Cup assembly
First Claim
1. A valve for a cup having a cap and an inner volume, the valve comprising:
- a passageway having first and second ends, said first end being open and in fluid communication with the inner volume of the cup, said second end being open and in fluid communication with atmosphere, wherein said passageway has a cross-sectional area that is small enough to substantially prevent air from flowing past fluid in said passageway when the cup is tilted or inverted, wherein said passageway is disposed in a first planar section having a first longitudinal axis, wherein the cap is disposed in a second planar section having a second longitudinal axis, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from a first channel and a second channel that are sealingly connectable, wherein said first and second channels have substantially the same path and form lower and upper portions of said passageway, wherein said first channel is formed on a disc and said second channel is formed on the cap, wherein said disc is removably connectable to the cap, wherein said disc has a surface, and wherein said first channel has sealing beads disposed along said path of said first channel that extend beyond said surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cup for reducing or eliminating spillage or shake-out is provided. The cup has a cap and a spill and shake-out inhibiting element. The spill and shake-out inhibiting element is a dispensing tunnel, which provides for the formation of a pressure differential between the inside of the cup and the atmosphere when fluid begins to flow through the dispensing tunnel. The pressure differential, when it reaches a predetermined level, prevents further flow or movement of the fluid through the dispensing tunnel until additional suction is applied by the user. The diameter of the dispensing tunnel is small enough to effectively prevent air bubbles from flowing past the fluid in the dispensing tunnel.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A valve for a cup having a cap and an inner volume, the valve comprising:
a passageway having first and second ends, said first end being open and in fluid communication with the inner volume of the cup, said second end being open and in fluid communication with atmosphere, wherein said passageway has a cross-sectional area that is small enough to substantially prevent air from flowing past fluid in said passageway when the cup is tilted or inverted, wherein said passageway is disposed in a first planar section having a first longitudinal axis, wherein the cap is disposed in a second planar section having a second longitudinal axis, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from a first channel and a second channel that are sealingly connectable, wherein said first and second channels have substantially the same path and form lower and upper portions of said passageway, wherein said first channel is formed on a disc and said second channel is formed on the cap, wherein said disc is removably connectable to the cap, wherein said disc has a surface, and wherein said first channel has sealing beads disposed along said path of said first channel that extend beyond said surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
10. A cap for a cup having an inner volume, the cap comprising:
-
a top wall having a first connecting structure that removably connects the cap with the cup; and a valve having a passageway with first and second ends, said first end being open and in fluid communication with the inner volume of the cup, said second end being open and in fluid communication with atmosphere, wherein said passageway has a cross-sectional area that is small enough to substantially prevent air from flowing past fluid in said passageway when the cup is tilted or inverted, wherein said passageway is disposed in a first planar section having a first longitudinal axis, wherein the cap is disposed in a second planar section having a second longitudinal axis, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from a first channel and a second channel that are sealingly connectable, wherein said first and second channels have substantially the same path and form lower and upper portions of said passageway, wherein said first channel is formed on a disc and said second channel is formed on the cap, wherein said disc is removably connectable to the cap, wherein said disc has an upper surface, and wherein said first channel has sealing beads disposed along said path of said first channel that extend beyond said upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A bottle assembly comprising:
-
a cap having a top wall and a first connecting structure; a cup having an inner volume and a second connecting structure, said first and second connecting structures connecting said cap with said cup; and a valve having a passageway with first and second ends, said first end being open and in fluid communication with said inner volume of said cup, said second end being open and in fluid communication with atmosphere, wherein said passageway has a cross sectional area that is small enough to substantially prevent air from flowing past fluid in said passageway when said cup is tilted or inverted, wherein said passageway is disposed in a first planar section having a first longitudinal axis, wherein said cap is disposed in a second planar section having a second longitudinal axis, and wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from a first channel and a second channel that are sealingly connectable, wherein said first and second channels have substantially said same path and form lower and upper portions of said passageway, wherein said first channel is formed on a disc and said second channel is formed on said cap, wherein said disc is removably connectable to said cap, wherein said disc has an upper surface, and wherein said first channel has sealing beads disposed along said path of said first channel that extend beyond said upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification