CA2060005A1 - Spill-proof lid for beverage cup - Google Patents
Spill-proof lid for beverage cupInfo
- Publication number
- CA2060005A1 CA2060005A1 CA 2060005 CA2060005A CA2060005A1 CA 2060005 A1 CA2060005 A1 CA 2060005A1 CA 2060005 CA2060005 CA 2060005 CA 2060005 A CA2060005 A CA 2060005A CA 2060005 A1 CA2060005 A1 CA 2060005A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- lid
- valve
- openings
- vessel
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A beverage mug with a spill-proof lid having a peripheral wall adapted to engage the rim of the mug and a panel extending across the lid provided with diametrically spaced-apart openings and a valve on the interior of the lid operated by a lever pivoted on the exterior of the lid to open and close fluid communication between the interior of the mug and the openings in the panel. The valve includes a disc adapted to engage a valve seat on the lid and a spring-urged lever connected to a valve stem for operating the valve to open and close the valve disc against the valve seat.
Description
206000~
The present invention relates to a beverage cup, and more particularly, to a cup or mug provided with a lid to avoid spilling.
A beverage mug with a lid having a spill-proof lid is useful, not only for the feeding of small children, but also for older children and adults when used in unstable conditions, such as in a moving automobile. Toddlers' beverage mugs are known wherein a lid fits tightly on the mug and wherein the lid is 10 provided with a narrow projecting spout to fit in the child's mouth. Dispensible beverage cups are also known with lids having weakened lines to allow the breaking away of a small opening in the lid to permit a person to drink directly from the cup with the lid intact.
These solutions, however, do not render the beverage cup completely spill-proof. If either a toddler's mug or dispensible cup is dropped or knocked over on its side, the contents will leak through the zo opening in the lid. Furthermore, when this type of cup or mug is used, which typically has only one small opening in the lid, which opening is completely covered by the user's mouth, the pressure in the vessel will tend to be reduced as the volume of liquid is reduced, because the vessel is otherwise not vented, thereby causing discomfort to the user and sometimes embarrassing noises.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved cup and lid combination which is truly spill- or leak-proof.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a lid which can be completely closed and sealed when the vessel is not being used but which provides a small opening for drinking, when in use, as well as a vent opening in order to ensure pressure equilibrium within and outside of the vessel.
20~000~
A construction in accordance with the present invention comprises a lid for a beverage vessel which has a top opening, including a rim, the lid having a panel with an exterior and interior surface and a peripheral flange to in-timately engage the rim of the opening in the vessel in a sealing manner. The panel includes at least a pair of openings defined in spaced-apart areas of the panel. At least a first opening in the panel has a size and outline conforming anatomically to the human mouth. The openings in the panel communicate with the interior of the vessel through the top opening thereof. A valve means is provided for closing the openings in the panel from the interior of the vessel, including a valve member on the interior surface of the panel and an integral valve stem passing through the panel to the exterior surface, the valve member having an area sufficient to cover and seal the openings in the panel. A manual valve operating member is mounted for reciprocating movement on the lid at the exterior surface of the panel and is connected to the valve stem to move the stem and the valve member from an open position to a closed position, and spring means are mounted on the lid to urge the valve in a closed position.
In a more specific embodiment, the valve member is in the form of a plate, and the valve operating member is a lever member pivoted to a point on the peripheral flange of the lid and extending across the exterior surface of the panel between the spaced-apart areas to engage the valve stem located centrally of the panel, and the spring means includes a leaf spring mounted on the interior surface of the panel.
In a still more specific embodiment, the lid is provided with a continuous valve seat on the interior surface of the panel surrounding the areas containing the openings in the panel, and the plate-206000~
shaped valve member is a flexible plate formed as aportion of a cylinder with opposed portions of the plate curving away from the interior surface of the panel when in an open position, and the plate is deformed to a substantially flattened condition with the plate in complete sealing contact with the valve seat when the lid is closed, such that by depressing the lever member against the leaf spring, the plate-shaped valve member will spring back to its original shape, thus disengaging itself from the valve seat and allowing fluid communication between the vessel and the openings in the panel. On releasing the lever member, the leaf spring will return the lever to its extended position, entraining the plate-shaped valve member into complete contact with the valve seat while deforming the valve member to thus interrupt liquid communication between the vessel and the openings in the panel.
