Valved receptacle closure

A valved closure for a disposable drinking receptacle containing a consumable beverage is disclosed. The valved receptacle closure comprises a thin plastic cover having a peripheral groove adapted to sealingly engage with the rim of a drinking receptacle and a drinking opening therein through which the beverage is consumed. A slide valve is received in a recess formed in the cover and is movable into a closed position over the drinking opening. A releasable latch mechanism cooperates with the valve to secure the valve in its closed position against the force of a resilient member, such as a spring. When the latch is released, the resilient member urges the valve into its open position exposing the drinking opening to permit drinking therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a closure for drinking 
receptacles and more particularly to a resiliently biased valve closure 
for use with a drinking receptacle during intermittent drinking of hot or 
cold beverages therefrom. 
Beverages, such as hot coffee or tea, cold carbonated drinks, beer and the 
like, are often provided in throw-away or disposable drinking receptacles 
having substantially impermeable rim-engaging closures which prevent 
spillage of the beverage and aid in maintaining the temperature of the 
beverage, whether hot or cold. Such disposable drinking receptacles and 
closures therefor are typically found in or used in connection with 
vending machines, business establishements offering carry-out beverage 
services, to so-called "fast food" restaurants, offices, factories and in 
many other places where beverages are sold or otherwise provided. 
Frequently, the consumer will drink intermittently from the receptacle 
while engaged in other tasks, for example, when he is driving or riding in 
a vehicle or working at his place of employment. In such situations, the 
prior art closures for disposable drinking receptacles are generally 
discarded, in the case of hot beverages and, in the case of cold 
beverages, a drinking straw is often inserted into a knock-out opening 
provided in the closure. In either case, however, the likelihood of 
spillage of the beverage is substantially increased and maintenance of the 
beverage temperature, particularly hot beverages if the closure is 
discarded, is adversely affected. 
Generally speaking, valve closures for receptacles containing consumable 
liquids are known in the art, as are the problems associated with 
maintaining the temperature of the beverages contained in the receptacles. 
Typical examples of known valved closures are discloed in the following 
U.S. Patents which were uncovered by a search of the prior art: 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,066,813; 1,327,389; 1,412,330; 1,592,362; 2,274,844; 
2,701,078; 2,780,395; 2,826,345; 2,961,133; 3,059,817; 3,341,088; 
3,343,709; 3,871,522; 3,967,748. 
The prior art devices described in the patents listed above, as well as 
other prior art receptable closures have not been completely responsive to 
the above-discussed problems. In particular, many of the known devices are 
of rather complex design and, therefore, comparatively expensive 
construction. Moreover, partly because of their costly construction, these 
prior art closure devices are notably unsuited for use with disposable 
drinking receptacles. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,748, for example, discloses one type of valved closure 
used in connection with a thermally insulated double-walled container for 
hot or cold beverages. The valve closure comprises a cover having a 
drinking opening therein and a spring-biased valve with an O-ring seat 
operable by depressing and holding a spring-biased, finger-operated 
plunger to open the valve and permit drinking from the opening. One 
difficulty with this device is that the valve must be maintained open by 
constant finger pressure applied to the plunger which is disadvantageously 
located well above the center of gravity of the liquid-filled receptacle 
thus making drinking from the receptacle with only one hand more difficult 
and awkward. Another disadvantage of this device is that the valving 
mechanism is positioned on the inner surface of the closure such that it 
will be at least partly immersed in the beverage when the container is 
tilted for drinking. Thus, a thorough cleaning of the valve mechanism must 
be performed for sanitary reasons before the closure can be reused. In 
addition, this device includes a large number of complex parts, some of 
which are assembled together by press fitting or cementing so that the 
valve mechamism cannot be readily disassembled for cleaning. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art 
devices, it should be apparent that there still exists a need for a valved 
closure usable particularly with a disposable drinking receptacle and 
which is of simple, inexpensive construction and readily assembled and 
disassembled. It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention 
to fulfill this need by providing a novel valved cover for disposable 
drinking receptacles having a minimum number of components, preferably 
molded of polymer materials. 
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
drinking receptacle cover adapted to sealingly engage the open end or rim 
of a receptacle and having a resiliently biased closure valve which is 
mounted in and guided by a recess formed in the upper surface of the 
cover. 
Still more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to 
provide a slide valve for a drinking receptacle cover which has a latch 
mechanism for securing the slide valve in its closed position against the 
force of a resilient member. 
It is another object of this invention to provide an economical valved 
cover for a drinking receptacle which may be either disposed of or reused 
by the consumer as desired. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a valved cover for a 
drinking receptacle having interlocking components which can be readily 
assembled and disassembled by the user without the need for fastening 
devices, adhesives, special assembly tools, procedures or equipment. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a valved 
drinking receptacle cover having a valve operator mechanism which, during 
use, is not immersed in or contacted by the liquid contained in the 
receptacle. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a drinking receptacle 
cover having a closure valve and closure latch mechanism both of which are 
selectively and conveniently actuable by the index finger of the 
operator's hand in which the drinking receptacle is held. 
Another important object of the invention is to provide an economical 
valved cover for disposable drinking receptacles including, but not 
limited to, drinking cups formed of paper or synthetic plastic materials 
and metal cans, such as those used to contain carbonated beverages, beer 
and the like. 
Briefly described, these and other objects of the invention are 
accomplished by providing a valved closure for a drinking receptacle 
comprising a cover formed by conventional molding techniques and 
equipment, preferably of a thin plastic sheet material of substantially 
uniform thickness, and having a peripheral groove or recess for sealingly 
engaging the rim of the drinking receptacle. In one embodiment, the cover 
is formed with an elongate, diametrically arranged recess of uniform 
shallow depth on the side of the cover opposite the rim-engaging groove. 
The recess includes a narrow portion and a wide portion and is formed with 
slightly overhanging edges or kerf-like grooves therearound. An opening is 
provided through the cover material at one end of the narrow portion of 
the recess adjacent the rim-engaging groove and through which the liquid 
contained in the receptacle is adapted to be consumed. A flat closure 
valve, which also has narrow and wide portions, is adapted to be received 
in the recess with its narrow portion slidably engaging in the grooves of 
the narrow portion of the recess. The closure valve is diametrically 
movable to selectively cover or expose the drinking opening. 
The wide portion of the closure valve slides in the corresponding wide 
portion of the recess with its longitudinal edges in spaced relation to 
the kerf-like grooves of the wide recess portion. Mounted to the upper 
surface of the wide portion of the closure valve and integrally formed 
therewith is an embossment which supports at its upper end an upstanding 
handle and a resilient latch member, both of which are finger-actuable. A 
pair of arcuate arms are mounted to one side of the embossment and extend 
horizontally therefrom for retaining a resilient member, such as a coil 
spring or the like. The handle, latch and arcuate arms are also integrally 
formed with the embossment and closure valve, preferably of a polymer 
material, by conventional injection or other molding techniques. 
A generally semi-cylindrical retaining housing, also formed of a polymer 
material and having closed ends is fitted over the embossment and wide 
portion of the closure valve. The housing is provided with flange-like 
lips which interlockingly engage with the undercut edges or grooves of the 
wide portion of the recess to retain the closure valve in position. An 
elongate longitudinal slot is provided through the upper wall surface of 
the housing from one end thereof to approximately the mid-point thereof 
and in which the handle is longitudinally movable. Aligned with the slot 
and located at the opposite end of the housing is a latch opening in which 
the latch member engages. In the described embodiment, the resilient 
spring is disposed between one side of the embossment and one end of the 
housing in such manner that the closure valve is urged into a position 
whereby the drinking opening is exposed. This arrangement facilitates 
operation of the valve using a finger of the hand in which the drinking 
receptacle is held. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, 
however, that the valve mechanism could be arranged so that the spring 
urges the closure valve into a normally closed condition. When engaged in 
the housing opening, the latch member retains the closure valve, against 
the force of the spring, in its closed position covering the drinking 
opening. 
