EP3458376B1 - Drinking container lid - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a drinking cup lid for a drinking cup with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such a drinking cup lid is in the JP S60 20733 U disclosed. Another drinking cup lid is in the EP 2 532 601 B1 disclosed. The drinking spout is designed as a flexible tube made of plastic, which can be bent to close the internal flow channel. The kinked position of the tube, via which a tightness of the drinking cup lid alone can be ensured, is secured by a cap which can be locked with a snap connection to the lower part of the drinking cup lid. If the cap is loosened and folded back, the drinking nozzle can return to its original shape due to the elastic restoring forces, and the internal flow channel is released again. Such drinking cup lids are intended in particular for use in sporting activities in which drinking is to be carried out directly from the bottle via the drinking neck, also called a drinking snorkel. To do this, operation must also be as simple as possible and should be possible with one hand in particular. The disadvantage of the known drinking cup lid is that the pivoted cap, which also causes the closure, is a hindrance. When drinking over the drinking neck, it must be held back with a finger.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a drinking cup lid with a drinking spout that does not require an additional cap to bend the drinking spout, hold it in the bent position and thus effect a tight seal.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by a drinking cup lid with the features of claim 1, in particular in that the drinking neck is held in an articulated and / or displaceably mounted guide slide and that the kinked drinking neck within a through the Edge of the receiving space is storable.

In contrast to the prior art, where the receiving space for the drinking neck is formed in the cavity below the cap, the receiving space according to the invention is formed directly on the base part. The drinking nozzle is secured in the bent position by means of the guide carriage, which is located in the locking position on the top of the receiving space. A defined kink is achieved in that the drinking neck does not simply protrude freely from the base element, but is held in the guide carriage with its defined bearing points.

In a preferred embodiment it is also provided that the guide carriage is arranged in relation to the position of the outlet opening in the base element in such a way that a double kink occurs. Seen in cross-section, an S-shaped meandering configuration of the drinking neck is formed, so that the internal drinking channel is even shut off at two points and a reliable shut-off is achieved.

The interplay between the position of the guide carriage and the elasticity of the drinking neck is also essential to the invention. The guide carriage is pressed down with the thumb, tilts forward and takes the drinking spout with it. When transitioning to a more horizontal position, the articulation points of the guide carriage come into a rail due to the guidance in a sliding link, which allows a linear retraction movement. The user can thus pull back slightly after pushing down the drinking neck of the guide carriage, that is to say radially outward, where the guide carriage is blocked by an unlocking button and thus also keeps the bent drinking neck below. The locked position of the guide carriage is held in that it is articulated and that the spring force of the deformed drinking spout presses the guide carriage firmly against the release button.

In order to be able to drink from the bottle again, the user only needs to push the guide carriage forward slightly so that it comes out of engagement with the release button. With the slight pressure that releases the lock, the guide projections on the guide carriage are also pushed back into the sliding link, so that the guide carriage can straighten up, caused by the elastic return of the drinking nozzle. The user then pushes the guide carriage forward again, the drinking neck kinking and the guide carriage being moved back into its locked position.

In order to provide even greater security against unintentional opening and against unintentional leakage of the beverage, a safety slide is preferably provided which can be moved into a position above the receiving space, where it either locks the angled drinking spout and / or secures the guide carriage, for example, in that it forms a latching connection with the guide carriage. Since the safety slide can only be moved translationally, the guide slide cannot tilt as long as the guide slide engages with the safety slide. Rather, the user must first bring the safety slide into the outer position in order to be able to move the guide carriage and the drinking spout at all, and must then trigger the release button already described above to release the guide carriage.

It is therefore advantageous in the case of the drinking cup lid according to the invention to link a pivoting movement of the guide carriage in order to bring it into the lying position in which the drinking nozzle is clamped off, and a subsequent radial displacement to the outside for the purpose of securing. This combination assumes a self-locking transport position that can only be canceled by a radial displacement.

The radial displacement can be carried out by the user himself by a withdrawal movement. However, it is preferably provided that the guide carriage slides on a guide link with a sliding edge or sliding surface, when the user swings the guide carriage down. This positive guidance is achieved when the guide carriage is pressed slightly below the transport position. Then the guide carriage in an inclined position, in which its outer, rear support edge is slightly raised, is pushed outwards so far that the support edge lies above a support surface. This has the advantage that the user only has to push the guide carriage down in order to make the securing. When the user releases it, the surfaces line up and the transport position is secured.

So that the user does not have to perform two different movements when closing, a preferred embodiment also provides at least one additional spring element which acts on bearing journals on the outside of the guide carriage. The user then only has to swivel the guide slide with the drinking neck down. The necessary retraction movement to produce the lock is achieved via the spring elements that linearly push the guide carriage back into the locked position.

Figur 1 - 4

einen Trinkbecherdeckel mit verschiedenen Stellungen des Trinkstutzens, jeweils im Schnitt;

Figur 5A, 5B

den Trinkbecherdeckel in gesicherter Transportstellung, jeweils in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Figur 6A, 6B

den Trinkbecherdeckel in ungesicherter und gesicherter (6B) Transportstellung, jeweils in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Figur 7A, 7B

den Trinkbecherdeckel in entriegelter Stellung, jeweils in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Figur 8

den Trinkbecherdeckel in Trinkstellung in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Figur 9, 10

den Trinkbecherdeckel kurz vor und kurz nach Herstellen der Transportstellung.

Fig. 11A

einen Trickbecherdeckel gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform in gesicherter Transportstellung, in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 11B

einen Trickbecherdeckel gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform in entriegelter Stellung, in perspektivischer Ansicht; und

Fig. 12

einen Trickbecherdeckel gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform in gesicherter Transportstellung, jeweils in perspektivischer Ansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The figures show in detail:

Figure 1-4

a drinking cup lid with different positions of the drinking neck, each in section;

Figure 5A, 5B

the drinking cup lid in the secured transport position, each in a perspective view;

Figure 6A, 6B

the drinking cup lid in the unsecured and secured (6B) transport position, each in a perspective view;

Figure 7A, 7B

the drinking cup lid in the unlocked position, each in a perspective view;

Figure 8

the drinking cup lid in the drinking position in a perspective view;

Figure 9, 10

the drinking cup lid shortly before and shortly after the transport position has been established.

Figure 11A

a trick cup lid according to a second embodiment in a secured transport position, in a perspective view;

Figure 11B

a trick cup lid according to a second embodiment in the unlocked position, in a perspective view; and

Fig. 12

a trick cup lid according to a third embodiment in a secure transport position, each in a perspective view.

• einem Basiselement 10 aus einem harten Kunststoff;
• einem Einsatzelement 20 aus einem weichen Kunststoff oder Gummi;
• einem Führungsschlitten 30;
• einem Sicherungsschieber 40 und
• einer Entriegelungstaste 50.

Figure 1 shows a drinking cup lid 100 in section, which is formed from the following essential components:

• a base element 10 made of a hard plastic;
• an insert element 20 made of a soft plastic or rubber;
• a guide carriage 30;
• a safety slide 40 and
• a release button 50.

The base element 10 has an outer, approximately cylindrical body, which extends from a lower edge, at which a screw thread begins, to an upper edge 15. The screw thread can be used to produce a sealing connection with a bottle neck of a drinking cup or a drinking bottle, in particular an insulating bottle.

The interior of the base element 10 is divided by a base plate 11 which has a plurality of openings 12, 19. On the one hand, there is a pouring opening 19. In addition, there are several small ventilation openings 12 in the base plate.

The insert element 20 lies against the bottom 11 in the base element 10 and is connected to it in a sealing manner. At the pouring opening 19 covered by the insert element 20 there is a drinking spout 23, which has an inner flow channel 24 which starts from an inlet opening 21.

In the area of the ventilation openings 12, the insert element 20 is provided with a small dome, which is clamped over a spacer 13 which projects downward from the base plate 11.

In Figure 1 the closed transport position of the drinking bottle closure 100 is shown. The drinking spout 23 is bent twice, namely once radially to the left from the outlet opening 21, from where it is deflected in a bend 22 and runs in the other direction. Due to the double folding, on the one hand the drinking spout 23 can be made longer and still be stored within the edge 15, and on the other hand the double closure of the inner flow channel 24 provides greater security against leakage of liquid. The part of the drinking spout 23 lying behind the bend 22 lies completely within the receiving space 14, which is surrounded by the edge 15 and is delimited at the rear by the bottom 11. The position of the kinked drinking spout 23 is secured on the one hand by the guide carriage 30, which is in Figure 1 is in a locked position. The guide carriage 30 has a bearing pin 31 on both sides for pivotable mounting in the base element 10

Second is in Fig. 1 a safety slide 40 has been brought into the locking position, in which the guide carriage 30 lies above the receiving space 14. The safety slide 40 is guided in a rail 16. It secures the guide carriage 30 and thus prevents the drinking spout 23 from erecting unintentionally and thus being able to open the flow channel 24 inside. The rail 16 is formed on both sides on the inner flanks of a U-shaped clasp 17 which extends radially outward beyond the edge 15 of the base element 10. The clasp 17 can also be used for carrying in the closed position.

