Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Drinking device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-07-17
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Drinking device
C224S148700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260731
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to cup or container lids. More specifically, the invention relates to a lid and clip combination removably attached to a child's drinking cup.
2. Description of Related Art
Drinking cups designed for children have been a boon for parents and guardians for some time now. Little children can now have their “own” pint sized cups and have them filled with their favorite beverages. Most of these specialized drinking cups come equipped with lids having openings suitable for the small mouths of children. The lids are designed to help prevent spillage of the liquid contained therein. As great and innovative as these children's cups are, however, parents have faced a few problems with their use. Often, a parent will look to give their child milk or juice, only to discover that their child can not find his or her special cup. This can be aggravating for the parent who must now search around the child's play area or seating area in a vehicle or amongst the child's toys. The situation is not helped when the child continues to ask for the drink during the search for the cup. Some children, in fact, want to drink only from their special cup and sometimes give their parents “headaches” by crying and insisting on having their special cup. The not so simple matter of a missing cup can add to an already hectic and stress filled day in the life of a parent.
Parents, who are always looking for ways to make their life less stressful, would immediately appreciate the benefits of a way to have their child's favorite cup with the child at all times, therefore eliminating the frantic search missions for lost cups. In addition, children, who love to imitate adults, would love to be able to place their favorite cups on their waist bands or belts in the same fashion that their parents secure their pagers or cell phones. Having the ability to place their favorite drinking cups on their person would increase the self-esteem, responsibility and feeling of importance to children everywhere. This benefit is in addition to the benefits of added convenience, access to the cup at all times and the freeing up of their hands while walling. Furthermore, the children would gain a feeling of responsibility by always having their cup with them and not having to ask their parents to hold the cup for them. There is, therefore, a need for a lid and clip combination attachable to a child's cup which permits the child to secure a favorite cup to his or her waist band or belt eliminating the safety hazard associated with simultaneously waling and trying to grasp a cup with both hands. Furthermore, having the capability to secure the lid and clip combination to a car seat, via sleeve or pouch, would render the cup less likely to become a weapon or flying object inside the car. The present invention provides such a device.
Lids and/or lid and clip combinations have been described in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,823,967 issued to Knize, 4,020,532 issued to Lichter, 4,927,118 issued to Pierorazio, 4,955,572 issued to Simmons, 4,961,510 issued to Dvoracek, 4,984,723 issued to Hsu, 5,109,995 issued to Lou, 5,167,354 issued to Cohanfard, 5,232,116 issued to Baxter, 5,433,339 issued to Sarver, 5,609,277 issued to McDonald, 5,676,285 issued to Vinarsky, Des. 273,247 issued to Pigott, Des. 278,188 issued to Burns, and Des. 363,852 issued to Young all fail to disclose or suggest a lid and clip combination for a child's drink wherein the lid and clip combination allows the parent to attach the lid to a child's cup and then attach the clip to the child's belt therefore securing the cup to the child's side.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a lid and clip combination for a child's drinking cup wherein the lid is permanently attached to a clip or the lid and clip are molded together to form a unitary construction. The lid is designed to secure to the top part of a cup designed to hold liquid wherein the cup is of a size and shape suitable for small children. The lid comes in various sizes all of which are designed with the express purpose of securing the various lids to cups especially designed for children. The clip also comes in various shapes and designs including, but not limited to, the form of various figurines. The clip secures the various lids and therefore the associated cups especially designed for children to the child's belt or car seat. The clip and is made of a flexible material such as a flexible plastic and serves the same purpose as a clip for a pager or cell phone. The bottom part of the clip is rounded to prevent puncture either to the child's clothing or skin. The lid has a specialized drinking spout which is raised above the generally horizontal surface of the lid. The raised drinking spout has drinking holes therein which provide means to extract the liquid from the cup. Located along the horizontal surface of the lid are a plurality of air holes. A first set of air holes are located adjacent the clip while a second set of air holes are located adjacent the drinking spout. With the lid and clip combination properly secured to the cup the child can safely attach the clip, and therefore the cup, to his or her waist band or belt and proudly and confidently walk around having immediate access to the cup and consequently, the liquid therein.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a combination lid and clip.
It is another object of the invention to provide a combination lid and clip attachable to children's cups.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a combination lid and clip wherein the clip is molded to the lid to form a unitary construction.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination lid and clip wherein the clip is permanently attached to the lid.
It is again an object of the invention to provide a combination lid and clip wherein the clip is made of a flexible material like a flexible plastic.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination lid and clip wherein a drinking spout is raised and is part of the lid.
Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a lid and clip combination wherein the lid has a plurality of air holes.
A further object of the invention is to provide a combination lid and clip wherein the clip is attachable to a child's waist band, belt or car seat.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 291044 (1987-07-01), Canning
patent: 2384718 (1945-09-01), Witherspoon
patent: 4708273 (1987-11-01), Grant
patent: 4746042 (1988-05-01), King
patent: 4955572 (1990-09-01), Simmons
patent: 5823385 (1998-10-01), Cautereels
patent: 5890620 (1999-04-01), Belcastro
patent: 5988425 (1999-11-01), Yehl et al.
Cummings Tony P.
Moy Joseph M.
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