Abstract:
A spill-proof beverage dispenser comprising: (a) a container adapted to at least partially define an interior volume available for occupation by a liquid; (b) a lid adapted to be mounted to the container, the lid including a vent and a dispensing opening, and a liquid conduit having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the liquid within the container and selective fluid communication with the dispensing opening; and (c) a valve assembly mountable to the lid including a collapsible tower adapted to be received at least partially within the liquid conduit to selectively restrict liquid flow between the interior volume of the container and the dispensing opening, the collapsible tower being responsive to changes in pressure by collapsing at least one wall of the collapsible tower to selectively provide fluid communication between the passageway and the dispensing opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is directed to a valve, and more specifically to an automatic valve for a spill-proof type beverage dispenser.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     Spill-proof beverage dispensers are known in the art and are utilized most notably for the purpose of preventing inadvertent spillage of liquid from a beverage dispenser, such as a cup. For example, if a spill-proof cup is dropped or knocked over, it is intended that a majority of the liquid be retained therein. The retention of liquid therein lessens the waste associated with spilled beverages, reduces the work associated with beverage spill cleanup, and reduces potential economic consequences of destruction caused by any such spillage. More specific applications of spill-proof beverage dispensers may be directed to children&#39;s cups where one or more valves are incorporated or mounted therein, allowing the child to remove liquid from the cup when in the act of drinking and concurrently inhibit the unintended removal of liquid therefrom when not in the act of drinking.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,415 assigned to Playtex Products, Inc., discloses a drinking cup assembly having a valve assembly of the type that is generally used in spill-proof-type drinking cups. The valve disclosed in that patent is characterized in that the drinking valve and the vent valve are slit valve and are both mounted on stacks that are received in projections from the top lid of the cup. While this design has been generally effective, it has been found that over time the slit valve used as the primary drinking valve can breakdown leading to unwanted leakage. Additionally, the stacks are fairly narrow thereby allowing the possibility that food can get stuck therein making cleaning difficult.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,425 assigned to Evenflo, Inc. also discloses a spill-proof-type cup having a valve assembly of the type discussed herein. While this design has proved adequate, over time it has been found that the use of a vented thread system is generally not as effective as a slit-type valve. Furthermore, the shape of the elastomeric insert that must be used in connection with such an assembly is required to be rather large thereby consuming a significant amount of material to manufacture the insert and causing it to be generally difficult to clean. The valve assembly disclosed in that patent also includes a plurality of small holes therethrough adapted to be aligned with channels within the lid that are also very difficult to clean and sanitize.  
         [0007]     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,621, assigned to Gerber Products, Inc., also discloses a valve assembly for use in the type of spill proof cups discussed herein. However, as opposed to the valve assemblies disclosed in the &#39;415 and &#39;425 patents, the valve assembly disclosed in the &#39;621 patent utilizes only a single valve to allow egress of fluid to and from the container. While this single valve configuration has proved to be somewhat effective, it has generally not been as effective as corresponding two valve designs.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, for all these reasons, a valve assembly for use in a spill-proof-type cup which overcomes the limitations of the prior art discussed above (namely, single valve configurations, slit valve openings for fluid flow from the container, thread venting structures, and extremely small openings) is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention is directed to a valve, and more specifically to an automatic valve for a beverage dispenser providing for selective ingress of gas into the dispenser and selective egress of liquid from the dispenser. The valve is adapted to regulate the flow of gas into, and the flow of liquid from, the beverage dispenser. As will be discussed in more detail below, at least a portion of the valve is adapted to be removable from a beverage dispenser lid and work in tandem with the configurations of the lid to facilitate selective egress of liquid from the beverage dispenser.  
         [0010]     The valve of the present invention comprises an elastomeric insert adapted to interface with features on the underneath surface of a beverage dispenser lid. The insert is mounted to the lid, at least in part, by a combination snap-fit and a friction fit. Orifices in the lid correspond with a spout for withdrawal of liquid from the dispenser and an air intake to facilitate the withdrawal through the spout. The elastomeric insert deforms under the siphoning conditions to provide direct fluid communication between the liquid within the dispenser and the opening in the spout. If the siphoning discontinues or the siphon is not strong enough, the insert will not substantially deform to provide such direct fluid communication, thereby inhibiting liquid from exiting the dispenser. An air intake, regulated at least in part by the insert, allows for gas to enter the dispenser to occupy the volume previously occupied by liquid that has exited the dispenser. In this manner, the siphoning pressure to withdraw liquid from the dispenser may remain relatively constant.  
         [0011]     As discussed in more detail below, the present invention recognizes the utility of having two openings within the top of the lid to provide the ingress of air into the container and the egress of fluid therefrom, as opposed to utilizing the threads of the container for the ingress of air flow. Likewise, the present invention includes a valve system having a single larger opening, as opposed to multiple small openings taught in the prior art, while still maintaining a fluidic seal when appropriate. Still further, the present invention makes use of dual friction fits or wedge fits that wedge the lid between at least two walls associated with the insert. Finally, the present invention acknowledges that reduction in the overall dimensions of the valve insert can substantially reduce raw material expenditures and likewise reduce overall production costs. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary valve insert in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the exemplary valve insert of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective, cross-sectional view of the exemplary valve insert of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary beverage dispenser of the present invention incorporating the exemplary valve insert of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass valves, systems, and methods for regulating the flow of liquid from a beverage dispenser. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the preferred embodiment discussed below is exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiment includes one or more optional features that one of ordinary skill may recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]     Referencing  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary valve insert  10  in accordance with the present invention includes a platform  12  having a tower  14  at a first longitudinal end  16  at least partially circumscribed by a raised wall  18 . A second longitudinal end  20  includes a depression  22  extending through the platform  12  and adjacent to a circular opening  24  therethrough. Two wings  26 ,  28  flank the opening  24  and embody a dominant widthwise dimension.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the overall shape of the platform  12  is semicircular at the second longitudinal end  20 , transitioning into the rounded rectangular wings  26 ,  28 , which narrow to define a throat  30  giving rise to the oblong first longitudinal end  16 . The oblong shape is indicative of the oblong shaped, discontinuous raised wall  18  that tracks the oblong shape of the tower  14 . A generally uniformly spaced trench  32  results from the offset between the tower  14  and the raised wall  18 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the tower  14  includes a reinforced wall  34  having a circumferential thickness exceeding that of the median wall thickness of a remainder  35  of the tower  14 . The reinforced wall  34  extends downward to meet a floor  36  partially bounding an interior region  38  within the tower  14 . The area between the floor  36  and the platform  12  may be solid or reinforced to impart stability to the floor  36  and more limited flexibility to the walls  34 ,  35  adjacent thereto. The distance between the floor  36  and the top  40  of the tower  14  may be partially determinative of the degree of flexibility exhibited by the tower  14 . Presuming the composition of the tower  14  is of a relatively uniform elastomeric material, the shorter distance between the floor  36  and the top  40  provides comparatively less flexibility/movement at the top  40  of the tower  14 , as opposed to a longer distance between the floor  36  and the top  40 . As would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, varying the materials comprising the tower walls  34 ,  35  may also be varied in order to impart the desired flexibility/movement.  
         [0020]     Referencing  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary polypropylene beverage dispenser  50  includes a lid  52  having a spout  54  integrally formed therein. The spout  54  includes a generally conical projection having a generally frustroconical end  56  that includes at least one opening  58  therethrough to provide direct fluid communication with a chamber  60 , which includes the interior region  38  of the tower  14 . The base  61  of the spout  54  is molded into an outer circumferential wall  62  and a corresponding inner circumferential wall  64  that define a recess  66  adapted to receive a circumferential lip  68  of a cup  70 . Both the outer circumferential wall  62  and the circumferential lip  68  include spiral threads  71  adapted to interface with each other to direct the lip  68  into the recess  66  and provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The top, central aspect of the lid  52 , approximate the base  61  of the spout  54 , includes an opening  72  therethrough to facilitate selective fluid communication between an interior  74  of the beverage dispenser  50  and an external environment  76 .  
         [0021]     The opening  72  provides direct fluid communication between the external environment  76  and a cavity  88  bounded in part by a circumferential wall  90  extending downward from an underneath surface  92  of the lid  52 . The remainder of the cavity  88  opposite the opening  72  is bounded by the depression  22  of the valve insert  10 . At least one of the circumferential wall  90  and an interior wall  94  partially defining the depression  22  may be tapered to facilitate insertion of the circumferential wall  90  into the depression  22 . The depression  22  also includes a circumferential recess  96  adapted to interface with a stepped ledge  97  of the circumferential wall  90  to couple the insert  10  to the lid  52  once the stepped ledge  97  has passed beyond the recess  96 . After the ledge  97  passes the recess  96 , the depression  22  circumferentially contracts to lock the ledge  97  therein and provide a snap-fit. The depression  22  likewise includes a slit  98  at the bottom thereof to allow for the ingress of air from the external environment  76 , through the opening  72 , and into the interior  74  of the beverage dispenser  50 .  
         [0022]     The insert  10  is also mounted to the lid  52  by a first friction fit between a downwardly depending wall  99 , extending from the underneath surface  92  of the lid  52  approximate the frustroconical end  56 , and the combination of the raised wall  18  and the tower  14 . A second friction fit occurs between the exterior circumferential surface  100  of the tower  14  and the inner circumferential surface  102  of the downwardly depending wall  99 . A conduit  104  is formed within the wall  99  that may provide fluid communication between the interior  74  of the beverage dispenser  50  and the chamber  60  upon displacement of at least a portion of the exterior circumferential surface  100  of the tower  14  from the inner circumferential surface  102  of the downwardly depending wall  99 .  
         [0023]     In operation, the beverage dispenser  50  is grasped by a user (not shown) and the spout  54  is positioned approximate the mouth of the user, thereby bringing liquid within the dispenser in direct communication with the conduit  104 . The user then reduces the pressure approximate the opening  58  (as compared to the pressure within the interior  74  of the dispenser  50 ) and likewise within the chamber  60 , causing the remainder  35  of the tower  14  to become displaced from the inner circumferential surface  102  of the downwardly depending wall  99  toward the center of the tower  14 . The reinforced wall  34  of the tower  14  is also drawn away from the inner circumferential surface  102  and toward the center of the tower  14  as the pressure is further decreased. Eventually, the movement of the reinforced wall  34  is sufficient to displace the reinforced wall  34  from the conduit  104  opening, thereby providing fluid communication between the liquid within the dispenser  50  and the opening  58 . The flow of liquid from the interior  74  of the dispenser  50  likewise results in a temporary decrease in internal pressure within the dispenser  50 . Gas from the surrounding environment  76 , at a higher pressure than the temporarily decreased internal pressure of the dispenser  50 , flows through the opening  72 , into the cavity  88 , through the slit  98 , and into the interior  74  of the dispenser  50 . The slit  98  ensures that liquid from the interior  74  of the dispenser  50  does not exit the dispenser under normal operating conditions.  
         [0024]     Upon an increase in pressure approximate the opening  58 , (as compared to the pressure facilitating fluid communication between the liquid within the dispenser  50  and the opening  58  is available) the reinforced wall  34  of the tower  14  is deflected toward the inner circumferential surface  102 , thereby preventing fluid communication between the opening  58  and the interior  74  of the dispenser  50  by way of the conduit  104 . Similarly, as the pressure at the spout  54  approaches ambient, the remainder  35  may also deflects toward the inner circumferential surface  102  to prevent further fluid egress from the dispenser  50 .  
         [0025]     Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the apparatuses described herein constitute an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and changes may be made to such embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiment set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any one of the claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.