No-spill drinking cup apparatus

• US 20020179615A1
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Admar International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Luv n' Care Limited
• Inventors: Hakim, Nouri E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/714
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00046 Drinking-through lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00351 Dome-like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00527 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00972 Collars or rings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0231 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/16 with means for venting air or gas
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/165 formed by a slit or narrow opening

Abstract

An improved no-spill cup construction and valve assembly which provides an extremely secure seal against accidental liquid flow from the cup spout. The act of sucking at the cup spout creates negative pressure or a partial vacuum against a valve member near the spout having an opening therein, causing the valve member and opening to move off of a protruding member, thereby unblocking the opening in the valve. When the opening is unblocked, liquid can flow freely through the valve and spout. When not in use, the valve sits in a resting, closed position, with the opening in the valve sitting on a protruding member and pressed against the protruding member'"'"'s base, sealing off the opening in the valve assembly. The closed position provides an extremely secure seal against fluid leakage, such that inadvertent spills or even deliberate attempts to force liquid outside of the cup, such as by turning the cup upside down, or shaking the cup, are ineffective. The cup assembly further allows variable liquid flow depending on the levels of suction applied, and allows flow to be regulated between regular or maximum flow and minimal flow levels or rates by rotating the position of the valve assembly in the cover of the cup.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing spilling during drinking, said apparatus comprising:

a valve, said valve comprising a protruding member and an opening, said valve having a closed position and in an open position,

said closed position being a configuration in which said protruding member extends through said opening to block the passage of liquid through said opening,

said open position being a configuration in which said protruding member and said opening are further separated than in said closed position to allow the passage of liquid through said opening.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protruding member is at least partially tapered, said opening is located within a flexible valve member, and said valve member begins to invert upon the application of negative pressure to said valve member, to rise off of said tapered protruding member.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap for a cup.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a drinking cup.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a valve assembly.

6. An apparatus for preventing spilling during drinking, said apparatus comprising:

a valve, said valve comprising a protruding member and a valve member, said valve member comprising an opening, said valve having a closed position and in an open position,

said closed position being a configuration in which said protruding member extends through said opening of said valve member to block the passage of liquid through said opening,

said valve further being movable into an open position in which said valve member is pulled away from said protruding member for the passage of liquid through said opening,

said valve moving from said closed position to said open position upon the application of negative pressure to said valve member.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap for a cup.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said apparatus comprises a drinking cup.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said apparatus comprises a valve assembly.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said apparatus comprises avalve assembly and a cap, said valve being a part of said valve assembly, said valve assembly and cap being configured such that said valve assembly can be attached to said cap.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a sealing member, said sealing member comprising said protruding member and a base, said protruding member being attached to said base.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base is approximately flat.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said protruding member is a post.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said protruding member is conical.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said post is tapered.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said valve rests in said closed position, and begins to invert upon the application of negative pressure to said valve member, to move from said closed position to said open position.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap for a cup.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said apparatus comprises a drinking cup.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said apparatus comprises a valve assembly.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said protruding member is tapered.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said protruding member is tapered at an angle of seven (7) degrees.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said protruding member is tapered at an angle of nine (9) degrees.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said protruding member extends through and beyond said opening in said closed position.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said apparatus further comprises an anti-inversion member, said anti-inversion member being placed at a sufficiently close distance to such valve member such that such valve member will hit said anti-inversion member and be blocked from further inversion before said valve member fully inverts.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said valve member comprises a flexible material.

16. A no spill drinking apparatus, comprising:

a valve, said valve comprising a sealing member and a flexible valve member, said sealing member comprising a protruding member and a base, said valve member comprising an opening therein;

said valve having a closed position and in an open position, said closed position being a configuration in which said valve member rests proximal to said base with said protruding member extending through said opening to block the passage of liquid through said opening;

said valve further being movable into an open position, said open position being a position in which said valve member is distal to said base, with said opening at least partially unblocked, to allow the passage of liquid through said valve.

18. A no spill drinking apparatus, comprising:

a valve, said valve comprising a sealing member and a valve member, said sealing member comprising a protruding member and a base, said valve member comprising a substantially circular opening therein, said protruding member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being of smaller diameter than said lower portion;

said valve having a closed position and in an open position, said closed position being a configuration in which said valve member rests proximal to said base with said protruding member extending through said opening to block the passage of liquid through said opening;

said valve moving into an open position upon the application of negative pressure to said opening by the mouth of a user for the purpose of drinking out of said apparatus, said open position being a position in which said valve member moves distal to said base to separate away from said opening, such that said opening is at least partially unblocked to allow the passage of liquid through said opening and said valve.