US 5,944,224 A · Insulated vessel with handle and dispensing spout

Abstract

A dispensing lid assembly for use with a container assembly and a container assembly including the lid assembly. The lid assembly can be attached to a container liner of the container assembly. The lid assembly includes a spigot housing through which liquids are dispensed. The spigot housing is configured with a grip portion which facilitates tipping of the container assembly with the lid assembly attached thereto. A dispensing conduit is provided in the lid assembly which communicates with a cavity in the container liner. A spring loaded valve assembly is retained in the spigot housing to controllably dispense liquids from the container liner through the dispensing conduit. A check valve assembly is included in the lid assembly. The check valve assembly provides controlled introduction of air into the container to equalize the pressure in the cavity during dispensing. The container assembly also includes a bottom or foot which is partially rounded to facilitate tipping of the container assembly to place a nozzle of the lid assembly in a dispensing position and to return the assembly to an upright position to prevent dripping.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A dispensing lid assembly for use with a container having walls which extend upwardly and terminate in a neck, said neck defining a mouth of the container, the dispensing lid assembly comprising:

a base portion capable of attachment to said container neck so that said base portion is retained over said container mouth, said base portion also being adapted for removal from said container neck;
a spigot housing attached to and spaced away from said base;
a valve assembly retained in said spigot housing to control dispensing of liquids from said container through a portion of said spigot housing, said valve assembly including a dispensing conduit for communicating with a cavity defined by the container, a nozzle communicating with said dispensing conduit, and a spring loaded plunger assembly retained in said spigot housing for controllably opening and closing a flow path from said dispensing conduit to said nozzle, said spring loaded plunger assembly including a spring which is inside said spigot housing;
a control button generally coaxial with and operatively coupled to said valve assembly;
and
a check valve located between said spigot housing and said base portion for allowing air to flow from exterior of the lid assembly into the container during dispensing, said check valve having an air path which is mutually exclusive from the dispensing conduit and nozzle.

3 more elements

A dispensing lid assembly in combination with a container assembly comprising:

a container of said container assembly having walls terminating in a neck and defining a cavity therein, with an upper edge of said walls defining a mouth;
a base portion of said dispensing lid assembly releasably attached to said container neck to cover said mouth;
a spigot housing attached to said base portion and spaced therefrom;
a valve assembly retained in said spigot housing to controllably dispense liquids retained in said cavity of said container through said spigot housing;
said valve assembly including a spring loaded plunger assembly wherein a spring is inside said spigot housing;
a control button generally coaxial with and operatively coupled to said valve assembly;
a check valve located between said spigot housing and said base portion for allowing air to flow from exterior of the lid assembly into the container during dispensing, said check valve having an air path which is mutually exclusive from the dispensing conduit and nozzle;
and
said container assembly having at least one broad side, said container assembly and dispensing lid assembly attached thereto being positionable on said broad side for dispensing fluids through said spigot housing of said dispensing lid assembly, said container assembly and dispensing lid assembly attached thereto being positioned in an upright position to prevent dripping from said spigot housing.

6 more elements

A dispensing lid assembly in combination with an insulated container assembly comprising:

said insulated container assembly including an insulated jacket and a container liner retained in said insulated jacket, said container liner having walls terminating in a neck and defining a cavity therein, with an upper edge of said walls defining a mouth;
a base portion of said dispensing lid assembly releasably attached to said container neck to cover said mouth;
a spigot housing attached to said base portion and spaced therefrom;
a valve assembly retained in said spigot housing to controllably dispense liquids retained in said cavity of said container through said spigot housing;
said valve assembly including a spring loaded plunger assembly wherein a spring is inside said spigot housing;
a control button generally coaxial with and operatively coupled to said valve assembly;
a check valve located between said spigot housing and said base portion for allowing air to flow from exterior of the lid assembly into the container during dispensing, said check valve having an air path which is mutually exclusive from the dispensing conduit and nozzle;
and
said container assembly having at least one broad side, said container assembly and dispensing lid assembly attached thereto being positionable on said broad side for dispensing fluids through said spigot housing of said dispensing lid assembly, said container assembly and dispensing lid assembly attached thereto being positioned in an upright position to prevent dripping from said spigot housing.