Sealing mechanism for beverage container

1. A lid assembly for a beverage container, comprising:

a lid housing having an upper surface, a drink aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing, and an actuator aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing;

an actuator extending through the actuator aperture in the lid housing and positionable in an open position where liquid can pass through the drink aperture and a closed position where the drink aperture is closed, the actuator having a first end, a second end, and a ball joint between the first end and the second end, the first end positioned below the upper surface in both the open position and the closed position of the actuator, and the first end having a drink seal for closing the drink aperture, the second end positioned above the upper surface in both the open position and the closed position, and the second end adapted to be engaged by an operator to reposition the actuator in one of the open position and the closed position; and,

a seal within and adjacent the actuator aperture, the ball joint being seated on the seal, the seal sealing against the ball joint and the lid housing to prevent liquid from escaping out the actuator aperture both when the actuator is in the open position and when the actuator is in the closed position.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a vent aperture in the lid housing, the vent aperture being open when the actuator is in the open position, and the vent aperture being closed when the actuator is in the closed position.

3. The lid assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot member extending from the actuator, the pivot member being received in a receiver in the lid housing and pivotable about a pivot axis within the receiver, the pivot axis being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container.

4. The lid assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lock to secure the actuator in the closed position.

5. A lid assembly for a beverage container, comprising:

a lid housing having an upper surface, a drink aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing, and an actuator aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing;

an actuator having a first section and a second section, the first section having drink seal for closing the drink aperture, the actuator further having a ball joint between the first section and the second section, the actuator moveable between an open position where liquid can pass through the drink aperture and a closed position where the drink aperture is closed; and,

a seal within and adjacent the actuator aperture, the ball joint being seated on the seal, the seal sealing against the ball joint and the lid housing to prevent liquid from escaping between the ball joint and the lid housing both when the actuator is in the open position and when the actuator is in the closed position.

6. The lid assembly of claim 5 , wherein the lid housing has a vent aperture, and wherein the actuator has a vent plug that seals the vent aperture when the actuator is in the closed position.

7. The lid assembly of claim 6 , wherein the vent plug is positioned above the upper surface.

8. The lid assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a pivot member extending from the actuator, the pivot member being received in a receiver in the lid housing and pivotable about a pivot axis within the receiver, the pivot axis being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container.

9. The lid assembly of claim 5 , wherein the actuator extends through the actuator aperture in the lid.

10. The lid assembly of claim 5 , wherein the drink seal is located below the upper surface, and wherein the drink seal drops below the drink aperture when the actuator is in the open position to open the drink aperture.

11. The lid assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a lock to secure the actuator in the closed position.

12. The lid assembly of claim 5 , wherein the drink seal is connected adjacent the drink aperture and not on the actuator, and wherein the first end of the actuator engages the drink seal to close the drink aperture.

13. The lid assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first and second sections of the actuator are separate elements connected together.

14. A lid assembly for a beverage container, comprising:

a lid housing having an upper surface, a drink aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing, an actuator aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing, and a vent aperture extending through the upper surface of the lid housing;

an actuator extending through the actuator aperture and having a first end and a second end, the actuator further having a ball joint between the first end and the second end, the actuator moveable between an open position where liquid can pass through the drink aperture and a closed position where the first end of the actuator engages the drink aperture to close the drink aperture; and,

a seal within and adjacent the actuator aperture, the ball joint being seated on the seal, the seal sealing against the ball joint and the lid housing to prevent liquid from escaping out the actuator aperture both when the actuator is in the open position and when the actuator is in the closed position.

15. The lid assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator has a vent plug that seals the vent aperture when the actuator is in the closed position.

16. The lid assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a drink seal for closing the drink aperture, the drink seal connected to the first end of the actuator.

17. The lid assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a pivot member extending from the actuator, the pivot member being received in a receiver in the lid housing and pivotable about a pivot axis within the receiver, the pivot axis being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container.