Non-spill drinking container

• US 9,888,796 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunn, Steven Bryan, Hatherill, Mark A., Johnson, Kevin Douglas, Saxton, Matthew Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Smalley, James N
• Application Number:
  US15/638,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20170295968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 22020316, 220231, 220714, 215 115, 215309, 215311
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Abstract

A non-spill container having a collar and seal assembly from which drinking can occur at any location around a rim of the collar and seal assembly. The collar has an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a sidewall. The open upper end is proximate to and includes the upper end of a side wall, an upper perimeter and a rim. The closed lower end has a projection extending upward therefrom and at least one passage disposed through the closed lower end to channel a fluid. The sidewall has a tapered shape that extends from the open upper end inward toward the closed lower end and has a support surface provided along an inner surface adjacent to the open upper end. The support surface has at least one radial protrusion is disposed radially adjacent to the support surface to define at least one channel. A fastener assembly is provided on an external wall of the collar. The seal has a surface that is substantially similar to a shape of the open upper end and an aperture for receiving and securing the projection therein.

Claims

1. A non-spill collar and seal assembly, comprising:

a collar comprising;

an open upper end proximate to and including an upper end of a sidewall, an upper perimeter, and a rim;

a closed lower end having a projection extending upward therefrom and one or more passages disposed through the closed lower end to channel a fluid;

the sidewall having a tapered shape that extends from the open upper end inward toward the closed lower end, and a support surface provided along an inner surface of the sidewall adjacent to the open upper end having one or more protrusions disposed radially adjacent to the support surface defining one or more channels; and

a fastener assembly provided on an external wall of the collar; and

a seal having a surface substantially similar to a shape of the open upper end, the seal having an aperture for receiving and securing the projection therein.

2. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 1, wherein the sidewall extends from the open upper end frustoconically to the closed lower end.

3. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 1, wherein the seal comprises one or more air valves adapted to communicate the transfer of air through the seal.

4. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 1, wherein the protrusions have varying sizes.

5. A non-spill collar and seal assembly, comprising:

a collar comprising;

an open upper end;

a closed lower end having a projection extending outward therefrom and one or more passages disposed through the closed lower end;

an internal wall having a frustoconical shape that extends from the open upper end to the closed lower end, and an inner surface of the internal wall adjacent to the open upper end having one or more protrusions disposed radially defining one or more channels;

a fastener assembly provided opposite the internal wall; and

a seal having an aperture for receiving and securing the projection therein and a seal perimeter substantially similar to a collar perimeter of the open upper end that creates a leakproof seal with the open upper end of the collar.

6. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 5, wherein the projection has at least one shoulder and the aperture has at least one flange that is engaged and locked to the shoulder on the projection therein.

7. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 5, wherein the seal comprises one or more air valves adapted to communicate the transfer of air through the seal.

8. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 5, wherein the protrusions have alternating lengths.

9. A non-spill collar and seal assembly, comprising:

a collar comprising;

an open upper end;

a closed lower end having a projection extending outward therefrom and one or more passages disposed through the closed lower end to channel a fluid;

an internal wall having a frustoconical shape that extends from the open upper end to the closed lower end, and a support surface provided along an inner surface of the internal wall adjacent to the open upper end having one or more protrusions disposed radially adjacent to the support surface defining one or more channels; and

a fastener assembly provided opposite the internal wall; and

a seal having an aperture for receiving and securing the projection therein and having a shape substantially similar to an inner surface of the internal wall that creates a leakproof seal with the inner surface of the internal wall.

10. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 9, wherein the projection has at least one shoulder and the aperture has at least one flange that is engaged and locked to the shoulder on the projection therein.

11. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 9, wherein the inner surface extends to an uppermost peripheral edge of the open upper end.

12. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 9, wherein the seal is biased to seal a peripheral edge against the support surface such that the channels are covered by the seal.

13. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 12, wherein when the peripheral edge of the annular seal is lifted off of the support surface in response to a suction force generated by a mouth of a user, at least one of the channels is partially exposed to form a fluid communication pathway between an interior of the peripheral edge and the support surface of the collar thereby allowing a fluid to flow through the channels into the mouth of the user.

14. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 9, wherein the seal comprises one or more air valves adapted to communicate the transfer of air through the seal.

15. A non-spill collar and seal assembly, comprising:

a collar comprising;

an open upper end;

a closed lower end having one or more passages disposed through the closed lower end to channel a fluid and a projection extending outward from the closed lower end, the projection having at least one shoulder;

an internal wall having a frustoconical shape that extends from the open upper end to the closed lower end, and a support surface provided along an inner surface of the internal wall adjacent to the open upper end having one or more protrusions disposed radially adjacent to the support surface defining one or more channels; and

a fastener assembly provided opposite the internal wall; and

a seal having a surface substantially similar to a shape of the open upper end and having an aperture, the aperture having at least one flange that is engaged and locked to the shoulder on the projection therein.

16. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 15, wherein the flange has at least one undercut shoulder to engage and lock at least the shoulder on the projection.

17. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 16, wherein the flange of the aperture, the undercut shoulder of the flange and the shoulder of the projection are concentric.

18. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 17, wherein the shoulder of the projection is radially wider than a neck of the projection.

19. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 15, wherein the seal is biased to seal a peripheral edge against the support surface such that the channels are covered by the seal.

20. The non-spill collar and seal assembly in claim 15, wherein the seal comprises one or more air valves adapted to communicate the transfer of air through the seal.