EP0923898A1 - Non-spilling beverage lid - Google Patents

Abstract

A novel cover (2) for a drinking vessel (4) has spillage protection. There is an opening (10), allowing fluid to be drawn from the vessel, closed by a valve plug (14), held against a valve seat (20) in the opening, pressed from within. The valve plug has a projection (16), reaching through the opening to the exterior. Inward pressure on this external tip (18) will open the valve, allowing the drink to be consumed. Preferably on pressing-in the valve plug, an annular gap (12) is cleared between the projection and the edge of the opening. The opening is formed in a bush (8) serving as the mouthpiece, and a suction tube (22) reaches down from the valve to the base of the vessel. Closure is effected by a spring (36), especially of spiral form. The valve housing (24) is removable from the bush, and has a cavity with upper and lower openings, which includes the valve plug. In forming the annulus, the housing decreases in diameter, upwardly. The spring seats on a shoulder (40), to press the plug against the valve seat (20). The shoulder is formed in a removable shell (42), inserted into the lower housing of the valve. The shell includes a central hole in communication with the vessel interior, via the suction tube. The valve housing has cleaning openings (34). The valve components are generally rotationally-symmetrical.

Description

The invention relates to a leak-proof attachment on a drinking vessel with an opening on a suction nozzle for drinking liquid from the drinking vessel.

Leak-proof attachments that keep infants and toddlers drinking from one Enable or facilitate drinking vessel by suction, and prevent the Liquid spills due to unskillful handling are already known. An example of this is the feeding bottle with a drinking teat made of elastic material, which the liquid passage through a small opening at the nipple end and one Air can flow in through a slit valve on the nipple side. For Toddlers have drinking vessels with rigid attachments, in which valves for the beverage outlet and there is air intake. The German utility model 295 00 819 relates to such a leak-proof drinking vessel, the slit diaphragm valves having. U.S. Patent 5,079,013, on the other hand, provides valves that are more spherical Closing body by a spring against the suction direction in a locked position in the Suction channel is pressed.

Furthermore, drinking vessels with leak-proof attachments for athletes have become known, which also make drinking and spilling easier in this area of application prevent, e.g. when the athlete is moving or exhausted. In cycling bottles with attachments are used for this, with a slim suction nozzle are provided. This is closed by a stopper or a cap, which must be removed before drinking.

The known drinking vessels have the disadvantage that their suction openings at under Do not reliably close pressurized liquids, both the pressure due to carbonated liquids as well as external loads with elastic ones Drinking vessels can be applied. So far a special one before drinking Closure must be removed, the handling of the known vessels is unfavorable.

From US 3 338 467 a lip-openable closure cap is already known, which with a jacket sealingly pressed into the receptacle of a conventional liquid container becomes. The cap has an open, circular drinking rim at the top, which is similar Has dimensions like a normal drinking glass or other drinking container. This The rim surrounds a valve cap, which approximately has a lip-actuatable surface part the same height as the drinking rim. The valve cap has a cylindrical body, at its lower end on an enlarged base an annular valve seal is arranged with an inward valve seat of the closure cap cooperates. A coil spring loads the valve cap so that the Seal is pressed against the sealing seat, normally a liquid-tight one Effect. The closing cap is so large that the user with the lower lip against the drinking rim and the upper lip against the valve cap can press, which opens the valve. Also, by the distance from the valve seat to the drinking rim ensures that the liquid flow between Valve seat and drinking rim flows together into a narrower stream, so that it does not pass the edges of the mouth.

This attachment is very complex and does not safely prevent the drink from moving sideways runs on the mouth. It is not particularly suitable for use by children suitable. In addition, the liquid can and can only leak through its own weight not be sucked out, which can be particularly helpful with viscous food can.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is a leak-proof To create an attachment to a drinking vessel that also contains pressurized liquids reliably prevents the liquid from leaking in the drinking vessel releases the mouth, the risk of the drink running past the side of the mouth further reduced, and also allows suction of liquid from the drinking vessel.

The task is carried out by a leak-proof attachment on a drinking vessel solved the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the essay are specified in the subclaims.

The leak-proof attachment according to the invention on a drinking vessel has an opening on a suction nozzle for drinking liquid. The suction nozzle can come from the mouth of the drinker are completely enclosed, so that no liquid laterally exit. A liquid passage between the opening and the drinking vessel is one Locked body locked by a spring element from the inside against the sealing seat in the Liquid passage is pressed when the suction nozzle is not attached to the mouth. Pressurized closing body can pressurized liquid in the drinking vessel support against the opening. So carbonic acid cannot escape and that this liquid does not become stale. But also with non-carbonated The attachment prevents liquid and non-pressurized drinking vessels the accidental leakage of the liquid is particularly reliable. In addition the closing body has a projection which with an actuating section protrudes into the area of the opening, and which engages the closing body when the actuating section is actuated from the outside of the opening against the action of the spring element pushes away from its sealing seat, causing the fluid passage is released between the drinking vessel and the opening. So the user can by Operating the operating section with his teeth, lips, his palate or with his tongue opening the valve and escaping liquid Taxes. A special suction power is often required for the removal of liquid not to be upset. In many cases, this can be due to its own weight leak out of the suction nozzle. The liquid can also be sucked out of the vessel because it can be completely enclosed by the mouth. That is special advantageous for the intake of viscous food.

The opening can be formed at the free end of the suction nozzle. It is preferably at least partially arranged laterally on the suction nozzle, where it is slit-shaped can be. Furthermore, the projection can be rod-shaped and in the liquid passage locking slot cut the slit-shaped opening at an acute angle. In particular with these configurations, the projection can be actuated in the Suction nozzle can be pivoted to the closing body with respect to the sealing seat swing. The projection preferably protrudes from the opening, in particular laterally. This allows the valve to be opened by simply biting, the Teeth or - e.g. in an infant - the palate is the actuation section located on the side operated.

The closing body is preferably pressed against a circumferential sealing seat the projection protrudes through the sealing seat. The closing body can be plate-shaped and be pressed against the sealing seat at its circumference. In addition, the Closing body to be fixed to a lever which is mounted on the attachment. This is particularly so in connection with a projection that can be swiveled in the suction nozzle, advantageous.

The sealing seat is advantageous on the inside on a bottom carrying the suction nozzle on the outside Area of a mouth of the suction nozzle arranged. The one acting on the closing body Spring element can be supported on a fixed abutment. This can by means of a sleeve-shaped holding element or a plurality of rod-shaped holding elements be fixed on the inside of the floor. The abutment is preferably plate-shaped and releasably fixed to the at least one holding element. The spring element is preferably designed as a coil spring.

The protrusion can be made of a body compatible material, e.g. made of PU, and without hurting edges can be shaped as it touches the user's mouth is coming.

The attachment preferably has a cap, which is in front of one in the actuating section protects against unintentional actuation. The cap can be detachably on a paragraph of the Sit essay. Furthermore, the drinking vessel can have a shoulder in the area of the bottom have, on which the cap is releasably fixable when drinking. This prevents that the cap is lost, the inside of the cap is protected from contamination and the drinking vessel has an enlarged footprint.

The drinking vessel can be of various shapes. It can be a mug, a glass, a Cardboard box, a bag, a bottle or a can, the attachment being the drinking vessel closes tightly with the appropriate connection. The essay can be used as Screw cap, stopper or cap e.g. formed with an elastic peripheral wall be. Also a clamp connection, as used in mason jars finds is possible. The sealing seal between the outlet and the drinking vessel can thereby ensure that either a sealing lip and / or a seal located between the attachment and the drinking vessel or that the surface of the attachment itself, which is in contact with the drinking vessel, formed from sealing material is. For this come e.g. elastic plastic or rubber in question. Attachment, cap and drinking vessel can be made in particular of plastic. Can too Attachment and drinking vessel to be integrally formed. This can be combined with the bouncy acted upon closing body designed as an injection molded single-use packaging be.

Fig. 1a bis c

den auslaufgeschützten Aufsatz an einem Trinkgefäß mit unten aufgesteckter Kappe in Vorderansicht (Fig. 1a), Draufsicht (Fig. 1b) und Unteransicht(Fig. 1c);

Fig. 2

dieselbe Ausführungsform mit unten aufgesteckter Kappe etwas am die Längsachse gedreht in Vorderansicht;

Fig. 3a bis c

dieselbe Ausführungsform mit oben aufgesteckter Kappe in Vorderansicht in derselben Lage wie die Fig. 1a (Fig. 3a), Draufsicht (Fig. 3b) und Unteransicht (Fig. 3c);

Fig. 4

dieselbe Ausführungsform mit oben aufgesteckter Kappe in einer etwas gedrehten Vorderansicht;

Fig. 5

derselbe Aufsatz mit Schließkörper in Sperrstellung in vergrößertem Längsschnitt;

Fig. 6

derselbe Aufsatz mit Schließkörper in Durchlaßstellung in demselben Schnitt wie Fig. 5.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

1a to c

the leak-proof attachment to a drinking vessel with a cap attached at the bottom in front view (Fig. 1a), top view (Fig. 1b) and bottom view (Fig. 1c);

Fig. 2

the same embodiment with the cap attached at the bottom rotated somewhat on the longitudinal axis in front view;

3a to c

the same embodiment with the cap attached at the front in the same position as FIG. 1a (FIG. 3a), top view (FIG. 3b) and bottom view (FIG. 3c);

Fig. 4

the same embodiment with the cap attached above in a slightly rotated front view;

Fig. 5

the same attachment with closing body in the locked position in an enlarged longitudinal section;

Fig. 6

the same attachment with closing body in the open position in the same section as Fig. 5th

In the drawings, the leak-proof attachment is 1, the drinking cup is 2 and the cap designated 3.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment 1 is a screw cap with a Bottom 4 and a peripheral jacket 5 executed. In the area of the peripheral jacket 5 it is screwed to the drinking vessel 2. Outside there is an eccentrically sitting on the floor Suction nozzle 6. Furthermore, the attachment 1 has an approximately square shape on the outside on the floor Paragraph 7 with rounded corners, which is used to attach the cap 3. In these Drawings, however, the cap 3 is placed on the bottom of the drinking vessel 2.

3 and 4 show the cap 3 sitting on the paragraph 7 of the attachment 1. There it can also be seen that the drinking cup 2 has a shoulder 7 'near the bottom has, which allows the cap 3 to be placed on the bottom of the drinking cup 2. The Dimensions of the cap 3 and the paragraphs 7,7 'are coordinated so that the cap 3 has a clamp fit in its respective plug-on position and cannot be lost is connected to attachment 1 or drinking vessel 2.

1 to 4 show that the attachment 1, the drinking vessel 2 and the cap 3rd have flats or facets on the circumference that increase grip and that co-determine aesthetic appearance.

5 and 6 is on the inner circumference of the peripheral shell 5 of the attachment 1 Internal thread 8 available, that with a corresponding external thread of the drinking cup 2 interacts. In the transition area between peripheral jacket 5 and floor 4 runs around the sealing lip 9, which is integrally formed with the attachment 1 and cooperates with the inner edge of the opening at the top of the drinking vessel 2. The essay 1 is made of a plastic and the sealing lip 9 has a certain Elasticity so that they lie tightly against the inner edge of the drinking cup under pretension can.

In the section shown, the walls of the suction nozzle 6 converge to the free End of 10. The width of the suction nozzle 6 is essentially perpendicular to the plane of the drawing constant (see Fig. 1b).

The suction nozzle 6 has an opening 11, which is partially arranged in the region of the free end 10 and there designated 11 'and partly in the area of a wall through which the cross section of FIGS. 5 and 6 runs, arranged and there is designated 11 ''. Your section 11 'extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing practically over the entire Width of the suction nozzle 6 (see. Fig. 1b). Section 11 '' is in the side wall only slit-shaped, so it has a smaller width than section 11 '(cf. Fig. 1b). The free end 10 is beveled towards the section 11 ″ of the opening 11.

The edge of the mouth of the suction nozzle 6 on the inside of the bottom 4 forms one Sealing seat 12 against which, according to FIG. 5, a plate-shaped closing body 13 with a circumferential sealing area 14 presses. The closing body 13 is one at the end one-armed lever 15 fixed on the inside of the bottom 4 with a pin 16th is pivotally mounted in a bearing 17. The pin 16 is in a groove 18 of the bearing 17 used so that the lever 15 can be removed with the closing body 13.

A sleeve-shaped holding element 19 protrudes from the inside of the base, which surrounds the sealing seat 12. The holding element 19 has passages, not shown for liquid. At the bottom it carries a plate-shaped abutment 20 in the form of a cap, which with its jacket at 21 releasably clamped onto the sleeve-shaped holding element 19 is. For this purpose, sleeve-shaped holding element 19 or cap 20 have a certain Elasticity.

On the abutment 20, a coil spring 22 is supported, which against the bottom of the Closing body 13 presses and loads it towards the sealing seat 12. The coil spring 22 is on the inside of shoulders 23 of the abutment 20 and 24 of the closing body 13 guided.

At the top, the plate-shaped closing body 13 carries a rod-shaped projection 25, which extends through the sealing seat 12 into the suction nozzle 6 and extends to the free end 10. 5 is the free end 26 of the projection 25 bevelled according to the free end 10 of the suction nozzle 6. The width of the projection 25 decreases towards its free end 26. Between suction nozzle 6 and Projection 25 is on the side facing away from section 11 ″ of opening 11 Free space available. The protrusion 25 intersects the portion 11 "of the opening acute and protrudes in the upper portion with an actuating portion 25 ' something out of this.

The valve formed by the sealing seat 12 and the closing body 13 can be passed through from the outside Open actuating section 25 '. 6 causes namely Pressure against the side of the actuating section protruding laterally from the suction nozzle 6 25 'a pivoting of the projection 25, which in turn causes the closing body 13 pivoted away from the sealing seat 12 against the action of the coil spring 22 becomes. After the operating section 25 'has been relieved, the closing body returns 13 due to the action of the spring 22 in its locked position on the sealing seat 12 back.

The valve can thus be opened by the user having the suction nozzle 6 with his Encloses lips so that a lip actuates the operating portion 25 '. If that Drinking vessel 2 is tilted up, then liquid flows out of the suction nozzle 6 Influence of gravity. After drinking, the valve closes automatically and becomes a prevents accidental spillage of liquid. Because the operating section 25 'facing the central axis of the container, unintentional actuation already largely prevented by external force. An actuation is completely impossible if the cap 3 is placed on the attachment 1 and the suction nozzle 6 covered.

When drinking air can through the suction nozzle 6 or through an additional opening in the Subsequent flow of attachment 1 or drinking vessel 2, which is not shown.

The attachment 1 can be completely dismantled for cleaning.

Claims (26)

Leak-proof attachment (1) on a drinking vessel (2) with an opening (11) a suction nozzle (6) for drinking liquid, in which a liquid passage between opening (11) and drinking vessel (2) of a closing body (13) Valve is locked by a spring element (22) against a sealing seat (12) is pressed in the liquid passage, and wherein the closing body (13) one Has projection (25) with an actuating section (25 ') into the Area of the opening (11) protrudes, and the closing body (13) when the Actuating section (25 ') from the outside of the opening (11) of his Seals seat (12) pushes away against the action of the spring element (22), whereby the liquid passage between the opening (11) and the drinking vessel (2) is released becomes. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein the opening (11 ') at least partially on free end (10) of the suction nozzle (6) is formed. An attachment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening (11 '') is at least partially is formed on the side of the suction nozzle (6). An attachment according to claim 3, wherein the opening (1 '') is on one side of the suction nozzle (6) is slit-shaped. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the suction nozzle (6) for free Converges towards the end (10). An attachment according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the projection (25) is rod-shaped and the slit-shaped closing body (13) blocking the liquid passage Cut opening (11 '') at an acute angle. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the projection (25) through Actuation in the suction nozzle (6) is pivotable in relation to the closing body (13) to pivot the sealing seat (12). Attachment according to one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the actuating section (25 ') preferably protrudes laterally from the opening (11). Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the closing body (13) against a circumferential sealing seat (12) is pressed and the projection (25) through the Sealing seat (12) protrudes. An attachment according to claim 9, wherein the closing body (13) is plate-shaped and on its Circumference (14) is pressed against the sealing seat (12). Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the closing body (13) on one Lever (15) is fixed, which is pivotally mounted on the attachment (1). Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the sealing seat (12) on the inside a bottom (4) carrying the suction nozzle (6) on the outside in the region of a mouth of the Suction nozzle (6) is arranged. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which an abutment (20) is present on which the spring element (22) acting on the closing body (13) supports. An attachment according to claim 13, wherein the abutment (20) by means of a sleeve-shaped Holding element (19) or several rod-shaped holding elements on the inside of the floor (4) is fixed. An attachment according to claim 14, wherein the abutment (20) is a plate-shaped element which is preferably detachable at the inner end of the at least one holding element (19) is fixed. An attachment according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which the spring element is a Coil spring (22). Attachment according to one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the helical spring (22) their two ends inside on paragraphs (23, 24) of the abutment (20) and Closing body (13) is guided. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the projection (25) made of body-compatible Material and is shaped without injuring edges. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 18, which has a shoulder (7) on the outside, on which a cap (3) is releasably attached. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 19, in which near the bottom of the Drinking vessel (2) on the outside there is a shoulder (8) on which the cap (3) is detachable is fixable. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 20, with an approximately cylindrical peripheral wall (5), which rests on the upper region of the peripheral wall of the drinking container (2). Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 20, the screw cap (1), cap with elastic peripheral wall, plug or by means of chin-up connection with the Drinking vessel (2) is connected. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 22, which via a sealing element (9) Drinking vessel (2) is sealed off. An attachment according to claim 23, wherein the sealing element (9) is integral with the attachment (1) and / or the drinking vessel (2) or an additional sealing element is. An attachment according to one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the drinking vessel (2) is a cup, a bottle, a can or a bag. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 25, which is in one piece with the drinking vessel (2) is shaped.

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