U.S. patent application number 10/992294 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for spill-proof training cup.
This patent application is currently assigned to Link Treasure Limited. Invention is credited to Kuang-Neng Cheng.
Application Number | 20060108373 10/992294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36460028 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060108373 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Kuang-Neng |
May 25, 2006 |
Spill-proof training cup
Abstract
A spill-proof training cup includes a lid with a passage housing
a valve. The valve has a valve plane parallel to or forming a
selected angle with the passage. The valve plane has a port and a
stopping flap attached outside the port to block the port and stop
liquid from flowing out. When the cup is sucked on, a pressure
difference is generated to overcome the blocking force of the
stopping flap and a gap is generated between the stopping flap and
the port so that the liquid contained in the cup body may pass
through the port. The port and the passage form an angle so that
when the training cup is inverted, the liquid contained in the cup
does not directly hit the stopping flap and the barrier plane of
the valve can block the liquid so that the liquid does not flow out
improperly.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Kuang-Neng; (Chia-l
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Link Treasure Limited
|
Family ID: |
36460028 |
Appl. No.: |
10/992294 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/717 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K 15/147 20130101;
A47G 19/2272 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/717 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A spill-proof training cup for stopping a liquid contained in
the cup from flowing out freely when the cup is toppled and for
allowing the liquid to flow out relying on a suction force when the
cup is sucked on, comprising: a cup body, having a housing
compartment to contain the liquid; a lid, for covering an opening
of the cup body, having a suction spout to be sucked on, the
suction spout having a passage located on a lower portion to
communicate the suction spout with the interior of the cup body; a
valve, located in the passage and having a valve plane parallel to
or forming an acute angle with the passage, and the valve plane
having a port; and a stopping flap, having a portion connecting to
the valve adjacent to the port and being made from a pliable
material, which has resilience, to block the port such that the
liquid contained in the cup body does not flow out freely when the
cup body is toppled accidentally and a pressure difference is
generated to overcome the blocking force of the stopping flap when
the suction spout is sucked on and the stopping flap is bent to
form a gap with the valve so that the liquid in the cup body flows
out through the passage and the port to the suction spout.
2. The spill-proof training cup of claim 1, wherein the valve
further has an upper barrier plane and a lower plane to cooperate
with the valve plane to divide the passage into a barrier section
and a flowing section.
3. The spill-proof training cup of claim 1, wherein the stopping
flap is made from a pliable plastic.
4. The spill-proof training cup of claim 3, wherein the pliable
plastic is silicon rubber.
5. The spill-proof training cup of claim 1, wherein the lid has an
air vent to allow air in the cup body to communicate with the
ambience when the cup is sucked on.
6. The spill-proof training cup of claim 1, wherein the valve is
formed substantially in a Z-shape.
7. The spill-proof training cup of claim 1, wherein the valve is
formed substantially in a L-shape.
8. A spill-proof training cup for stopping a liquid contained in
the cup from flowing out freely when the cup is toppled and for
allowing the liquid to flow out relying on a suction force when the
cup is sucked on, comprising: a cup body, having a housing
compartment to contain the liquid; a lid, for covering an opening
of the cup body, having a suction spout to be sucked on, the
suction spout having a passage located on a lower portion to
communicate the suction spout with the interior of the cup body;
and a valve, located in the passage and having a valve plane
parallel to or forming an acute angle with the passage, the valve
plane having a through slit which is closed when not being sucked
on and which is opened to form a gap by the suction force generated
by suction when the suction spout is sucked on so that the liquid
flows out through the gap and the passage to the suction spout.
9. The spill-proof training cup of claim 8, wherein the valve is
formed substantially in a Z-shape.
10. The spill-proof training cup of claim 8, wherein the valve is
formed substantially in a L-shape.
11. The spill-proof training cup of claim 8, wherein the valve
plane is made from a pliable plastic.
12. The spill-proof training cup of claim 11, wherein the pliable
plastic is silicon rubber.
13. The spill-proof training cup of claim 8, wherein the through
slit is formed in a l-shape.
14. The spill-proof training cup of claim 8, wherein the through
slit is formed in an arched shape.
15. The spill-proof training cup of claim 8, wherein the through
slit is formed in an irregular shape.
16. A spill-proof training cup for stopping a liquid contained in
the cup from flowing out freely when the cup is toppled and for
allowing the liquid to flow out relying on a suction force when the
cup is sucked on, comprising: a cup body, having a housing
compartment to contain the liquid; a lid, for covering an opening
of the cup body, having a suction spout to be sucked on, the
suction spout having a passage located on a lower portion to
communicate the suction spout with the interior of the cup body; a
valve, located in the passage and having a barrier plane and a port
opposite to the barrier plane; and a stopping flap, having a
portion connecting to the valve adjacent to the port and being made
from a pliable material, which has resilience, to block the port
such that the liquid contained in the cup body does not flow out
freely through the port and the barrier plane withstand the impact
of the liquid when the cup body is toppled accidentally and the
blocking force of the stopping flap is overcame by a pressure
difference generated by suction when the suction spout is sucked on
and a gap is formed between the stopping flap and the valve to
allow the liquid in the cup body flows out through the port and the
passage to the suction spout.
17. The spill-proof training cup of claim 16, wherein the barrier
plane includes an upper barrier plane and a lower barrier
plane.
18. The spill-proof training cup of claim 17, wherein the port is
opposing the lower barrier plane.
19. The spill-proof training cup of claim 17, wherein the stopping
flap is located on the upper barrier plane.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a spill-proof training cup that has
a valve with a valve plane parallel to or forming an angle with the
passage (or a port on the valve plane blocked by a barrier plane)
so that when the training cup is inverted, liquid contained in the
cup does not directly hit the valve plane or port and does not flow
out improperly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The milk bottle is an indispensable item used by babies
every day. It is used to contain milk or water for a baby to
consume by sucking. The milk bottle usually has a teat on the front
end for the baby to suck. The teat generally is made from a pliable
plastic such as silicon rubber and has a vent formed in a cross
slit to prevent spillage in the event that the milk bottle is
toppled. When the baby grows up and becomes a young child, a
training cup 10 such as the one shown in FIG. 1 is generally used
to enable the child to practice drinking. The conventional training
cup 10 generally includes a lid 11 to close a cup body 12, and a
spout 13 integrally formed on the lid 11. The spout 13 has a vent
14 to dispense milk or water for the child to drink.
[0003] The conventional training cup aims to enable young children
to practice drinking before using a regular cup. However, the
conventional training cup still tends to spill liquid through the
vent when inverted, which is troublesome. There are designs to
remedy this problem, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,890,621, 6,321,931,
and 5,186,347. They mainly have a valve to block the liquid from
flowing out improperly when not being sucked on by the child. They
have a common feature of providing a means parallel to the liquid
contained in the training cup and a valve diaphragm (generally a
pliable plastic) with a slit to control the liquid from flowing out
improperly. As the valve diaphragm is parallel to the liquid, when
the cup is inverted, the liquid hits the valve diaphragm directly,
and the slit in the center of the valve diaphragm can be opened and
result in improper spilling of the liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The primary object of the invention is therefore to provide
a novel spill-proof training cup to prevent liquid from flowing out
through the valve improperly. The invention mainly has a valve
located in a passage of a lid. The valve has a valve plane forming
an angle with the passage. The valve plane has a port blocked by a
stopping flap on the outer side to prevent the liquid from flowing
out. When a child sucks the spout, a pressure difference is
generated to overcome the blocking force of the stopping flap so
that a gap is formed between the stopping flap and the valve to
allow the liquid contained in the cup to flow out through the port.
As the port and the passage form an angle, when the training cup is
inverted and the liquid in the cup flows to the passage, the liquid
does not directly hit the stopping flap but is blocked by the
barrier plane of the valve, hence the liquid in the cup does not
flow out improperly.
[0005] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings. The descriptions and drawings are for
illustrative purposes only, and are not limitative of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional training
cup.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the valve and the stopping
flap of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention in a use
condition.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
valve of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the
valve in a use condition.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
valve of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
invention in a use condition.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the
valve and the stopping flap of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the
valve of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the
invention in a use condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, the spill-proof training cup
2 of the invention mainly aims for young children to practice
drinking and to prevent liquid from spilling improperly when
inverted. The spill-proof training cup 2 includes a cup body 3, a
lid 4, a valve 5, and a stopping flap 6.
[0019] The cup body 3 has a housing compartment 31 for holding the
liquid and an opening 32. The perimeter of the opening 32 has a
fastening section 33 to couple with a lid 4. In this embodiment,
the fastening section 33 is a screw thread. The opening 32 also may
have a flange (not shown in the drawings) on the outer periphery to
couple with the lid 4. The lid 4 mainly aims to cover the opening
32 and confine the liquid in the housing compartment 31. The lid
further has a suction spout 41 extended upwards for a child to suck
with his or her mouth. Beneath the suction spout 41, there is a
passage 42 to allow the liquid contained in the housing compartment
31 to flow out through the suction spout 41. The lid 4 also has an
air vent 43 to allow the air in the cup body 3 to communicate with
the external atmosphere.
[0020] The valve 5 is located in the passage 42 of the lid 4 to
block the liquid from flowing through. It has a cross section
substantially formed in a Z-shape and includes an upper barrier
plane 51 and a lower barrier plane 52 that can stop the liquid from
flowing to the passage 42 and withstand the impact of the liquid
when the training cup 2 is inverted. The impact is generated
because the horizontal surface 50 of the liquid is spaced from the
passage 42 at a distance. In addition, the valve 5 has a valve
plane 53 parallel to or forming a selected angle with the passage
42. The valve plane divides the passage into a barrier section 54
and a flowing section 55 so that the liquid does not directly hit
the valve plane 53. The valve plane 53 has a port 56 to allow the
liquid to pass through. In this embodiment, the valve 5 may be
formed in various styles, such as a L-shape (referring to FIGS. 6
and 7). The main consideration is to prevent the liquid from
directly hitting the port 56 or the stopping flap 6 while the
training cup 2 is inverted and to reduce the impact of the liquid
to prevent spillage.
[0021] the stopping flap 6 is partially connected to one side of
the valve 5 where the port 56 is formed. In this embodiment, the
stopping flap 6 is made from a pliable plastic such as silicon
rubber. The stopping flap 6 is resilient enough to close the port
56. Thus when the cup body 3 is accidentally toppled, the liquid
contained inside does not flow out through the port 56 freely.
However, when a child sucks the suction spout 41, the suction force
overcomes the blocking resilience of the stopping flap 6 and a gap
is generated between the stopping flap 6 and the port 56 to allow
the liquid in the cup body 3 to flow out through the passage to be
consumed by the child.
Embodiment 2
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the spill-proof training cup 2
of the invention mainly aims for young children to practice
drinking and to prevent liquid from spilling improperly when
inverted. The main feature of the invention is to provide a valve
plane 72 of a valve 7 to form a selected angle with a passage to
buffer the impact of the flowing liquid. The valve 7 is located in
the passage of the lid 4 to prevent the liquid from passing
through. The valve 7 has a barrier plane 71 and a valve plane 72.
The barrier plane 71, aside from blocking the liquid from flowing
to the passage 42, can also withstand the impact of the liquid when
the training cup 2 is inverted. The impact is generated because the
horizontal surface of the liquid is spaced from the passage at a
distance. The valve plane 72 is made from a pliable material (such
as silicon rubber) and is parallel to or forms a selected angle
with the passage 42 to divide the passage 42 into a barrier section
54 and a flowing section 55 so that the liquid does not directly
hit the valve plane 72. The valve plane 72 has a through slit 73 so
that when the cup body is accidentally toppled, the liquid
contained inside does not flow out through the slit 73 freely.
However, when a child sucks the suction spout 41, the suction force
generates a gap on the slit 73 to allow the liquid in the cup body
3 to flow out through the slit 73 and the passage 42 to be consumed
by the child.
Embodiment 3
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the spill-proof training
cup 2 of the invention mainly aims for young children to practice
drinking and to prevent liquid from spilling improperly when
inverted. The main feature of the invention is to provide a barrier
plane on a valve to buffer the impact of the flowing liquid. It
includes a valve 8 located in the passage of the lid 4 to prevent
the liquid from passing through. The valve 8 has an upper barrier
plane 81 and a lower barrier plane 82. There is a port 83
corresponding to the lower barrier plane 82. The port 83 is covered
by a stopping flap 9, which is attached by latching or bonding a
portion thereof. The stopping flap 9 closes the port 83 when there
is normal pressure to block the fluid from flowing improperly into
the passage 42. As the horizontal surface of the liquid is spaced
from the passage 42 at a distance, when the training cup is
inverted, an impact is generated when the liquid flows to the
passage 42. The upper barrier plane 81 and the lower barrier plane
82 withstand the impact so that the liquid does not directly hit
the stopping flap 9 on the port 83. Thus the liquid is prevented
from flowing out freely. However, when a child sucks the suction
spout 41 of the lid 4, a pressure difference is generated to bend
and deform one side of the stopping flap 9 and form a gap 80
between the stopping flap 9 and the valve 8 to allow the liquid to
flow out and to allow the liquid to be consumed by the child.
[0024] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the
disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments
thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *