LID ASSEMBLY AND CONTAINER

Abstract

The present invention provides a lid assembly and fluid container having the lid assembly

Claims

1. A lid assembly comprising: a) a lid body having a topwall defining a perimeter edge, and a sidewall extending from the perimeter edge; and b) a button device detachably coupled to the lid body.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the button device comprises a coupling component configured to extend from a bottom surface of the button device into the topwall of the lid body to detachably couple the button device to the lid body.

3. The lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the coupling component traverses the entire thickness of the topwall of the lid body.

4. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the coupling component comprises an elongated shaft.

5. The lid assembly of claim 4, wherein the elongated shaft has a circular, oval, square, or rectangular cross-section.

6. The lid assembly of claim 5, wherein the elongated shaft is circular and has a diameter (D1).

7. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the button element is disc shaped and defined by a circular perimeter having a diameter (D2).

8. The lid assembly of claim 7, wherein D2 is greater than Dl.

9. The lid assembly of claim 8, wherein the topwall defines a circular perimeter having a diameter (D3).

10. The lid assembly of claim 9, wherein D3 is greater than D2.

11. The lid assembly of claim 1, further comprising a container reversibly attached to the lid body.

12. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the sidewall comprises threads for rotatably engaging threads of the container to provide a liquid tight seal.

13. The lid assembly of claim 11, further comprises an attachment element operable to tether the lid body to the container upon decoupling of the lid body from the container.

14. The lid assembly of claim 13, wherein the attachment element is configured as a strap having a first end portion coupled to the lid body and a second end portion coupled to the container.

15. The lid assembly of claim 14, wherein the attachment element is flexible.

16. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the button device comprises a top surface having visible indicia.

17. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the button is configured to detachably couple with a securing element disposed on the container thereby securing the lid body to the container when the lid body is uncoupled from the container.

18. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the button and securing element are magnetically coupled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention will be more readily understood from a detailed description of example embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container in one embodiment of the invention, wherein the lid assembly 20 is attached to the opening of the container 10;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the container depicted in FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view of the container depicted in FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the container depicted in FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the container depicted in FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a button device, in one embodiment of the invention;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view of the button device depicted in FIG. 6 in one embodiment of the invention;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a front view of the button device depicted in FIG.6; and

[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional front view of the button device depicted in FIG. 7 along line 9-9 in one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment, in an embodiment, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0018] The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0019] In various aspects, the present invention provides a lid assembly.

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1-9, the lid assembly 20 includes: a) a lid body 22 having a topwall defining a perimeter edge, and a sidewall extending from the perimeter edge; and b) a button device 30 detachably coupled to the lid body 22. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in embodiments, the button device 30 includes a top surface 35 suitable for displaying a graphic and/or indicia to personalize a container upon which the lid assembly is affixed.

[0021] In additional aspect, the present invention provides a container 10 reversibly sealed by the lid assembly 20 as shown in FIGS. 1-5.

[0022] In embodiments, the present invention includes a feature for removably securing a the lid assembly 20 to the side of the container 10. One part of the apparatus fastens onto the lid of the container and another part fastens around the body of the container. The two parts interact with each other to form a physical connection. The arrangement is particularly suited for Nalgene water containers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lid assembly 20 includes an attachment element 40 operable to tether the lid body 22 to the container 10 upon decoupling of the lid body 22 from the container 10.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment element 40 is configured as a strap having a first end portion coupled to the lid body 22 and a second end portion coupled to the container 10.

[0024] In embodiments, upon uncoupling of the lid assembly 20 from the container 10 the button device 30 is configured to detachably couple to the sidewall of the container 10, optionally via a securing element disposed on the container. As such, the lid body may be coupled with the container 10 to avoid unwanted movement of the lid assembly 20 during drinking.

[0025] In embodiments, the button device 30 is added securely to the top of a Nalgene water bottle lid or other similar bottle lid, and pressed into the existing indent, securing the button device to the top surface of the lid by means of a friction fit thereby forming the lid assembly 20 shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the securing device is disposed on the container 10 to which the button device 30 couples and can be configured as a band or strap that is stretched around the container body. In one embodiment, the band is a magnetic or metal material, allowing it to magnetically couple with the button device 30.

[0026] The button device 30 is coupled to the topwall of the lid body 22. As shown in FIGS. 8-9 the button device 30 comprises a top portion 50 having a shaft 55 that extends perpendicular to the top portion 50. The shaft 55 may be a cylindrical extrusion that extends perpendicularly from the top portion 50. In embodiments, the shaft 55 comprises a recess 60 thereby defining a hollow lumen within the shaft 55.

[0027] The recess 60 assists in avoiding the problem of having to meticulously clean out foreign material that may be deposited during assembly of the button device 30 to the lid body 22 and shaped to allow a small amount of dirt to exist within. In additional embodiments, the shaft 55 include a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges may be a set of rotated cuts into the shaft 55 that assist with the friction fit of the shaft 55 into the shaft 55 lid body.

[0028] In one embodiment, the top portion 50 is disc shaped and has a top surface 35 configured for including visible indicia, such as advertising or graphics for personalization of the container. In one embodiment, the top portion 50 is positioned concentrically atop the shaft 55 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0029] In embodiments, the button device 30 is composed of metal or magnetic material. The edge of the top surface 35 may be tapered to protect a user's fingers from damage when removing or adding the button device to the lid body 22, without interfering with the user's ability to do so. In an embodiment, the top portion 50 is made together with the shaft 55 to form one continuous piece.

[0030] Although the invention has been described with reference to the above examples, it will be understood that modifications and variations are encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims.