Disposable drinking device

A disposable drinking device comprising a cup is disclosed. The cup defines a cup cavity and comprises a cup opening communicated with the cup cavity and a cup brim annularly associated with the cup opening. The cup brim comprises a brim curl having a lip configuration and a flare configuration. When the brim curl is in the lip configuration, the brim curl arcuately and concavely extends away from the cup opening to form a brim lip. When the brim curl is in the flare configuration, the brim curl arcuately and convexly extends away from the cup opening to form a brim flare. The described configuration results in the cup brim being destroyed when the lid is removed from the cup, making subsequent re-capping impossible.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a disposable drinking device and more particularly to a leak resistant disposable drinking device suitable for use by young children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sippy cups, or drinking devices suitable for use by young children, are designed to contain a liquid and allow for the controlled release of the liquid in a manner responsive to the action of a user. For example, a sippy cup which includes a straw having a one-way valve will not release the liquid from the cup until suction is applied to the straw. The applied suction opens the one-way valve allowing the liquid to flow through the straw and out of the cup. When no suction is applied, the one-way valve remains closed and the liquid remains within the cup. Due to their fluid release control characteristics, sippy cups are typically used to help a child develop the fine motor skills needed to drink from a cup without spilling. Since young children have not yet developed these motor skills, these cups have to be spill and leak resistant, easy to use, as well as provide some tactile stimulation to encourage the child to drink. Moreover, these cups need to be relatively strong and durable in order to provide some protection from the child spilling the liquid from the cup.

At present, a number of manufacturers produce a variety of non-disposable sippy cup designs with an enhanced leak resistance capability, a soft touch effect for tactile stimulation and sufficient strength and durability. These sippy cup designs provide a cup having a removable cup lid for filling and re-filling the cup with liquid. However, because sippy cups are often filled, and then re-filled or ‘topped-off’, with drinks that have a high sugar content, such as juice or milk, the sippy cup provides an excellent environment for bacterial colonization and propagation. This increases the likelihood of the child developing an illness caused by bacterial colonization of the liquid in the cup prior to re-filling.

Most of the sippy cups are manufactured by an injection molding process in order to acquire sufficient strength and durability. Although the injection molding process creates a strong and durable cup, these cups are typically expensive to manufacture and are thus non-disposable. In addition, these cups are difficult to clean, difficult to stack and inconvenient for parents to transport away from home due to the number of cups required and the maintenance required to keep these cups clean. These injection molded cups may also include over-molded or dual shot molded features for decoration and soft touch effects adding to the cost, maintenance and transportability problem. Furthermore, most existing sippy cup designs include relatively thick walls and are of a fairly heavy construction. As such, even though a cup may be disposable, consumers may not feel that it is disposable and thus may be hesitant to discard the cup.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a truly disposable and inexpensive single use sippy cup which may be easily transported and discarded after use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above discussed need is addressed by a disposable drinking device comprising: a cup, wherein the cup defines a cup cavity and includes a cup opening communicated with the cup cavity and a cup brim annularly associated with the cup opening, wherein the cup brim includes a brim curl having a lip configuration and a flare configuration, wherein when the brim curl is in the lip configuration the brim curl arcuately and concavely extends away from the cup opening to form a brim lip and wherein when the brim curl is in the flare configuration, the brim curl arcuately and convexly extends away from the cup opening to form a brim flare; and a thermoformed lid having a lid crown and a lid skirt, wherein the lid crown includes a crown top, a crown bottom and a spout having a spout opening disposed to communicate the crown top with the crown bottom, and wherein the lid skirt includes an angular rim having an internal rim surface, wherein when the lid is snap-fittingly associated with the cup, the brim curl is in the lip configuration and the internal rim surface is securely associated with the brim lip, such that when the lid is disassociated from the cup, the internal rim surface forcingly configures the brim curl into the flare configuration.

A disposable lid comprising: a thermoformed lid crown, wherein the lid crown includes a crown top, a crown bottom and a protruding spout having a spout opening disposed to communicate the crown top with the crown bottom; and a thermoformed lid skirt, wherein the lid skirt includes an angular rim having an internal rim surface, wherein the lid skirt is shaped to allow the lid to securely associate with a cup having a brim curl, wherein when the lid is disassociated from the cup the internal rim surface causes the brim curl to change configurations.

A disposable cup comprising: a cup wall defining a cup cavity and including a cup opening communicated with the cup cavity and a cup brim annularly associated with the cup opening, wherein the cup brim includes a partially formed brim curl having a lip configuration and a flare configuration, wherein when the brim curl is in the lip configuration the brim curl arcuately and concavely extends away from the cup opening to form a brim lip and wherein when the brim curl is in the flare configuration, the brim curl arcuately and convexly extends away from the cup opening to form a brim flare.

A method for implementing a disposable drinking device comprising: obtaining a disposable lid and a disposable cup, wherein the lid includes a lid skirt having an angular rim, and wherein the cup includes a cup opening, a cup brim and defines a cup cavity, the cup brim having a brim curl, wherein the brim curl includes a lip configuration and a flare configuration; inserting a liquid into the cup cavity; arranging the lid and the cup such that the lid is loosely associated with the cup brim so as to enclose the cup cavity; and compressing the lid onto the cup brim such that the angular rim is fasteningly associated with the brim curl.

The above discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a disposable lid110is shown and described in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Lid110preferably includes a lid crown112having a crown top114, a crown bottom116, and a protruding lid spout118associated with lid crown112and including a spout opening120. Lid110also includes a lid skirt122having ribs121, a skirt diameter a and an angular rim124, wherein angular rim124includes a rim diameter b and an internal rim surface126, wherein, ribs121are disposed to securely associate disposable lid110with the brim of a disposable cup.

Referring toFIG. 2, FIG.3andFIG. 4, disposable lid110is again illustrated and spout opening120is shown. Spout opening120includes an opening border127and is preferably disposed to communicate crown top114with crown bottom116. Although lid110includes a lid thickness m, wherein lid thickness m is between about {fraction (9/1000)} inch and about {fraction (25/1000)} inch, lid thickness m is preferably about {fraction (10/1000)} inch. This advantageously allows for a relatively strong, durable and truly disposable cup lid110. In addition, lid110is constructed using a thermoform process and is preferably constructed of a translucent plastic and/or composite material. However, lid110may be constructed of any material and/or combination of materials suitable to the desired end purpose, such polyester (APET), polypropylene or polyethylene—alone or as a coating on a paperboard substrate, which would be much more suitable from a child safety standpoint. Lid spout118is preferably a protruding spout which extends upward from crown top114to facilitate ‘sipping’ action from a user and includes at least one small spout opening120which allows for small children to suck liquid150out of cup cavity134while maintaining some level of spill/leak resistance. Lid spout118may be constructed using a thermoform process and spout opening120may include a plurality of holes or may be a self healing razor slit. This self healing razor slit may include an opening border127, which is sized and/or shaped to flexibly, deformably and resiliently increase in size to dispense liquid when suction is applied to lid spout118. When suction is not applied to lid spout118, the self healing nature of opening border127allows opening border127to return to its original size to prevent liquid from escaping from spout opening120. Self healing razor slits are not present in injection molded lids because injection molded lids are thicker and less resilient than thermoformed lids. Thus, this self healing razor slit advantageously provides for a greater leak resistance capability than is possible with injection molded lids that do not have insert molded or assembled elastomeric valves.

Referring to FIG.5andFIG. 6, a cross sectional side view and a perspective view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of disposable lid110is illustrated. Disposable lid110includes a protruding lid spout118having a spout opening120. It should be appreciated that spout opening120may include a self healing razor slit or a plurality of holes for dispensing liquid when suction is applied to protruding lid spout118.

Referring to FIG.7andFIG. 8, a cross sectional side view and a perspective view, respectively, of a second alternative embodiment of disposable lid110is illustrated and includes a cone shaped lid spout118protruding from disposable lid110. As can be seen, cone shaped protruding lid spout118originates in the center of disposable lid110and includes spout opening120, which may include a self healing razor slit or a plurality of holes for dispensing liquid when suction is applied to cone shaped protruding lid spout118.

Referring to FIG.9andFIG. 10, a cross sectional side view and a perspective view, respectively, of a third alternative embodiment of a disposable lid is illustrated. Disposable lid110includes a protruding lid spout118having a spout opening120. It should be appreciated that although spout opening120is shown has having a plurality of holes for dispensing a liquid when suction is applied to protruding lid spout118, protruding lid spout118may include a self healing razor slit as spout opening120. It should also be appreciated that protruding lid spout118is preferably sized and shaped to achieve a pleasing and/or stimulating tactile response from a user.

Referring toFIG. 11, a disposable cup128is shown and described. Cup128is constructed using a thermoform process and includes a cup wall130having a cup opening132and defining a cup cavity134. Cup waIl130also includes a cup brim136annularly associated with cup opening132, wherein cup brim136includes a partially formed brim curl138having an arc angle β between about 135° to about 225° from an imaginary line I disposed tangent to cup wall130. Referring toFIG. 11, a cup128having a brim curl138with an arc angle β of about 135° from an imaginary line I disposed tangent to cup wall130is shown. Referring toFIG. 12, a cup128having a brim curl138with an arc angle β of about 225° from an imaginary line I disposed tangent to cup wall130is shown. Referring toFIGS. 13,14and15, a side view, a cross-sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, of a disposable cup128is illustrated and includes a partially formed brim curl138.

