US20180265266A1

US20180265266A1 - Drinking container lid

Info

Publication number: US20180265266A1
Application number: US15/459,079
Authority: US
Inventors: Conor P. McNamara; Martin Mutch; Sunny Kim; Matthew Dolph
Original assignee: Helen of Troy Ltd
Current assignee: Helen of Troy Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-15
Filing date: 2017-03-15
Publication date: 2018-09-20

Abstract

A drinking container lid assembly a lid body, a closing mechanism, and a lockout mechanism. The lid body includes a drink opening. The closing mechanism attaches with the lid body and is movable between an open operating position and a closed operating position. The closing mechanism allows the flow of liquid from an associated drinking container through the drink opening when in the open operating position, and precludes the flow of liquid from the drinking container through the drink opening when in the closed operating position. The lockout mechanism includes a movable member biased toward liquid in the drinking container when the lid assembly is engaged with the drinking container. The movable member is configured to engage with the closing mechanism to inhibit moving the closing mechanism from the closed operating position to the open operating position when pressure in the drinking container exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Description

BACKGROUND

Lids for drinking containers are known to include a closing mechanism. When the closing mechanism is open, a user can drink from the drinking container through the lid. When the closing mechanism is closed, a drink passage through the lid is blocked. Blocking the drink passage is helpful to avoid spills and also to retain heat when the drinking container is filled with a hot beverage.
When the drinking container is filled with a hot beverage, internal pressure can build up in the drinking container. When the closing mechanism is moved from closed to open, there is a possibility that the pressure build up can result in the hot liquid spurting through the open drink passage when not intended by the user of the drinking container.
Additionally, closing mechanisms used to selectively block the drink passage are known to include many moving components. Problems can arise when trying to clean these closing mechanisms, and improvements can be made into how these closing mechanisms are opened and closed.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, a drinking container lid assembly configured to engage an associated drinking container includes a lid body, a closing mechanism, and a lockout mechanism. The lid body includes a drink opening. The closing mechanism attaches with the lid body and is movable between an open operating position and a closed operating position. The closing mechanism allows the flow of liquid from the associated drinking container through the drink opening when in the open operating position. The closing mechanism precludes the flow of liquid from the associated drinking container through the drink opening when in the closed operating position. The lockout mechanism cooperates with the closing mechanism. The lockout mechanism includes a movable member biased toward the liquid in the associated drinking container when the lid assembly is engaged with the associated drinking container. The movable member is configured to engage with the closing mechanism to inhibit moving the closing mechanism from the closed operating position to the open operating position when pressure in the associated drinking container exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Also in view of the foregoing, a drinking container lid assembly configured to engage an associated drinking container can include a lid body, an actuator, a movable arm, and a drink valve. The lid body includes a drink opening. The actuator is movable with respect to the lid body. The movable arm is operatively connected with the actuator, and movement of the actuator results in movement of the movable arm. The drink valve is operable in a closed state in which liquid from the associated drinking container is precluded from passing through the drink opening and an open state in which liquid from the associated drinking container is allowed to pass through the drink opening. The drink valve includes a resilient member that is deformed when the movable arm is moved toward the drink valve, which places the drink valve in the open state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking container lid assembly.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the drinking container lid assembly.

FIG. 3 is another exploded view of the drinking container lid assembly at an angle 180° from the exploded view shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the drinking container lid assembly showing an underside of the drinking container lid assembly.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the drinking container lid assembly along line A-A with the closing mechanism in a closed operating position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 with the closing mechanism shown in an open operating position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through line B-B of FIG. 1 with the closing mechanism shown in the closed operating position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 with the closing mechanism in the open operating position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative valve structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a drinking container lid assembly 10 configured to engage an associated drinking container 12 (only a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 5-8) to close an open end of the drinking container 12. The drinking container lid assembly 10 includes a lid body 14 that is configured to connect with the drinking container 12. With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the drinking container lid assembly 10 also includes a closing mechanism 16 and a lockout mechanism 18. The lid body 14 includes a drink opening 22 through which fluid from the drinking container 12 passes when a user is drinking through the lid assembly 10. The closing mechanism 16 attaches with the lid body 14 and is movable between an open operating position (shown in FIGS. 6 and 8) and a closed operating position (shown in FIGS. 5 and 7). The closing mechanism 16 allows the flow of liquid from the drinking container 12 through the drink opening 22 when the closing mechanism 16 is in the open operating position. The closing mechanism 16 precludes the flow of liquid from the drinking container 12 through the drink opening 22 when in the closed operating position. The lockout mechanism 18 cooperates with the closing mechanism 16. The lockout mechanism 18 includes a movable member 24 biased toward liquid in the drinking container 12 when the lid assembly 10 is engaged with the drinking container 12. The movable member 24 of the lockout mechanism 18 is configured to engage with the closing mechanism 16 to inhibit movement of the closing mechanism 16 from the closed operating position to the open operating position when pressure in the drinking container 12 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold can be based on the volume of the drinking container 12 and the shape and size of the drink opening 22 to reduce the likelihood of a hot beverage from spurting through the drink opening 22 when the closing mechanism 16 is moved from the closed operating position to the open operating position.
With references to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid body 14 includes an upper lid body 30 connected with a lower lid body 32. With reference to FIG. 5, for example, at least a portion of the closing mechanism 16 and the lockout mechanism 18 are positioned between the upper lid body 30 and the lower lid body 32 when the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled. As more clearly seen in FIG. 3, the upper lid body 30 includes the drink opening 22. The upper lid body 30 further includes an actuator opening 34 that is provided in a side wall 36 and a vent opening 38 that extends through a top wall 42 of the upper lid body 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 36 is generally cylindrical in configuration. The top wall 42 can be generally bowl-shaped. The drink opening 22 also extends through the top wall 42.
The lower lid body 32 includes an upper side wall 50 that is interrupted and extends upwardly from a radial shelf 52, which is circular in configuration in the illustrated embodiment. The lower lid body 32 also includes a lower side wall 54, which is threaded to allow the lid body 14 to thread onto the drinking container 12. Engagement features 56 are provided in the interrupted upper side wall 50 that cooperate with engagement features 58 (FIG. 4) provided on an internal side of side wall 36 in the upper lid body 30 to connect the lower lid body 32 with the upper lid body 30. The lower lid body 32 also includes a base wall 60. A drink passage opening 62, a vent passage opening 64, and a lockout mechanism opening 66 extend through the base wall 60. An O-ring gasket 68 rests on the radial shelf 52 when the upper lid body 30 is connected with the lower lid body 32.
The lid assembly 10 also includes an actuator 80, which can be an assembly, that is movable with respect to the lid body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 80 includes a button 82 and a button cover 84 that covers the button 82. The button 82 includes a fastener opening 86. A fastener 88 extends through the fastener opening 86 to connect the button 82 with the closing mechanism 16 in a manner that will be described in more detail below. A button gasket 92 also includes a fastener opening 94, which receives the fastener 88 when the fastener 88 extends through the fastener opening 86 in the button 82. The button gasket 92 is positioned below the top wall 42 of the upper lid body 30 when the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled. The button 82 and the button cover 84 extend through the actuator opening 34 in the upper lid body 30 when the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled.
The closing mechanism 16 operates in a manner similar to a known ballpoint pen mechanism and can be referred to as a click-click mechanism. The closing mechanism 16 is movable between an open operating position and a closed operating position, and can maintain either position until acted upon by an outside force. The closing mechanism 16 includes a cam 100 and a follower 102 which are received in a closing mechanism housing 104. The cam 100 includes a button fastener opening 106 that receives the fastener 88 to connect the button 82 with the cam 100. The cam 100 also includes an extension 108, which is cylindrical in the illustrated embodiment, and includes a follower fastener opening 110, which receives a follower fastener 112 to connect the follower 102 with the cam 100.
The cam 100 includes a plurality of cam teeth 114 that cooperate with the follower 102. The cam 100 also includes a rack 116 and a plurality of cam wings 118 that extend radially outwardly and engage with the closing mechanism housing 104 in a manner described in more detail below.
The follower 102 includes an extension through bore 122 through which the extension 108 of the cam 100 is received. The follower 102 also includes a plurality of follower teeth 124 that cooperate with the cam teeth 114. The follower 102 also includes a plurality of follower wings 126 that are similar in configuration to the cam wings 118. As is more clearly visible in FIGS. 5 and 6, the extension 108 on the cam 100 is inserted through the extension through bore 122 of the follower 102 and the follower fastener 112 and a washer 130 are used to connect the follower 102 with the cam 100 by inserting the follower fastener 112 through the washer 130 and into the follower fastener opening 110. The follower 102 is rotatable with respect to the cam 100 by rotating on the extension 108.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the closing mechanism housing 104 includes internal ridges that extend axially to define channels 134 that receive the cam wings 118 on the cam 100 and the follower wings 126 on the follower 102; however, these channels 134 do not run the entire axial length of the closing mechanism housing 104. A spring 136 biases the follower 102 and the cam 100 toward the actuator opening 34 when the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled. When an operator pushes on the button cover 84, the biasing force of the spring 136 is overcome and the cam teeth 114 engage the follower teeth 124 to push the follower wings 126 out of the channels 134 of the closing mechanism housing 104. The cam wings 118 on the cam 100 remain in the channels 134 to preclude rotation of the cam 100 with respect to the closing mechanism housing 104. The cam teeth 114 cooperate with the follower teeth 124, which allows the follower 102 to rotate with respect to the cam 100 in the closing mechanism housing 104 when the follower wings 126 are no longer residing in the channels 134. This allows the closing mechanism 16 to move between an open operating position and a closed operating position and to selectively maintain each operating position. The button cover 84 can be pressed again when the closing mechanism is in the open operating position to move back to the closed operating position.
The closing mechanism 16 also includes a closing mechanism frame 140. The closing mechanism frame 140 includes resilient fingers 142 that engage the closing mechanism housing 104 to connect the closing mechanism housing 104 with the closing mechanism frame 140. The closing mechanism frame 140 also includes a closing mechanism housing receiving opening 144 that receives the closing mechanism housing 104. The closing mechanism frame 140 also include a drink passage structure notch 146 and a vent passage structure receiver 148. The closing mechanism frame 140 also includes arm mounts 150 to mount a movable arm 170 to the closing mechanism frame 140.
The closing mechanism 16 includes the movable arm 170 that is operatively connected to the cam 100 through a gear 172. The gear 172 includes a plurality of teeth 174 and an axle opening 176. The axle opening 176 receives an axle 178, which is received in axle openings 180 provided in the closing mechanism housing 104. The movable arm 170 includes a movable arm rack 182, which engages with the teeth 174 of the gear 172. The teeth 174 of the gear 172 also engage with the rack 116 of the cam 100. Movement of the cam 100 via movement of the actuator 80 rotates the gear 172, which results in translational movement of the movable arm 170.
The movable arm 170 includes a drink valve contact surface 184 and a vent valve contact surface 186, which is provided on an extension 188. The movable arm 170 also includes a spring locating feature 190 which cooperates with a biasing spring 192 to bias the movable arm 170 toward the drink opening 22 when the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled. The movable arm 170 also includes a lockout recess 194 which cooperates with the lockout mechanism 18 in a manner described in more detail below.
The lid assembly 10 also includes a lower body gasket 210. The lower body gasket 210 includes a base 212, which is circular in the illustrated embodiment, and is the same in shape and size as the base wall 60 of the lower lid body 32. The lower body gasket 210 connects with the lid body 14 and covers the movable member 24 of the lockout mechanism 18 and also defines a portion of a drink passage 214 which leads to the drink opening 22. When the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled, the lower body gasket 210 prevents liquid traveling through the drink passage 214 from contacting the closing mechanism 16 and the lockout mechanism 18. The lower body gasket 210 is made from a resilient material, such as silicone, and can be overmolded or bonded onto the lower lid body 32.
The lower body gasket 210 includes a drink passage structure 220 that extends upwardly from the base 212. The drink passage structure 220 is hollow to define at least a portion of the drink passage 214, which is in communication with the drink opening 22. The lower body gasket 210 also includes a vent passage structure 222 which also extends upwardly from the base 212. The vent passage structure 222 is also hollow to define a vent passage 224, which connects the vent opening 38 with the inside of the drinking container 12. The lower body gasket 210 also includes a lockout mechanism recess 226 surrounded by a ridge 228 which extends upwardly from the base 212. The lower body gasket 210 can also include a connector opening 232 provided through the base 212. The lower body gasket 210 covers the entire base wall 60 of the lower lid body 32 with the exception of the connector opening 232 when overmolded onto or bonded to the lower lid body 32. The connector opening 232 is, however, covered by a resilient material (described in more detail below), which isolates the closing mechanism 16 and the lockout mechanism 18 from the liquid in the drinking container 12.
With reference to FIG. 4, the lower body gasket 210 also includes a drink valve arm recess 234 provided on a lower surface 236 of the base 212 which extends from the connector opening 232 to the drink passage structure 220. The lower body gasket 210 also includes a vent valve arm recess 238 which extends from the connector opening 232 to the vent passage structure 222. The drink passage structure 220 defines a drink valve opening 242. The vent passage structure 222 defines a vent valve opening 244.
The lid assembly 10 also includes a drink valve 250 operable in a closed state in which liquid from the drinking container 12 is precluded from passing through the drink opening 22 and an open state in which liquid from the drinking container 12 is allowed to pass through the drink opening 22. The drink valve 250 is received in the drink valve opening 242 when in use. The lid assembly 10 also includes a vent valve 252 operable in a closed operating state in which the interior of the drink container is isolated from ambient through the vent valve 252 and an open state in which the interior of the drinking container 12 is in communication with ambient through the vent valve 252. The vent valve 252 is received in the vent valve opening 244 when in use. Both the drink valve 250 and the vent valve 252 can include a resilient component that is deformed when the movable arm 170 is moved toward the drink valve 250 or the vent valve 252, which places the drink valve 250 in the open state and the vent valve 252 in the open operating state.
As more clearly seen in FIGS. 5-8, both the drink valve 250 and the vent valve 252 can be formed in a duck bill valve arrangement. The drink valve 250 includes a resilient component that is deformed when the movable arm 170 is moved toward the drink valve 250, which places the drink valve 250 in the open state. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the drink valve 250 includes a drink valve side wall 254 and drink valve flaps 256 extend inwardly from the drink valve side wall 254 and are separated by a slit 258 (or a plurality of slits if more than two drink valve flaps 256 are provided). The drink valve side wall 254 is made from a resilient material such that deformation of the drink valve side wall 254 results in movement of the drink valve flaps 256 to allow liquid to flow through the drink valve 250 when the drink valve 250 is in the open state. To place the drink valve 250 in the open state, the drink valve contact surface 184 on the movable arm 170 contacts the drink passage structure 220 and a force is applied on the drink valve side wall 254 by the movable arm 170 through the drink passage structure 220. Similarly, the vent valve 252 includes a vent valve side wall 260 and vent valve flaps 262 extending inwardly from the vent valve side wall 260 and are separated by a slit 264 (or a plurality of slits if more than two vent valve flaps 262 are provided). The vent valve side wall 260 is also made from a resilient material such that deformation of the vent valve side wall 260 results in movement of the vent valve flaps 262 to selectively allow the interior of the drinking container 12 to communicate with ambient through the vent valve 252. To place the vent valve 252 in the open operating state, the vent valve contact surface 186 on the movable arm 170 contacts the vent passage structure 222 and a force is applied on the vent valve side wall 260 by the movable arm 170 through the vent passage structure 222.
With reference back to FIGS. 2-4, the drink valve 250 and the vent valve 252 can be provided as part of a valve structure 270. The valve structure 270 can be an integrally formed unit made from a resilient material, such as silicone, and include the drink valve 250, the vent valve 252, and at least one arm connecting the drink valve 250 with the vent valve 252. The valve structure 270 can include a connector element 272. The at least one arm can include a drink valve arm 274 connecting the drink valve 250 with the connector element 272 and a vent valve arm 276 connecting the vent valve 252 with the connector element 272. The connector element 272 is configured to connect with the lid body 14. A post 280 connects with the lower lid body 32 and extends through the connector opening 232 in the lower body gasket 210. The connector element 272 includes a pocket 282 that receives the post 280 to connect the valve structure 270 to the lid body 14. When the valve structure 270 is connected with the post 280, the drink valve 250 can be received in the drink valve opening 242, the drink valve arm 274 can be received in the drink valve arm recess 234, the vent valve 252 can be received in the vent valve opening 244 and the vent valve arm 276 can be received in the vent valve arm recess 238.
The lockout mechanism 18 includes the movable member 24, a spring 300, and a retainer 302. The movable member 24 can be in the form of a pin having a post 304 that is inserted through the spring 300 and extends through an opening 306 in the retainer 302. The movable member 24 can also include a widened base 308 that is received in the lockout mechanism recess 226 in the lower body gasket 210. The retainer 302 is used to connect the lockout mechanism 18 with the lid body 14. The lower lid body 32 includes keyed retaining features 312 around the lockout mechanism opening 66 that cooperate with retaining features 314 on the retainer 302 to allow the retainer 302 to be rotated to connect the retainer 302 with the lower lid body 32.
The movable member 24 of the lockout mechanism 18 is configured to engage with the closing mechanism 16 to inhibit movement of the closing mechanism from the closed operating position to the open operating position when pressure in the drinking container 12 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The movable member 24 contacts the movable arm 170 when the pressure in the drinking container 12 exceeds the predetermined threshold. As such, the button 82 and the button cover 84, which are accessible from an exterior of the lid body 14, are precluded from moving when the lockout mechanism is engaged with the closing mechanism. More specifically, when the pressure in the drinking container 12 exceeds the biasing force of the spring 300, and the closing mechanism 16 is in the closed operating position, the movable member 24 is moved into the lockout recess 194 provided in the movable arm 170, which precludes movement of the movable arm toward the drink valve 250 and the vent valve 252.
When the pressure in the drinking container 12 is below the pressure required to overcome the biasing force of the spring 300, the movable member 24 is positioned below the lockout recess 194 on the movable arm 170, which allows for movement of the movable arm toward the drink valve 250 and the vent valve 252. When in this position, the movable arm 170 moves towards the drink valve 250 when the closing mechanism 16 is moved from the closed operating position toward the open operating position to deform the drink valve 250 so as to move the drink valve 250 from the closed state to the open state. Alternatively, the lower body gasket 210 could be configured to bias the movable member 24 toward liquid in the drinking container 12 without the spring 300.
The movable arm 170 is biased toward the drink valve 250 by the biasing spring 192 to maintain the open state until the button 82 or button cover 84 is pressed again to move the closing mechanism 16 from the open operating position to the closed operating position. Similarly, the vent valve 252 is in the closed operating state when the closing mechanism 16 is in the closed operating position, and the vent valve 252 is in the open operating state when the closing mechanism is in the open operating position. The movable arm 170 moves towards the vent valve 252 when the closing mechanism 16 is moved from the closed operating position toward the open operating position to deform the vent valve 252 so as to move the vent valve 252 from the closed operating state to the open operating state. More particularly, the vent valve contact surface 186 contacts the vent passage structure 222, which is formed of a resilient material, and this force is transferred through to the vent valve 252, which also deforms. Similarly, the drink valve contact surface 184 contacts the drink passage structure 220, which is formed of a resilient material, and this force is transferred through to the drink valve 250, which deforms to open the drink valve 250.
FIG. 9 depicts an alternative a lower body gasket 310 similar to the lower body gasket 210 described above. The lower body gasket 310 includes a base 312, which is circular in the illustrated embodiment, and is the same in shape and size as the base wall 60 of the lower lid body 32. The lower body gasket 310 connects with the lid body 14 and covers the movable member 24 of the lockout mechanism 18 and also defines a portion of a drink passage 214 which leads to the drink opening 22. When the lid assembly 10 is finally assembled, the lower body gasket 310 prevents liquid traveling through the drink passage 214 from contacting the closing mechanism 16 and the lockout mechanism 18. The lower body gasket 310 is made from a resilient material, such as silicone, and can be overmolded or bonded onto the lower lid body 32.
The lower body gasket 310 includes a drink passage structure 320 that extends upwardly from the base 312. The drink passage structure 320 is hollow to define at least a portion of the drink passage 214, which is in communication with the drink opening 22. The lower body gasket 310 also includes a vent passage structure 322 which also extends upwardly from the base 312. The vent passage structure 322 is also hollow to define the vent passage 224, which connects the vent opening 38 with the inside of the drinking container 12. The lower body gasket 310 also includes a lockout mechanism recess (not visible in FIG. 9, but similar to the lockout mechanism recess 226) defined by a downwardly extending dome 326. The lower body gasket 310 covers the entire base wall 60 of the lower lid body 32 when overmolded onto or bonded to the lower lid body 32.
The drink passage structure 320 defines a drink valve opening 342. The vent passage structure 322 defines a vent valve opening 344. The lower body gasket 310 also includes a first valve arm recess 334 provided in a lower surface 336 of the base 312 which extends from the drink valve opening 342 to the vent valve opening 344. The lower body gasket 310 also includes a second valve arm recess 338 which extends from the drink valve opening 342.
FIG. 9 also discloses an alternative valve structure 370, which is similar to the valve structure 270 described above. A drink valve 350, which is similar in all respects to the drink valve 250 described above, and a vent valve 352, which is similar in all respects to the vent valve 252 described above, can be provided as part of a valve structure 370. The valve structure 370 can be an integrally formed unit made from a resilient material, such as silicone, and include the drink valve 350, the vent valve 352, and at least one arm connecting the drink valve 350 with the vent valve 352. The at least one arm can include a first valve arm 374 connecting the drink valve 350 with the vent valve 352 and a second valve arm 376 extending from the drink valve 350. The drink valve 350 can be received in the drink valve opening 342, the first valve arm 374 can be received in the first valve arm recess 334, the vent valve 352 can be received in the vent valve opening 344 and the second valve arm 376 can be received in the second valve arm recess 338
A lid assembly has been described above in particularity with reference to the above figures. The invention, however, is not limited to only the embodiments described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A drinking container lid assembly configured to engage an associated drinking container, the lid assembly comprising:

