WO2023049766A1 - Spill-resistant tumbler - Google Patents
Spill-resistant tumbler Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2023049766A1 WO2023049766A1 PCT/US2022/076807 US2022076807W WO2023049766A1 WO 2023049766 A1 WO2023049766 A1 WO 2023049766A1 US 2022076807 W US2022076807 W US 2022076807W WO 2023049766 A1 WO2023049766 A1 WO 2023049766A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- vent
- seal
- plate
- straw
- lid housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
- A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
- A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
- A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
- A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
- A47G19/2272—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to drinkware and, more particularly, to spill-resistant drinkware for children.
- Spill-resistant drinkware products for children frequently use straws as the means to deliver the contents to a child.
- a series of seals and valves are used at the various leak/spill points in the product.
- these products to provide a measure of spill-resistance, the various silicone components tend to grow mildew. Further, because of the multiple components, they can be difficult to clean and, in some cases, some of the components may not be fully accessible to be thoroughly cleaned. These factors frequently discourage parents from conducting thorough cleaning of the products, thereby decreasing the hygiene associated with use of these products.
- An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a spill-resistant drinking vessel that includes a body; a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing; a vent and seal plate having an integral vent valve and an integral liquid valve and further having a plate seal flange on one side; wherein the first and plate seal flanges are configured to engage with one another to provide a seal between the lid housing and the seal and vent plate; and wherein the vent orifice and the integral vent valve are in fluid communication with one another.
- a seal and vent plate for a spill-resistant drinking vessel also includes an integral straw extension with upper and lower portions to accommodate upper and lower straw parts and wherein the integral liquid valve is between the upper and lower portions of the integral straw extension.
- a spill-resistant drinking vessel includes a body having a rim at an open top end and external screw threads extending circumferentially around the body adjacent to the rim; a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing, wherein the vent orifice and the vent valve are in fluid communication with one another, the lid housing further including an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage the external screw threads on the body; a vent and seal plate that includes an integral vent valve; an integral straw extension for at least one straw part, the integral straw extension including upper and lower portions and an integrally formed liquid valve therein configured between the upper and lower portions; and a plate seal flange on one side extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative the body; and wherein the plate seal flange is configured to fit concentrically between the annular skirt and the lid seal flange when the
- a spill-resistant drinking vessel includes a body having a rim at an open top end and external screw threads extending circumferentially around the body adjacent to the rim; a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing, wherein the vent orifice and the vent valve are in fluid communication with one another, the lid housing further comprising an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage the external screw threads on the body; a vent and seal plate includes an integral vent valve; an integral straw extension, the integral straw extension including an integrally formed liquid valve therein; a plate seal flange on one side extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative to the body; and at least one projection extending from an underside of the vent and seal plate adjacent to a periphery of the vent and seal plate, wherein the at least one projection contacts a rim of the body when
- a method of assembling a spill-resistant drinking vessel includes the steps of providing a body having a rim at an open top end and external screw threads extending circumferentially around the body adjacent to the rim; a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing, wherein the vent orifice and the vent valve are in fluid communication with one another, the lid housing having an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage the external screw threads on the body; a vent and seal plate having an integral vent valve; an integral straw extension, the integral straw extension including an integrally formed liquid valve therein, and upper and lower portions between which the integrally formed liquid valve is positioned; and a plate seal flange on one side extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative the body; and wherein the plate seal flange is configured to fit concentrically between the annular skirt and the lid seal
- Fig. 1 is a section view of an embodiment of a spill resistant tumbler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a spill resistant tumbler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- Fig. 3 is a lid housing suitable for use with a spill resistant tumbler according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- Fig. 4 is a section view of the lid housing of Fig. 3.
- Fig. 5 is a view of an upper straw suitable for use with a spill resistant tumbler according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- Fig. 6 is a view of a lower straw suitable for use with a spill resistant tumbler according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- Fig. 7 is an upper perspective view of a seal plate suitable for use with a spill resistant tumbler according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- Fig. 8 is a lower perspective view of the seal plate of Fig. 7
- Fig. 9 is a section view of the seal plate of Fig. 7.
