CN114642343A - Cup cover for straw cup and straw cup - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cup cover for a straw cup and a straw cup. The cup lid for a straw cup proposed herein includes a lid body and a movable lid mounted on the lid body. The movable lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The cover body is provided with a suction nozzle and a normally closed valve. A slide is provided on the side of the movable cover facing the cover body. During movement of the movable lid between the closed and open positions, the slide passes over and applies force to the normally closed valve to open the normally closed valve to equalize pressure inside and outside the straw cup. A straw cup including such a cup cover is also presented. The embodiment of the disclosure can prevent leakage and avoid scalding caused by the ejection of hot water in the cup from the suction nozzle in the process of opening the suction pipe cup.

Description

Cup cover for straw cup and straw cup

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to beverage containers and, more particularly, to a cup lid and a straw cup including the same.

Background

Currently, there are many designs of straw cups on the market. A suction cup without a pressure relief device, in particular to a pressure relief device in the opening process. Particularly, when the straw cup contains hot liquid (such as hot water or boiled water), the liquid in the straw cup is sprayed out from the opening of the straw due to the internal pressure during the opening process of the straw cup due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the straw cup, thereby causing scald. In addition, the cup is not communicated with the outside in the drinking process, so that the problem of unsmooth drinking is caused.

Another straw cup design includes a normally open pressure relief device, such as a through hole or a normally open valve. Because the through hole or the normally open valve is normally open when the cup cover is opened to drink water, water flows out of the through hole or the normally open valve serving as the pressure relief hole/the exhaust hole, and accordingly leakage is caused.

Further, beverage containers with pressure relief devices are also disclosed in CN106395118A, CN208002570U, CN107985785A, CN103496499A and CN 108652374A. However, these pressure relief devices are complex and expensive to manufacture. Further, in these pressure relief devices, the action of opening the valve is exerted instantaneously, and there may be a problem of insufficient pressure relief. In addition, these pressure relief devices apply an external force for opening the valve in only one direction (or on a single side). Therefore, a relatively large external force is needed, the valve is easy to wear or permanently deform, and the service life of the pressure relief device is shortened.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cup cover and a straw cup including the same to at least partially address the above and other potential problems of conventional approaches.

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a lid for a straw cup is provided. This bowl cover includes: a cover body on which a suction nozzle and a normally closed valve are arranged; and a movable cover mounted on the cover body and movable between a closed position and an open position. A slide is provided on the side of the movable lid facing the lid body, which slide passes and applies a force to the normally closed valve during movement of the movable lid between the closed position and the open position to open the normally closed valve, thereby equalizing the pressure inside and outside the straw cup.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved pressure relief device for a straw cup. The pressure relief function can be realized only by using two parts, namely the normally closed valve and the slideway, and the pressure relief structure is simple and has low manufacturing cost. The normally closed valve is normally closed to prevent leakage of water from the normally closed valve during drinking. In the process of opening the movable cover, the slide way is subjected to external force from the slide way through the normally-closed valve, and the normally-closed valve is opened to balance the pressure inside and outside the straw cup. In this way, when the suction pipe cup is opened, hot water in the cup is prevented from being sprayed out from the suction nozzle under the action of the internal pressure force, and scalding is avoided. The use of a slideway may also provide additional advantages. On the one hand, the slide has a certain length, and can exert force to the normally-closed valve in a period of time in the process that the slide passes through the normally-closed valve, so that the normally-closed valve can be opened for a period of time and is not transient, and therefore sufficient pressure relief is realized. Alternatively, the ramps may apply force to the normally-closed valve in multiple directions (or on multiple sides). This allows the normally closed valve to be stressed more evenly and requires a relatively small force to open the normally closed valve. Therefore, the wear of the normally closed valve can be reduced, the permanent deformation can be prevented, and the service life can be prolonged.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the chute is formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, and a channel between the first side wall and the second side wall, the normally-closed valve having a protrusion protruding outside the cover, wherein a dimension of the protrusion in a width direction of the channel is larger than a width of the channel, such that the chute is adapted to apply a force to the protrusion during passage of the chute through the normally-closed valve. By means of the side walls a simple realization of the slide is provided. The size of the protrusion is larger than the width of the channel, which ensures that the slide can apply a force to the normally closed valve. In addition, the two side walls may apply force to the normally-closed valve in at least two directions (or on both sides). The applied force is relatively symmetrical and uniform so that only a relatively small force is required to open the valve. This prevents excessive wear and permanent deformation of the valve, which can increase the service life of the normally closed valve.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the channel comprises a wide portion and a narrow portion, the wide portion having a width greater than a width of the narrow portion, the protrusion having a dimension in the direction of the width of the channel greater than the width of the narrow portion of the channel, the wide portion adapted to guide the normally-closed valve into or out of the chute, and the narrow portion adapted to apply a force to the normally-closed valve. Such embodiments provide runners with varying widths. The provision of a wider portion of greater width allows the normally closed valve to smoothly enter or exit the chute, while a narrower portion ensures that the chute can apply force to the normally closed valve.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally closed valve is a one-way valve that opens when the air pressure inside the straw cup is below the external air pressure and closes when the air pressure inside the straw cup is above the external air pressure. By using the check valve as a normally closed valve, when the air pressure in the cup is reduced to be lower than the external air pressure in the drinking process, the normally closed valve can be opened to balance the internal and external pressures of the cup, so that drinking can be smooth. On the other hand, the one-way valve is closed when the internal air pressure of the straw cup is higher than the external air pressure, so that the beverage in the cup is prevented from flowing out through the normally closed valve, and leakage is prevented.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally-closed valve is a one-way normally-closed silicone valve of spherical or V-shape. The use of silica gel allows the one-way valve to be implemented in a low cost manner and facilitates the manufacture of normally closed valves.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally-closed valve is made of an elastic material, and the force presses the normally-closed valve to deform it, thereby opening the normally-closed valve. By using an elastic material, the closing valve can be easily deformed to switch between the closed and the open state. In addition, the normally closed valve made of an elastic material can be easily restored to its original state after the external force is removed. This also increases the service life of the normally closed valve and the straw cup.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally-closed valve comprises a membrane, and a slit at a center of the membrane, wherein the membrane is disposed at or near a protrusion of the normally-closed valve, and the force causes the slit to open. Such an embodiment provides a simple implementation of a normally closed valve. By providing the membrane at or near the tab, the force applied by the slideway to the tab can be readily transferred to the membrane to ease the opening of the slit.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the membrane is planar, spherical, or V-shaped, and the thickness of the normally-closed valve membrane is in the range of 0.3mm to 1.2 mm. Optionally, in some embodiments, the thickness of the membrane of the normally closed valve is 0.6 mm. The membrane with such thickness is not so thin that water leaks from the valve due to water pressure when the straw cup is inverted; and sensitivity to external forces can be maintained so that the normally closed valve readily opens in response to forces from the ramp.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally-closed valve is arranged such that the slit of the normally-closed valve extends in a direction parallel to the width direction of the channel. In such an embodiment, only a small force from the ramp is required to open the normally closed valve.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally closed valve and the ramp are arranged with respect to the nozzle such that the ramp passes through the normally closed valve to open the normally closed valve before the nozzle is released. In this manner, the high air pressure within the suction cup can be vented through the normally closed valve which is opened before the nozzle is released, thereby better preventing hot water from being ejected from the nozzle and causing scalding.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the normally closed valve is disposed at a top of the lid body, and the chute is located between the normally closed valve and the mouthpiece and proximate to the normally closed valve when the movable lid is in the closed position. The normally closed valve is arranged on the top of the cover body, so that a larger area for bending the suction nozzle can be left. Positioning the slide close to the normally closed valve ensures that the slide deforms the normally closed valve open before the nozzle is released.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the direction of extension of the slide is parallel to the direction of movement of the movable cover. This may facilitate the normally-closed valve to easily or smoothly enter, pass, or exit the ramp, and may cause the ramp to apply a symmetrical force to the normally-closed valve.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the movable cover is rotatably or slidably mounted on the cover body.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a straw cup comprising: a cup body; and a cap according to the first aspect for attachment to the cup body. Embodiments of the second aspect may have the same advantages as embodiments of the first aspect. The pressure relief function can be realized when the cup cover is opened only by using two parts, namely the normally closed valve and the slideway, and the cup cover is simple in structure and low in manufacturing cost. The use of a normally closed valve prevents water from leaking through the normally closed valve when drinking or when tipping the cup. The slide way opens the normally closed valve to release pressure in the process of opening the cup cover, so that hot water in the cup can be prevented from being sprayed out from the suction nozzle to scald when the suction pipe cup is opened. That is, the straw cup according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has not only a simple structure but also functions of preventing splashing and leakage.

Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily understood through the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a straw cup with a movable lid in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the movable lid in the straw cup shown in FIG. 1 in an intermediate position between open and closed;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the removable lid in the straw cup shown in FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a removable lid of the straw cup shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A illustrates one example of a normally closed valve of the straw cup shown in FIG. 1, wherein the normally closed valve is in a closed state;

FIG. 5B shows the normally closed valve of FIG. 5A, with the normally closed valve in an open state;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram showing the relative position of the movable cover shown in FIG. 4 with the normally closed valve out of the slide; and

fig. 6B shows a schematic diagram of the relative position of the movable cover shown in fig. 4 with the normally closed valve entering the slide.

Detailed Description

The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to various exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. It should be understood that these examples are described merely to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and further practice the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. It should be noted that where feasible, similar or identical reference numerals may be used in the figures and that similar or identical reference numerals may indicate similar or identical functions. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cup cover and a straw cup including the same. An improved pressure relief device is provided by the cooperation of a normally closed valve on the cover and a slide on the movable cover. Not only can prevent water from leaking through the pressure relief device, but also can prevent hot water in the cup from being sprayed out from the suction nozzle to scald in the process of opening the suction pipe cup. That is, the straw cup according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has the function of preventing splashing and leakage. The principles of the present disclosure will be described below in conjunction with fig. 1-6B.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a straw cup 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, with a moveable lid 40 in a closed position. Fig. 2 shows a further state of the drinking straw cup 1 in a schematic view, with the movable lid 40 in an intermediate position between open and closed. Fig. 3 shows a further state diagram of the drinking straw cup 1, wherein the movable lid 40 is in the open position.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the straw cup 1 mainly includes a cup body 10 and a cup cover 20 connected to the cup body 10. The cup body 10 may contain any kind of beverage, such as water. The cap 20 may be adapted to be attached to an open portion of the cup body 10.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cup cover 20 may include a cover body 30 and a movable cover 40 mounted on the cover body 30. There may be a gap for ventilation between the movable cover 40 and the cover body 30. Alternatively, the movable lid 40 and the lid body 30 are not airtight. Specifically, the lid body 30 of the lid 20 may be adapted to be attached to the open portion of the cup body 10. As an example and not by way of limitation, the cap body 30 may be threadably coupled to the cup body 10. The movable lid 40 is movable relative to the lid body 30 between a closed position (shown in fig. 1) and an open position (shown in fig. 3) to close or open the straw cup 1. The movable cover 40 may also be referred to as a sliding cover or a screw cover.

The straw 50 may be attached to the lid 30 and may extend from the lid 30 into the cup body 10. The end of the straw 50 may contact the beverage in the straw cup 1 to facilitate the drinking of the beverage. A suction nozzle 34 for contacting the mouth of the user may be provided on the cover body 30. The suction nozzle 34 communicates with a suction tube 50. In some embodiments, the suction nozzle 34 is suction tube-shaped. In this case, when the movable lid 40 is in the closed position (as shown in fig. 1), the straw-like suction nozzle 34 is bent by the pressure from the movable lid 40; when the movable lid 40 is moved to the open position (as shown in fig. 3), the suction nozzle 34 pops up and is thereby released, so that the beverage can be sucked through the nozzle of the suction nozzle 34.