a lid body including a drink opening;

a closing mechanism attached with the lid body and movable between an open operating position and a closed operating position, the closing mechanism allowing flow of liquid from the associated drinking container through the drink opening when in the open operating position and precluding flow of liquid from the associated drinking container through the drink opening when in the closed operating position; and

a lockout mechanism cooperating with the closing mechanism, the lockout mechanism including a movable member biased toward liquid in the associated drinking container when the lid assembly is engaged with the associated drinking container, wherein the movable member is configured to engage with the closing mechanism to inhibit movement of the closing mechanism from the closed operating position to the open operating position when pressure in the associated drinking container exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the closing mechanism includes a movable arm and the movable member contacts the movable arm when pressure in the associated drinking container exceeds the predetermined threshold.

3. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the closing mechanism includes a button accessible from an exterior of the lid body, wherein movement of the button is precluded when the lockout mechanism is engaged with the closing mechanism.

4. The lid assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lower body gasket connected with the lid body, wherein the lower body gasket covers the movable member and defines a portion of a drink passage, which is in fluid communication with the drink opening.

5. The lid assembly of claim 4, wherein the lid body includes an upper lid body connected with a lower lid body, wherein at least a portion of the closing mechanism and the lockout mechanism are positioned between the upper lid body and the lower lid body, and the lower body gasket prevents liquid traveling through the drink passage from contacting the closing mechanism and the lockout mechanism.

6. The lid assembly of claim 1, further comprising a drink valve operable in a closed state in which liquid from the associated drinking container is precluded from passing through the drink opening and an open state in which liquid from the associated drinking container is allowed to pass through the drink opening, wherein the closing mechanism includes a movable arm that moves toward the drink valve when the closing mechanism is moved from the closed operating position toward the open operating position to deform the drink valve so as to move the drink valve from the closed state to the open state.

7. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the movable member contacts the movable arm when pressure in the associated drinking container exceeds the predetermined threshold.

8. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the movable arm is biased toward the drink valve.

9. The lid assembly of claim 6, further comprising a vent valve operable in a closed operating state in which an interior of the associated drinking container is isolated from ambient through the vent valve and an open operating state in which the interior of the associated drinking container is in communication with ambient through the vent valve, wherein the vent valve is in the closed operating state when the closing mechanism is in the closed operating position and the vent valve is in the open operating state when the closing mechanism is in the open operating position.

10. The lid assembly of claim 9, wherein the movable arm moves toward the vent valve when the closing mechanism is moved from the closed operating position toward the open operating position to deform the vent valve so as to move the vent valve from the closed operating state to the open operating state.

11. A drinking container lid assembly configured to engage an associated drinking container, the lid assembly comprising:

a lid body including a drink opening;

an actuator movable with respect to the lid body;

a movable arm operatively connected with the actuator, wherein movement of the actuator results in movement of the movable arm;

a drink valve operable in a closed state in which liquid from the associated drinking container is precluded from passing through the drink opening and an open state in which liquid from the associated drinking container is allowed to pass through the drink opening, wherein the drink valve includes a resilient member that is deformed when the movable arm is moved toward the drink valve, which places the drink valve in the open state.

12. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the drink valve includes a duckbill valve arrangement.

13. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the drink valve includes a drink valve side wall and drink valve flaps extending inwardly from the drink valve side wall, wherein the drink valve side wall is made from a resilient material such that deformation of the drink valve side wall results in movement of the drink valve flaps to allow liquid to flow through the drink valve.

14. The lid assembly of claim 11, further comprising a vent valve operable in a closed operating state in which an interior of the associated drinking container is isolated from ambient through the vent valve and an open operating state in which the interior of the associated drinking container is in communication with ambient through the vent valve.

15. The lid assembly of claim 14, wherein the vent valve includes a resilient component that is deformed when the movable arm is moved toward the drink valve, which places the vent valve in the open operating state.

16. The lid assembly of claim 14, wherein the vent valve includes a vent valve side wall and vent valve flaps extending inwardly from the vent valve side wall, wherein the vent valve side wall is made from a resilient material such that deformation of the vent valve side wall results in movement of the vent valve flaps to allow the interior of the associated drinking container to communicate with ambient through the vent valve.

17. The lid assembly of claim 14, further comprising a valve structure, the valve structure including the drink valve, the vent valve and at least one arm connecting the drink valve with the vent valve.

18. The lid assembly of claim 11, further comprising a lower body gasket connected with the lid body, wherein the lower body gasket is made from a resilient material and includes a drink passage structure that defines a drink valve opening in which the drink valve is received, and the movable arm is movable so as to contact the drink passage structure of the lower body gasket.

19. The lid assembly of claim 18, wherein the lower body gasket includes a vent passage structure that defines a vent valve opening in which the vent valve is received, and the movable arm is movable so as to contact the vent passage structure of the lower body gasket.