Abstract:
An infant cup includes a container, a lid removably coupled to the container and having an opening, and an insert removably coupled to the lid. The insert is capable of providing various types of fluid flow outlets that control the amount of fluid that flow out of the infant cup. At least two types of outlets are disposed on the insert. Furthermore, the insert is capable of being repositioned with respect to the lid so the desired outlet is used on the infant cup. Each outlet may be designed to be used by children of certain ages, allowing continuing use of the infant cup as the child grows. Finally, the container of the cup may include an insulation layer and the lid may include a cover to sealingly engage the outlet on the insert.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/698,864, entitled “Cup with Repositionable Insert”, filed Sep. 10, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to infant beverage container. More specifically, the present invention is a lid to an infant&#39;s beverage container that includes a repositionable insert that enables different types modes of operation of the beverage container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various types of beverage containers exist for growing children. Depending on a child&#39;s development and age, a child generally uses a specific type of beverage container. For example, infants usually drink out of a container with a sippy spout attached to the lid. When the child grows and becomes a toddler, the toddler has honed its drinking skills to be able to consume a beverage out of a container without a sippy spout. However, the toddler is still not skilled enough to drink regularly out of a normal cup or glass, so a parent must discard the sippy cup and purchase a toddler&#39;s cup, which has a lid and various small drinking openings. As the toddler grows, they continue to gain experience drinking out of the toddler&#39;s cup and are eventually ready to drink out of a regular cup. However, children may still be prone to accidents, so a parent typically purchases another cup that allows a child to simulate drinking out of a regular cup, but one that minimizes spills, leaks, and breakage. The problem currently exists that parents must purchase a variety of beverage containers during the first years of a child&#39;s growth. Because children grow and learn so quickly, a single style of beverage container may only last a year or even just a few months. The early years of the growth of their children are costly to parents because they are forced to purchase numerous differing beverage containers that get minimal use. 
         [0004]    Therefore, what is needed is a beverage container that is capable of being used throughout the growth of a child. What is needed is a beverage container that is capable of being used during all of the early growth stages of a child, including infant and toddler. Furthermore, what is needed is a beverage container that accomplishes these tasks while being insulated to prevent the child from sudden reactions to touching a beverage container that is too hot or too cold and maintaining the temperature of the container&#39;s contents. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an infant&#39;s cup includes a container, a lid removably coupled to the container; and an insert removably coupled to the lid. The lid includes an opening for delivering fluid from within the container to a user. Furthermore, the insert has at least two different types of outlets. In addition, the insert is configured to be repositionably coupleable to the lid to enable one of the at least two outlets to be in fluid communication with the container and the opening in the lid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of two exemplary embodiments of an infant&#39;s cup according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of one of the exemplary embodiments of the infant&#39;s cup illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the lid of the exemplary embodiment of the infant&#39;s cup illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the sealing plate of the exemplary embodiment of the infant cup illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross sectional view of a container of an embodiment of an infant&#39;s cup according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a close up view of the cross section illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of two embodiments of the infant cup  10  in accordance with the present invention are illustrated. The infant cup  10  on the left of  FIG. 1  does not contain a handle attachment  500 . Conversely, the infant cup  10  on the right of  FIG. 1  does contain a handle attachment  500 . Furthermore, both embodiments illustrated include a container  600 , a lid or cap  100 , a flip cover  200 , and an insert  300  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). As illustrated, the container  600  may be of various sizes. No matter the size or shape, the container  600  is configured to contain and hold various types of fluids. Furthermore, the container  600  may be insulated, as later described and illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The lid  100  may attach to the container  600  via a snap fit, friction fit, threads, or other similar means. In this embodiment, the lid  100  contains internal threads  190  (illustrated  FIG. 3 ) that mate with the threads  622  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the container  600  to enable the lid  100  to be screwed onto the container  600 . 
         [0014]    In addition, repositionably attached to the cap  100  is a flip cover  200 . In the embodiment illustrated, the flip cover  200  has an open position A and a closed position B. When the flip cover  200  is oriented in the open position A, fluid within the container  600  is capable of flowing out of the consumption aperture  110  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the lid  100 . When the flip cover  200  is oriented in the closed position B, the flip cover  200  seals the consumption aperture  110 , preventing fluid within the container  600  from flowing out of the consumption aperture  110 . Additionally, the flip cover seals the air vent  160  (see  FIG. 2 ) when in the closed position B. In the embodiment illustrated, the flip cover  200  remains in its open position A and its closed position B via friction. The closure projection  252  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) extending from the bottom of the flip cover  200  is frictionally received by the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100  to hold the flip cover  200  in the closed position B. Furthermore, the flip cover  200  remains in the open position A by the cover cavity  250  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) being frictionally received into the receiving cavity  120  of the lid  100 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention of the infant cup. As illustrated, the lid  100  is configured in a circular shape, enabling the lid  100  to be screwed onto the container  600 , as explained previously. Proximate to the edge of the lid  100  is a consumption aperture  110 . Positioned on the lid  100 , opposite the consumption aperture  110  is a receiving cavity  120 , which is configured to receive the cover cavity  250  of the flip cover  200  when the flip cover  200  is in the open position A. In addition, the lid  100  contains a first sidewall  140  and a second side wall  150 , where the first and second sidewalls  140 ,  150  extend vertically from the edge of the lid  100 . Furthermore, the first and second sidewalls  140 ,  150  are positioned on the lid  100  so the first sidewall  140  and the second sidewall  150  are positioned opposite of each other. In addition, the first sidewall  140  and the second sidewall  150  are positioned on the lid  100  so that neither sidewall  140 ,  150  is proximate to the consumption aperture  110  and receiving cavity  120 . Moreover, the first sidewall  140  contains an alignment opening  142 , and the second sidewall  150  contains an alignment opening  152 . According to the embodiment illustrated, the lid  100  further includes an air vent  160  located proximate to the consumption aperture  110 . In other embodiments, the lid  100  may include an air vent  160  located at another position on the lid  100 , or may not include an air vent  160  at all. Finally, a skirt  170  extends downward from the top edges of the lid  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the skirt  170  includes internal threads  190  that are configured to slideably engage the outside threads  622  (illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) on the rim  620  of the container  600 . Further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the interior of the lid  100  includes alignment projections  180  that extend downwardly from the interior of the lid  100 . 
         [0016]    Continuing with  FIG. 2 , the flip cover  200  contains a first protuberance  210  and a second protuberance  220 . The first protuberance  210  is configured to be received by the alignment opening  142  of the first sidewall  140 . The second protuberance  220  is configured to be received by the alignment opening  152  of the second sidewall  150 . As stated previously, the flip cover  200  is configured to be oriented in an open position A and a closed position B. The interaction of the protuberances  210 ,  220  with the alignment openings  142 ,  152  acts as a hinge to allow the flip cover  200  to be rotated from the open position A to the closed position B and vice versa. In addition, an embodiment of the flip cover  200  further includes a lift tab  230  that is configured to be grasped or engaged by a user to rotate the flip cover  200  between positions A, B. In addition, the flip cover  200  contains an air vent protrusion  240  that sealingly engages the air vent  160  of the lid  100  when the flip cover  200  is in the closed position B. Finally, as stated previously, the flip cover  200  contains a cover cavity  250  that extends from one side of the flip cover  200  and a closure projection  252  that extends from the opposite side of the flip cover  200 , around the opening  254  of the cover cavity  250 . The closure projection  252  is frictionally received by the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100  to hold the flip cover  200  in the closed position B. The cover cavity  250  is frictionally received into the receiving cavity  120  of the lid  100  to hold the flip cover  200  in the open position A. 
         [0017]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the illustrated embodiment of the infant cup includes a container  600  and a handle attachment  500 . As stated previously with regards to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the infant cup  10  includes the handle attachment  500  and another embodiment of the infant cup  10  does not include the handle attachment  500 . In the illustrated embodiment, the handle attachment  500  includes a rim  510  with an central opening  520 , where the rim  510  and opening  520  are configured to allow the handle attachment  500  slide on an off the container  600 , allowing the user to decide on whether or not to use the handle attachment  500 . The rim  510  and opening  520  of the handle attachment  500  align with the rim  620  of the inner cup  610  (illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the container  600  to allow the handle attachment  500  to slide on and off the container  600 . This relationship between the rim  620  of the container  600  and the rim  510  of the handle attachment  500  allows users to easily attach or remove the handle attachment  500  based on the user&#39;s preference. When the lid  100  is coupled to the container  600 , the handle attachment  500  is held into place by being squeezed by the edge  630  (illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the container  600  and the skirt  170  of the lid  100 . 
         [0018]    Moreover, the handle attachment  500  illustrated includes a first handle  530  and a second handle  540  coupled to the rim  510 . In this embodiment, the handles  530 ,  540  are positioned along the outer portion of the rim  510  and are positioned opposite to each other. In another embodiment, the handle attachment  500  may include more or less than two handles. Furthermore, the handle attachment  500  may include handles  530 ,  540  that are repositionable along the rim  510  of the handle attachment  500 . This allows a user to reposition the handles  530 ,  540  to positions that are comfortable for the user. 
