U.S. patent application number 12/294662 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-25 for closures.
Invention is credited to Barry Edward Fred Judge.
Application Number | 20100294772 12/294662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36384271 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100294772 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Judge; Barry Edward Fred |
November 25, 2010 |
CLOSURES
Abstract
A removable closure is provided which is particularly useful for
closing drinking vessels containing liquid to prevent spillage if
the vessel is knocked over. The closure comprises two sections a
first section (1) for placement around the top of the drinking
vessel. The second section (4) being attachable to the first
section (1) in a manner that brings the first section into contact
with the exterior of the vessel (7) to provide a liquid tight seal.
In a preferred embodiment the second section (4) may be provided
with a sealable aperture through which a drinking straw can be
inserted whilst retaining the liquid seal around the drinking
straw.
Inventors: |
Judge; Barry Edward Fred;
(Herts, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOBRUSIN & THENNISCH PC
29 W LAWRENCE ST, SUITE 210
PONTIAC
MI
48342
US
|
Family ID: |
36384271 |
Appl. No.: |
12/294662 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/002731 |
371 Date: |
August 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/288 ;
220/378; 220/713 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2272
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/288 ;
220/713; 220/378 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04; A47G 19/22 20060101 A47G019/22; B65D 53/00 20060101
B65D053/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2006 |
GB |
0606118.8 |
Claims
1. A closure for drinking vessels comprising at least two sections,
the first section being adapted for placement around the
circumference of the top of the drinking vessel and the second
section is adapted for attachment to the first section in a manner
that covers the top of the drinking vessel and also, when attached
to the first section brings the first section into contact with the
exterior surface of the drinking vessel to establish a liquid tight
seal therewith.
2. A closure according to claim 1 in which the second section is
provided with an aperture for the passage of a drinking straw.
3. A closure according to claim 2 in which the aperture is provided
with a gasket that forms a liquid tight seal around the drinking
straw so as to prevent or minimise spillage through the aperture if
the vessel is knocked over.
4. A closure according to claim 1 designed to fit around and close
such an opening of between 50 mm and 75 mm in diameter.
5. A closure according to claim 1 in which the sections are made of
plastic.
6. A closure according to claim 3 in which the first section
comprises a ring that conforms to the exterior share of the
drinking vessel and the ring is provided with a flexible seal
preferably of synthetic rubber that provides the liquid tight seal
when it is urged into contact with the exterior surface of the
vessel.
7. A closure according to claim 6 in which the external surface of
the ring is provided with ribs or protrusions.
8. A closure according to claim 1 in which the second section is
provided with means around its base for interlocking with the first
section to provide a liquid tight seal and also to urge the
flexible seal of the first section into liquid tight contact with
the exterior of the drinking vessel.
9. A closure according to claim 8 in which the interlocking means
comprises a snap engagement which forces the top portion of the
first section outwards whilst forcing the lower portion of the
first section which is provided with the seal inwardly towards the
vessel to form the liquid tight seal.
10. A closure according to claim 8 in which the bottom of the upper
section is provided with a thread which can engage with a mating
thread provided on the lower section so that by turning the
sections relative to each other they become attached and the
turning brings the seal provided on the lower section into contact
with the exterior surface of the drinking vessel.
11. A closure system according to claim 1 packaged in a sterile
package.
12. A multi pack package comprising a plurality of closure systems
according to claim 11.
13. A closure system according to claim 11 further comprising a
drinking vessel with which the closure system is to be used.
14. A closure system according to claim 13 further comprising one
or more drinking straws.
15. A closure according to claim 6 in which the second section is
provided with means around its base for interlocking with the first
section to provide a liquid tight seal and also to urge the
flexible seal of the first section into liquid tight contact with
the exterior of the drinking vessel.
16. A closure according to claim 15 in which the external surface
of the ring is provided with ribs or protrusions.
17. A closure according to claim 15 in which the interlocking means
comprises a snap engagement which forces the top portion of the
first section outwards whilst forcing the lower portion of the
first section which is provided with the seal inwardly towards the
vessel to form the liquid tight seal.
18. A closure according to claim 16 in which the interlocking means
comprises a snap engagement which forces the top portion of the
first section outwards whilst forcing the lower portion of the
first section which is provided with the seal inwardly towards the
vessel to form the liquid tight seal.
19. A closure according to claim 15 in which the bottom of the
upper section is provided with a thread which can engage with a
mating thread provided on the lower section so that by turning the
sections relative to each other they become attached and the
turning brings the seal provided on the lower section into contact
with the exterior surface of the drinking vessel.
20. A closure according to claim 16 in which the bottom of the
upper section is provided with a thread which can engage with a
mating thread provided on the lower section so that by turning the
sections relative to each other they become attached and the
turning brings the seal provided on the lower section into contact
with the exterior surface of the drinking vessel.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in relation to
closures and in particular to closures that provide a fluid tight
seal around the top of drinking vessels. In a particular preferred
embodiment the invention provides removable closures that can be
secured to drinking vessels to prevent spillage if the vessels are
accidentally knocked over. The invention can be particularly useful
with children's drinks, a drink aid for use with the elderly and
infirm and in many other comparable outlets.
[0002] A particular feature of the present invention is that the
closures are removable, and also that they may be re-used. They may
be purchased as a kit and carried around until required or may be
supplied for use in restaurants, coffee bars, pubs and the
like.
[0003] The present invention therefore provides a closure for
drinking vessels comprising at least two sections, the first
section is adapted for placement around the circumference of the
top of the drinking vessel and the second section is adapted for
attachment to the first section in a manner that covers the top of
the drinking vessel and also, when attached to the first section
brings the first section into contact with the exterior surface of
the drinking vessel to establish a liquid tight seal therewith.
[0004] The expression the top of the drinking vessel will be
understood to include at or near to the open end of the vessels so
that the second section can be easily attached to the first section
in a manner that covers the opening of the particular drinking
vessel.
[0005] In a preferred embodiment the second section is provided
with an aperture for the passage of a drinking straw and in a
further preferment the aperture is provided with a gasket that
forms a liquid tight seal around the drinking straw so as to
prevent or minimise spillage through the aperture if the vessel is
knocked over.
[0006] The invention is useful with any type of drinking vessel,
the vessels may be cups, glasses or cans and may be of glass,
plastic, ceramic or metal. The invention is particularly useful
with drinking vessels such as glasses and cups and it may be
applied in the home, on picnics or in cafes, restaurants, pubs and
the like; it may also be used while travelling to avoid spillages
in aircraft, trains, boats and the like. The size of the sections
of the closure of the present invention will, of course, depend
upon the size of the drinking vessel that is to be closed. However
in many drink outlets the drinking vessels have an upper opening of
between 60 mm and 75 mm in diameter. Accordingly a preferred
closure of the present invention is designed to fit around and
close such an opening.
[0007] The sections of the closure of the present invention may be
made of any suitable material although plastic is preferred for
ease of manufacture, ease of application, washability and the
ability to sterilise for re-use. The first section preferably
comprises a ring that conforms to the exterior share of the
drinking vessel which is usually circular and the ring is provided
with a flexible seal preferably of synthetic rubber that provides
the liquid tight seal when it is urged into contact with the
exterior surface of the vessel. The external surface of the ring
may be provided with ribs or protrusions that enable it to be held
around the drinking vessel during the application of the second
section.
[0008] The second, top section is shaped so that it will cover the
entire opening of the drinking vessel, with the possible exception
of an aperture for a drinking straw. It is also provided with means
around the base for interlocking with the first section to provide
a liquid tight seal and also to urge the flexible seal of the first
section into liquid tight contact with the exterior of the drinking
vessel. The interlocking means may be a snap engagement which
forces the top portion of the first section outwards whilst forcing
the lower portion of the first section which is provided with the
seal inwardly towards the vessel to form the liquid tight seal. We
have found that the closures of the present invention can readily
be applied to glasses without causing damage to the glass.
[0009] Alternatively the bottom of the upper section may be
provided with a thread which can engage with a mating thread
provided on the lower section so that by turning the sections
relative to each other they become attached and also bring the seal
provided on the lower section into contact with the exterior
surface of the drinking vessel.
[0010] The upper section of the closure of the present invention
may be provided with an aperture for the passage of a drinking
straw into the liquid within the vessel. When this is provided it
is preferred that the aperture is provided with a gasket that forms
a tight seal around the straw to prevent or minimise spillage
through the aperture if the drinking vessel is knocked over.
[0011] The closures of the present invention are preferably made of
thermoplastic material food grade polyethylene and polypropylene
being preferred as they are readily mouldable and are also readily
washed out and sterilised for re-use we prefer that the closure be
made by injection moulding these materials. The seal provided at
the lower end of the first section should also be of food grade
material and is preferably a rubber seal such as a silicone rubber
seal or a seal of a styrene/isoprene or styrene/butadiene copolymer
and is preferably integrally moulded with the first section. It may
of course be supplied by other means but integral moulding is
preferred.
[0012] The present invention is illustrated but in no way limited
by reference to the accompanying figures in which
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a closure according to the
present invention and
[0014] FIG. 2 shows the closure of FIG. 1 in place on the top of a
drinking vessel which may be a cup, a glass or a can.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows the closure consisting of a first lower
circular section (1) provided with a flexible seal (2). The section
(1) is also provided with ribs (3) to help to grip the section. The
upper section (4) is shown unattached from the lower section (1) in
order to show the tapered thread (5) at the bottom of the upper
section which can interact with a corresponding section at the top
of the lower section (not shown) to attach the upper section (4) to
the lower section and also when twisted as shown by the arrows (6)
tightens the lower section onto the vessel (7) as is shown in FIG.
2.
[0016] The closures of the present invention may be supplied in any
suitable manner according to the use envisaged. For example, they
may be supplied with or without a drinking straw in a sterilised
aseptic package for use in hospitals or in old peoples homes.
[0017] They may be supplied in pubs, restaurants and cafes packaged
ready for use. Alternatively they can be provided, perhaps as
packages of several closures over the counter or by mail order. In
other embodiments the closure may be provided together with the
drinking vessel with which it is to be used.
[0018] The closures may be appropriately decorated according to the
user for example they can carry illustrations for children.
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