Container for liquids

• US 5,307,950 A
• Filed: 03/26/1993
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hongbiao Li
• Original Assignee: Hongbiao Li
• Inventors: Li, Hongbiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRONIN, STEPHEN K
• Application Number:
  US08/037,325
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 220/264, 220/317, 220/318, 220/703, 220/705, 220/707, 220/709, 220/710.5, 220/711, 220/714, 220/715, 220/254, 215/2, 222/131, 222/146.6, 222/470, 222/471, 222/484, 222/526, 222/538, 222/469
• US Class Current: 220/714
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids

Abstract

A pair of openings in the top of a container for liquids are normally closed by a pair of stoppers. The stoppers are mounted on the arms of a Y-shaped spring. The leg of the spring extends through a hole in the side of the container. The leg is connected to the upper end of a handle, which is connected to the container so that the handle pivots about the lower end of the handle. As the handle is pivoted, the leg of the spring is pulled outward through the hole in the side of the container. As the leg is pulled, the arms of the spring are pulled through a restraint, which pushes the arms together. This action pulls the stoppers away from the openings in the top of the container. The container also has a straw and a one-way valve. The valve allows air to enter the container, but does not allow liquid to spill from the container.

Claims

1. A container for liquids, comprising:

an outer side;

a bottom connected to the outer side;

a top attached to the outer side and having an opening;

at least one stopper, movable between an open position, in which liquid can be poured out of the container through the opening, and a closed position, in which the at least one stopper prevents liquid from flowing through the opening;

a handle, having an upper end and a lower end;

a pivot pin for connecting the lower end of the handle to the side of the container; and

connection means for connecting the handle to the at least one stopper for moving the at least one stopper to the open position when the container is picked up by the handle, and for moving the at least one stopper to the closed position when the handle is released.

2. A container for liquids as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection means comprises:

a spring, connected to the at least one stopper and extending through a hole in the side of the container and connected to the handle; and

a restraint for forcing the spring in a particular direction when the spring is pulled through the hole in the container, so that the at least one stopper is moved to the open position.

3. A container for liquids as recited in claim 2, wherein the restraint is a U-shaped projection extending downward from the top of the container.

4. A container for liquids as recited in claim 2, wherein the bottom is removable to allow liquid to be poured into the container.

5. A container for liquids, comprising:

an outer side;

a bottom connected to the outer side;

a top attached to the outer side and having a pair of openings;

a pair of stoppers, movable between an open position, in which liquid can be poured out of the container through the openings, and a closed position, in which the stoppers prevent liquid from flowing through the openings;

a Y-shaped spring, having two arms and a leg, wherein the distal ends of the arms are connected to the stoppers and the leg extends through a hole in the side of the container;

a handle, having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the handle is connected to the side of the container, so that the handle can pivot about the lower end of the handle, and wherein the upper end of the handle is connected to the leg of the Y-shaped spring, so that the leg is pulled through the hole in the container when the container is picked up by the handle; and

a restraint for forcing the two arms of the spring toward one another when the leg of the spring is pulled through the hole in the container, so that the openings of the container are opened.

6. A container for liquids as recited in claim 5, wherein the restraint is a U-shaped projection extending downward from the top of the container.

7. A container for liquids as recited in claim 5, wherein the bottom is removable to allow liquid to be poured into the container.

8. A container for liquids, comprising:

an outer side;

a bottom attached to the outer side;

a top attached to the outer side;

a straw extending through a hole in the top;

a one-way valve, mounted in a hole in the top;

a pair of stoppers, movable between an open position, in which liquid can be poured out of the container through a pair of openings in the top, and a closed position, in which the stoppers prevent liquid from flowing through the openings;

a Y-shaped spring, having two arms and a leg, wherein the distal ends of the arms are connected to the stoppers and the leg extends through a hole in the side of the container;

a handle, having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the handle is connected to the side of the container, so that the handle can pivot about the lower end of the handle, and wherein the upper end of the handle is connected to the leg of the Y-shaped spring, so that the leg is pulled through the hole in the container when the container is picked up by the handle; and

a restraint for forcing the two arms of the spring toward one another when the leg of the spring is pulled through the hole in the container, so that the openings of the container are opened.

9. A container for liquids as recited in claim 8, wherein the restraint is a U-shaped projection extending downward from the top of the container.

10. A container for liquids as recited in claim 8, wherein the bottom is removable to allow liquid to be poured into the container.