- Fig. 10 is a lower perspective view of a seal plate according to another embodiment.
- the word “include,” and its variants, is intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that may also be useful in the materials, compositions, devices, and methods of this technology.
- the terms “can” and “may” and their variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation that an embodiment can or may comprise certain elements or features does not exclude other embodiments of the present technology that do not contain those elements or features.
- “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. “About” when applied to values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters. In addition, disclosure of ranges includes disclosure of all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range.
- Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a spill-resistant tumbler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the tumbler may include a container or body 10 to hold the contents of the tumbler.
- the body may be provided with external screw threads 12 around the rim of the body 10 to facilitate secure connection of a lid housing 20 to the body 10.
- Other means of securing the lid housing 20 to the body 10 as known in the art may also be utilized.
- Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of the lid housing 20 in more detail.
- the lid housing 20 serves to enclose the open top of the body 10.
- the lid housing 20 may include a top surface 22 surrounded by a downwardly extending annular skirt 24, which may include internal screw threads 26 or other means to secure the lid housing 20 to the body 10.
- An annular seal plate flange 28 may extend from the lower side of the top surface 22.
- a straw orifice 30 centrally passes through the top surface 22.
- the rim of the straw orifice 30 includes a straw lip 32.
- the straw lip 32 includes an upper portion with a slightly smaller diameter than a lower portion.
- a vent orifice 34 also passes through the top surface 22.
- the vent orifice is located toward the outer portion of the top surface 22.
- the vent orifice 34 is located within the circumference of the annular seal plate flange 28.
- the lid housing 20 may also include a skirt cover 36, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
- the skirt cover 36 may provide a separate surface for embossing or other labeling for the product or be made in a different color or texture for esthetic purposes.
- the tumbler also may include a seal and vent plate 90, an embodiment of which is illustrated in Figs. 7 - 9.
- the upper side of the seal and vent plate 90 may an include an annular lid seal flange 92.
- the annular lid seal flange 92 coordinates with the annular plate seal flange 28 of the lid housing 20 to create a seal around the periphery of the vent and seal plate 90 and to maintain spacing between the vent and seal plate 90 and the top surface 22 of the lid housing 20 to provide a flow path between the vent orifice 34 of the lid housing 20 and a vent valve 94 of the seal and vent plate 90.
- the annular lid seal flange 92 may have an inner diameter slightly greater than an outer diameter of the annular plate seal flange 28 but less than an inner diameter of the skirt 24. This arrangement allows the annular lid seal flange 92 to fit between the skirt 24 and the annular plate seal flange 28 to form a first seal between the seal and vent plate 90 and the lid housing 20.
- the vent and seal plate 90 includes a vent valve 94.
- the vent valve 94 allows for the controlled flow of air from outside the tumbler to pass into the body 10 to allow the relative pressure in the body 10 to be equalized with atmospheric pressure.
- the vent valve 94 is preferably formed integrally with the rest of the vent and seal plate 90. It may be formed as a crosscut, slit, duckbill, or similar valve and is biased to a normally closed position. In operation, when the exterior pressure exceeds the pressure inside the tumbler, the pressure differential forces the vent valve 94 to open to allow to flow of air from atmosphere into the interior of the body 10. As the pressures inside and outside of the tumbler equalize, the vent valve 94 is allowed to close to prevent further flow of air into the tumbler.
- the vent and seal plate 90 further includes a straw extension 96, which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends downwardly from the vent and seal plate 90.
- the straw extension 96 is open at its top and bottom end.
- a liquid valve 98 is positioned between the top and bottom of the straw extension 96 as is most clearly shown in Fig. 9.
- the liquid valve 98 is preferable formed integrally with the straw extension 96 and the rest of the vent and seal plate 90.
- the liquid valve 98 may be a silicone crosscut, slit, duckbill or similar valve.
- the liquid valve 98 is biased to a normally closed position and opens and closes in response to pressure differentials between the exterior and interior of the tumbler.
- the liquid valve 98 opens to allow liquid from the body 10 to pass through.
- the liquid valve closes to reseal the straw extension and prevent further flow or leakage of liquid out of the container.
- liquid valve 98 and the vent valve 94 open and close in a coordinated manner to allow for the required flow of liquid out of and air into the interior of the tumbler for use and to prevent the flow of liquid and air, or leakage of liquid, when a user is not trying to drink from the tumbler.
- the straw extension may also include one or more sealing grooves 100 above and/or below the liquid valve 98. These sealing grooves 100 coordinate with features on an upper 50 and lower 70 straw to secure the straw portions into the straw extension 96 as described below.
- the arrangement of the vent and seal plate 90 provides a single, integrated piece.
- the vent and seal plate 90 may be made from a silicone or similar material.
- the upper straw 50 shown in Fig. 5, includes a central passage passing axially through the upper straw 50.
- a user sucks on the upper straw 50 to draw liquid from the tumbler.
- a sealing end 58 of the upper straw 50 may include one or more sealing ridges 60. These sealing ridges 60 are forced into the sealing grooves 100 of the straw extension 96 to secure the upper straw into the straw extension 96 while still allowing for removal of the upper straw 50 when sufficient force is applied to pull the upper straw 50 out.
- available alternatives to the sealing ridges 60 may include threads or the sealing end 58 may be straight sided with a friction or interference fit with the upper portion of the straw extension 96.
- the sealing end 58 may be provided with a chamfered bottom edge to facilitate insertion of the upper straw into the straw extension 96.
- the upper straw 50 may be provided with a lid flange 54.
- the lid flange 54 flares outward from the rest of the upper straw 50.
- An upper portion of the lid flange 54 may be provided with tapered, conical shape.
- the bottom portion of the lid flange 54 may have a lid groove 56 along the outside circumference. The lid groove 56 coordinates with the straw lip 32 of the lid housing 20 to secure and seal the upper straw 50 and the lid housing 20. As the lid housing 20 is lowered onto the body, the straw lip 32 eventually passes over the lid flange 54 and slides into the lid groove 56.
- the lid groove 56 may be replaced with a flat surface that is narrower than a bottom portion of the lid flange 54, thereby providing a shoulder on which the straw lip 32 may rest, effectively sandwiching the bottom portion of the lid flange 54 between the straw lip 32 and the tope surface of the vent and seal plate 90 to form a seal.
- a lower straw 70 may be inserted into the lower portion of the straw extension 96 as shown in Fig. 1.
- the lower straw may have a sealing end 74 that may, in turn, be provided with one or more sealing ridges 78 to secure the lower straw to the straw extension 96.
- the lower straw 70 serves as a conduit for liquid within the tumbler to flow through a central passage 72 to the liquid valve 98.
- Fig. 10 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a vent and seal plate 190 suitable for use with the tumbler of the present disclosure.
- the vent and seal plate 190 is largely identical to the vent and seal plate 90 described above with the addition of at least one, and in the illustrated embodiment, two, projections 192 on the underside - which faces the rim and interior of the body 10 - of the vent and seal plate 190 and arranged adjacent to the periphery of the vent and seal plate 190.
- the projections 192 are positioned at the portion of the perimeter of the vent and seal plate 190 that is aligned with and contacts the rim of the body 10 when the vent and seal plate 190 is seated on the body 10.
- the projections 192 address a potential “vacuum effect” that can occur in which the vent and seal plate 190 falls out as the lid housing 20 is unscrewed from the body 10. This effect is caused by a vacuum created between the vent and seal plate and the body 10.
- the projections 192 in this embodiment of the vent and seal plate 190 provide for an interruption in the interface between the vent and seal plate 190 and the body 10, thereby allowing for venting between the two components. Removal of the lid housing 20 releases the compression exerted on the vent and seal plate 190 and the body 10.
- the projections 192 then partially raise portions of the vent and seal plate 190 slightly away from the rim of the body 10 to allow for venting between the vent and seal plate 190 and the body 10 as the lid housing immediately as the lid housing 20 is removed.
- embodiments of the disclosure provide for a tumbler sealing arrangement with a significantly reduced number of components, in the illustrated examples, four: the lid housing, vent and seal plate, upper straw, and lower straw.
- the arrangement of the liquid and vent valves being integrated with the vent and seal plate facilitate this reduction in components.
- disassembly for cleaning, cleaning of the components, and reassembly for use are all made significantly easier for the user. This encourages more frequent cleaning and, as a result, enhanced hygiene.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202290000705.1U CN221987057U (en) | 2021-09-21 | 2022-09-21 | Spill-proof drinking vessels |
| US18/691,967 US20240382022A1 (en) | 2021-09-21 | 2022-09-21 | Spill-resistant tumbler |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US202163246416P | 2021-09-21 | 2021-09-21 | |
| US63/246,416 | 2021-09-21 | ||
| US202263367134P | 2022-06-28 | 2022-06-28 | |
| US63/367,134 | 2022-06-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2023049766A1 true WO2023049766A1 (en) | 2023-03-30 |
Family
ID=85721265
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/076807 Ceased WO2023049766A1 (en) | 2021-09-21 | 2022-09-21 | Spill-resistant tumbler |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20240382022A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2023049766A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6196413B1 (en) * | 2000-04-10 | 2001-03-06 | Tsai Chong Tung | Structure of a water bottle-straw assembly |
| US20050167437A1 (en) * | 2003-12-17 | 2005-08-04 | Hans Struckmeier | Drinking aid |
| KR20070049913A (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2007-05-14 | 전철 | Beverage containers with backflow prevention means |
| US20150069065A1 (en) * | 2013-06-24 | 2015-03-12 | Mapa Gmbh | Drinking container with a drinking vessel and a drinking cap |
| CN212755156U (en) * | 2020-05-07 | 2021-03-23 | 上海垚马机械科技有限公司 | Straw cover and straw cup |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2266045B (en) * | 1992-04-07 | 1996-09-18 | Mandy Nicola Haberman | Drinking vessel suitable for use as a trainer cup or the like |
| US20050072788A1 (en) * | 1998-02-06 | 2005-04-07 | Playtex Products, Inc. | Flow control element for use with leak-proof cup assemblies |
| US6230923B1 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2001-05-15 | Lineo Baby Merchandise Work's Co., Ltd. | Drinking bottle provided with a flexible liquid-sucking member adapted to serve as a drinking straw |
| WO2008113129A1 (en) * | 2007-03-21 | 2008-09-25 | Sanbrook Innovations Pty Ltd | Inventions relating to drinking vessels |
| US8256642B2 (en) * | 2009-09-10 | 2012-09-04 | Helen Of Troy Limited | Sippy cup assembly |
-
2022
- 2022-09-21 WO PCT/US2022/076807 patent/WO2023049766A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2022-09-21 US US18/691,967 patent/US20240382022A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6196413B1 (en) * | 2000-04-10 | 2001-03-06 | Tsai Chong Tung | Structure of a water bottle-straw assembly |
| US20050167437A1 (en) * | 2003-12-17 | 2005-08-04 | Hans Struckmeier | Drinking aid |
| KR20070049913A (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2007-05-14 | 전철 | Beverage containers with backflow prevention means |
| US20150069065A1 (en) * | 2013-06-24 | 2015-03-12 | Mapa Gmbh | Drinking container with a drinking vessel and a drinking cap |
| CN212755156U (en) * | 2020-05-07 | 2021-03-23 | 上海垚马机械科技有限公司 | Straw cover and straw cup |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20240382022A1 (en) | 2024-11-21 |
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