openings are known from the prior art.

Such a drinking lid can be coupled to a container body in which a beverage is provided. For example, the drinking lid is screwed or clicked into or over an opening at the top of the container body to this end. The beverage can then be drunk through the drinking lid via the drinking opening.

Some drinking lids further include an internal closing mechanism with a movable sealing element. From the inside, the sealing element can be moved against or into the drinking opening, closing the drinking opening. Conversely, the sealing element can be moved away from the drinking opening or out of the drinking opening, releasing the drinking opening. Typically, the movement of the sealing element is thereby operated externally, via one or more external operating members. For example, this concerns a push button, slider and/or tilt button that can be operated from the outside and which interacts with the internal closing mechanism, through an operating opening.

US 2015 201 776 describes such a drinking lid. The drinking opening is released by pressing a lateral push button. However, this movement of the sealing element can be blocked via a tilt button on the top. The undesired release of the drinking opening is thereby prevented.

US 2015 164 255 also describes a drinking lid with a sealable drinking opening. In particular, an internal sealing element is moved directly via a tilt button on the top of the drinking lid.

Such external operating members (e.g. push buttons, sliders and tilt buttons) must be easily accessible to the user. At the same time, the operating member must not protrude too far. After all, there would then be a risk of unintentional operation of the operating member, and therefore of unintentional release of the drinking opening.

With a view to hygiene, it can be advantageous to cover the drinking opening, between two drinks.

For example, US 8 978 923 describes a drinking lid for a beverage container, further provided with a pivoting lever. In a closed position, the lever covers the drinking opening. From here the lever can be pivoted into an open position, up to against a lateral push button. The lever can then serve as an arm of forcer for operating the push button. This would allow a very smooth operation.

However, a suitable design of the closing mechanism makes such a lever superfluous. In addition, the lever protrudes in the open position. This increases the risk of unwanted release of the drinking opening.

Apart from the above, US 2013 010 568 describes another beverage container in which coffee can be prepared, according to the principle of a 'French coffee press'. To that end, the beverage holder provides a vertical push rod that extends through the drinking lid, and which can be engaged via a gripping element at the top. Furthermore, the drinking lid provides an external covering means, with a sealing element directed downwards. In the closed position, the covering means covers the drinking opening, the sealing element sealing the drinking opening. From here the covering means can be pivoted into the open position. In its open position, the covering means blocks upward movement of the push rod. This is advantageous when drinking.

A number of important features of drinking lids and beverage containers are the simplicity of design, the comfort for the user, the durability, the sleek appearance and the safety. It is also important that they can be handled in a clear and intuitive way. This is all the more the case with advanced drinking lids with one or more external operating members.

The object of the invention is to remedy one or more of the above problems. In addition, the invention aims to provide an improved drinking lid, among other things. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention provides a drinking lid according to claim 1 in a first aspect. The drinking lid is provided with (a) a drinking opening, (b) an internal closing mechanism with a movable sealing element, (c) an operating member for operating and/or blocking a movement of the sealing element, and (d) an external covering means for the covering the drinking opening (and possibly also an adjacent drinking edge part).

In particular, the covering means can pivot around the operating member, between an open and closed position. In both positions the operating member is free and the operating member can be operated. There are important advantages in terms of hygiene. At the same time, such a design allows intuitively clear operation.

In a further preferred embodiment according to claim 3, an upper portion of the drinking lid further forms an upward rim. This provides a U-shaped surrounding of the operating element. The rim is positioned opposite the drinking opening, so that it does not get in the way when drinking.

In a further aspect, the invention further provides a beverage container according to claim 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1A-B show perspective views of a beverage container with drinking lid according to a first, possible embodiment, with the covering means in the closed and the open position, respectively.

Figures 1C-D show corresponding side views.

Figures 1E-F show corresponding lateral cross-sections.

Figures 2A-B show perspective views of a beverage container with drinking lid according to a second, possible embodiment, with the covering means in the closed and the open position, respectively.

Figures 2C-D show corresponding side views. Figures 2E-F show corresponding lateral cross-sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a drinking lid for a beverage container, and further provided with a covering means. The invention also relates to a beverage container as such.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. For a better understanding of the description of the invention, the following terms are explained explicitly.

In this document, 'a' and 'the' refer to both the singular and the plural, unless the context presupposes otherwise. For example, 'a segment' means one or more segments.

When the term 'around' or 'about' is used in this document with a measurable quantity, a parameter, a duration or moment, and the like, then variations are meant of approx. 20% or less, preferably approx. 10% or less, more preferably approx. 5% or less, even more preferably approx. 1% or less, and even more preferably approx. 0.1% or less than and of the quoted value, insofar as such variations are applicable in the described invention. However, it must be understood that the value of a quantity used where the term 'about' or 'around' is used, is itself specifically disclosed.

The terms 'comprise', 'comprising', 'consist of', 'consisting of', 'provided with', 'have', 'having', 'include', 'including', 'contain', 'containing' are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows, and which do not exclude or prevent the presence of other components, characteristics, elements, members, steps, as known from or disclosed in the prior art.

Quoting numerical intervals by endpoints includes all integers, fractions and/or real numbers between the endpoints, these endpoints included.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a drinking lid for a drinking container, which drinking lid comprises an upper portion and a side wall, which side wall extends downwardly from the upper portion to an open circumferential edge, adapted for coupling thereof to a container body, and wherein the upper portion of the drinking lid provides a drinking opening and an operating opening, the drinking lid further comprising :

an internal closing mechanism with a sealing element that is movable between a closed position and an open position, respectively for closing and releasing the drinking opening,

an operating member extending through the operating opening, and which is at least configured to move the sealing element from the closed position to the open position, and/or to block the latter movement in the closed position, and an external covering means pivotable between a closed position and an open position, respectively, for covering and releasing the drinking opening,

In particular, the operating member and the operating opening extend upwardly through the upper portion, the covering means being adapted to pivot over the operating member, and wherein the operating member is free in both the closed and the open position of the covering means.

A 'movable' part, as used herein, indicates that the part is coupled to other parts of the lid, but can still be moved relative to these parts. For example, the part is slidably coupled and thus slidable, or pivotingly / hingedly coupled, and thus pivotable/hingeable.

The drinking lid comprises one or more operating members. Preferably, they can be operated externally. For example, this relates to push buttons, sliders, tilt buttons and/or any combination thereof. The operating members extend through corresponding operating openings, wherein they can interact with the internal closing mechanism. It is not necessarily the case that an operating member directly controls the movement of the sealing element. This is also possible indirectly, via further parts. Alternatively or additionally, the operating member may be configured to block certain movements.

Preferably, the covering means is substantially curved plate-shaped or leaf-shaped. An external covering means has the important advantage that, between two drinks, the environment of the drinking opening can be covered. This contributes to hygiene. Preferably, the covering means is configured to cover both the drinking opening and any adjacent drinking edge part, in the closed position. The covering means can thereby shield an entire zone the mouth could touch.

However, such a pivotable covering means is difficult to integrate into a drinking lid design with an external operating member (e.g., push button, slider, tilt button) on the top. The present invention provides a solution wherein the covering means pivots over the operating member. At the same time, the operating member remains free standing in both the open position and the closed position. The operating member can be operated in both positions and is visible in both positions. Testing shows that especially such a design allows intuitively simple use. The design is also not weighted too much, due to the simple shape of the covering material.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the upper portion of the drinking lid forms an upward rim, which rim surrounds the operating opening in a U-shaped manner. The operating member is thereby partially shielded. With such a rim, the risk of unintentional operation of the operating member is therefore also reduced.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the rim is positioned opposite the drinking opening. In addition, the rim is not in the way when drinking. The operating member is also still easily accessible for the user (who will usually point the drinking opening towards themselves). Preferably the 'legs' of the 'U' will be directed substantially towards the drinking opening. Optionally, the legs provide a coupling point for pivotable coupling of the covering means, the pivot arms described below being pivotably coupled to the rim.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the covering means comprises two pivot arms, which pivot arms enclose the operating opening in a U-shaped manner, from the drinking opening, in the closed position of the covering means. In the closed position of the covering means, the operating member is enclosed both near the drinking opening (via the pivot arms) and opposite to the drinking opening (via the rim). At the same time, the operating member can still be operated and is visible from the top.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the pivot arms enclose the rim in a U-shaped manner, opposite the drinking opening, in the open position of the covering means. In the open position (for example, while drinking), the covering means is therefore turned away and stowed around the rim. The operating member is thereby easily accessible from the drinking side. This is further clarified in the figures.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the covering means is detachably clicked over the rim in the open position, via a corresponding lip and groove. This makes it possible to keep the covering means in the open position, for example during drinking. In a further or alternative embodiment, the covering means is adapted to pivot over the rim, between the closed and open positions. In particular, the covering means can be stowed over the rim in the open position.

Optionally, in the closed position, the covering means is detachably gripped over a drinking edge of the lid. To that end, the covering means and the drinking edge can be provided with a corresponding lip and groove, as shown in the figures.

In a further or alternative embodiment, a horizontal pivot axis of the covering means is located behind a vertical central axis of the drinking lid, viewed from the drinking opening. The advantages of such a configuration are described in the figures.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the operating member is configured to block a further operating member, in turn configured to move the sealing element from the closed position to the open position. In a further or alternative embodiment, the further operating member is arranged laterally, the further operating member extending through a lateral operating opening.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the covering means forms a collar in the open position, said collar protecting the further operating member at least partially, in an operable manner. For example, the further operating member forms a lateral push button which may or may not be locked via a slider at the top. The covering means now fulfils a dual function, wherein it provides partial shielding of the push button in the open position. Even with a slider in the 'free' position, it will therefore not be possible to operate the push button unintentionally, which would lead to the unwanted opening of the drinking opening.

In a further aspect, the invention further relates to a beverage container comprising a container body and a modified drinking lid, which drinking lid can be coupled to the container body. In particular, it relates to a drinking lid as described above. The same features and associated advantages can be reiterated in this regard.

In what follows, the invention is described by way of non-limiting examples and figures illustrating the invention, and which are not intended to and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

Figures 1A-B show perspective views of a beverage container 1 with drinking lid 2 according to a first, possible embodiment, with the covering means 4 in the closed and the open position, respectively. Figures 1C-D show corresponding side views. Figures 1E-F show corresponding lateral cross-sections.

As can best be seen in Fig. 1E-F, the drinking lid 2 comprises an upper portion 5 and a side wall 6. The side wall 6 extends downwardly from the upper portion 5 to an open circumferential edge 7. This is further provided with internal thread 8. The side wall 6 and circumferential edge 7 are thereby adapted to accommodate a screw coupling with the upper opening of a container body 3. In combination, the drinking lid 2 and the container body 3 together form a beverage container 1.

The upper portion 5 of the drinking lid 2 forms a drinking opening 9 and an operating opening 10. Both extend substantially upwards through the upper portion 5. Furthermore, the drinking lid 2 comprises an internal closing mechanism 11 with a movable sealing element 12. Typically, an elastomer is used for this. In the embodiment shown, the sealing element 12 is arranged in a pivotable frame 13. The pivoting movement of the frame 13, and therefore also the movement of the sealing element 12, can be controlled/operated by means of an operating member 14. In the embodiment shown, the operating member 14 is a tilt button 9 which extends upwards through the operating opening 10. In other words, the tilt button 9 can be operated externally. In the non-operated state (shown, for example, in Fig. 1E-F), the sealing element 12 is pressed under spring tension against the underside of the drinking opening 9. The sealing element 12 is in the closed position, and the drinking opening 9 is closed. When operating the tilt button 9, it will tilt anticlockwise. This causes the frame 13 to turn away downwards. The sealing element 12 is thereby moved from its closed position to its open position (not shown). In the open position of the sealing element 12, the drinking opening 9 is no longer closed and beverage from the container body 3 can pass through the drinking opening 9. The invention is by no means limited to such a design of the closing mechanism 11 and operating mechanism 14. Reference is also made to the embodiment according to Fig. 2A-F. Incidentally, the operating mechanism 14 can be designed to be both monostable (i.e., the drinking opening 9 is automatically closed as soon as the operating member 14 is no longer operated), and can be bistable (i.e., the drinking opening 9 remains released until the operating member 14 is operated in the opposite direction).