In one alternate embodiment, the recess, closure valve and its associated, 
integrally formed components, and the housing are arcuately shaped and are 
adapted to be actuated by an arcuately-applied force, but are otherwise 
constructed and operate in substantially the same manner as described 
above. In still another embodiment of the invention, the embossment and a 
spring retaining arm are arranged on the underside of the closure valve 
and are received in a semi-cylindrical recess formed longitudinally of the 
wide portion of the shallow recess in the receptacle cover. The 
semi-cylindrical recess is shaped substantially the same as the interior 
surface of the above-described retaining housing. The handle and latch 
members are arranged on the upper side of the closure valve and are held 
in position by a substantially flat retaining plate. The retaining plate 
is provided with flange-like lips which interlock with the undercut edges 
of the wide recess portion and has a handle-receiving slot and latch 
opening similar to that of the retaining housing. This latter embodiment 
is particularly advantageous in that the valve operator mechanism can be 
recessed below the receptacle cover surface to thereby present a 
substantially flat upper surface of the cover. 
An important feature of the present invention is the construction and 
design of the various elements of the valved receptacle closure whereby 
the molded interlocking plastic parts may be readily assembled together 
without the need for fasteners or adhesives. This feature also makes it 
possible to supply the closure device either fully assembled or in kit 
form suitable for ready assembly by the user. In addition, the low cost of 
the individual parts, when manufactured in large quantities according to 
conventional high-production molding techniques, renders the closure 
device according to the invention sufficiently inexpensive that, if 
desired, it may be supplied as a disposable item, in connection with, for 
example, beverage vending machines, carry-out services or the like. 
With these and other objects, advantages and features of the invention that 
may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more 
clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of 
the invention, the appended claims and to the several views illustrated in 
the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 
one embodiment of a valved receptacle closure according to the present 
invention as employed with a conventional disposable drinking receptacle. 
Like elements are given like reference numerals throughout the several 
views. In FIG. 1, there is shown the closure, designated generally by 
reference numeral 10, in engagement with a disposable cup 12, such as a 
conventional plastic cup, paper cup or the like, having a generally 
rounded upper edge or rim (not shown). 
Closure 10 comprises a cover 14 having, for example, a U-shaped peripheral 
groove 16 which engages in substantial sealing relation with the rim of 
cup 12. The illustrated configuration of the peripheral groove 16 is not, 
however, an essential part of the present invention, it being understood 
that other rim engaging and sealing structures could be similarly 
utilized. The cover 14 is formed preferably by well-known hot- or 
vacuum-forming techniques from a thin, polymeric material of substantially 
uniform thickness, although it will be appreciated that the thickness of 
the cover material may vary to some extent after being formed. 
Adjacent the groove 16, there is provided a circular drinking opening 18 
over which a slidable closure valve or plate 20 is disposed in its closed 
position as seen in FIG. 1. A housing 22 encloses the valve operator for 
closure valve 20, which operator is described in greater detail 
hereinbelow. The upper portion of housing 22 is provided with an elongate 
slot 24 through which the valve operator handle 26 extends and an opening 
28 in which a resiliently mounted latch member 30 engages. Both the handle 
26 and latch member 30 are arranged so as to be easily and conveniently 
actuable by the index finger of the user's hand in which the cup 12 is 
held. A small vent opening 31 may be provided in cover 14 to relieve any 
vacuum created in the closed cup 12 as the beverage is being consumed. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the circular cover 14 is provided with a 
shallow, planar recess 32 arranged diametrically thereof and which 
includes a narrow recess portion 32a and a wide recess portion 32b. The 
perimetrical edges of the recess 32 are formed in slight overhanging 
relation to the planar surface of the recess and define a kerf-like groove 
32 therearound. Closure valve 20 comprises a generally flat plate having a 
narrow portion 20a and a wide portion 20b and is received in recess 32 so 
as to be movable longitudinally of the same to close and open the drinking 
opening 18. Valve portion 20a is dimensioned such that its side edges 36 
and forward edge 38 engage with the corresponding grooves 34 of the narrow 
recess portion 32a. The edges of valve portion 20b, however, are in 
slightly spaced, non-engaging relation with the grooves 34 of recess 
portion 32b for reasons which will become apparent as the description 
proceeds. 
