U.S. patent application number 14/174955 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-13 for sippy cup with multiple valve configurations.
This patent application is currently assigned to Evenflo Feeding Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Evenflo Feeding Inc.. Invention is credited to Dennis Davis.
Application Number | 20150223623 14/174955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53773849 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150223623 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; Dennis |
August 13, 2015 |
Sippy Cup with Multiple Valve Configurations
Abstract
A sippy cup assembly including a flow control element having
selectable flow controllers thereon allowing a caregiver to
selectively control a desired flow condition for the sippy cup
assembly.
Inventors: |
Davis; Dennis; (Springfield,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Evenflo Feeding Inc. |
West Chester |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Evenflo Feeding Inc.
West Chester
OH
|
Family ID: |
53773849 |
Appl. No.: |
14/174955 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/714 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/265 20130101;
B65D 47/06 20130101; A61J 11/0015 20130101; A61J 9/04 20130101;
B65D 47/32 20130101; A47G 19/2272 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22; B65D 47/12 20060101 B65D047/12; B65D 47/32 20060101
B65D047/32; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04 |
Claims
1. A sippy cup assembly comprising: a lid having a spout extending
from an upper portion thereof, said spout having at least one
liquid egress opening therethrough; a body shaped and sized to hold
a liquid therein having an engagement portion thereon for engaging
said lid to provide a seal between said lid and said body; and a
flow control element having at least 3 separate flow controllers
thereon, each of said flow controllers adapted to be received
between said spout egress opening and a liquid in said body, each
of said flow controllers adapted to provide a different flow
condition for a liquid located in said body leaving said body
through said spout egress opening.
2. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow controllers
comprise protrusions extending from said flow control element.
3. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid includes at
least one engagement feature depending from a lower portion of said
lid shaped to engage at least a portion of said flow control
element.
4. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid includes at
least one engagement feature depending from a lower portion of said
lid shaped to engage at least one of said flow controllers.
5. The sippy cup assembly of claim 4 wherein said engagement
between said engagement feature and said flow controller is
frictional engagement.
6. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said
flow controllers is adapted to provide a no-flow condition.
7. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid includes a
vent opening therein.
8. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow control
element includes a thumb tab protruding from a lower portion
thereof.
9. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow control
element includes indicia thereon to provide an indication of flow
conditions provided by respective flow controllers located
thereon.
10. The sippy cup assembly of claim 2 wherein said protrusions are
cylindrical in shape.
11. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said flow controllers includes at least 3 holes therethrough.
12. The sippy cup assembly of claim 11 wherein said holes are
between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm in diameter.
13. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow control
element is entirely composed of an elastic material.
14. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid includes a
circumferential flange having threads thereon shaped to engage
corresponding threads located on said body.
15. A sippy cup assembly comprising: a lid having a spout extending
from an upper portion thereof and a circumferential flange having
threads thereon, said spout having at least one liquid egress
opening therethrough; a body shaped and sized to hold a liquid
therein having an upper portion having threads thereon shaped to
engage corresponding threads located on said circumferential flange
of said lid to provide a seal between said lid and said body; and a
flow control element having at least 3 separate flow controllers
thereon, each of said flow controllers comprising a protrusion
extending from an upper portion of said flow control element and
adapted to be frictionally received by an engagement feature
depending from a lower portion of said lid between said spout
egress opening and a liquid in said body, each of said flow
controllers adapted to provide a different flow condition for a
liquid located in said body leaving said body through said spout
egress opening.
16. The sippy cup assembly of claim 15 wherein at least one of said
flow controllers is adapted to provide a no-flow condition.
17. The sippy cup assembly of claim 15 wherein said flow control
element includes indicia thereon to provide an indication of flow
conditions provided by respective flow controllers located
thereon.
18. The sippy cup assembly of claim 15 wherein said flow control
element includes a thumb tab protruding from a lower portion
thereof.
19. The sippy cup assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said flow controllers includes at least 3 holes therethrough and
wherein said holes are between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm in diameter.
