U.S. patent application number 11/018098 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for scrubber for sippy cup lid.
Invention is credited to Wendy Lowry.
Application Number | 20060130256 11/018098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36593854 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060130256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lowry; Wendy |
June 22, 2006 |
Scrubber for sippy cup lid
Abstract
A flat handled scrubber has abrasive sponge elements adhered to
opposing ends. The two abrasive sponges are precisely sized and
configured to enhance cleansing of interior surfaces of a sippy cup
lid, particularly, in and around the mouthpiece.
Inventors: |
Lowry; Wendy; (Edinboro,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHARD K THOMSON, ATTORNEY
7691 FAIRLANE DRIVE
FAIRVIEW
PA
16415
US
|
Family ID: |
36593854 |
Appl. No.: |
11/018098 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/118 ;
15/210.1; 15/244.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 9/00 20130101; A47L
17/00 20130101; B08B 1/003 20130101; B08B 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/118 ;
015/210.1; 015/244.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/12 20060101
A47L013/12 |
Claims
1. A scrubber for cleansing an interior surface of a lid of a sippy
cup lid which has cylindrical feed tube with a first internal
diameter, a tapered mouthpiece extending from the feed tube with a
second maximum lateral dimension d.sub.2 and a third minimum
transverse dimension d.sub.4, said scrubber comprising a) a support
handle having a first end and a second end and a maximum thickness
d.sub.3 which is less than the minimum transverse dimension
d.sub.4; b) a first abrasive scrubber having a first maximum
lateral dimension d.sub.5; c) a second abrasive scrubber extending
a second maximum lateral dimension d.sub.1 which is greater than
the second maximum lateral dimension d.sub.2 of the tapered
mouthpiece to facilitate cleansing of the internal surfaces of the
lid of the sippy cup.
2. The scrubber of claim 1 wherein said first maximum lateral
dimension d.sub.5 of first abrasive scrubber is less than the
second maximum lateral diameter d.sub.2.
3. The scrubber of claim 1 wherein said support handle is a flat
member facilitating manipulation of said scrubber.
4. The scrubber of claim 3 wherein said flat member tapers from a
maximum dimension in a central region thereof downwardly toward
each of said first end and said second end.
5. The scrubber of claim 1 wherein a material comprising said first
scrubber and a material comprising said second scrubber is the
same.
6. The scrubber of claim 5 wherein said material comprises a
compressible sponge-like material.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is in the field of cleaning devices.
More particularly, the present invention is directed to a scrubber
specifically designed to clean internal surfaces of a sippy cup
lid.
[0002] As an infant transitions into a toddler, the child gives up
the bottle in favor of a drinking glass or cup. This can lead to a
considerable amount of spilt milk (with or without tears) and
require a mom to be involved with frequently mopping up. As a
result, many mothers opt for the use of a "sippy cup" or a "Tommy
tippy", as they were once known. This greatly reduces the amount of
liquid which spills when the cup is mishandled and, accordingly,
the amount of aggravation during these transition years.
[0003] One of the key problems with sippy cups is the lack of any
suitable appliance to clean the internal surfaces. As a result, the
inside of the mouthpiece can develop a buildup of milk, juice and
other potentially harmful residue. Toddlers are sufficiently prone
to illness as it is, without creating an additional health concern
associated with a cup which the child uses at every meal and,
often, several times between meals.
[0004] It is the purpose of the present invention to remedy this
problem by providing a suitable scrubber for cleaning the internal
surfaces of a sippy cup lid. Specifically, the present invention is
a scrubber for cleansing an interior surface of the lid of a sippy
cup which has a cylindrical feed tube with a first internal
diameter, a tapered mouthpiece extending from the feed tube with a
second maximum lateral dimension and a third lesser transverse
dimension, the scrubber comprising a support handle having a first
end and a second end; a first abrasive scrubber; a second abrasive
scrubber extending a second maximum lateral distance d.sub.1 which
is greater than the second maximum lateral dimension d.sub.2 of the
tapered mouthpiece to facilitate cleansing of the internal surfaces
of the lid of the sippy cup.
[0005] Preferably, the support handle is a flat member facilitating
manipulation of the scrubber and the flat member tapers from a
maximum dimension in a central region thereof downwardly toward
each of the first end and the second end. The first and second
scrubber are preferably made of the same material which can be a
compressible sponge-like material.
[0006] Various other features, advantages and characteristics of
the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill
in the art after a reading of the following specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention is/are
described in conjunction with the associated drawings in which like
features are indicated with like reference numerals and in
which
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the sippy cup
lid scrubber of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of an existing sippy cup lid; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the mouthpiece of the lid shown in
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0012] A first embodiment of the sippy cup lid scrubber of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally at 20.
Scrubber 20 has a support handle 22 which is preferably flat (FIG.
2) having a maximum thickness d.sub.3, a maximum width in a central
region and tapering downwardly toward each end (FIG. 1). First
abrasive scrubber 24 is affixed (as by an adhesive) to first end 26
of support handle 22 and second abrasive scrubber 28 is affixed to
second end 30. First and second abrasive scrubbers 24 and 28 are
preferably made of a compressible material, such as a closed-cell
sponge, which is highly durable.
[0013] A conventional sippy cup lid is depicted in FIG. 3 generally
at 11. The external surface of mouthpiece 13 tapers from its root
12 to its discharge end 14 in two orthogonal directions. A
cylindrical central feed tube 15 extends downwardly into the
interior of the lid 11 and has a maximum internal diameter of
d.sub.2. Feed tube 15 tapers within the mouthpiece 13 in one of the
orthogonal directions to a minimum dimension d.sub.4 at the
discharge end 14 while maintaining a second maximum dimension in
the other orthogonal direction which is equal to d.sub.2. First
abrasive scrubber 24 has a maximum lateral dimension d.sub.5 which
is preferably less than the maximum dimension d.sub.2. Second
abrasive scrubber 28 preferably extends a second maximum lateral
dimension d.sub.1 which is greater than the second maximum lateral
dimension d.sub.2 of the tapered mouthpiece to facilitate cleansing
of the internal surfaces of the lid of the sippy cup.
[0014] Scrubber 20 is very effective at cleaning the internal
surfaces of sippy cup lid 11. The tapering ends 26 and 30 of
support handle 22 facilitate the insertion of scrubbers 24, 28 into
and around the feed tube 15 and the sizing of the scrubbers 24, 28
ensure positive cleansing contact with the surfaces. The flat
support handle 22 facilitates rotation of scrubbers 24, 28 within
the mouthpiece 13 to scrub the region clean and remove any residue
that might have collected there. Accordingly, a mom with a clean
sippy cup lid not only doesn't have to cry over spilt milk, she
also doesn't have to lie awake at night worrying about infectious
diseases lurking within mouthpiece 13.
[0015] Various changes, alternatives and modifications will become
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art following a reading of
the foregoing specification. It is intended that any such changes,
alternatives and modifications as fall within the scope of the
appended claims be considered part of the present invention.
* * * * *