Cup assembly

• US 20030218015A1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angelcare Fedding USA, LLC
• Original Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: Randolph, Ross Steven, Sejnowski, Joseph Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/212.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/463 Grips, handles handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/56 Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like , e.g. closures
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/28 Handles of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 ; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2525/283 combined with container closing means, e.g. stopper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• 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 47/32 with means for venting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1644 the element being a valve B65D51/1661 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/165 formed by a slit or narrow opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/242 provided with means for facilitating lifting or suspending of the container

Abstract

A cup is provided having a lid with a spout defined by walls tapered towards a distal end of the spout. The lid has handles extending therefrom that are preferably formed of a first and second material having different Shore A hardnesses to define a rigid portion and a gripping portion.

Claims

1. A lid for a cup comprising:

a lid body removably securable to said cup;

an orifice; and

a handle having a rigid portion and a gripping portion, wherein said rigid portion is formed from a first material, wherein said gripping portion is formed from a second material, and wherein said first material has a higher Shore A hardness than said second material.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein said handle has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein said gripping portion at least partially covers said upper surface and substantially covers said lower surface.

3. The lid of claim 2, wherein said lid body further comprises a spout, and wherein said orifice is disposed through said spout.

4. The lid of claim 2, wherein said gripping portion has a first end partially covering said upper surface and a second end partially covering said upper surface, and wherein at least a portion of said rigid portion is disposed between said first and second ends along said upper surface.

5. The lid of claim 4, wherein said first and second ends have wave-like shapes.

6. The lid of claim 4, wherein said rigid portion has a first and second channel formed therein, and wherein said first end is at least partially disposed in said first channel, and wherein said second end is at least partially disposed in said second channel.

7. The lid of claim 6, wherein said rigid portion has first, second and third walls integrally formed with each other and defining said first and second channels.

8. The lid of claim 7, wherein said first and second walls are substantially orthogonal to said third wall.

9. The lid of claim 8, wherein said first wall at least partially defines said upper surface.

10. The lid of claim 7, wherein said rigid portion has a rib disposed along said first and second channels, and wherein said rib is substantially parallel with said first and second walls.

11. The lid of claim 10, wherein said handle has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said rib is disposed along said first and second channels in proximity to said proximal end.

12. The lid of claim 7, wherein said third wall has a projection formed therein, and wherein said second material is molded over said projection to form a gripping abutment.

13. The lid of claim 1, wherein said first material is a polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The lid of claim 1, wherein said lid body has a vent hole formed therein.

15. The lid of claim 3, further comprising a flow control valve in fluid communication with said orifice and said spout, wherein said valve limits flow through said orifice.

16. The lid of claim 1, wherein said handle is a pair of handles extending from said lid body and diametrically opposed along said lid body.

17. The lid of claim 3, wherein said spout has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional area.

18. The lid of claim 17, wherein said spout has a distal end, and wherein said spout is inwardly tapered toward said distal end.

19. The lid of claim 18, wherein said spout has a top wall, wherein said orifice is disposed through said top wall, and wherein said top wall has an upwardly arcuate shape.

20. A cup assembly for an infant comprising:

a cup defining an inner volume;

a lid having an orifice in fluid communication with said inner volume, said lid being removably securable to said cup; and

a handle having a rigid portion and a gripping portion, said rigid portion being formed from a first material, said gripping portion being formed from a second material, and said first and second materials being integrally molded,

wherein said first material has a higher Shore A hardness than said second material.

21. The cup assembly of claim 20, wherein said rigid portion of said handle has a channel formed therein, and wherein at least a portion of said second material is disposed in said channel.

22. The cup assembly of claim 21, wherein said channel is first and second channels disposed at least partially along said rigid portion.

23. The cup assembly of claim 22, wherein said rigid portion has first, second and third walls integrally formed with each other and defining said first and second channels.

24. The cup assembly of claim 23, wherein said first and second walls are substantially orthogonal to said third wall.

25. The cup assembly of claim 23, wherein said handle has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said first wall of said rigid portion at least partially defines said upper surface, and wherein said gripping portion at least partially defines said lower surface.

