Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G21/00—Table-ware
  • A47G21/18—Drinking straws or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G19/00—Table service
  • A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
  • A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
  • A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
  • A47G19/2272—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a drinking mug comprising a cup, a lid and at least one suction tube.
• a drinking mug comprising a cup, a lid and at least one suction tube.
• Such drinking mugs which are arranged to prevent spillage, are for example used for small children, the handicapped and hospital patients.
• a mug of the kind described above is disclosed in US Patent No. 2,914,214, where the suction tube is secured to the lid, in that the mouth of the suction tube is found at the lid or over the lid outside the mug.
• the suction tubes extend right down towards the bottom, but are hereafter extended in an arc upwards towards the lid, in that the inlet to the suction tubes turns towards the lid or towards a space between two concentric walls in the cup.
• this mug is intended to prevent spillage, the liquid which stands in the lowermost tube will run out because the uppermost tube functions as an air valve.
• a second and more significant disadvantage is that the tubes must be long and curved in order to be able to function as intended.
• the special feature of the invention is that the suction tube is substantially straight between its outlet and its inlet inside the mug, said inlet inside the mug being situated at a relatively short distance above the bottom, and that the mug is configured with substantially gastight joints, so that the flow of air to and from the interior of the mug is effected exclusively or almost exclusively through the suction tube. That the flow of air can take place almost exclusively through the suction tube is to be construed in the way that there can be leaks in the joints which, however, are so small that they have no influence on the properties of the mug according to the invention. For example, the leak of air to the interior of the mug is so small that it takes several minutes before this gives rise to the flow of liquid out through the suction tube when the mug is not standing in its normal upright position.
• the suction tube is the only way in which the surrounding air can gain ingress to the inside of the mug, a partial vacuum will be created above the liquid in the mug when the liquid influenced by gravity seeks a way out through the suction tube, which happens for example when the mug is lying on its side or is turned upside down (the mouth of the suction tube is turned downwards) .
• This underpressure will prevent the liquid from running out of the suction tube.
• the negative pressure which is formed above the surface of the liquid due to the suction of liquid when a person is drinking, will empty the suction tube of liquid.
• the liquid Because of the length of the suction tube, the liquid will be able to find its way some distance up through the suction tube, but without being able to flow out, whereby sufficient underpressure is formed above the surface of the liquid to prevent spillage. If the mug is turned upside down so that the first mouth of the tube faces downwards, the tube's second mouth will as a rule be free of liquid.
• the mug according to the invention can be built up in a simple manner with low costs of production, and use can be made of disposable suction tubes or re-usable suction tubes which are easy to clean.
• a sealing ring is used to create a high degree of airtightness in the joint between the mug and the lid.
• the mug is configured with a running fit in the form of relatively smooth surfaces which constitute mutually abutting parts in the joint between mug and lid.
• a joint can provide sufficient airtightness without any great frictional forces arising when the lid is turned or lifted from the mug.
• the bottom of the mug can have at least one recess which, in the position of use, is located opposite the inlet to the suction tube, so that the inlet is down in the recess.
• the recess is annular and disposed symmetrically in the bottom.
• This embodiment will be preferred if, for example, a screw lid is used, where the suction tube can assume different positions above the bottom and along the side of the bottom.
• the lid can be secured on the mug by means of two or more bayonet locks, hereby enabling a secure connection to be achieved between the lid and the mug.
• the bayonet locks are arranged with lateral pins which extend towards each other from the wall of the mug, and where in the lid there are cutouts which are configured in such a manner that by a mutual turning of the lid and mug they will cooperate with the pins so that the pins influence a flexible portion at the cutouts until the pins have passed a top point on the portions where the pins assume a locking position in relation to the cutouts, and from which locking position no further turning can be effected in the same direction, and where turning in the opposite direction can be effected only by overcoming a force which is caused by the passage of the top point by the pins in the opposite direction.
• the lid constitutes the bottom of the mug, and the cup is configured with a closed upper side except for the mouth of the suction tube which is located at or in the cup's upper side.
• the suction tube is also advantageous for the suction tube to be configured as a channel which extends mainly in a thickened part of the side of the cup.
• a simplified embodiment of the mug is hereby achieved, in that the suction tube is integrated in the wall of the mug, and the only disengageable joint required to be made airtight is the joint between the bottom and the cup.
• fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the drinking mug according to the invention seen in perspective from above and in partly dismantled condition
• fig. 2 shows a vertical section through the drinking mug in assembled condition
• fig. 2a and 2b show two enlarged details in fig. 2
• fig. 3 shows a second embodiment for the bottom of the drinking mug seen from above
• fig. 4 shows a third embodiment for the bottom seen in section on the line IV-IV in fig. 3,
• fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of the drinking mug according to the invention, seen in section, and
• fig. 8 shows a section on the line VIII-VIII in fig. 7.
• a drinking mug for children, handicapped or hospital patients who are unable to use open cups, glasses or mugs comprises a cup 1, a lid 3 and a suction tube 5.
• the parts 1 and 3 are made of synthetic material, e.g. by injection moulding, while the suction tube 5 can be made of a synthetic material or a cellulose- containing material.
• the cup 1, which is described in the following is provided externally with two mutually opposite handles 7. Along the edge 9 of the cup and at a short distance from the edge 9 there are four pins 11 which are arranged at mutually equal distances. It is preferred that the pins 11 are cylindrical.
• the lid 3 is configured with an arcuate upper side 13 in which there is a assymmetrically-disposed mouthpiece in the form of a drinking spout 15 which extends upwards as a projection along edge 17.
• the spout 15 is provided with a single, through-going channel 19, although several channels can be envisaged.
• the channel 19 opens out on the inner side of the lid through a pipe stub, and here the suction tube 5 is secured.
• Use can be made of both disposable and permanent suction tubes 5, which are inserted in the spout 21.
• Permanent suction tubes 5, as shown in fig. 2 can be removed for cleaning and have such a large wall thickness that a collar 23 or a shoulder can be provided which serves as an abutment against the end of the spout 21.
• the suction tube 5 can abut against a collar inside the spout 21.
• the edge 17 is provided with a laterally-extending collar 25.
• An annular edge 27 extends down under the collar 25, and the edge has a groove in which there is mounted a sealing ring 29 in the form of an 0-ring of rubber or another elastomer material. It is hereby ensured that the joint between the lid 3 and the cup 1 is airtight.
• the seal can be effected by hard or soft jointing material, and it is possible for the seal to be vulcanized, glued or welded firmly to the lid or the cup, and these arrangements can possibly be combined with the seal lying on an upwardly-facing or downwardly-facing flange in the cup or in the lid, all of which arrangements fall within the scope of the invention.
• the seal can lie loose or be configured as a belt on a cylindrical surface in the joint.
• the edge 27 is provided with four cutouts which are indicated in general by the reference number 30, and which together with the pins 11 function as bayonet locks in the fastening of the lid 3 on the cup 1.
• Each cutout there is a narrow slot 31 which allows the adjacent, projecting portion 33 to exercise flexing movements in the directions as shown by the arrow 35.
• the cutouts 30 are configured in such a manner that the lid is first led downwards so that the pins 11 pass an opening 37 in the edge 27.
• the lid 3 must be turned, whereby the pins 11 force the lid 3 downwards when the pins 11 slide along the parallel and slightly inclined section 39 and 41 in the edge 27 and the portion 33 respectively.
• the sealing ring 29 is thus forced into engagement with the inside of the cup.
• the lid 3 finds its locked position, as shown in fig. 2b, when the pins 11 have passed a small upwardly-extending projection or top point 43, after which the portion 33, because of its flexible configuration, prevents any accidental movements away from the locked position.
• Upon passage of the top point 43 there is at the same time achieved a registration which can be felt during the manual turning of the lid 3.
• the lid 3 is to be removed, it is necessary to overcome a resistance upon passage of the top point 43, and upon influence by the section 39 on the pins 11, the sealing ring 29 is pushed out of engagement with the inside of the cup.
• the bayonet locks ensure that the spout 15 assumes the same position in relation to he. cup every time, and at the same time it is ensured that the seal 29 is in airtight engagement.
• bayonet locks are employed, but another number of locks can be envisaged, in particular two locks whereby the the lid 3 can be secured only in two different positions in relation to the cup 1, which can be of significance for the position of the spout 15 in relation to the handles 7.
• FIG. 5 A second embodiment is seen in figs. 5 and 6, where mutually abutting, smooth surfaces 45 are provided on both the lid 3 and the cup 1.
• the surfaces 45 are conical, while in fig. 6 they 45 are horizontal.
• a proper sealing in the joint can also be obtained by a suitable choice of material.
• the drinking mug according to the invention can naturally also be configured with threaded connections or snap-locks between the lid and the cup, or the joint between the lid and the cup can simply be an interference fit.
• the bottom 47 of the cup is plane, and as shown in fig. 2 the suction tube 5 opens out at a relatively short distance over the bottom 47, so that the last remaining liquid can also be sucked up.
• the bottom is provided with one or two recesses 49, as shown in figs. 3 and 4.
• the recess can be annular so that the position of the suction tube is arbitrary.
• the suction tube 5 extends a short way down into the recess 49, which hereby creates a pocket where the liquid has difficulty in gaining ingress to the suction tube if the mug is turned upside down.
• the lid 3 or the cup 1, or the joint between lid 3 and cup 1 is provided with a not-shown, commonly-known air valve for the equalization of the overpressure on the inside of the drinking mug, which can arise particularly when the lid 3 is being put on the cup, and which will tend to press liquid out through the suction tube 5.
• the suction tube with a valve which opens for the through-flow of liquid when a person is sucking up liquid, but which closes when no suction is applied, and where the closing function is reinforced by the negative pressure created inside the mug. Drops of liquid in the suction tube are hereby prevented from running out when the bottom of the mug is turned upwards.
• the joint between the suction tube 5 and the lid 3 can be configured in different ways.
• the lid 3 and the tube 5 can have threads, and the drinking spout can be configured in one piece with the suction tube, in that the drinking spout can then be removed from the lid for cleaning together with the suction tube.
• the lid, drinking spout and suction tube can be made in one piece, e.g. by the suction tube being welded or glued to the lid or the drinking spout.
• the suction tube can be through- going in the lid, in that a seal is provided between the lid and the suction tube.
• the suction tube can have an angle in relation to the bottom 47, and the drinking spout and the suction tube's external opening can be disposed in the centre of the lid instead of near the edge 17, as described above.
• the cup 50 with the upper side 51 facing downwards can be filled up to the inlet 56, and the bottom 57 is screwed on.
• the possible surplus air which stands over the surface of the liquid in the cup 50 will be able to escape through the channel 54 when the bottom 57 is being screwed on, and overpressure is hereby avoided.
• the mug can be turned over into its normal position shown in fig. 7. Due to the airtight and liquid-tight joint 59, the same advantages are achieved as with the remaining embodiments described above. Since the suction tube is configured as an integrated channel 54, the configuration of the mug is simplified.
• the embodiment shown in figs. 7 and 8 can be varied in different ways, particularly by combination with the embodiments previously described, e.g. by having a separate suction tube which can be disposable instead of a channel 54.
• the channel 54 can be extended as a short stub in the vicinity of the bottom 57, e.g. so that the inlet 56 can extend down into a recess in the bottom 57.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
• Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26064668

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (5)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 1993
  • 1993-07-12 DK DK93914659T patent/DK0649287T3/da active
  • 1993-07-12 DE DE69321834T patent/DE69321834T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-07-12 ES ES93914659T patent/ES2125988T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1993-07-12 CA CA 2139868 patent/CA2139868A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-07-12 EP EP93914659A patent/EP0649287B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1993-07-12 WO PCT/DK1993/000238 patent/WO1994001026A1/en active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (4)

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