Drinking receptacle

• US 3,972,443 A
• Filed: 11/01/1974
• Issued: 08/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thermo-Serv, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thermo Seal
• Inventors: Albert, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Application Number:
  US05/519,862
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 220/90.4, 220/17, 220/9 R, 220/203, 220/348, 220/361, 220/378, 222/566-573, 222/511, 222/518, 222/544, 222/515, 222/563, 222/508, 222/509, 222/542, 222/487, 222/481.5, 215/315, 215/356, 215/329, 251/251
• 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 or outlet opening near the peripheral rim thereof; and a finger operated valve adapted to open and close said drinking or outlet opening whereby the receptacle may contain hot or cold beverages therein and the valve prevents spillage of said beverages at times when beverages are not being poured or drunk from said drinking or outlet opening. The finger operated valve having an actuator portion reciprocally mounted in the side of the cover or in the side of the drinking receptacle and being coupled directly to and integral with the valve whereby pressure on the actuator by a persons finger may directly open the valve in such a manner as to allow liquid to pass through said drinking or outlet opening. Resilient means tend to hold the valve closed and in accordance with various species of the invention, the finger operated valve may be a poppet type valve openable in a direction against pressure in the receptacle or in the opposite direction whereby pressure may be automatically relieved by force on the poppet against spring pressure which normally tends to hold it closed. The spring force being capable of holding the valve closed to prevent escape of liquid when the contents thereof are under safe pressure conditions.

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 rim and a top plate portion surrounded by said rim;

said top plate portion having upper and lower sides;

said top plate portion having an outlet opening extending therethrough;

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

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

a finger engagable valve actuator movably mounted on said cover and being disposed at a second location near the proximity of said rim;

said valve actuator having a shank integral with and fixed to said valve;

said second location being disposed relative to said first location whereby said receptacle may be tilted to a disposition wherein said outlet opening is in a downward position and said valve actuator is in a relative upward position;

said shank is provided with a poppet valve portion adjacent said actuator portion;

said poppet valve portion adapted to seat against said side of said cover and in said opening therein around said shank;

said poppet valve spaced from said openable valve so as to permit both valves to close concurrently in response to resilient action of said spring as it closes said openable valve in said outlet opening.

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

a gasket surrounds said shank adjacent said poppet valve portion and is disposed between said poppet valve portion and the inside of said cover whereby said gasket effectively seals between said poppet valve portion and the opening through which said shank extends in said cover so as to effectively compensate for any tolerance discrepancy between the positions of said openable valve and said poppet valve portion as they correspond with the respective valve seating areas in said cover.

3. 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 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 extending therethrough;

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

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

a finger engagable valve actuator movably mounted on said cover and being disposed at a second location near the proximity of said rim;

said valve actuator being integral with said valve;

said second location disposed relative to said first location whereby said receptacle may be tilted to a disposition wherein said drinking opening is in a downward position and said valve actuator is in a relatively upward position;

a cam portion extends downwardly from the lower side of said top plate portion;

said shank of said valve having a cam portion projecting upwardly and engaging with said cam on said lower side of said top plate portion;

both of said cams being inclined relative to each other such that the reciprocal motion of said valve actuator in an inward direction forces said shank away from said lower side of said top plate portion to thereby cause downward opening movement of said openable valve which openably closes said outlet opening.

4. 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 rim and a top plate portion surrounded by said rim;

said top plate portion having upper and lower sides;

said top plate portion having an outlet opening extending therethrough;

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

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

a finger engagable valve actuator movably mounted on said cover and being disposed at a second location near the proximity of said rim;

said valve actuator integral with and fixed to said valve;

said second location being disposed relative to said first location whereby said receptacle may be tilted to a disposition wherein said outlet opening is in a downward position and said valve actuator is in a relative upward position;

said openable valve being provided with a shank portion, said finger engagable valve actuator and said openable valve are integral with said shank portion which extends therebetween;

said shank portion having a pair of spaced apart notches;

a spring secured to said top plate portion and engaging one of said notches tending to hold said valve member in closed position wherein said openable valve portion is seated in said outlet opening;

said spring adapted to be placed in the other of said notched portions during washing of said receptacle such that said openable valve is held in open position by said spring during washing operations relative thereto.

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

said spring is a U-shaped spring having opposite ends fixed to said top plate portion of said cover and said spring having an intermediate portion extending laterally through one of said notches in said shank portion.