         [0019]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  further includes a sealing plate  400 . Sealing plate  400  engages the top part of rim  620  of the container  600 . In one embodiment, the sealing plate  400  may rest upon the top part of rim  620  of container  600  until the lid  100  is coupled to the container  600 , where the lid  100  provides downward pressure on the sealing plate  400  and onto the rim  620  of container  600 , frictionally, holding the sealing plate  400  in place. In the embodiment illustrated, the sealing plate  400  includes a sealing edge  440  that frictionally engages the top of rim  620  of container  600  via a mechanism similar to a tongue and groove mechanism. In another embodiment, the sealing plate  400  may also frictionally engage the lid  100  by frictionally engaging the interior of the skirt  170 . In yet another embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sealing plate  400  includes alignment tabs  450 , while the bottom of the lid  100  includes alignment projections  180 . The alignment tabs  450  extend upwardly from the sealing plate  400 . As explained previously, the alignment projections  180  extend downwardly from the interior of the lid  100 . When the sealing plate  400  is seated within the lid  100 , the alignment tabs  450  of the sealing plate  400  are configured to mate within the alignment projections  180  of the lid  100 , which results in the alignment of the outlet  430  of the sealing plate  400  with the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100 . 
         [0020]    The embodiment of the sealing plate  400  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4  includes an outlet  430 , an air vent  420 , and a basin  410 . The outlet  430  is positioned proximate to the sealing edge  440 . Furthermore, the outlet  430  is shaped and sized to be similar or identical to the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100 . In addition, the air vent  420  is positioned proximate to the outlet  430 , similar to the position of the air vent  160  in relation to the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100 . This placement of the air vent  420  places the air vent  420  in alignment with the air vent  160  on the lid  100 . Furthermore, the outlet  430  is in alignment with the consumption aperture  110  when the alignment tabs  450  mate with the alignment projections  180 . According to this embodiment, the basin  410  extends downward from the sealing plate  400  into the container  600  when the sealing plate  400  is connected to the container  600 . Furthermore, as illustrated, the basin  410  is located proximate to the air vent  420  and outlet  430  and extends across the sealing plate  400  to the portion of the sealing edge  440  opposite portion of the sealing edge  440  that is proximate to the outlet  430 . 
         [0021]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  additionally includes an insert  300  which contains three distinct drinking orifices  320 ,  330 ,  340 . In other embodiments, the insert  300  may include more or less than three drinking orifices. The insert  300  contains a platform which has a first drinking orifice  320 , a second drinking orifice  330 , and a third drinking orifice  340 . Each drinking orifice  320 ,  330 ,  340  differs from the other drinking orifices  320 ,  330 ,  340 , and each drinking orifice  320 ,  330 ,  340  regulates flow of fluid out of the container  600  differently. Each drinking orifice  320 ,  330 ,  340  is designed to selectively interact with the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100  to provide various types of fluid flow through the consumption aperture  110 . With the embodiment illustrated, only one drinking orifice  320 ,  330 ,  340  may interact with the consumption aperture  110  at a time. Therefore, the insert  300  has three different positions C, D, E when coupled to the lid  100 . In the first position C of the insert  300 , which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first drinking orifice  320  interacts with the consumption aperture  110 . In the second position D of the insert  300 , the second drinking orifice  330  interacts with the consumption aperture  110 . Finally, in the third position E of the insert  300 , the third drinking orifice  340  interacts with the consumption aperture  110 . The insert  300  includes an air vent  312  located centrally on the platform of the insert  300 . In each of the three positions C, D, E of the insert  300 , the air vent  312  is aligned with, and in fluid communication with, the air vent  160  of the lid  100  and the air vent  420  of the sealing plate  400 . 
