US20220024655A1

US20220024655A1 - Fluid vessel closure device

Info

Publication number: US20220024655A1
Application number: US17/493,803
Authority: US
Inventors: Stewart Humphrey; Eleanor HUMPHREY; Chris FLYNN
Original assignee: Topl Ltd
Current assignee: Topl Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-05
Filing date: 2021-10-04
Publication date: 2022-01-27
Also published as: CN113795177A; MX2021012149A; WO2020201561A1; EP3962829A1; GB202001903D0; JP2022536240A; BR112021019827A2; KR20210148291A; AU2020251206A1; GB201904882D0; CA3136022A1

Abstract

A closure device attachable to a fluid vessel, the closure device comprising a fluid passage and a valve comprising a valve member. The valve member is moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein fluid can exit an attached fluid vessel in the open position and is prevented from exiting an attached fluid vessel in the closed position. The closure device is moveable between a first and second configuration. The fluid passage is obstructed by the valve member to prevent fluid from exiting an attached fluid vessel when the closure device is in a first configuration. In the second configuration, the valve is moveable between the open and the closed position.

Description

The present invention relates to closure devices for fluid vessels, and particularly to non-spill drinking vessels. The present invention further relates to a drinking vessel comprising a closure device.
Fluid vessels hold or store fluid until later transported, used or consumed. Unintentional losses of fluid from a vessel are undesirable as fluid may become contaminated, unusable, or irrecoverable depending on the nature of the loss. Non-spill closure devices for fluid vessels are intended to prevent fluid in a given vessel from exiting the vessel when the vessel is jostled, tipped, knocked over or otherwise unintentionally moved out of the standard position and orientation normally adopted during rest and use of the vessel. The spilt fluid may then cause damage to the surrounds of the vessel. In general, non-spill closure devices may act to prevent spills through the use of barriers or other physical obstructions to hinder or restrict the flow of fluid from the vessel. Common non-spill mechanisms for fluid vessels include lids, caps, lips, or similar obstructions that substantially prevent the fluid from following a flow pathway that would result it in leaving the fluid vessel.
Non-spill closure mechanisms may be particularly useful when applied to small or portable fluid vessels such as drinking vessels. Small vessels such as drinking vessels are often more likely to be unseated and toppled by accidental and unintended interactions than larger vessels possessing greater mass, base surface area and stability. Many drinking vessels such as cups or bottles are designed with dimensions that impart a high centre of gravity, resulting in an increased propensity to topple. A non-spill closure device may prevent the loss of a drink when a drinking vessel containing the drink is oriented at an incorrect angle due to user error or other outside influence, such as when the vessel is being carried. However, drinking vessels must allow a user to drink the fluid contained therein when desired and so drinking vessels cannot be completely sealed at all times. It is therefore desirable to allow fluid to leave the fluid vessel during normal use while preventing accidental or unintentional release of fluid when drinking is not desired.
According to the present invention there is provided a closure device attachable to a fluid vessel. The closure device comprises a valve comprising a valve member, the valve member moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein fluid can exit an attached fluid vessel in the open position and is prevented from exiting an attached fluid vessel in the closed position, and a fluid passage in fluid communication with the valve. The closure device is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the fluid passage is obstructed by the valve member to prevent fluid from exiting an attached fluid vessel and in the second configuration, the valve member is moveable between the open and the closed positions. Further preferable features of the closure device are defined in the appended dependent apparatus claims.
One aspect of the invention provides a closure device attachable to a fluid vessel. Fluid vessels include, but are not limited to: cups, bottles, mugs, beakers, cartons, tankards, intermediate bulk containers, tanks, crucibles or any suitable fluid vessel. Suitable fluid vessels may be of any design or configuration that allows the retention of fluid within a receptacle. The fluid vessel may be any suitable shape with at least a portion capable of retaining liquid. Examples of suitable vessel shapes include cylinders, frusto-conical receptacles, rectangular prisms, square prisms, trapezoidal prisms, among others. The vessel often has at least one flat surface in order to stand the vessel on another surface at rest. The closure devices described herein may be particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with a drinking vessels such as cups which are often substantially cylindrical or frusto-conical in shape.
The closure device comprises at least one valve comprising a valve member. The valve member is moveable between at least an open position and a closed position. Fluid can exit an attached fluid vessel via the closure device when the valve member is in the open position and is prevented from exiting an attached fluid vessel via the closure device when the valve member is in the closed position. The valve may be of any suitable design such as a gate valve, globe valve, pinch valve, disc valve, plug valve, ball valve, butterfly valve, etc. The valve may additionally, or alternatively, be a bistable valve. A bistable valve is configured to remain in the open or closed position until an external influence alters the position of the valve. Where the valve is a bistable valve, the valve may, for example, be arranged to move particularly from an open position to a closed position automatically when a force is exerted against a valve body of the valve. For example, when the vessel is accidentally dropped or knocked over from a standing position, the fluid contained in the vessel will naturally tend to move chaotically inside the vessel and push against the closure device. In such a situation, a bistable valve may be configured to move from the open position to the closed position under the influence of the force of the fluid inside the vessel pushing against the closure device. When resting in the open position, a bistable valve will allow a user to drink from an attached fluid vessel without manual actuation of the valve such as the manipulation of an opening handle, or the need to suck on a spout, each time a user wishes to take a sip from the vessel. The valve is configured such that pressure of the fluid against the closure device when the vessel is titled in order for a user to discharge fluid from the fluid vessel under normal operating conditions is not sufficient to move the valve member to the closed position. The valve is preferably a unitary moving valve component to maintain mechanical simplicity and therefore impart a reduced likelihood of mechanical failure when compared to devices utilising more complex arrangements such as hinges.
