Drinking receptacle

• US 3,964,631 A
• Filed: 06/24/1974
• Issued: 06/22/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thermo-Serv, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Albert
• Inventors: Albert, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Application Number:
  US05/482,363
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 220/90.4, 222/566-573, 222/511, 222/518, 215/315, 215/311, 215/312
• US Class Current: 220/715
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/249 by means of a lever mechanism

Abstract

A drinking receptacle provided with a generally cup like body and an enclosing cover removably coupled to the top portion and upper open end of the cup like body, the cover having a drinking opening near the peripheral rim thereof, and a finger operated valve adapted to open and close said drinking opening whereby the receptacle may contain hot or cold beverages therein and the valve prevents the spillage of said beverages at times when beverages are not being poured or drunk from said drinking opening. The finger operated valve having an actuator reciprocally mounted in the side of the cover and having wedge like actuator structure as well as a finger operating abutment adapted wedgingly to move an arm of said valve away from a lower side of said cover and for actuating a resilient finger on said arm to thereby move a poppet head portion of said valve away from said opening for allowing contents to be poured through said opening and drunk at the rim of said cover.

Claims

1. A drinking receptacle provided with a generally cup like body having a normally upper open end;

a cover for said body removably and sealingly secured to said upper open end of said cup like body;

said cover having a peripheral drinking rim and a top plate portion surrounded by said rim;

said top plate portion having upper and lower sides;

said top plate portion having a drinking opening therein;

said drinking opening being at a first location near the proximity of said rim;

an openable valve disposed and adapted to close and open said drinking opening;

a finger engageable valve actuator movably mounted on said cover at a second location near the proximity of said rim;

said valve actuator disposed engageably to operate said valve for opening and closing the same;

said valve having a poppet head disposed at said lower side of said top plate portion adapted to open and close said opening;

a resilient arm means coupled to said cover and carrying said poppet head;

said resilient arm means disposed adjacent said lower side of said top plate portion and tending to hold said poppet head in closed position relative to said drinking opening;

said cover having a peripheral side provided with a valve actuator bearing opening therein;

said actuator reciprocally mounted in said bearing opening;

said valve actuator having a finger engaging portion projecting radially outward beyond said peripheral side of said cover;

said valve actuator having an inwardly directed valve actuating portion disposed below said top plate of said cover;

said inwardly directed valve actuating portion engageable with said resilient arm of said valve and disposed to deflect said resilient arm in a direction away from said lower side of said top plate to thereby open said poppet head of said valve relative to said drinking opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said inwardly directed valve actuating portion of said valve actuator comprises a wedge shaped cam structure disposed between said resilient arm and said lower side of said top plate portion.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said resilient arm is provided with a resilient finger extending at substantially right angles to said lower side of said top plate;

said valve actuating portion of said valve actuator engageable with said resilient finger and adapted to thereby deflect said resilient arm in a direction away from said lower side of said top plate portion of said cover.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein:

said resilient arm is fixed to said cover at a location spaced from said lower side of said top plate and said valve actuator bearing opening;

said resilient finger extending from said resilient arm in a direction toward said lower side of said top plate portion;

said valve actuator having an abutment means engageable with said resilient finger for applying force to said resilient arm at a location generally above the position at which said arm is fixed to said cover for thereby deflecting said arm in a relatively downward direction away from said lower side of said top plate portion and for thereby opening said poppet head portion relative to said drinking opening.