Patent Publication Number: US-8118182-B1

Title: Ergonomic beverage container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to a beverage container having a ridged hourglass-like shape with a cup portion having an aperture therein and an aperture mating cap portion with a mouthpiece extending therefrom. 
     One of the portions has an annular ring and the other an annular groove for receiving said ring and therein sealing the ergonomic beverage container from leakage. 
     The mouthpiece extending from the cap is designed to anatomically fit the user&#39;s mouth and additionally provides that the mouthpiece may be nipple shaped for babies and toddlers. 
     Additionally provided are nubs protruding from opposing sides of the cap that when squeezed breaks the cup cap seal allowing for removal of the cap whereby the ergonomic container can be refilled as desired. 
     Furthermore, the present invention provides that the beverage container may be manufactured from microwave safe material for beverages that may require heating. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other containers designed for beverage storage. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,841 issued to Rice on Sep. 2, 1952. 
     Another patent was issued to Dixon, Sr. et al. on Mar. 27, 1979 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,157. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,062 was issued to Coy on Aug. 7, 1990 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 13, 1998 to Robbins, III, et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,973. 
     Another patent was issued to Belcastro on Apr. 6, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,620. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,425 was issued to Yehl, et al. on Nov. 23, 1999. Another was issued to Connors, Jr., et al. on Mar. 6, 2007 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,784 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 17, 2007 to Hakim as U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,386. 
     Another patent was issued to Hsu on Feb. 27, 1992 as German Patent No. DE9200120. Yet another U.K. Patent No. GB2307633 was issued to McCallum-Toppin on Apr. 6, 1997. Another was issued to Iodice on May 15, 1997 as International Patent Application No. WO 97/17005 and still yet another was issued on Feb. 22, 2001 to Samson as International Patent Application No. WO 01/12031. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,841 
     Inventor: William W. Rice 
     Issued: Sep. 2, 1952 
     A drinking cup for the purposes herein set forth comprising a cup portion, a cap for said cup portion including a portion adapted to telescope frictionally into the open end of the cup, a nipple formed integral with the cap at one side thereof and providing a passage communicating with the cup, a rotatable air control valve frictionally carried by the cap at the side thereof opposite the nipple and having an opening formed therethrough adapted to be closed by the index finger of a hand supporting the cup, said valve having passages formed in its side walls and communicating with said opening, said top wall if the cap having a passage formed therein communicating with said opening of the valve through said valve passages, said telescoping portion of said cap being offset with respect to the side walls thereof to provide a shoulder limiting the insertion of said portion into said cup. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,157 
     Inventor: Lester A. Dixon 
     Issued: Mar. 27, 1979 
     A top (or lid) for an existing drinking cup which permits the insertion of a liquid into the cup without removal of the top and which also prevents the liquid from splashing or spilling from the cup during the filling or drinking operation. The top comprises means for fixing same to the cup or similar receptacle. The top includes suitable holes or apertures for permitting the passage of fluid therethough. Likewise, the top includes suitable openings or apertures for permitting the passage of air therethrough when the fluid is being inserted into the cup. A lip or rim describes the outer periphery of the top. In one embodiment, a mouth piece may be integrally formed with the lip. In another embodiment, the apertured member may be separate from the top. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,062 
     Inventor: Peter Coy 
     Issued: Aug. 7, 1990 
     A container closure lid having a valved spout is disclosed. The valve is normally closed so as to prevent spillage from the container. In use, the valve is opened by the application of force laterally to the edge of the valve. In addition, a valved spout which is particularly adapted to permit close stacking of the lids is disclosed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,973 
     Inventor: Edward S. Robbins, III 
     Issued: Jan. 13, 1998 
