EP0509888B1 - Closed cup including a mouth piece - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cup which remains closed outside of its use by a user and which allows the user to consume the liquid or the drink contained in said cup by taking the mouthpiece without having to suck up the liquid.

The cup according to the invention can contain a drink prepared in advance or makes it possible to prepare a drink on site. It can be used in a state of gravity, on earth, but it is particularly suitable for use in a state of weightlessness, more particularly, for the preparation of a drink on board a spacecraft.

Indeed, it is known that it is difficult to prepare a drink on board a spacecraft because, in a weightless state, when filling a container with a liquid, the air contained in the container is not not expelled and mixes with the drink. This results in a foam, which is unpleasant to drink and which is not very digestible. In addition, the astronaut did not have the pleasure of preparing his drink.

Furthermore, in a state of weightlessness, one cannot use the force of terrestrial attraction to direct a liquid. A force must therefore be created to give the desired movement to the liquid to fill the container and drink the liquid. Until now, the astronaut has mostly sucked the liquid through a straw. He could also, if the liquid was contained in a flexible material container, press with both hands on the container to remove the liquid.

It is known from document FR-A-2 024 656 on which the preamble of claim 1 is based to manufacture a cup comprising a telescopic container which can be expanded by simple action of gravity. It can be easily compressed as the product is extracted, so that the product is always present in the vicinity of the orifice of the container.

EP-A-0 326 743 describes a container provided with a spout capable of being taken into the mouth by the user, the spout being flexible and being provided at its end with a valve opening by pinching the spout.

The present invention provides a cup, which allows, in a weightless state, to drink without having to suck or exert a force on the container containing the liquid and, which allows to prepare on the spot drinks without foaming. In a state of gravity, on earth, the closed cup according to the invention allows drinking without risk of spilling the liquid and without having to suck up the drink, which is advantageous, for example, in the case of bedridden patients.

The present invention therefore relates to a closed cup which is characterized by the characteristics indicated in the second part of claim 1.

The use of the cup according to the invention comprising a refill is simple. When the user, more particularly the astronaut wishes to drink, he takes an empty refill or container in the form of a powder, for example lyophilized, the drink he wishes (such as: coffee, tea, chocolate or fruit juice); it engages the refill on the nozzle and assembles them so that communication is established between the nozzle and the refill; it then introduces into the container a determined quantity of hot or cold water via the water supply valve. The container increases in volume. To drink, the astronaut grips the cup by the gripping device; it takes the mouthpiece spout in the mouth and clamps it with the lips or teeth, which opens by deformation the flexible valve placed at the end of the spout. The liquid then leaves the cup, thanks to the pressure exerted elastically by the walls of the container, without the user having to suck the liquid or to press on the container with the hands to make the liquid come out. The astronaut can therefore drink a drink prepared on board, using practically the same gestures as on land. When he has finished drinking, the astronaut separates the tip from the refill, discards the refill and subjects the tip to washing.

The base is preferably constituted by a rigid piece formed by two equal half-discs located in two parallel planes spaced from one another, the two half-discs being connected to each other, firstly, by a wall situated along the diameters which limit them in a plane perpendicular to their plane, and, secondly, by a shell connected to the periphery of the two half-discs which constitute its base, the edge of the shell forming a point of the side of the spout, the gripping device being formed on said shell.

The gripping device is preferably arranged on one side or the other of the shell relative to the plane of the wall.

The spout made of flexible material preferably has a point curved towards the axis of the cup, and partially connected to the edge of the shell by a veil of flexible material of concave shape, the shell having the approximate shape of a spherical cap.

A flexible material conduit preferably connects the flexible valve of the spout to the first means of passage of the liquid from the refill to the nozzle.

The rigid cover of the refill preferably comprises two equal parallel half-discs interconnected, firstly, along the diameters which limit them, by a wall which is perpendicular to them and, secondly, by a cylindrical skirt which is connected to the periphery of the two half-discs. In this embodiment, the container is advantageously fixed on the skirt.

The means for passing the liquid are constituted for the first means by a small tube arranged perpendicular to one of the perpendicular walls and passing through said wall and, for the second means by an opening formed in the other perpendicular wall by an opening formed in the wall, the two means cooperating in substantially sealed manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the endpiece, between the first passage means and the flexible conduit connecting it to the flexible valve of the spout is disposed a valve which allows the passage of the liquid only in the direction of the spout. The presence of this valve makes it possible to prevent the liquid contained in the nozzle from spilling when the user separates the nozzle from the refill, before having completely emptied the cup. Similarly, in the refill, the second passage means is associated with a valve, which is open and kept open by cooperation with the first passage means. For example when the first passage means is a small tube and the complementary means an opening, it is the end of the small tube which opens and keeps the valve open. This prevents the liquid e contained in the refill from spreading when the user separates the refill from the tip. In fact, for example when the small tube is taken out of the opening, the valve closes and it is avoided that the liquid contained in the refill spills out when the user has not emptied said refill.

The refill is fixed to the end piece, as explained above using two complementary elements, one arranged on the base, the other on the cover. The fixing means can be constituted by a throat-bead system. This fixing means also serves as a guide during the assembly of the cup.

There is also described a combined piece of furniture making it possible to carry out various operations for handling such a cup. The unit occupies a small volume allowing all the operations of storage of refills, filling of the cup, washing of the nozzle and storage of the nozzle.

The use of this cup requires, in fact, a number of operations. When the user wishes to drink, he chooses a refill. It must therefore be stored in an easily accessible manner. He then takes a nozzle which must also be easily accessible. He then snaps the tip onto the refill and fills the cup. It is therefore necessary to have a cup filling installation. When the user has finished drinking, he separates the mouthpiece from the refill. The nozzle must then be washed and stored after washing so that it can be used again. This use is, in particular carried out in a state of weightlessness on board a spacecraft.

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une zone de remplissage comportant au moins un réservoir d'eau, au moins une empreinte de remplissage de la tasse, et un dispositif susceptible de coopérer avec le clapet anti-retour pour l'alimentation en liquide de la recharge ; et

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une zone de lavage pour au moins un embout comportant des moyens de lavage de l'intérieur de l'embout et des moyens de lavage de l'extérieur de l'embout.

The combined piece of furniture makes it possible to carry out the various manipulations of a cup consisting of two parts capable of being assembled with each other by bringing two complementary rigid surfaces into contact, namely a nozzle and a refill, the nozzle being a closed enclosure comprising a rigid base provided with a first means for passage of the liquid from the refill to the nozzle and the refill being a closed enclosure comprising a rigid cover carrying a non-return valve for the supply of liquid from the refill and, fixed on the lid, an expandable container under the pressure of the injected liquid. Said piece of furniture has at least two areas, namely:

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a filling zone comprising at least one water tank, at least one impression for filling the cup, and a device capable of cooperating with the non-return valve for the supply of liquid to the refill; and

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a washing zone for at least one end piece comprising means for washing the inside of the end piece and means for washing the outside of the end piece.

The cabinet preferably has an area with stacked compartments for storing refills. It also advantageously includes a storage area for at least one endpiece.

Preferably, the filling zone comprises two reservoirs and two cavities, a first reservoir being provided for cold water and communicating with a first cavity and a second reservoir being provided for hot water and corresponding to a second cavity.

The imprint advantageously has the shape of an oval cap corresponding to the shape of the cup after expansion of the container.

The device capable of cooperating tightly with the non-return valve for supplying water to the refill is advantageously constituted by a tube provided with a protective ring and connected to a valve, the insertion of the ring protection causing the valve to open.

According to a preferred embodiment, the filling zone comprises a device for measuring the quantity of liquid dispensed, making it possible to dispense a determined quantity of liquid. This device allows, for example to introduce 10 cl or 20 cl of liquid into the container. It is preferably associated with an indicator light, which alerts the user to the end of the distribution.

Under these conditions, the front face of the filling zone advantageously carries four buttons on which the user presses to obtain, for example 10 cl or 20 cl, of cold or hot water.

The washing zone preferably comprises at least one base having a shape complementary to that of the surface of the rigid base of the nozzle and a device capable of cooperating with the means for passing the liquid towards the nozzle for injecting a washing liquid in the nozzle and to suck it up, so as to wash the inside of the nozzle.

The base complementary to the assembly surface of the rigid base of the nozzle is advantageously provided with a magnet or a metal part which cooperates with a corresponding magnet disposed on the rigid surface of the end piece so as to fix the end piece on the base.

This washing area is preferably capable of being sealed by a door, so that the exterior surface of the nozzle can be washed as in an ordinary dishwasher.

The tip storage area preferably includes at least one rack, the bottom of which has a shape complementary to that of the assembly surface of the rigid base of the tip.

To better understand the object of the invention, there will be described below, by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the cup shown in the accompanying drawing.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une tasse selon l'invention en cours d'assemblage ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de la même tasse après assemblage et injection d'eau ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe de la tasse en cours d'assemblage ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus de la tasse de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues de profil (droit et gauche respectivement) de l'embout de la tasse selon l'invention ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessus de la recharge selon VII-VII de la figure 8 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de côté de cette même recharge selon VIII-VIII de la figure 7 ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective d'un meuble servant au rangement des recharges et des embouts, au lavage des embouts et au remplissage de la tasse ;
• la figure 1O est une vue en perspective de la zone de lavage du meuble de la figure 9.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cup according to the invention during assembly;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same cup after assembly and injection of water;
• Figure 3 is a section through the cup during assembly;
• Figure 4 is a top view of the cup of Figure 1;
• Figures 5 and 6 are side views (right and left respectively) of the tip of the cup according to the invention;
• Figure 7 is a top view of the refill according to VII-VII of Figure 8;
• Figure 8 is a side view of the same refill according to VIII-VIII of Figure 7;
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cabinet for the storage of refills and tips, washing tips and filling the cup;
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the washing area of the cabinet in FIG. 9.

The cup shown in Figures 1 to 8 is designated as a whole by the reference 1. It consists of a tip 2 and a refill 3. The tip 2 consists of a rigid base 4 and a spout 5 of flexible material and the refill 3 is formed of a rigid cover 6 and of a container 7 of flexible material having a structure accordion. The different rigid and flexible parts of the cup are made of polypropylene, the rigid parts being thicker.

The base 4 of the end piece 2 is formed at its lower part (in the position shown in FIG. 2) by a part 8 consisting of two half-discs 8 a and 8 b of the same dimension, parallel to each other, and connected by a perpendicular wall 8 c , part 8, the lower surface of which constitutes the assembly surface of the nozzle. Under the half-disc 8 b located at the highest level is disposed a magnetic plate 9. Below the periphery of the half-disc 8 a is disposed a skirt 8 d where a groove 1O has been formed internally. A shell 11, the wall of which is generally disposed in a spherical cap is connected to the edge of the part 8. This shell 11 is symmetrical with respect to the plane of the wall 8 c . The shell 11 is a tip 11a disposed in a diametral plane of the cup through the end of the spout 5 and is connected by a notch to a point low 11s disposed in the same diametral plane as the tip 11 a. A notch 12, made on the right, allows the user to grasp the cup with a finger.