In Figure 2 the beginning of the opening process is shown in a further sectional view. The safety slide 40 is already pushed into its end position lying outside the edge 15 in the clasp 17, as a result of which the guide carriage 30 can move freely. The safety slide 40 is held in this position via a locking projection 41.

The guide carriage 30, despite being released by the safety slide, cannot yet snap up automatically, since it is still positively coupled to the housing 10 over a short distance, so that it can be displaced in the radial direction, but cannot yet rotate about its bearing journals. In order to overcome this intermediate position, the guide carriage 30 is pushed radially forward, towards the center, by lightly pressing the release button 50 and is thus free at its rear end, as is the case Figure 3 shows. The sledge 30 is no longer secured against rotation relative to the base element 10 and can straighten up again due to the restoring force of the bent, elastic drinking nozzle 23.

In Figure 4 the drinking position is shown. The drinking spout 23 has unfolded completely, so that the internal flow channel 24 between the outlet opening 21 and the end of the drinking spout 23 is open. The drinking spout 23 is held in the guide carriage 30, so that both components assume approximately the same angular position.

In Figure 5A, 5B the closed position is analogous to Figure 1 shown, but in a perspective view. Both the guide slide 30 and the safety slide 40 are located in an approximately horizontal position above the receiving space 14 inside and completely cover the opening of the receiving space 14. Protrusions are formed on the top of the guide slide 30 and the safety slide 40, which form a recessed grip in order to facilitate the operation of the drinking cup lid 100 by moving the components.

The guide carriage 30 is on the one hand by the in the partially sectioned view in Figure 5B visible journal 31 fixed in a receptacle 18 in the base member 10. On the other hand, the guide carriage 30 has a rear edge 32 on one shoulder in the base element 10. With its front edge, it is held by the safety slide 40. As in Figure 5B also recognizable, the bearing seat 18 is designed as a double bearing seat or as an elongated hole. The bearing journal 31 can thus be changed in its position by displacement.

In Figure 6A the safety slide 40 has already been transferred into its outer end position in the clasp 17, so that the securing of the guide carriage 30 is already canceled again on one side. However, the guide carriage 30 with its rear edge 32 is still on a support 10.1 (see Figure 6B ) on the base element 10, and this position is held by the spring force of the drinking nozzle 23. The bearing journal 31 is in the outer, rear position in the bearing receptacle 18.

Only by pressing the release button 50 - as in Figure 7A shown - the guide carriage 30 advanced somewhat. The bearing journal 31 moves in the Bearing receptacle 18 in the front, inner position. At the same time, the rear edge 32 comes out of engagement with the support 10.1 and the guide carriage 30 can thereby pivot freely about the bearing journal 31.

Due to the reshaping of the drinking spout 23, it straightens itself and the guide carriage 30 connected to it until the in Figure 8 Perspective drinking position, which is the position in section in Figure 4 corresponds, has been ingested.

While the previous illustrations relate primarily to the opening process, the Figure 9 and Figure 10 according to the transition from drinking position Figure 4 and 8th back to the secured transport position according to the Figure 1 , 5A or 5B .

Starting from the use or drinking position in Fig. 8 the user presses on the guide slide 30 and pushes it down. As a result, it also deforms the drinking spout 23. If the user pushes the guide carriage 30 a little further down into the receiving space 14 below the top of the housing, the latter comes with a front, lower sliding edge 33 onto the curved, concave surface of a guide link 13 in the base element 10th

The first contact of the sliding edge 33 with the guide link 13 shows Figure 9 . The guide carriage 30 is slightly inclined downwards inwards. At the same time, the rear side of the guide carriage 30 is slightly raised. The rear edge 32 is located above the support 10.1 on the base element 10. Since there is contact on the guide link 30 on the one hand, the bearing journals 31 on the other hand in the receptacles 18 (see Figure 6B , 7B ) are held, the force applied by the user is redirected so that the pins 31 are displaced radially until they lie in their rearward position within the receptacles 18. If the user then lets go, the guide carriage 30 is pressed upwards by the elasticity of the drinking nozzle 23, as a result of which the rear edge 32 lies on the support surface 10.1. The transport position is thus already secured. An additional securing can finally be brought about by the securing slide 40, which prevents the guide carriage 30 from being moved out of the blocking position by inadvertent slight pressure.

Figure 11A shows a trick cup lid 100 'according to a second embodiment in a perspective view. A secured transport position is shown. The guide slide 30, the locking slide 40 and the base element 10 are essentially unchanged from the first embodiment.

As a difference, a compression spring element 25 'is provided, which is arranged between the bearing journal 31 and the base housing 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is part of the insert element and thus, together with the drinking nozzle 23 ', is formed in one piece from elastomeric material. The compression spring element 25 'is a compressible body, which presses the guide carriage 30 into the secured position via the bearing pins 31 and holds it there.

