U.S. patent application number 10/684421 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for multifunctional drinking cup structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hsieh, Wu-Chang. Invention is credited to Hsieh, Wu-Chang.
Application Number | 20040084452 10/684421 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32173903 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040084452 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsieh, Wu-Chang |
May 6, 2004 |
Multifunctional drinking cup structure
Abstract
The present invention discloses an improved multifunctional
drinking cup structure, comprising a cup body, an inner cup lid,
and an outer cup lid, wherein the inner cup lid is used to cover
the opening of the cup body directly, the inner cup lid has an
outlet hole, a convection hole, a primary insert hole, and a
secondary insert hole (as needed), and the outer cup lid has a
corresponding outlet hole, a convection hole, a main insert hole,
and a secondary insert hole; the outer cup lid is covered inside
the cup body, such that when the outer cup lid is rotated to align
the corresponding holes, beverage can be drunk from the outlet hole
by the mouth, or by sucking a straw that is inserted into the
primary insert hole or the secondary insert hole. Both of the
primary insert hole and the secondary insert hole have a guiding
structure that prevents the straw from being askew. The outer cup
lid may have no holes at all, but is simply used to cover the inner
cup lid. The structure of this invention can be made of hard
materials, comprising a cup body and a lid body, wherein the cup
body similarly comprises an outlet hole and a convection hole, and
an inner thread and an outer thread are disposed on the top end and
the bottom end of the lid body respectively, such that the lid body
can be secured on the top end or the bottom end of the cup
body.
Inventors: |
Hsieh, Wu-Chang; (Kaohsiung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
Hsieh, Wu-Chang
2F., No.33, Nanhua Rd., Sinsing District,
Kaohsiung
TW
800
|
Family ID: |
32173903 |
Appl. No.: |
10/684421 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/256.1 ;
220/259.1; 220/259.3; 220/703; 220/711 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/0229 20130101;
A47G 19/2272 20130101; B65D 47/06 20130101; B65D 47/0842
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/256.1 ;
220/259.1; 220/259.3; 220/703; 220/711 |
International
Class: |
B65D 051/18; A47G
019/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2002 |
TW |
091216461 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An improved multifunctional drinking cup structure, comprising:
a cup body (3), an inner cup lid, for covering the opening of said
cup body, and having a recession (11) disposed at the center of the
top of said inner cup lid, and said recession (11) at its bottom
having a concave arc surface (12) such that a ring-shaped flange
(10) being formed at the top of said inner cup lid, and said flange
(10) having an outlet hole (13) and a convection hole (16), and
said concave arc surface (12) at its center having a primary insert
hole (14); and an outer cup lid, for covering the top of said inner
cup lid, and having a recession (21) at the center of the top of
said outer cup lid, and the bottom of said recession (21) being an
concave arc surface (22), thereby said outer coup lid forming a
ring-shaped flange (20) at the top of said external cup lid, and an
outlet hole 23 and a convection hole (26) being disposed on said
flange (20), and a primary insert hole being disposed at the center
of said concave arc surface (22), and said outlet holes (23), (13)
being corresponsive to each other, and said primary insert hole
(24) and (14) being corresponsive to each other.
2. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 1,
wherein said flanges of the inner cup lid and outer cup lid have
two secondary insert holes at the mutually corresponsive
position.
3. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 1,
wherein said primary and secondary insert holes comprise a cutting
seam at their peripheries.
4. An improved multifunctional drinking cup structure, comprising:
a cup body (3), an inner cup lid, for covering the opening of said
cup body, and having a recession (11) disposed at the center of the
top of said inner cup lid, and said recession (11) at its bottom
having a concave arc surface (12) such that a ring-shaped flange
(10) being formed at the top of said inner cup lid, and said flange
(10) having an outlet hole (13) and a convection hole (16), and
said concave arc surface (12) at its center having a primary insert
hole (14); and an outer cup lid, for covering the top of said inner
cup lid.
5. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 4,
wherein said flange of the inner cup lid comprises a guiding groove
(17), and said outlet hole (13) is disposed at the bottom of said
guiding groove (17).
6. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 4,
wherein said guiding groove (17) at its outer bottom comprises an
upwardly protruded flange (171).
7. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 4
or claim 5, wherein said flange of the inner cup lid comprises two
secondary insert holes.
8. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 4,
wherein said outer cup lid at its center comprises a primary insert
hole (24), and said primary insert holes (24), (14) are
corresponsive to each other.
9. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 4
or claim 5, wherein said primary insert hole at its periphery has a
cutting seam.
10. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 7,
wherein said primary insert hole at its periphery has a cutting
seam.
11. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim 4,
further comprising a flexible strap connecting the sides of said
inner cup lid and outer cup lid.
12. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim
11, wherein said strap comprises a cutting mark.
13. An improved multifunctional drinking cup structure, comprising:
a cup body (4), having a recession at its top to form a ring-shaped
flange (44), and an outlet hole (43) and a convection hole (44)
being disposed on the top of the flange (44), and an internal screw
thread (42) being disposed on the internal diameter of said flange;
and a lid body, having a central pillar at its bottom, and said
central pillar at its external diameter having an external screw
thread, such that said external screw thread being secured onto
said internal screw thread (42) to cover the lid body on the top of
said cup body.
14. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim
13, wherein said cup body at its bottom comprises an internal screw
thread (46) for securing the external screw thread of said central
pillar.
15. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim
13, wherein said flange of the cup body comprises a guiding groove
(45), and said outlet hole (43) is disposed at the bottom of said
guiding groove (45).
16. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim
13, wherein said lid body at its periphery at the top comprises a
plurality of recessions for facilitating users to press and rotate
said lid body.
17. An improved multifunctional drinking cup structure, comprising:
a cup body (4), having a recession at its top to form a ring-shaped
flange (44), and an outlet hole (43) and a convection hole (44)
being disposed on the top of the flange (44), and an external screw
thread (47) being disposed on the external diameter of said flange;
and a lid body, at its internal diameter having an internal screw
thread, such that said internal screw thread being secured onto
said external screw thread (47) to cover the lid body on the top of
said cup body.
18. The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure of claim
17, wherein said cup body with its external diameter at its bottom
comprises an external screw thread (48) such that aid internal
diameter of said lid body is secured to the bottom of said cup
body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved multifunctional
drinking cup structure, more particularly to a multifunctional
drinking cup structure applicable to disposable or non-disposable
drinking cups from which beverage can be drunk more conveniently
either by mouth or by straw. The outlet hole can be closed, when
the user does not want to have a drink at that time. The lid body
can be fixed to the bottom of the cup body to serve as a
saucer.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The cups used in the present beverage stores are basically
divided into two main types: disposable cup and non-disposable cup,
and most of the disposable cups are low-price paper cup or plastic
cup disposed after a single use, and is very convenient. Most of
the non-disposable drinking cups are sold to customers by the
beverage store, and customers can buy them and use at home, or
bring such drinking cup to the beverage store to purchase beverages
in order to attain a better environmental protection effect.
[0005] When a customer wants to take out a beverage, the
storekeeper generally uses a paper cup or a plastic cup sealed with
a cup lid to prevent the beverage from spilling out, and the cup
generally comes with an outlet hole and an insert hole to
facilitate consumers to drink the beverage from the cup, so that
the consumer can either drink the beverage by mouth or by a straw.
However, the disposable drinking cup has the following
shortcomings:
[0006] 1. The outlet hole does not have any sealing structure, and
when a consumer wants to take out a beverage, the beverage store
usually seals the outlet hole of the drinking cup with a tape, and
the consumer tears away the tape before drinking, and thus is not
very sanitary.
[0007] 2. The traditional disposable drinking cups, particularly
those for containing tea or Chinese medicine, the residue of tea or
herbal medicine will float on the beverage since the drinking cup
does not have a filter device.
[0008] 3. If the traditional disposable drinking cup is used to
make tea, it requires a detachable filter in the cup. The
detachable filter is taken out, and placed somewhere else before
drinking, and thus wetting the tabletop or the surrounding
environment, affecting the sanitation, or wasting time for the
use.
[0009] 4. The insert hole on the lid of a traditional disposable
drinking cup for inserting a straw is generally stamped with a
cross-shaped cutting line, so that the straw can be inserted
directly into the cup through the cross-shaped cutting line by
force. However, the cross-shaped cutting line after its cutting
will form a triangular plate structure with four plates being bent
downward, and such triangular plate structure uses its tips to
press against the straw. Therefore, the force exerted on the straw
by each plate of the triangular plate structure is not even, and
causes an askew straw, which will make the drinking of the
remaining beverage inconvenient.
