IP Library Granted Patent US 10,214,330
Granted Patent B2
US 10,214,330 · App. 15/391,600 · Granted Feb 26, 2019

Fluid container with axis straw

Inventors: John Paul Leimone (Sausalito, CA); Shane Rogers (Sausalito, CA); Brian Holm (Sausalito, CA)
Assignee: THERMOS LLC
B65D47/32A47G19/2272A47G21/18B65D25/28B65D47/065B65D47/2006B65D2525/283
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,214,330
App. No.
15/391,600
Granted
Feb 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid container cover includes a cap having an outer and an inner surface. The inner surface is capable of being coupled to the fluid container. A spout includes a drinking portion, an actuation portion and a curved, distal end. The spout is capable of being actuated from a first closed position to a second open position by an external force. A flexible tube is coupled inside of the spout, and has a first end and a second end. An air venting component has a nub and a plurality of air vent holes. When the spout is in the first closed position, the flexible tube is deformed preventing flow through the spout. When the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position, the curved, distal end of the spout deflects the nub allowing passage of air with the fluid container.

Claims (38)

1. A fluid container cover comprising:

a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface capable of being coupled to the fluid container;

a spout comprising a drinking portion, an actuation portion and a curved, distal end, wherein the spout is capable of being actuated from a first closed position to a second open position by an external force applied on the actuation portion;

a flexible tube coupled inside of the spout, the flexible tube having a first end and a second end, the second end being longer in length than the spout; and

an air venting component having a nub and a plurality of air vent holes;

wherein when the spout is in the first closed position, the flexible tube is deformed by the curved, distal end of the spout preventing flow through the spout; and

wherein when the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position, the curved, distal end of the spout deflects the nub of the air venting component allowing passage of air with the fluid container.

2. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , further comprising:

the spout having a protrusion on the curved, distal end; and

the outer surface of the cap having a depression and a slot, the slot configured to receive the protrusion of the spout, allowing radial rotation of the spout while preventing twisting of the spout in the second open position.

3. The fluid container cover of claim 2 , wherein the spout is received in the depression and allowed to rotate radially around the outer surface of the cap without twisting while in the second open position.

4. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the air venting component is integral to the flexible tube.

5. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the spout is coupled to the cap by the air venting component.

6. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the spout comprises a channel on an inside surface of the drinking portion; and

wherein the first end of the flexible tube comprises a lip that is capable of being seated in the channel of the spout.

7. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , further comprising:

the inner surface of the cap having a recess;

wherein the air venting component is coupled to the recess of the inner surface of the cap.

8. The fluid container cover of claim 7 , wherein the recess of the inner surface of the cap comprises grooves that seal with ribs on the air venting component, the ribs surrounding the air vent holes, wherein the grooves are unsealed from the ribs when the nub of the air venting component is deflected.

9. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the air venting component is capable of preventing fluid from exiting the spout when the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position.

10. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the spout is capable of being actuated more than 90 degrees to the second open position.

11. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air vent holes are configured in a circular array.

12. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the curved, distal end of the spout comprises a jut, the jut deflecting the nub of the air venting component when the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position.

13. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the curved, distal end of the spout is greater than the diameter of the drinking portion of the spout.

14. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube comprises silicone.

15. The fluid container cover of claim 1 , wherein the air venting component further comprises a support configured to receive a straw, the straw being coupled to the flexible tube.

16. The fluid container cover of claim 15 , wherein the straw extends up to 8 inches into the fluid container.

17. A fluid container cover comprising:

a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface having a depression with a slot in a perimeter of the depression, the inner surface capable of being coupled to the fluid container;

a spout comprising a drinking portion, an actuation portion, a protrusion and a curved, distal end, wherein the spout is capable of being pivotally actuated from a first closed position to a second open position by an external force applied on the actuation portion;

a flexible tube coupled inside of the spout, the flexible tube having a length extending past the curved, distal end of the spout;

an air venting component having a nub and a plurality of air vent holes;

wherein when the spout is in the first closed position, the flexible tube is deformed by the curved, distal end of the spout preventing flow through the spout;

wherein when the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position, the curved, distal end of the spout deflects the nub of the air venting component allowing passage of air with the fluid container;

wherein the protrusion of the spout is received by the slot of the cap allowing radial movement of the spout while preventing twisting with respect to a longitudinal axis of the spout when in the second open position.

18. The fluid container cover of claim 17 , wherein the air venting component is integral to the flexible tube.

19. The fluid container cover of claim 17 , wherein the spout is coupled to the cap by the air venting component.

20. The fluid container cover of claim 17 , wherein the air venting component is capable of preventing fluid from exiting the spout when the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: LIFEFACTORY, INC.
To: THERMOS L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 046826/0783 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2017
From: LEIMONE, JOHN PAUL; ROGERS, SHANE PATRICK; HOLM, BRIAN CHARLES
To: LIFEFACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 042024/0983 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62273316 · Dec 30, 2015
Related Publication 20170190481A1 · Jul 6, 2017
Cited By (5)
US 1,113,346 US 1,113,350 US 1,126,669 US 1,126,670 US 1,140,644