Abstract:
There is disclosed a child resistant sippy container of single piece construction and a process of preventing spills. The sippy container may comprise a singular body and lid. The lid may be detachable from a rim of the body. The process comprise the steps of providing a single piece sippy container; when folding a hinge of the sippy container, a lid of the sippy container may attach to a body of the sippy container, and a bottom of the lip of the lid may be positioned flush with a flange of the body; when a force is applied to a spout of the lid, the lid may resist detaching from the body based on the proximity of the spout to the hinge.

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS  
       [0001]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to sippy containers.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Children spill drinks. Their manual dexterity is not honed as that of most adults. In response to spills, parents and guardians generally have the onus of cleaning up. A child is medically defined based on physical and mental development. Typically, the term child refers to an individual who is no longer an infant and is pre-pubescent. An infant is medically defined based on physical and mental development, though age may be indicative. Generally, infants have an age up to approximately 18 months of age. Typically, boys up to approximately age 10 and girls up to approximately age 8 are pre-pubescent. The term adult refers to people that are no longer children. In general, children have less physical strength than adults.  
         [0006]     Modernly, parents and guardians minimize the impact of spills by allowing children to drink from sippy cups. A sippy cup is a spill resistant container which allows fluid or mixtures to flow out at a sipping rate when the sippy cup is tilted and/or sucked on. Sippy cups are widely used. Sippy cups typically include a plastic cup, a plastic lid which engages the cup, a spout which protrudes from the lid, and an opening in the spout for fluid to flow through. Some sippy cups have a hole for a straw or incorporate a straw. Some sippy cups have a valve to allow for flow when there is suction, and to seal when there is not suction on the cup. Sippy cups and similar containers may also be used by adults, and even animals (e.g. pets, or in zoos). Sippy cups are generally easy for a child to handle.  
         [0007]     Children are curious. Many goods, marketed with child resistant packaging, include features which tend to be difficult for adults to master, yet easy for the child to circumvent.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a closed sippy container.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the sippy container in an open position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the sippy container in an open position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of a membrane.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sippy container.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the present invention.  
         [0014]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a top perspective view of a closed sippy container  100 . The term sippy container refers to a sippy cup manufactured as a single piece apparatus. The sippy container  100  includes a body  110 , a hinge  170 , a lid  120 , and a spout  130 . The lid  120 , with respect to the body  110 , may be open, closed, sealed, or partially open, closed, or sealed.  
         [0015]     The body  110  may define a cavity  125  for holding a fluid or a mixture. The fluid may be a common child&#39;s drink such as water, apple juice, orange juice, milk, or a smoothie. The geometry of the body  110  may be selected from a variety of shapes, such as a tapered cylinder, an elongate triangle, a hemisphere, a figurine, or a model car. For example purposes, the body  110  may take the form of a tapered cylinder having a height of approximately 3¾″, a diameter of approximately 1¾″ at a bottom  135  of the body  110 , a diameter of approximately 2¼″ at a top  145  of the body  110 , and a wall thickness of approximately ⅛″. Bottom of the body refers to the portion of the sippy container which may rest on a surface such as a table, a desk, a floor, or a play pen when the sippy container is set down. Top of the body refers to the upper most portion of the sippy container to where fluid may be filled to when the lid is not engaged to the body.  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a top perspective view of the sippy container  100  in an open position or state. The body  110  may include a rim  185 . The rim  185  may define an opening for the cavity  125 . The rim  185 , for ease of manufacturing, may have a geometry of an elongate circle, an isosceles triangle, or a square. The rim  185 , for aesthetic purposes, may have a geometry such as a monster&#39;s tooth. The rim  185  may include a protrusion (not shown) that extends out from a circumference of the body  110 . The protrusion (not shown) may aid in closing or sealing the sippy container  100 . The protrusion may have a thickness of approximately 3/16″ and a height of approximately ⅛″.  
         [0017]     The body  110  may include a flange  180 . The flange  180  may protrude out from a circumference of the body  110 . For example purposes, the flange  180  may protrude approximately ⅛″ in diameter from the body  110 .  
         [0018]     The lid  120  may include a lip  190 . The lip  190  may protrude down from the main portion of the lid  120  from an outer edge  205  of the lid  120 . The lip  190  may be shaped based on the shape of the rim  185 . For example, the lip  190  may be an elongate circle having a diameter of approximately 2 5/16 and a thickness of ⅛″. The lip  190  may have a height based on the distance of the flange  180  to the top  145  of the body  110 . For example purposes, the height of the lip  190  may be 3/16″.  
         [0019]     The hinge  170  may be integral with the sippy container  100 . The term integral refers to being formed as a single unit. The term hinge refers to a singular mold which folds or pivots upon itself. The term singular refers to a single continuous piece of material. The hinge  170  may fold along a crease  175 . The hinge  170  may be integral to the body  110 . The hinge  170  may be flush with the flange  180 . The hinge  170  may be integral to the lip  190 . The hinge  170  may be flush with a bottom  215  of the lip  190 . The body  110  and the lid  120  may pivot about the crease  175 . For example purposes, the hinge  170  may include two symmetric portions, each having dimensions of approximately ¼″ in length, approximately ⅝″ in width and approximately 1/16″ in thickness.  
         [0020]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , when the hinge  170  is folded about the crease  175 , the lid  120  may be brought in contact with the body  110 . When the lip  190  is attached to the rim (not shown), the hinge  170  may be disposed flush with both the flange  180  and the lip  190 . When the lip  190  is disposed in a position surrounding the rim (not shown), the lip  190  may create a friction fit between the lid  120  and the body  110 . The lip  190  may curl under and snap to the rim  185 .  
         [0021]     When the lip  190  surrounds the rim (not shown), the lid  120  may attach to the body  110  and the seal the cavity  125 . When the lip  190  surrounds the rim (not shown), the bottom  215  of the lip  190  may be flush with the flange  180 . When the lip  190  surrounds the rim (not shown), the bottom of the lip  190  may fit tightly and precisely to the flange  180  such that a fingernail cannot be inserted between the bottom of the lip  190  and the flange  180 . When the lip  190  is flush with the flange  180 , a child will not be able to push up on the lid  120  from the bottom of the lip  190  because the flange  180  will render the bottom of the lip  120  inaccessible. Because the sippy container  100  may resist a child&#39;s attempt at detaching the lid  120  from the body  110 , a leak and a spill are less likely.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a bottom view of the sippy container  100  in the open position. The lid  120  may include a spout  130 . The spout  130  may include a membrane  140 . The lid  120  may be selected from a variety of shapes. For example, the lid  120  may be shaped as a flat disk, a doll&#39;s head, a movie character, a robot, or other.  
         [0023]     The spout  130  may be integral to the lid  120 . The spout  130  may be shaped to fit comfortably in a child&#39;s mouth. For example purposes, the spout  130  is shown to be symmetric about an axis which is perpendicular to the lid  120 .  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an elevation view of the membrane  140 . The membrane  140  may include a tab  150  or a plurality of tabs  150 . For example purposes, three tabs  150  are shown. The membrane  140  may define a slit  160  or a plurality of slits  160 . The slit  160  may have the geometry of an arc of approximately 320 degrees and approximately 1/64″ in width. Fluid may flow through the slit  160 . The membrane may include a thickness of approximately 1/64″. The tab  150  may have a semicircle shape or other. The tab  150  may be flexible. When a child sucks on the spout  130 , the tab  150  may flex towards the child. When the tab  150  flexes, the slit  160  may enlarge. When the slit  160  enlarges, fluid may flow more easily through the slit  160 .  
         [0025]     The sippy container  100  may be used by individuals of varying ages. An  18  month old, a three year old, and a five year old may drink at different rates. The tab  150  may be bent into the spout  130  with a pin. When the tab  150  has been bent into the spout  130 , greater fluid flow may be achieved through the spout  130 . Furthermore, the tab  150  may be removed entirely. Also, the membrane  140  is thin enough that the slits  160  may be enlarged, for example by an ink pen or a bar tooth-pick. Therefore, individuals who drink at a faster rate may enjoy the sippy container  100  as much as individuals who drink at a slower rate.  
         [0026]     The sippy container  100  may be formed as a singular piece of plastic. The sippy container  100  may be manufactured via a variety of methods. Common manufacturing processes for plastics include injection molding, compression molding, machining, and combinations therein. Injection molding may be performed at high speed, high volume and low cost. Injection molding may be an appropriate manufacturing method when supplying a market which requires a low cost, disposable sippy container.  
         [0027]     Sippy cups are commonly sold in a variety of sizes, including 3 oz, 6 oz, 9 oz, and other. Many parents and guardians stockpile numerous sippy cups of varying shapes, colors, and sizes. Often, parents and guardians experience difficulty finding the matching lid for a specific sippy cup. Because the sippy container  100  is of a singular design, the lid  120  will never be misplaced from the body  110 . Therefore, the sippy container  100  will not cause a parent or guardian frustration in matching a lid to a sippy cup.  
         [0028]     Common plastic materials include Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), or other mixed resins (OTHER). PETE is commonly used in soft drinks, juice, and cough syrup containers and microwave trays. HDPE is commonly used in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles. LDPE is commonly used in newspaper and grocery bags and butter cups lids. PP is commonly used in yogurt containers and deli trays. OTHER is commonly used in mixed plastic containers or plastic products.  
         [0029]     If the sippy container  100  is composed of a single piece of material, the lid  120  and the body  110  will have common physical properties, including coefficient of thermal expansion. As temperature increases, materials expand. As temperature decreases, materials constrict. Because the lid  120  and the body  110  will have the same coefficient of thermal expansion, the lip  190  and the rim  185  will have the same geometry relative to one another independent of temperature. Some sippy cups where the lids and the cups are manufactured of different materials will inherently leak. This is a result of unequal expansion of the lid relative to the cup.  
         [0030]     The plastic material may be selected to provide heat resistance. It is common that sippy containers are transported to a variety of climates and stored in non-climate conditioned warehouses. Moreover, sterility is of great concern to some parents and guardians of children. Some parents and guardians may use the sippy container  100  as a disposable unit. When the sippy container  100  is used as a disposable unit, concerns with mold, bacteria, and germs may be alleviated. Moreover, cleaning and storing the sippy container  100  may be avoided if it is treated as a disposable unit.  
         [0031]     However, some parents and guardians will put the sippy container  100  through a dishwasher&#39;s hot cycle. These adults desire to eliminate all germs and bacteria from the sippy container  100  prior to allowing the child to drink from the sippy container  100 . Dishwashers typically have heating elements disposed in their bottom. Because the sippy container  100  may fall to the bottom of a dishwasher, the sippy container  100  may come in contact with a heating element of the dishwasher. In order to prevent the sippy container  100  from melting or deforming, the sippy container  100  may be constructed of a heat resistant plastic.  
         [0032]     It is common that a child may squeeze the sippy container  100 . It is also common that a child may strike objects such as a car seat or a bed post with the sippy container  100 . Thus, the child may apply forces to the sippy container  100 . When such forces are applied to common sippy cups, sippy cups deform, resulting in a leak or spill. Moreover, common lids detach from sippy cups, resulting in spills.  
         [0033]     The lip  190 , the flange  180 , and the rim  185  should be rigid. Rigid refers to resistance to deformation due to a child&#39;s or other target individual&#39;s application of force. A variety of factors may either on their own, or in combination, contribute to the rigidity of the sippy container  100 . Rigidity may be based on the shape and thickness of the sippy container  100 . Rigidity may be based on the mold cure time and the cure rate. The plastic material may be selected to provide rigidity. For example, PP may be sufficiently rigid such that a child will be unable to deform the sippy container  100 .  
         [0034]     If the lip  190 , the flange  180 , and the rim  185  are rigid, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to deform the sippy container  100 . If the sippy container  100  is not deformed, leaks and spills may be reduced. Moreover, if the sippy container  100  is not deformed, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for a child to detach the lid  190  from the body  110 .  
         [0035]     Children often grip, push, pull, twist, and bend spouts of common sippy cups. With a typical sippy cup, the spout may deform. Because the spout  130  is rigid, it will be difficult for the child to deform. Some sippy cups include snap-on lids where the structure is rigid. Children often use the spout as a lever, applying a moment to the spout, which may, in turn, detach a lid from a sippy cup. The term moment refers to a force which tends to rotate, turn, twist, or bend a rigid body about an axis or pivot point.  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a perspective view of the sippy container  100 . A friction fit between the lip  190  and the rim  185  may secure the lid  120  to the body  110 . A moment may be applied to the lid  120  at a section far from the hinge  170 . The moment may tend to bend the lid  120  about the hinge  170 , thereby detaching the lid  120  from the body  110 . The moment, which may detach the lid  120  from the body  110  may be applied when an adult: first, squeezes the body  110  with enough force to slightly deform the body  110 ; second, wedges a fingernail between the flange  180  and the lip  190 ; and third, applies a moment to the lip  190 , at a first section  500  far from and about the hinge  170 . Far from the hinge  170  refers to a position on the lid  120  not between the center  520  of the lid  120  and the hinge  170 .  
         [0037]     The spout  130  may be disposed at a second section  510  of the lid  120  which is near the hinge  170 . Near the hinge  170  refers to any position between the center  520  of the lid  120  and the hinge  170 . If a moment is applied to the lid via the spout  130 , because of the proximity of the spout  130  to the hinge  170 , the hinge  170  will counteract the moment applied via the spout  130 . The location of the hinge  170  therefore prevents the lid  120  from detaching from the body  110  when the child twists, bends, pulls, or pushes the spout  130 . This may result in fewer and less intense leaking and spills.  
         [0038]     The surface smoothness of the sippy cup  100  may be determined by the manufacturing process. For example, the tooling in an injection mold process may be machined to provide a selected surface smoothness. A selected surface smoothness may be achieved via sandblasting. Surface smoothness may differ between the body  110 , the lid  120 , and the spout  130 . The body  120  may be rougher than the spout  130 . The surface smoothness of the body  120  may be selected such that a child may easily grip and hold the sippy container  100 .  
         [0039]     The surface smoothness of the spout  130  may be smooth such that the child&#39;s mouth is unlikely to receive lacerations. Moreover, if the spout  130  has a smooth surface, it will be difficult for the child to bite into the spout  130 , as the spout  130  will slide along the child&#39;s teeth. Because the spout  130  may slide, it will be difficult for the child to detach the lid  120  from the body  110  by pulling, pushing, twisting or bending the spout  130  with their teeth.  
         [0040]     Although each of the following factors may prevent the lid  120  from detaching from the body  110 , in combination, spills will be very unlikely because the lid  120  should not separate from the body  110  based on an individual&#39;s actions: the friction fit of the lid  120  and the body  110 ; the bottom  215  of the lip  190  being flush with the flange  180  when the lid  120  is attached to the body  110 ; the geometry of the slits  160  as defined by the membrane  140 ; the flexibility of the tabs  150 ; the lip  190 , the rim  185 , and the flange  180  being composed of a homogeneous material; the rigidity of the sippy container  100 ; the proximity of the spout  130  to the hinge  170 ; and the surface smoothness of the spout  130 . Other factors may also impact detachability of the lid  120  from the body  110 .  
         [0041]     Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the present invention.