[0010] 5. The traditional disposable drinking cup only has one
straw insert hole on the cup lid, and such design makes the sharing
of a drink by lovers inconvenient.
[0011] Thus, this invention overcomes the shortcomings of the
traditional disposable drinking cup, and in the meantime the
disclosed structure is also applicable for the non-disposable
drinking cup, and enhances the practicability and added value of
the non-disposable drinking cup.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an improved multifunctional drinking cup structure that has the
function of closing and opening each hole on the cup lid. In
addition to prevent foreign substances or dust from falling into
the cup, it also makes the drinking more sanitary or peace of mind
for the consumers.
[0013] The secondary objective of the present invention is to
provide an improved multifunctional drinking cup structure that
improves the insert hole structure for inserting the straw, so that
after the straw is inserted into the insert hole, the straw can be
kept vertical to let consumers to drink the remaining beverage in
the cup more easily.
[0014] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved multifunctional drinking cup structure that adds a guiding
groove on the cup lid, and sets the outlet hole in the position of
the guiding groove such that consumers can drink the beverage more
conveniently by holding the guiding groove by mouth.
[0015] A further objective of the present invention is to provide
an improved multifunctional drinking cup structure that has two
secondary insert holes on the cup lid, such that people like
couples or lovers can share the beverage.
[0016] Another further objective of the present invention is to
provide an improved multifunctional drinking cup structure that is
applicable for the disposable and non-disposable drinking cups.
[0017] The improved multifunctional drinking cup structure in
accordance with this invention comprises a cup body, an inner cup
lid, and an outer cup lid, wherein the inner cup lid is used to
cover the opening of the cup body directly, the inner cup lid has
an outlet hole, a convection hole, a primary insert hole, and a
secondary insert hole (as needed), and the outer cup lid has a
corresponding outlet hole, a convection hole, a primary insert
hole, and a secondary insert hole; the outer cup lid is covered
inside the cup body, such that when the outer cup lid is rotated to
align the corresponding holes, beverage can be drunk from the
outlet hole by the mouth, or by sucking a straw that is inserted
into the primary insert hole or the secondary insert hole. Both of
the primary insert hole and the secondary insert hole have a
guiding structure that prevents the straw from being askew. The
outer cup lid may have no holes at all, but is simply used to cover
the inner cup lid. The structure of this invention can be made of
hard materials, comprising a cup body and a lid body, wherein the
cup body similarly comprises an outlet hole and a convection hole,
and an inner thread and an outer thread are disposed on the top end
and the bottom end of the lid body respectively, such that the lid
body can be secured on the top end or the bottom end of the cup
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of the inner cup lid being
assembled to the cup body according to the first embodiment of this
invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the third
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the fourth
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the fifth
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 is an illustrative diagram of the insert hole
structure on the cup lid according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram of the sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the seventh
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the eighth
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a perspective diagram of the inner cup lid being
assembled to the bottom of the cup body as a saucer according to
the seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a perspective diagram of the assembling relation
of disassembled parts of the structure according to the ninth
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective diagram of the inner cup lid being
assembled to the bottom of the cup body as a saucer according to
the ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a perspective diagram of the enlarged section of
the outlet holes on the inner and outer cup lids according to the
present invention.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a perspective diagram of a part of the guiding
groove with a flange on its outer side according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Please refer to FIG. 1 for the structure of the first
preferred embodiment of this invention, comprising a cup body 3, an
inner cup lid 1, and an outer cup lid 2; wherein the cup body 3
could be a paper cup or a plastic cup or even a cup made of other
material. The inner cup lid is used to cover the opening of the cup
