U.S. patent application number 11/414355 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for spill proof drinking cap for bottles.
Invention is credited to Christopher A. Eidson.
Application Number | 20070068893 11/414355 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37892569 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070068893 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eidson; Christopher A. |
March 29, 2007 |
Spill proof drinking cap for bottles
Abstract
A no spill bottle arrangement including a bottle and a removable
cap. A valve assembly is disposed on the inside of the cap to
prevent liquid from accidentally flowing from the bottle. The cap
has a housing having an inlet opening for liquid to enter the
housing from the interior of the bottle and an outlet opening for
liquid in the housing to flow into the spout. The valve assembly
includes a valve seat in the housing and a valve cooperating with
the seat for preventing flow of liquid from the inlet opening to
the outlet opening when the valve engages the seat, said valve
being biased to a closed position engaging the seat but disengaging
the seat to move to an opened position in response to a drop in
pressure caused by sucking action on the spout.
Inventors: |
Eidson; Christopher A.;
(Waco, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MR. DANIEL BACH
470 NORTH 56TH STREET
COAST ENERGY MANAGEMENT
CHANDLER
AZ
85226
US
|
Family ID: |
37892569 |
Appl. No.: |
11/414355 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60676030 |
Apr 29, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/311 ;
215/329; 215/387; 220/717 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/2018
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/311 ;
215/329; 220/717; 215/387 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16; A47G 19/22 20060101 A47G019/22; B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a) a cap of substantially the same diameter
and size as the cap provided with a bottle having connection means
such that connection can be made with a variety of bottle openings;
and b) a valve within the cap to inhibit spillage through the
cap.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cap has a mouth piece taken
from the group consisting of: nipples, passifiers, sippy cup
constructions, flip tops, turn and screw construction, tubular, and
any combinations thereof.
3. The device of claim 1, constructed from the group consisting of
glasses, plastics, acrylics, metals, rubbers, and combination
thereof.
4. A device comprising: a) a cap of substantially the same diameter
and size as the cap provided with a bottle having connection means
of multiple geometries such that connection can be made with a
variety of bottle openings; and b) a valve within the cap to
inhibit spillage through the cap.
5. A no spill bottle comprising: a) a bottle and a removable cap
attached to the bottle; b) a spout on the cap having a passage
therethrough for drawing liquid from the bottle, c) a valve
assembly disposed on the inside of the cap for preventing liquid
from accidentally flowing from the bottle out the spout, said
assembly including a housing having an inlet opening for liquid to
enter the housing from the interior of the bottle and an outlet
opening for liquid in the housing to flow into the spout; d) a
valve seat in the housing; and e) a valve cooperating with the seat
for preventing flow of liquid from the inlet opening to the outlet
opening when the valve engages the seat, said valve being biased to
a closed position engaging the seat but disengaging the seat to
move to an opened position in response to a drop in pressure caused
by sucking action on the spout.
6. A no spill bottle as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing has
an inlet section on one side of the valve and an outlet section on
the other side thereof and a support for the valve as one of the
housing sections.
7. A valve for use in a spill resistant bottle cap to retain liquid
in the bottle, the cap including a spout to dispense the liquid and
a valve mount within the spout to engage with the valve, the valve
comprising: a) a generally cylindrical valve tower extending from a
valve base to sealingly engage the valve mount and having an
interior bore for the passage of liquid; b) a valve face across an
upper end of the valve tower bore; and c) a valve mechanism located
in the valve face for controlling a flow of the liquid through the
valve mechanism dependent upon a pressure differential across the
valve face.
8. The valve of claim 7 wherein the valve mechanism is a valve slit
extending through the valve face and extending across the valve
face from near the first side of the valve tower to near the second
side of the valve tower.
9. The valve of claim 8 wherein the spout includes a mouth opening
extending generally along and adjacent to the periphery of the cap,
the first side of the valve tower is located adjacent a periphery
of the cap and the second side of the valve tower is located
inwards of the first side and towards the center of the cap, so
that the valve slit is oriented generally perpendicular to the
mouth opening.
10. The valve of claim 9 wherein the valve further comprises an
outer valve wall extending from the valve base circumferential to
the valve tower to form a circumferential recess for receiving the
valve mount so that the outer surface of the valve tower and an
inner circumferential surface of the outer valve wall frictionally
engage the inner surface of the valve mount and an outer
circumferential surface of the valve mount.
11. An apparatus for use in a no-spill bottle cap, said apparatus
comprising: a valve holder, such valve holder comprising at least
one valve and a blocking element, said valve comprising a flexible
material, said blocking element comprising an area of material
which is inpenetratable to the flow of liquid, said valve further
comprising an opening through said flexible material, said valve
having a resting position wherein said flexible material sits with
said opening against said blocking element such that said valve is
closed to the passage of liquid through said valve, said valve
moving into an open position for the passage of liquid through said
valve upon the application of negative air pressure to the top of
said valve, said open position being a position wherein said
flexible member comprising said opening lifts off of said blocking
element.
12. An apparatus for use in a no-spill bottle cap, comprising: a
flexible valve member comprising an opening through said valve
member, said valve member having a closed position and an open
position, wherein said valve member sits against a blocking element
with said opening against said blocking element when in said closed
position such that said blocking element blocks the passage of
fluid through said opening in said valve member, and wherein said
valve member moves away from said blocking element to allow passage
of liquid through said opening of said valve member upon
application of negative air pressure to said valve member.
Description
PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application 60/676,030 filed Apr. 29, 2005.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0002] The inventions described and claimed herein relate to spill
proof bottle caps. The inventions further relate to a no-spill cap
assembly with an improved valve mechanism to prevent liquid from
flowing out of a capped cup when not desired. They are particularly
useful as bottle caps for use by toddlers.
[0003] There are presently available a number of so called no spill
training cups for toddlers. As the name implies, these cups are
intended to prevent liquid spilling from the cups when they are
inverted or dropped. Ideally, the only way liquid can be withdrawn
from such cups other than by removing their covers and pouring out
the contents is by a toddler sucking on the drinking spout of a
cup. The prior art products on the market perform with varying
degrees of success, and many are relatively expensive to
manufacture. Examples of the prior art are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,876,772; 3,967,748; 4,135,513; 4,836,404; 4,946,062; 5,050,758;
5,079,013; 5,186,347; 5,339,982; 5,542,670; 5,607,073; 5,706,973;
and 5,890,621.
[0004] Another proposed solution for a no-spill cup is an
automatically sealing cup as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,620.
The '620 patent provides a cup having a multiple-piece valve
assembly that is intended to engage a lid assembly. While the cup
disclosed therein provides improved sealability, the valve assembly
includes several parts that can complicate its design and
manufacture. As a result, manufacturing cycle time and costs
associated therewith are increased. Moreover, the intricate design
makes it relatively difficult to access all surface areas of the
valve assembly and the lid assembly for the purpose of cleaning.
The valve assembly typically must be removed from the lid assembly
and then taken apart and broken down into its several components
every time the user wishes to clean the valve assembly. Also, since
the individual components are small, they can be misplaced or lost.
The time and effort required to dismantle the valve assembly, as
well as to handle its small components, make cleaning of the valve
assembly a somewhat cumbersome task.
[0005] There have long been various forms of cups and bottles
designed to meet the particular specific or specialized drinking
needs of various groups of people.
[0006] For example, the baby bottle, wherein liquid is drawn
through a nipple of some form, is designed for use by infants that
are just learning to handle and drink liquids and that may not yet
be capable of drinking in the more conventional sense, but only of
drinking by sucking. As is well known, drinking by sucking requires
not only that an infant be able to suck liquid from a bottle, but
also that a means be provided to vent air into the bottle so that
the infant does not ingest excess air. In addition, the operation
of the liquid and air valve or valves must be passive as infants
are not capable of actively operating a valve and, because infants
are typically not yet capable of handling a cup or bottle, the
bottles must be designed to prevent spills, even when the bottle is
dropped or is lying on its side.
[0007] There are in existence conventional drinking cups which are
designed to be easily handled by babies and toddlers. As babies and
toddlers are prone to mishandle cups whilst drinking, such cups are
usually provided with some spill-proof mechanism for preventing
accidental spilling of the content. Such spill-proof mechanism are
usually sophisticated in structure, difficult to manufacture, and
thus costly Some such mechanisms employ movable parts, which may
break down or be damaged on repeated use. In addition, in order to
ensure the spill proof effect, most such mechanisms are permanently
secured to the cap and/or body of the cup, thus making it very
difficult to clean.
[0008] Other types of bottles or cups are those designed for use by
completely capable people that for some exterior reasons, such as
being engaged in athletic activity of some form, require a bottle
that is spill-proof or spill-resistant, even when shaken, dropped,
turn upside down, and so on. Such people are capable of operating a
relatively complex spill resistant valve mechanism, and a range of
satisfactory designs for such are well known.
