Drinking device

Details Drinking device Drinking device

2000-10-16

2001-12-04

Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)

Receptacles

Container attachment or adjunct

Drinking device

C220S714000, C220S717000, C215S011500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06325236

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a drinking device, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a trainer cup for infants, which is leak-proof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Leak-proof drinking devices are, of course, generally known, particularly for infants, which usually have a body and a lid closing the body. In one of the known constructions, for example as disclosed in UK Patent No. 2266045, the lid has an outlet for dispensing liquid and an air inlet for pressure balance, both of which are provided with respective one-way valves to protect against leakage.
Liquid is to be extracted from inside the body through suction applied to the outlet. While the valve of the outlet should be closed reasonably tightly normally, it has to be opened relatively easily to facilitate drinking. None of the known devices is found to be satisfactory in this regard.
The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such a problem by providing an improved drinking device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a drinking device comprising a body having an open upper end and for containing a liquid, a lid for sealingly closing the upper end of the body, the lid having an outlet incorporating a first one-way valve for dispensing the liquid from the body upon the application of suction at the outlet, and an inlet incorporating a second one-way valve for air intake to automatically balance the internal pressure of the closed body with the external pressure while the liquid is being dispensed, wherein the first valve comprises a chamber having a resiliently deformable wall including a hole in communication with the outlet, which hole is normally closed by being pressed against an internal surface of the drinking device by virtue of the resilience of the wall and is openable upon the application of said suction.
It is preferred that the inlet is provided at the lid.
Preferably, the upper end of the body has a rim for engagement with the lid, and the internal surface against which the hole of the chamber wall is normally pressed is provided by an inner surface of the body at a position slightly below the rim.
More preferably, the lid is arranged to engage externally around the rim of the body for closing the body upper end.
In a slightly different construction, the lid includes a depending wall providing the internal surface against which the hole of the chamber wall is normally pressed.
It is preferred that the hole of the chamber wall has a tubular rim protruding outwards for engaging the internal surface of the drinking device.
In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is provided by a resiliently deformable sleeve, and the lid includes a member which extends downwards from the outlet and around which the sleeve is disposed for support to form the chamber, the member incorporating a co-extending internal duct connecting the outlet to the interior of the chamber.
More preferably, the member has an upper end along which the duct extends and a lower end supporting the sleeve and forming a void directly behind the hole of the chamber wall to provide excessive room for that part of the chamber wall to bend inwards for opening the hole.
Further more preferably, the sleeve has a rectangular box-like body having an open upper side which is stretched from below over the lower end of the member to form the chamber.
It is preferred that the lid has a centre hole acting as the inlet, and the second valve is of a slit valve located at the centre hole.
Advantageously, the first and second valves are connected integrally to opposite ends of a flexible member, thereby together forming a one-piece seal.
The aforesaid drinking device may be a trainer cup for infants, wherein the lid includes an upstanding spout having an apex providing the outlet.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4146157 (1979-03-01), Dixon, Sr. et al.
patent: 4184604 (1980-01-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 4767019 (1988-08-01), Horner
patent: 5706973 (1998-01-01), Robbins, III et al.
patent: 5890620 (1999-04-01), Belcastro
patent: 6050445 (2000-04-01), Manganiello
patent: 6102245 (2000-08-01), Haberman
patent: 2 266 045 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 2 317 608 (1998-04-01), None

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