Sport drinking cup with valved straw cap

• US 6,116,458 A
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard C.G. Dark
• Original Assignee: Richard C.G. Dark
• Inventors: Dark, Richard C. G.
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/257,355
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 220/709, 220/708, 220/707, 220/711, 220/714, 220/715, 220/717, 220/719
• US Class Current: 220/709
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2043 the separate element being formed by an overcap which constricts a spout, the spout being either pushed into alignment with, or pushed through, an opening in the overcap upon rotation of the latter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/283 located initially inside the container, whereby the straw is revealed only upon opening the container, e.g. pop-up straws

Abstract

An easy-to-operate vented leak-proof drinking cup cap for a bottle is formed by a pivotable drinking spout (3) and diaphragm arrangement (4) in the cap base (7). The drinking spout that forms the mouthpiece on the upper side of the diaphragm through which the user sucks liquid, contains a portion (3b) on the underside the diaphragm. That lower spout portion carries an elastic hose or tube (8) for immersion in the bottle'"'"'s liquid when the drinking spout is in the open position, whereby the series of passages through the elastic tube and drinking spout serves as a straw. When the spout is pivoted to its closed position and latched, in one movement, the lower portion of the spout swings a portion of the elastic tube against the vent (6), closing the vent, and forces another portion of that hose into an interference surface (12), creating a bend or kink in the hose that prevents liquid passage.

Claims

1. A leakproof vented drinking cup cap comprising a base having top and bottom surfaces, and a vent passage through said base;

a pivotable spout extending through said base, said spout having first and second ends and a fluid passage therethrough, said spout being pivotable between a closed position in which said spout is oriented alongside said base and an open position in which said spout is oriented upstanding from said base;

said pivotable spout and said base comprising a unitary assembly formed of one piece of plastic material;

an elastic tube coupled to said second end of said spout to define with said spout a straw for passing fluid there through;

said spout for carrying said elastic tube to a position covering said vent passage to prevent fluid leakage through said vent passage and for kinking said elastic tube to block fluid passage there through, when said spout is moved to said closed position.

2. A resealable drinking cup cap comprising:

a cap base;

a drinking spout and a diaphragm moved by said drinking spout mounted on said cap base;

said drinking spout being pivotally mounted to said cap base for swiveling movement between an open position and a closed position and said diaphragm being connected between said cap base and said spout, wherein said diaphragm at least in part swivels responsive to said drinking spout moving between said open position and said closed position;

said drinking spout including an upper spout portion located on an upperside of said cap base and a lower spout portion located principally on an underside surface of said cap base;

an interference surface protruding downwardly from said underside surface of said cap base, said interference surface facing and being angularly inclined toward said lower spout portion;

a vent passage through said cap base for normally venting the underside of said cap base when said drinking spout is in said open position, said vent passage being located in said cap base between and radially aligned with said upper spout portion and said interference surface; and

latch means for releasibly latching said drinking spout in the closed position; and

, further comprising;

an elastic tube, said elastic tube having elastically collapsible tubular walls, said elastic tube having an upper end portion attached to and ensleeving said lower spout portion and a suspended portion suspended from said lower spout portion;

said lower spout portion for swinging said upper end portion of said elastic tube along said underside of said cap surface to cover said vent passage, responsive to said spout being moved into said closed position, and, simultaneously, swinging said suspended portion of said elastic tube into contact with said interference surface to bend and squeeze closed said suspended portion of said elastic tube between a bottom end of said lower spout portion and said seal surface, to thereby close said drinking cup cap.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

a liquid container for confining liquid, said liquid container including an open top; and

wherein said drinking cup cap further includes;

a collar;

fastening means carried by said collar for fastening said drinking cup cap to said open top; and

a seal for providing a liquid tight seal between said drinking cup cap and said open top when said drinking cup cap is fastened thereto.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said diaphragm is a compound diaphragm and comprises:

a flexible diaphragm and an invertible diaphragm serially connected between a lower end of said upper spout portion and said cap base;

said invertible diaphragm providing an over dead center arrangement that pre-loads said drinking spout in the direction of said open position, responsive to said drinking spout being in the dispensing position, and pre-loads said drinking spout in the direction of said closed position, responsive to said drinking spout being moved from said open position toward said closed position;

said flexible diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm being angularly inclined relative to one another to define a crease there between responsive to said drinking spout being in said open position;

said flexible diaphragm including a top end connected to said lower end of said upper spout portion and defining a bend line therewith at said top end, said flexible diaphragm being bendable relative to said drinking spout at said connection with said lower end;

said lower end of said drinking spout being movable in an arcuate path to push said flexible diaphragm during the initial course of travel of said drinking spout from said open position to said closed position and, through said flexible diaphragm, to invert said invertible diaphragm and, during additional movement to said closed position, to place said flexible diaphragm in a position underlying said upper spout portion;

said flexible diaphragm being adapted to swivel about and be pushed and then be pulled by said arcuately moving lower end of said upper spout portion, whereby said flexible diaphragm is temporarily wrapped over and forms a bend therein at said lower end of said upper spout portion and is placed in a position underlying said upper spout portion responsive to said drinking spout attaining the closed latched position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said lower spout portion is of a predetermined length, said length being greater than the distance between said vent passage and said upper spout portion and less than the distance between said upper spout portion and said interference surface, when said spout is in the open position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said lower spout portion is of a predetermined length, said length being greater than the distance between said vent passage and said upper spout portion and less than the distance between said upper spout portion and said interference surface, when said spout is in the open position.

7. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap base, said diaphragm, said spout, said interference surface and said latch means comprise an integral assembly formed in one-piece of plastic material.

8. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap base further includes a hinge for pivotally mounting said drinking spout to said cap base, said hinge being integrally formed in said cap base and defining a pivot axis.

9. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said cap base further includes a hinge for pivotally mounting said drinking spout to said cap base, said hinge being integrally formed in said cap base and defining a pivot axis.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said plastic material comprises polypropylene, and wherein a distal edge of said diaphragm, most remote from said drinking spout, and said pivot axis define a bi-sector plane, said plane being oriented at an angle of 40 degrees relative to a reference plane, said reference plane being oriented normal to the axis of said drinking spout when said drinking spout is in the open position.

11. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said angular incline of said interference surface is a predetermined angle in the range of from five degrees to no greater than ten degrees from the vertical, said vertical being defined by the axis of said spout when said spout is in the open position.

12. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said elastic tube consists of rubber.

13. The invention as defined in claims 9, wherein said angular incline of said interference surface is a predetermined angle in the range of from five degrees to no greater than ten degrees from the vertical, said vertical being defined by the axis of said spout when said spout is in the open position.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein said cap base includes a radially extending U-shaped recessed portion for receiving said spout, when said spout is in the closed position, said U-shaped recessed portion including side walls;

and wherein said latch means comprises;

a pair of splines located on diametrically opposite sides of and extending in parallel to the axis of said spout; and

a pair of barbs located on respective ones of said side walls of said radially extending U-shaped recessed portion, said barbs containing a cam surface.

15. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said spout is of a length sufficient to extend beyond and overhang the side of the upper surface of said cap base, when said spout is latched in said closed position, for providing a gripping surface.

16. A resealable drinking cup cap comprising:

a cap base;

a drinking spout and a diaphragm moved by said spout mounted on said cap base;

said spout being pivotally mounted to said cap base for swiveling movement between an open position and a closed position and said diaphragm being connected between said cap base and said spout, wherein said diaphragm at least in part swivels responsive to said drinking spout moving between said open position and said closed position;

a living hinge connected between said cap base and said drinking spout for pivotally mounting said drinking spout to said cap base, said hinge being integrally formed in said cap base and defining a pivot axis;

said drinking spout including an upper spout portion located on an upperside of said cap base and a lower spout portion located principally on an underside surface of said cap base;

said diaphragm further comprising;

a flexible diaphragm and an invertible diaphragm serially connected between a lower end of said upper spout portion and said cap base;

said invertible diaphragm providing an over dead center arrangement that pre-loads said drinking spout in the direction of said open position, responsive to said drinking spout being in the dispensing position, and pre-loads said drinking spout in the direction of said closed position, responsive to said drinking spout being moved from said open position toward said closed position;

said flexible diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm being angularly inclined relative to one another to define a crease therebetween responsive to said drinking spout being in said open position;

said flexible diaphragm including a top end connected to said lower end of said upper spout portion and defining a bend line therewith at said top end, said flexible diaphragm being bendable relative to said drinking spout at said connection with said lower end;

said lower end of said drinking spout being movable in an arcuate path to push said flexible diaphragm during the initial course of travel of said drinking spout from said open position to said closed position and, through said flexible diaphragm, to invert said invertible diaphragm and, during additional movement to said closed position, to place said flexible diaphragm in a position underlying said upper spout portion;

said flexible diaphragm being adapted to swivel about and be pushed and then be pulled by said arcuately moving lower end of said upper spout portion, whereby said flexible diaphragm is temporarily wrapped over and forms a bend therein at said lower end of said upper spout portion and is placed in a position underlying said upper spout portion responsive to said drinking spout attaining the closed latched position;

wherein a distal edge of said diaphragm, most remote from said drinking spout, and said pivot axis define a bi-sector plane, said plane being oriented at an angle of forty degrees relative to a reference plane, said reference plane being oriented normal to the axis of said drinking spout when said drinking spout is in the open position;

an interference surface protruding downwardly from said underside surface of said cap base, said interference surface facing and being angularly inclined toward said lower spout portion;

a vent passage through said cap base for normally venting the underside of said cap base when said spout is in said open position, said vent passage being located in said cap base between and radially aligned with said upper spout portion and said interference surface;

a seal for said vent passage on said underside of said cap base, said seal bordering said vent passage and protruding from said underside;

said lower spout portion being of a predetermined length, said predetermined length being greater than the distance between said vent passage and said upper spout portion and less than the distance between said upper spout portion and said interference surface when said spout is in the open position; and

latch means for releasibly latching said spout in the closed position, said latch means including a pair of splines, said splines axially extending and radially outwardly protruding from diametrically opposite sides of said upper spout portion, and a pair of latch barbs located in said cap base for engagement with said splines;

said cap base, said diaphragm, said drinking spout, said interference surface and said latch means comprising an integral assembly formed in one-piece of polypropylene plastic material and, further comprising;

an elastic tube, said elastic tube having elastically collapsible tubular walls, said elastic tube having an upper end portion attached to and ensleeving said lower spout portion and a suspended portion suspended from said lower spout portion;

said lower spout portion for swinging said upper end portion of said elastic tube into contact said vent seal along said underside of said cap surface to cover said vent passage, responsive to said drinking spout being moved into said closed position, and, simultaneously, swinging said suspended portion of said elastic tube into contact with said interference surface to bend and squeeze closed said suspended portion of said elastic tube between a bottom end of said lower spout portion and said seal surface, to thereby close said drinking cup cap.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein said elastic tube comprises rubber;

and wherein said angular incline of said interference surface is a predetermined angle in the range of from five degrees to no greater than ten degrees from the vertical, said vertical being defined by the axis of said spout when said spout is in the open position.