Receptacles – Closures – Closures interconnected for common opening movement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-03-13
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Closures interconnected for common opening movement
C220S254800, C220S713000, C220S714000, C220S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199711
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for preventing splashing, sloshing or spilling of hot or cold liquids from a drinking container such as a disposable cup, beverage can, mug or similar vessel, and more specifically, to a guard for use in combination with a drinking container containing a hot or cold beverage which allows the container to be moved from one location to another without sloshing or spilling the beverage from the container particularly when drinking from the container while driving or engaging in other activities.
BACKGROUND
Often it is desirable to move a container of hot or cold beverage from one location to another without sloshing or spilling the contents of the container, particularly when drinking from the container while driving or engaging in other activities. However, transporting a drinking container of hot liquid represents a substantial safety hazard especially if being carried in a moving vehicle. Any sudden movement of the container can cause surging and spillage of the hot liquid resulting in serious burns and damage to personal property.
A variety of splash resistant devices have been developed in response to the above and similar problems for use with drinking containers. Some of these devices substantially enclose the liquid within the container and typically include an opening along its outer periphery at the rim of the container for allowing direct access to the liquid. A major problem with this type of device, however, is that the liquid will surge or splash through the opening if the container is abruptly moved which may result in serious burns if the liquid is hot. Also, the user must inspect the container in order to align the opening with their mouth before each instance of drinking which may be particularly dangerous if the user is operating a moving vehicle. Substantially enclosing the liquid within the container also prevents a release of the liquid's fragrance from the container therefore inhibiting the user's sense of smell and taste.
It is therefore desirable to have a guard that is easily adapted to a wide variety of drinking containers such as plastic cups, beverage cans, mugs or similar vessels without having to modify the container and which substantially prevents splashing, sloshing, surging or spillage of the beverage from the container if the container is moved. It is further desirable to have such a guard that will enable the drinking of the beverage from the container without splashing, sloshing, surging or spillage of the beverage from the container and without having to align the container with a user's mouth before each instance of drinking.
SUMMARY
In view of the foregoing disadvantages in the known types of splash resistent devices, the present invention addresses the above problems by providing an improved splash guard which prevents splashing, sloshing, surging or spillage of hot or cold liquids from a drinking container such as a disposable cup, beverage can, mug or similar vessel. As such, the principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved splash guard that is easily adapted to a wide variety of drinking containers which is so constructed that the contents therein will not splash, surge or spill out of the container when the container is moved or when a person is drinking therefrom.
In support of the principal object, a further object of the present invention is to provide a means for making a drinking container splashproof wherein such means does not have to be removed or adjusted when one wishes to drink from the container.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved splash guard which may be used by children and others who are unsteady in their hand movements and which will permit such persons to drink from a container without spilling the contents of the container.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved splash guard which may be easily cleaned and sanitized so as to prevent the transfer of harmful germs from one user to the next.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved splash guard which may be used with existing drinking containers so as to make them splashproof without altering the present construction of the container.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means for drinking from any location around the rim of a container without sloshing or spilling the contents.
It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved splash guard for use with a drinking container which dispenses with the necessity of having to align the container with the drinkers' mouth before each instance of drinking. This features allows for normal retreat of the beverage, thus further prevents splashing or spilling while drinking in motion, unlike known splash resistant devices having openings that must be aligned for fluid transfer.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved splash guard for a drinking container which allows one to drink from the container without rotating the container to a drinkable position.
Another object of the present invention is to prevent spillage and sloshing of a beverage from a drinking container to a higher degree than heretofore possible by the use of vertical baffles as well as a lower level disk or baffle having a continuous outer rim means for engaging the inner surface of the drinking container, and without compromising access to drinking from the container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved splash guard that may be secured in place by friction without any modification of the drinking container and that is easily removed. The improved splash guard may be secured within the container or at the rim of the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to allow for easily replenishment of beverage into the drinking container without removing the improved splash guard.
Another object of the present invention is to allow the drinking container to be sufficiently vented when the improved splash guard is in an open position which enables heat to escape other than at the primary location from which a person must drink, thus further enabling a person to experience a sense of smell as well as taste.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved splash guard which may engage the interior surface of the drinking container or its rim.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved splash guard which includes a removable rim that is easily separated along perforations or a scored line which is attached to an outer circular rim of the upper disk for sealably engaging the rim or upper edge of the drinking container when the guard is in a first condition for use with the drinking container to transport liquids that are not ready to be consumed. The removable rim is detachable from the outer circular rim of the upper disk to provide a second condition of the guard in which the guard is used for preventing splashing or sloshing of a beverage from the drinking container with which the guard is used.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved splash guard that has the ability to be opened and closed by a user. In the closed position, the splash guard prevents spilling of liquid from the drinking container which enables the transportation of liquid that is not ready to be consumed. In the open position, the splash guard prevents splashing or sloshing of a liquid from the drinking container when the container is in motion. The splash guard may be a two piece assembly consisting of an upper lid and lower lid. The upper lid may be pulled apart from the lower lid, which is attached to the drinking container, enabling the user to refill the container with the same or different beverages or to add ingredients to the beverage. When the upper lid is pulled apart from the lower lid, the lower lid still provides a reduced degree of slosh resistance. Attachment of t
Newhouse Nathan J.
Pieper David B.
Waddey & Patterson
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