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US20060037963A1 - Cup with a valve for drinking juice - Google Patents

Cup with a valve for drinking juice Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060037963A1
US20060037963A1 US10/921,509 US92150904A US2006037963A1 US 20060037963 A1 US20060037963 A1 US 20060037963A1 US 92150904 A US92150904 A US 92150904A US 2006037963 A1 US2006037963 A1 US 2006037963A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
valve
tubular
outlet
inlet
connector bar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/921,509
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ramiro Pillado
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US10/921,509 priority Critical patent/US20060037963A1/en
Priority to DE602005006910T priority patent/DE602005006910D1/de
Priority to EP05107240A priority patent/EP1627586B1/en
Priority to AT05107240T priority patent/ATE395850T1/de
Priority to ES05107240T priority patent/ES2306017T3/es
Publication of US20060037963A1 publication Critical patent/US20060037963A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00—Table service
    • A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
    • A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
    • A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
    • A47G19/2272—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to closed drinking vessels, preferably in the shape of a cup with a screw-on lid having a fluid dispensing valve that prevents fluids from flowing out unless properly used.
  • Drinking cups for young children have been in the market for many years, and are well known in the art.
  • a variety of cups with valves are currently available commercially, providing a solution to the problem of children spilling their drink by dropping the cup, turning it upside down or shaking it.
  • These valves work only by allowing the liquid to flow out when the cup is squeezed or when a person drinks by sucking from the spout.
  • the cups may have one or two valves, one for allowing the liquids to flow out of the cup, and another one for allowing air to flow in. As liquid is sucked from the vessel creating a low-pressure condition within the vessel, this low-pressure condition draws external air through the second passageway to maintain a pressure equilibrium.
  • Valves such as those proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,079,013, 6,250,503 and 6,321,931 contain enclosed parts or angles difficult to reach which make the cleaning process much more complicated. In addition the number of parts involved makes such valves difficult to manufacture, requiring a lot of manipulation to be assembled.
  • valves made of elastomeric materials such as silicone rubber have been proposed, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,670, 6,050,445 and 6,102,245, these valves are much easier to clean and simpler to manufacture.
  • the shortcoming of these valves is that they control the liquid flow by means of a small slit in the elastomeric membrane, therefore acting as a filter that is finally blocked by the small-suspended solids such as fruit pulp or pieces of blended fruit.
  • the present invention relates to a drinking container with a valve preferably in the shape of a cup having a hollow inner body for containing liquid with an open end, a cap which encloses the open end and a one piece valve made of an elastomeric material, preferably but not limited to silicone rubber.
  • the outer surface of the cap has a drinking spout and an air vent.
  • the inner surface of the cap has a tubular outlet passage extending below the spout and a tubular inlet passage extending below the air vent.
  • the valve has two different means to attach itself to the tubular passages.
  • the tubular passage below the spout is sealed by the valve and will only open and allow the liquid to flow out when a person sucks from the spout creating a low-pressure condition.
  • the valve has a small slit for drawing external air in order to maintain pressure equilibrium.
  • FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the drinking vessel
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drinking vessel showing the cup, cap and valve assembly
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inner part of the cap
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the drinking vessel cap
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of valve assembly taken along line 5 - 5 applied to FIG. 4 in another embodiment of the cap;
  • FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the valve
  • FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the valve of FIG. 6 ;
  • FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a drinking vessel 20 comprising a cup 28 , a cap 22 and a flow control valve 30 .
  • the cup 28 has a hollow inner body for containing liquids with an open upper end 60 and an external thread 62 formed circumferentially therearound.
  • the cap 22 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 ) has an outer surface 36 , and an inner surface 38 .
  • the cap 22 On the outer surface 36 , the cap 22 has a spout 24 with an aperture 68 and an air vent 26 .
  • the cap 22 On the inner surface 38 , the cap 22 has a tubular outlet passage 32 with two recesses 40 , which are connected to the spout 24 , and a tubular inlet passage 34 , which is connected to the air vent 26 .
  • the cap 22 has a cylindrical neck 64 with internal threads 66 formed circumferentially therearound.
  • the internal thread 66 engages the external thread 62 for screwing the cap 22 on to the cups upper end 60 , thereby sealingly closing the drinking vessel, except for the aperture 68 on the spout 24 and the air vent 26 .
  • the flow control valve 30 (see FIGS. 5 to 7 ) is made of a single piece of elastomeric material, preferably silicone rubber, but other elastomers such as natural rubber or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) are also preferred.
  • An outlet valve 42 and an inlet valve 44 interconnected by a connector bar 46 , form the flow control valve 30 .
  • the outlet valve 42 has a paraboloid configuration comprising a reinforcing ring 69 with a narrow partition wall 71 transversal to the axis of the connector bar 46 .
  • the outlet valve 42 being held in place by two jutting out walls 56 that are part of the connector bar 46 .
  • the two jutting out walls 56 provide more rigidity to the outlet valve 42 , but allows for two flexible side parts 48 , which act as flexible membranes.
  • the reinforcing ring 69 and the partition wall 71 are provided to avoid deformation of the two flexible side parts 48 ; therefore allowing for a longer period of use.
  • the inlet valve 44 has a tubular edge 50 sitting on two wing-like projections 70 holding the membrane 54 with a slit 52 in the middle.
  • the tubular edge 50 is integral with the connector bar 46 and the two wing-like projections 70 .
  • wing-like projections 70 are provided for safety reasons (i.e., for an infant not to swallow it) and not for functional ones.
  • the outlet valve 42 fits into the tubular outlet passage 32 that is connected to the spout 24 , and is held in place by pressure as the connector bar 46 fits into the pair of recesses 40 .
  • the inlet valve 44 fits by friction around the tubular inlet passage 34 by means of the tubular edge 50 .
  • the liquid inside the cup 28 will only flow out if a person inverts the cups 28 position, therefore moving the liquid towards the cap, and sucks at the spout 24 creating a lower external pressure than the pressure inside the drinking vessel 20 .
  • This difference in pressure bends the two flexible side parts 48 of the outlet valve 42 towards the spout 24 , therefore allowing the liquid to flow through the tubular outlet passage 32 and finally flow out of the drinking vessel 20 though the aperture 68 .
  • this difference in pressure forces air in through the slit 52 of the inlet valve 44 .
  • the two flexible side parts 48 return to their original position stopping the liquid from flowing out. Due to the type of material used in the manufacture of the flow control valve 30 , as soon as the suction force that keeps the flexible side parts 48 opened or bent ceases, the pressure of the two flexible sides 48 contacting the inner wall of the outlet passage 32 closes the outlet passage 32 .
  • the slit 52 also closes, and acts as a non-return valve, so that the liquid inside the vessel 20 is thereby prevented from flowing out through the air vent 26 .