Integrally formed with valve 20 at the end of valve portion 20b is a 
generally semi-cylindrical embossment 40 from the top of which handle 26 
extends. A resilient, cantilevered latch lever 42 extends from the top 
edge of embossment 40 and latch member 30 extends upwardly from the free 
end of lever 42. Beneath latch lever 42, embossment 40 is provided with a 
pair of spaced, arcuately-shaped arms 44 which extend horizontally from a 
face 46 of the embossment and which are adapted to retain a resilient 
member 48 such as a coil spring, elastomeric spring or the like. 
Housing 22 is adapted to enclose embossment 40, as well as the right hand 
part of valve 20 as viewed in FIG. 3 and is provided about the base 
thereof with a perimetrical lip 50. Lip 50 interlocking engages with the 
grooves 34 of recess portion 32b in the manner as best seen in FIG. 4. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the internal configuration of housing 22 and the 
manner in which the housing guides and retains the various elements of the 
slide valve 20. Housing 22 is provided with a semi-cylindrical cavity 52 
in which embossment 40 is longitudinally guided. Forwardly of cavity 52, 
that is, to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, another semi-cylindrical cavity 
54 of smaller radial dimension than cavity 52 is formed which confronts 
and guides the outer surfaces of arcuate arms 44. The top of cavity 54 is 
relieved to receive latch member 30 and latch lever 42 as best seen in 
FIG. 4. A planar guiding surface 56 is arranged about the bottom edges of 
cavities 52, 54 of housing 22 in guiding relation with the marginal edges 
of the top surface of valve portion 20b. 
Still referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the opposite ends of coil 
spring 48 bear against face 46 of embossment 40 and the interior side of 
housing end wall 58, respectively, so as to normally urge the embossment 
40 rearwardly in cavity 52. Arms 44 and the upper central surface of valve 
portion 20b transversely retain coil spring 48 to assure substantially 
axial compression thereof when embossment 40 is moved toward end wall 58 
by means of the operating handle 26. Arms 44 are advantageously located 
below latch lever 42 to prevent the spring from interfering with the 
operation of the lever. The free ends of arms 44 are wedge-shaped as shown 
at 60 to provide optimum axial guiding of the spring 48 during compression 
thereof. 
Operation of the valved closure of FIGS. 1-5 is as follows: After placement 
of the closure 10 on a beverage-filled drinking receptacle, such as cup 
12, and with the closure in its closed position as illustrated in the 
drawings, the coil spring 48 is compressed and latch 30 is engaged in the 
opening 28 to maintain valve 20 in its closed position over drinking 
opening 18. When it is desired to consume the beverage, the cup is grasped 
in one hand and the latch 30 depressed by the index finger of such hand to 
disengage the latch from opening 28 and permit the spring 48 to urge valve 
20 rearwardly and thus expose drinking opening 18. When released as 
described above, the top of latch 30 resiliently bears against the housing 
22 at the inside top surface thereof. After drinking from the cup through 
opening 18, the user engages handle 26 with his index finger of the hand 
in which the cup is held and urges the handle toward drinking opening 18 
against the force of spring 48 until latch 38 again engages in opening 28 
to secure valve 20 in its closed position. 
While it is possible to modify the above-described arrangement so that the 
spring urges the valve 20 into its normally closed condition, the 
illustrated arrangement is particularly advantageous since movement of the 
handle 26 toward the drinking opening 18 against the force of spring 48 is 
readily accomplished by the index finger of the hand which holds the cup. 
If the valve 20 were urged by the spring into its closed position, 
necessitating movement of the handle away from the drinking opening and 
against the force of the spring, it would be considerably more difficult 
to operate the valve with the index finger of the hand holding the cup and 
could even require the use of the user's other hand. This, of course, is 
undesirable, particularly if the user is engaged in other tasks, such as 
driving an automobile. 
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein 
the various components of the valved receptacle cover of the invention are 
curved, as viewed from above. In this embodiment, the closure 10' 
comprises a circular cover 14' having a rim-engaging edge 16'. The housing 
22' and slide valve 20', together with all the corresponding components of 
the closure of FIGS. 1-5 are molded in curved form and arranged in an 
arcuate recess 32' adjacent edge 16'. Curvilinear movement of handle 26' 
in the arcuate slot 24' functions to close drinking opening 18'. 
In FIG. 7, there is illustrated another alternate embodiment of the 
invention comprising a cover 62 having a diametrically arranged recess 64 
including a narrow recess portion 66 and a wide recess portion 68 both 
having kerf-like grooves 70 substantially identical to those of the recess 
32 of FIGS. 1-5. A drinking opening 72 is disposed through cover 62 in one 
end of recess 66 adjacent the edge of the cover. 
Recess 68 also includes a longitudinal cavity comprising semi-cylindrical 
cavities 74, 76 which generally correspond to cavities 52, 54 respectively 
of housing 22 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A closure valve 78 is adapted to 
be slidably received in recess 64 in much the same manner as in the first 
disclosed embodiment. The valve 78 is provided on its underside with an 
embossment 80 having a single arcuate arm 82 extending from the upper part 
of the embossment face 84. Embossment 80 is received in and longitudinally 
guided by cavity 74. A coil spring 86 is disposed in cavity 76 and 
retained therein by arm 82, as best seen in FIG. 8, and is arranged to 
bear with its opposite ends against embossment face 84 and the forward 
wall 88 of cavity 76 respectively to urge the valve 78 rearwardly, or to 
the right as viewed in FIG. 7. 
On the top surface of valve 78, a handle 90 is provided for moving the 
valve to its closed position against the force of spring 86. A resilient 
latch lever 92 having an upstanding latch 94 at the free end thereof 
extends forwardly from face 84 in a central cut-out 96 of valve 78 and is 
substantially coplanar with valve 78. 
A flat retaining cover 98 is fitted over valve 78 and has flange-like lips 
100 which interlockingly engage in grooves 70 of the recess portion 68. 
Cover 98 is provided with an elongate slot 102 and latch opening 104 
through which extend the handle 90 and latch 94, respectively. Apart from 
the just-described details of construction, the embodiment of FIG. 7 
operates in substantially the same manner as that of FIGS. 1.varies.5. An 
advantage of this embodiment is that the upper surface of cover 62 is 
substantially flat and none of the valve operator components, including 
the handle and latch, extend above the top surface of the U-shaped rim of 
the cover. 
In FIG. 9, there is shown a cross-sectional detail of a modification of the 
invention which could be advantageously incorporated in any of the 
above-described embodiments. To guard against leakage of liquid from the 
receptacle through the drinking opening 110 in cover 112 and to improve 
the seal around such opening, valve 114 is provided on its underside with 
a slightly raised annular ridge 116 of a diameter somewhat larger than 
opening 110. Cover 112 is provided on its upper surface with a 
corresponding annular depression 118 which mates with ridge 116. It will 
be appreciated that the height of ridge 116 and depth of depression 118 
must not be of such magnitude that they will engage with sufficient force 
to prevent opening of the valve when the latch mechanism is released. 
While the above-described embodiments relate to the use of the novel 
receptacle closure of the invention in connection with disposable drinking 
cups, the invention could clearly be advantageously utilized in connection 
with conventional aluminum or steel cans which are opened by means of a 
top-penetrating utensil or by means of a so-called "flip top" opening 
device. 
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present drinking 
receptacle closure fulfills, in a novel way, all the aforementioned 
objects of the invention, as well as other objectives not specifically 
mentioned. Although only a preferred embodiment is specifically 
illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that many 
modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in 
light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims 
without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.