The lid 30 may be provided with a normally closed valve 32. Since the normally closed valve 32 is normally closed, water does not flow out through the normally closed valve 32 when drinking water is taken out by opening the movable lid 40, thereby preventing leakage. The normally closed valve 32 may act as a pressure relief means for equalizing the pressure inside and outside the drinking straw cup 1. In order to cooperate with the normally-closed valve 32, a slide 46 (not shown in fig. 1 to 3) is provided on the side of the movable cover 40 facing the cover body 30 (i.e., the inner side of the movable cover 40). During movement of the movable cover 40 between the closed and open positions (intermediate position shown in fig. 2), the slide 46 passes through the normally closed valve 32. During passage of slide 46 through normally closed valve 32, slide 46 may apply a force to normally closed valve 32. This force may cause the normally closed valve 32 to open, thereby equalizing the pressure inside and outside the pipette cup 1. In this manner, slide 46 may serve as a mechanism for opening normally closed valve 32. For example, normally-closed valve 32 may enter slideway 46 and be subject to a squeezing force from slideway 46.

When hot water is contained in the straw cup 1, evaporation of the hot water increases the air pressure inside the straw cup 1 such that the air pressure inside the straw cup 1 is greater than the air pressure (e.g., atmospheric pressure) outside the straw cup 1. In the traditional scheme without the pressure relief device, when the suction pipe cup is opened, hot water can be sprayed out from the suction nozzle under the action of air pressure in the cup, so that scalding is caused. In contrast, in embodiments of the present disclosure, prior to the movable lid 40 moving to the open position (i.e., prior to the suction nozzle 34 bouncing), the chute 46 passes through the normally-closed valve 32 to apply a force to the normally-closed valve 32 and cause the normally-closed valve 32 to open. In this manner, during the opening of the pipette cup 1, the chute 46 may open the normally closed valve 32 so that the high air pressure within the pipette cup 1 may be released. When the movable lid 40 is moved to the open position (i.e. when the suction nozzle 34 pops up), the high air pressure inside the straw cup 1 has been released through the open normally closed valve 32 and the air pressure inside and outside the straw cup 1 is balanced. This prevents hot water from being ejected from the nozzle 34 by the internal air pressure, thereby avoiding the risk of scalding. Thus, with the normally closed valve 32 and the slide 46, an improved pressure relief device for the drinking straw cup 1 is provided, with a simple structure. After the slide 46 is separated from the normally closed valve 32, the external force is removed, and the normally closed valve 32 can be returned to the normally closed state again, so as to prevent water from leaking out of the normally closed valve 32 when, for example, the straw cup 1 is tilted. Thus, the cup cover 20 and the straw cup 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may have functions of preventing splashing and leakage.

Additionally, the use of the slideway 46 may also bring a number of advantages. In one aspect, because the slide 46 has a length, a force may be applied to the normally-closed valve 32 for a period of time during the passage of the slide 46 through the normally-closed valve 32 such that the opening of the normally-closed valve 32 may continue for a period of time, rather than transiently, to achieve sufficient pressure relief. On the other hand, the slips 46 may apply force to the normally-closed valve 32 in multiple directions (or on multiple sides). This allows the normally closed valve 32 to be more evenly stressed and requires a relatively small force to open the normally closed valve 32. Therefore, the abrasion of the normally-closed valve 32 can be reduced, the permanent deformation of the normally-closed valve 32 can be prevented, and the service life of the normally-closed valve 32, the cup cover 20 and the straw cup 1 can be prolonged.

In some embodiments, the movable cover 40 may be rotatably or slidably mounted on the cover body 30 such that the movable cover 40 may move between the closed position and the open position. For example, the movable cover 40 may be coupled to the cover body 30 using a pivot structure so as to be rotatable with respect to the cover body 30. Alternatively, the movable cover 40 may be coupled with the cover body 30 using a slide groove structure so as to be slidable with respect to the cover body 30.

It is noted that the straw cup 1 may also comprise other components not shown in the figures, such as a handle for facilitating gripping by a user. The straw cup 1 may be any kind of cup/bottle. The straw cup 1 may be, for example, a drinking cup or a thermos bottle. In particular, the straw cup 1 may be a straw cup for use by an infant.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the movable lid 40 of the straw cup 1 shown in fig. 1. The slide 46 is provided on the inner side of the movable cover 40. In the example shown in fig. 4, the slideway 46 is formed by a first side wall 46A, a second side wall 46B, and a channel between the first side wall 46A and the second side wall 46B. The first and second side walls 46A and 46B may be integrally formed with the movable cover 40 or may be separately manufactured and then attached to the movable cover 40, for example, by screws. It can be seen that by means of the side walls 46A and 46B a simple implementation of the slideway 46 is provided and the manufacture of the slideway 46 is made flexible. It will be appreciated that the slide 46 may also be implemented in other ways. For example, the chute 46 may be formed solely of smooth channels that allow objects to pass through.

The normally-closed valve 32 may have a projection 32C (shown in fig. 5A and 5B) projecting outside the cover 30. Protrusion 32C may be circular or oval, which may facilitate entry of normally closed valve 32 into slide 46. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable shape of the protrusion 32C is possible. The dimension D of the protrusion 32C in the width W direction of the channel may be greater than the width W of the channel. In this way, during passage of the slide 46 through the normally-closed valve 32, the projection 32C enters the channel and receives a pressing force from the channel having a smaller width to open the normally-closed valve 32. The dimension D of the protrusion 32C may be its outer diameter. Although fig. 4 shows the channel of the slide 46 as having a varying width, as schematically shown by the dashed lines in fig. 4, the first and second sidewalls 46A and 46B may be parallel to each other such that the channel of the slide 46 has a uniform width W. Where the width of the channel of the slideway 46 varies, the width W may be the width of any portion of the channel. In particular, the width W may be the minimum width of the channel.

In addition, the first and second side walls 46A and 46B of the runner 46 may apply a pressing force to the protrusions 32C, respectively. Thus, as indicated by arrows 61, 62 in fig. 5B and 6B, slide 46 may apply force to normally closed valve 32 in at least two directions (or on both sides). The applied force is relatively symmetrical and uniform so that only a relatively small force is required to open normally closed valve 32. This prevents excessive wear and permanent deformation of normally closed valve 32, which may increase the service life of normally closed valve 32.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the first side wall 46A and the second side wall 46B are not parallel such that the channel of the slideway 46 comprises a wide portion and a narrow portion. The width W1 of the wide portion is greater than the width W2 of the narrow portion. In this manner, the channel of the slide 46 may have a varying width in the direction of valve sliding. The dimension D of the protrusion 32C in the width direction of the channel may be larger than the width W2 of the narrow portion of the channel, so that the narrow portion may be adapted to apply a force to the normally closed valve 32. The wide portion having a greater width W1 may be adapted to guide normally closed valve 32 into or out of slide 46. Thus, the provision of the wide portion may facilitate a more fluid entry or exit of the normally closed valve 32 into the slideway 46. The wide portion may be provided at one or both ends of the slideway 46.

FIG. 5A shows an example of the normally closed valve 32 of the straw cup 1 shown in FIG. 1, wherein the normally closed valve 32 is in a closed state. Fig. 5B shows the normally closed valve 32 shown in fig. 5A, wherein the normally closed valve 32 is in an open state. Fig. 6A shows a schematic of the position of movable cover 40 and normally closed valve 32 shown in fig. 4, where normally closed valve 32 is not in slide 46, when normally closed valve 32 is closed. Fig. 6B shows a schematic view of the movable lid 40 shown in fig. 4 as it passes through the normally closed valve 32 in the slide 46, with the normally closed valve 32 open.

As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, in some embodiments, normally-closed valve 32 may include a membrane 32A, and a slit 32B at the center of membrane 32A. The membrane 32A may be disposed at the protrusion 32C or near the protrusion 32C of the normally-closed valve 32. In this way, the force applied by the slide 46 to the protrusion 32C can be easily transmitted to the film 32A. In response to the force from ramp 46 (as indicated by arrows 61, 62 in fig. 5B and 6B), normally closed valve 32 deforms, and slit 32B may open, thereby opening normally closed valve 32. The embodiment comprising a membrane 32A and a slit 32B provides a simple implementation of a normally closed valve 32. In addition, as shown by arrows 61, 62 in fig. 5B and 6B, the ramps 46 can apply force to the projections 32C in at least two directions (e.g., two opposite directions) such that the applied force is relatively symmetrical and uniform. Thus, the normally closed valve 32 of the present disclosure may be more easily opened and less susceptible to wear or permanent deformation, increasing service time.

