Patent Publication Number: US-2004055989-A1

Title: Sipping cup with disposable liner for toddlers and others

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is directed to toddler training and feeding aids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sipping cup for use by toddlers and others that provides a useful, purposeful, and reusable drinking cup. The present invention sipping cup has a reusable cup portion, a disposable top portion, a reusable securing ring, and a liner or disposable bag for holding a liquid while assuring good sanitation practices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A drinking cup that is designed to minimize spills, if the cup is accidentally knocked on its side, is presently available and is used especially by toddlers as they learn to handle a cup and to drink therefrom. Such cups are called sipping cups or “sippy” cups. These cups have been used for many years in the home setting.  
       [0003] In today&#39;s busy, hectic, fast paced society, many families find themselves in a situation where both parents must work outside the home to meet the needs of the family. Thus, many families resort to placing their young child or children in daycare settings. Growth in the number of daycare providers provides a growing market for child sanitation and daycare accoutrements.  
       [0004] Such daycare settings must adhere to very strict present day sanitation regulations for assuring sanitation of eating, and drinking implements. While not state regulated in all states, many states have placed daycare facilities under regulatory state health inspection. In those states, toddler sipping or “sippy” cups must be sterilized after each use and stored until next needed. Most sippy cups are formed from a rigid, hard material, e.g. plastic, and are relatively inexpensive. However, many such materials will not withstand very high temperatures necessary for sterilization. Further, many daycare facilities cannot afford the expense of having sterilization equipment in order to keep their rates affordable to parents. Thus, multiple cups must be taken, on a daily basis, to the childcare facility to insure that good sanitation is practiced at all times at the childcare facility.  
       [0005] Further, when traveling away from home, e.g. vacations, trips to restaurants and the like, the same sanitation requirements also need to be adhered too. As in the childcare situation, to insure good sanitation, multiple cups would be needed for a trip.  
       [0006] The following patents are illustrative of various cups and/or containers currently available. Some such cups and/or containers have unitary or integral bladders, liners or the like and might be employed in an attempt to overcome the aforementioned sanitation problem. None of the following however solve the problems associated with a sipping cup.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,191, issued Jul. 8, 1997 to Lillian Neville, disclosed a disposable, safety drinking container having a cup and a lid which, when attached to a cup, forms a drinking spout. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,055, issued May 15, 1990 to Edward S. Robbins, III et al, discloses a self-closable dispenser cap for use with containers in general and with bladder-type containers in particular. U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,151, issued Apr. 14, 1987 to James L. Cabernoch, discloses nursing containers of the type employing a flexible liner or pouch that is collapsible upon dispensing of the contents to an infant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,733, issued Apr. 9, 1991 to William R. Stoody, discloses a collapsible, passive flaccid bag for use as a bottle in various kinds of dispensers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,605, issued Nov. 11, 1975 to Calvin J. Butler, discloses a container with a disposable closure and liner assembly that is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to install and remove from containers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,251, issued Jan. 31, 1995 to Steven B. Dunn, discloses disposable, sterile, bottle bags for use in nursing or infant feeding systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,013, issued Jan. 7, 1992 to Richard A. Belanger, discloses a dripless liquid training/feeding cup or bottle for babies and/or toddlers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,118, issued Feb. 16, 1999 to Antonio Franzese, discloses a high-density plastic beverage container attachment having a curved or beveled section releasable attached at its base to the top of a metal or aluminum beverage can or the top of a plastic or Styrofoam drink cup or container.  
       [0008] Accordingly, it is clear there is a need in the art for a sipping cup for toddlers and others that is of simple construction, useful, purposeful, has adaptable uses, and has intrinsic convenience.  
       [0009] Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for the clutter of carrying numerous cups to be used when away from home, including while at school or in a daycare setting, while traveling, or similar activity so commonplace in today&#39;s active society.  
       [0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sipping cup for toddlers or others that is practical and potentially indispensable for sanitary drinking activities while on the run or with groups of others, e.g. daycare facilities.  
       [0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a sipping cup for toddlers, that is effective and simple to use for average consumers and which provides an economical means for having a sanitary cup for each use by the toddler.  
       [0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a sipping cup that eliminates the problem of sanitation of drinking cups for toddlers and the necessity of providing more than one cup for use at daycare facilities.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] The present invention provides a sipping cup for use by toddlers or others that consists of a reusable, rigid cup portion; a disposable top portion; a reusable, rigid securing ring; and a disposable bag portion. The reusable, rigid cup portion is constructed from a rigid, hard material, e.g. plastic or metal, and is shaped so that a toddler can easily hold it. The top edge of the cup is circular in shape, and has an externally threaded lip. In the center of the disposable, top portion is a raised spout-like opening through which liquids may be sipped. The reusable, rigid securing ring is internally threaded so that it can be secured to the threaded lip of the cup portion by screwing it thereon. The disposable bag portion is of such a size as to fit within the reusable, rigid cup portion to contain the liquid to be served. While an exemplary threaded embodiment is provided, it is also contemplated that a snap fit or other such arrangement would work equally as well. Also, it is contemplated that the top portion and the securing ring may be formed as a one piece, disposable item.  
       [0014] The present invention and its features and advantages will be more fully understood, and further features and advantages will become apparent, when reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention, including the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled sipping cup for toddlers or others according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1 sipping cup for toddlers or others according to the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a section elevation view taken substantially along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT  
     [0018] Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, an embodiment of the present invention sipping cup  10  for toddlers and others. Sipping cup  10  comprises a reusable, rigid cup portion  20 , a disposable top portion  30 , a reusable, rigid securing ring  40 , and a disposable bag portion  50 .  
     [0019] Cup portion  20  is reusable and is made from a rigid, hard material, e.g. plastic or metal, and is shaped so that a toddler can easily hold it. The top edge  21  of cup portion  20  has an attachment means comprising, in this embodiment, an externally threaded lip  22 . Disposable top portion  30 , in the preferred embodiment, is circular in shape and formed from a hard plastic. In the center of top portion  30  is a raised spout  31  with an opening  32  through which liquids are sipped by the user. Reusable, rigid securing ring  40  has internal threads  41  so that it can be threadably secured to threaded lip  22  of cup portion  20 . Securing ring  40  also has a central opening or hole  42 . Disposable bag portion  50  is of such a size as to fit within cup portion  20  to contain a liquid to be served to the user of the cup.  
     [0020] Sipping cup  10  is used by placing a disposable bag  50  into cup portion  20 . Disposable bag  50  is then filled with a selected beverage. Disposable top portion  30  is next placed within securing ring  40  with spout  31  facing up and extending through hole  42  of securing ring  40 . Securing ring  40  is then screwed onto the top of cup portion  20  so that threaded lip  22  and internal threads  41  of securing ring  40  mate and hold disposable top portion  30 , bag  50 , and securing ring  40  in place and together with hard plastic cup portion  20 . Securing ring  40  is screwed onto cup portion  20  to form a liquid tight seal.  
     [0021] When the toddler or other user is finished with sipping cup  10 , securing ring  40  is unscrewed and disposable top portion  30  and bag  50  are removed and simply thrown away. Cup  20  and securing ring  40  may be stored for use at a later time with a new top portion  30  and bag  50 .  
     [0022] While a screw together arrangement has been illustrated, it is contemplated that a snap fit arrangement would also work. Further, it is contemplated that top portion  30  and securing ring  40  may be formed as a one piece, disposable item.  
     [0023] As can be seen from the above description, there is no longer a need for multiple sippy cups per child when traveling or at a daycare facility. The invention product is intrinsically useful for assuring sanitary drinking conditions for toddlers and others.  
     [0024] The above detailed description of the present invention sets forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention at the time of filing this application and is provided by way of example and not as a limitation. Accordingly, various modifications and variations obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to which it pertains are deemed to lie within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.