Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Drinking device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-21
2003-06-03
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Drinking device
C220S839000, C206S515000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06571981
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sipper cups and, more specifically, to a sipper cup for children composed of a disposable material with a molded hinge that connects the container body and cling lid of the present invention. The devices hinge serves the user by providing easy opening and closing of the cup, for filling or refilling purposes. The cling lid prevents the beverage contained from easily spilling and is outfitted with a sipping tip. The cling lid attaches to the container body via a locking flange and locking recessed channel that fit into one another. The sipping tip minimizes the amount of liquid spilled if spilling conditions such as knocking over or dropping the cup are subjected to the device, making this device ideal for children. The device also has a non-slip insulating sleeve that can be placed around the present invention to provide more comfortable holding of the device when a hot beverage is contained. The insulating sleeve may also serve as a medium for attaching the molded hinge to the container body providing the option of removing the cling lid from the device entirely if desired.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other sipper cup devices designed for children. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,695 issued to Stanley Ruff on Feb. 17, 1976.
Another patent was issued to Scott Okerstrum on Oct. 24, 1978 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,731. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,902 was issued to Milton P. Chernack on Jun. 26, 1979 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 9, 1982 to Sidney M. Libit as U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,032.
Another patent was issued to Robert A. Bennit on Jun. 2, 1987 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,622. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,066 was issued to Donna Snider on Sep. 15, 1992. Another was issued to Malcom Betka on May 15, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,052 and still yet another was issued on Aug. 6, 1996 to Emanuel P. Morano as U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,670.
Another patent was issued to Randi Bollerup Larson on Dec. 30, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No.5,702,020. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,425 was issued to Gregory Yehl on Nov. 23, 1999. Another was issued to Mandy Nicola Haberman on Aug. 15, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,245.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,695
Inventor: Stanly Ruff
Issued: Feb. 17, 1996
A closure lid for capping the open top of a container. The container is of a type adapted to receive a potable liquid, usually one which is dispensed within a relatively close distance of the point at which it will be imbibed. Such containers with the closure lids emplaced thereon are used for “carry-out” services, as from a luncheonette, or for “carry-about” services, as from an on-the-premises beverage source such as a coffee brewer, a milk container, a carbonated or non-carbonated liquid vessel or a supply of hot water for tea or chocolate. It is customary to cap such containers with closure lids for carry-out purposes and to remove the lids when the potable is to be consumed; indeed it is quite usual to supply lids with the containers—although not attached—when the containers are sold to carry-out stores and to on-the-premises facilities where there are a large number of persons. The present invention provides a unique closure lid which when once in place is not intended to be removed but which is of such construction that a person can drink a potable through it from the capped container without experiencing any inconvenience and is such that it will minimize, and, indeed, almost eliminate, accidental spilling of the potable that heretofore has occurred when an uncapped container is jogged, shaken, or moved unevenly so as to cause spillage of its contents when a slosh wave overrides the rim of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,731
Inventor: Scott Okerstrum
Oct. 24, 1978
A top enclosure for drinking is disclosed. The enclosure enables young children to drink from the drinking vessel only when handles on opposing sides of the vessel are depressed. If only one handle is depressed, such as if the vessel drops on the floor and rolls over on one handle, then the top enclosure remains closed and fluids cannot run out of the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,902
Inventor: Milton P. Chernack
Issued: Jun. 26, 1979
An improved integral snap action hinge comprises first and second main parts joined together by a plurality of hinge straps each of which includes a flexible intermediate portion which portions are aligned to define a hinge line which accommodates opening and closing of the hinge. Improved hinge also includes first and second hinge members, at least one of which is comprised of a flexible, resilient material. The first hinge member extends upward from the first main part between two of the hinge straps. The second hinge member extends upward from the second main part between the same two hinge straps, and confronts the first hinge member when the hinge is in the open position. The hinge members are so spaced that when the hinge is moved to the closed position the terminus of the first hinge member engages and slides along the confronting surface of the second hinge member, the sliding movement being accommodated by the flexing of the at least one flexible, resilient hinge member until the first hinge member is moved through a position substantially normal to the second hinge member whereupon the resiliency of the at least one hinge member acts to snap the hinge to the closed position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,032
Inventor: Sidney M. Libit
Issued: Nov. 9, 1982
A container closure such as a bottle top or the like is provided having a base portion for assembly onto the container forming a top to the container, the base portion having an orifice therethrough set in a generally planer top surface. A top member lies atop the planer surface and has a hinge defining the top member into two portions, one of which has structure for affixing it in face to face relationship with the planer surface on top of the base. The other portion is movable about the hinge from an orifice closing position atop the planer surface to an orifice open position extending at an angle to the planer surface. A flexible tongue extends into the area of the hinge and is capable of undergoing a snap movement from one side to the other of a raised rib in the planer surface to hold the second portion of the top in the orifice open position at an angle to the planer surface. The second portion of the top may be equipped with a stopper insertable into the orifice.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,622
Inventor: Robert A. Bennit
Issued: Jun. 2, 1987
A hollow vertical cylinder is open at its lower end. A deck having an open communicating with the interior of the cylinder seals the upper end of the cylinder. A cap for the upper end has essentially the same shape and size as the top end. The cap has a first relatively small section and a second relatively large section. The first section is secured along a portion of its periphery to a corresponding portion of the upper end periphery by an integral living hinge. The two sections have adjacent edges disposed along a curved line which extends across the deck, these edges being secured to each other at opposite ends of the line and being otherwise unsecured to each other. The secured edges at each end of the line each constitute a separate integral living hinge. The first section is secured to the top end in a region spaced from both hinges. A prong is secured to the second section and is insertable into and removable out of the opening in the deck.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,052
Inventor: Malcolm Betka
Issued: May 15, 1990
A drinking vessel has a cylindrical body (
1
) forming the main receptacle, and a lid (
2
) with a snap fit over the rim of the body. The lid has a mouthpiece (
6
) diametrically opposed to a vent (
8
) and when turned to one position both are blocked. But when turned to another position, both are opened to the interior of the body (
1
) by ducts (
11
) in an inner flange (
10
) of the lid registering with recesses (
5
) in the rim of the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,066
Inventor: Donna Snider
Issued: Sep. 15,
Kroll Michael I
Moy Joseph M.
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