     A drinking cup having a body portion and a removably attached cover including an offset drinking spout and an offset vent aperture. The drinking spout and the vent aperture are each surrounded by wall members which depend generally away from an interior surface of the cover. An air inlet flow control valve is coupled to the wall member surrounding the vent aperture while a liquid outlet flow control valve is coupled to the wall member surrounding the spout. Each flow control valve includes a domed elastomeric member containing a slit allowing for passage of a selected fluid therethrough. The domed portions are each surrounded by a generally circular isolating channel, and outside of each isolating channel is a perimetral portion for connecting the flow control valve to the depending wall portion of the cover. Fluids passing through the slits achieve substantially only a one-way passage as the domed curvature substantially prevents any backflow. Vacuum must be applied on the convex side of the domed portion for sufficient elastomeric displacement to allow a fluid to pass through the slit. In the absence of such a vacuum, the sides of the slit are maintained in contiguous contact thereby preventing any transfer of liquid or air across the respective flow control valve. Coupling means are provided for coupling the flow control valves together, and may include handle portions integrally attached to the perimetral portion and including joining means for joining the handle portions together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,620 
     Inventor: Domenic Belcastro 
     Issued: Apr. 6, 1999 
     A self-sealing drinking container includes a cup body having a hollow interior for holding and dispensing a liquid, and a lid assembly which fits sealingly on the cup body. The lid assembly has an inlet passage with an inlet valve in communication therewith, and an outlet passage with an outlet valve in communication therewith, each of the valves including a resiliently flexible diaphragm member. In a preferred embodiment, each of the inlet and outlet valves includes a cage having an open top and an open bottom to allow fluid passage therethrough, the cage having a seat formed therein for receiving a diaphragm member. The diaphragm member is located seatably into the seat so as to selectively seal thereagainst and thereby prevent fluid flow therepast. A locator post in each cage centrally abuts the diaphragm member thereof to ensure its seating. A predetermined level of fluid pressure differential across each diaphragm member causes, respectively, the diaphragm members to concavely bend (or flex) away from their respective seat and thereby allow fluid flow through the valves. However, below the respective predetermined levels of fluid pressure differential, the diaphragm members sealingly abut their respective seats, thereby sealing the cup. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,425 
     Inventor: Gregory Yehl 
     Issued: Nov. 23, 1999 
     A sipper cup including a cup assembly having a plurality of threaded grooves formed adjacent a top opening thereof. Further provided is a cap assembly having a spout integrally formed on an upper surface thereof. The cap assembly is equipped with a plurality of threaded grooves for allowing the screwable coupling of the cap assembly with the cup assembly. Such threaded grooves of the cap assembly and the cup assembly are adapted to allow air to pass therethrough. Also included is an elastomeric insert including a spout valve for allowing fluid to exit the spout of the cap assembly only upon the application of suction. In use, air is allowed to enter the cup through the threaded grooves thus compensating for the vacuum formed in the cup assembly upon the exiting of fluid from the spout. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,784 
     Inventor: James A. Connors, Jr. et al. 
     Issued: Mar. 6, 2007 
     A disposable child&#39;s drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,386 
     Inventor: Noun E. Hakim 
     Issued: Apr. 17, 2007 
     An improved no-spill cup construction and valve assembly which provides an extremely secure seal against accidental liquid flow from the cup spout. The act of sucking at the cup spout creates negative pressure or a partial vacuum against a valve near the spout, causing the valve to invert which unblocks an opening in the valve. When the opening is unblocked, liquid can flow freely through the valve and spout. When not in use, the valve sits in a resting, closed position, with the valve pressed against a center seal-off, sealing off the opening in the valve assembly. The closed position provides an extremely secure seal against fluid leakage, such that inadvertent spills or even deliberate attempts to force liquid outside of the cup, such as by turning the cup upside down, or shaking the cup, are ineffective. The cup assembly further allows liquid flow to be regulated between regular or maximum flow and minimal flow levels or rates by rotating the position of the valve assembly in the cover of the cup. 
     German Patent Number DE 9200120U 
     Inventor: Shen-Kwang Hsu 
     Issued: Feb. 27, 1992 
     Depicted is a beverage receptacle having a lid with interchangeable caps comprising a mouthpiece cap, a nipple cap and a cap having apertures with one serving as a straw holder and the other providing access to the receptacle beverage. 
     U.K. Patent Number GB2307633 
     Inventor: Angus McCallum-Toppin 
     Published: Jun. 4, 1997 
     The sip-through lid enables cups containing beverages to be carried stacked on top of each other. This allows the fast-food take-away consumer to carry more than one cup per hand at a time without the use of a tray. The configuration of the lid allows the consumer to comfortably sip-through the lid. 
     International Patent Application Number WO97/17005 
     Inventor: Austin Iodice 
     Published: May 15, 1997 
     A liquid dispensing cup (10) for use by a toddler is disclosed having generally cylindrical upper (12) and lower (14) portions joined in fluid communication by a pair of integral tubular sections (16 and 18) or handles. The upper and lower portions and the pair of integral handles define a central opening (22) through the cup. The tubular sections (16 and 18), in connection with the central opening (22), provide readily grippable handles near the center of gravity of the cup for the toddler to grasp with one or both hands. The liquid dispensing cup has a closure (28) including an integrally molded spout (30) in fluid communication with the interior of the cup to provide for sipping of fluids contained within the cup. 
     International Patent Application Number WO 01/12031 
     Inventor: Robert P. Wharton 
     Issued: Feb. 22, 2001 
     A cup is disclosed which includes: a sealingly engageable lid (10) having a drinking spout (14) located thereon, a tubular passage (20) formed between inner surface of the lid (10) and/or spout (14) and a detachable member (18) located on the lid (10), the passage (20) having one end in communication with the inside of the cup and the other end in communication with the outside of the spout (14) and being of such a diameter such that air cannot readily bubble past liquid inside it. When such a cup is inverted, the head of liquid inside lowers the pressure of the air above the liquid, and liquid therefore starts to move downwardly through the passage. This continues until the reduction in air pressure above the liquid just balances the pressure of the liquid head, when further movement of liquid ceases. (The fact that air cannot bubble past the liquid in the passage ensures that the air pressure is not restored while the cup is inverted or reclined). Thus the capacity of the passage should be great enough to contain this amount of liquid without reaching the exit and therefore spilling. 
     While these receptacles may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container having a mouthpiece extending therefrom. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container having a cup portion and a lockingly engagable cap portion. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container having an annular ridge and groove providing the locking engagement elements. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container wherein said cap portion has opposing tabs extending therefrom whereby pressure placed thereon breaks the cap to cup bond so that the container can be refilled as desired. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container wherein said cap has a pin hole extending through the cap for pressure relief. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container wherein said mouthpiece is anatomically shaped for a user&#39;s mouth. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container wherein said mouthpiece alternately is nipple shaped for babies and toddlers. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container wherein the disposable beverage container is manufactured of a microwavable safe material. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container that fits within the typical motor vehicle cup holder. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container wherein said cup portion has a somewhat hourglass shape to aid in handling by small children. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable or long term use beverage container having a body portion with diametrically constricted portions to aid in the use by small children. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to optionally provide frictional material disposed on the exterior body surface as a further aid for use by the user. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a disposable or long term use beverage container having a cup portion with an aperture therein and a mating cap portion with a mouthpiece extending therefrom with one of the portions having an annular ridge and the other an annular groove for receiving said ridge therein sealing the disposable beverage container from leakage. Additionally the mouthpiece extending from the cap is designed to anatomically fit the user&#39;s mouth and provides that the mouthpiece may be nipple shaped for babies and toddlers. Also provided are nubs protruding from opposing sides of the cap that when squeezed breaks the cup cap seal allowing for removal of the cap for selective refilling as desired. The present invention also provides that the disposable beverage container may be manufactured from microwave safe material for those beverages that may require heating. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention assembled; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial detailed sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a view looking up from under the cup cap; 
         FIG. 9  is an alternate view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is another alternate view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Sip and Go Ergonomic Cup of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Sip and Go Ergonomic cup of the present invention     12  cup body     14  snap-on cap     16  anatomical mouth piece     18  vehicle     20  user     22  cup holder     24  air hole     26  cap tabs     28  finger grips     30  base of  12       32  sealing ridge     34  sealing groove     36  removable seal     38  rubber hand grips     40  nipple       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention is an ergonomic drinking cup  12  for children having a snap on cap  14  with an anatomical mouthpiece  16  in the shape of a spout. The sip and go cup  10  allows the user  20  a safe and convenient way to travel about the house or for use in a vehicle  18  without spillage. The cup is designed to fit within a conventional vehicle cup holder. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention is an ergonomic drinking cup  12  for children having a snap on cap  14  with an anatomical mouthpiece  16  in the shape of a spout. The sip and go cup  10  allows the user  20  a safe and convenient way to travel about the house or for use in a vehicle  18  without spillage. The cup  12  is designed to fit within a conventional vehicle cup holder  22 . The sip and go cup  10  for children is used for commercial consumption and is disposable, but allows the user to refill the cup  12 . The present invention provides a childproof cap  14 , that also prevents spillage and leaking or dripping from mouthpiece  16 . The sip and go cup  10  can be manufactured from a microwave safe material and can also be stored in the refrigerator if contents still remains within and is to be consumed at another time. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . The present invention is a drinking sippy cup  10  for children having a snap on cap  14  with an anatomical mouth piece  16  in the shape of a spout. The removable cap  14  comprises an air hole  24  to allow air to flow into the cup  12  as the contents are displaced from the cup  12  by the user. Located between the cap  14  and cup  12  are mating ridge and groove that matingly engage to prevent casual removal of the cap. Also provided are cap tabs  26  positioned on opposing sides whereby pressure applied thereto will break the seal allowing the disposable container to be refilled. The body of the cup  12  has ergonomic finger ridges  28  to provide enhanced grasping thereof by the user. A base  30  enables the user to set the cup in an upright position when not in use. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the present invention  10 . Shown is an exploded view of the present invention  10 , a drinking cup  12  for children having a removable snap on cap  14  with an anatomical mouthpiece  16  in the shape of a spout. The cap  14  also comprises an air hole  24  to allow air to flow into the cup  12  as the contents are displaced from the cup by the user. Squeeze tabs  26  are provided to assist in the removal of the cap  14 . Located within the cup  12  and cap  14  are sealingly engagable ridge  32  and groove  34 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . The present invention is a disposable beverage container having a cup portion  12  with an aperture therein and a mating cap portion  14  with a mouthpiece  16  extending therefrom. One of the portions has an annular ridge  32  and the other an annular groove  34  for receiving said ridge  32  and therein sealing the disposable beverage container from leakage. The mouthpiece  16  extending from the cap  14  is designed to anatomically fit the user&#39;s mouth and additionally provides that the mouthpiece  16  may be nipple shaped for babies and toddlers. Additionally provided are nubs  26  protruding from opposing sides of the cap  14  that when squeezed break the cup cap seal allowing for removal of the cap  14  whereby the disposable container can be refilled as desired. The present invention  10  provides that the disposable beverage container may be manufactured from microwave safe material for those beverages that may require heating. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention  10  assembled. Shown is an assembled sectional view of the present invention  10 , a drinking cup  12  for children having a removable snap on cap  14  with an anatomical mouth piece  16  in the shape of a spout. The removable cap  14  also comprises an air hole  24  to allow air to flow into the cup  12  as the contents are displaced from the cup by the user. Squeeze tabs  26  are provided to assist in the opening of the cap  14 . Located within the cup  12  are ridge  32  and groove  34  elements securing the cap  14  tightly. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial detailed sectional view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a sectional view of the cap  14  and the cup  12 . Located within the cup  12  is an annular groove  34  that couples to a cap ridge  32  securing the disposable beverage container from leakage. Cap extending nubs  26  are provided to assist in opening the removable cap  14 . An air hole  24  having removable seal  36  that when removed allows for air flow during usage. 
       FIG. 8  is a view looking up from under the cup cap  14 . Shown is the snap on cap  14  with an anatomical mouth piece  16  in the shape of a spout with a removable seal  36 . The cap also comprises an air hole  24  also having a removable seal that when removed allows air to flow into the cup as the contents are displaced from the cup by the user through the anatomical mouth piece  16 . Squeeze tabs are provided to assist in the reopening of the cap. 
       FIG. 9  is an alternate view of the present invention  10 . Shown is an alternate view of the present invention  10  having rubber hand grips  38  located on the external housing of the cup  12  as an additional element. 
       FIG. 10  is another alternate view of the present invention  10 . Shown is an alternate view of the present invention having a rubber nipple mouth piece  40  located on the external housing of the cap  14  as an additional element. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.