body 3 (refer to FIG. 3), and a recession 11 is disposed at the
center of the top of the inner cup lid 1, and an arc surface 12 is
disposed at the bottom of the recession 11, such that the top of
the inner cup lid 1 forms a ring-shaped flange 10, and a plurality
of outlet holes 13 with a small diameter and a convection hole 16
are disposed on the appropriate positions on the flange 10, and a
primary insert hole 14 is disposed at the center of the arc surface
12. Please refer to FIG. 7. The primary insert hole 14 at its
periphery is equally divided into a plurality cutting seams 18,
such that a straw can be inserted into the primary insert hole, and
the circular primary insert hole 14 guides the straw into a
substantially vertical state, and the plates of the cutting seams
can assist to fix the straw into a position by clamping. In the
first preferred embodiment of this invention, two secondary insert
holes 15 disposed at the appropriate positions. The structure of
the secondary insert hole 15 is the same as that of the primary
insert hole 14 so that two straws can be inserted simultaneously
into the two secondary insert holes 15 to allow two persons to
drink the beverage from the cup at the same time. In the first
preferred embodiment of this invention, the outer cup lid 2 is used
to cover on top of the inner cup lid 2, wherein a recession 21 is
disposed at the center of the top of the outer cup lid 2, and the
bottom of the recession 21 is an arc surface 22, so that the top of
the outer cup lid 2 forms a ring-shaped flange 20. A plurality of
outlet holes 23 with smaller diameter, a convection hole 26 and two
secondary insert holes 25 are disposed on the flange 20, and a
primary inset hole 24 is disposed at the center of the arc surface
22. In other words, the structure of the outer cup lid 2 is
corresponsive to the inner cup lid 1, and the diameter of the outer
cup lid 2 is slightly larger than that of the inner cup lid 1, so
that the outer cup lid 2 can cover the inner cup lid 1. When the
cup is in use, the outer cup lid 2 is rotated to let the outlet
hole 13 align with the outlet hole 23, the convection hole 16 with
the convection hole 26, the primary hole 14 with the primary hole
24, and the secondary insert hole 15 with the secondary insert hole
25 respectively. Such arrangement allows users to drink the
beverage in the cup body by sucking at the position of the outlet
hole 23. When the outer cup lid 2 is rotated to misalign the outlet
hole 13, 23, convection hole 16, 26, primary hole 14, 24, and
secondary hole 15, 25 of the outer cup lid 2 and the inner cup lid
1 respectively to close the cup body and will not let the beverage
spill out. Even if the outer cup lid 2 is removed and the inner cup
lid 1 is remained, the user still can drink beverage from the cup.
The purpose of forming an arc surface 12, 22 on the bottom of the
recession 11 and 21 respectively mainly resides on using the
intersection of the periphery of such arc surface and the flange
10, 20 to define a recession in order to meet the ergonomic
requirements for sucking the flange 10, 20 at the position of the
outlet hole 13, 23.
[0035] Please refer to FIG. 2 for the second preferred embodiment
of this invention. Similarly, this structure also comprises a cup
body 3, an inner cup lid 1, and an outer cup lid 2; wherein the
inner cup lid 1 and the outer cup lid 2 basically have the same
structure as those of the first preferred embodiment, except the
inner cup lid 1 of the second preferred embodiment further
comprises a guiding groove 17 on the flange 10, and the plurality
of outlet holes with smaller diameter are disposed at the bottom of
the guiding groove 17. Further, the outer cup lid 2 only has a
primary insert hole 24 disposed at the center of the arc surface
22.
[0036] When the structure of the second preferred embodiment is in
use, the outer cup lid 2 must be lifted up so that the user can
drink the beverage by sucking at the position of the guiding groove
17. If the straw is sucked, the straw can be inserted directly into
the primary insert hole 24 of the outer cup lid 2 and the primary
insert hole 14 of the inner cup 1.
[0037] The guiding groove 17 of the second preferred embodiment of
this invention is a design with the outer bottom parallel to the
bottom of the guiding groove 17. This design is more suitable for
the user to drink the beverage by sucking the guiding groove 17. If
the drinking cup of this invention is used for making tea or
Chinese medicine, which requires pouring tea or medicine from the
outlet hole 13, the tea or medicine will flow out from the outlet
hole 13 through the guiding groove 17. The tea or medicine may
overflow to the side if there is no guiding, and thus making the
table dirty. Therefore, this invention further provides a design
with a flange 171 protruded from the outer bottom with an
appropriate height from the guiding groove 13 as shown in FIG. 15.
The flange 171 can guide the tea or medicine when it is poured to
avoid the overflow of the tea.
[0038] Please refer to FIG. 4 for the third preferred embodiment of
this invention. Basically, the third preferred embodiment adopts
the structure of the first preferred embodiment, except having a
plurality of outlet holes 13 disposed on the flange 10 of the inner
cup lid 1 and a convection hole 16, and a primary insert hole 14
disposed at the center of the arc surface 22, and not including
other holes.
[0039] Please refer to FIG. 5 for the fourth preferred embodiment
of this invention. Basically, the fourth preferred embodiment
adopts the structure of the second preferred embodiment, except
having no hole at all on the outer cup lid 2, and the outer cup lid
2 is simply used to cover the inner cup lid 1.
[0040] Please refer to FIG. 6 for the fifth preferred embodiment of
this invention. Basically, the fifth preferred embodiment adopts
the structure of the first preferred embodiment, except having no
hole at all on the outer cup lid 2, and the outer cup lid 2 is also
simply used to cover the inner cup lid 1.
[0041] Please refer to FIG. 8 for the sixth preferred embodiment of
this invention. Basically, the sixth preferred embodiment adopts
the structure of the second preferred embodiment, except having no
hole at all on the outer cup lid 2, and the outer cup lid 2 is
simply used to cover the inner cup lid 1. There is a flexible strap
27 connected between the sides of the outer cup lid 2 and the inner
cup lid 1, such that after the outer cup lid 2 is opened, the outer
cup lid 2 is connected with the inner cup lid 1, which will not be
lost easily. The strap 27 may also add a cutting mark 271 so that
the user can tear away the strap 27 along the cutting mark 271 to
separate the inner cup lid 1 and the outer cup lid 2.
[0042] Please refer to FIG. 9 for the seventh preferred embodiment
of this invention, which its structure is applicable to the
non-disposable hard drinking cup, comprising a cup body 4 and a lid
body 5, wherein a recession 40 is disposed on the top of the cup
body 4 such that the top of the cup body 4 forms a ring-shaped
flange 40, and the flange 40 has a guiding groove 45. A plurality
of outlet holes 43 with smaller diameter are disposed at the bottom
of the guiding groove 45, and a convection hole 44 is disposed on
the flange 40, and a screw thread 42 is disposed on the inner
diameter of the flange 40. An inner hole is disposed at the bottom
of the cup body 4, and the internal diameter of the inner hole has
a screw thread 46. In FIG. 9, the bottom of the lid body 4 has an
external diameter corresponding to a central pillar 51 at the
internal diameter of the recession 41, and the external diameter of
the central pillar 51 has an external screw thread 52. The external
screw thread 52 is secured with the internal screw thread 42, such
that the lid body 5 covers the top of the cup body 3. After the lid
body 3 is removed, the external screw thread 52 of the central
pillar 51 is secured with the internal screw thread 46 at the
bottom of the cup body 3 acting as a saucer (as shown in FIG.
11).
[0043] Please refer to FIG. 10 for the eighth preferred embodiment
of this invention. Basically, its structure adopts the structure of
the seventh preferred embodiment, except having no guiding groove
at the flange 40 of the cup body 3, and only having an outlet hole
43 and a convection hole 44 disposed on the flange 40. Further, a
plurality of recessions 53 is disposed on the periphery of the lid
body to facilitate users to press and rotate the lid body 5 by
fingers.
[0044] Please refer to FIG. 12 for the structure of the ninth
preferred embodiment of this invention, comprising a cup body 4 and
a lid body 5, wherein the cup body 4 has a recession 41 at the top
of the cup body 4, such that a ring-shaped flange 40 is formed on
the cup body, and the flange 40 has a guiding groove 45. Further, a
plurality of outlet holes 43 with smaller diameter is disposed on
the bottom of the guiding groove 45, and a convection hole 44 is
disposed on the flange 40. The external diameter of the flange 40
has an external screw thread 47; the external diameter at the
bottom of the cup body 4 also has an external screw thread 48; and
the internal diameter of the lid body 5 also has an internal screw
thread (not shown in the figure). Such inner screw thread can be
secured onto the external screw thread 47 to cover the lid body 5
onto the top of the cup body 4, or the lid body 5 is secured onto
the external screw thread 48 at the bottom of the cup body 4, being
used as a saucer as shown in FIG. 13.
[0045] While the present invention has been described by the most
practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is
intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit
and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent
arrangements.
* * * * *