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
US10/921,509 2004-08-19 2004-08-19 Cup with a valve for drinking juice Abandoned US20060037963A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/921,509 US20060037963A1 (en) 2004-08-19 2004-08-19 Cup with a valve for drinking juice
DE602005006910T DE602005006910D1 (de) 2004-08-19 2005-08-05 Mit Ventil ausgerichter Trinkbecher für Säfte
EP05107240A EP1627586B1 (en) 2004-08-19 2005-08-05 Cup with a valve for drinking juice
AT05107240T ATE395850T1 (de) 2004-08-19 2005-08-05 Mit ventil ausgerichter trinkbecher für säfte
ES05107240T ES2306017T3 (es) 2004-08-19 2005-08-05 Vaso con una valvula para zumo.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/921,509 US20060037963A1 (en) 2004-08-19 2004-08-19 Cup with a valve for drinking juice

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060037963A1 true US20060037963A1 (en) 2006-02-23

Family

ID=35219609

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/921,509 Abandoned US20060037963A1 (en) 2004-08-19 2004-08-19 Cup with a valve for drinking juice

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20060037963A1 (es)
EP (1) EP1627586B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE395850T1 (es)
DE (1) DE602005006910D1 (es)
ES (1) ES2306017T3 (es)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080035652A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2008-02-14 Lusareta Donald W Disposable lid with filter for drink container
US20100294765A1 (en) * 2009-05-22 2010-11-25 Handi-Craft Company Leak resistant drinking cup
US20110056968A1 (en) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-10 Mcnamara Conor Sippy cup assembly
US8333299B2 (en) 2009-05-22 2012-12-18 Handi-Craft Company Leak resistant drinking cup
US8678228B2 (en) * 2012-06-28 2014-03-25 Zak Designs, Inc. Liquid metering assembly
US20150164254A1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2015-06-18 Jeffrey G. Niedens Invertible drinking device and method
USD1018203S1 (en) * 2021-11-03 2024-03-19 Elgin Chan Sippy cup
USD1032292S1 (en) * 2021-10-28 2024-06-25 Elgin Chan Straw cup

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2904610B1 (fr) * 2006-08-01 2009-11-27 Nicolas Marie Bouchon avec systeme de valve automatique a sens unique

Citations (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2210206A (en) * 1938-11-14 1940-08-06 Herman W Fisher Automatic fluid dispenser
US2483750A (en) * 1945-12-22 1949-10-04 Otto M Bratrud Glue spreader and paper cutter
US4941598A (en) * 1988-11-08 1990-07-17 Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation Dosing cap
US4993568A (en) * 1988-12-15 1991-02-19 Jex Co., Ltd. Nipple for nursing bottles
US5079013A (en) * 1990-08-30 1992-01-07 Belanger Richard A Dripless liquid feeding/training containers
US5379909A (en) * 1990-01-16 1995-01-10 Roark; Carlton Fillable hand held exercise device comprised of one dual sided closure and at least one container
US5542670A (en) * 1995-07-17 1996-08-06 Playtex Products, Inc. Flow control element and covered drinking cup
US5607073A (en) * 1996-02-20 1997-03-04 Forrer; Scott M. Valve
US5706973A (en) * 1997-01-30 1998-01-13 E. S. Robbins Corporation Drinking cup and cover with flow control elements
US5890621A (en) * 1996-10-21 1999-04-06 Gerber Products Company Cup for young children with cap valved for fluid control
US6050445A (en) * 1998-02-06 2000-04-18 Playtex Products, Inc. Leak-proof cup assembly with flow control element
US6102245A (en) * 1992-04-07 2000-08-15 Haberman; Mandy Nicola Drinking vessel with valve
US6250503B1 (en) * 2000-07-19 2001-06-26 Richard C. G. Dark Fluid dispensing valve and method of use
US6321931B1 (en) * 1997-08-21 2001-11-27 Nouri E. Hakim No-spill drinking cup apparatus
US20030127413A1 (en) * 2002-01-08 2003-07-10 Thomas Spinelli Temperature sensitive valve having shape memory actuator
US20050205589A1 (en) * 2004-03-19 2005-09-22 Davis Dennis L Sippy cup valve
US20050247719A1 (en) * 2004-05-04 2005-11-10 Loging James A Cup for administering medicine to a child
US7147121B2 (en) * 2003-04-03 2006-12-12 Abc Development Inc. Valve for non-spill cup

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0838184A1 (en) * 1996-10-25 1998-04-29 Robbins, Edward S. III Drinking cup and cover with flow control elements
AT405716B (de) * 1998-03-18 1999-11-25 Bamed Ag Behälteraufsatz für einen trinkbehälter und ventilkörpereinsatz hierfür
US6269968B1 (en) * 1999-11-18 2001-08-07 Niko Products, Inc. Valve arrangement for an automatically sealing cup
US6732882B2 (en) * 2002-05-08 2004-05-11 Niko Products, Inc. No-spill cover assemly for a drink container