The drinking lid 2 further comprises an external covering means 4. The covering means 4 is substantially plate-shaped. The plate shape is further bent according to an external surface 15 on the drinking lid 2. Thus, the covering means 4 forms a bottom surface 16 that is complementary to said external surface 15 of the drinking lid 2. In its closed position, the covering means 4 abuts with its lower surface 16 that external surface 15; see Fig. IE.

The covering means 4 is pivotably coupled to the upper portion 5 of the drinking lid 2. It can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position. In Fig. 1A, 1C and IE, the covering means 4 is shown in the closed position. It thereby covers the drinking opening 9 externally. In Fig. IB, ID and IF, the covering means is shown in the open position. The drinking opening 9 is thereby released.

The main function of the covering means 4 is to cover the drinking opening 9 and the neighbouring drinking edge 18 between drinks. This, with a view to hygiene. It is not necessary for the covering means 4 to be able to close the drinking opening 9 in a liquid-tight manner. Preferably, the bottom surface 16 of the covering means 4 does not provide a sealing element 12 for this purpose, as is the case for some known covering elements 12 (see e.g. US 2013 010 568). The aim is to design the simplest possible design. Moreover, the internal closing mechanism 11 already serves to close the drinking opening 9.

Fig. 1A shows the covering means 4 in the closed position, covering the drinking opening 9 and adjacent drinking edge 18. Fig. IB shows the covering means 4 in the open position, wherein the drinking opening 9 and drinking edge 18 are released. In particular, the user can place their lips around the drinking edge 18 when drinking.

The operating opening 10 (not visible) and the tilt button 14 extend upwards through the upper portion 5 of the drinking lid 2. The covering means 4 can pivot over the tilt button 14 via two pivot arms 19, between its open and closed position. Both in the closed position (Fig. 1A) and in the open position (Fig. IB), the tilt button 14 is free. The tilt button 14 can thus be operated in both positions, and the tilt button 14 is visible in both positions. The upper portion 5 of the drinking lid 2 forms a U-shaped rim 20. This is positioned opposite the drinking opening 9 (i.e., away from the drinking side), and surrounds the operating opening 10. The tilt button 14 is thereby partially shielded. The unintentional opening of the drinking opening 9 can thus be prevented, with advantages in terms of safety. At the same time, the rim 20 is positioned away from the drinking opening 9. The rim 20 is therefore not in the way when drinking. It is furthermore the case that the pivot arms 19 of the covering means 4 extend in a U-shaped manner, thereby enclosing a U-shaped recess 21. On the one hand, in the closed position of the covering means 4 (Fig. 1A), the pivot arms 19 surround the operating opening 10 from the drinking side. On the other hand, in the open position of the covering means 4 (Fig. 2B), the pivot arms 19 enclose the operating opening 10 (and also the rim 20), opposite to the drinking side. There is, moreover, a snap coupling of the covering means 4 and the rim 20, through cooperation of a lip 22 and groove 23. One of the two is provided on the inside of the recess 21, the other is provided on an outside of the rim 20; see Fig. 1A. The lip 22 and groove 23 hold the covering means 4 in its open position, in a releasably snapping manner. Furthermore, the U-shaped rim 20 and the U-shaped recess 21 are approximately complementary in shape.

In between two drinks, with the covering means 4 in the closed position (Fig. 1A), the tilt button 14 is largely shielded (because completely surrounded). However, the tilt button 14 can still be operated if desired, both in the open and closed position of the covering means 4. In particular, the tilt button 14 is visible in both positions. This makes the use of the beverage container 1 intuitively clear to the user. All operable elements (including the covering means 4) are visible at a glance.

When drinking, with the covering means 4 in the open position (Fig. IB), it is even easier for the user to operate the tilt button 14, from the drinking side. After all, the operating opening 10 and tilt button 14 are only partially surrounded, opposite the drinking side.

Fig. 1C and ID show two more side views of the beverage container 1, with the covering means 4 in the closed and open position, respectively. Corresponding, lateral cross- sections are shown in Fig. IE and IF.

