CA2174643A1 - Container closure - Google Patents

Container closure

Info

Publication number
CA2174643A1
CA2174643A1 CA 2174643 CA2174643A CA2174643A1 CA 2174643 A1 CA2174643 A1 CA 2174643A1 CA 2174643 CA2174643 CA 2174643 CA 2174643 A CA2174643 A CA 2174643A CA 2174643 A1 CA2174643 A1 CA 2174643A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
valve
closure member
closure
assembly according
container
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
Application number
CA 2174643
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ian David Rickuss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Manthorpe Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2174643A1 publication Critical patent/CA2174643A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/2018Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
    • B65D47/2056Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type
    • B65D47/2062Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve stem
    • B65D47/2068Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve stem in which the stem is lowered by the pressure of the contents and thereby opening the valve
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47GHOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00Table service
    • A47G19/22Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
    • A47G19/2205Drinking glasses or vessels
    • A47G19/2266Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
    • A47G19/2272Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A child's drinking cup (10) has a releasable lid (14) providing a mouthpiece (16). Sucking on the latter causes air to be drawn from the valve members (27) through a channel (18), whereby to open the valves and allow liquid from the container (12) to be sucked into a space (26) and therefrom through the open mouths (24) out of the mouthpiece (16). On release of the sucking action, the valve members (27) automatically close, thereby providing a reliable seal to the cup when not in use.

Description

- - 2-1 74643 - .: , Container Closure The present invention concerns an arrangement for closing a container for liquids, and in particular relates to an arrangement suitable for use with a child's drinking cup.

~ Drinking cups are often provided for young children in which the cup is covered and sealed by a lid including a spout or mouthpiece through which a liquid from a container may be drunk. The spout facilitates the use of the cup by very young children, and also the lid helps to prevent accidential splashing or spillage of the drink. However, as the spout remains open such a cup cannot be considered as leakproof, and this is a considerable drawback in situation where the cup is likely to be knocked over accidentally or, for example, when travelling when there would ideally be provided a completely closeable and leakproof container within which a beverage may be transported, subsequently serving as a cup from which a child may drink the contents.

US-A-5079013 seeks to mitigate and/or obviate such problems, but uses a mechanical valve arrangement where liquid flows over the components and thus could be susceptible to contamination by deterioration of the material of the components. The mechanical components 4~ ~~r are also susceptible to normal wear and tear, and - deterioration of any of the materials which could lead to break-up of the materials, could lead to serious problems.

According to the invention there is provided a closure assembly for a container for liquids, the assembly comprising a closure member adapted to be releasably mounted on the container, a through passage in the closure member for passage of liquid from the container to an outlet, and normally closed valve means which is associated with the through passage, characterised in tha~ the valve means comprises a valve member having a variable volume configuration, the internal space of which is in communication with externally of the closure member, the valve member having a valve face normally locating across the outlet to prevent flow of liquid therethrough until there is a reduction of pressure within the valve member due to the applica.ion of negative pressure to the closure member.

A valve assembly including the valve means may be releasably fitted in the closure member and may have a similar overall size to that of the closure member for safety purposes. A pair of valve members may be provided, each associated with a respective outlet~ and the valve members may be formed of silicone.

Ah~ND{~ ET

WO95110965 PCT/G~9~1~2291 The closure member may take the form of a mouthpiece on a closure lid for a drinking vessel, `` whereby negative pressure can be applied by sucking the mouthpiece.

According to the invention there is further provided a drinking vessel having a closure assembly as defined in any of the three preceding paragraphs.

The invention will be further described for the purposes of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking cupincorporating the invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale of a valve arrangement of the cup of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, a child's drinking cup 10 comprises an open-topped container part 12 and a lid 14, each of which may conveniently be moulded from a rigid plastics material. The lid 14 may be screwed or snap-fitted on the container 12 to provide a liquid-tight seal. A spout 16 is provided to project from the periphery of an upper surface of the lid 14.
The spout 16 is upwardly tapered and of convenient dimensions to permit it to act as a mouthpiece through which a child may take a beverage contained within the cup 10. In the present example, the spout 16 is integrally moulded with the lid 14.

As is best shown in Fig. 2, the spout 16 is provided with a tubular extension 17 defining a central internal channel 18 having a mouth 20 opening at the free end of the spout 16.

Two further openings 24 are provided in the spout 16, one each side of the mouth 20.

A valve assembly is mounted within the spout 16 and comprises a closure plate 19 which, at its respective side edges, interfits with internal shoulders 21 of the spout 16 to define a space 26 communicating with openings 20 and 24. The closure plate 19 has a central recessed part 19A, overlying which is a flange 22, thereby defining a cavity 26A, the flange having a central aperture by which to locate over the free end of the tubular extension 17. A pair of through apertures 23 are provided in the flange at respective sides of the central aperture and therefore, in use, on respective sides of the tubular extension 17, each aperture 23 having on the side thereof remote from the central cavity 26A, an upstanding boss defining a peripheral lip 23A. When fitted to the spout 16, the closure-plate 19 defines the space 26 above the flange 22 bounded at the WO95/10965 PCT/C~02291 sides by the wall of the spout and the wall of the tubular extension, the space 26 communicating both with the respective mouth 24 and with the central cavity 26A, the latter communication being through the respective aperture in the flange 22.

The valve assembly further includes a pair of valve members 27 each having the form generally of a flexible bellows, preferably formed of silicone. Each valve member 27 is open at one end to locate over the respective peripheral lip 23A on the flange 22 of the closure plate 19, and at its other end is closed by a valve face 28 which can locate on a valve seat 3û of the respective mouth 24 to close communication between the latter and the internal space 26. Each valve member 27 is biassed to an extended position in which the valve face 28 sealingly seats on the mouth 24. The internal space of each valve member 27 is therefore in communication with the internal channel 18 but is closed relative to the internal space 26 of the spout 16, which is in communication through suitable apertures (not shown) with the interior of the container 12.

In normal circumstances, liquid flows from the body of the cup 10 into the space 26, but is prevented from exiting through either mouth 24 by the respective valve face 28. ~hen it is required to drink liquid from WO95/10965 l 7 4 6 4 3 PCTIGB94/02291 the container 12, the spout 16 is placed into the child's mouth and sucked, thereby causing air to be drawn from the channel 18 and the cavity 26A. This causes the bellows of each valve member to collapse so that each valve face 28 is pulled in the downward direction as shown in Fig. 2 and away from the respective valve seat 30, thereby allowing liquid to be sucked into the space 26 from the interior of the container 12, and therefrom into the mouth 24 and out of the spout 16. On release of the sucking action, recovery of the bellows returns each valve member 27 to the closed position.

There is thus shown an arrangement which is simple to manufacture and use and which provides a reliable seal to the drinking vessel except when it is positively opened by the action of a child drinking.

The valve assembly may be removably mounted in the spout for cleaning purposes, although the removable mounting would require to be tamper-proof. The valve assembly may be locatable in the spout as described and shown or may alternatively take the whole size of the lid, as the increased size would make it impossible for the valve assembly, if for any reason it did become detached from the lid, to be placed into a child's mouth.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. In an alternative embodiment tnot shown) a separate valve arrangement may be provided for insertion into an appropriate spout 16. The arrangement and configuration of the valve may be different from that described and shown. The cup 10 may be made of any convenient material or materials bearing in mind particular requirements, for example as regards the ability to sterlise the cup, or place it within a dishwasher or microwave oven. The container 10, although described with reference to a child's cup, may also find use for invalids and the elderly.

Claims (8)

Claims:-
1. A closure assembly for a container for liquids, the assembly comprising a closure member (14) adapted to be releasably mounted on the container (10), a through passage (24) in the closure member (14) for passage of liquid from the container (10) to an outlet (24), and normally closed valve means (27, 28) which is associated with the through passage (24), characterised in that the valve means comprises a valve member (27) having a variable volume configuration, the internal space of which is in communication with externally of the closure member (14), the valve member (27) having a valve face (28) normally locating across the outlet (24) to prevent flow of liquid therethrough until there is a reduction of pressure within the valve member (27) due to the application of negative pressure to the closure member.
2. An assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that a valve assembly including the valve means (27, 28) is releasably fitted in the closure member.
3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a valve assembly including the valve means (27, 28) has a similar overall size to that of the closure member (14).
4. An assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the closure member has the form of a mouthpiece on a closure lid for a drinking vessel, whereby negative pressure can be applied by sucking the mouthpiece.
5. An assembly according to any of the preceding Claims 3, characterised in that the valve member (27) is formed of silicone.
6. An assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that a pair of valve members (27) is provided, each associated with a respective outlet (24).
7. An assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the closure member (14) has means defining a channel (18) which opens at one end (20) externally of the closure member and at the other end is in communication with the valve means (27, 28), whereby the application of the negative pressure may take place through the channel (18).
8. A drinking vessel characterised by a closure assembly according to any of the preceding Claims.
CA 2174643 1993-10-20 1994-10-19 Container closure Abandoned CA2174643A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB939321670A GB9321670D0 (en) 1993-10-20 1993-10-20 Container closure
GB9321670.3 1993-10-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2174643A1 true CA2174643A1 (en) 1995-04-27

Family

ID=10743868

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2174643 Abandoned CA2174643A1 (en) 1993-10-20 1994-10-19 Container closure

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0723413B1 (en)
AU (1) AU7943694A (en)
CA (1) CA2174643A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69419026T2 (en)
GB (1) GB9321670D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1995010965A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29514259U1 (en) * 1995-09-06 1996-04-04 Voß-Denefleh, Jürgen, Dipl.-Ing., 22453 Hamburg Adjustable, self-closing valve for drinking cups
DE29706653U1 (en) * 1997-04-14 1997-07-10 S + R Kunststofftechnik GmbH, 35394 Gießen Drinking vessel
FR2767117B1 (en) * 1997-06-26 1999-09-03 Franck Rene Lardeur DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF A BEVERAGE
AU8553198A (en) * 1997-08-12 1999-03-01 Veresk Biosystems Limited Container
IL134641A0 (en) 1997-08-21 2001-04-30 Hakim Nouri E No-spill drinking cup apparatus
BR9912714A (en) * 1998-08-03 2001-05-02 Veresk Biosystems Ltd Container
DE19907581C2 (en) * 1999-02-22 2003-03-27 Diamond Creek Corp N V Leak-preventing valve, as well as cover part and container using the valve
AU3424600A (en) * 1999-02-22 2000-09-14 Diamond Creek Corporation B.V. Anti-spill drinking cup
USD448242S1 (en) 1999-12-30 2001-09-25 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Trainer cup
USD448976S1 (en) 1999-12-30 2001-10-09 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Pinched trainer cup
USD463216S1 (en) 1999-12-30 2002-09-24 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Trainer cup
NL1014934C2 (en) * 2000-04-13 2001-10-16 Schievacc B V Leak proof drinking beaker, has spout closed by valve device containing two cavities linked to spout and container and connected via channel containing a valve body
WO2001097663A1 (en) * 2000-06-23 2001-12-27 Sybre Limited Spill proof closure and cup
DE20019294U1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-03-28 Wulf & Co Emsa Werk drinkware
JP2003081296A (en) * 2001-09-10 2003-03-19 Katsutoshi Masuda Tube type container
CN101897531B (en) 2002-01-18 2013-04-17 Oz10有限公司 Drinking vessel
GB0201185D0 (en) * 2002-01-18 2002-03-06 Tomy Uk Ltd Drinking vessel
SE0200397L (en) * 2002-02-12 2003-08-13 Baby Bjoern Ab Liquid container with suction pipe
JP2004067099A (en) 2002-06-10 2004-03-04 Katsutoshi Masuda Valve mechanism
NO321708B1 (en) 2004-09-09 2006-06-26 Smartseal As Hygiene retaining device by a suppressor activated valve for a beverage container
WO2019147866A1 (en) * 2018-01-26 2019-08-01 Halosource, Inc. Liquid container lid and apparatus and methods of use

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE291504C (en) *
US2747573A (en) * 1954-07-16 1956-05-29 Owens Illinois Glass Co Valved nursing nipple
NO137258C (en) * 1975-09-26 1978-02-01 Alto As DRINKING SPOT FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS
GB2187722B (en) * 1986-03-11 1990-08-01 Jackel Int Pty Ltd Teat and cap assembly
AU7934687A (en) * 1986-10-02 1988-04-14 Kosa Designs Ltd. Mouthpiece for a drinking vessel
US5079013A (en) * 1990-08-30 1992-01-07 Belanger Richard A Dripless liquid feeding/training containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995010965A1 (en) 1995-04-27
DE69419026D1 (en) 1999-07-15
AU7943694A (en) 1995-05-08
EP0723413B1 (en) 1999-06-09
DE69419026T2 (en) 1999-11-11
GB9321670D0 (en) 1993-12-08
EP0723413A1 (en) 1996-07-31

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead