Patent Publication Number: US-2022211002-A1

Title: Watering Cup with Removable Insert

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Automatically filling cups can be used to provide water for animals. The cup  100  shown in  FIG. 1  has a valve  105  which is connected to a water source  106 . The valve  105  is spring biased into an upward/closed position, in which water from the source  106  exits the water spout  107 , thus filling the water holding area  108  in the cup. The weight of the water in the area  108  in the cup eventually gets heavy enough to overcome the force of a spring  110 . This closes the valve, stopping the water flow. 
     This way, the water cup stays filled. 
     This can be used, for example, for providing water to animals. 
     SUMMARY 
     The inventor recognized a problem, however, in that the inside of this cup gets dirty over time, and there is no easy way to clean it. A user can attempt to wipe it out, but that is difficult and the cup often needs to be wiped multiple times. Because it is usually attached to a source of water, it is very difficult to remove the cup and clean it, because the water source needs to be removed. 
     The present application describes an insert for a cup of this type where the insert can be removed and cleaned. All the debris goes inside the cup, and the cup can be easily removed and cleaned. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a prior art auto filling cup for an animal or the like; 
         FIG. 2  shows an insert which fits into the auto filling cup; 
         FIG. 3  shows the auto filling cup with the insert inside. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment uses an insert for a self filling cup, where the insert is removable; enabling the removed insert to be cleaned. 
     An embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 . This may use the cup  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 , or can use any other watering cup, e.g., any watering cup for animal feeding. The embodiment uses the cup  100 . 
     The inner surface of the cup  100  receives insert  200  which has an outer surface  205  which is smaller than and fits within the inner surface  120  of the cup  100 . The top of the insert forms a lip  210  where the lip  210  is longer than the corresponding lip edge  125  of the watering cup  100  and extends over the edge  125 . The inside surface of the lip  210  may also include an indent or similar structure to enable the lip  210  of the insert to snap on to, and remain better connected to, the top surface of the cup  100 . 
     The insert  200  also has a cut out section  220  which is a removed area that fits over the area of the cup around the attachment location  221  where the cup connects to the valve  105 . The edges of the cut out section  220  fits around the attachment area  210 , and further hold and orient the cup insert into place inside the cup. In one embodiment, the edges of the cut out section are horseshoe shaped. In another embodiment, the edges of the cut out section are other shaped, such as v-shaped. 
     Areas  230  below the level of the cut out area  220  is solid, and holds water. The area  230  below the cut out area is sufficient to hold a sufficient amount of water to hold closed the auto filling valve. This facilitates holding the water in the bottom of the cup, allowing automatic refilling, and allowing removing the cup insert to clean the cup insert. 
     The cup insert is preferably formed of plastic, and the plastic does not add much weight to the cup, thus allowing the insert to be used without changing the characteristics of the spring. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the insert  200 , showing its inner surface  230  that is bordered at the top by a cut out surface  220 . The cut out surface  220  is has flattened areas  302 , tow substantially rounded in shape, starting at the top lip of the cup surface, and extending down in a general rounded shape at  303  to the bottom most portion  301 . The bottom most portion  301  still allows enough liquid to be held in the location  230  below that bottom most portion  301 , such that the weight of that liquid in that portion will hold down the spring and close the valve. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the cup insert from the front, showing the cut out portion  220 . The cut out portion or  FIG. 4  shows the outside surface of the insert, and how the cut out portion  220  includes a beveled portion  401  where the surface is flattened with a slight rounding, to press flatly against the inside surface of the cup. 
     Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. 
     The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.