The upper portion 5 of the lid 2 has a curved, external surface 15 which is concave. The drinking opening 9 is therein positioned near the 'deepest point' of that concave surface 15, with known advantages. Among other things, spilled drinks will always flow to the drinking opening 9. The plate-shaped covering means 4 also has the same curved shape. The covering means 4 thus has a convex bottom surface 16, and a concave top surface 17. As mentioned above, the bottom surface 16 can abut the outer surface 15 of the drinking lid 2, in the closed position (Fig. IE). At the same time, the bottom surface 16 is adapted to engage over the drinking edge 18, via a lip 22' and groove 23'. Again, the lip 22' and groove 23' retain the covering means 4, this time in its closed position, in a releasably snapping manner.

Precisely because of its curved shape, the covering means 4 will form a downward collar 24 in the open position (Fig. IF). In this position, the beverage container 1 can be grasped simply and safely under the collar 24. That is, below the concave top surface 17 of the covering means 4. It is also indicated that the (horizontal) pivot axis 25 of the covering means 4 is located behind the (vertical) central axis 26 of the drinking lid 2, viewed from the drinking opening 9. The covering means 4 is thus decentrally coupled to the lid 2. Such a design allows the emergence of the outward collar 24 when the covering means 4 is turned.

Figures 2A-B show perspective views of a beverage container 1 with drinking lid 2 according to a second, possible embodiment, again with the covering means 4 in the closed and the open position, respectively. Figures 2C-D show corresponding side views. Figures 2E-F show corresponding lateral cross-sections. There are strong similarities with the embodiment of Fig. 1A— F, where corresponding features and advantages will not be extensively repeated.

An important difference is that this time two operating openings 10, 10' and two operating members 14, 14' are provided. On the one hand, there is a first, upward operating opening 10 with slider 14. On the other hand, there is a second, lateral operating opening 10' with push button 14'.

Pressing the lateral push button 14' leads to the pivoting of a pivotable frame 13 of the internal closing mechanism 12. A sealing element 12 is thereby moved from the closed position (see Fig. 2E-F) to the open position (not shown), against a spring tension. The slider 14, however, can block such a movement. The slider 14 extends upwards through the upper portion 5 of the drinking lid 3. In addition, the slider 14 can be shifted perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2C-F, between three transverse slider positions, namely: closed / open / free. In the closed slider position, the push button 14' is blocked such that the sealing element 12 remains in the closed position. In the open slider position, the push button 14' is blocked such that the sealing element 12 remains in the open position. In the free slider position, the push button 14' is no longer blocked.

Similarly to the embodiment of Fig. 1A-F, this time it is the first operating opening 10 and slider 14 that are surrounded/enclosed in a U-shaped manner. In particular, the slider 14 is always at least partially shielded by the rim 20 and/or the pivot arms 19. A slider 14 in the blocked position will therefore not inadvertently shift into the free/open slider position. This is particularly advantageous with regard to safety. However, the slider 14 can still be operated in both positions of the covering means 4, if desired, since it is free. The slider 14 is also visible in both positions of the covering means 4. This allows intuitively clear use of the beverage container 1.

Here too, the covering means 4 forms an outward collar 24, in its open position (see Fig. 2F), with the same advantages. However, the collar 24 is, moreover, arranged above the push button 14'. The collar 24 thereby shields the push button 14' while it is still operable. This is particularly advantageous because in between drinking (e.g. with the slider 14' in the free slider position, and with the covering means 4 in the open position) the push button 14' is still shielded against the undesired opening of the drinking opening 12.

The numbered elements in the figures are:

1. Beverage container

2. Drinking lid

3. Container body

4. Covering means

5. Upper portion

6. Side wall

7. Circumferential edge

8. Screw thread

9. Drinking opening

10. Operating opening

11. Internal closing mechanism

12. Sealing element

13. Frame

14. Operating member / operating mechanism (e.g. tilt button / slider / push button)

15. External surface

16. Bottom surface

17. Upper surface

18. Drinking edge

19. Pivot arm

20. Rim

21. Recess 22. Lip

23. Groove

24. Collar

25. Pivot axis

26. Central axis

It is believed that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and that some modifications or changes can be added to the examples and figures described without re-evaluating the appended claims.