The closure device generally comprises one or more fluid passages via which fluid flows from an attached fluid vessel to an environment beyond the closure mechanism. The fluid passageway may be any shape or configuration that allows fluid to flow from the fluid vessel, through or past at least a portion of the closure device, and ultimately out of the fluid vessel. One or more outer walls, boundaries or peripheries of the fluid passage may be formed at least in part by sections or components of the fluid vessel itself. Alternatively, the fluid passage may be entirely formed by components of the closure device. When the valve member is in a closed position, the valve member wholly obstructs the fluid passage, thereby preventing fluid from leaving the fluid vessel. When the valve member is in any position other than the closed position, such as the open position, the fluid passage is at least partially unobstructed such that fluid may flow through it and out of the vessel via the closure device.
The closure device is configured to allow locking of the valve member in either the open or closed position. When the valve is locked, the valve member cannot be moved to an alternative position until the closure device is unlocked. The locking may be achieved by moving or adjusting one or more components of the closure device from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration. When the closure device is in an unlocked configuration, the valve may be actuated between the open and closed position as desired. When the closure device is in the locked configuration, the position of the valve member is fixed and may not be changed until the closure device is moved to the unlocked configuration. The means of locking the valve may be a component of the valve itself, of the closure device distinct from the valve, or alternatively formed from one or more components shared between the valve and the wider closure device. Locking or unlocking the closure device may require twisting, rotating, lifting, sliding, pushing, translating, re-angling, or moving one or more components of the closure device relative to one or more other components of the closure device. For example, the closure device may comprise two retaining components that can be translated relative to each other via a boss and track arrangement. In this example, two structural components of the closure device may be moveable or adjustable to retain at least a portion of the valve member between the structural components, preventing movement of the valve member until the structural components are moved to free the retained valve member. Where the closure device comprises at least one boss and track arrangement, the inclusion of two or more boss and track arrangements may impart additional stability as the two retaining components are translated. In particular, three boss and track arrangements may impart greater stability than two such arrangements.
Considering an example of a drinking vessel with a closure device comprising a bistable valve, when the closure device is in a locked configuration and the valve member is in an open position the valve will not automatically close due to an external impulse and fluid will be allowed to flow freely through the fluid passage. When locked in a closed position, the valve member will completely block the fluid passage to prevent the fluid from exiting the fluid vessel via the fluid passage. When locked, the bistable valve cannot transition from the open to the closed position or from the closed position to the open position, respectively. When the closure device is in an unlocked configuration, and the bistable valve member is in an open position, toppling of the drinking vessel may cause the liquid inside the vessel to move erratically, exerting force upon the valve member, and resulting in automatic closure of the bistable valve. It may be advantageous to lock the bistable valve member in only the closed position. Locking the bistable valve member in the open position may prevent the non-spill functionality of the bistable valve from preventing a spill. Locking the bistable valve member in an open position may be at times advantageous for draining fluid from the vessel or for transferring fluid from the vessel for an extended period of time.
It may be particularly advantageous for the closure device to force the valve member into a closed position when the closure device is in a locked configuration. Consequently, a user may seal the fluid vessel when not in use by moving the closure device to a locked configuration without first confirming the current configuration or status of the valve itself. In such a configuration, the closure device may be unable to lock the valve member in an open position to that the closure device prevents spills by being either closed, or open with an actuatable bistable valve, at all times. In such a configuration, accidental release of liquid is therefore prevented outside of times of use. When release of liquid is desired, the closure device may be moved to an unlocked configuration, allowing the valve member to be actuated between an open and a closed position. When the closure device is in an unlocked configuration and the valve member is in an open position, a user may drink from the fluid vessel as desired. In the event that the fluid vessel is dropped or knocked over during drinking, the force exerted upon the bistable valve member will cause it to adopt a closed position, thus preventing the spill of liquid.
The ability to lock and unlock the closure device may be particularly useful when transporting an attached fluid vessel over distances or for periods of extended time. If the closure device cannot be locked then it may be possible for the valve member in the closed position to revert to an open position, thereby releasing the fluid stored in the fluid vessel. Using the example of a closure vessel comprising a bistable valve for use with a cup, a user may wish to carry a filled fluid vessel with them during the day. Were the fluid vessel placed in a bag while unlocked, other objects in the bag may impinge upon the bistable valve member, causing it to actuate open. Utilising a closure device that may be moved into a locked configuration with the valve closed allows the fluid vessel to be carried at any angle without the risk that contact with other objects or accidental force acting upon the valve member will spill the fluid at an inopportune moment. Where the fluid vessel is a drinking cup, locking the bistable valve member in a closed position may therefore enable a drinking cup containing fluid to be carried at any orientation in a bag, pocket or suitable carrying apparatus without risk of a spill.
The closure device may comprise one or more structural components such as supports, housings, casings, etc. The fluid passage may be formed by void spaces inside or running through any structural elements forming part of the closure device. Structural elements may be used to mount, secure or stabilise the valve of the closure device. Structural elements may also be used to aid in the attachment of the closure device to a fluid vessel or in the attachment of different components of the closure device to each other. For example, the closure device may comprise a base unit which seats the valve member of the closure device during use. The base unit may comprise one or more helical threads to allow the base unit to be secured to a fluid vessel comprising one or more counterpart threads. Consequently, the closure device and the fluid vessel may be screwed together to form a single unit. The closure device may comprise threads arranged such that the closure device is attached to the fluid vessel via an internal thread of the fluid vessel, an external thread of the fluid vessel, or both an internal and external thread of the fluid vessel. In examples where a thread is used to attach the closure device to the fluid vessel, the closure device, fluid vessel, or both closure device and fluid vessel may include one or more guides, ramps, stops, rests, protrusions, indents, recesses or similar features configured to assist in the orientation and guidance of the closure device in the fluid vessel when the closure device is being attached to the fluid vessel. Additionally, or alternatively, the closure device and fluid vessel may be attached via one or more latches, clips, form fit arrangements, force fit arrangements, interference fit arrangements, adhesive portions, screws, nails, pins, bolts, hinges, welded portions or any other suitable attachment means.
Where the fluid inside the fluid vessel is a liquid, the structural components of the closure device may be configured to guide or direct the flow of steam, odours or vapours leaving the fluid vessel in a particular manner. For example, the closure device may comprise a rim element configured to guide or direct gas leaving the fluid vessel via the valve in a particular direction. Consequently, hot gas may be directed away from a user to reduce risk of burns or injury. Alternatively, or additionally, a structural element may reside around the valve, creating a cowl that will cause gas leaving the valve to be redirected 180° relative to the normal passage of fluid from the fluid vessel. The arrangement of the fluid passage and valve may further allow flows of gas to be dispersed throughout the cross section of the flow passage in preference to the gas being channelled into a narrow cross-sectional flow. For example, where the valve is a disc valve, the structural components supporting the disk valve may be arranged such that gas is distributed around the outer circumference of the disk valve prior to leaving the fluid vessel via the fluid passage. Where the fluid is a hot drink, this arrangement may prevent a user drinking from the fluid vessel from directing the entire flow of gas towards their mouth and face. Such an arrangement may have further benefits such as allowing a user to discern the scent of a fluid stored within the vessel from various positions around the closure device as the escaping gases or vapours are dispersed around the valve component and leave the vessel via multiple pathways.
One or more sealing components may be included as part of the closure device and/or valve to prevent the undesirable release of fluid. For example, a seal may be included in proximity to the attachment means to prevent fluid from passing between the closure device and the walls of an attached fluid vessel. A seal may also be included in or around the valve component to ensure that the fluid passage is sealed at the contact point of the valve member and the other components of the closure device when the valve is in a closed position. Sealing components may also be included between any two other components of the closure device to prevent passage of fluid between the respective components. The sealing components may be directly incorporated into, or form part of, other components of the fluid vessel or the closure device. For example, where the closure device is attached to the fluid vessel via one or more threads, one or more portions of the threads may include one or more sealing components. In an example, a thread formed primarily from a first material may be formed, at least in part, from a second sealing material. The second sealing material may be positioned at the end of the thread arrangement to prevent the ingress of fluid at a particular position, or positioned in the middle of the thread arrangement to obstruct any void spaces formed between thread components that would otherwise allow the migration or passage of fluid. Such an arrangement may improve the seal achieved when the closure device and fluid vessel are attached. The sealing components may also be configured, positioned or shaped to provide resistance to rotation or translation along the thread by imparting resistance both laterally and vertically when the closure device is in use. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms laterally and vertically refer to planes in, or close to, the rotational plane of the closure device and/or fluid vessel and planes approximately perpendicular to the plane of rotation, respectively. The sealing components may be formed from natural rubber, synthetic polymers, or any other suitable impermeable material.
The closure device may comprise one or more valve assist components designed to assist in the actuation of the valve member. The valve assist components may allow the valve member of the closure device to be biased more towards a closed position than an open position, or alternatively, more towards an open position than a closed position. For example, the closure device may comprise one or more magnets arranged to encourage the valve member to remain in a particular position until sufficient force is applied to the valve member such that the attractive magnetic force between the one or more magnets and a magnetic component of the valve member is overcome. Additionally, or alternatively, the closure device may comprise a resiliently deformable biasing member configured to bias the valve towards the closed position without imparting enough force to move the valve from an open position to a closed position without additional impetus. Examples of such resiliently deformable biasing members include mechanical springs, compressible elastomers, and the like.
The closure device of the present disclosure is equally usable with fluid vessels containing hot or cold fluids. The materials used in the construction of the components of the closure device may be selected to impart particular properties to the closure device such as corrosion resistance, thermal tolerance, tensile strength, antistatic tendency, or other properties as desired. Accordingly, the materials of the closure device may be selected to allow the closure device to be utilised with a fluid vessel containing fluid of specific properties. For example, the closure device may comprise components made from plastics, metal, plant fibres, cardboard, or any other suitable material. Materials may be coated to impart particular beneficial properties, or may be reinforced via the inclusion of material composites. Examples of materials that may be used in components of the closure device include polypropylene, steel, glass, thermoplastic elastomer, etc.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevated view of a fluid vessel closure device;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of the fluid vessel closure device of FIG. 1 with base and rim components separated;

FIG. 3 shows the transitional stages of the fluid vessel closure device of FIGS. 1 and 2 as the device is moved from a locked to an unlocked configuration;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a fluid vessel and closure device in the locked configuration with fluid impinging upon the valve member.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section of another fluid vessel closure device.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an outlet portion of a fluid vessel with which the closure devices disclosed herein may be used.

The following example presents various aspects of the present invention and means of implementing the same. The example provided is merely an exemplary fluid vessel closure device and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows an elevated view of a fluid vessel closure device within the scope of the present invention. The fluid vessel closure device comprises a rim element 1, a base unit 2 and a valve member 3. The rim element 1 and base unit 2 are substantially ring-shaped and form a fluid passage through the void space of the rings. The base unit 2 seats the valve member 3 and rim element 1 such that the ring-shaped rim element rests on and around the ring-shaped base unit. The valve member 3 is discoidal in shape and is substantially retained between the rim element 1 and base unit 2 such that the valve member cannot be wholly removed from the fluid vessel closure device without first separating the rim element 1 from the base unit 2. The fluid vessel closure device is configured such that the valve member 3 obstructs and prevents the flow of fluid through the fluid passage when the valve member 3 abuts against the base of rim element 1. In such a position, the valve member and fluid vessel closure device are considered to be in a closed position. In contrast, when the valve member 3 rests against the base unit 2, but not against the whole of the inner circumference of the rim element 1, the valve member and fluid vessel closure device are considered to be in an open position and fluid may flow around the edges of the discoidal valve member and through at least part of the fluid passage formed through the centre of the rim element 1 and base unit 2.
As will be described in more detail in relation to later figures, the rim element 1 and base unit 2 may be rotated relative to one another to move the closure device between a locked and an unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the rim element 1 and base unit 2 rest against each other such that the valve member 3 is held in a closed position and cannot be actuated to an open position. From a locked configuration, the closure device may be moved into an unlocked configuration by rotating the rim element 1 anticlockwise to raise it partially away from the base unit 2, creating sufficient clearance to allow the valve member 3 to be actuated between and open and a closed position. Subsequent rotation of the rim element 1 in a clockwise direction brings the rim element 1 into closer contact with the base unit 2 and valve member 3, thus locking the closure device and consequently the valve member in a closed position. Therefore, when the closure device is in a locked configuration, the valve member and closure device may only adopt a closed position. In contrast, when the closure device is in an unlocked configuration the valve member and closure device may be in either an open or a closed position.
FIG. 2 shows a partial cross section of the fluid vessel closure device of FIG. 1 with the rim element 1 separated from the base unit 2 and valve member 3. In use, the fluid vessel closure device is secured to an associated fluid vessel (not shown) via an external thread portion 9 running around the outer circumferential surface of base unit 2. The fluid vessel typically has complimentary matched internal threading around the inner surface of the cavity of the vessel into which the fluid vessel closure device is secured. The fluid vessel closure device can thus be attached and secured to a fluid vessel by screwing the fluid vessel closure device into the fluid vessel in an appropriate manner so that fluid may only leave the vessel via the cavity of the vessel by flowing through at least part of the fluid passage formed by the rim element 1 and base unit 2.
The discoidal valve member 3 provides a large surface area upon which fluid in an attached fluid vessel may impinge to automatically actuate the valve member from an open position to a closed position in the event of a possible spill. The valve member 3 of the closure device is a bistable valve and sudden and chaotic contact of fluid in an attached fluid vessel with the valve member will cause the valve member to move to a closed position if previously in the open position. The discoidal shape is particularly suitable for non-spill closure devices as alternative valve members with proportionally smaller surface areas relative to the cross section of the closure device as a whole may either accidentally actuate during the normal flow of fluid from the open closure device or may not successfully actuate in the event that the vessel topples or becomes unseated. The discoidal valve member 3 has a raised centre to allow for thermal expansion or contraction of the valve member 3 and to provide resistance to any vacuum that may form inside an attached fluid vessel as a fluid within the vessel changes in temperature during storage.
The base unit 2 comprises a valve rest 8 positioned around the inside of the base unit. The valve rest 8 extends inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the base unit 2 such that the valve member 3 rests upon the valve rest 8 when the closure device is either in the open position or in a locked, and therefore closed, position. The valve rest 8 comprises one or more orifices (not shown) positioned between the edge of the valve member 3 and the inner circumferential surface of the base unit 2 to allow fluid to flow through the fluid passage, bypassing the valve member 3, when the closure device is in the open position only. In contrast, when the closure device is in the closed position, the discoidal valve member 3 abuts the portion of the rim element 1 that overhangs a portion of valve rest 8 such that fluid cannot flow around the edges of the disk. In this position, even if fluid flows through the one or more orifices of the valve rest 8, the fluid is prevented from leaving the vessel by the barrier formed by the rim element 1 and the discoidal valve member 3. The circumference of the valve member 3 is smaller than that of the valve rest 8 such that, in use, when the closure device is in an open position, fluid may leave the fluid vessel by flowing through the one or more orifices of valve rest 8, across the edges of the valve member 3 and into the void space in the middle of rim element 1 through the gap formed between the valve member 3 and the rim element 1.
