Leak-proof cup assembly with flow control element

• US 20020185495A1
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: Manganiello, Francis X.
• Application Number:
  US10/155,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/714
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/165 formed by a slit or narrow opening

Abstract

A drinking cup assembly including a cup having an open end; a cap adapted to enclose the open end, the cap including a drinking spout and an air vent and mating surfaces adjacent or incorporated into the drinking spout and the air vent; and a flow control valve including two stacks adapted to engage the mating surfaces, each of the two stacks having a concave valve face at a top portion thereof.

Claims

1. A drinking cup assembly comprising:

a cup having an open end;

a cap adapted to enclose said open end, said cap including a drinking spout and an air vent and mating surfaces adjacent or incorporated into said drinking spout and said air vent; and

a flow control valve including two stacks adapted to engage said mating surfaces, each of said two stacks having a concave valve face at a top portion thereof.

2. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said concave valve faces has a single valve slit therethrough.

3. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein said two stacks are of substantially equal height.

4. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein said stacks have a stepped outer contour.

5. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said two stacks has a smooth inner contour.

6. The drinking cup assembly of claim 5, where said smooth inner contour is selected from the shape consisting of cylindrical, frustoconical, and a combination thereof.

7. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein said flow control valve comprises two separate pieces, each of which bears one of said two stacks.

8. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein said mating surfaces comprise cylindrical recesses.

9. The drinking cup assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve face is about 0.023 inches thick.

10. A flow control element for use in a spill-proof cup assembly, said element comprising two stacks adapted to engage a drinking spout and an air vent, respectively, each of said two stacks having a concave valve face at a top portion thereof.