[0009] Another class of bottles or cups are intended for persons
who are not as limited as infants, but that still require or would
benefit from a cup or bottle that provides some assistance in
drinking from the cup or bottle. The users of such bottles and cups
may include, for example, toddlers and other young children past
the infant stage, and adults who are handicapped in some manner,
such as by age or illness. In such instances, the user will be
drinking from the cup rather than sucking, but the requirement that
the cup or bottle be spill-proof or spill-resistant when dropped or
positioned at a large angle still applies, as does the requirement
that any valve or mechanism be simple to use and passive in
operation, that is, that it does not require active operation by
the user.
[0010] Other requirements are that the spill resistant valve
mechanism be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, that the valve
provide a smooth and reliable outward flow of liquid, that the
valve allow relatively complete drainage of the cup or bottle, and
that if the valve is reusable it will be easy to clean. It is also
advantageous if the flow of liquid by the valve has no abrupt steps
or surges, but instead smoothly increases from a relative small
starting flow to a large maximum flow, and if the valve does not
require excessive suction to operate.
[0011] Beverages may be contained by and dispensed from many
different types of containers. These include aluminum cans, drink
boxes, glass bottles and plastic bottles. Beverage dispensers using
the latter two container types may also utilize one or more types
of caps, including a screw-on cap, a crimp-on bottle cap, a snap-on
cap, and a plunger-based sport cap. Moreover, each cap may be
constructed from a material that is suitable for its target market
and/or expected use.
[0012] Some beverage dispensers utilize special caps that are
designed to substantially retain beverages inside the dispensers
until suction is applied to the cap. These dispensers are often
given to children, as they are less likely to spill their contents
if accidentally squeezed, dropped or otherwise tilted. Several
patents have been directed to the design of such dispensers.
[0013] Current spill-proof beverage bottle dispensers can be
expensive to manufacture, difficult for adults to configure,
difficult for children to operate, limited in their uses, or
otherwise unsatisfactory. A new substantially spill-proof beverage
bottle dispenser is therefore desired.
[0014] No-spill cup assemblies are well known in the art. In the
past, a variety of such assemblies have been developed and
marketed. In general, the goal of a no-spill cup is to provide a
construction which minimizes or prevents liquid from emerging out
of the cup when liquid flow is not desired, i.e. when the user is
not drinking. However, though the assemblies of the prior art are
intended to avoid such accidents, their construction is such that
they generally do not provide a secure enough protection against
undesirable spilling or leakage. Thus, when such cups are inverted,
or more significantly, when they are shaken vigorously, liquid will
often emerge from them. This can be a particular problem with young
children, for whom these cups are usually intended. Accordingly,
there is a need in the art for an improved cup assembly for
preventing undesired spilling of liquids.
[0015] The inventions described herein provide a solution to these
and other related problems of the prior art. According to one
aspect of the inventions, they provide an improved no-spill bottle
cap assembly. They also provide a bottle cap assembly which
prevents liquid from flowing out of the cap when the user is not
drinking. According to another aspect of the inventions, they
provide a cap assembly which minimizes and/or eliminates accidental
or undesirable liquid flow or spillage out of bottles. They also
provide a bottle cap assembly which can be used by young children,
to avoid accidental spilling of liquid therefrom.
[0016] The inventions provide an improved bottle cap construction
and valve assembly which provides a secure seal against accidental
liquid flow from the cap spout. A user places his or her mouth
against the spout of the cap assembly to suck liquid out of the cap
when desired. The act of sucking at the spout of the cap creates
negative pressure or a partial vacuum against a valve in the cap
spout, causing the valve to invert, move, or turn inside out,
either partially or totally, thereby unblocking an opening such as
an orifice or slit in the valve. Once the opening is unblocked,
liquid can flow freely through the valve and spout.
[0017] In contrast, when not in use, the valve sits in a resting,
closed position, thereby sealing off the opening in the valve
assembly. Thus, in its relaxed state, with no negative pressure
applied, the valve sits in a closed position with the fluid opening
sealed.
[0018] The spill proof cap in accordance with one aspect of this
invention is attachable to a bottle and has a drinking spout
extending upwardly therefrom. A valve assembly is mounted on the
inner side of the cap in communication with the inlet end of the
spout so that liquid to be drawn through the spout must flow
through the cap housing. In accordance with another aspect of this
invention the valve assembly includes a diaphragm or similar valve
in and supported by the housing and biased to a closed position.
