Abstract:
An easily cleanable drinking assembly having a receptacle, a lid, and a coating with hydrophobic, oleophobic, and antimicrobial properties. The receptacle has an inner curved surface having a geometry with no edges, corners, or distinctly angled connections between sections, preventing any fluid or particles from remaining in these areas. The receptacle further has a wider opening and narrower end, allowing for ease of cleaning, so that a cleaning instrument can easily be inserted and easily reach all parts of the interior of the receptacle. Both the interior of the receptacle and the lid are coated with a coating with hydrophobic, oleophobic, and antimicrobial properties, repelling common fluids and particles, maintaining the cleanliness of the interior surfaces and improving the ease of cleaning.

Description:
FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to the field of drinking assemblies, and more particularly to easily cleanable drinking assemblies, such as those found in CPC Class A45F (Traveling and Camp Equipment), Subclasses 3/16 (Water Bottles; Mess-tins; Cups) and 2200/0583 (Beverage Vessels). 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    A wide variety of drinking assemblies have been available for many years. Such products typically include a container body, such as a cup or bottle, and often include a lid to provide a spill-proof seal when properly fastened. These products come in a variety of materials, including various plastics and stainless steel. 
         [0003]    Some products provide a mechanism for controlling the passage of fluid through the lid for drinking purposes. Some examples include valve mechanisms that seal the opening unless drinking suction is applied by the user, mechanical lever systems actuated by manual application of a force to a button or switch, and lids with reversibly openable sections, whether by lifting a tab, twisting a cover, or sliding back a movable section of the lid. Other products require removal of the lid entirely to drink from the container. 
         [0004]    Each of these assemblies, however, possess a number of edges, grooves, and crevices where fluid tends to collect and remain, making it difficult to thoroughly clean the product as desired. As a result, the leftover particles contaminate whatever fluid the user intends to drink next, often ruining the flavor or providing a place where bacteria or fungus may lodge and grow. The leftover fluid can also result in unpleasant odors and microbial growth that can be detrimental to the health of the user. There is therefore a need for a drinking assembly that can be thoroughly cleaned in a simple manner, through conventional means and without need for special equipment or materials. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    What is needed is an easily cleanable drinking assembly that can be thoroughly cleaned by conventional cleaning methods. 
         [0006]    The drinking assembly includes geometrical features and the use of a specialized coating allows for thorough cleaning by conventional cleaning methods. 
         [0007]    An easily cleanable drinking assembly according to a first aspect of the illustrated embodiments of the invention includes a receptacle with an inner surface having a curved geometry without edges, corners, or distinctly angled connections between sections. This includes, but is not limited to, inner surfaces that are completely rounded, spherical, and/or bulbous in nature. This also includes, but is not limited to, an inner surface created out of multiple rounded inner sections joined together by any number of rounded or smooth connection or transition sections. 
         [0008]    An easily cleanable drinking assembly according to a second aspect of the illustrated embodiments of the invention similarly includes a lid with an interior curved surface without edges, corners, or distinctly angled connections or transitions between interior sections as well. Once again, this includes, but is not limited to, interior surfaces that are completely rounded, spherical, and/or bulbous in nature. This also includes, but is not limited to, an interior surface created out of multiple rounded sections joined together by any number of rounded connection sections. Alternatively, the lid can be a more conventional lid with edges that are easily reachable with conventional cleaning tools. 
         [0009]    An easily cleanable drinking assembly according to a third aspect of the illustrated embodiments of the invention includes an opening into the receptacle portion of the assembly, which allows for cleaning apparatus to be comfortably inserted and used inside the receptacle. The inner surface may be constructed to be broader at the opening and narrower at the base. 
         [0010]    An easily cleanable drinking assembly according to a fourth aspect of the illustrated embodiments of the invention includes a coating with hydrophobic, oleophobic and antimicrobial properties. The coating may be applied to the entire inside of the assembly or may be selectively applied to any critical surface of the assembly, such as the inner surface of the receptacle or the interior surface of the lid. 
         [0011]    It can now be summarized that the illustrated embodiments of the invention are directed to an easily cleanable drinking assembly including: a receptacle having an inner surface, a closed end and an open end, where the inner surface of the receptacle with a curved lower base without any edge; an attachable and detachable lid having an inner surface which is cured without any edge, where the inner surface of the drinking assembly is comprised of the inner surfaces of the receptacle and the lid, the inner surface of the drinking assembly being without any edge when the lid is attached to the receptacle; and a single coating that has hydrophobic, oleophobic and antimicrobial properties on the inner surface of the receptacle. 
         [0012]    The single coating has hydrophobic, oleophobic and antimicrobial properties is also on the inner surface of the lid and may also be on the interior surface of the lid. 
         [0013]    The receptacle has a diameter that decreases from the open end of the receptacle toward the closed end of the receptacle. 
         [0014]    The receptacle has an exterior surface of the receptacle with at least one raised ridge. 
         [0015]    The drinking assembly further includes a removable grip sleeve with at least one slot defined therethrough matching the at least one raised ridge on the exterior surface of the receptacle. 
         [0016]    The inner surface of the receptacle defines a conical shape with a smooth rounded apex. 
         [0017]    The illustrated embodiments can also be characterized as an easily cleanable drinking assembly including a receptacle having a closed end and an open end with an inner surface of the receptacle with a completely rounded lower base portion of the inner surface; a removable lid; and a hydrophobic, oleophibic and antimicrobial coating on the inner surface of the receptacle and an interior surface of the lid. 
         [0018]    Still further the illustrated embodiments include an easily cleanable drinking assembly, comprising: a receptacle having a closed end, an open end, and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface has at least one raised ridge, where the receptacle has an inner surface, wherein the inner surface has a completely rounded lower base, and is coated with a single hydrophobic, oleophobic and antimicrobial coating; a removable lid, wherein an interior surface of the lid is completely rounded; and a second single hydrophobic, oleophobic and antimicrobial coating disposed on the inner surface of the receptacle and removable lid. 
         [0019]    While the apparatus and method has been described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The disclosure can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The disclosure and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. 
           [0021]    Various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an upper perspective view of an exemplary drinking assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the easily cleanable drinking assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded side view of the drinking assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the removable grip sleeve. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts a side cross-section view of an exemplary receptacle of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of an exemplary lower base of the receptacle of  FIG. 1 . There is no lid shown from this view. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a side cross-section view of an exemplary matched lid of  FIG. 1  in the open position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  depicts an upper perspective view of an exemplary matched lid of  FIG. 1  in the closed position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  depicts a lower perspective view of an embodiment of the matched lid of  FIG. 1  with a conventional underside. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a lower perspective view of another embodiment of the matched lid of  FIG. 1  having a rounded underside. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates an upper perspective view of an exemplary drinking assembly  100 . The assembly  100  includes a receptacle  10  and a matching lid  30 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the assembly  100 . According to this embodiment, the receptacle  10  has an outer surface  11  with a plurality of raised ridges  12 . These raised ridges  12  allow a user to hold the receptacle  10  with a firm grip and in a stable manner. A removable grip sleeve  20  may also be used to increase the comfort and stability with which a user can hold the receptacle  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Receptacle is telescopically or axially disposed into sleeve  20  or equivalently sleeve  20  is concentrically disposable around the outside of receptacle  10 . The removable grip sleeve  20  may also have a plurality of slots  25  matched to the number and location of the raised ridges  12 . Ridges  12  are thus alignable with slots  25  in sleeve  20  and extend therethrough. Matching the slots  25  and the ridges  12  in this way allows the removable grip sleeve  20  to be held securely onto the receptacle  10  and prevent accidental removal. The sleeve  20  maybe be made of any grip-increasing material, including rubber, foam, non-slip PVC material, and vinyl. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows a side cross-section view of the receptacle  10 . The receptacle  10  may be substantially frustoconical in shape about a central axis (A), with a wider open end  14  and a narrower closed end  17 . The wider open end  14  of the receptacle  10  has a central opening  14   a  configured to receive a fluids poured into the receptacle  10 . The wider open end  14 , central opening  14   a,  and narrower closed end  17  allow for ease of cleaning, as the user may readily insert a hand, sponge, brush, or other cleaning utensil into the receptacle  10  and reach all areas within with ease without the need to reach into any crevice, crack, fold, ledge or other protected region where food, debris or other matter might be left or caught. It can now be appreciated that the interior shape of receptacle  10  is entirely smooth and without lines, cracks, crevices or any other interrupting interior surface feature that would invite retention of any residue, bacteria, or fungus. It is to be understood that the receptacle  10  can be of any suitable size or exterior shape, including cylindrical, rectangular, or any other suitable shape. 
         [0035]    The receptacle  10  also has an inner surface  15  with a lower base portion  16  on the inside of the narrower closed end  17 , opposite the central opening  14   a.  The inner surface  15  and lower interior base portion  16  are constructed to have a curvature, with no edges, corners, or distinctly angled connections between segments. The interior lower base portion  16  may be completely rounded as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . Providing an inner surface  15  and lower base portion  16  in this manner prevents accumulation of fluid and other particles in these areas during and between uses and also enables the user to clean these areas thoroughly and with ease. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  depicts an upper perspective view for an exemplary matching lid  30 . The lid  30  may be reversibly fastened onto the receptacle  10  by use of mated threads  29  or any other acceptable fastening mechanism. The lid  30  may be a single piece used as a removable covering or may have a mechanism or pivoted stopper flap  33  for reversibly sealing the lid to allow the user to access the fluid contained within the receptacle  10  without removal of the lid  30 . 
         [0037]    Lid  30  may be constructed as a completely solid piece without any internal compartments. Alternatively, lid  30  may be constructed to have at least one chamber  39  within the lid  30 . The chamber  39  may be hollow or may be filled with any material, which may or may not affect the thermal insulation abilities of the lid  30 . 
         [0038]    The lid  30  may also have a drinking channel  31  that goes through the entirety of the lid allowing fluid to travel from the inside of the assembly  100  to the outside without having to remove the lid  30  as best seen in  FIG. 6 . There may also be an additional air hole  32  provided in the lid  30  to allow air to enter into the assembly  100  as the user drinks from the assembly  100 . In an embodiment where the lid  30  has a chamber  39 , both the drinking channel  31  and air hole  32  may be completely bounded as seen from a top plan view, preventing any transfer of material into the chamber  39  during use of the assembly  100 . 
         [0039]    Lid flap  33  is pivotally attached to the lid  30  and can pivot between an open position shown in  FIG. 6  and a closed position shown in  FIG. 7 . The lid flap  33  may have a first projection  34  provided for sealing the drinking channel  31  and a second projection  35  provided for sealing the air hole  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 . 
         [0040]    In the open position as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the lid flap  33  is pivoted away from the drinking channel  31  and air hole  32  and is positioned within a recess  36  and may be secured by friction fit or snap fit. The lid flap  33  may be attached to the center of lid  33 . Alternatively, the lid flap  33  may be attached to the lid  30  at a distance opposite the drinking channel  31  and air hole  32 . The recess  36  may also be of various depths allowing the lid flap  33  to rest above, on, or below the plane created by the surface of the lid  30  as seen from a top plan view. By providing such features, undesirable contact between the first projection  34  and a user&#39;s nose that occurs during use of the assembly  100  can be prevented. 
         [0041]    In the closed position as depicted in  FIG. 7 , the first projection  34  is positioned within the drinking channel and secured by friction fit or snap fit. The second projection  35  is similarly positioned within the air hole and secured by friction fit or snap fit. The lid flap  33  may additionally have a lift tab  37  for increased leverage. 
         [0042]    The lid  30  may further have an interior surface  38  constructed to have substantial curvature, as to have no edges, corners, or distinctly angled connections between segments, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The interior surface  38  may be completely rounded or smooth. Providing an interior surface  15  in this manner prevents accumulation of fluid and other particles in these areas during and between uses and also enables the user to clean these areas thoroughly and with ease. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, the inner surface  15  and lower base portion  16  of the receptacle and the interior surface  38  of the lid  30  may both be coated with a coating  40  with hydrophobic, oleophobic, and antimicrobial properties. The coating may be a nano-ceramic based coating, an SiO 2  based nano-coating, or an alcohol based coating, such as an isopropanol coating combine with an organosilane derivative. The antimicrobial properties may come from an antimicrobial additive, such as a silver glass antimicrobial powder. Application of such the coating  40  to such surfaces allows for increased hygienic conditions and ease of cleaning. 
         [0044]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments. 
         [0045]    Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the embodiments includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the embodiments is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the embodiments. 
         [0046]    The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
         [0047]    The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
         [0048]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
         [0049]    The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments.