Spill-protecting drinking vessel top

• US 6,062,419 A
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swedish Gifts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Swedish Gifts, Inc.
• Inventors: Kruger, Burkhard, Renelt, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): POLLARD, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/210,170
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 220/711, 220/714, 220/715, 220/717, 220/203.07, 222/513, 222/514, 222/518
• US Class Current: 220/711
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/248 the valve being opened or closed by imparting a motion to the valve stem B65D47/244, B65D47/245 take precedence

Abstract

A spill-protecting top on a drinking vessel with an opening at a suction spout for drinking fluid, with which a fluid passage between the opening and the drinking vessel is blocked by a closure body of a valve, which is pressed by a spring element against the scaling seat in the fluid passage, and wherein the closure body comprises a projection which with an actuation section projects up to in the region of the opening, and which presses the closure body, on actuation of the actuation section from the outer side of the opening, away from its sealing seat against the effect of the spring element by which means the fluid passage between the opening and the drinking vessel is unblocked.

Claims

1. A spill-protecting lid for a drinking vessel, comprising:

the lid having an opening defined therein, the lid defining a sealing seat;

a suction spout disposed at the opening, the suction spout being in fluid communication with a fluid contained in the drinking vessel;

a closure body being urged against the sealing seat by a spring element into a closed position to close the opening, the closure body being movable into an open position to open the opening by moving the closure body away from the sealing seat against a biasing force of the spring element; and

a projection attached to the closure body and projecting into the suction spout, the projection having an actuation section for moving the closure body between the closed position and the open position.

2. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the suction spout has a free end forming a spout opening.

3. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 2 wherein the spout opening is partly defined by the suction spout and the projection.

4. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 2 wherein the suction spout converges toward the free end thereof.

5. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the suction spout defines a lateral groove at one side of the suction spout.

6. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 5 wherein the projection is rod shaped and intersects the lateral groove at an acute angle when the closure body is in the closed position.

7. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the projection has an actuation section that projects laterally out of the opening.

8. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the sealing seat is circumferential and the closure body is biased against the sealing seat and the projection projects through the sealing seat.

9. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the closure body is plate shaped and the closure body has a circumferential portion that is pressed against the sealing seat.

10. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the closure body is secured to a lever.

11. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the sealing seat is disposed on an inside of a wall supporting the suction spout.

12. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 11 wherein a spring element is captured between the closure body and a counter bearing disposed inside the lid.

13. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 12 wherein the counter bearing is secured to a sleeve shaped retaining element that is attached to an inner side of the wall.

14. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 12 wherein the counter bearing is a plate shaped element that is releasably attached to a retaining element.

15. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 14 wherein the spring element is a helical spring.

16. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 15 wherein the helical spring has an upper end that is guided by a shoulder defined in the closure body and by a shoulder defined in the counter bearing.

17. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the projection has smooth edges and is made by a biocompatible material.

18. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the lid further comprises a cap-receiving shoulder and a cap is releasably attached to the cap-receiving shoulder.

19. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 18 wherein the cap-receiving shoulder is adjacent a wall of the lid.

20. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the lid further comprises a cylindrical circumferential outer wall.

21. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the lid is screwed onto the drinking vessel.

22. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein a sealing element is disposed between the lid and the drinking vessel.

23. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 22 wherein the sealing element is integrally formed with the lid.

24. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the drinking vessel is a beaker.

25. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the lid is integrally formed with the drinking vessel.

26. The spill-protecting lid according to claim 1 wherein the projection is attached to the closure body to pivot the closure body relative to the sealing seat.