VENTING DEVICE, LID, AND CONTAINER COMPRISING LID
20230107675 · 2023-04-06
Assignee
Inventors
- Siu Wah Wong (Hong Kong, HK)
- Yi Chia Chen (Taipei, TW)
- Szu Wen Wang (Taipei, TW)
- Tsan Ho Chan (Hong Kong, HK)
Cpc classification
B65D51/1672
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A47G19/2266
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
A venting device comprises an air channel and a rotary venting rod, wherein: the air channel comprises a first end facing an outer surface of the rotary venting rod and a second end away from the rotary venting rod; the outer surface of the rotary venting rod is provided with a recessed venting slot in fluid communication with ambient air, about which the rotary venting rod may be rotated about a rotation axis extending longitudinally thereof to provide a vented state and a sealed state. In the vented state, at least a portion of the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is in fluid communication with the air channel and thereby brings the air channel into fluid communication with ambient air via the venting slot. In the sealed state, the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is not in fluid communication with the air channel and the first end of the air channel is sealed by the outer surface of the rotating vent rod. The venting device of the present invention is easy to manufacture and assemble. The present invention also relates to a lid comprising the above-mentioned venting device and a container comprising the lid.
Claims
1. A venting device, characterized in that the venting device comprises an air channel and a rotary venting rod, wherein: the air channel comprises a first end facing the outer surface of the rotary venting rod and a second end facing away from the rotary venting rod; the outer surface of the rotary venting rod is provided with a recessed venting slot which is in fluid communication with ambient air, and the rotary venting rod may be swiveled about a rotation axis extending along its longitudinal direction to provide vented and sealed states, wherein: in the vented state, the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is in fluid communication with the air channel and the air channel is in fluid communication with the ambient air via the venting slot; and in the sealed state, the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is not in fluid communication with the air channel and the first end of the air channel is sealed by the outer surface of the rotary venting rod.
2. The venting device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first end of the air channel and the outer surface of the rotary venting rod are separable from each other.
3. The venting device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the outer surface of the rotary venting rod is cylindrical, and the rotation axis of the rotary venting rod is its central axis.
4. The venting device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the venting slot extends along the rotary venting rod in the longitudinal direction of the rotary venting rod to a distal face of the rotary venting rod.
5. The venting device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the venting slot extends along a portion of the outer surface of the rotary venting rod in the longitudinal direction of the rotary vending rod.
6. The venting device according to claim 5, further characterized in that the rotary venting rod comprises an internal cavity extending toward the distal face of the rotary venting rod and the venting slot is recessed into the internal cavity from the outer surface.
7. The venting device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the rotation axis of the rotary venting rod is arranged at the first end of the air channel and is substantially perpendicular to the channel axis of the air channel.
8. A lid with a venting device for a container, the lid comprising: a swivel cover comprising a rotary venting rod that may be rotated about a rotation axis, wherein the outer surface of the rotary venting rod is provided with a concave venting slot configured to communicate with ambient air, a lid base comprising an air channel penetrating through the lid base wherein the air channel comprises a first end facing the rotary venting rod and a second end facing away from the rotary venting rod, wherein the swivel cover may be rotated relative to the lid base to a first position to provide a venting state for the lid base in which the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is in fluid communication with the air channel and so the air channel is in fluid communication with the ambient air via the venting slot and a second position to provide a sealed state for the lid base in which the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is not in fluid communication with the air channel, and the first end of the air channel is sealed by the outer surface of the rotary venting rod.
9. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the lid base and the swivel cover of the lid base are detachable from each other.
10. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the rotary venting rod is configured to be able to rotate relative to the lid base in conjunction with the swivel cover rotating from a closed position to an open position via an intermediate position or from the open position to the closed position via the intermediate position, wherein the lid is in a sealed state while the swivel cover is in the closed position and the open position and the lid is in a vented state while the swivel cover is the intermediate position.
11. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the rotary venting rod is detachably provided on the swivel cover.
12. The lid base according to claim 8, further characterized in that an interior space of the lid base is enclosed by the swivel cover.
13. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the outer surface of the rotary venting rod is cylindrical, and the rotation axis of the rotary venting rod is its central axis.
14. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the venting slot extends along the rotary venting rod in the longitudinal direction of the rotary venting rod to the distal face of the rotary venting rod.
15. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the venting slot extends along a portion of the outer surface of the rotary venting rod in the longitudinal direction of the rotary vending rod.
16. The lid according to claim 15, further characterized in that the rotary venting rod comprises an internal cavity extending toward the distal face of the rotary venting rod and the venting slot is recessed into the internal cavity from the outer surface.
17. The lid according to claim 8, further characterized in that the rotation axis of the rotary venting rod is arranged at the first end of the air channel and is substantially perpendicular to the channel axis of the air channel.
18. A container comprising a main body, and a lid with a venting device for the container, the lid comprising: a swivel cover comprising a rotary venting rod that may be rotated about a rotation axis, wherein the outer surface of the rotary venting rod is provided with a concave venting slot configured to communicate with ambient air, a lid base comprising an air channel penetrating through the lid base wherein the air channel comprises a first end facing the rotary venting rod and a second end facing away from the rotary venting rod, wherein the swivel cover may be rotated relative to the lid base to a first position to provide a venting state for the lid base in which the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is in fluid communication with the air channel and so the air channel is in fluid communication with the ambient air via the venting slot and a second position to provide a sealed state for the lid base in which the venting slot of the rotary venting rod is not in fluid communication with the air channel, and the first end of the air channel is sealed by the outer surface of the rotary venting rod; wherein the main body comprises an inner chamber and the lid may be engaged with the main body to cover the opening of the main body, and further wherein: when the lid is in the sealed state, the inner chamber of the main body is not in fluid communication with the air channel of the lid, so that the inner chamber of the lid base is not in fluid communication with ambient air through said air channel; and when the lid is in the venting state, the inner chamber of the main body and the air channel are in fluid communication so that the inner chamber is in fluid communication with ambient air through the air channel and the venting slot.
19. (canceled)
20. The container of claim 18, characterized in that the container further comprises a drinking straw extending into the inner chamber from outside the inner chamber.
21. The container of claim 20, further characterized in that the drinking straw extends through the lid and protrudes beyond the lid; the rotary vending rod is rotatable with the swivel cover relative to the lid base from a closed position to an open position via an intermediate position, or from the open position to the closed position via an intermediate position, wherein in the closed position and the open position, the lid is in a sealed state, in the intermediate position, the lid is in a venting state, and the drinking straw switches between a straw closed state and a straw open state with the rotation of the swivel cover; when the rotary venting rod is rotated to the closed position, the drinking straw is blocked by the swivel cover of the lid and is in the straw closed state, and when the rotary venting rod is rotated to the open position, the swivel cover of the lid releases the drinking straw and the drinking straw is in the straw open state.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] With reference to the above-described objects, the technical features of the present invention are hereinafter described, and the advantages thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example and do not limit the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0069] The following is a list of reference numerals used in the figures and description:
TABLE-US-00001 100 venting device 110 air channel 111 first end 112 second end 113 channel axis 120 rotary venting rod 121 venting slot 122 distal face 123 outer surface 124 rotation axis 125 internal cavity 200 container 210 inner chamber 220 lid 221 lid base 222 swivel cover 222A rotating shaft 222B guiding member 223 protrusion 230 main body 231 opening 240 drinking opening 241 drinking straw
[0070] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter. While the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that this description is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplified embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is directed not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. For ease of explanation and precise definition of the technical solutions of the present invention, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, and “outer” are used to refer to the positions of features of the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings to refer to these features describe.
[0071] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0072] A venting device 100 for a container 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in
[0073] In this context, the term “venting device” is to be understood as a device that enables the gas in one space to be in fluid communication with the gas in another space so that the gas pressure in the two spaces is equalized. Generally, the power source for the venting device to circulate the gas may be provided by the pressure difference of the gas in different spaces, but the active pumping or auxiliary pumping of the gas between the different spaces may also be performed by using an external power source such as an air pump.
[0074] Furthermore, although a particular form of container 200 is shown in the drawings as a drinking cup for children (duckbill cup), the venting device of the present invention may also be used in various other types of containers 200, such as drinking cups, insulated bottles, lunch boxes, etc.
[0075] As shown more clearly in
[0076] With reference to
[0077] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lid 220 comprises a lid base 221 and a swivel cover 222 pivotally mounted on the lid base 221, wherein the swivel cover 222 rotates (pivots) with respect to the lid base 221 about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner chamber 210 (extending in the up-down direction in
[0078] Continuing with reference to
[0079] The air channel 110 includes a first end 111 facing the outer surface 123 of the rotary venting rod 120 and a second end 112 facing away from the rotary venting rod 120. The two ends 112 are in fluid communication with the inner chamber 210 of the container 200 for holding the contents. It should be pointed out that the air channel 110 is a pipe-like structure arranged in a solid structure, and the first end 111 and the second end 112 of the air channel 110 described herein actually refer to the openings at the ends of the air channel 110. The air channel 110 may be straight or curved according to need. The diameter of the air channel 110 may be uniform, or may be varied along the longitudinal direction of the air channel 110 according to need, such as increasing, decreasing, increasing first and then decreasing, first decreasing and then increasing, and so on.
[0080] The air channel 110 may be provided on the lid base 221. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings (see
[0081] As described above, the rotary venting rod 120 has an outer surface 123. This outer surface 123 defines a longitudinal direction and thus a longitudinal rotation axis 124 of the rotary venting rod 120, see for example
[0082] In the preferred embodiment shown in
[0083] Preferably, as shown in the drawings, the rotation axis 124 of the rotary venting rod 120 is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the channel axis 113 of the air channel 110 at the first end 111. Substantially perpendicular means that the angle where the two intersect is approximately equal to 90 degrees, such as 90°±5°.
[0084] Referring to the rotary venting rod of the first preferred embodiment shown in
[0085] In the two embodiments shown, see, e.g.,
[0086] Further preferably, as in the second embodiment shown in
[0087] As also shown in
[0088] The swivel vent rod 120 can swivel about a rotation axis 124 extending longitudinally thereof to toggle the inner chamber 210 of the container 200 between a vented state and a sealed state, which are as follows:
[0089] In the vented state, at least a portion of the venting slot 121 of the rotary venting rod 120 is in fluid communication with the air channel 110 and enables the inner chamber 210 of the container 200 to also pass through the air channel 110 and the vent slot 121 to be in fluid communication with the outside ambient air.
[0090] In the sealed state, the venting slot 121 of the rotary venting rod 120 is not in fluid communication with the air channel 110 and causes the first end 111 of the air channel 110 to be sealed by the outer surface 123 of the rotary venting rod 120. In other words, in the sealed state, the opening of the air channel 110 at the first end 111 is closed by the outer surface 123 of the rotary venting rod 120, blocking communication with the outside ambient air.
[0091] In the above-described exemplary preferred embodiment, the rotary venting rod 120 is provided on the swivel cover 222, and the air channel 110 is provided on the lid base 221. Therefore, the rotary venting rod 120 can rotate relative to the air channel 110 with the rotation of the swivel cover 222 relative to the lid base 221. Further preferably, the rotary venting rod 120 may be arranged on the inner side of the swivel cover 222 to rotate together with the swivel cover 222 around the rotation axis 124. At this time, the venting slot 121 may also lead to the interior space covered by the swivel cover 222.
[0092] In this preferred embodiment, the swivel cover 222 of the lid 220 and the lid base main body 221 may be configured such that:
[0093] 1) When the swivel cover 222 is fully closed (i.e., the closed position), the venting device 100 is in a sealed state (refer to
[0094] 2) When the swivel cover 222 is rotated through a certain angle and partially but not fully opened (i.e., the intermediate position), the venting device 100 is in the venting state (refer to
[0095] And optionally 3) when the swivel cover 222 continues to rotate through a certain angle and is fully opened (i.e., the open position), the venting device 100 is again in a sealed state (refer to
[0096] The rotary venting rod 120 shown in
[0097] Referring to
[0098] When the swivel cover 222 of the lid 220 is completely closed (closed position,
[0099] When the swivel cover 222 is partially opened but not fully opened (intermediate position,
[0100] When the swivel cover 222 is fully opened (open position,
[0101] In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the container 200 may further include other structures to facilitate drinking at the drinking opening 240. For example, referring back to
[0102] Preferably, the drinking straw 241 may be configured as follows.
[0103] When the swivel cover 222 of the lid 220 is completely closed (closed position), the drinking straw 241 is bent or pressed in by the force of the swivel cover 222. The venting slot 121 of the rotary venting rod 120 is not in fluid communication with the air channel 110, and the first end 111 of the air channel 110 is sealed by the outer surface 123 of the rotary venting rod 120, so the inner chamber 210 of the container 200 cannot communicate with the external ambient air through the air channel 110. At this time, the drinking opening 240 is completely blocked by the swivel cover 222 and is in a sealed state; at this time, the drinking straw 241 cannot be used.
[0104] When the swivel cover 222 rotates to the intermediate position, the swivel cover 222 is partially but not fully opened, and at least a part of the drinking straw 241 is also bent or pressed in by the force of the swivel cover 222. Rotation of the rotary venting rod 120 with the rotation of the swivel cover 222 causes at least a portion of the venting slot 121 to be in fluid communication with the air channel 110, thereby placing the inner chamber 210 of the container 200 in fluid communication with the with the ambient air through the air channel 110 and venting slot 121, so as to equalize the external air pressure and the internal pressure of the inner chamber 210. At this time, the drinking opening 240 is still sealed by the swivel cover (222) and is in a sealed state, so at this time, the drinking straw 241 cannot be used.
[0105] When the swivel cover 222 is rotated to the open position, since the swivel cover 222 is completely rotated to one side of the lid 220 and is out of contact with the drinking straw 241, the drinking straw 241 returns to an accessible configuration. The rotary venting rod 120 is rotated until the venting slot 121 is again out of fluid communication with the air channel 110, and the first end 111 of the air channel 110 is sealed by the outer surface 123 of the rotary venting rod 120. The inner chamber 210 of the container 200 cannot communicate with the external ambient air through the air channel 110, but the swivel cover 222 releases the drinking straw 240 so that the drinking straw 240 is in an open state, allowing access to the liquid beverage contained in the inner chamber 210 of the container 200.
[0106] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it is to be understood that aspects of the embodiments may be modified, if desired, to employ aspects, features and concepts of various patents, applications and publications to provide additional embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0107] These and other changes may be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the claims, the terms used should not be construed as limiting to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments, along with all equivalents to which these claims are entitled scope.