The diaphragm or similar valve remains closed unless the pressure
on the outlet side of the diaphragm is less than the pressure on
the inlet side thereof. In accordance with another aspect of the
invention, the diaphragm may be made of a thin silicon wafer that
may be extruded in sheet form and simply stamped from the sheet in
the size and shape desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is view of a bottle sealed with a cap and valve
assembly (not visible in drawing) according to the inventions.
[0020] FIG. 2 is view of a bottle sealed with a cap and valve
assembly (not visible in drawing) according to the inventions. The
bottle is tilted so that water in the bottle would flow from the
cap if the valve assembly were not in place.
[0021] FIG. 3 is view of a cap alone according to the
inventions.
[0022] FIG. 4 is view of the valve assembly alone according to the
inventions.
[0023] FIG. 5 is view of the cap and valve assembly together
according to the inventions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] FIG. 1 is view of a bottle 100 sealed with a cap 110 and
valve assembly 120 (not visible in drawing) according to the
inventions. FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but bottle 100 is tilted so
that water in the bottle would flow from the cap if the valve
assembly 120 were not in place.
[0025] The cap 110 is approximately the same diameter size as an
original bottle cap that it replaces and mates with the existing
bottle top threads so that it is attachable to any conventionally
sized bottle and may be composed of any suitable material,
including but not limited to plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the like. The bottle 110 may
comprise any shape, size, configuration and volume in which water
or a beverage is contained.
[0026] FIG. 3 is view of a cap 110 alone according to the
inventions.
[0027] FIG. 4 is view of the valve assembly 120 alone according to
the inventions.
[0028] FIG. 5 is view of the cap 110 and valve assembly 120
together according to the inventions.
[0029] Valve assembly 120 according to a preferred embodiment of
the inventions is releasably mated to and within the cap.
Preferably, the valve assembly 120 is composed of a flexible
material, e.g. injection molded silicone. However, it is understood
that the valve assembly may be made of various other suitable
materials.
[0030] The cap 110 may comprise a single, integrally-formed piece
and/or may also comprise one or more suitable materials. In some
embodiments, the materials used are selected to be easily
disposable. Easily disposable materials include materials
possessing one or more features such as low cost and
recyclability.
[0031] The cap 110 includes a suction portion for mating with a
mouth during use. Valve assembly 120 is affixed in the suction
portion to seal dispensing apertures. Cap 110 may be coupled to a
bottle 100 preferably by having threads on its interior surface,
which interface with threads located on an exterior surface of the
neck of the bottle.
[0032] Valve Assembly 120 is fitted within cap 110. Valve assembly
120 is unique in its ability to keep fluid from spilling out. Prior
art bottle caps have a one-way valve in their top. However the
present invention has a two-way valve which keeps it from spilling
out as it is laid down on its side or turned upside down with no
need to turn or push the top in or out. You must turn or push the
top in or pull the top out in order to drink with prior art caps.
Also, the cap 110 will open so a child can drink the fluid out of
the bottle with no help. This is a major advantage over the prior
art. Cap 110 can be of one size with the ability to fit many types
of drink bottles such as water, juices of all types, milk, and the
like. There is no need to pour the liquid from a bottle into
another container so that a child can drink. The child can drink
the liquid straight from the bottle with cap 110.
[0033] Valve assembly 120 keeps fluid inside the bottle until
enough suction is applied and the valve is drawn back. Once this
happens, a restricted flow of fluid travels through the valve and
into the mouth of the user. To use simply remove (and dispose of)
the cap of the bottle of liquid, such as water (the caps are small
and are a choking hazard) and screw on the present inventive
cap.
[0034] The most common thread type is a relatively course thread
with a single starting point. This thread type is used by
Aquafina.RTM., Dasani.RTM., and 90% of the other water brands. The
present cap is of approximately the same diameter as the existing
bottle cap and fits these and other juice, soft drink and the like
bottles.
[0035] The inventive no-spill cap 110 for bottled water will fit
most available bottles. This cap enables children to get the water
they need without soaking everything around them.
[0036] The inventive cap 110 is approximately the same size as the
bottle's cap and contains a valve assembly 120 that restricts the
flow of water until the child sucks hard enough to open the valve.
This can only happen when the child's mouth is around the
opening.
[0037] The inventive cap is significantly smaller than the smallest
prior art no-spill cap. The cap and valve assembly according to the
inventions provides a safe, no-spill, reusable cap for bottled
water and other fluids that enables children care free use of the
same containers they see adults using without the choking hazards
and difficulties associated with traditional type sports tops.
* * * * *