Abstract
A non-spill drinking cup system includes a container; a lid assembly that is removably attachable to the container, comprising an aperture; and a drinking tube, wherein the drinking tube extends through the aperture, the drinking tube including an open end, a closed end, and a side wall; and a drinking valve, wherein the drinking valve includes at least one elongate slit disposed within the side wall.
Claims
1. A non-spill drinking cup system comprising: a container; a lid assembly that is removably attachable to the container, comprising an aperture; and a drinking tube, wherein the drinking tube extends through the aperture, the drinking tube comprising: an open end, a closed end, and a side wall; and a drinking valve, wherein the drinking valve includes: a drinking valve slit disposed within the side wall, wherein the drinking valve slit comprises at least one elongated slit, and wherein the drinking valve slit controls the flow of fluid by opening and closing the at least one elongated slit; wherein an interior of the side wall is provided with at least a pair of strengthening ribs, each strengthening rib being disposed substantially near to, and at each side of, the or each elongated slit; wherein the strengthening ribs separate the side wall into a first side and a second side, wherein the first side has a thickness that is greater than the second side, and wherein the or each elongated slit is included within the second side.
2. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the drinking tube further comprises: a drinking straw portion at the open end of the drinking tube; a drinking valve portion, including the drinking valve, at the closed end of the drinking tube; and an intervening portion between the drinking straw portion and the drinking valve portion.
3. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 2, wherein the intervening portion is annular, and wherein the annular intervening portion is concentric with the drinking valve portion.
4. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 2, wherein a thickness of a wall of the intervening portion is greater than a thickness of a wall of the drinking valve portion.
5. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 2, further comprising an extension straw that frictionally engages with the intervening portion such that the drinking valve portion extends into a through bore of the extension straw.
6. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 2, wherein the drinking straw portion comprises a flange, wherein the flange includes a chamfered upper edge and a squared-off lower edge.
7. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 2, wherein the intervening portion includes a removal tab.
8. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 2, wherein the intervening portion is adapted to secure the drinking tube to the lid assembly.
9. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the closed end is convex.
10. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the or each elongated slit is 5-10 mm in length.
11. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the side wall varies from one side to another side.
12. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the side wall has a first thickness at a first point in which the or each elongated slit is located, and a second thickness at a second point, the second point being on an opposite side of the first point, wherein the second thickness at the second point is greater than the first thickness at the first point.
13. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 12, wherein a thickness of the side wall increases gradually from the first point to the second point.
14. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the drinking tube further comprises a venting valve.
15. The non-spill drinking cup valve system according to claim 14, wherein the venting valve includes a lip which engages with the lid assembly to provide a liquid seal to prevent fluid flowing through a venting hole.
16. The non-spill drinking cup valve system according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly comprises a drinking straw locating boss having the aperture therein.
17. The non-spill drinking cup valve system according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly includes a circumferential shoulder that is configured to frictionally engage with a squared lower edge of a flange of the drinking tube.
18. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the drinking tube comprises silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer.
19. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the drinking tube has a Shore A hardness of 20-60.
20. The non-spill drinking cup valve system according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly includes a sliding cover, and wherein the drinking tube is adjustable from a drinking position, where the drinking tube protrudes from the aperture of the lid assembly, to a closed position, where the drinking tube is held within a slot of the lid assembly by the sliding cover.
21. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly and the container are secured by a screw thread, a push-fit or a clip-fit.
22. The drinking tube of claim 1 for inserting through a lid assembly of a non-spill drinking cup system.
23. The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated slit comprises a plurality of elongated slits.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate presently exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description given above and the description of the embodiments given below serve to explain by way of example only the principles of the disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 shows an orthographic sectional side view of a non-spill drinking cup system including a container, a cup base, and a drinking tube, where the drinking tube is in the vertical, drinking position;
(3) FIG. 1A shows a side orthographic sectional side view of the non-spill drinking cup system of FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 2 shows another orthographic sectional view of the non-spill drinking cup system of FIG. 1;
(5) FIG. 3 shows an orthographic view of the non-spill drinking cup system from the front;
(6) FIG. 4 shows an orthographic view of the drinking tube of FIGS. 1-3 when viewed from above;
(7) FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the drinking tube of FIG. 4;
(8) FIG. 6 shows a side orthographic sectional view through the centreline of the drinking tube of FIG. 4;
(9) FIG. 7 shows a front orthographic view of the drinking tube of FIG. 4;
(10) FIG. 8 shows a side orthographic view of the drinking tube of FIG. 4;
(11) FIG. 9 shows an orthographic sectional view through the drinking tube of FIG. 4 when viewed from below;
(12) FIG. 10 shows an orthographic view of the drinking tube of FIG. 4 when viewed from the front, and indicating section B-B;
(13) FIG. 11 shows an orthographic sectional view of the drinking tube of FIG. 10 with section B-B through the valve;
(14) FIG. 12 shows another isometric view of the drinking tube of FIG. 4;
(15) FIG. 13A shows an enlarged orthographic part-sectional view through the drinking tube, with the extension straw assembled, when the drinking valve is in the closed condition;
(16) FIG. 13B shows an enlarged orthographic part-sectional view through drinking tube, with the extension straw assembled, when the drinking valve is in the partially open condition when suction is being applied to the generally tubular flexible straw by the user;
(17) FIG. 13C shows an enlarged orthographic part-sectional view through the drinking tube, with the extension straw assembled, when the drinking valve is in the fully open condition when suction is applied to the generally tubular flexible straw by the user;
(18) FIG. 14 shows an enlarged isometric view of the drinking tube of FIG. 4;
(19) FIG. 15 shows an orthographic centreline sectional view of the extension straw, as shown in FIGS. 1-2;
(20) FIG. 16 shows an enlarged side orthographic centreline sectional view through the non-spill drinking cup system, when the drinking valve is in the closed condition;
(21) FIG. 17 shows an enlarged front orthographic sectional view through the non-spill drinking cup system, with the drinking valve shown in the open position when suction is applied to the generally tubular flexible straw;
(22) FIG. 18 shows a side orthographic centreline sectional view through the non-spill drinking cup system with the drinking valve in the open condition;
(23) FIG. 19 shows a front orthographic sectional view of the non-spill drinking cup system;
(24) FIG. 20 shows a side orthographic centreline sectional view of the non-spill drinking cup system;
(25) FIG. 21 shows an orthographic view of the lid assembly of the non-spill drinking cup system when viewed from above;
(26) FIG. 22 shows a front orthographic view of the lid assembly of FIG. 21;
(27) FIG. 23 shows a side orthographic centreline sectional view of the lid assembly of FIG. 21;
(28) FIG. 24 shows an isometric view of the lid assembly of FIG. 21 when viewed from above;
(29) FIG. 25 shows an isometric view of the non-spill drinking cup system with a sliding cover of the lid assembly in the closed position;
(30) FIG. 26 shows an isometric view of the non-spill drinking cup system with the sliding cover of the lid assembly in the open position;
(31) FIG. 27 shows a side orthographic centreline sectional view of the non-spill drinking cup system with the sliding cover of the lid assembly in the open position;
(32) FIG. 28 shows a side orthographic centreline sectional view of the non-spill drinking cup system with the sliding cover of the lid assembly in the closed position;
(33) FIG. 29 shows a side orthographic centreline sectional view of the non-spill drinking cup assembly, including a second embodiment of the drinking tube, with the sliding cover of the lid assembly in the open position;
(34) FIG. 30 shows an isometric view of the drinking tube of FIG. 29 when viewed from below;
(35) FIG. 31A shows an enlarged orthographic part-sectional view through the drinking tube of FIG. 30, with the extension straw assembled, when the drinking valve is in the closed condition;
(36) FIG. 31B shows an enlarged orthographic part-sectional view through the drinking tube, with the extension straw assembled, when the drinking valve is in the partially open condition when suction is applied to the generally tubular flexible straw by the user;
(37) FIG. 31C shows an enlarged orthographic part-sectional view through the drinking tube, with the extension straw assembled, when the drinking valve is in the fully open condition when suction is applied to the generally tubular flexible straw by the user; and
(38) FIG. 32 shows an isometric view of the drinking tube of FIG. 29 when viewed from above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(39) Referring now to FIG. 1, a non-spill drinking cup system 10 includes a drinking tube 12 and a lid assembly 14.
(40) The drinking tube 12 includes a generally tubular drinking straw portion 16 protruding from an intervening portion 18. The drinking tube 12 also includes a drinking valve portion 20 and a venting valve 22. In the depicted embodiment, the generally tubular drinking straw portion 16, intervening portion 18, drinking valve portion 20 and venting valve 22 are integrally moulded to form the drinking tube 12. The drinking tube 12 is removably attached to the underside of the lid assembly 14 and is capable of providing full fluid flow through the flexible drinking straw portion 16 even under low suction. The drinking tube 12 is described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 4-14.
(41) The lid assembly 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 21-24, includes a locating hole or aperture 24 which protrudes from the underside of the lid assembly 14 to define a first locating boss 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 23). In use, the generally tubular flexible drinking straw portion 16 of the drinking tube 12 frictionally engages with the locating hole 24 of the lid assembly 14, and provides a liquid seal therebetween. The intervening portion 18 of the drinking tube 12 engages with, and provides a liquid seal at, the first locating boss 26.
(42) Referring again to FIG. 1, the generally tubular flexible drinking straw portion 16 is secured to the lid assembly 14 by a flange 28, which, when the generally tubular flexible drinking straw portion 16 is pulled through the locating hole 24 in the lid assembly 14, securely clips the generally tubular flexible drinking straw portion 16 into position and prevents the flexible drinking straw portion 16 from being pushed through the locating hole 24 and inside the lid assembly 14. Additionally, a venting hole 62 is provided in the lid assembly 14 to allow air into the system as will become clear from the description of the drinking tube 12 below.
(43) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4-8, in the depicted embodiment, the flange 28 includes a chamfered upper edge 30 and a squared-off lower edge 32. The chamfered upper edge 30 provides for ease of assembly when pushing the flexible drinking straw portion 16 through the locating hole 24 of the lid assembly 14, whilst the squared-off lower edge 32 prevents the flexible drinking straw portion 16, or indeed the drinking tube 12 as a whole, from being pushed inside the lid assembly 14.
(44) At the inner distal end of the drinking tube 12, the drinking valve portion 20, shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, includes a cylindrical wall 34 and a convex end 36. As will be described below, the cylindrical wall 34 is concentric with the intervening portion 18, which is shown as an annular intervening portion, and the thickness of the cylindrical wall 34 varies about its diameter.
(45) Referring now to FIG. 1A, the non-spill drinking cup system 10 is shown with the drinking tube 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 4-9) assembled to the lid assembly 14. The non-spill drinking cup system 10 also includes a cup base 38, which is engageable with the lid assembly 14 by a screw thread.
(46) The non-spill drinking cup system 10, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3, also includes an extension straw 40, which may be semi rigid or flexible and a separate component, which frictionally engages with an annular portion of the intervening portion 18 at an upper end 42 of the extension straw 40. This frictionally engagement provides a liquid seal therebetween. The lower end 44 of the extension straw 40 is positioned close to the floor 46 of the cup base 38 to enable the contents of the cup base to be drunk when the non-spill drinking cup system 10 is held in an upright position. Moreover, the lower end 44 of the extension straw 40 is open to allow fluid flow therethrough.
(47) Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4-9, a vent valve 22 is shown which frictionally engages with a second locating boss 48 of the lid assembly 14 and forms a liquid seal therebetween. The vent valve 22 is shown having a concave surface, which may be thinner than the cylindrical side wall 34 of the vent valve 22. FIG. 4 shows the venting valve 22 in more detail. The venting valve is shown as a slit 52, which is positioned centrally in the concave surface 54, which opens as negative pressure (vacuum) increases when liquid is dispensed from the cup base in use, to allow air flow into the cup base to equalise the air pressure to an atmospheric level, at which point the venting valve slit 52 closes, thereby forming a liquid seal to prevent leakage. This type of venting valve arrangement is often referred to as a ‘check valve’.
(48) With reference to FIGS. 12, 13A, 13B, and 13C, the drinking tube 12 is described in more detail. In this depicted embodiment, the drinking tube 12 includes a drinking valve slit 56 as part of the drinking valve portion 20. The drinking valve slit 56 controls the flow of fluid from the cup base (not shown) and through the flexible drinking straw portion 16. The drinking valve portion 20 of the flexible valve member 13 may include a cylindrical wall 34, which, in cross section, is of variable thickness around its circumference.
(49) In the depicted embodiment, and with particular reference to FIG. 13A, the cylindrical wall 34 of the drinking valve portion 20 has a first defined thickness at a first point A and a second defined thickness at a second point B, where point B is diametrically opposite to point A. The second defined thickness at point B is greater than the first defined thickness at point A. The first point A, as can be seen from FIG. 13A, is coincident with the drinking valve slit 56. The first point A is not indicated in FIGS. 13B and 13C for clarity, although it is clear that the first point A is still present and located diametrically opposite to indicated point B, as described in relation to FIG. 13A.
(50) The thickness of the cylindrical wall 34 also gradually decreases from the second point B to the first point A, where the drinking valve slit 56 is located.
(51) FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C show that, upon application of suction to the proximal end of the flexible straw 16, the thinner walled section of the cylindrical wall 34 will gradually collapse in a controlled manner as vacuum increases and, as indicated in the drawings, in doing so will cause the drinking valve slit 56 to open allowing liquid flow into the drinking tube 12 via the created opening 58. The drinking valve slit 56, being between 5-10 mm in length, enables the opening 58 to be large enough to provide full fluid flow through the drinking valve slit 56 even at lower suction levels.
(52) Referring to FIG. 16, the drinking tube 12 is shown in its natural state when no suction is applied to the drinking straw portion 16 by the user. As can be seen in FIG. 16, the drinking valve slit 56 is closed and in a relaxed condition. The upper 56a and lower 56b points of the drinking valve slit are indicated.
(53) Referring now to FIG. 17, the drinking tube 12 is shown an initially state as suction is commenced at flexible drinking straw portion 16. The thinner walled portion of the cylindrical wall 34 (refer to FIGS. 13A-13C) collapses towards the central axis of the drinking valve portion 20, thereby producing a generally concave portion of the cylindrical wall 34 as seen in FIG. 17.
(54) With reference to FIG. 18, the drinking valve slit 56 is shown in the open state when suction is applied to the flexible drinking straw portion 16 by the user. As can be seen in FIG. 18, the drinking valve slit 56 is open, thereby creating the opening 58 between upper point 56a and lower point 56b of the drinking valve slit 56, as referred to in FIGS. 13A-13C.
(55) Positioning the upper end 56a of the drinking valve slit 56 is a critical element of the valve design to optimise the way in which the drinking valve slit 56 opens to allow liquid flow. Referring again to FIG. 16, it will be understood that, at the intervening portion 18, which abuts the first locating boss 26 of the lid assembly 14, the flexible drinking straw portion 16 is prevented from collapsing when suction is applied to the flexible drinking straw portion 16 by the user. The drinking valve slit 56 begins in close proximity to the intervening portion 18, at position 56a, and ends 5-10 mm lower, at position 56b. Since the valve slit 56 at point 56a is close to the intervening portion 18, and the valve slit position 56b is close to the convex base 36 of the valve, the cylindrical wall 34 will collapse between points 56a and 56b of the drinking valve slit 56, opening up the opening 58, to allow liquid flow.
(56) It will be understood that if point 56a of the drinking valve slit 56 were positioned too far away from the intervening portion 18, the cylindrical wall 34 may simply collapse and leave the drinking valve slit 56 in a closed condition, in which case there would be no liquid flow.
(57) With reference now to FIGS. 25, 26, 27 and 28, a sliding cover 60 is clipped to the outside of the lid assembly 14, which is shown in the open, drinking position in FIGS. 26 and 27. When the sliding cover 60 is actuated, by sliding the cover to the closed position as shown in FIGS. 25 and 28, this sliding action flexes the flexible drinking straw portion 16 from the open drinking position to a closed position. It will be seen that, with the sliding cover 60 in the closed position, the vent hole 62, in the lid assembly 14, is sealed by the flexible drinking straw portion 16, as it is compressed between the underside of the sliding cover 60, and the vent hole 62. It can also be seen that, in the closed position, the flexible drinking straw portion 16 occupies a slot in the lid assembly 14.
(58) Referring now to FIG. 29, there is described an alternative drinking cup system 100 including an alternative drinking tube 112. The depicted non-spill drinking cup valve system includes a drinking tube 112 removably attached to the underside of a lid assembly 114. The lid assembly 114 of this alternative embodiment is substantially similar in construction to that described in the former embodiment. Additionally, the drinking cup system 100 includes a cup base 138, with is screwed to lid assembly 114. An extension straw 140 is also shown and is substantially as described in the former embodiment.