26. The cup assembly of claim 24, wherein said rigid portion has a rib disposed along at least one of said first and second channels, and wherein said rib is substantially parallel with said first and second walls.

27. The cup assembly of claim 26, wherein said handle has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said rib is disposed along said channel in proximity to said proximal end of said handle.

28. The cup assembly of claim 24, wherein said first wall has a wave-like shape, wherein said gripping portion has a corresponding wave-like shape adjacent to said first wall, and wherein said gripping portion substantially defines said lower surface.

29. The cup assembly of claim 28, wherein said third wall has a projection formed therein, and wherein said second material is molded over said projection to form a gripping abutment.

30. The cup assembly of claim 20, wherein said first material is a polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

31. The cup assembly of claim 30, wherein said lid has a spout and said orifice is formed in said spout.

32. The cup assembly of claim 31, wherein said lid has a vent hole formed therein.

33. The cup assembly of claim 32, further comprising a flow control valve in fluid communication with said spout, said vent hole and said inner volume, wherein said valve limits flow from said inner volume through said orifice.

34. The cup assembly of claim 20, wherein said handle is a pair of handles extending from said lid and diametrically opposed along said lid.

35. The cup assembly of claim 31, wherein said spout has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional area.

36. The cup assembly of claim 35, wherein said spout has a distal end, and wherein said spout is inwardly tapered toward said distal end.

37. The lid of claim 36, wherein said spout has a top wall, wherein said orifice is disposed through said top wall, and wherein said top wall has an upwardly dome-like shape.

38. A cup assembly for an infant comprising:

a cup defining an inner volume;

a lid having an orifice in fluid communication with said inner volume, said lid being removably securable to said cup; and

a handle comprising a rigid portion and a gripping portion and having a proximal end and a distal end,

wherein said rigid portion is formed from a first material, said gripping portion is formed from a second material, and said first material has a higher Shore A hardness than said second material,

wherein said proximal end is secured to said lid and said distal end is separated from said cup by a first distance when said lid is secured to said cup, and

wherein said first distance is large enough to allow a hand of said infant to pass between said cup and said distal end of said handle.

39. The cup assembly of claim 38, wherein said rigid portion of said handle has a channel formed therein, and wherein at least a portion of said second material is disposed in said channel.

40. The cup assembly of claim 39, wherein said channel is first and second channels disposed at least partially along said rigid portion.

41. The cup assembly of claim 40, wherein said rigid portion has first, second and third walls integrally formed with each other and defining said first and second channels.

42. The cup assembly of claim 41, wherein said first and second walls are substantially orthogonal to said third wall.

43. The cup assembly of claim 41, wherein said handle has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said first wall of said rigid portion at least partially defines said upper surface, and wherein said gripping portion at least partially defines said lower surface.

44. The cup assembly of claim 42, wherein said rigid portion has a rib disposed along at least one of said first and second channels, and wherein said rib is substantially parallel with said first and second walls.

45. The cup assembly of claim 44, wherein said rib is disposed in proximity to said proximal end of said handle.

46. The cup assembly of claim 42, wherein said first wall has a wave-like shape, wherein said gripping portion has a corresponding wave-like shape adjacent to said first wall, and wherein said gripping portion substantially defines said lower surface.

47. The cup assembly of claim 46, wherein said third wall has a projection formed therein, and wherein said second material is molded over said projection to form a gripping abutment.

48. The cup assembly of claim 47, wherein said gripping abutment is disposed in proximity to said distal end of said handle.

49. The cup assembly of claim 38, wherein said first material is a polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

50. The cup assembly of claim 49, wherein said lid has a spout and said orifice is formed in said spout.

51. The cup assembly of claim 50, wherein said lid has a vent hole formed therein.

52. The cup assembly of claim 51, further comprising a flow control valve in fluid communication with said orifice, said vent hole and said inner volume, wherein said valve limits flow from said inner volume through said orifice.

53. The cup assembly of claim 38, wherein said handle is a pair of handles extending from said lid and diametrically opposed along said lid.

54. The cup assembly of claim 50, wherein said spout has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional area.

55. The cup assembly of claim 54, wherein said spout has a distal end, and wherein said spout is inwardly tapered toward said distal end.

56. The cup assembly of claim 55, wherein said spout has a top wall, wherein said orifice is disposed through said top wall, and wherein said top wall has an upwardly dome-like shape.

57. A cup assembly comprising:

a cup defining an inner volume; and

a lid having a spout, an orifice and a handle, said orifice being disposed through said spout, said handle having a rigid portion and a gripping portion, and said rigid portion having a channel,

wherein said rigid portion is formed from at least a first material, said gripping portion is formed from at least a second material, and said first material has a higher Shore A Hardness than said second material, and

wherein a first portion of said second material is disposed in said channel and a second portion of said second material is disposed adjacent to said channel.

58. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein a third portion of said second material is disposed above said channel and adjacent to said second portion of said second material.

59. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said rigid portion has first, second and third walls integrally formed with each other and defining said channel.

60. The cup assembly of claim 59, wherein said first and second walls are substantially orthogonal to said third wall.

61. The cup assembly of claim 59, wherein said handle has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said first wall of said rigid portion at least partially defines said upper surface, and wherein said gripping portion at least partially defines said lower surface.

62. The cup assembly of claim 59, wherein said rigid portion has a rib disposed along said channel, and wherein said rib is substantially parallel with said first and second walls.

63. The cup assembly of claim 62, wherein said handle has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said rib is disposed in proximity to said proximal end of said handle.

64. The cup assembly of claim 61, wherein said first wall has a wave-like shape, wherein said gripping portion has a corresponding wave-like shape adjacent to said first wall, and wherein said gripping portion substantially defines said lower surface.

65. The cup assembly of claim 63, wherein said third wall has a projection formed therein, and wherein said second material is molded over said projection to form a gripping abutment.

66. The cup assembly of claim 65, wherein said gripping abutment is disposed in proximity to said distal end of said handle.

67. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said first material is a polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

68. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said lid has a vent hole formed therein.

69. The cup assembly of claim 68, further comprising a flow control valve in fluid communication with said orifice, said vent hole and said inner volume, wherein said valve limits flow from said inner volume through said orifice.

70. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said handle is a pair of handles extending from said lid and diametrically opposed along said lid.

71. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said spout has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional area.

72. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said spout has a distal end, and wherein said spout is inwardly tapered toward said distal end.

73. The cup assembly of claim 57, wherein said spout has a top wall, wherein said orifice is disposed through said top wall, and wherein said top wall has an upwardly dome-like shape.

74. A method of making a handle for a cup assembly comprising:

molding a rigid portion of said handle from a first material, said rigid portion having at least one channel formed therein; and

molding a gripping portion of said handle from a second material, said gripping portion having at least a first portion disposed in said channel, wherein said first material has a higher Shore A Hardness than said second material.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein molding said gripping portion of said handle comprises disposing a second portion of said second material adjacent to said channel.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein molding said rigid portion of said handle comprises integrally forming a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, wherein said third wall connects said first and second walls.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein said third wall is substantially orthogonal to said first and second walls.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein said first material is a polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein molding said rigid portion of said handle further comprises forming a substantially planar bottom surface along said at least one channel.

80. A method of making a lid comprising:

molding a rigid portion of said lid from a first material, said rigid portion having a lid body, a spout, and a handle, said handle having at least one channel formed therein; and

molding a gripping portion of said lid from a second material, said gripping portion having at least a first portion disposed in said channel, wherein said first material has a higher Shore A Hardness than said second material.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein molding said gripping portion of said lid comprises disposing a second portion of said second material adjacent to said channel.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein molding said rigid portion of said lid comprises integrally forming a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, wherein said third wall connects said first and second walls.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said third wall is substantially orthogonal to said first and second walls.

84. The method of claim 80, wherein said first material is a polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

85. The method of claim 80, wherein molding said rigid portion of said lid further comprises forming a substantially planar bottom surface along said at least one channel.