US-12622537-B2 - Keyed straw

US12622537B2US 12622537 B2US12622537 B2US 12622537B2US-12622537-B2

Abstract

A lid structure for a beverage system is provided that includes a straw assembly. The straw assembly includes structural features for secure and guided engagement with the lid structure. The straw assembly may feature a straw sleeve with a tab that interfaces with a connection port on the lid structure.

Inventors

Dylan M. Jacob
Jordan Westerberg

Assignees

BRUMATE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250813

Claims (20)

1 . A beverage container lid assembly comprising: a lid having a connection port; and a straw assembly comprising a cylindrical sleeve portion and a straw portion, wherein the cylindrical sleeve portion is configured to be inserted into the connection port and rotated relative to the lid from an unlocked state to a locked state, wherein the cylindrical sleeve portion comprises at least one engagement projection configured to interact with a corresponding structure of the connection port to secure the straw assembly in the locked state, and wherein the locked state resists unintentional axial removal of the straw assembly from the lid during normal use.
2 . The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sleeve portion comprises an upper section including the engagement projection and a lower section into which the straw portion is inserted.
3 . The lid assembly of claim 2 , wherein the engagement projection comprises a tab, flange, rib, or lug extending radially from the cylindrical sleeve portion.
4 . The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the straw portion extends at least partially through an internal passage within the cylindrical sleeve portion.
5 . The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sleeve portion further comprises a grip structure configured to facilitate manual rotation of the straw assembly relative to the lid.
6 . The lid assembly of claim 5 , wherein the grip structure comprises at least one protrusion or straw handle extending from the cylindrical sleeve portion.
7 . The lid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engagement projection is configured to travel along a guide path within the connection port having an axial movement component and a circumferential movement component, the engagement projection beginning to interact with the guide path during axial insertion of the straw assembly.
8 . The lid assembly of claim 7 , wherein the circumferential movement component of the guide path cooperates with the engagement projection to resist axial withdrawal of the straw assembly and prevent such withdrawal absent counter-rotation.
9 . The lid assembly of claim 8 , wherein the circumferential movement component extends along a segment of the connection port sufficient to maintain the straw assembly in the locked state.
10 . A beverage container lid assembly comprising: a lid having a connection port; and a straw assembly including an engagement region, wherein the straw assembly is configured to be inserted into the connection port and rotated relative to the lid from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein, in the locked position, the engagement region cooperates with a complementary engagement structure of the connection port to inhibit axial removal of the straw assembly during normal use.
11 . The lid assembly of claim 10 , wherein the engagement region comprises a projection extending from the straw assembly and configured to follow a rotational engagement path defined by the complementary engagement structure.
12 . The lid assembly of claim 11 , wherein the complementary engagement structure comprises a guide path having a trajectory that includes both axial and circumferential movement of the projection during rotation into the locked position.
13 . The lid assembly of claim 10 , wherein the straw assembly includes a manipulation feature configured to facilitate manual rotation of the straw assembly into the locked position.
14 . The lid assembly of claim 13 , wherein the manipulation feature comprises a flange, protrusion, handle, or grip element formed on an exterior portion of the straw assembly.
15 . The lid assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rotational movement required to achieve the locked position comprises movement along a non-linear path defined by interaction between the engagement region and the complementary engagement structure.
16 . The lid assembly of claim 15 , wherein the non-linear path includes a curved or angular segment configured to constrain axial movement of the straw assembly when in the locked position.
17 . The lid assembly of claim 10 , wherein the locked position is reversible by counter-rotation of the straw assembly.
18 . A beverage system comprising: a base structure configured to contain a beverage; a lid structure configured to be removably secured to the base structure, the lid structure comprising a connection port; and a straw assembly comprising a straw portion and an engagement region, wherein the base structure and the lid structure include complementary mating interfaces configured to secure the lid structure to the base structure in an engaged state, wherein the straw assembly is configured to be inserted into the connection port and rotated relative to the lid structure from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein, in the locked position, the engagement region cooperates with a complementary engagement structure of the lid structure to inhibit axial removal of the straw assembly during normal use.