(59) With further reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, the drinking tube 112 includes a generally tubular flexible drinking straw portion 116 protruding from an intervening portion 118. The flexible valve member also includes a drinking valve portion 120. In the depicted embodiment, the drinking tube 112, including the flexible drinking straw portion 116, the intervening portion 118 and the drinking valve portion 120, are integrally formed. The drinking tube 112 is removably attached to the lid assembly 114 and capable of providing full fluid flow through the flexible drinking straw portion 116 even under low suction.
(60) The drinking valve portion 120 is shown as including a drinking valve slit 152 that operates in a manner substantially the same as the described former embodiment.
(61) Still referring to FIGS. 29 and 30, the drinking tube 112 includes a venting valve 123. The venting valve 123 may be substantially similar to that described in the former embodiment. However, in the depicted embodiment, another venting valve is described. The venting valve 123 incorporates a thin walled lip 122, which maintains a compressive seal when the tip of the thin walled lip 122 is in contact with the underside of the lid assembly 114. As negative pressure builds up inside the drinking vessel when suction is applied to the flexible drinking straw portion 116 by the user, air enters through a vent hole 162 in the lid assembly 114. When a pre-determined level of suction is achieved within the drinking cup system 100 the described vent valve 123 flexes in a downward direction, that is, in a direction towards the floor or base of the cup base 138, to allow air-flow into the cup base 138 to equalise the internal pressure to atmosphere.
(62) FIGS. 29 and 30 also show that the drinking valve portion 120 provides a drinking valve slit 154 between points 152a and 152b.
(63) Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 29, 30 and 32, the drinking tube 112 is provided with an optional removal tab 164, which enables easy disassembly for cleaning.
(64) While FIG. 13A shows a cross section through the drinking tube 12 showing that the cylindrical wall 34 has a gradual varying thickness, in this embodiment, FIG. 31A shows two distinct wall thicknesses wherein a first portion 166 of the cylindrical wall 134 is thicker, while a second portion 168 of the cylindrical wall 134 is thinner. Of course, as the person skilled in the art would appreciate, the construction shown in FIG. 13A could equally apply to this embodiment, and thus may include a gradual change in the thickness of the cylindrical wall 134 as described above.
(65) Between the first portion 166 and the second portion 168 there is positioned two longitudinal strengthening ribs 170, also shown in FIG. 29. The drinking valve slit 152 is positioned centrally in the first portion 166. In other words, the drinking valve slit 152 is position equidistant from each longitudinal rib 170.
(66) Referring now to FIG. 31A, a cross sectional view is shown through the cylindrical wall 134 of the drinking valve portion 120. In this embodiment the thicker first portion 166, together with the strengthening ribs 170, help to maintain the circular cross sectional shape of the cylindrical wall 134, under suction. This thickened first portion 166 ensures that the collapse of the drinking valve portion 120 is concentrated within the thinner second portion 168. The internal ribs 170 shown in this embodiment also ensure that, in the event of the drinking valve portion 120 collapsing completely and potentially closing off the liquid flow, the ribs 170 prevent complete valve closure, thus ensuring that a liquid flow path is always maintained even under high levels of suction.
(67) Referring to FIG. 31B, as suction is applied the drinking valve portion 120 begins to collapse inwardly towards the central axis of the drinking valve portion 120. More specifically, the cylindrical wall 134 adjacent to the drinking valve slit 152 begin to collapse inwards. As shown in FIG. 31C, once the slit 152 has opened, or otherwise collapsed inwardly about the ribs 170, a gap 158 is provided thus allowing fluid flow from the cup base (not shown), through the extension straw 140, through the flexible valve member 112 as a whole, and into the user's mouth.
(68) Finally, as described in relation to FIG. 8, the depicted embodiment in FIG. 32 includes a flange 128. The flange includes an upper chamfered edge 130 and a lower squared-off edge 132. As in the previous embodiment, this flange 128 prevents the user from pushing the flexible drinking straw portion 116 back inside of the lid assembly 114 (not shown).
(69) It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limiting sense, and that carious alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
