Drinking cup with a straw connected to the bottom of the cup

• US 8,851,324 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O'Sullivan, Sean Patrick
• Original Assignee: O'Sullivan, Sean Patrick
• Inventors: O'Sullivan, Sean Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/874,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 220/710, 220/705, 220/756, 220/752, 220/62.12, 220/62.18, 220/592.17, 220/592.16, 215/229, 215/228, 215/388, 164/25, 164/22, 164/30
• US Class Current: 220/710
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2222 Straw holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids

Abstract

A drinking cup for use by individuals in reclined position is disclosed. The cup includes a flexible straw attached to the base of the cup, a lid, and a handle with a groove for receiving and storing the straw. A bight actuated mouthpiece valve is connected to the distal end of the straw. The cup may be of double walled construction and the lid includes a small hole to release any vacuum created as a user sucks on the straw.

Claims

1. A cup comprising:

a cup body having a side wall and a base, said side wall extending upwardly from said base and surrounding an interior cavity for holding liquid, said cup body having an interior cavity outlet formed through said base in flow communication with said interior cavity;

a flexible straw connected to said cup body in flow communication with said interior cavity through said outlet;

a handle attached to said body, said handle shaped to receive said flexible straw and releasably secure said flexible straw thereto, wherein said handle includes a grip extending in spaced relation from said cup body;

said grip having a semi-circular recess formed therein having a diameter closely approximating a diameter of said flexible straw and a portion of said semi-circular recess having a cross sectional arc greater than one hundred and eighty degrees.

2. The cup as in claim 1 wherein said semi-circular recess formed in said grip extends along a length of said grip.

3. The cup as in claim 1 wherein said flexible straw is connected to said cup body below a lower end of said grip.

4. The cup as in claim 1 wherein said handle is connected to said cup body proximate an upper end thereof and said grip extends downward and in spaced relation from said cup body.

5. The cup as in claim 1 wherein said flexible straw is flow connected with said interior cavity of said cup body through a side wall outlet in said side wall of said cup body and said handle is radially aligned with said side wall outlet.

6. The cup as in claim 5 further comprising a barbed nipple recessed in said cup body and connected to said cup body in flow communication with said interior cavity, and an inlet end of said flexible straw is removably securable around said nipple and said barbed nipple extends in radial alignment with said handle.

7. The cup as in claim 1 further comprising a lid removably securable to an upper end of said body in covering relationship with said interior cavity, said lid having a vent hole extending therethrough.

8. The cup as in claim 1 further comprising a bite actuated mouthpiece connected to an outlet end of said flexible straw, said bite actuated mouthpiece advanceable from a normally closed alignment, preventing liquid from flowing out the outlet end of said flexible straw, to an open alignment when squeezed to allow liquid to flow out the outlet end of the flexible straw.

9. A cup comprising:

a cup body including;

an outer cup comprising an outer cup side wall and an outer cup base, said outer cup side wall extending upwardly from said outer cup base;

said outer cup base having a flow passageway formed therein;

an inner cup comprising an inner cup side wall and an inner cup base, said inner cup side wall extending upwardly from said inner cup base and forming an interior cavity for holding liquid, said inner cup having an outlet formed therethrough proximate said base;

said inner cup received within said outer cup, such that said outlet is aligned in flow communication with said flow passageway formed in said outer cup base, portions of said inner cup being spaced from said outer cup to form an insulating layer therebetween;

a flexible straw connected to said cup body in flow communication with said flow passageway.

10. The cup as in claim 9 wherein a sealing member is positioned between said inner cup and said outer cup around said outlet and the inlet to said flow passageway.

11. The cup as in claim 9 further comprising a nipple connected to and recessed within said outer cup base in flow communication with said interior cavity through said flow passageway and said outlet, and an inlet end of said flexible straw is removably securable around said nipple.

12. The cup as in claim 9 further comprising a lid removably securable to an upper end of said body in covering relationship with said interior cavity, said lid having a vent hole extending therethrough.

13. The cup as in claim 9 further comprising a bite actuated mouthpiece connected to an outlet end of said flexible straw, said bite actuated mouthpiece advanceable from a normally closed alignment, preventing liquid from flowing out the outlet end of said flexible straw, to an open alignment when squeezed to allow liquid to flow out said outlet end of said flexible straw.

14. The cup as in claim 9 further comprising a handle attached to said body, said handle shaped to receive said flexible straw and releasably secure said flexible straw thereto.

15. The cup as in claim 14 wherein said handle includes a grip extending in spaced relation from said cup body;

said grip having a semi-circular recess formed therein having a diameter closely approximating a diameter of said flexible straw and a portion of said semi-circular recess having a cross sectional arc greater than one hundred and eighty degrees.

16. The cup as in claim 15 wherein said flexible straw is flow connected with said interior cavity of said cup body through a side wall outlet extending through said outer cup side wall of said cup body and said handle is radially aligned with said side wall outlet.

17. The cup as in claim 15 wherein said semi-circular recess formed in said grip extends along a length of said grip.

18. A cup comprising:

a cup body including;

an outer cup comprising an outer cup side wall and an outer cup base, said outer cup side wall extending upwardly from said outer cup base;

said outer cup base having a flow passageway formed therein;

an inner cup comprising an inner cup side wall and an inner cup base, said inner cup side wall extending upwardly from said inner cup base and forming an interior cavity for holding liquid, said inner cup having an outlet formed therethrough proximate said base;

said inner cup received within said outer cup, such that said outlet is aligned in flow communication with said flow passageway formed in said outer cup base, portions of said inner cup being spaced from said outer cup to form an insulating layer therebetween;

a flexible straw connected to said cup body in flow communication with said flow passageway;

a handle attached to said body, said handle including a grip extending in spaced relation from said cup body;

said grip having a semi-circular recess formed therein having a diameter closely approximating a diameter of said flexible straw and a portion of said semi-circular recess having a cross sectional arc greater than one hundred and eighty degrees;

said semi-circular recess adapted to receive said flexible straw and releasably secure said flexible straw thereto.

19. A cup comprising:

a cup body including;

an outer cup comprising an outer cup side wall and an outer cup bottom, said outer cup side wall extending upwardly from said outer cup bottom;

said outer cup having a flow passageway formed therein;

an inner cup comprising an inner cup side wall and an inner cup bottom, said inner cup side wall extending upwardly from said inner cup bottom and forming an interior cavity for holding liquid, said inner cup having an outlet formed through said inner cup bottom;

said inner cup received within said outer cup, such that said outlet is aligned in flow communication with said flow passageway formed in said outer cup, portions of said inner cup being spaced from said outer cup to form an insulating layer therebetween;

a flexible straw connected to said cup body in flow communication with said flow passageway.