Drinking vessel

• US 7,549,556 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OZ10 Limited
• Original Assignee: 0Z10 Limited
• Inventors: Miller, Austen Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smalley; James N
• Application Number:
  US10/894,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 220/203.11, 220/203.12, 220/711, 220/713, 220/714, 220/717, 220/718, 220/719, 220/203.16, 220/203.19, 215/388, 215/11.4, 215/387, 222/485, 222/490, 137/853
• US Class Current: 220/714
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7889 Sleeve

Abstract

According to the invention a drinking vessel (10) comprises a generally cylindrical container (11) adapted to contain liquid and a generally cylindrical lid (12) adapted to close the container. The lid comprises a generally cylindrical outer member (20), a generally cylindrical inner member (22) located within the outer member so as to define a generally cylindrical aperture (50) between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member, and a generally cylindrical sealing element (21) located in the aperture. The sealing element normally forms a seal between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member but is deformable by suction at the end of the aperture remote from the container so as to cause liquid within the container to flow, from the end of the aperture adjacent to the container, out through the aperture under the action of the suction.

Claims

1. A drinking vessel comprising a generally cylindrical container adapted to contain liquid and a generally cylindrical lid adapted to close the container, in which the lid comprises a generally cylindrical outer member, a generally cylindrical inner member located radially within the outer member and together defining an annular upstanding lip extending around substantially the entire periphery of the upper surface of the lid, wherein a generally cylindrical aperture extends through the lip between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member, and a sealing member of resiliently flexible material, said sealing member having an annular part located in said aperture and adapted to normally form a seal across said aperture sealing against the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member and to be deformable by suction out of sealing engagement with the inner surface of the outer member at the end of the aperture remote from the container so as to create an opening between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the annular part of said sealing member and to allow liquid within the container to flow, from the end of the aperture adjacent to the container, out through the opening solely under the action of suction thereto.

2. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for holding the sealing member firmly within the aperture.

3. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer member is formed with a generally cylindrical side wall and the inner member is formed with base and a generally cylindrical side wall so that the aperture is formed by a gap between the side walls, and the sealing member further comprises a base abutting against the outer surface of the base of the inner member.

4. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 2, comprising at least one projection extending inwardly from the inner surface of the outer member and engaging with at least one projection extending outwardly from the outer surface of the inner member and adapted to hold the inner member in a required position relative to the outer member.

5. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 2, in which the side wall of the sealing element is formed with an annular portion which is adapted to fit tightly in the aperture.

6. A drinking vessel comprising a generally cylindrical container adapted to contain liquid and a generally cylindrical lid adapted to close the container, in which the lid comprises a generally cylindrical outer member, and a separate generally cylindrical inner member inserted radially within the outer member and together defining an annular upstanding lip extending around substantially the entire periphery of the upper surface of the lid, wherein a generally cylindrical aperture extends between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member defining a circumferential opening through the lip extending un-interrupted about substantially the entire circumference of the lip, and a sealing member of resiliently flexible material, said sealing member having an annular part located in said aperture and adapted to normally form a seal across said aperture between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member to prevent liquid to pass from the container via the circumferential opening in the lip and to be deformable by suction at the end of the aperture remote from the container so as to allow liquid within the container to flow, from the end of the aperture adjacent to the container, out through the circumferential opening solely under the action of suction thereto.