Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Drinking device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-22
2001-08-21
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Drinking device
C220S714000, C220S715000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276560
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to drinking cups, and more particularly concerns an improved automatically sealing cup which has a lid that automatically seals the cup from spilling whenever the cup is not being used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cups are drinking vessels in common use today. A typical cup has an opening through which a person may sip or place a straw to withdraw the beverage. Users drink from cups under a wide variety of circumstances in which the beverages are highly susceptible to being unintentionally spilled. These circumstances include, for example, operation of a vehicle, participation in sports, walking, etc. Due to the fluid nature of beverages, spills commonly occur through the open mouths of cups when the cups are jarred, tipped, dropped, or subjected to sudden movements. Since users obviously wish to prevent accidental spills, securing the beverage within the cup is important.
One proposed solution for eliminating accidental spills associated with cups employs the use of a lid that snaps onto the rim of a cup. These lids are commonly found in fast food restaurants and coffee outlets. The lid has one or more holes to allow a user to access the beverage. By reducing the size of the opening through which the beverage exits the cup, the likelihood of spills is subsequently reduced. However, these lids fail to eliminate accidental spills. The beverage can still escape through the openings despite their reduced size. For instance, while in the upright position the beverage can splash out of the cup through the openings if it is jarred. Alternatively, if the cup is tipped onto its side, the beverage can still pour out of the cup through the openings. If the cup is dropped, the lid can be dislodged from the cup and the entire contents of the cup can be lost.
Another proposed solution involves a cup and a lid that is secured to the cup by a threading engagement. One variation of this solution further requires a lid having a hole formed therein for the purpose of allowing a straw to pass through the lid. This variation also includes a cap to be manually placed on the end of the straw in order to seal the beverage within the cup. Another variation involves a pop-up vent on the lid which seals the cup when the vent is manually pushed down and permits beverage to exit the cup when the vent is pushed up. In both variations, the threading engagement secures the lid to the cup to prevent the lid from being dislodged from the cup if it is dropped. Both variations also effectively prevent a beverage from splashing out of the cup if the cup is jarred in a substantially upright position. However, unless the user manually places the cap onto the straw or pushes down the pop-up vent, the beverage can spill out of the cup if it is tipped onto its side.
Yet another proposed solution is an automatically sealing cup as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,866. Unfortunately, while the cup disclosed therein has much improved sealability, small amounts of beverage can still leak out of this cup while the cup is in a sealed configuration. Further, it is difficult to clean portions of the cup. This is disadvantageous in that if these cups are frequently reused, such as for children, they must be cleaned and washed before and after each use.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved automatically sealing cup, and for a cup which eliminates spills while it is in a sealed configuration. Also, there is a need for such a cup which further permits the user to readily clean the entire cup device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatically sealing cup that completely blocks communication between the interior of the cup and the exterior of the cup when the cup is in a sealed configuration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved automatically sealing cup that is constructed in such a manner that a user can easily clean the entire cup.
In accordance with the above and other objects of the present invention, an improved automatically sealing cup (“cup device”) is provided. The cup device includes a cup that is releasably mated to a lid having a lid port formed therein. A flexible tube is coupled to the lid port in order to allow open communication between the interior of the cup device and the exterior of the cup device. A handle is pivotally connected to the lid and is moveable between a sealed configuration and an unsealed configuration. The handle has a compression member that pinches closed the flexible tube when the handle is in the sealed configuration. The handle further comprises a handle hole formed therein to allow for passage of the flexible tube. Further, the handle hole is offset from the lid port in order to assist the compression member in pinching closed the tube.
A biasing member is integrally formed with the lid such that the biasing member biases the handle to the sealed configuration. Unless the user applies pressure to the handle, the cup remains in the sealed configuration. To allow the beverage to exit the cup device, a user presses the handle to pivot it to the unsealed configuration. In doing so, the compression member is removed from pinching the tube consequently permitting open communication between the interior of the cup device and the exterior of the cup device. As the beverage exits the interior of the cup device through the flexible tube, air enters the interior of the cup device through a one-way air valve. Due to the construction of the valve, no liquid can exit the interior through the one-way air valve.
Additional objects and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the drawings and accompanying detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
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Artz & Artz P.C.
Moy Joseph M.
Niko Products, Inc.
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