U.S. patent application number 10/642784 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-31 for container lid with anti-spill spout.
Invention is credited to Gordon, Antoinette.
Application Number | 20050067419 10/642784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34375729 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050067419 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gordon, Antoinette |
March 31, 2005 |
Container lid with anti-spill spout
Abstract
A container lid with an anti-spill spout includes a domed top,
an annular locking and sealing ridge on the inside diameter of the
rim and a spout with at least one aperture the area of which is
such that the surface tension of a liquid in contact with the spout
is greater than atmospheric pressure to limit unintentional
dispensing of the liquid in the container.
Inventors: |
Gordon, Antoinette;
(Grandview, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark E. Brown/Chase Law Firm, L.C.
Suite 130
4400 College Boulevard
Overland Park
KS
66211
US
|
Family ID: |
34375729 |
Appl. No.: |
10/642784 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/717 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2272
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/717 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/22 |
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and
desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. A lid for use with a beverage container having an open top, said
lid comprising: a top portion conforming in shape to the open top
of the container; a rim portion around the periphery of said top
portion, said rim portion having an annular ridge extending
radially inwardly to said top portion, said annular ridge for
engaging the lip of the container and sealing said lid to the
container; and a drinking spout formed in said lid portion and
extending outwardly therefrom, said spout having a thin slot in
communication with the inside of said container; whereby liquid in
said container may be withdrawn through said slot when a vacuum is
applied to said spout.
2. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top portion is
generally dome-shaped.
3. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rim portion snaps
over the lip of the container to seal said lid to the
container.
4. The lid as set forth in claim 3 wherein said annular ridge
latches under the lip of the container when said rim portion snaps
over the lip of the container.
5. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the width of said slot
is approximately in the range of 0.020 inches to 0.060 inches.
6. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of said slot
is approximately in the range of 0.3 inches to 0.7 inches.
7. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slot includes an
external opening area greater than an internal opening area of said
slot.
8. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of said slot
is approximately in the range of 5 to 35 times the width of said
slot.
9. The lid as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality
of slots in said spout.
10. The lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein dimensions of said slot
are such that the surface tension pressure of a liquid in the
container in contact with said slot is greater than atmospheric
pressure.
11. A lid for use with a beverage container having an open top,
said lid comprising: a generally dome-shaped top portion having a
periphery conforming in shape to the open top of the container; a
rim portion around said periphery of said top portion, said rim
portion having a means to seal said rim portion to the lip of the
container; and a drinking spout formed in said lid and extending
outwardly therefrom, said spout having an at least one aperture in
communication with the inside of the container, said aperture
having a shape and area wherein the surface tension of a liquid in
the container in contact with the aperture is greater than or equal
to atmospheric pressure.
12. The lid as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means to seal
said rim portion to the lip of the container includes an annular
inwardly extending ring adapted to latch under the lip of the
container.
13. The lid as set forth in claim 12 wherein said rim portion snaps
over the lip of the container to seal said lid to the
container.
14. The lid as set forth in claim 11 wherein said aperture is an
elongated slot.
15. The lid as set forth in claim 14 wherein said slot has a width
of approximately in the range of 0.02 inches to 0.06 inches.
16. The lid as set forth in claim 14 wherein said slot has a length
of approximately in the range of 0.3 inches to 0.7 inches.
17. The lid as set forth in claim 14 wherein the length of said
slot is approximately in the range of 5 to 35 times the length of
said slot.
18. The lid as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spout includes a
plurality of slots.
19. The lid as set forth in claim 11 wherein said spout includes a
plurality of apertures.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a lid for a drinking
cup and, in particular, to a drinking cup lid for a child's cup
which permits the contents of the cup to be drunk with the lid in
place and which resists spillage of the contents when the cup is
tipped.
[0002] Use of spill-proof cups is known in the art. Various designs
have been proposed for the purpose of preventing the inadvertent
spillage of liquid which include sprint actuated valves
incorporated into the lid, which opens under a vacuum pressure, an
air-inlet valve which opens under a vacuum, and a screwable
coupling between the lid and cup for equalizing the pressure within
the cup, for example. These designs are often complex and provide
limited results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a drinking cup lid for use by
toddlers or children which includes a lid with an invisible annular
lip which seal around the rim of a cup, and an anti-spill spout
which reduces the opportunity for liquid in the container to be
spilled when tipped or jostled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container lid with an
anti-spill spout of the present invention.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container lid of
FIG. 1 shown on a container.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container lid of
FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the container lid.
[0008] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the container lid of
FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view generally of
the area in circle 6 shown in FIG. 3.
[0010] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view generally of
the area in circle 7 shown in FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the container lid of FIG.
3 shown nested with another container lid.
[0012] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1 with an
alternate aperture embodiment in the spout.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a container lid with an anti-spill
spout of the present invention is generally indicated by reference
numeral 10. Container lid 10 includes a top 12, a rim 14, and a
spout 16.
[0014] Top 12 is generally dome-shaped with a periphery that
generally conforms to the shape of the open tope of a container 13.
Rim 14 includes a beveled lip 18, and a generally upright side wall
20.
[0015] Spout 16 extends upwardly from top 12 proximal rim 14. Spout
16 includes front 22 and rear 24 surfaces and curved side surfaces
26 and 28. A top surface 30 includes a slot 32 which allows liquid
to pass from the container 34 through the spout 16. Spout 16 is
generally rectangular in shape with rounded comers at the top
surface 30 and transitions outwardly into the curvature of the lid
top at its base.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, slot 32 may have a width of
approximately 0.02 inches to 0.06 inches and a length of
approximately 0.30 inches to 0.7 inches. The walls of slot 32 may
be generally perpendicular to the top surface 30 or may be beveled
or angled inwardly where the external area of slot 32 is greater
than the internal area.
[0017] The shape and area of slot 32 prevents liquid in contact
with the slot from passing through the slot under normal conditions
when the container is jostled or tipped over. The surface tension
of a liquid in contact with the slot 32 may be greater than or
equal to atmospheric pressure so that the liquid will not escape
from the container even when the container is inverted. When a
vacuum is applied to the spout 16 such as when a child is sucking
on the spout to drink the liquid contents of the container, the
surface tension of the liquid is overcome and the liquid passes
through the slot into the child's mouth.
[0018] The inside diameter of rim 14 includes an annular ridge 36
which seats under the rim 34 of a cup 13 to seal the lid 10 to the
cup. The lid 10 is pressed on the top of a cup until the ridge 36
on the inner diameter of rim 14 passes over the rim 34 of the cup
13 and locks or snaps into place.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 8, many lids 10 may be nested and stacked
in a retail environment or for packaging and shipping. The ability
to nest lids 10 helps conserve space when shipping and dispensing
the lids and protects the lids 10 from damage. The lids 10 may be
made of injection molded or blow-molded plastic in a single
piece.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 9, an alternate embodiment of a lid with
an anti-spill spout is generally indicated by reference numeral
110. Container lid 110 includes a plurality of apertures 112 in the
spout which prevent a liquid in an attached container from spilling
when tipped or jostled, and allow liquid to be drawn from the spout
through the apertures when under a vacuum.
[0021] It is to be understood that while certain embodiments of the
invention have been shown and described, the invention is not
limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and
aspects.
* * * * *