19 . The beverage system of claim 18 , wherein the engagement region comprises a projection, tab, rib, or lug configured to engage an engagement path within the connection port of the lid structure, the engagement path including an axial component and a circumferential component.
20 . The beverage system of claim 18 , wherein the straw assembly includes a user manipulation feature comprising a flange, protrusion, handle, or grip formed on the straw portion to facilitate manual rotation into the locked position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/529,703 filed on Dec. 5, 2023, which itself claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/529,125 entitled “No Spill Straw,” filed on Jul. 26, 2023 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/529,988 entitled “No Spill Straw,” filed on Jul. 31, 2023. FIELD Aspects provided herein relate to portable drinkware, such as insulated travel mugs, tumblers, shaker cups, and the like. BACKGROUND Portable drinkware can include a variety of containers suitable for on-the-go consumption. Such drinkware can include insulated cups, non-insulated cups, double wall cups, or any other suitable beverage container that includes a fitted lid to prevent accidental spills. The lids can be simple screw-on lids or press-on lids, and may not always be leak-proof. Drinkware equipped with a straw can also require manual manipulation, which may pose sanitary concerns. SUMMARY At a high level, a beverage container may include a lid structure coupled to a base structure to define an interior volume for holding and/or dispensing a beverage held within the beverage container. The base structure may be a cup shaped container that may optionally be insulating to keep drinks cold/hot for extended periods of time (e.g., between 4 hours and 48 hours). The lid structure may have a spout portion or a straw mechanism for dispensing the contents of the beverage container when the lid structure and the base structure are engaged with one another. In order to provide a leak-proof beverage container, the straw mechanism is able to transition between a closed state (i.e., a not dispensing state, a no-spill state, a traveling state, or a not in use state) and an open state (i.e., a dispensing state). When in its closed state, the straw mechanism prevents the contents of the beverage container from spilling out or otherwise being dispensed or consumed from the beverage container. When in its open state, the straw mechanism allows the contents of the beverage container to be consumed or otherwise dispensed from the beverage container. The lid structure in accordance with aspects herein comprises a no touch straw mechanism and a body portion. The body portion has a threaded engagement section configured to securely engage the base structure of the beverage container, and a gear system for operating the spout portion to transition it from an open state and a closed state. The gear system is comprised of a plurality of gears. The primary gear located behind an engagement sleeve that comprises a plurality of teeth extending around a circumference of the body portion and is configured to be manipulated by a user by applying a rotational force in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. The spout portion is also engaged with a second gear that engages the primary gear by one or more intermediary gears that translate the force applied to the primary gear to the second gear, causing the spout portion to transition from the closed state to the open state and vice versa. The straw mechanism of the lid structure comprises a spout portion having a spout conduit extending from a first end to a second end of the spout. When the conduit is aligned with a straw opening of the lid structure, the lid structure is in an open state, and when the conduit is misaligned with the straw opening of the lid structure, the lid structure is in a closed state. The spout portion may be rigid and formed from, for example a hard polymer or plastic material, a metal, or the like. In a different example, the spout portion may be flexible (i.e., bendable, stretchable, elastic, deformable) and formed from a suitable material such as silicone or other rubber polymer material, by way of non-limiting example. Aspects herein are generally further directed to a beverage container, the beverage container being comprised of a base structure and a lid structure having a no touch straw mechanism. The base structure may be comprised of a double wall plastic structure, or polymer based material structure, or a thermally insulating structure comprised of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or any other suitable material or combination of materials suitable for insulating the contents of the beverage container from external temperature fluctuations for extended periods of time. The base structure in accordance with aspects herein includes an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall of the base structure includes a threaded portion proximal to the opening edge of the base structure. A step edge is provided in the inner wall of the base structure that defines the end of the threaded portion and the start of a non-threaded portion of the inner wall, where the non-threaded portion of the inner wall extends inward toward a relative center of the container further than the internal threaded section of the base structure. The inner wall of may optionally include volume markings confi