Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02722493 2010-11-24
200803-15CA
DRINKING CUP WITH LID AND FLOW CONTROL ELEMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to drinking cups. More
particularly, the present application involves a drinking cup that features an
enhanced connection between a lid and a flow control element of the drinking
cup to help prevent these components from being inadvertently disengaged.
BACKGROUND
Drinking cups with lids are commonly used by children for the dispensing
of a beverage. These types of cups usually employ a valve arrangement that
prevents the beverage from being dispensed from the drinking cup if the cup is
turned upside down or dropped by the child. One or more valves are
incorporated into a flow control element that can be attached and detached
from
the bottom of the lid of the drinking cup. The flow control element can be
removed from the lid to allow the drinking cup to be more thoroughly cleaned.
The flow control element includes side walls that are straight that
frictionally engage corresponding straight side walls of the lid. Although
capable
of effecting an attachment of these components, forces imparted onto the
drinking cup may be sufficient to dislodge the flow control element from the
lid
thus allowing beverage to leak inadvertently from the drinking cup. For
example, if the child drops the drinking cup the flow control element may
become disengaged from the lid thus allowing beverage to flow from the
drinking cup without being contained by the valve of the flow control element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best
mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more
particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to
the
appended Figs. in which:
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled drinking cup in
accordance with one exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a close-up, cross-sectional view of the drinking cup of Fig. 1 that
illustrates the releasable attachment arrangement between the flow control
element and the lid.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the flow control element of the drinking cup of Fig.
1.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the lid of the drinking cup of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the releasable attachment
arrangement between the flow control element and the lid in accordance with
another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a close-up, cross-sectional view of the releasable attachment
arrangement between the flow control element and the lid in accordance with
yet another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a drinking cup in accordance with
another exemplary embodiment.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and
drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements
of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,
one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is
provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation
of
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the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one
embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third
embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other
modifications and variations.
It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges
located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein
include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range
from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162.
Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the
mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up
to 5,
up to 3, and up to 4.5.
The present invention provides for a drinking cup 10 that features a lid 14
that is releasably attached to a flow control element 16. The releasable
attachment may be arranged so that when attached it is secure enough to
remain attached even when one drops the drinking cup 10. As such, the
releasable attachment may be effected so that it only becomes disengaged when
one desires it to become disengaged. The releasable attachment may include a
flow control element 16 that has an attachment portion 40 with a projection 42
and a lid engagement surface 44 that has a concave shape. The lid 14 may have
a receiving portion 14 that features a projection receiving surface 20 and a
flow
control engagement surface 22 that has a convex shape. The flow control
element 16 can be attached to the lid 14 such that the projection 42 engages
the
projection receiving surface 20 and such that the lid engagement surface 44
engages the flow control engagement surface 22. This type of connection may
allow for the lid 14 and flow control element 16 to be more securely attached
to
one another and removable only upon the intentional application of force to
these components.
Fig. 1 illustrates a drinking cup 10 in accordance with one exemplary
embodiment. The drinking cup 10 includes a cup body 12 that is attached to a
lid 14 through a releasable attachment. The cup body 12 has a longitudinal
axis
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12 that extends through its center. The drinking cup 10 may also feature a
medicine cup 124 that likewise has a longitudinal axis 126 through its center.
The drinking cup 10 may be arranged so that the longitudinal axes 122 and 126
are coaxial with one another. This arrangement may prevent the flow control
element 16 or other components from disengaging should the drinking cup 10 be
inadvertently dropped or hit because the weight of the medicine cup 124 and
its
contents are located at the center of the drinking cup 10 and not off-center
thus
minimizing any unbalanced jarring. However, it is to be understood that other
arrangements are possible in which the medicine cup 124 is not at the center
of
the cup body 12 such that the longitudinal axes 122 and 126 are not coaxial
with
one another. The medicine cup 124 may be used to hold medicine to be
administered to a child. Drinking contents, such as juice, may be located in
the
cup body 12 and mixed with the medicine upon dispensing by the child thus
masking the presence of the medicine in the drink. The amount of medicine
administered can be noted since the medicine is kept separate from the juice
or
other beverage. However, it is to be understood that a medicine cup 124 need
not be present in other arrangements, and that the drinking cup 10 of the
present invention need not have a medicine cup 124 or be configured in any
special manner for the administration of medicine.
The cup body 12 can be releasably attached to the lid 14 through the use
of a threaded connection. In the disclosed arrangement, the top of the cup
body
12 has external threading that engages internal threading located on a cup
body
receiving portion 26 of the lid 14. The lid 14 can be removed from the cup
body
12 in order to fill the cup body 12 with a desired beverage or if cleaning is
needed. In use, the lid 14 has a drinking spout 24 through which combined
beverage and medicine can be dispensed through one or more dispensing
openings 32 in the drinking spout 24. The drinking spout 24 may be an
integrally formed portion of the lid 14 or can be formed separately therefrom.
In
certain arrangements, the drinking spout 24 may be a straw through which the
user dispenses the contents of the drinking cup 10. The medicine and beverage
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may mix with one another in a portion of the drinking cup 10 that is located
between the lower surface of the lid 14 and the upper surface of the flow
control
element 16. The mixing may take place in a chamber formed due to the
presence of the drinking spout 24.
The flow control element 16 is responsible for directing the desired flow of
beverage and medicine through the drinking cup 10. The flow control element
16 may be engaged to the lid 14 through a releasable attachment so that these
components can be attached and removed by the user as desired.
Disengagement may be desired when a user wishes to clean the various
components of the drinking cup 10. The lid 14 has a receiving portion 18 that
extends downward from a lower surface of the lid 14. The receiving portion 18
may be integrally formed with the other portions of the lid 14 such as the
drinking spout 24 or the portions of the lid 14 from which the receiving
portion
18 extends. The receiving portion 18 includes a projection receiving surface
20
and a flow control engagement surface 22. In certain arrangements, the
projection receiving surface 20 is present and the flow control engagement
surface 22 is not present. In yet other exemplary embodiments, the flow
control
engagement surface 22 is present on the receiving portion 18 and the
projection
receiving surface 20 is not included. The flow control engagement surface 22
and the projection receiving surface 20 are contiguous with one another such
that the projection receiving surface 20 extends from the flow control
engagement surface 22. In other embodiments, these two surfaces 20 and 22
are present but are not contiguous with one another such that they do not
extend from one another. The receiving portion 18 can have a circular outer
perimeter as illustrated in Fig. 4 such that the dispensing openings 32 are
located within the outer perimeter of the receiving portion 18 yet displaced
upwards in the vertical direction therefrom.
Referring back to Fig. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the receiving portion
18 will now be discussed. The flow control engagement surface 22 has a convex
shape from the lowermost portion of the receiving portion 18 to the projection
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receiving surface 20. However, it is to be understood that other arrangements
are possible in which the flow control engagement surface 22 does not have a
convex shape but rather is straight, conical, concave, or funnel shaped. In
yet
other arrangements, a portion of the flow control engagement surface 22 is
convex and other portions of the surface 22 are differently shaped such as
being
straight, concave, funnel, or conical. As such, the flow control engagement
surface 22 may be variously shaped in other exemplary embodiments. The
projection receiving surface 20 may extend radially outwards from the flow
control engagement surface 22 and then may either stop or may extend in the
longitudinal direction without extending in the radial direction. As such, the
projection receiving surface 20 may be a step of the receiving portion 18 onto
which the projection 42 rests and contacts. Alternatively, the projection
receiving surface 20 may be both a step and a portion of the inner wall of the
receiving portion 18 such that the projection 42 contacts both the step and a
portion of the inner wall of the receiving portion 18.
The lid 14 also features a second receiving portion 34. With reference to
Fig. 4, the second receiving portion 34 has a circular outer perimeter and is
contiguous with the receiving portion 18. One or more vent holes 132 defined
through the lid 14 are located within the outer perimeter of the second
receiving
portion 18 but are spaced upwards vertically therefrom. Referring back to Fig.
2,
a portion of the lid 14 extending downwards from the lower surface of the lid
14
defines a portion of both the receiving portion 18 and the second receiving
portion 34. The second receiving portion 34 may have a second projection
receiving surface 36 and a second flow control engagement surface 38. The
surfaces 36 and 38, along with the second receiving portion 34 can be arranged
in an identical manner as the surfaces 20 and 22 and receiving portion 18 as
previously discussed, and a repeat of this information is not necessary. Also,
it is
to be understood that the second receiving portion 34 need not be present in
accordance with other exemplary embodiments. The receiving portions 18 and
34 may be separated from one another and need not share a common wall. In
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this regard, the attachment portion 40 having outer perimeter 86 may be
distanced so that a space 144 is present between the outer perimeter 120 of
the
second attachment portion 46. Space 144 may allow the attachment portions 40
and 46 to flex during insertion of the flow control element 16 so that a
tighter
seal is formed. One or more grips 142 may be included on the lid 14 in order
to
aid the user in grasping the lid 14 and turning same for removal. The grips
142
can be from 1-4, from 5-8, from 8-15, or up to 20 in number and may be
disposed completely about the circumference of the lid 14 and may extend
radially outwards from the side of the lid 14.
The drinking cup 10 also includes a flow control element 16 that functions
to assist the proper flow of beverage and medicine, if present, through the
drinking cup 10. With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the flow control element 16
has an attachment portion 40 that extends upwards from a base 52. The
attachment portion 40 has a circular outer perimeter 86 and is configured for
releasable engagement with the receiving portion 18. The attachment portion 40
is shown attached to the receiving portion 18 in Fig. 2. A lid engagement
surface 44 is located on the receiving portion 18 and engages the flow control
engagement surface 22 of the lid 14. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated,
the lid engagement surface 44 is concave in shape. The attachment portion 40
also has a projection 42 that is contiguous with the lid engagement surface 44
and extends therefrom. Projection 42 is received onto the projection receiving
surface 20. The projection receiving surface 20 is illustrated as being a
step.
However, it is to be understood that the projection receiving surface 20 can
be
variously configured in accordance with other exemplary embodiments.
The entire lid engagement surface 44 from the base 52 to the projection
42 can be concave in shape. However, other arrangements are possible in which
only a portion of the lid engagement surface 44 between the base 52 and the
projection 42 are concave while the other portion is not concave in shape. The
lid engagement surface 44 can be convex, conical, funnel, straight, or
variously
shaped in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. The projection 42
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may extend outward from the lid engagement surface 44 in the radial direction
of the attachment portion 40. The projection 42 can extend to such a radial
distance that it is located completely radially outward from the entire lid
engagement surface 44. In other embodiments, the projection 42 extends
radially outward of a majority of the lid engagement surface 44 but not the
entire lid engagement surface 44. The projection 42 can extend radially
outward
from the portion of the lid engagement surface 44 that is contiguous with the
projection 42 and hence immediately adjacent the projection 42. In this type
of
arrangement, the projection 42 may be located radially inwards or at the same
position radially with respect to the portion of the lid engagement surface 44
that
is adjacent and contiguous with the base 52.
In order to attach the flow control element 16 and the lid 14, the user
may align a longitudinal axis 41 of the attachment portion 40 with a
longitudinal
axis 30 of the receiving portion 18. The user may then push the flow control
element 16 and lid 14 so that the projection 42 moves relative to the flow
control
engagement surface 22. Due to the differences in radial size of these
components, the projection 42 will be urged inwards radially as it advances
along
the flow control engagement surface 22 in a direction generally towards the
drinking spout 24. The convex shape of the flow control engagement surface 22
may assist in this insertion as it will facilitate a smooth transition. The
attachment portion 40 may be made of a material resilient enough to allow the
projection 42 to flex inwardly during this insertion. Once the projection 42
is
moved into proximity with the projection receiving surface 20, the radial
forces
imparted by the flow control engagement surface 22 will be lessened thus
allowing the projection 42 to expand outwards in the radial direction and be
seated onto the projection receiving surface 20. The projection 42 may snap
fit
into place once properly positioned. The projection 42 and hence the
attachment portion 40 may thus be retained onto the receiving portion 18.
The projection receiving surface 20 and/or the flow control engagement
surface 22 may still function to push the attachment portion 40 inwards during
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this attachment and thus further function to hold the two components together.
The convex shape of the flow control engagement surface 22 may be
complimentary with the concave shape of the lid engagement surface 44. In this
regard, the surfaces 22 and 44 may have the same radii of curvature so that
they fit closely against one another during attachment. The entire surfaces 22
and 44 may engage one another, or only portions of the surfaces 22 and 44 may
contact one another during attachment in certain exemplary embodiments. The
complimentary convex/concave curvature of the surfaces 22 and 44 may likewise
function to hold the two components 14 and 16 to one another. The synergistic
holding effect of both the projection 42 and surface 20 in combination with
the
complimentary convex/concave arrangement of surfaces 22 and 44 has been
found to effect a surprisingly strong attachment. However, it is to be
understood
that both of these attachment features need not be present in other
arrangements. For example, the projection 42 and surface 20 can be present
while the surfaces 22 and 44 are not convex or concave or do not even engage
one another.
Once desired, the flow control element 16 and lid 14 can be disengaged
from one another through the application of relative force to these
components.
The user can grasp the base 52 and apply force so as to urge the attachment
portion 40 downwards in relation to the receiving portion 18. The projection
42
can be urged out of the projection receiving surface 20 and against the flow
control engagement surface 22. This urging will cause the projection 42 to be
displaced inwards in the radial direction of the attachment portion 40. The
convex shape of the flow control engagement surface 22 will facilitate removal
as
it acts as a transitional surface to control the radial movement of the
projection
42.
The flow control element 16 can also include a second attachment portion
46 that is spaced from the attachment portion 40. The second attachment
portion 46 can be seen with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 and may include a
second
projection 48 and a second lid engagement surface 50. During attachment, the
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user can align a longitudinal axis 47 of the second attachment portion 46 to a
longitudinal axis 39 of the second receiving portion 34 so that the axes 47
and
39 are coaxial. The second projection 48 and the second lid engagement surface
50 may engage the second projection receiving surface 36 and the second flow
control engagement surface 38 during attachment. The second projection 48
and the second lid engagement surface 50 may be configured in a manner
similar to that previously discussed with respect to the projection 42 and the
lid
engagement surface 44 and a repeat of this information is not necessary. As
such, the second receiving portion 34 and the second attachment portion 46
function to effectively double the holding power of the flow control element
16 to
the lid 14. It is to be understood that the second attachment portion 46 need
not be present in other embodiments or can be configured differently from the
attachment portion 40 in other arrangements.
The flow control element 16 is present to help direct the flow of beverage
and medicine through the drinking cup 10. The flow control element 16 has a
valve receiving portion 58 that is used to hold a valve 56. Beverage may be
dispensed from the cup body 12 through the valve 56 and into the chamber
formed by the drinking spout 24 or likewise at a location between the lid 14
and
the flow control element 16. The flow control element 16 has a valve receiving
portion 58 that is located within the outer perimeter of the attachment
portion
40. The valve receiving portion 58 extends upwards from the base 52 and has a
step 62 and a notch 66. The valve 56 rests on the step 62. The valve 56 may
be made of a resilient material and can be a one way valve in certain
arrangements so that fluid is only capable of moving one way through the valve
56. In yet other arrangements, the valve 56 may be a two way valve so that
fluid can move in both directions through the valve 56. A valve retainer 64 is
inserted into the valve receiving portion 58 and has a projection 66 that is
received with the notch 60 of the valve receiving portion 58. The valve
retainer
64 thus functions to hold the valve 56 in place within the valve receiving
portion
58. Upon insertion, the upper surface 68 of the valve retainer 64 may be made
CA 02722493 2010-11-24
so as to be flush with the upper surface 70 of the valve receiving portion 58.
The valve retainer 64 can be arranged so that a flange is not present such
that
the valve retainer 64 does not cover a portion of the upper surface 70 and
such
that the projection 66 extends completely radially beyond any other portion of
the valve retainer 64. The outer side surface of the valve retainer 64 may
thus
have a single, constant dimension in the radial direction except for the
projection
66.
With reference now to Fig. 3, the flow control element 16 may have a
member that forms both a portion of the valve receiving portion 58 and the
attachment portion 40. In other exemplary embodiments, the valve receiving
portion 58 can be completely separate from the attachment portion 40. The
valve receiving portion 58 may be located within the outer perimeter 86 and
may
form the highest vertical portion of the flow control element 16. A second
valve
72 may be included and can he held onto the flow control element 16 inside of
a
second valve receiving portion 74. Fig. 2 shows the second valve 72 as being
associated with the medicine cup 124 to allow medicine to flow from the
medicine cup 124 and into the portion of the drinking cup 10 between the lid
14
and the flow control element 16 to subsequently mix therein with the beverage.
The valve 72 may prevent fluid from moving back from this portion into the
medicine cup 124. As such, the second valve 72 can be a one way valve in that
fluid or air is not allowed to revert back into the medicine cup 124 and can
only
move one way across the valve 72. The second valve receiving portion 74 may
include a notch 76, step 78 and an upper surface 85. Likewise, a second valve
retainer 80 may be included to retain the second valve 72 to the second valve
receiving portion 74 and can have a projection 82 and an upper surface 84.
When assembled, the upper surface 84 can be flush with the upper surface 85.
The second valve 72, second valve receiving portion 74, and the second valve
retainer 80 and their associated features can be configured in an identical
manner as the valve 56, valve receiving portion 58, and valve retainer 64 as
previously discussed and a repeat of this information is not necessary.
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The flow control element 16 may also include features that allow air to
flow into the drinking cup 10 as beverage or medicine is dispensed from the
drinking cup 10. Venting of the drinking cup 10 allows for easier dispensing
of
fluid from the drinking cup 10. The second attachment portion 46 has an outer
perimeter 120 that surrounds both a third valve receiving portion 90 and a
fourth
valve receiving portion 106. The third valve 88 is used to allow air from the
vent
holes 132 to be transferred into the medicine cup 124 to facilitate transfer
of
medicine from the medicine cup 124 and prevent a vacuum from forming therein
and preventing or hindering dispensing. The third valve 88 may be a one way
valve so that medicine is not capable of being transferred across the third
valve
88 and into the location illustrated between the lid 14 and the flow control
element 16. The third valve receiving portion 90 can include a notch 92 and a
step 94, and a third valve retainer 96 may be present with a projection 98.
These elements can be configured in a similar manner as those previously
discussed with respect to the valve 56, valve receiving portion 58, and valve
retainer 64 and a repeat of this information is not necessary. Further, when
assembled the upper surface 100 of the third valve retainer 96 can be flush
with
the upper surface 102 of the third valve receiving portion 90.
A fourth valve 104 may be included in the drinking cup 10 and can be
used to allow air from the vent holes 132 to be transferred into the cup body
12
so that beverage in the cup body 12 can be more easily dispensed therefrom
through valve 56. The fourth valve 104 may be a one way valve to prevent
beverage from being dispensed through the fourth valve 104 and into the
location between the lid 14 and the flow control element 16. The fourth valve
receiving portion 106 may include a notch 108 and a step 110. A fourth valve
retainer 112 may likewise be present to effect attachment of the fourth valve
104 to the fourth valve receiving portion 106 and can include a projection
114.
The fourth valve 104, fourth valve receiving portion 106, and fourth valve
retainer 112 can be arranged in a manner similar to the valve 56, valve
receiving
portion 58, and valve retainer 64 as discussed above and a repeat of this
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information is not necessary. The upper surface 116 of the fourth valve
retainer
112 can be flush with the upper surface 118 of the fourth valve receiving
portion
106. In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, the upper surfaces 70,
85, 102 and 118 may be located at the same vertical height as one another and
may be the highest vertical surfaces of the flow control element 16. The upper
surfaces 68, 84, 100 and 116 may be located at the same vertical height and at
a vertical height below the surfaces 70, 85, 102 and 118 or may be located
flush
and hence as the same vertical height as surfaces 70, 85, 102 and 108. In
other
exemplary embodiments, the surfaces 68, 84, 100 and 116 may be located at
the same vertical height as one another and may be at a vertical height above
the upper surfaces 70, 85, 102, and 118 and hence may be the highest vertical
surfaces of the flow control element 16.
The flow control element 16 may include a medicine cup receiving portion
54 that extends downwards from the base 52 so as to be on the opposite side of
the base 52 as the attachment portion 40 and the second attachment portion 46.
The medicine cup receiving portion 54 can include internal threading that
engages external threading of the medicine cup 124 so as to effect attachment.
The user may unscrew the medicine cup 124 to detach same from the medicine
cup receiving portion 54 when desired to fill the medicine cup 124 or to clean
the
medicine cup 124. Although shown as being releasably attached through the use
of a threaded connection, the medicine cup 124 can be releasably attached to
the flow control element 16 through the use of a projection and concave/convex
surfaces in a manner as previously discussed with respect to the receiving
portion 18 and the attachment portion 40.
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the drinking cup 10 is illustrated
in Fig. 5. Here, the attachment portion 40 is arranged so that the lid
engagement surface 44 is cone shaped and has a consistent angular orientation
from the base 52 to the projection 42. The lid engagement surface 44 thus does
not have a concave or a convex shape but rather has a cone shaped surface that
has the same line of inclination throughout its entire length. The projection
42
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extends outwards radially from the lid engagement surface 44 so as to extend
radially beyond at least a portion of the lid engagement surface 44. In other
arrangements, the projection 42 may extend radially beyond the entire lid
engagement surface 44 or a majority of the lid engagement surface 44. The
flow control engagement surface 22 has a funnel shape and does not have a
convex or a concave shape. The flow control engagement surface 22 has a
shape that is complimentary to the lid engagement surface 44 such that the
flow
control engagement surface 22 engages the lid engagement surface 44 along its
entire length when the flow control element 16 is attached to the lid 14. The
bottom surface of the receiving portion 18 engages the top surface of the base
52. Further, the projection 42 engages a projection receiving surface 20 when
the flow control element 16 is attached. Attachment is effected in a similar
manner as previously discussed in that the flow control element 16 is inserted
into the lid 14 and the projection 42 is urged radially inwards as it moves
upwards across the flow control engagement surface 22. Once the projection 42
encounters the projection receiving surface 20, the radially inward force on
the
projection 42 ceases and the projection 42 expands or snaps outwards onto the
flow control engagement surface 22. The attachment portion 40 can be secured
through either the engagement with the projection 42 to the projection
receiving
surface 20, or through the engagement between the cone shaped lid
engagement surface 44 and the funnel shaped flow control engagement surface
22, or through the combination of these features. When removal is desired, the
user can urge the flow control element 16 apart from the lid 14 so that the
projection 42 is forced radially inwards upon being urged vertically downwards
and against the flow control engagement surface 22.
Another alternative exemplary embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6. Here,
the lid engagement surface 44 has a conical portion 136 that is contiguous
with
and extends from the base 52, and a concave portion 134 that is contiguous
with
the conical portion 136 and extends therefrom to the projection 42. The flow
control engagement surface has a funnel portion 140 that is complimentary with
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the conical portion 136 and that engages the conical portion 136 during
attachment. The funnel portion 140 extends from the bottom of the receiving
portion 18. The flow control engagement surface 22 also includes a convex
portion 138 that is contiguous with the funnel portion 140 and that engages
the
concave portion 134 during attachment. The concave portion 134 and convex
portion 138 have shapes that are complimentary to one another and thus fully
engage one another during attachment.
The projection receiving surface 20 is a notch into which the projection 42
is inserted during attachment. The notch 20 thus extends around more than
1800 of the outer surface of the projection 42 that has a circular cross-
sectional
shape. The notch 20 may thus engage a portion of the bottom, side, and top
surfaces of the projection 42. The projection receiving surface 20 can be
sized
so as to tightly receive the projection 42 such that the projection 42 snap
fits
into the notch 20. Disengagement of the flow control device 16 may be effected
in a similar manner as previously discussed.
The variously exemplary embodiments presented show the lid
engagement surface 44 and the projection 42 on an outer surface 128 of the
attachment portion 40, and the flow control engagement surface 22 and the
projection receiving surface 20 on the inner surface 130 of the receiving
portion
18. As such, to effect attachment, the outer surface 128 of the attachment
portion 40 engages the inner surface 130 of the receiving portion 18. However,
it is to be understood that other exemplary embodiments are possible in which
the inner surface of the attachment portion 40 engages the outer surface of
the
receiving portion 18 to effect releasable attachment. In such arrangements,
the
aforementioned surfaces may have a convex or concave shape and may or may
not include a projection to effect the releasable attachment. Further,
although
shown as being on the attachment portion 40, the projection 42 may be on the
receiving portion 18 in other arrangements and the projection receiving
surface
20 can be located on the attachment portion 40. Likewise, the projection 42
need not be located at the upper portion of the attachment portion 40 in other
CA 02722493 2010-11-24
exemplary embodiments. For example, the projection 42 may be located
proximate the base 52 or may be located intermediate the base 52 and the
upper surface of the attachment portion 40 in accordance with other exemplary
embodiments. In certain exemplary embodiments, both the flow control
engagement surface 22 and the lid engagement surface 44 are both straight
surfaces and are not convex, concave, conical, or funnel shaped. The flow
control element 16 may be attached through the use of the projection 42
received onto the projection receiving surface 20 with minimal or no
frictional
engagement between the flow control engagement surface 22 and the lid
engagement surface 44.
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the drinking cup 10 is disclosed
in Fig. 7. Here, the cup body 12 is double walled so that a space 152 is
present
between the two walls of the cup body 12. Space 152 functions as an insulator
to inhibit heat flow through the cup body 12. The space 152 may be completely
empty or may include some type of additional insulation in accordance with
other
embodiments. The arrangement in Fig. 7 has a first straw 146 that extends from
the flow control element 16 below the valve 56. The flow control element 16
may have projections extending therefrom around which the first straw 146 is
seated and retained via a frictional fit. The first straw 146 is used to pull
fluid
from the cup body 12 and then through the valve 56. A second straw 147 is
located in the medicine cup 124 and is likewise attached to the flow control
element 16. The second straw 147 may be frictionally fit into a projection of
the
flow control element 16. In other arrangements, the first and second straws
146
and 147 may be retained by being forced inside of a projection of the flow
control element 16 rather than around such projections. Medicine from the
medicine cup 124 is pulled through the second straw 147 and through the
second valve 72. A third straw 148 likewise extends from the flow control
element 16 and is located above the valves 56 and 72 so that flow exiting the
valves 56 and 72 flow into the third straw 148. The third straw 148 is
branched
so that fluid exiting valve 56 mixes with fluid exiting second valve 72. The
third
16
CA 02722493 2010-11-24
straw 148 may be a single component or may be made of multiple components
that are joined together. The third straw 148 may be arranged so that it is
frictionally fit around a projection of the flow control element 16 at the
valve 56
and frictionally fit around a projection of the flow control element 16 at the
valve
72. It is to be understood that various arrangements are possible for
effecting
attachment of the straws 146, 147 and 148 to the flow control element 16 and
that the disclosed arrangements are only exemplary.
A straw closing mechanism 150 is included on the lid 14 and functions to
close the third straw 148 when moved from an open to a closed position. The
straw closing mechanism 150 in the closed position completely covers the tip
of
the third straw 148 and may in some arrangements function to pinch the tip of
the third straw 148. In this regard, a ridge or bump may be provided on the
lid
14 and the turning of the straw closing mechanism 150 will cause the third
straw
148 to be moved over the bump and hence pinched between the bump and the
straw closing mechanism 150. This pinching may function to both seal the third
straw 148 and pull the third straw 148 into the cavity of the straw closing
mechanism 150.
Further, although shown as employing four valves 56, 72, 88, and 104, it
is to be understood that any number of valves may be included in other
embodiments. For example, the drinking cup 10 may include but a single valve,
from 2-5 valves, from 4-6 valves, or up to 10 valves in accordance with other
exemplary embodiments. The drinking cup 10 may be provided with one or
more handles to assist the user in holding the drinking cup 10 during use. The
handle may extend from the cup body 12 and may be variously configured.
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter
encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those
specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter
of
the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as
can be
included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
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