Patent Citations (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2210206A (en) * 1938-11-14 1940-08-06 Herman W Fisher Automatic fluid dispenser
US2483750A (en) * 1945-12-22 1949-10-04 Otto M Bratrud Glue spreader and paper cutter
US4941598A (en) * 1988-11-08 1990-07-17 Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation Dosing cap
US4993568A (en) * 1988-12-15 1991-02-19 Jex Co., Ltd. Nipple for nursing bottles
US5379909A (en) * 1990-01-16 1995-01-10 Roark; Carlton Fillable hand held exercise device comprised of one dual sided closure and at least one container
US5079013A (en) * 1990-08-30 1992-01-07 Belanger Richard A Dripless liquid feeding/training containers
US6102245A (en) * 1992-04-07 2000-08-15 Haberman; Mandy Nicola Drinking vessel with valve
US5542670A (en) * 1995-07-17 1996-08-06 Playtex Products, Inc. Flow control element and covered drinking cup
US5607073A (en) * 1996-02-20 1997-03-04 Forrer; Scott M. Valve
US5890621A (en) * 1996-10-21 1999-04-06 Gerber Products Company Cup for young children with cap valved for fluid control
US5706973A (en) * 1997-01-30 1998-01-13 E. S. Robbins Corporation Drinking cup and cover with flow control elements
US6321931B1 (en) * 1997-08-21 2001-11-27 Nouri E. Hakim No-spill drinking cup apparatus
US6050445A (en) * 1998-02-06 2000-04-18 Playtex Products, Inc. Leak-proof cup assembly with flow control element
US6250503B1 (en) * 2000-07-19 2001-06-26 Richard C. G. Dark Fluid dispensing valve and method of use
US20030127413A1 (en) * 2002-01-08 2003-07-10 Thomas Spinelli Temperature sensitive valve having shape memory actuator
US7147121B2 (en) * 2003-04-03 2006-12-12 Abc Development Inc. Valve for non-spill cup
US20050205589A1 (en) * 2004-03-19 2005-09-22 Davis Dennis L Sippy cup valve
US20050247719A1 (en) * 2004-05-04 2005-11-10 Loging James A Cup for administering medicine to a child

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080035652A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2008-02-14 Lusareta Donald W Disposable lid with filter for drink container
US10589907B2 (en) * 2006-04-12 2020-03-17 Volo Brands Llc Disposable lid having spout with filter for beverage container
US20100294765A1 (en) * 2009-05-22 2010-11-25 Handi-Craft Company Leak resistant drinking cup
US8333299B2 (en) 2009-05-22 2012-12-18 Handi-Craft Company Leak resistant drinking cup
US9138088B2 (en) 2009-05-22 2015-09-22 Handi-Craft Company Leak resistant drinking cup
US20110056968A1 (en) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-10 Mcnamara Conor Sippy cup assembly
US8256642B2 (en) 2009-09-10 2012-09-04 Helen Of Troy Limited Sippy cup assembly
US8678228B2 (en) * 2012-06-28 2014-03-25 Zak Designs, Inc. Liquid metering assembly
US20150164254A1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2015-06-18 Jeffrey G. Niedens Invertible drinking device and method
US9585803B2 (en) * 2013-12-18 2017-03-07 Jeffrey G. Niedens Invertible drinking device and method
USD1032292S1 (en) * 2021-10-28 2024-06-25 Elgin Chan Straw cup
USD1018203S1 (en) * 2021-11-03 2024-03-19 Elgin Chan Sippy cup

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1627586A1 (en) 2006-02-22
ATE395850T1 (de) 2008-06-15
EP1627586B1 (en) 2008-05-21
DE602005006910D1 (de) 2008-07-03
ES2306017T3 (es) 2008-11-01

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STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION