Non-spill container

• US 5,105,975 A
• Filed: 10/03/1991
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Little Kids Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Little Kids Incorporated
• Inventors: Patterson, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): STUCKER, NOVA E
• Application Number:
  US07/771,165
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 220/705, 220/709, 215/1 A, 215/229
• US Class Current: 220/709
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Abstract

A non-spill container for preventing the spilling of liquid therefrom when the container is tipped or turned upside down is disclosed. The non-spill container includes a bottom member and a top member that is releasably mounted on the bottom member, the bottom member including an annular wall portion and an annular flange portion. The top member that is joined to the bottom member also includes an upper annular wall portion to which an upper annular flange section is joined at the lowermost end thereof, the flanges of the top and bottom members being interconnected to releasably interlock the top and bottom members together. An opening is formed in the top wall of the top member, and a tube is joined to the underside of the top wall and communicates with the opening, the tube depending coaxially from the top wall interiorly of the upper annular wall section to a location that is adjacent to the upper annular flange, the volume of the lower annular wall portion of the bottom member being somewhat less than the volume of the upper annular wall section through which the tube extends so that liquid contained in the lower annular wall portion of the bottom member is prevented from entering the tube for discharge therethrough when the container is tipped during the use thereof.

Claims

1. A non-spill container, comprising a bottom member and a top member that is releasably mounted on said bottom member, said bottom member including a bottom wall to which a lower annular wall portion is integrally joined and that extends upwardly therefrom, a lower annular flange portion being joined to said lower annular wall portion at the uppermost end thereof and being substantially less in vertical dimension with respect thereto, said top member including a top wall and an upper annular wall section that is integrally joined to said top wall and that depends therefrom, and an upper annular flange section joined to the lowermost end of said upper annular wall section, said upper annular wall section having a vertical dimension that is substantially greater than the upper annular flange section of said top member, the upper annular flange section of said top member being releasably mounted in engagement with the lower annular flange portion of said bottom member, an opening formed in the top wall of said top member for receiving a straw for withdrawing liquid from the container, and a tube joined to the underside of said top wall and receiving said straw therethrough and communicating with said opening, said tube depending coaxially from said top wall interiorly of said upper annular wall section to a location that is adjacent to the upper annular flange section of said top member, said straw extending through said tube and into said bottom member, the volume of the lower annular wall portion of said bottom member being somewhat less than the volume of the upper annular wall section through which the tube extends so that liquid contained in the lower annular wall portion of said bottom member is prevented from entering said tube for discharge therethrough when the container is tipped during use thereof.

2. A non-spill container as claimed in claim 1, the lower annular flange portion of said bottom member being substantially less in vertical dimension than that of the lower annular wall portion.

3. A non-spill container as claimed in claim 2, said lower annular flange portion of said bottom member having a diameter that is greater than that of said lower annular wall portion.

4. A non-spill container as claimed in claim 3, the upper annular flange section of said top member having a diameter that is greater than that of said upper annular wall section.

5. A non-spill container as claimed in claim 4, the vertical dimension of said upper annular flange section of said top member being substantially less than that of said upper annular wall section.

6. A non-spill container as claimed in claim 5, said lower annular flange having an upper beaded edge formed on the upper portion thereof, and said upper annular flange having an annular groove formed thereon adjacent to the upper end thereof, a threaded portion formed on said upper annular flange below said beaded edge, said lower annular flange having a threaded portion formed thereon for engagement with the threaded portion of said upper annular flange, the upper beaded edge of said lower annular flange section engaging said annular groove in said upper annular flange to form a liquid seal therewith.

7. A non-spill container as claimed in claim 1, the longitudinal dimension of said tube being substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of said upper annular wall section, wherein liquid is prevented from entering said tube during the use of said container.

8. A non-spill container, comprising a cup-like bottom member that receives liquid therein and having a bottom wall and an open upper mouth, an inverted cup-like top member having a top wall and an open lower mouth, said top member being releasably mounted on said bottom member in a sealed position with the open mouths thereof in communication with each other, a tube joined to the underside of said top wall and extending interiorly into said top member, and a straw extending through said tube into said bottom member for use in withdrawal of liquid therefrom, the volume of said bottom member being somewhat less than the volume of said top member so that when the container is tipped in use, the liquid that flows into the top member from the bottom member is prevented from entering the tube for discharge from the container.