         [0022]    The first drinking orifice  320  resembles a sippy cup spout and includes a spout  322  that contains a valve  324 . The valve  324  is constructed from a flexible membrane that contains a slit  326 . When pressure is applied to the spout  322 , the valve  324  deforms, causing the slit  326  to transform into an opening, allowing fluid to flow through the spout  322 . The spout  322  of the first drinking orifice  320  is configured to frictionally engage the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100  by being inserted into and through the consumption aperture  110  from the bottom of the lid  100 . This interaction of the first drinking orifice  320  with the consumption apertures  110  results in the spout  322  of the first drinking orifice  320  extending vertically from the top of consumption aperture  110  and the top of the lid  100 . Furthermore, the cover cavity  250  of the flip cover  200  is configured and shaped to enclose the spout  322  of the first drinking orifice  320  when the flip cover  200  is in the closed position B. The first drinking orifice  320  is designed for use by an infant in a manner similar to that of a sippy cup. The valve  324  and slit  326  regulate the flow of fluid from within the container  600 , preventing leaks and spills from the infant cup  10 . Furthermore, when the insert  300  is oriented in the second and third positions D, E, the insert must be inverted and rotated by a user because the size of the spout  322  would cause the spout to interfere with the lid  100  if the insert was not inverted. Therefore, when the insert is placed in the second and third positions D, E, the spout  322  of the insert extends downwardly into the basin  410  of the sealing plate  400 . 
         [0023]    The second drinking orifice  330  has a frictional projection  332  extending from the platform  310  that is shaped similar to that of the consumption aperture  110  of the lid  100  and the outlet  430  of the sealing plate  400 . The frictional projection  332  is shaped and configured to frictionally engage the consumption aperture  110  from beneath the lid  100 . Furthermore, placed within the frictional projection  332  are a plurality of openings  334 . In the embodiment illustrated, the plurality of openings  334  include three circular openings. In other embodiments, the number of openings may vary, being more or less than three. The second drinking orifice  330  is designed for fluid flow greater than that of the first drinking orifice  320  but less than full fluid flow, like that of the third drinking orifice  340 . The second drinking orifice  330  is designed to be used by children who have outgrown the need for a sippy cup or sippy spout, but are not yet ready for drinking out of a regular glass or cup without a lid. 
         [0024]    The third drinking orifice  340 , as best illustrated in the insert  300  to the right of  FIG. 2 , includes a frictional projection  342  extending from the platform  310 , similar to that of the second drinking orifice  330 . The frictional projection  342  of the third drinking orifice  340  is shaped and configured to frictionally engage consumption aperture  110  from beneath the lid  100 . Within the perimeter created by the frictional projection  342  is a mouth  344  of the same shape and size of the consumption aperture  110  and the outlet  430  of the sealing plate  400 . The third drinking orifice  340  is configured to allow full fluid flow from the container  600  of the infant cup  10 . The third drinking orifice  340  is designed to be used by children who are nearly ready to begin drinking out of a regular glass or cup without a lid, as it provides a similar amount of fluid flow. The third drinking orifice  340  prevents the consequences of tipping the cup or glass too far because the infant cup  10  has a lid. In addition, the mouth  344  of the third drinking orifice  340  is large enough to accept a straw, should the user want to consume the contents of the infant cup  10  via a straw. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , illustrated is an embodiment of the present invention of the container  600  of the infant cup  10 . The illustrated embodiment of the container  600  is an insulated container. The container  600  includes an inner cup  610  and an outer cup  640 . The inner cup  610 , according to the present embodiment, contains a rim  620  that extends vertically from the top of an edge  630 . The rim  620  contains external threads  622 , which, as explained previously, mate with the internal threads  190  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) of the lid  100  to enable the lid  100  to be screwed onto the container  600 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the edge  630  has an outer lip  632  and an inner lip  634 . Both the outer and inner lips  632 ,  634  extend downwardly from the edge  630 . As illustrated, the outer and inner lips  632 ,  634  extend downwardly from the same point on the edge  630  and their cross section forms a V-shape, forming a groove  636  between the outer lip  632  and the inner lip  634 . The outer cup  640  contains a tongue  642  that is shaped to be received by the groove  636  formed by the outer and inner lips  632 ,  634  of the inner cup  610 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the tongue  642  of the outer cup  640  fits snuggly within the groove  636  of the inner cup  610 . Furthermore, an air gap  650  is formed between the inner cup  610  and the outer cup  640 . The air gap  650  can be of varying thicknesses, and is used to provide insulation to the contents of the inner cup  610 . 
         [0026]    The assembly of the inner cup  610  to the outer cup  640  may be accomplished through a spin welding operation or a molding operation. The tongue  642  and groove  636  traps any flash or melted material during the welding operation, and provides for a permanent water-proof joint. In order to make the container  600  pass dishwasher and microwave tests, it is recommended that the edge  630  and the tongue  642 , when interconnected with each other, be heated prior to assembly. This will create a vacuum within the air gap  650  of the container  600  and help to equalize pressures created in the heated environments mentioned above. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention. 
         [0028]    Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.