Although the membrane 32A is shown as a spherical shaped membrane in fig. 5A and 5B, it will be appreciated that the membrane 32A may also be a planar membrane, a V-shaped membrane, or have any other suitable shape. When the membrane 32A is a spherical membrane (e.g., a hemispherical membrane), the membrane 32A may be convex toward the interior of the pipette cup 1. When the membrane 32A is a V-shaped membrane (e.g., the normally closed valve 32 is a duckbill valve), the tip of the V-shaped membrane may be positioned proximate to the interior of the sipper cup 1. The spherical membrane and the V-shaped membrane as described above can perform the function of a check valve.

In some embodiments, the thickness of membrane 32A of normally closed valve 32 may be in the range of 0.3mm to 1.2 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the film 32A may be 0.6 mm. The membrane 32A of such a thickness is not so thin as to prevent water leakage from the valve due to water pressure when the straw cup 1 is inverted. Also, the film 32A of such a thickness can maintain sensitivity to an external force, so that the film 32A is not too thick to open in response to the external force. It is noted that the above specific numerical values are exemplary only, and not limiting.

In some embodiments, normally-closed valve 32 and slide 46 are arranged as follows: so that the slit 32B extends in a direction parallel to the width W direction of the passage. In this manner, a small force from the slideway 46 can cause the slot 32B to open. Alternatively, other orientations of normally closed valve 32 and slide 46 are possible. For example, the slot 32B may extend at an angle to the width W direction of the channel.

In some embodiments, normally-closed valve 32 may be made of a resilient or flexible material, and the force from slide 46 presses against normally-closed valve 32 to deform it, thereby opening normally-closed valve 32. By using an elastic material, the closing valve 32 can be easily deformed to switch between the closed and open state. In addition, the normally closed valve 32 made of an elastic material can be easily restored to its original state after the external force is removed. This also increases the service life of the normally closed valve 32 and thus the drinking straw cup 1.

In some embodiments, normally closed valve 32 may be a one-way valve. The check valve opens when the air pressure inside the straw cup 1 is lower than the external air pressure and closes when the air pressure inside the straw cup 1 is higher than the external air pressure. In the traditional scheme without the pressure relief device, the air pressure in the cup is reduced after being sucked once or for multiple times because the interior of the cup is not communicated with the outside in the drinking process, thereby causing the problem of unsmooth drinking. In contrast, some embodiments of the present disclosure, by using a one-way valve as the normally closed valve 32, when the pressure inside the cup drops below the external pressure during drinking, the normally closed valve 32 can be opened to balance the pressure inside and outside the cup, so that drinking becomes smooth. On the other hand, the one-way valve is closed when the internal pressure of the drinking straw cup 1 is higher than the external pressure (in the absence of the slide force), preventing the beverage in the cup from being forced by the higher internal pressure to flow out through the normally closed valve 32, thus preventing leakage.

By way of example, and not limitation, normally closed valve 32 may be a spherical or V-shaped one-way normally closed silicone valve. This provides a specific example for implementing normally closed valve 32. The use of silicone gel allows the one-way valve to be implemented in a cost-effective manner and facilitates the manufacture of normally-closed valve 32.

In some embodiments, the normally-closed valve 32 and the ramp 46 are positioned relative to the suction nozzle 34 such that the ramp 46 passes through the normally-closed valve 32 to open the normally-closed valve 32 before the suction nozzle 34 is released. In this manner, the high air pressure within the drinking straw cup 1 can be vented through the open normally closed valve 32 before the nozzle 34 is released, thereby better preventing hot water from being ejected from the nozzle 34 and causing scalding. Alternatively, the slide 46 may pass through the normally closed valve 32 to open the normally closed valve 32 while the suction nozzle 34 is released.

Referring again to FIG. 1, one particular manner of positioning the normally-closed valve 32, the slide 46, and the suction nozzle 34 is described. Normally closed valve 32 may be disposed generally at the top of cap 30. When the movable cover 40 is in the closed position shown in fig. 1, the slide 46 may be located between the normally closed valve 32 and the suction nozzle 34, and may be proximate to the normally closed valve 32. Specifically, when the movable cover 40 is in the closed position, the slide 46 is located in front of the suction nozzle 34, and the normally-closed valve 32 is located in front of the slide 46, as viewed in the moving direction from the closed position to the open position. The normally closed valve 32 is provided at the top of the cover 30, which leaves a large area for bending the suction nozzle 34. Positioning the slide 46 adjacent the normally closed valve 32 may allow the normally closed valve 32 to enter the slide 46 shortly after the movable cover 40 begins to move from the closed position, thereby deforming open. This ensures that the slide 46 deforms the normally closed valve 32 open before the suction nozzle 34 is released.

In some embodiments, the extension direction of the slide 46 (i.e., the length direction perpendicular to the width W direction) may be parallel to the moving direction of the movable cover 40. This may facilitate easy or smooth entry, passage, or exit of normally closed valve 32 into slide 46. Also, this may cause the ramps 46 to apply a symmetrical force to the normally closed valve 32. Alternatively, the direction of extension of the ramps 46 may be at an angle to the direction of movement of the movable cover 40.

An example operation process of the straw cup 1 according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 3. When the body 10 of the straw cup 1 is filled with hot water, as shown in fig. 1, the movable lid 40 presses the suction nozzle 34 in a closed position; at this time, the normally closed valve 32 is in a closed state to prevent water from leaking through the normally closed valve 32, and the air pressure inside the straw cup 1 is not released. As shown by arrow 21 in fig. 2, when a user (particularly, an infant) pushes a tab 42 on the movable lid 40 to open the movable lid 40, the normally-closed valve 32 is first guided into a slide 46 of the movable lid 40 before the mouthpiece 34 is released; the slide 46 (e.g., its narrowed portion) presses against the normally closed valve 32 to open the normally closed valve 32, as indicated by arrow 22 in fig. 2, and the gas within the straw cup 1 is released by the internal high pressure overflow from the opening of the normally closed valve 32. Assuming that movement from the closed position to the open position corresponds to movement of 0-90, the passage of the slide 46 through the normally closed valve 32 may be accomplished in the range of approximately 15-75. When the normally closed valve 32 is slid out of the squeeze slide 46 of the movable lid 40, the air pressure in the straw cup 1 has been completely released, after which the movable lid 40 can be moved to the open position as shown in fig. 3 and the suction nozzle 34 pops up. Therefore, the hot water can be prevented from being sprayed out from the bouncing suction nozzle 34 and causing scald due to the absence of the high air pressure in the suction pipe cup 1.

When normally closed valve 32 reaches the wide portion from the narrow portion of slide 46, or slips out of slide 46, normally closed valve 32 may return to normal operation, i.e., to a normally closed state, to prevent water leakage. In the case where normally closed valve 32 is a check valve, normally closed valve 32 may return to normal operation of the check valve after normally closed valve 32 has slid out of slide 46. That is, as shown by arrows 37 and 38 in fig. 3, when the infant drinks water by sucking on the mouthpiece 34, the air pressure in the cup drops below the ambient pressure, at which time the one-way valve opens to allow the outside air to enter (as shown by arrow 36 in fig. 3). Therefore, air return can be realized after the pressure in the cup is reduced due to the fact that the infant drinks water, and smooth drinking of the infant is guaranteed. When the pressure in the cup is greater than or equal to the external pressure, the one-way valve is closed to prevent water leakage.

As described above, the normally closed valve 32 provided on the lid body 30 and the slide 46 provided on the movable lid 40 cooperate to perform the function of pressure relief when opening the lid only by two parts. Both the normally closed valve 32 and the slide 46 are relatively simple to manufacture, reducing manufacturing costs. The normally closed valve 32 is normally closed, so that water is prevented from leaking through the normally closed valve 32 when drinking water or when pouring the straw cup 1. The slide way 46 opens the normally closed valve 32 to release pressure during opening of the cap 20, which prevents hot water from being ejected from the nozzle 34 to burn the cup when the straw cup 1 is opened. That is, the straw cup 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has not only a simple structure but also functions of preventing splashing and leakage. Additionally, slide 46 may apply a relatively symmetrical and uniform force to normally closed valve 32 in at least two directions. Thus, only a relatively small force is required to open normally closed valve 32. This prevents excessive wear and permanent deformation of the normally closed valve 32 and may increase the service life of the normally closed valve 32, the cap 20 and the straw cup 1. Meanwhile, when the normally-closed valve is simultaneously set as the one-way valve, the splash-proof function and the air return function can be simultaneously realized by only utilizing two components. Simple and exquisite structure and easy manufacture.

Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same aspect as presently claimed in any claim.

Claims (15)

1. A cup cover (20) for a straw cup (1), comprising:

a cover body (30) on which a suction nozzle (34) and a normally-closed valve (32) are arranged; and

a movable cover (40) mounted on the cover body (30) and movable between a closed position and an open position;

wherein a slide (46) is provided on the side of the movable lid (40) facing the lid body (30), the slide (46) passing the normally closed valve (32) and applying a force to the normally closed valve (32) during movement of the movable lid (40) between the closed position and the open position to open the normally closed valve (32) to equalize the pressure inside and outside the pipette cup (1).

2. A lid (20) according to claim 1, wherein the slide (46) is formed by a first side wall (46A), a second side wall (46B), and a channel between the first side wall (46A) and the second side wall (46B), the normally closed valve (32) having a protrusion (32C) protruding outside the lid body (30), wherein a dimension (D) of the protrusion (32C) in a direction of a width (W) of the channel is larger than the width (W) of the channel, such that the slide (46) is adapted to apply the force to the protrusion (32C) during passage of the slide (46) through the normally closed valve (32).

3. A lid (20) according to claim 2, wherein the channel comprises a wide portion and a narrow portion, the wide portion having a width (W1) greater than a width (W2) of the narrow portion, a dimension (D) of the protrusion (32C) in a width direction of the channel being greater than a width (W2) of the narrow portion of the channel, the wide portion being adapted to guide the normally closed valve (32) into or out of the ramp (46), and the narrow portion being adapted to apply the force to the normally closed valve (32).

4. A cap (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the normally closed valve (32) is a one-way valve which opens when the air pressure inside the straw cup (1) is lower than the external air pressure and closes when the air pressure inside the straw cup (1) is higher than the external air pressure.

5. A cap (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the normally-closed valve (32) is a spherical or V-shaped one-way normally-closed silicone valve.

6. A cap (20) according to claim 1, wherein the normally-closed valve (32) is made of an elastic material, and the force presses the normally-closed valve (32) to deform it, thereby opening the normally-closed valve (32).

7. A lid (20) according to claim 3, wherein the normally-closed valve (32) includes a membrane (32A) and a slit (32B) at a center of the membrane (32A), wherein the membrane (32A) is disposed at or near the protrusion (32C) of the normally-closed valve (32), and the force causes the slit (32B) to open.

8. A lid (20) according to claim 7, wherein the membrane (32A) is planar, spherical or V-shaped, and the thickness of the membrane (32A) of the normally closed valve (32) is in the range 0.3mm to 1.2 mm.

9. A cap (20) according to claim 8, characterized in that the thickness of the membrane (32A) of the normally closed valve (32) is 0.6 mm.

10. A cap (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the normally-closed valve (32) is arranged such that the slit (32B) of the normally-closed valve (32) extends in a direction parallel to the width (W) direction of the channel.

11. A cap (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the normally closed valve (32) and the slide (46) are arranged relative to the nozzle (34) such that the slide (46) passes the normally closed valve (32) to open the normally closed valve (32) before the nozzle (34) is released.

12. A cap (20) according to claim 1, wherein the normally closed valve (32) is provided at a top of the lid body (30), and the slide (46) is located between the normally closed valve (32) and the suction nozzle (34) and adjacent the normally closed valve (32) when the movable lid (40) is in the closed position.

13. The cup cover (20) of claim 1, characterized in that the slide (46) extends in a direction parallel to a direction of movement of the movable lid (40).

14. The cup cover (20) of claim 1, wherein the movable cover (40) is rotatably or slidably mounted on the lid body (30).

15. A drinking straw cup (1), characterized in that it comprises:

a cup body (10); and

a cap (20) according to any of claims 1-14, for attachment to the cup body (10).

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