The spout 5 projects beyond the shell 11; its end 5 a is provided with an opening and it is situated on the longitudinal axis of the cup 1. The spout 5 is connected by curved surfaces to the edge of the shell 11, the lower surface connecting it to the lower part of the shell being a concave veil 5 b . On the perpendicular wall 8 c of the part 8, in the vicinity of the periphery, is disposed a small tube 13 which projects perpendicularly to this wall. This tube 13 constitutes one of the means of the device for passing the liquid from the refill to the nozzle. The tube 13 is connected to a non-return valve 14 allowing only the passage of the liquid in the refill-tip direction. The valve 14 is itself connected to a conduit of flexible material 15 which opens into the opening 5a of the spout 5. At the end of the conduit 15 in the vicinity of the opening 5a of the spout is inserted a valve 16. This valve 16 is constituted by two coaxial tubes: the internal tube is closed at its end and is split obliquely in the vicinity of this end; the outer tube is the conduit 15 itself.

The cover of the refill 3 is constituted by a part 17 formed by two half-discs 17 a and 17 b of the same dimension located in parallel planes and connected by a perpendicular wall 17 c , the lower surface of the part 17 constituting the assembly surface of the refill. In the wall 17c is pierced an opening 18 of diameter such that the tube 13 can penetrate it. This opening is connected to a valve 19. The half-disc 17 a is provided with a peripheral bead 2O capable of cooperating with the groove 1O formed at the periphery of the base. On the periphery of the part 17 is arranged a cylindrical skirt 21 directed downwards, the lower edge of which is situated in a plane parallel to the half-discs 17 a and 17 b . In the part of the skirt 21, which is situated at the periphery of the half-disc 17 b, is disposed a supply valve 22; this valve 22 is inside the skirt 21, at a point situated on the radius of the half-disc 17 b which is perpendicular to the wall 17 c .

The container 7 is arranged on the lower edge of the skirt 21; it has the shape of a truncated cone of flexible material having an accordion structure. When folded, it is practically flat (see Figure 1), but it can expand (see Figure 2) elastically.

FIG. 9 illustrates a combined piece of furniture making it possible to carry out, more particularly in a state of weightlessness, on board a spacecraft, various operations relating to the cup described above. The combined furniture is designated, as a whole, by 1OO. This piece of furniture successively comprises four zones arranged one above the other. Zone 1O1 contains two indentations 1O5 a and 1O5 b respectively for cold water and for hot water. These imprints are advantageously colored respectively in blue for cold water and in red for hot water. The indentations 1O5 a and 1O5 b have an oval cap shape corresponding to the shape of the cup 1 after injection of liquid. The footprint 1O5 b comprises a water inlet tube 1O6 b ; similarly, the imprint 10O a contains a water inlet tube (which is not visible in Figure 4). The tube 10 6 b is provided with a ring (not shown), which is itself connected to a non-return valve (not shown); this non-return valve opens in a pressurized hot water tank. Likewise, the imprint 10O a is placed in communication with a pressurized cold water tank.

As can be seen on the 10O b imprint, the imprint has a 10 7 b bead for positioning the cup. On the front panel of the filling area 1O1 are arranged four buttons 1O8 a , 1O8 b , 1O8 c , 1O8 d . The buttons 1O8 a and 1O8 c respectively control the distribution of cold water and hot water; the buttons 1O8 b and 1O8 d control the distribution of 1O cl and 2O cl of water respectively; these buttons are connected to electrical distribution control devices and to measure the quantity of liquid dispensed. The buttons 1O8 b and 1O8 d have indicator lights which go out when the dispensing is finished.

The refill storage area 1O2 located above the 1O1 area is, according to the embodiment shown, made up of three vertical rows of lockers 1O9.

Zone 1O3 comprises three compartments 11O of ogival shape arranged above the three rows of compartments of zone 1O2; these lockers allow the storage of three end pieces. The bottom of each of these three compartments 110 has a shape complementary to that of the assembly surface of the nozzle and has an opening for the introduction of the tube 13 of the nozzle.