The base unit 2 comprises three tracks 4 formed by indented regions or recesses positioned at equal intervals around the inner circumferential surface of the base unit 2. The rim element 1 comprises three bosses 13, shown partly in FIGS. 3A to 3C, sized to fit inside the tracks 4. The rim element 1 is secured to the base unit by each boss 13 resting within its respective track 4. The bosses of the rim element 1 may be placed into the tracks 4 of the base unit 2 via a push fit assembly method and soft touch seal system (not shown). The tracks 4 are angled or sloped in the same direction such that when the rim element 1 is rotated, the bosses 13 each move through their respective tracks to bring the rim element 1 and the base unit 2 closer together, or further apart, depending upon the direction of rotation. More particularly, rotating the rim element 1 relative to the base unit 2 in a clockwise direction will cause the bosses 13 of the rim element 1 to move along the tracks 4 such that the rim element 1 and valve rest 8 are ultimately both brought into contact with the valve member 3, provided that the bosses 13 were not already positioned at the end terminus of their respective tracks 4 closest to the valve rest 8 prior to rotation. This clockwise rotation moves or adjusts the closure device towards a locked and closed position. Similarly, rotation of the rim element 1 in an anticlockwise direction will move the rim element 1 further apart from the valve rest 8 of the base unit 2, thus allowing the valve member 3 of the closure device to move between an open and a closed position. This anticlockwise rotation moves the closure device towards an unlocked configuration, defaulting to closed if previously locked. The skilled person will appreciate that a configuration with the boss and track arrangement reversed such that anticlockwise rotation moves the closure device towards a locked and closed position and clockwise rotation moves the closure device towards an unlocked configuration is also envisaged. In the example provided in FIG. 2, each track 4 is angled or sloped to the same extent such that the circular plane of the base unit 2 and the comparable circular plane of the rim element 1 are kept substantially parallel at all times as the bosses 13 move through their respective tracks 4. The angle of inclination of each track 4 in the closure device of FIGS. 1 to 4 is approximately 25° from the circular plane of the valve member 3, although other angles of inclination are suitable depending upon specific design requirements. In embodiments where the closure device is not substantially circular in cross section, each track may vary in length, width and inclination to allow the comparable planes of each component to remain substantially parallel during translation or rotation of the corresponding non-circular components. The terminus of each track 4 furthest from the valve rest 8 comprises a stop notch 5 to prevent the bosses from sliding down the tracks and inadvertently locking the closure device in the closed position without intentional interaction on the part of the user. A similar notch 5 may be included at each terminus of each track 4 if desired to bias the closure device towards adopting only a fully open position or a fully closed position. As shown, only stop notch 5 at the terminus of the track 4 furthest from the valve rest 8 is provided in the present example.
As previously described, the closure device is secured to the fluid vessel using thread portion 9 by rotating the closure device, and in particular the threaded base unit 2, in a clockwise direction when seated against the matching thread of the fluid vessel. As clockwise rotation is also required to move the rim element 1 and base unit 2 into a locked configuration, when the closure device is secured to the fluid vessel, continued movement past the limit of the thread portion 9 will caused the rim element 1 to continue rotation when the base unit 2 becomes stationary, resulting in the closure device adopting a closed position, if not already closed. In this manner, the act of attaching the closure device to a fluid vessel ensures that the closure device moves to a locked and closed position at the point where the base unit 2 encounters resistance against further rotation in the thread of the fluid vessel. Defaulting the closure device towards a closed position following the act of securing the device to a fluid vessel further aids in the prevention of accidental or unintended release of fluid from the vessel.
The base unit 2 further comprises a support protrusion 10 positioned around the outer circumferential surface of the base unit 2. The support protrusion extends outwards from the base unit and provides additional support for the rim element 1 upon the base unit 2 particularly when the closure device is in a locked configuration and the rim element 1 and base unit 2 are in the closest proximity. The support protrusion 10 further comprises a plurality of support ribs shaped to align with the contours of the surface of the rim element 1 which rest upon the support protrusion. The support protrusion serves to prevent misalignment of the rim element 1 and base unit 2 when the closure device is in the locked configuration.
The outer edge of valve member 3 comprises a magnetic element 6 a which enables the valve member 3 to be held in a closed position by corresponding magnet 6 b secured in the casing of the rim element 1. When the valve member 3 is held in a closed position by magnets 6 a and 6 b, the valve element will be biased towards to the closed position and will not revert to an open position under gravity without external impetus. When in an open position and resting against valve rest 8, magnets 6 a and 6 b are sufficiently separated that the valve member will not close without external impetus. Alternatively, one of magnets 6 a or 6 b could be a replaced with a ferromagnetic material that is attracted to the opposing magnet. The valve member therefore forms a bistable valve in that it will continue to reside in either an open or a closed position until an external influence results in a change in state provided the rim element 1 and base unit 2 are sufficiently positioned such that the valve member 3 is not locked in a closed position. The valve rest 8 may also be formed from a magnetic material to bias the valve member 3 towards either a fully open or fully closed position when present in conjunction with magnet 6 b. Where both magnet 6 b and a magnetic valve rest are present, magnet 6 b in the rim element 1 will be selected to provide a greater attractive force than the magnetic valve rest, thus generally biasing the valve member towards a closed position to ensure that the non-spill functionality of the closure device remains operational when the closure device is unlocked and the valve is in an open position.
The fluid vessel closure device comprises three resiliently deformable seal rings 7 a, 7 b & 7 c. Seal 7 a is positioned around the portion of the rim element 1 that abuts against the valve member 3 when the valve member 3 is in the closed position. Consequently, seal 7 a prevents undesirable passage of fluid between the valve member 3 and rim element 1 when the two components are abutting. Seal 7 b is positioned around the outside of base unit 2 above the thread 9. Seal 7 b forms a seal between the fluid vessel closure device and the walls of the fluid vessel to prevent fluid from passing around the outside of the closure device. Such passage of fluid is undesirable as it will bypass the fluid passage of the closure device and thus will not be regulated via the valve member 3. Seal 7 c is located around the top of the inner surface of the base unit 2 in proximity to the rim element 1. Seal 7 c prevents passage of fluid between the base unit 2 and rim element 1 that would circumvent the fluid passage of the closure device by flowing through or around the threading arrangement 9.
FIGS. 3A to 3C demonstrate the rotational movement of the rim element 1 relative to the base unit 2 of the fluid vessel closure device of FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3A the closure device is in the locked configuration and the valve member 3 is held in position between the rim element 1 and the base unit 2 where it fully obstructs the fluid passage. FIG. 3B shows the closure device of FIG. 3A following a partial rotation of the rim element 1 in an anticlockwise direction relative to the base unit 2. The bosses 13 have moved along the tracks 4 and consequently a gap is formed between the base unit 2 and the rim element. In FIG. 3C, the rim element 1 has been rotated such that the bosses 13 have reached the terminus of the tracks 4 farthest from the valve rest 8. The gap between the rim element 1 and the base unit 2 is sufficient for the valve member 3 to transition to the open position where it rests against valve rest 8 and not against rim element 1. Fluid may therefore flow through the orifices in the valve rest 8 and out of the fluid vessel via the fluid passage. As shown throughout FIGS. 2 and 3, the three tracks 4 and bosses 13 are configured such that approximately a 30° turn of the rim element 1 is required to cause the bosses 13 to fully traverse their respective tracks 4 from one end to the other.
FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a cup attached to the fluid vessel closure device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The cup contains a fluid and has been tilted from more than 90° from its vertical resting position to a point where the fluid would have been spilled from the cup were the closure device of the present invention not attached to the fluid vessel. The closure device in FIG. 4 is in a locked and closed position. The fluid in the vessel impinges upon the valve member 3 but cannot leave the vessel due to the barrier formed between the valve member 3, the valve rest 8 and the rim element 1. As the closure device is in the locked configuration, any force acting upon the valve member against the fluid will be unable to move the valve to the open position as the valve member is held between the rim element 1 and base unit 2. The cup may therefore be oriented at any angle, including upside down at 180° from rest, without the unintentional release of fluid. The cup may therefore be used to store beverages for travel purposes.
In use, a user may fill a fluid vessel with liquid prior to attaching the closure device described above by screwing the closure device into the fluid vessel via matched threads. The screwing motion causes rotation of the rim element relative to the base unit causing the closure device to adopt a locked configuration. When locked and closed, the user is free to carry the fluid vessel without risk of a spill. When the user wishes to take a drink from the fluid vessel, the user rotates the rim element relative to the base unit to move the closure device to an unlocked configuration. Once unlocked, the user may press down on the exposed surface of the valve member to actuate the valve into an open position. Tipping the fluid vessel with attached closure device in the open position allows fluid to flow through the closure device as desired as the fluid pressure acting upon the valve is insufficient to cause it to revert to a closed position during normal use. If the user accidentally topples the fluid vessel, the chaotic movement of the fluid contained therein will exert sufficient fluid pressure upon the valve to cause it to actuate closed. The user may then lock the valve member in a closed position by rotating the rim element in the direction required to secure the closure device to the fluid vessel, thus retaining the valve member between the rim element and base unit and preventing it from actuating to an open position.
FIG. 5 shows a partial cross section of another fluid vessel closure device with the components of the closure device separated for ease of use. The closure device of FIG. 5 includes an extended seal 7 d in place of the seal 7 a shown in the example of FIG. 2. Seal 7 d approximates an L shape and extends from the lower surface of the support protrusion 10 into the external thread portion 9 running around the outer circumferential surface of base unit 2 b. The shape of the seal 7 d allows the seal to provide both compression both in the planes and directions or rotation of the closure device relative to the fluid vessel and planes approximately perpendicular to the rotational planes. In this example, the seal 7 d forms the upper portion of the external thread portion 9 such that the upper portion of the thread portion 9 and the ring seal positioned on the lower surface of support protrusion 10 are a single component. Including the seal as a portion of the thread arrangement may form an improved seal between the closure device and a fluid vessel to which it is attached when the external thread of the closure device is screwed into a compatible internal thread in a suitable fluid vessel. Preferably, the seal is formed from a material that is at least partly resiliently deformable. Use of such a material, such natural rubber, synthetic polymers, and the like may increase the lifespan of the seal arrangement by allowing the upper portion of the external thread portion 9 of the closure device to deform to maintain a seal where a closure device or fluid vessel has a worn or damaged thread arrangement.
The material forming seal 7 d may also be selected to impart additional friction or resistance to increase the energy required to unscrew the closure device from the fluid vessel when attached. The portion of the external thread portion 9 formed from the seal 7 d is the final portion of the thread to interact with the fluid vessel when the closure device and fluid vessel are screwed together. In this arrangement, the seal may also assist in securing the closure device to the fluid vessel when the closure device is fully screwed into the corresponding thread in the fluid vessel. The resistance or friction imparted by the seal 7 d interacting with the fluid vessel must therefore be overcome to begin loosening and removing the closure device from the fluid vessel. The arrangement of seal 7 d therefore reduces the likelihood of accidental detachment of the closure device. Preventing of accidental detachment may help reduce unwanted escape of fluid contained in fluid vessel and increases the anti-spill capability of the closure device.
