Easy-open flip top lid for a portable water dispenser

A method of assembling a cover for a portable fluid dispenser, said method comprising:

• providing a fixed lid component for said cover configured to be removably coupled to a container of said portable fluid dispenser;
• operatively coupling a lever to a flip lid component, wherein said lever comprises a press member on one end and an actuation arm on a far end of said lever opposite from said press member, wherein a downward force on said press member causes said lever to rotate around a first pivot point, and further wherein a rotation of said lever around said first pivot point causes said actuation arm to push on said flip lid component at an actuation point, wherein further said flip lid component pivots around a second pivot point and rotates open in response to a resulting force applied at said actuation point, said second pivot is located on said fixed lid component inward of said first pivot point toward said liquid storage cavity and wherein location of contact between said actuation arm and said actuation point is inward of said second pivot point as the downward force is applied to said press member;
• and
• coupling said flip lid component to said fixed lid component, wherein said flip lid component is operable to rotate open to provide access to a liquid storage cavity within said container, wherein said fixed lid component forms an outer ring around said flip lid component, and wherein said fixed lid component is substantially flush with said flip lid component when said flip lid component is in a dosed position;
• and
• wherein an end of said flip lid component proximate to said actuation arm rotates and recedes into a U-shaped recess in said actuation arm when it opens in response to said resulting force applied at said actuation point, wherein said U-shaped recess is located underneath said cover in a reservoir area of said fluid dispenser.

A portable fluid dispenser comprising:

• a container body defining a liquid storage cavity therein and having an open end;
• a cover removably coupled to said container body, said cover extending along said open end, said cover comprising;
• a flip lid component operable to rotate open to provide access to said liquid storage cavity of said portable fluid dispenser;
• a fixed lid component, wherein said fixed lid component forms an outer ring around said flip lid component, and wherein said fixed lid component is substantially flush with said flip lid component when said flip lid component is in a closed position;
• and
• a lever operatively coupled to said flip lid component, wherein said lever comprises a press member on one end and an actuation arm on a far end of said lever opposite from said press member, wherein a downward force on said press member causes said lever to rotate around a first pivot point, and further wherein a rotation of said lever around said first pivot point causes said actuation arm to push on said flip lid component at an actuation point, wherein said flip lid component pivots around a second pivot point and rotates open in response to a resulting force applied at said actuation point, and wherein said second pivot point is located on said fix lid component inward of said first pivot point toward said liquid storage cavity and wherein location of contact between said actuation arm and said actuation point is inward of said second pivot point as the downward force is applied to said press member;
• and
• wherein an end of said flip lid component proximate to said actuation arm rotates and recedes into a U-shaped recess in said actuation arm when it opens in response to said resulting force applied at said actuation point, wherein said U-shaped recess is located underneath said flip lid component in a reservoir area of said fluid dispenser.