Zone 1O4 is the nozzle washing zone; it is closed by a door 111 shown in FIG. 10. The bottom of this zone 10 4 is provided with three bases 112 each comprising an imprint 112 a having, with the necessary clearance, the shape of the half-disc 8 b of the end piece 2 of the cup 1. This imprint 112 a is covered with a magnet 113. The height of the front wall 112 b of the base (including the thickness of the magnet 113) is equal, apart from the necessary clearance, to the height of the vertical wall 8 c of the end piece 2. Each base 112 is provided with a valve 114 capable of cooperating with the tube 13 of the end piece 2, when the latter is placed on the base, to allow injection and aspiration of washing water into the end piece. An injection and a suction of washing water are also provided inside the 10O zone to allow washing of the external surface of the nozzle.

The use of the cup according to the invention is described below, for reasons of simplification, in the case of a astronaut, in a state of weightlessness. It is understood that this use could also be carried out by a consumer in a state of gravity, on land.

When the astronaut desires a drink, he selects in zone 1O2 of the combined cabinet 1OO the refill 3 corresponding to the drink he wants. Zone 1O2 contains, for example, empty refills in case the astronaut wishes to drink water and refills of coffee without milk or with milk, sweetened or unsweetened, sweetened or unsweetened chocolate, tea with or without milk, sweetened or unsweetened, or different fruit juices in the form of powder obtained by lyophilization. It takes a clean nozzle 2 in zone 10O and assembles this nozzle 2 with the selected refill 3. To carry out this assembly, he slides the half-disc 8 b of the base on the half-disc 17 b of the cover and the half-disc 8 b of the base on the half-disc 17 a of the cover by presenting opening 18 of the cover 6 opposite the small tube 13 fixed to the base, until the perpendicular wall 8 c of the base is in contact with the perpendicular wall 17 c of the cover; the bead 2O of the cover then rests entirely in the groove 1O of the base. The pipe 13 passes through the opening 18 of the cover 6 and will open the valve 19.

When cup 1 is thus assembled, the astronaut fills it. He introduces cup 1 into a 10O a or 10O b imprint depending on whether he wants a hot or cold drink. The water inlet tube 1O6 is inserted into the water supply valve 22 of the cup 1; the skirt 21 of the cup pushes in the protective ring by releasing the tube 1O6 and by opening the associated non-return valve. This operation avoids the problems linked to the lack of precision, since the filling can only be done when the tube 1O6 is completely disengaged from the ring and that it is, consequently, inside the valve 22. The astronaut then presses on the button 1O8 a or 1O8 c according to whether he wants cold or hot water and the button 1O8 b or 1O8 d according to whether he wants 1O cl or 2O cl of drink. The filling of the refill 3 begins, which causes the deployment and the expansion of the container 7. The latter having an elasticity due to its construction material and a structural elasticity, tends to return to its initial shape and expel the drink towards the top of refill 3, until it reaches the tube 13. The drink then causes the valve 14 to open and can go up to the spout 5.

When the astronaut drinks, he takes the cup by putting his finger in the notch 12, then he takes the flexible beak 5 in the mouth and crushes said beak 5 with his lips or his teeth. It thus causes the valve 16 to open and the drink flows into its mouth without it having to suck or press with the hands on the container 7.

When the astronaut has finished drinking, he separates the nozzle 2 from the refill 3. He thus releases the tube 13 from the valve 19 which closes, and from the opening 18. The tube 13 being released, the valve 14 does not is no longer subject to a pressure difference and closes. Under these conditions, the refill 3 and the nozzle 2 are closed and the liquid which they can contain cannot spill. The astronaut then throws the refill 3 and introduces the nozzle 2 into the washing zone 1O4 of the combined piece of furniture 1OO. The astronaut has the tip 2 on the base 112, the magnet 9 of the tip attaching to the magnet 113. He simultaneously pushes the tube 13 of the tip into the valve 114. He closes the door 111 and he starts the washing device from the inside of the nozzle 2 and the washing device from the outside of the nozzle 2.

The device for washing the inside of the nozzle allows a water injection to be carried out through the valve 114 and a suction to evacuate the waste water. The washing device for the exterior of the nozzle 2 functions like an ordinary washing machine.

When the washing is finished, the astronaut puts the nozzle 2 in one of the compartments 11O of the zone 1O3 of the combined cabinet 1OO.

Claims (11)

1. Closed cup (1) consisting of a container (7) and a movable mouthpiece (2) provided with a spout (5) which a user can put in his mouth and a tube (15) communicating with the said container (7), characterised in that the mouthpiece comprises a rigid base (4) provided with a means (13) for the passage of the liquid from the container (3) into the mouthpiece (2) and a first element (10) for fixing the container (3) to the mouthpiece (2), the spout (5) made of flexible material being made integral with the base (4) and containing the tube (15), the said tube (15) being provided at its end with a flexible valve (16) which is opened by squeezing the spout (5) and is connected to the means (13) for the passage of the liquid from the container (3) into the mouthpiece (2) and that the container is a refill (3) comprising a second element (20) for fixing the refill (3) to the mouthpiece (2), this second element being complementary to the first fixing element (10), the wall of the container, as a result of its constituent material and/or its structural arrangement, displaying elasticity such that it can expand when a liquid is injected therein, pressure exerted on the container tending to expel the said liquid from the container (7), the container (7) being supplied with liquid by means of a check valve (22).
2. Cup according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible valve (16) situated at the end of the spout consists of two coaxial flexible tubes, the inner tube being closed at one end and comprising in the vicinity of this end a slit the plane of which is oblique relative to the axis of the said tube.
3. Cup according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the container (7) has an accordion structure.
4. Cup according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the means (13) for the passage of the liquid is a first means connected to the end of the tube (15) at which the valve (16) is situated and is complementary to a second means (18) carried by a rigid cover (6) of the refill (3) which forms an enclosure, the said second means (18) for the passage of the liquid allowing the said liquid to be expelled from the container (7), the check valve (22) being carried by the cover (6).
5. Cup according to claim 4, characterised in that the rigid cover (6) of the refill (3) comprises two identical parallel half discs (17a, 17b) connected together, firstly, along the diameters delimiting them by means of a wall (17c) perpendicular thereto and, secondly, by means of a cylindrical skirt (21) connected to the periphery of the two half discs and to which the container (7) is fixed.
6. Cup according to claim 5, characterised in that the base (4) consists, firstly, of a rigid component (8) formed by two identical half discs (8a, 8b) situated in two parallel planes at a distance from one another, the two half discs being connected together, firstly, by means of a wall (8c) situated along the diameters delimiting them in a plane perpendicular to their planes and, secondly, by means of a shell (11) connected to the periphery of the two half discs (8a, 8b) forming the base thereof, the edge of the shell forming a point (5a) at the spout end (5), a gripping device (12) being formed on the said shell (11).
7. Cup according to claim 6, characterised in that the first and second means (13, 18) for the passage of the liquid from the refill (3) to the mouthpiece (2) are carried by the perpendicular walls (8c, 17c) connecting the two half discs of the base (4) and the cover (6) respectively.
8. Cup according to claim 7, characterised in that the means for the passage of the liquid consist, in the case of the first means, of a small tube (13) disposed perpendicularly to the wall (8c) and traversing the said wall and, in the case of the second means, of an opening (18) formed in the wall (17c), the two means cooperating in a substantially liquid-tight manner.
9. Cup according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that a valve (14) is disposed in the mouthpiece (2) between the first means (13) for the passage of liquid and the tube (15) connecting the said first means for the passage of liquid to the flexible valve (16) of the spout (5), said valve (14) only allowing for the passage of the liquid in the direction of the spout, the second means (18) for the passage of liquid being moreover associated with a valve (19) which is opened and kept open by cooperation with the first means (13) for the passage of liquid.
10. Cup according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the rigid base (4) of the mouthpiece is provided with a gripping device (12).
11. Cup according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the spout (5) made of flexible material comprises a point (5a) curved towards the axis of the cup and partially connected to the edge of the shell (11) by means of a concave film (5b) of flexible material, the shell (11) being approximately in the shape of a spherical cap.

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