Beverage container with one-handed operation

A drinking vessel and lid assembly, comprising:

• a drinking vessel comprising a sidewall portion having an opening therein;
• an actuating member extending into the sidewall opening and being movably coupled to the drinking vessel;
• and
• a lid comprising:
• a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the body including an upper portion having a drinking opening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;
• and
• a stopper coupled to the body and configured for upward displacement into a closed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the body and sealingly covers the drinking opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, and downward displacement into an opened position wherein the stopper is spaced apart from the portion of the body to allow fluid passage through the drinking opening, the stopper having an actuating member contact portion that is positioned inside the drinking vessel when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;
• the actuating member and the actuating member contact portion of the stopper being positioned for the actuating member to engage the actuating member contact portion in response to inward movement of the actuating member and thereby cause the stopper to move downward into the opened position, and being positioned for the actuating member contact portion to engage the actuating member in response to outward movement of the actuating member and thereby cause the stopper to move upward into the closed position.

A drinking vessel and lid assembly, comprising:

• a drinking vessel having a sidewall portion having an actuating member extending therethrough and being movably coupled to the drinking vessel, the actuating member being movable inward and outward and comprising a first contact surface positioned inside the drinking vessel;
• and
• a lid comprising:
• a body having a drinking opening;
• and
• a stopper pivotably coupled to the body and configured for displacement between a closed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the body and covers the drinking opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, and an opened position wherein the stopper is spaced apart from the portion of the body to allow fluid passage through the drinking opening, the stopper having actuating member contact portion;
• the actuating member and the actuating member contact portion of the stopper being positioned for the actuating member to engage the actuating member contact portion in response to inward movement of the actuating member and thereby cause the stopper to move into the opened position, and the actuating member being positioned upon outward movement thereof to permit the stopper to move into the closed position.

A drinking vessel and lid assembly, comprising:

• a drinking vessel comprising a sidewall portion having a sidewall opening therein;
• an actuating member extending into the sidewall opening and being movably coupled to the drinking vessel, the actuating member being movable inward and outward and comprising a first contact surface positioned inside the drinking vessel;
• and
• a lid comprising:
• a body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the body including an upper portion having a drinking opening configured to selectively permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;
• an arm portion pivotably coupled to the body below the drinking opening and having a second contact surface that is positioned inside the drinking vessel and is substantially adjacent to the first contact surface of the actuating member when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel;
• a stopper pivotably coupled to an upper portion of the arm portion and configured for upward displacement into a closed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the body and covers the drinking opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, and downward displacement into an opened position wherein the stopper is spaced apart from the portion of the body to allow fluid passage through the drinking opening,
• the first contact surface of the actuating member and the second contact surface of the stopper being positioned for the first contact surface to engage the second contact surface in response to radially inward movement of the actuating member and thereby cause the arm portion to pivot inward and move the stopper downward into the opened position, and being positioned for the second contact surface to engage the first contact surface in response to radially outward movement of the actuating member and thereby cause the arm portion to pivot outward and move the stopper upward into the closed position.