Dripless liquid feeding/training containers

• US 5,079,013 A
• Filed: 08/30/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belanger, Richard A.
• Original Assignee: Belanger, Richard A.
• Inventors: Belanger, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): YEUNG, GEORGE CHAN PUI
• Application Number:
  US07/575,358
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 426/115, 426/117, 215/11.1, 215/11.4, 215/11.5, 222/482, 222/490, 222/571
• US Class Current: 426/115
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/002 by using valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/04 with means for supplying air

Abstract

Dripless liquid training/feeding containers, being either a cup and/or a bottle, are described, particularly useful and suitable for babies, toddlers, as well as others requiring them. In operation, a liquid is first placed into, for temporary storage within the container'"'"'s liquid housing. The container housing is then enclosed by a removably-mounted container sealing lid. During use by a baby or toddler, the liquid stored within the container, is slowly sucked or sipped out of the container'"'"'s liquid housing, by means of a liquid outlet control valve, incorporated preferably within the container'"'"'s sealing lid. As the liquid is removed by the user sucking or sipping through the liquid outlet control valve, located within a drinking spout, an air inlet control valve, which may preferably be also incorporated within the container'"'"'s sealing lid, or in the liquid housing acting in concert with the liquid leaving the container, allows air to flow into the cup, during the sipping, resulting in equalization of the interior/exterior pressures, which, at the same time, results in filling of the space previously occupied by the liquid, that has been sipped out of the cup housing. During the sipping/sucking process, as well as non-use, the container, in all likely orientations and movements, will not drip its liquid contents, while outside the user'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. A dripless liquid feeding and training container, useful for babies, toddlers, and others, comprising:

a) a liquid housing means;

b) said liquid housing means, further comprising a housing interior, which is suitable for temporary storage of liquids at an interior pressure;

c) said liquid housing means containing a liquid;

d) a liquid housing sealing lid means;

e) said liquid housing sealing lid means, being removably-attached to said liquid housing means, such that it fully encloses said liquid, contained within said housing interior of said liquid housing means;

f) said liquid housing sealing lid means further comprising a drinking spout means, a liquid outlet control valve means, which is incorporated within, and contiguous to, and is in a liquid inter-connecting relationship with said drinking spout means, and an air inlet control valve means;

g) said drinking spout means further comprising a liquid outlet, which allows a user to sip or suck liquid driplessly out of said liquid housing means; and

h) said air inlet control valve means additionally including further means for automatically allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means during the exiting of said liquid, thereby replacing the space formerly occupied by said removed liquid, and re-equalizing the interior pressure of said liquid housing means with pressure exterior to the liquid housing means.

5. A liquid feeding/training container, as described in claim 1 wherein said liquid container is a baby feeding bottle.

6. A liquid feeding/training container, as described in claim 1 wherein said liquid container is a liquid feeding/training cup.

7. A liquid feeding/training container, as described in claim 1 wherein said liquid housing means and said sealing lid means, are configured in any one of desired numerous configurations, but not limited to, a liquid feeding/training cup and a baby feeding bottle.

8. A liquid feeding/training container, as described in claim 1 wherein the further means of said air inlet control valve means comprising a valve spring means and a valve ball means.

12. A dripless liquid feeding/training container, as described in claim 1 wherein said liquid outlet control valve means, further comprises:

a) a valve housing means;

b) said valve housing means, serving as the receptacle for a valve body means;

c) a valve spring means, said valve spring means located concentrically around said valve body means; and

d) said valve spring means, serving to allow said valve body means to remain in a valve closed position, until an adequate vacuum is created by sucking at said liquid opening of said drinking spout means, such that said valve body means is moved to a valve open position, allowing liquid to exit through said liquid outlet control valve means.

13. A dripless liquid feeding/training container, as described in claim 1 wherein said air inlet control valve means, further comprises:

a) a valve spring means;

b) a valve ball means;

c) a valve housing means;

d) said valve housing means, serving as a receptacle for said valve spring means and said valve ball means; and

e) said valve spring means, serving to allow said valve ball means to remain in a valve closed position, until an adequate vacuum is created at said interior opening of said air inlet control valve means, such that said valve ball is moved to a valve open position, allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means.

2. A dripless liquid feeding and training cup, useful for babies, toddlers, and others, comprising:

a) a liquid housing means;

b) said liquid housing means, further comprising a housing interior, which is suitable for temporary storage of liquids at an interior pressure;

c) said liquid housing means containing a liquid;

d) a liquid housing sealing lid means;

e) said liquid housing sealing lid means, being removably-attached to said liquid housing means, such that it fully encloses said liquid, contained within said housing interior of said liquid housing means;

f) said liquid housing sealing lid means further comprising a drinking spout means, a liquid outlet control valve means, which is incorporated within, and contiguous to, and is in a liquid inter-connecting relationship with said drinking spout means, and an air inlet control valve means;

g) said drinking spout means further comprising a liquid outlet, which allows a user to sip or suck liquid driplessly out of said liquid housing means; and

h) said air inlet control valve means additionally including further means for automatically allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means during the exiting of said liquid, thereby replacing the space formerly occupied by said removed liquid, and re-equalizing the interior pressure of said liquid housing means with pressure exterior to the liquid housing means.

9. A liquid feeding/training cup, as described in claim 2 wherein the further means of said air inlet control valve means comprising a valve spring means and a valve ball means.

3. A dripless liquid feeding and training bottle, useful for babies, toddlers, and others, comprising:

a) a liquid housing means;

b) said liquid housing means, further comprising a housing interior, which is suitable for temporary storage of liquids at an interior pressure;

c) said liquid housing means containing a liquid;

d) a liquid housing sealing lid means;

e) said liquid housing sealing lid means, being removably-attached to said liquid housing means, such that it fully encloses said liquid, contained within said housing interior of said liquid housing means;

f) said liquid housing sealing lid means further comprising a drinking spout means, a liquid outlet control valve means, which is incorporated within, and contiguous to, and is in a liquid inter-connecting relationship with said drinking spout means, and an air inlet control valve means;

g) said drinking spout means further comprising a liquid outlet, which allows user to sip or suck liquid driplessly out of said liquid housing means; and

h) said air inlet control valve means additionally including further means for automatically allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means during the exiting of said liquid, thereby replacing the space formerly occupied by said removed liquid, and re-equalizing the interior pressure of said liquid housing means with pressure exterior to the liquid housing means.

10. A liquid feeding/training bottle, as described in claim 3 wherein the further means of said air inlet control valve means comprising a valve spring means and a valve ball means.

4. A dripless liquid feeding and training bottle, useful for babies, toddlers, and others, comprising:

a) a liquid housing means;

b) said liquid housing means, further comprising a housing interior, which is suitable for temporary storage of liquids at an interior pressure;

c) said liquid housing means containing a liquid;

d) a liquid housing sealing lid means;

e) said liquid housing sealing lid means, being removably-attached to said liquid housing means, such that it fully encloses said liquid, contained within said housing interior of said liquid housing means;

f) said liquid housing sealing lid means further comprising a nipple drinking means;

g) an air inlet control valve means, said air inlet control valve means being incorporated in said liquid housing means;

h) said nipple drinking means further comprising a liquid outlet, which allows a user to sip or suck liquid driplessly out of said liquid housing means; and

i) said air inlet valve means additionally including further means for automatically allowing air to enter the interior of said liquid housing means during the exiting of said liquid, thereby replacing the space formerly occupied by said removed liquid, and re-equalizing the interior pressure of said liquid housing means with pressure exterior to the liquid housing means.

11. A liquid feeding/training bottle, as described in claim 4 wherein the further means of said air inlet control valve means comprising a valve spring means and a valve ball means.

14. A dripless liquid feeding and training container, useful for babies, toddlers, and others, comprising:

a) a liquid housing means;

b) said liquid housing means, further comprising a housing interior, which is suitable for temporary storage of liquids at an interior pressure;

c) said liquid housing means containing a liquid;

d) a liquid housing sealing lid means;

e) said liquid housing sealing lid means, being removably-attached to said liquid housing means, such that it fully encloses said liquid, contained within said housing interior of said liquid housing means;

f) said liquid housing sealing lid means further comprising a drinking spout means, a liquid outlet control valve means, which is incorporated within, and contiguous to, and is in a liquid inter-connecting relationship with said drinking spout means, and an air inlet control valve means;

g) said drinking spout means further comprising a liquid outlet, which allows a user to sip or suck liquid driplessly out of said liquid housing means;

h) said air inlet control valve means additionally including further means automatically allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means during the exiting of said liquid, thereby replacing the space formerly occupied by said removed liquid, and re-equalizing the interior pressure of said liquid housing means with pressure exterior to the liquid housing means;

said liquid outlet control valve means, further comprises;

i) a valve housing means;

j) said valve housing means, serving as the receptacle for a valve body means;

k) a valve spring means, said valve spring means located concentrically around said valve body means; and

l) said valve spring means, serving to allow said valve body means to remain in a valve closed position, until an adequate vacuum is created by sucking at said liquid opening of said drinking spout means, such that said valve body means is moved to a valve open position, allowing liquid to exit through said liquid outlet control valve means.

15. A dripless liquid feeding and training container, useful for babies, toddlers, and others, comprising:

a) a liquid housing means;

b) said liquid housing means, further comprising a housing interior, which is suitable for temporary storage of liquids at an interior pressure;

c) said liquid housing means containing a liquid;

d) a liquid housing sealing lid means;

e) said liquid housing sealing lid means, being removably-attached to said liquid housing means, such that it fully encloses said liquid, contained within said housing interior of said liquid housing means;

f) said liquid housing sealing lid means further comprising a drinking spout means, a liquid outlet control valve means, which is incorporated within, and contiguous to, and is in a liquid inter-connecting relationship with said drinking spout means, and an air inlet control valve means;

g) said drinking spout means further comprising a liquid outlet, which allows a user to sip or suck liquid driplessly out of said liquid housing means;

h) said air inlet control valve means additionally including further means for automatically allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means during the exiting of said liquid, thereby replacing the space formerly occupied by said removed liquid, and re-equalizing the interior pressure of said liquid housing means with pressure exterior to the liquid housing means;

said further means of said air inlet control valve means comprises;

i) a valve spring means;

j) a valve ball means;

k) a valve housing means;

l) said valve housing means, serving as a receptacle for said valve spring means and said valve ball means; and

m) said valve spring means, serving to allow said valve ball means to remain in a valve closed position, until an adequate vacuum is created at said interior opening of said air inlet control valve means, such that said valve ball is moved to a valve open position, allowing air to enter said interior of said liquid housing means.