In addition, disposable cup128having partially formed brim curl138includes a lip configuration140, as shown inFIG. 16, and a flare configuration142, as shown in FIG.17. Referring toFIG. 16, when brim curl138is in lip configuration140, brim curl138arcuately and concavely extends away from cup opening132to form a brim lip144. Referring toFIG. 17, when brim curl138is in flare configuration142, brim curl138arcuately and convexly extends away from cup opening132to form a brim flare146. It should be appreciated, that by using partially formed brim curl138in combination with disposable lid110, or in combination with conventional lids, will provide for an enhanced lid retention.

Referring again toFIGS. 11 and 16, cup brim136also includes a brim curl diameter c sized relative to skirt diameter a to allow brim curl138to sealingly associate with lid skirt122of lid110when lid110is snap-fittingly associated with cup128. Moreover, brim lip144includes a lip diameter d sized relative to rim diameter b to allow brim lip144to fasteningly associate with angular rim124(or ribs121) when lid110is snap-fittingly associated with cup128.

Cup wall130is preferably constructed of a translucent plastic material and includes a cup wall thickness n, wherein although cup wall thickness n is preferably {fraction (15/1000)} inch, cup wall thickness n may be between about {fraction (9/1000)} inch and about {fraction (25/1000)} inch. In addition, although cup128is preferably constructed of a plastic and/or composite material, cup128may be constructed of any material and/or combination of materials suitable to the desired end purpose, such as paper and/or polyester (APET), polypropylene or polyethylene—alone or as a coating on a paperboard substrate—which are well suited from a child safety standpoint.

Referring toFIG. 18, a disposable drinking device148is shown containing a liquid150within cup cavity134and having lid110disposed loosely associated with cup128. Referring toFIG. 19, a disposable drinking device148is shown containing a liquid150within cup cavity134and having lid110snap-fittingly associated with cup128. Cup128is shown with brim curl138in lip configuration140, wherein brim curl diameter c is sized relative to skirt diameter a to allow brim curl138to sealingly associate with lid skirt122at a first sealing location152and a second sealing location154. In addition, lip diameter d is sized relative to rim diameter b to allow brim lip144to fasteningly associate with angular rim124when lid110is snap-fittingly associated with cup128, as shown in FIG.16.

Referring toFIG. 20, disposable drinking device148is shown in tilted fashion with lid110associated with cup128such that brim curl138is sealingly associated with lid skirt122at first sealing location152and second sealing location154and such that angular rim124is fasteningly associated with brim lip144. The fact that brim curl138is sealingly associated with lid skirt and the fact that angular rim124is fasteningly associated with brim lip144advantageously allows disposable drinking device148to be tilted without spilling liquid150from cup cavity134. Moreover, the fact that spout opening120is sized and/or shaped to contain liquid until suction is applied to lid spout118also advantageously allows disposable drinking device148to be tilted without spilling liquid150from cup cavity134. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, lid110and cup brim136are preferably round in shape and angular rim124is disposed relative to brim lip144to provide for a snap feature that snaps annularly about brim curl138.

Lid110is novel and unique from existing lids in 1) that it is constructed using a thermoform process rather than via a mold injection process, 2) that interaction between angular rim124and brim lip144makes lid128easy to compress onto cup128, but when lid is removed from cup, angular rim124pushes against brim lip144forcing brim curl138into flare configuration142(FIG.17), thus destroying the seal at first sealing location152and second sealing location154(FIG.19), 3) that it is formed from a clear material which allows visual identification of the type and level of liquid150disposed within cup128, 4) that spout opening120is sized and/or shaped to minimize liquid from leaking from cup and 5) that disposable drinking device148is truly disposable.

Cup128is novel and unique from existing cups in that 1) cup128includes a configurable cup brim136for a true single-use purpose, 2) cup128may either be a paper cup or a cup constructed using a thermoform process and 3) cup128is easily stackable and thus easy to transport and/or package. Cup128is preferably a crush-resistant cup and includes a coating, such as a foam material, that provides tactile stimulation to a child using cup128.

Referring toFIG. 21, a method200for implementing disposable drinking device148is shown and described. As shown in blocks202and203, lid110and cup128are obtained and a liquid150is inserted into cup cavity134. Lid110is then arranged to be loosely associated with cup brim136and so as to loosely cover cup cavity134, as shown in block204. Lid110is then compressed onto cup brim136, as shown in block206, such that internal rim surface126of angular rim124becomes fasteningly associated with brim lip144. At this point, disposable drinking device148is ready to be used and discarded after use.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, while a disposable drinking device148and a method200for implementing the same is described and discussed below it should be understood that the method and device of the invention may be applied to other product containers, such as storage bowls, serving bowls, plates and/or insulated cups.