AIR REPLENISH VALVE FOR A DRINKING CUP OR FEEDING BOTTLE

Abstract

The invention provides an air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle, having a duckbill slit valve. First and second stiffening portions are provided at the ends of the slit as stiffening regions of the end walls. These assist in providing a desired valve function while also making reliable manufacture easier to achieve.

Claims

1. An air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle having an air side and a cup or bottle side, comprising: an orifice at the air side; first and second side walls which face each other and project in the direction of the cup or bottle side, wherein the first and second side walls slope towards each other to form a narrow elongate slit at ends corresponding to the bottle or cup side to form a duckbill valve; first and second end walls which connect the side walls; first and second stiffening portions comprising stiffening regions of the end walls, or stiffening regions between each end wall and a respective end of the slit, and extending between the first and second side walls, wherein the first and second stiffening portions each comprise: a region of a respective end wall formed from a stiffer material than a remainder of the end wall, or a locally thicker region of the respective end wall.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each stiffening portion further comprises a projection on the inside of a respective end wall facing inwardly into a space between the first and second side walls.

5. The valve as claimed in claim 4, wherein the each stiffening portion further comprises a sloped ramp which slopes from a ridge on an inside surface of the respective end wall down to the slit.

6. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each stiffening portion further comprises a projection on the outside of a respective end wall facing outwardly from the space between the first and second side walls.

7. The valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein the each stiffening portion comprises a sloped ramp which slopes from a ridge on an outside surface of the respective end wall down to a bottom of the side walls.

8. The valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a molded component, wherein the slit is formed as part of the molded component.

9. A teat for a feeding bottle or a lid for a drinking cup, comprising: a drinking orifice; and a valve as claimed in claim 1.

10. A partitioning component for a feeding bottle, comprising: a valve as claimed in claim 1.

11. A drinking cup or feeding bottle, comprising: a main body; a lid or teat; a drinking orifice in the lid or teat; and a valve as claimed in claim 1 between the main body and ambient surroundings.

12. A mold for forming an air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle, the air replenish valve having an air side and a cup or bottle side, the mold comprising mold portions for forming: an orifice at the air side; first and second side walls which face each other and project in the direction of the cup or bottle side, a narrow elongate slit to form a duckbill valve, wherein the first and second side walls slope towards each other to form the slit at ends corresponding to the cup or bottle side; first and second end walls which connect the side walls; and first and second stiffening portions comprising locally thicker regions of the end walls each in the vicinity of a respective end of the slit and extending between the first and second side walls.

13. The mold as claimed in claim 12, comprising mold portions for forming each stiffening portion as a projection on the inside of a respective end wall facing inwardly into the space between the first and second side walls.

14. The mold as claimed in claim 12, comprising mold portions for forming each stiffening portion as a projection on the outside of a respective end wall facing outwardly from the space between the first and second side walls.

15. A method of manufacturing an air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle, the method comprising using the mold of claim 12 to mold the valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a drinking cup;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a typical design of a duckbill valve, viewed from above and in cross section;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a modification to the valve of FIG. 2 in accordance with an example of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 4 shows one example of valve design in more detail;

[0057] FIG. 5 is a cross section through line A-A of FIG. 4;

[0058] FIG. 6 is a cross section through line B-B of FIG. 4;

[0059] FIG. 7 shows another example of valve design in more detail;

[0060] FIG. 8 is a cross section through line A-A of FIG. 7; and

[0061] FIG. 9 is a cross section through line B-B of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0062] The invention will be described with reference to the Figures.

[0063] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0064] The invention provides an air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle, having a duckbill slit valve. First and second stiffening portions are provided at the ends of the slit as stiffening regions of (or near) the end walls. These assist in providing a desired valve function while also making reliable manufacture easier to achieve.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a drinking cup 10, comprising a main body 12, a lid 14 and a drinking spout 16 in the lid, the drinking spout having an orifice through which drinking takes place. The invention will be described with reference to a drinking cup, but the same concept may be applied to a feeding bottle. In such a case, the spout is instead a teat, with a teat orifice. The main body is then the main bottle part.

[0066] An air replenish valve 20 is provided between the main cup body and the ambient surroundings. This allow air to flow into the cup body in response to a reduced pressure, caused by the removal of liquid from the cup body by drinking. The valve 20 thus equalizes the inside and outside pressure.

[0067] The cup body is typically a rigid plastic, and the air replenish valve is an insert of a softer material which deforms in response to pressure differences.

[0068] The air replenish valve may be formed from the same single insert as is used to form the drinking orifice in the spout. Thus, the spout and the air valve may be an integral unit. Similarly, for a feeding bottle, the spout is instead a baby bottle teat, and the air valve may be formed integrally with the teat.

[0069] A duckbill valve is one known valve design which may be used as a passive air replenish valve.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a typical design of a duckbill valve, viewed from above (i.e. looking down into the cavity formed within the duckbill valve) and in cross section along the line X-X.

[0071] This is a schematic representation.

[0072] The valve has an air side 22 and a drinking cup side 24. An orifice 26 is provided at the air side 22 allowing air to flow to a central valve space.

[0073] First and second side walls 28,30 face each other and project in the direction of the drinking cup side 24. They slope towards each other to form a narrow elongate slit 32 at their drinking cup side ends to form the duckbill valve. First and second end walls 34,36 connect the side walls.

[0074] In the simplified schematic image of FIG. 2, the side walls are generally planar and they meet at the slit. There may in fact be a lip at the bottom of each side wall, and the slit is formed between these lips. The lips are part of the side walls, so the side walls still may be considered to define the elongate slit.

[0075] In the simplified schematic image of FIG. 2 (and FIG. 3), the end walls may be considered to be vertical (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the image) and only the side walls taper to form the slit.

[0076] It is noted that the four walls defined above are typically formed as a continuous structure, and may be curved as shown so that there is not a clear boundary between the side walls and the end walls. The end walls may also taper inwardly. However, there are sides which meet at the slit, and where these sides open apart, the ends are closed to form a closed valve space (open only by the slit). Thus, regions near the ends of the slit and generally perpendicular to the slit may be considered to be end walls and regions along the length of the slit and generally parallel to the slit may be considered to be side walls.

[0077] This valve design may have low yield, as a result of samples which do not provide an acceptable seal to the liquid in the cup.

[0078] The invention provides a modification as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a modified design of a duckbill valve, viewed from above and in cross section along the line Y-Y.

[0079] The valve further comprises first and second stiffening portions 38,40. The will be named bridge elements 38,40 in the description that follows. They comprise stiffening regions of the end walls 34,36. Each bridge element 38,40 is in the vicinity of a respective end of the slit. They are stiffening in that they inhibit the opening and closing of the slit valve at their location.

[0080] The bridge elements 38,40 may be projections on the inside of the end walls, projections on the outside of the end walls, or formed as a region of different material property with no geometric change.

[0081] By way of example, the main body of the valve may be liquid silicon rubber (LSR) (e.g. with a Young's modulus 0.05 GPa) whereas the bridge elements may be formed as stiffer regions formed from polypropylene (e.g. with a Young's modulus 0.05 GPa). A two-shot molding process may be used for this purpose.

[0082] Of course other combinations of materials are also possible.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows the combination of inward and outward projecting regions. In this case, the projections serve to increase the thickness of the end walls. Inward projecting regions have the effect of reducing the slit length.

[0084] The bridge elements bridge across the side walls. This means they provide a coupling between the side walls, to increase the stiffness, and hence make the slit more resistant to opening at the ends of the slit.

[0085] FIG. 4 shows one example of valve design in more detail using inward facing projections 38,40.

[0086] FIG. 5 is a cross section through line A-A of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 is a cross section through line B-B of FIG. 4.

[0087] The first and second bridge elements in this design are thus in the form of projections, which create a locally thicker region of the end wall. The projection is on the inside of the end wall facing inwardly into the space between the first and second side walls.

[0088] As the projection is on the inside, it directly forms a bridge between the side walls 28,30 thereby limiting the ability of the valve to open and close in the vicinity of the ends of the slit.

[0089] Each bridge element 38,40 comprises a sloped ramp which slopes from a ridge 42 on the inside surface of the respective end wall down to the slit 32. There is a transition from the sloped ramp to an upright 43 at the bottom of the sloped ramp.

[0090] As mentioned above, the material of the valve is for example liquid silicone rubber (LSR).

[0091] By way of example the orifice at the air side has dimensions in the mm range, such as 2 mm to 5 mm length or width.

[0092] The slit has an opening width in the range 0 to 0.030 mm and a length in the range of approximately 1 mm to 3 mm.

[0093] The depth of the valve space (i.e. the depth of the flexible parts of the side walls) is approximately 2 mm, so typically also in the range 1 mm to 3 mm.

[0094] The slope angle of the sides is for example between 12 and 24 degrees.

[0095] The thickness of the side walls is for example 0.35 mm (e.g. between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm) to provide the desired flexibility for the valve function. The end walls for example have a thickness in the is for example approximately 0.45 mm (e.g. between 0.3 mm and 1.0 mm).

[0096] The chamfer for example has a 45 degree slope (e.g. between 20 degrees and 60 degrees).

[0097] FIG. 7 shows another example of valve design in more detail using outward facing projections 38,40.

[0098] FIG. 8 is a cross section through line A-A of FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 is a cross section through line B-B of FIG. 7.

[0099] The same general dimensions and materials apply as outlined above for FIGS. 4 to 6 (although a smaller slope of the bridge elements is shown of around 25 degrees).

[0100] The first and second bridge elements in this design are again in the form of projections, which create a locally thicker region of the end wall. The projections are on the outside of the end walls facing outwardly from the space between the first and second side walls. As each projection is on the outside, it does not change the internal dimensions of the valve. The additional coupling between the side walls caused by the bridge elements again limits the ability of the valve to open and close in the vicinity of the ends of the slit.

[0101] Each bridge element comprises a sloped ramp which slopes from a ridge 44 on the outside surface of the respective end wall down to the bottom of the side walls.

[0102] As mentioned above, the valve is preferably formed as a molded component. The stiffening assists in forming the slit as part of the mold rather than after manufacture. In particular, the valve may be manufactured using a single step molding process.

[0103] The air replenish valve may be formed in a lid of a cup as shown. However, it may instead be formed in an internal partition within a cup, or it may be formed in a teat or drinking spout (so the drinking valve and air replenish valve are close together in a single component).

[0104] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

[0105] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0106] If the term “adapted to” is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term “adapted to” is intended to be equivalent to the term “configured to”.

[0107] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.