15. A sippy cup assembly comprising: a lid having a spout extending
from an upper portion thereof, a vent hole therethrough, and a
circumferential flange having threads thereon, said spout having at
least one liquid egress opening therethrough; a body shaped and
sized to hold a liquid therein having an upper portion having
threads thereon shaped to engage corresponding threads located on
said circumferential flange of said lid to provide a seal between
said lid and said body; and a flow control element having at least
3 separate flow controllers thereon, each of said flow controllers
comprising a protrusion extending from an upper portion of said
flow control element and adapted to be frictionally received by an
engagement feature depending from a lower portion of said lid
between said spout egress opening and a liquid in said body, each
of said flow controllers adapted to provide a different flow
condition for a liquid located in said body leaving said body
through said spout egress opening and one of said controllers
adapted to provide a no-flow condition.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to beverage containers having
liquid flow control devices, and more specifically, relates to a
sippy cup having a flow control element having flow controllers
thereon providing multiple flow conditions.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sippy cups are generally known in the infant/child feeding
field. In general, sippy cups are a type of spill-resistant
container typically made for children that include a cup body and a
screw-on or snap-on lid having a drinking spout thereon. A flow
control element is often provided that mates with or otherwise is
received on or in the sippy cup lid to control the flow of liquid
through the drinking spout and to prevent leakage when the sippy
cup is tipped over when not in use. While sippy cups having flow
control elements of this type have been useful, there are some
drawbacks.
[0003] For example, one problem associated with prior art sippy cup
flow control elements is that depending on the age of the infant,
child or toddler using the sippy cup, or other factors, certain
flow characteristics (i.e. more flow, less flow, no flow) may be
desirable. However, many prior art sippy cup flow control elements
do not have any ability to alter flow control characteristics
including, if desired, stopping the flow altogether.
[0004] Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a sippy cup
incorporating a flow control element that is capable of being
adjusted to different flow conditions including, if needed, to a
"no-flow" condition.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure is directed to a sippy cup having a
flow control element that may be adjusted by a caregiver to provide
various desired flow control conditions for a sippy cup drinking
spout. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a sippy
cup comprising a flow control element having multiple flow
controllers thereon, each flow controller providing a different
flow condition.
[0006] More specifically, the present disclosure may comprise a
sippy cup assembly having a lid, a body, and a flow control element
wherein the lid has a spout thereon, the flow control element
controls the flow of liquid therethrough, and the lid may be
selectively and releasably attached to the body while providing a
seal therewith to compose the completed sippy cup assembly. The
flow control element disclosed may preferably shaped and sized to
be received by an engagement feature on the underside of the lid.
The lid preferably includes a spout thereon having at least one
engagement feature depending therefrom for engaging a flow control
element. The spout includes at least one, although it may include
many, egress openings extending therethrough from the outer surface
and the flow control element comprises at least 3 separate flow
controllers, but could include more, each of which provides
separate flow conditions to a user thereof. Some example flow
conditions that can be provided include low flow, medium flow, high
flow and no-flow. The flow controllers may comprise
cylindrical-shaped projections that are shaped and sized to be
frictionally received in the engagement feature(s). The flow
controllers may include holes, slits, hatching, crosses, etc., to
provide a desired flow rate for egress of liquid from the body
through the flow controllers into the spout and to the user
thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a sippy cup
assembly including a flow control element having at least 3
caregiver selectable flow conditions associated therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of
the sippy cup assembly disclosed herein;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an underside perspective view of an embodiment of
a lid operable in connection with the sippy cup assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a flow control element
operable in connection with the sippy cup assembly illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the flow control element of
FIG. 3 taken across line 3-3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the flow control element of
FIG. 3; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the assembled version of the
sippy cup assembly of FIG. 1 taken across line 1-1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] While this disclosure is susceptible of embodiments in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail a preferred embodiment of the disclosure and is
not intended to limit the broad aspect of the disclosure to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated a sippy cup
assembly 10, of which lid 12 and body 14 are part. As illustrated
in FIG. 1, the sippy cup assembly 10 generally comprises a body 14
for retaining a liquid (not shown), a lid 12 enclosing an open end
16 of the body 14. The lid 12 may be releasably coupled to the open
end 16 of the body 14, a flow control element 20 being shaped and
sized to be frictionally nested within at least one flow control
element engagement feature 22 depending from an underside 24 of the
lid 12. The body 14 may be formed and/or include a gripping surface
18 on an outer portion thereof to facilitate gripping thereof by a
user. In an embodiment consistent with the disclosure, a second
engagement feature 26 may depend from an underside of the lid 12.
The flow control element 20 may be comprised of elastomeric or
non-elastomeric materials. The flow control element 20 is used to
slow and/or prevent the spillage of liquid from the body 14 through
the lid 12.
[0015] Specifically with regard to the lid 12, the lid 12 includes
an outer surface 30, preferably having a spout 32 thereon, and an
underside 24 having at least one engagement feature depending 22
therefrom for engaging a flow control element 20. The spout 32
includes at least one, although it may include many, egress
openings 34 extending therethrough from the outer surface 30
through the underside 24 of the lid 12, the spout 32 defining a
corresponding inner cavity to facilitate the flow of a liquid from
the container body 14 of the sippy cup assembly 10 to a user
thereof. As is known to those having skill in the art, and to
counteract the buildup of negative pressure resulting from liquid
leaving the spout 32, the lid 12 may further comprise a vent
opening 36 formed through the outer surface 30 of lid 12 through to
the underside 24 of the lid 12. Specifically, the vent opening 36
allows air ingress from the atmosphere to the sippy cup body 14
when the sippy cup assembly 10 is in use.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated
best in FIG. 2, the underside 24 of the lid 12 may include
circumferential flange 40 depending therefrom on which an
engagement feature 42, such as threads, may be formed to releasably
couple the lid 12 to an open end 16 of the cup body 14. In such an
embodiment, the open end 16 of the cup body 14 may preferably
include a corresponding engagement feature 44, which cooperates
with the circumferential flange 40 engagement feature 42 to allow
the lid 12 to be releasably secured to the cup body 14 to create a
seal between the lid 12 and the body 14. As discussed above, the
lid 12 underside 14 includes at least one flow control element 20
engagement feature 22 depending therefrom shaped and sized to
frictionally engage a corresponding feature, such as a flow
controller, on the flow control element 20. Consistent herewith,
the lid 12 may be composed of any suitable materials but is
preferably composed of rigid or semi-rigid material plastic
material, such as polypropylene, by a method such as injection
molding or blow molding. Of course, other materials and methods may
be used as would be known by those of ordinary skill in the
art.
[0017] As discussed above, and as shown best in FIGS. 2-5, the
underside 24 of the lid 12 includes at least one engagement feature
22 to engage a corresponding engagement feature on the flow control
element 20. In connection with an embodiment of the disclosure
disclosed herein, the flow control element 20 includes flow
controllers 50, 52, 54, 56 thereon. The flow controllers 50, 52,
54, 56 may comprise flow controllers providing a low flow 50, a
medium flow 52, a high flow 54 and a no-flow 56 condition. The flow
controllers 50, 52, 54, 56 may comprise cylindrical-shaped
protrusions that are shaped and sized to be frictionally received
in the engagement features 22, 26. Consistent with embodiments of
the disclosure, the flow controllers 50, 52, 54, 56 may be
circumferentially arranged on a base section 58 of the flow control
element 20 and may be formed of an elastomeric material. The flow
control element 20 may include a thumb tab 60 for facilitating
removal and manipulation of the flow control element 20 by a
caregiver. Indicia 51, 53, 55, 57 may be provided on the base
section 58 of the flow control element to provide an indication of
flow controller flow conditions, i.e. low 51, medium 53, high 55
and no 57 flow.
[0018] The flow controllers 50, 52, 54, 56 may include holes,
slits, hatching, crosses, etc., therethrough to provide a desired
flow rate for egress of liquid from the body 14 through the flow
controllers 50, 52, 54 into the spout 32 and to the user thereof.
The shapes, sizes, geometries, etc. for providing a desired flow
rate is known in the art and will not be exhaustively disclosed
herein. However, for illustrative purposes, a flow controller 50
desired to produce a low flow condition may be provided with three
holes therethrough having a diameter of roughly 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm.
Correspondingly, a flow controller 52 desired to provide a medium
flow condition may be provided with five holes therethrough having
similar diameters. Further, a flow controller 54 desired to provide
a high flow condition may be provided with 9 holes therethrough
having similar diameters. Finally, a flow controller 56 desired to
provide a no-flow condition has no holes or apertures therein.
[0019] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a sippy cup
assembly 10 including a flow control element 20 having at least 3
caregiver selectable flow conditions associated therewith. The
caregiver can select, for example, a low flow condition by removing
the flow control element 20 from the lid 12 by pulling on the thumb
tab 60 and disengaging the flow control element 20 from the
engagement feature 22 and, if used, engagement feature 26. The
caregiver may then select the low flow controller 50 and press it
into the engagement feature 22 and, if present, press flow
controller 54 into engagement feature 26. The caregiver may then
fill the body 14 of the sippy cup assembly 10 with liquid, attach
the lid 12 to the body 14 using the engagement features 42, 44, and
provide the sippy cup assembly 10 to the user thereof. Next, when
suction is applied to the spout 32 by the user, a negative pressure
is created in the spout 32, thereby allowing the flow of liquid to
the user. Simultaneously, upon suction, atmospheric air is allowed
to ingress via vent opening 36 creating equilibrium within the body
14 with respect to the external atmosphere. In a similar manner,
other flow conditions may be selected by the caregiver including,
if desired, a no-flow condition.
[0020] Following from the above description it should be apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and
apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of
the present disclosure, it is understood that the disclosure is not
limited to these precise methods and apparatuses and that changes
may be made therein without departing from the scope of the
disclosure.
* * * * *