In order to be able to erect the drinking nozzle 23 ', the user must push the guide carriage 30 against the force of the compression spring element 25' into the in Figure 11B move shown position. The elastomeric compression spring element 25 'is compressed. This position corresponds to the representation of the first embodiment in FIG Figure 7B . Accordingly, the drinking position, in which the drinking nozzle 23 'is erected, is also exactly the same in the case of the drinking cup lid 100' as in FIG Figure 8 represents.

In Figure 12 Finally, a trick cup lid 100 "according to a third embodiment is shown in a perspective view, again in an unlocked position. The guide carriage 30, the locking slide 40 and the base element 10 are also essentially unchanged here compared to the first and the second embodiment. It is different the insert element with the drinking spout 23 ", which in this embodiment does not have a molded-on, elastomeric spring element, but instead has a metallic pressure spring element 50" in the same position and function outside and thus automatically moves the guide carriage 30 back into the locking position as soon as the user no longer exerts pressure on the guide carriage 30.

The compression spring element 25 'for the drinking cup lid 100' or the compression spring element 50 "for the drinking cup lid 100 'facilitates the closing process, on the one hand, since the user only has to guide the slide 30 with the drinking nozzle must press down, but does not have to actively pull the slide back into the locked position. On the other hand, it slows down the rapid movement of the guide carriage 30 with the drinking spout, because the user has to rest his finger on the guide carriage 30 over a longer distance in order to move it against the force of the compression spring element. As a result, the user automatically cushions the uprighting slide. In the second embodiment of the drinking cup lid 100 ', the friction between the bearing journal 31 and the elastomeric compression spring element 25' additionally brakes the movement.

Claims (13)

1. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") for a drinking bottle,
   at least including:

   a basis element (10), which has at least one outpouring opening (19) in a floor plate (11) which is surrounded by a lifted edge (15),

   a flexible drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") having an inner flow channel (24), which can be blocked by bending the flexible drinking spout (23; 23'; 23"),

   wherein the drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") is held in a guiding carriage (30) mounted pivotably on the basis element (10), the bent drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") can be stored within a receiving chamber enclosed by the edge (15) and a releasable block is provided, which holds the guiding carriage (30) against the return force of the bent drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") in a blocking position;

   characterised in that the block is formed by an abutment surface (10.1) on the basis element (10) and by a bearing edge (32) on the rearward end, facing away from the drinking spout (23; 23'; 23"), of the guiding carriage (30), wherein the bearing edge (32) can be removed from the abutment surface (10.1) by a radial displacement of the guiding carriage (30).
2. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 1, characterised in that the guiding carriage (30) can be displaced by means of an unlocking button (50) connected in an articulated manner to the basis element (10).
3. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guiding carriage (30) has on both sides respectively one bearing pin (31) which is supported in an oblong-shaped bearing reception (18) in the basis element (10).
4. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one safety slider (40) is provided, which is disposed in displaceable manner in a track (16) above the receiving chamber (14) and which in a first end position holds the bent drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") and/or the guiding carriage (30) in a closed position.
5. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 4, characterised in that the safety slider (40) is disposed displaceable a in a track (16) leading beyond the edge (15) into a second end position outside the receiving chamber (14).
6. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the floor plate (11) has at least one ventilation opening (12).
7. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 6, characterised in that the drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") is an integral part of an elastomeric insert element, which is connected completely sealingly with a bottom side of the floor plate (11) and which covers the outpouring opening (19) and the ventilation opening (12), wherein the insert element (20) contains at the ventilation opening (12) at least one valve opening.
8. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drinking spout (23; 23'; 23") sunk into the receiving chamber (14) at a first bend position in the region of the outpouring opening (19) extends in one direction and above this at a second bend position (22) extends in an opposite direction and in cross-section assumes an S-shaped configuration.
9. Drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guiding carriage (30) in the case of a downwards pivoting movement glides with a gliding surface or with a gliding edge (33) on a guiding framework (13) and is pushed radially to the outside.
10. Drinking container lid (100'; 100") according to any of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that the guiding carriage (30) is supported on the basis element (10) by means of at least one spring element (25', 50"), which presses the guiding carriage (30) into the blocking position and holds it there.
11. Drinking container lid (100') according to claims 7 and 10, characterised in that the spring element (25') is an elastomeric, compressible compression spring element (25') which is part of the insert element (20).
12. Drinking container, at least including a drinking vessel and a drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") according to at least one of the preceding claims.
13. Drinking container according to claim 10, characterised in that the drinking vessel and the drinking container lid (100; 100'; 100") are to be connected with one another via a screw threading.

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