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mug and lid in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an axial vertical cross-section of the mug and lid shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-section, similar to Fig. 2, but in a different opera-tive position;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lid with a 30 detail thereof removed;
Fig. 5 is a partial fragmentary enlarged vertical cross-section at right angles to the plane of the cross-section of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further detail of the lid; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the detail shown in Fig. 6.
Referring now to the drawings, and in parti-cular to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a mug 10 on which there is a lid 12. The mug 10 has a handle 14, a top opening 16, and an interior 18 for containing a liquid beverage. The mug 10 includes a rim 20 and a bottom wall 22.
The lid 12 is snugly fitted to the rim 20 of the mug 10. The lid includes a continuous cylindrical wall 26 projecting above a panel 24. A portion of the o wall 26 extends below the panel 24 forming a flange 28 with a lip 30 adapted to engage the rim 20 of the mug 10 .
As shown in more detail in Figs. 2 to 5, the lid 12 defines a valve seat 32 formed adjacent the cylindrical flange 28. The valve seat 32 includes an elastomeric gasket 34 to ensure the seal of the lid 12 to the mug 10 since the gasket 34 is in continuous contact with the rim 20. In addition, the gasket 34 serves as the valve seat for a valve member 56 which will be described further.
The panel 24 of the lid 12 includes diametrically opposed spaced-apart openings 36 and 38.
Each of the openings 36 and 38 is narrow and relatively small and has been designed to conform anatomically to the mouth of a typical user. As will be described, when one of the openings is utilized to allow the beverage to pour into a user's mouth, the other of the openings 36 and 38 acts as a vent.
The panel 24 also includes upstanding, parallel, spaced-apart walls 24a and 24b which define a trough 41 to accommodate a lever 40. The lever 40 is pivoted at 42 to the cylindrical wall 26. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pivot includes a hook member 44 at the end of the lever 40 adapted to engage an anchor slot 46 formed in the cylindrical wall 26. The other end of the lever 40 includes a downwardly extending flange 48 defining an opening 50 adapted to receive a 206000~
lip 51 extending from the cylindrical wall 26 and acting as a limit device for the movement of the lever 40. Centrally of the panel 24 is an opening through which a valve stem 52 is allowed to reciprocate in sliding movement. The valve stem is engaged by the lever 40 by means of lever projection 54.
A valve member 56 in the form of a plate is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7 As can be seen, the plate-shaped valve member 56 is in the form of a 10 portion of a cylinder. The plate-shaped valve member 56 is flexible and preferably is made from thermo-plastic material having memory. An opening 56a is provided centrally of the valve member 56 to accommodate a fastener 58 including a cap and an upward attachment stem 58a. The fastener 58 locks the valve member 56 to the valve stem 52 which in turn is in contact with the projection 54 on lever 40.
A leaf spring 60 extends diametrically below the panel 24 and is anchored in leaf spring retaining slots 62 and 64 defined in diametrically opposed portions of the cylindrical wall 26. The spring 60 and the retaining slots 62 and 64 are illustrated in Figs.
The present invention relates to a beverage cup, and more particularly, to a cup or mug provided with a lid to avoid spilling.
A beverage mug with a lid having a spill-proof lid is useful, not only for the feeding of small children, but also for older children and adults when used in unstable conditions, such as in a moving automobile. Toddlers' beverage mugs are known wherein a lid fits tightly on the mug and wherein the lid is 10 provided with a narrow projecting spout to fit in the child's mouth. Dispensible beverage cups are also known with lids having weakened lines to allow the breaking away of a small opening in the lid to permit a person to drink directly from the cup with the lid intact.
These solutions, however, do not render the beverage cup completely spill-proof. If either a toddler's mug or dispensible cup is dropped or knocked over on its side, the contents will leak through the zo opening in the lid. Furthermore, when this type of cup or mug is used, which typically has only one small opening in the lid, which opening is completely covered by the user's mouth, the pressure in the vessel will tend to be reduced as the volume of liquid is reduced, because the vessel is otherwise not vented, thereby causing discomfort to the user and sometimes embarrassing noises.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved cup and lid combination which is truly spill- or leak-proof.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a lid which can be completely closed and sealed when the vessel is not being used but which provides a small opening for drinking, when in use, as well as a vent opening in order to ensure pressure equilibrium within and outside of the vessel.
20~000~
A construction in accordance with the present invention comprises a lid for a beverage vessel which has a top opening, including a rim, the lid having a panel with an exterior and interior surface and a peripheral flange to in-timately engage the rim of the opening in the vessel in a sealing manner. The panel includes at least a pair of openings defined in spaced-apart areas of the panel. At least a first opening in the panel has a size and outline conforming anatomically to the human mouth. The openings in the panel communicate with the interior of the vessel through the top opening thereof. A valve means is provided for closing the openings in the panel from the interior of the vessel, including a valve member on the interior surface of the panel and an integral valve stem passing through the panel to the exterior surface, the valve member having an area sufficient to cover and seal the openings in the panel. A manual valve operating member is mounted for reciprocating movement on the lid at the exterior surface of the panel and is connected to the valve stem to move the stem and the valve member from an open position to a closed position, and spring means are mounted on the lid to urge the valve in a closed position.
In a more specific embodiment, the valve member is in the form of a plate, and the valve operating member is a lever member pivoted to a point on the peripheral flange of the lid and extending across the exterior surface of the panel between the spaced-apart areas to engage the valve stem located centrally of the panel, and the spring means includes a leaf spring mounted on the interior surface of the panel.
In a still more specific embodiment, the lid is provided with a continuous valve seat on the interior surface of the panel surrounding the areas containing the openings in the panel, and the plate-206000~
shaped valve member is a flexible plate formed as aportion of a cylinder with opposed portions of the plate curving away from the interior surface of the panel when in an open position, and the plate is deformed to a substantially flattened condition with the plate in complete sealing contact with the valve seat when the lid is closed, such that by depressing the lever member against the leaf spring, the plate-shaped valve member will spring back to its original shape, thus disengaging itself from the valve seat and allowing fluid communication between the vessel and the openings in the panel. On releasing the lever member, the leaf spring will return the lever to its extended position, entraining the plate-shaped valve member into complete contact with the valve seat while deforming the valve member to thus interrupt liquid communication between the vessel and the openings in the panel.
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mug and lid in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an axial vertical cross-section of the mug and lid shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-section, similar to Fig. 2, but in a different opera-tive position;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lid with a 30 detail thereof removed;
Fig. 5 is a partial fragmentary enlarged vertical cross-section at right angles to the plane of the cross-section of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further detail of the lid; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the detail shown in Fig. 6.
Referring now to the drawings, and in parti-cular to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a mug 10 on which there is a lid 12. The mug 10 has a handle 14, a top opening 16, and an interior 18 for containing a liquid beverage. The mug 10 includes a rim 20 and a bottom wall 22.
The lid 12 is snugly fitted to the rim 20 of the mug 10. The lid includes a continuous cylindrical wall 26 projecting above a panel 24. A portion of the o wall 26 extends below the panel 24 forming a flange 28 with a lip 30 adapted to engage the rim 20 of the mug 10 .
As shown in more detail in Figs. 2 to 5, the lid 12 defines a valve seat 32 formed adjacent the cylindrical flange 28. The valve seat 32 includes an elastomeric gasket 34 to ensure the seal of the lid 12 to the mug 10 since the gasket 34 is in continuous contact with the rim 20. In addition, the gasket 34 serves as the valve seat for a valve member 56 which will be described further.
The panel 24 of the lid 12 includes diametrically opposed spaced-apart openings 36 and 38.
Each of the openings 36 and 38 is narrow and relatively small and has been designed to conform anatomically to the mouth of a typical user. As will be described, when one of the openings is utilized to allow the beverage to pour into a user's mouth, the other of the openings 36 and 38 acts as a vent.
The panel 24 also includes upstanding, parallel, spaced-apart walls 24a and 24b which define a trough 41 to accommodate a lever 40. The lever 40 is pivoted at 42 to the cylindrical wall 26. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pivot includes a hook member 44 at the end of the lever 40 adapted to engage an anchor slot 46 formed in the cylindrical wall 26. The other end of the lever 40 includes a downwardly extending flange 48 defining an opening 50 adapted to receive a 206000~
lip 51 extending from the cylindrical wall 26 and acting as a limit device for the movement of the lever 40. Centrally of the panel 24 is an opening through which a valve stem 52 is allowed to reciprocate in sliding movement. The valve stem is engaged by the lever 40 by means of lever projection 54.
A valve member 56 in the form of a plate is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7 As can be seen, the plate-shaped valve member 56 is in the form of a 10 portion of a cylinder. The plate-shaped valve member 56 is flexible and preferably is made from thermo-plastic material having memory. An opening 56a is provided centrally of the valve member 56 to accommodate a fastener 58 including a cap and an upward attachment stem 58a. The fastener 58 locks the valve member 56 to the valve stem 52 which in turn is in contact with the projection 54 on lever 40.
A leaf spring 60 extends diametrically below the panel 24 and is anchored in leaf spring retaining slots 62 and 64 defined in diametrically opposed portions of the cylindrical wall 26. The spring 60 and the retaining slots 62 and 64 are illustrated in Figs.
2 and 3. The leaf spring urges the valve stem 52 upwardly in Figs. 2 and 3 against the lever 40, thereby extending the lever 40 in its upward position, as shown in Fig. 2. In its normal position with the leaf spring acting against the valve stem 52 and maintaining the lever 40 in its extended position, the valve member 56 is deformed and is in contact with the valve seat 32, and more particularly, with the gasket 34, as shown in Fig. 2.
Upon depressing the lever 40 against the leaf spring 60, the valve stem 52 moves the valve member 56 downwardly out of contact with the valve seat 32, allowing the valve member 56 to return to its original, partly cylindrical shape, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, liquid communication is established 206~00~
between the interior 18 of the mug 10 and the openings 36 and 38 in the panel 24. When the lever 40 is released, the leaf spring returns the lever 40 to its extended position, forcing the valve member 56 to become deformed and to return to be in contact with the valve seat 32, thus sealing the interior 18 of the mug 10 from the openings 36 and ~8 in the panel 24.
In use, if the interior 18 of the mug 10 is filled with a liquid beverage, the liquid will be 10 sealed within the interior 18 in view of the seal of the lid 12 on the rim 20, including the gasket 34, and as well, the valve member 56 being in sealing contact with the gasket 34, thus preventing the liquid from pouring through the openings 36 and 38.
~ hen it is required to drink from the mug 10, the lever 40 must be depressed, as shown in Fig. 3.
Usually, the user will grab the mug by the handle 14 and use his thumb to depress the lever 40 in the vicinity of the arrow as shown in Fig. 3. As mentioned above, depressing the lever 40 will open the valve, thus allowing communication of the interior 18 through one of the openings 36 or 38 on the panel 24. In the event that the user drinks from the opening 36, the opening 38, which is then the uppermost opening, will act as a vent for the interior 18 of the mug 10.
Upon depressing the lever 40 against the leaf spring 60, the valve stem 52 moves the valve member 56 downwardly out of contact with the valve seat 32, allowing the valve member 56 to return to its original, partly cylindrical shape, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, liquid communication is established 206~00~
between the interior 18 of the mug 10 and the openings 36 and 38 in the panel 24. When the lever 40 is released, the leaf spring returns the lever 40 to its extended position, forcing the valve member 56 to become deformed and to return to be in contact with the valve seat 32, thus sealing the interior 18 of the mug 10 from the openings 36 and ~8 in the panel 24.
In use, if the interior 18 of the mug 10 is filled with a liquid beverage, the liquid will be 10 sealed within the interior 18 in view of the seal of the lid 12 on the rim 20, including the gasket 34, and as well, the valve member 56 being in sealing contact with the gasket 34, thus preventing the liquid from pouring through the openings 36 and 38.
~ hen it is required to drink from the mug 10, the lever 40 must be depressed, as shown in Fig. 3.
Usually, the user will grab the mug by the handle 14 and use his thumb to depress the lever 40 in the vicinity of the arrow as shown in Fig. 3. As mentioned above, depressing the lever 40 will open the valve, thus allowing communication of the interior 18 through one of the openings 36 or 38 on the panel 24. In the event that the user drinks from the opening 36, the opening 38, which is then the uppermost opening, will act as a vent for the interior 18 of the mug 10.
Claims (6)
1. A lid for a liquid beverage containing vessel, wherein the vessel has an open top defined by a rim, the lid comprising a panel having an exterior and interior surface and a continuous peripheral wall at right angles to the panel, the wall including a downwardly extending flange to intimately engage the rim of the opening in the vessel in a sealing manner, the panel including at least a pair of openings defined in spaced-apart areas thereof, at least a first opening in the panel having a size and outline conforming anatomically to the human mouth, the openings in the panel communicating with the interior of the vessel through the top opening thereof, valve means for closing the openings in the panel from the interior of the vessel, including a valve member on the interior surface of the panel, and a valve stem passing through the panel to the exterior surface, the valve member having an area sufficient to cover and seal the openings in the panel, a manual valve operating member is mounted for reciprocating movement on the exterior surface of the panel and connected to the valve stem to move the valve stem and the valve member from an open position to a closed position, and spring means mounted on the lid to urge the valve to a closed position.
2. A lid as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve member is in the form of a plate, and the valve operating member is a lever member pivoted to a point on the peripheral wall of the lid and extending across the exterior surface of the panel between the spaced-apart areas to engage the valve stem located centrally of the panel, and the spring means includes a leaf spring mounted on the interior surface of the panel.
3. A lid as defined in claim 2, wherein the lid is provided with a continuous valve seat on the interior surface of the panel surrounding the areas containing the openings in the panel, and the plate-shaped valve member is a flexible plate formed as a portion of the cylinder with opposed portions of the plate curving away from the interior surface of the panel when the valve is in an open position and the plate is deformed to a substantially flattened condition with the plate in complete sealing contact with the valve seat when the lid is closed, whereby on depressing the lever member against the leaf spring, the plate-shaped valve member will spring back to its original partially cylindrical shape disengaged from the valve seat and allowing fluid communication between the vessel and the openings in the panel, and on releasing the lever member, the leaf spring will return the lever to an extended position entraining the plate-shaped valve member into complete contact with the valve seat while deforming the valve member to thus interrupt liquid communication between the vessel and the openings in the panel.
4. A lid as defined in claim 3, wherein the valve member is a thin plastics material which is flexible and in its relaxed shape is formed as a circular disc having the shape of a partial cylinder.
5. A lid as defined in claim 4, wherein the outline of the lid is a circle to fit a circular rim of the vessel, and the areas of the panel defining the openings are diametrically spaced apart.
6. A lid as defined in claim 1, adapted to fit on a vessel in the form of a beverage mug.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060005 CA2060005A1 (en) | 1992-01-24 | 1992-01-24 | Spill-proof lid for beverage cup |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060005 CA2060005A1 (en) | 1992-01-24 | 1992-01-24 | Spill-proof lid for beverage cup |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2060005A1 true CA2060005A1 (en) | 1993-07-25 |
Family
ID=4149152
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060005 Abandoned CA2060005A1 (en) | 1992-01-24 | 1992-01-24 | Spill-proof lid for beverage cup |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2060005A1 (en) |
-
1992
- 1992-01-24 CA CA 2060005 patent/CA2060005A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |