Valve for non-spill cup

• US 7,147,121 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABC Development Inc
• Original Assignee: ABC Development Inc
• Inventors: Boucher, Richard A., Shumway, Craig Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMALLEY, JAMES N
• Application Number:
  US10/406,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 220/711, 220/714, 220/715, 220/717, 220/203.11, 222/482, 222/490, 222/494, 137/493, 137/588, 137/845, 137/846, 137/843, 137/844, 251/335.2, 215/11.4, 215/11.5, 215/311, 215/387, 401/266
• US Class Current: 220/203.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7771 Bi-directional flow valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve

Abstract

A valve for use with a cap for a spill resistant cup, the cap including a spout to dispense the liquid and a valve mount extending from the spout to engage with the valve. The valve includes a generally cylindrical valve tower extending from a valve base to sealingly engage the valve mount and having an interior bore for the passage of liquid and a valve face sloping across an upper end of the valve tower bore from a higher first point on a first side of the valve tower and to a lower second point on a diametrically opposite second side of the valve tower. A valve mechanism is located in the valve face for controlling a flow of the liquid through the valve mechanism dependent upon a pressure differential across the valve face. The valve mechanism is a valve slit extending through the valve face perpendicular to a mouth opening in the spout and is S-shaped or straight.

Claims

1. A valve in combination with a cap fitted to a spill resistant cup to retain liquid in the cup, the cap including a spout to dispense the liquid and a rigid, generally cylindrical and hollow valve mount extending downward from the spout to engage with the valve, the valve comprising:

a cylindrical valve tower having an interior bore for the passage of liquid and extending from a valve base and upward into the interior of the valve mount so that an outer circumferential surface of the valve tower frictionally engages an interior circumferential surface of the valve mount to sealingly engage the valve mount,

an outer valve wall, having a height greater than a width of the wall, extending from the valve base circumferential to the valve tower to form a circumferential recess for receiving the valve mount so that the outer surface of the valve tower and an inner circumferential surface of the outer valve wall frictionally engage the inner surface of the valve mount and an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount,

an oval valve face sloping across an upper end of the valve tower bore from a higher first point on a first side of the valve tower and to a lower second point on a diametrically opposite second side of the valve tower, and

a valve mechanism located in the valve face for controlling a flow of the liquid through the valve mechanism dependent upon a pressure differential across the valve face, including

a normally closed valve slit extending through the valve face and extending across the valve face from near the first side of the valve tower to near the second side of the valve tower.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve slit is an S-shaped slit extending across the valve face.

3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve slit is a straight slit extending from near the first side of the valve tower to near the second side of the valve tower and having a small opening at each end of the slit.

4. The valve of claim 1 wherein the first side of the valve tower is located adjacent a periphery of the cap and the second side of the valve tower is located inwards of the first side and towards the center of the cap.

5. The valve of claim 1 wherein the cap further includes a second mount spaced apart from the spout, the valve further comprising:

a second tower spaced apart from the valve tower and the second tower engaging the second mount.

6. The valve of claim 5 wherein the vent tower extends into the interior of the vent mount so that an outer circumferential surface of the vent tower frictionally engages an interior circumferential surface of the vent mount.

7. The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve slit is a straight slit extending from near the first side of the valve tower to near the second side of the valve tower and having a small opening at each end of the slit.

8. The valve of claim 1 wherein the spout includes a mouth opening extending generally along and adjacent to the periphery of the cap, the first side of the valve tower is located adjacent a periphery of the cap and the second side of the valve tower is located inwards of the first side and towards the center of the cap, so that the valve slit is oriented generally perpendicular to the mouth opening.

9. The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve tower extends into the interior of the valve mount so that an outer circumferential surface of the valve tower frictionally engages an interior circumferential surface of the valve mount.

10. The valve of claim 9 wherein the valve further comprises an outer valve wall extending from the valve base circumferential to the valve tower to form a circumferential recess for receiving a leading circumferential edge of the valve mount so that the outer surface of the valve tower and an inner circumferential surface of the outer valve wall frictionally engage the inner surface of the valve mount and an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount.

11. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises a tab extending radially away from the valve base to allow the tab to be grasped by a user of the valve.

12. The valve of claim 1 in combination with the cap including the spout and the rigid, generally cylindrical and hollow valve mount, wherein the cap further includes a second mount spaced apart from the spout, the valve further comprising:

a second tower spaced apart from the valve tower and the second tower engaging the second mount.

13. The valve of claim 12 wherein the vent tower extends into the interior of the vent mount so that an outer circumferential surface of the vent tower frictionally engages an interior circumferential surface of the vent mount.

14. The valve of claim 13 wherein the valve further comprises an outer vent wall extending from the valve base circumferential to the vent tower to form a circumferential recess for receiving the vent mount so that the outer surface of the vent tower and an inner circumferential surface of the outer vent wall frictionally engage the inner surface of the vent mount and an outer circumferential surface of the vent mount.

15. The valve of claim 12, further including tabs extending from the valve base.

16. A valve in combination with a cap releasably secured to a spill resistant cup for retaining liquid therein, the cap including a spout to dispense the liquid and a rigid, generally cylindrical and hollow valve mount extending inwardly from the spout and engaging with the valve, the cap further includes a second mount spaced apart from the spout, the valve comprising:

a cylindrical valve tower having an interior bore facilitating passage of liquid and extending from a valve base and outward into an interior of the valve mount such that an outer circumferential surface of the valve tower frictionally engages with an interior circumferential surface of the valve mount to facilitate the valve tower sealingly engaging with the valve mount;

an outer valve wall, having a height greater than a width of the wall, extending from the valve base circumferential about the valve tower and defining a circumferential recess therebetween for receiving the valve mount, and the outer valve wall sealingly engaging an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount and sandwiching a leading circumferential edge of the valve mount therebetween so that the outer surface of the valve tower and an inner circumferential surface of the outer valve wall respectively frictionally engage with an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount and the inner surface of the valve mount;

an inner most end surface of the valve tower having an inclined oval valve face sloping across from a higher first point on a first side of the valve tower and to a lower second point on a diametrically opposite second side of the valve tower;

the inclined valve face having a valve mechanism formed therein for controlling a flow of the liquid through the valve mechanism dependent upon a pressure differential across the valve face, and the valve mechanism comprising a normally closed valve slit across the inclined valve face; and

a second tower spaced apart from the valve tower and the second tower having a circumferential vent wall which receives and surrounds the second mount.

17. A valve in combination with a cap releasably secured to a spill resistant cup for retaining liquid therein, the cap including a spout to dispense the liquid and a rigid, generally cylindrical and hollow valve mount extending inwardly from the spout and engaging with the valve, the valve comprising:

a cylindrical valve tower having an interior bore facilitating passage of liquid and extending from a valve base and outward into an interior of the valve mount such that an outer circumferential surface of the valve tower frictionally engages with an interior circumferential surface of the valve mount to facilitate the valve tower sealingly engaging with the valve mount;

an outer valve wall, having a height greater than a width of the wall, extending from the valve base circumferential about the valve tower and defining a circumferential recess therebetween for receiving the valve mount, and the outer valve wall sealingly engaging an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount and sandwiching a leading circumferential edge of the valve mount therebetween so that the outer surface of the valve tower and an inner circumferential surface of the outer valve wall respectively frictionally engage with an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount and the inner surface of the valve mount; and

an inner most end surface of the valve tower having an inclined oval valve face sloping across from a higher first point on a first side of the valve tower and to a lower second point on a diametrically opposite second side of the valve tower;

the inclined valve face having a valve mechanism formed therein for controlling a flow of the liquid through the valve mechanism dependent upon a pressure differential across the valve face, and the valve mechanism comprising a normally closed valve slit across the inclined valve face.