The external thread portion 9 of the closure device of FIG. 5 further comprises ramp 14. Ramp 14 is positioned between the protrusions of the thread 9. Although only a single ramp is shown, multiple ramps may be used. Preferably, the terminus of each thread in the external thread portion 9 includes a ramp 14 proximate to the thread terminus. Each ramp 14 is angled such that it protrudes from the base unit 2 b increasingly towards the terminus of the threading to which it is proximate. As the closure device is screwed into a fluid vessel, each ramp 14 and the fluid vessel will interact such that increasing resistance and friction are experienced as the closure device and fluid vessel are attached. When the closure device and the fluid vessel are attached, each ramp will provide additional resistance to the unscrewing of the closure device, increasing the energy required to, at least initially, begin unscrewing the closure device from the fluid vessel. Each ramp may also be positioned to help guide the threading ridges of threat portion 9 through the internal threading with which it is interacting, reducing the likelihood of slippage and misalignment. In general, each ramp may be positioned in proximity or adjacent to one or more ridges of the helical thread of the closure device such that the corresponding thread of the fluid vessel will interact with the ramp when the closure device and fluid vessel are screwed together.
In use, when a user wishes to rotate the closure device from a locked position to an unlocked position, the user rotates the rim element 1 relative to the base unit 2 b such that the bosses 13 translate in the tracks 4. When the bosses 13 translate to the terminus of each track, continued application of force may result in rotation of the entire closure device such that the closure device begins to unscrew from a fluid vessel in which it is housed. Ramps 14 and seal 7 d work both contribute to increase the amount of excess force required to loosen the closure device from the fluid vessel and reduce the likelihood of accidental loosening of the closure device from the fluid vessel.
The base unit 2 b of the closure device of FIG. 5 further comprises guide protrusions 15. The guide protrusions are positioned on the underside of the base unit 2 b and are shaped to assist in guiding the closure device during the attachment of the closure device to a fluid vessel. The guide protrusions may interact with the fluid vessel to which the closure device is attached in a number of ways. For example, the fluid vessel may comprise one or more slots or apertures configured to hold or contain the guide protrusions when the closure device is attached to the fluid vessel. In other examples, the guide protrusions 15 may merely be used to guide the closure device and fluid vessel into the correct alignment. An example of an outlet portion of a fluid vessel that may be used with the closure devices of FIGS. 1 to 5 is shown in FIG. 6. When the closure device of FIG. 5 is screwed into the internal thread 17 of the fluid vessel in FIG. 6, the guide protrusions may rest at least partially upon the internal lip 16. Internal lip 16 may be sloped to further direct the guide protrusions words the centre of the outlet portion of the fluid vessel. The interaction between the guide protrusions 15 and the internal lip 16 aid the correct positioning and alignment of the closure device when fully screwed into the fluid vessel using threads 9 and 17. In some examples, the guide protrusions and internal lip may interact such that additional resistance to unscrewing the closure device from the fluid vessel is imparted when the closure device is fully screwed into the fluid vessel. In this example, the guide protrusions perform a similar function to the seal 7 d and ramps 14 in the closure device of FIG. 5 by increasing the amount of energy required to begin unscrewing the closure device from the fluid vessel and reducing the likelihood that the user or ambient interactions cause the closure device to become loosened or detached at an undesirable time. The internal lip 16 may also be used as an indicator of the advised maximum volume of fluid to be contained in the fluid vessel with which the closure device is used. In an example where the fluid vessel is a cup, beaker or similar, filling the cup with a liquid beyond the level indicated by the internal lip 16 may increase the probability that the user will spill or sufficiently unsettle the liquid such that it is lost from the vessel were the user to choose to unscrew or remove the closure device at a time when the fluid vessel remained filled with liquid. The internal lip may be marked with the text ‘Max’ or equivalent to indicate to the user that the lip represents the maximum advised level of fluid.
The outlet portion of the fluid vessel shown in FIG. 6 may be used in a cup, bottle, mug, beaker, carton, tankard, intermediate bulk container, tank, crucible, pipe, or similar to allow attachment of the closure devices of FIGS. 1 to 5 to a fluid vessel comprising the outlet portion shown. The uppermost lip 18 of the fluid vessel may be formed from a resilient or reinforced material selected to resist wear and damage to the structure of the fluid vessel. When formed from such a material, uppermost lip 18 is a reinforced lip positioned around an opening in the fluid vessel, the reinforced lip configured such that the closure device at least partly rests on the reinforced lip when the closure device and fluid vessel are attached. Repeated attachment and removal of the closure device and the fluid vessel may cause wear to the surfaces of the fluid vessel in direct contact with the closure device. Selecting a strong and resilient material to cover at least the portions of the fluid vessel, and optionally the closure device, which interact in this manner may improve the lifespan of the outlet portion of the fluid vessel. In an example, the lip 18 may be formed from aluminium, steel, a food grade composite material, or any other suitable material.
The features of the general disclosure and specific examples provided may be combined in any technically appropriate manner consistent with non-spill closure devices of the present invention. Additional modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of this disclosure and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A closure device attachable to a fluid vessel, the closure device comprising:

a valve comprising a valve member, the valve member moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein fluid can exit an attached fluid vessel in the open position and is prevented from exiting an attached fluid vessel in the closed position; and

a fluid passage in fluid communication with the valve;

wherein, the closure device is moveable between first and second configurations, wherein:

in the first configuration, the fluid passage is obstructed by the valve member to prevent fluid from exiting an attached fluid vessel; and

in the second configuration, the valve member is moveable between the open and closed positions.

2. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first configuration is a locked configuration and the second configuration is an unlocked configuration, wherein the closure device is configured to prevent the valve member from movement into the open position when the closure device is in the locked configuration.

3. The closure device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the closure device further comprises:

a base unit; and

a rim element;

wherein the base unit seats the valve member and the rim element and wherein the fluid passage extends through the base unit and the rim element.

4. The closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rim element is moveable relative to the base unit, and the closure device is moveable between the first configuration and the second configuration via movement of the rim element relative to the base unit.

5. The closure device as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the base unit and rim element are ring-shaped, and

the fluid passage is formed at least in part by the void space of the base unit and rim element.

6. The closure device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the base unit is disposed within the rim element and arranged to permit rotational movement of the rim element around the base unit.

7. The closure device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rim element and base unit are disposed so as to be relatively rotatable by at least 30° to move the closure device between the first configuration and the second configuration.

8. The closure device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein:

the rim element comprises one or more bosses;

the base unit comprises one or more tracks; and

the one or more bosses of the rim element are located inside the one or more tracks of the base unit to guide movement of the rim element relative to the base unit when the closure device is moved between the first configuration and the second configuration.

9. The closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

each of the one or more tracks comprise a first terminus and a second terminus; and

at least one of the one or more bosses rests at the first terminus of the one or more tracks when the closure device is in the first configuration and at the second terminus when the closure device is in the second configuration.

10. The closure device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more tracks comprise one or more notches in proximity to at least one of the first terminus and the second terminus, wherein the one or more notches are each configured to bias the one or more bosses to rest at the first or second terminus.

11. The closure device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the one or more tracks are angled such that the rim element and base unit are closer together when the closure device is in the first configuration than when the closure device is in the second configuration.

12. The closure device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein:

the base unit is ring-shaped, and

the base unit comprises three tracks arranged at equally circumferentially spaced intervals around one or more inner surfaces of the base unit.

13. The closure device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rim element comprises three bosses arranged to each rest inside a different one of the three tracks when the closure device is in use.

14. The closure device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the valve member is retained between the base unit and the rim element.

15. The closure device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the valve is a bistable valve.

16. The closure device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closure device comprises one or more biasing elements configured to bias the valve member towards one of the open position or the closed position.

17. The closure device as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the one or more biasing elements are magnets; and

the valve member comprises one or more magnets.

18. The closure device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rim element comprises at least one of the one or more biasing elements, wherein the said biasing element is configured to bias the valve towards the closed position in preference to the open position.

19. The closure device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the valve member is discoidal in shape.

20. The closure device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closure device comprises one or more helical thread portions for attaching the closure device to the fluid vessel.

21. The closure device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the closure device is configured such that the movement required to attach the closure device to a fluid vessel using the one or more helical thread portions is at least partly the same as the movement required to move the closure device from the second configuration to the first configuration.

22. The closure device as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the closure device comprises one or more ramps positioned on adjacent to one or more ridges of the one or more helical thread portions.

23. The closure device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closure device comprises one or more sealing elements.

24. The closure device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the one or more sealing elements are located in regions of interaction between components of the closure device to prevent the passage of fluid through the closure device that bypasses the fluid passage.

25. The closure device as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein at least one of the one or more sealing elements at least partly form one or more helical thread portions present on the closure device

26. The closure device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fluid passage extends around the valve member when the closure device is in an open position

27. A fluid vessel attached to a closure device as claimed in any preceding claim.

28. A fluid vessel attached to a closure device according to claim 27, wherein the fluid vessel is a drinking cup.

29. A fluid vessel attached to a closure device according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the fluid vessel comprises a reinforced lip positioned around an opening in the fluid vessel, the reinforced lip configured such that the closure device at least partly rests on the reinforced lip when the closure device and fluid vessel are attached.

30. A fluid vessel attached to a closure device according to claim 23 or 24, wherein:

the closure device comprises one or more guide protrusions; and

the fluid vessel comprises an internal lip;

wherein the one or more guide protrusions are configured to interact with the internal lip to align and retain the closure device in the fluid vessel when attached.