Patent Publication Number: US-8967412-B2

Title: Drinking cup with lid and flow control element

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to drinking cups. More particularly, the present application involves a drinking cup that features an enhanced connection between a lid and a flow control element of the drinking cup to help prevent these components from being inadvertently disengaged. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Drinking cups with lids are commonly used by children for the dispensing of a beverage. These types of cups usually employ a valve arrangement that prevents the beverage from being dispensed from the drinking cup if the cup is turned upside down or dropped by the child. One or more valves are incorporated into a flow control element that can be attached and detached from the bottom of the lid of the drinking cup. The flow control element can be removed from the lid to allow the drinking cup to be more thoroughly cleaned. 
     The flow control element includes side walls that are straight that frictionally engage corresponding straight side walls of the lid. Although capable of effecting an attachment of these components, forces imparted onto the drinking cup may be sufficient to dislodge the flow control element from the lid thus allowing beverage to leak inadvertently from the drinking cup. For example, if the child drops the drinking cup the flow control element may become disengaged from the lid thus allowing beverage to flow from the drinking cup without being contained by the valve of the flow control element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs. in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an assembled drinking cup in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up, cross-sectional view of the drinking cup of  FIG. 1  that illustrates the releasable attachment arrangement between the flow control element and the lid. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the flow control element of the drinking cup of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the lid of the drinking cup of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up cross-sectional view of the releasable attachment arrangement between the flow control element and the lid in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up, cross-sectional view of the releasable attachment arrangement between the flow control element and the lid in accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a drinking cup in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations. 
     It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5. 
     The present invention provides for a drinking cup  10  that features a lid  14  that is releasably attached to a flow control element  16 . The releasable attachment may be arranged so that when attached it is secure enough to remain attached even when one drops the drinking cup  10 . As such, the releasable attachment may be effected so that it only becomes disengaged when one desires it to become disengaged. The releasable attachment may include a flow control element  16  that has an attachment portion  40  with a projection  42  and a lid engagement surface  44  that has a concave shape. The lid  14  may have a receiving portion  14  that features a projection receiving surface  20  and a flow control engagement surface  22  that has a convex shape. The flow control element  16  can be attached to the lid  14  such that the projection  42  engages the projection receiving surface  20  and such that the lid engagement surface  44  engages the flow control engagement surface  22 . This type of connection may allow for the lid  14  and flow control element  16  to be more securely attached to one another and removable only upon the intentional application of force to these components. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a drinking cup  10  in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. The drinking cup  10  includes a cup body  12  that is attached to a lid  14  through a releasable attachment. The cup body  12  has a longitudinal axis  12  that extends through its center. The drinking cup  10  may also feature a medicine cup  124  that likewise has a longitudinal axis  126  through its center. The drinking cup  10  may be arranged so that the longitudinal axes  122  and  126  are coaxial with one another. This arrangement may prevent the flow control element  16  or other components from disengaging should the drinking cup  10  be inadvertently dropped or hit because the weight of the medicine cup  124  and its contents are located at the center of the drinking cup  10  and not off-center thus minimizing any unbalanced jarring. However, it is to be understood that other arrangements are possible in which the medicine cup  124  is not at the center of the cup body  12  such that the longitudinal axes  122  and  126  are not coaxial with one another. The medicine cup  124  may be used to hold medicine to be administered to a child. Drinking contents, such as juice, may be located in the cup body  12  and mixed with the medicine upon dispensing by the child thus masking the presence of the medicine in the drink. The amount of medicine administered can be noted since the medicine is kept separate from the juice or other beverage. However, it is to be understood that a medicine cup  124  need not be present in other arrangements, and that the drinking cup  10  of the present invention need not have a medicine cup  124  or be configured in any special manner for the administration of medicine. 
     The cup body  12  can be releasably attached to the lid  14  through the use of a threaded connection. In the disclosed arrangement, the top of the cup body  12  has external threading that engages internal threading located on a cup body receiving portion  26  of the lid  14 . The lid  14  can be removed from the cup body  12  in order to fill the cup body  12  with a desired beverage or if cleaning is needed. In use, the lid  14  has a drinking spout  24  through which combined beverage and medicine can be dispensed through one or more dispensing openings  32  in the drinking spout  24 . The drinking spout  24  may be an integrally formed portion of the lid  14  or can be formed separately therefrom. In certain arrangements, the drinking spout  24  may be a straw through which the user dispenses the contents of the drinking cup  10 . The medicine and beverage may mix with one another in a portion of the drinking cup  10  that is located between the lower surface of the lid  14  and the upper surface of the flow control element  16 . The mixing may take place in a chamber formed due to the presence of the drinking spout  24 . 
     The flow control element  16  is responsible for directing the desired flow of beverage and medicine through the drinking cup  10 . The flow control element  16  may be engaged to the lid  14  through a releasable attachment so that these components can be attached and removed by the user as desired. Disengagement may be desired when a user wishes to clean the various components of the drinking cup  10 . The lid  14  has a receiving portion  18  that extends downward from a lower surface of the lid  14 . The receiving portion  18  may be integrally formed with the other portions of the lid  14  such as the drinking spout  24  or the portions of the lid  14  from which the receiving portion  18  extends. The receiving portion  18  includes a projection receiving surface  20  and a flow control engagement surface  22 . In certain arrangements, the projection receiving surface  20  is present and the flow control engagement surface  22  is not present. In yet other exemplary embodiments, the flow control engagement surface  22  is present on the receiving portion  18  and the projection receiving surface  20  is not included. The flow control engagement surface  22  and the projection receiving surface  20  are contiguous with one another such that the projection receiving surface  20  extends from the flow control engagement surface  22 . In other embodiments, these two surfaces  20  and  22  are present but are not contiguous with one another such that they do not extend from one another. The receiving portion  18  can have a circular outer perimeter as illustrated in  FIG. 4  such that the dispensing openings  32  are located within the outer perimeter of the receiving portion  18  yet displaced upwards in the vertical direction therefrom. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the cross-sectional shape of the receiving portion  18  will now be discussed. The flow control engagement surface  22  has a convex shape from the lowermost portion of the receiving portion  18  to the projection receiving surface  20 . However, it is to be understood that other arrangements are possible in which the flow control engagement surface  22  does not have a convex shape but rather is straight, conical, concave, or funnel shaped. In yet other arrangements, a portion of the flow control engagement surface  22  is convex and other portions of the surface  22  are differently shaped such as being straight, concave, funnel, or conical. As such, the flow control engagement surface  22  may be variously shaped in other exemplary embodiments. The projection receiving surface  20  may extend radially outwards from the flow control engagement surface  22  and then may either stop or may extend in the longitudinal direction without extending in the radial direction. As such, the projection receiving surface  20  may be a step of the receiving portion  18  onto which the projection  42  rests and contacts. Alternatively, the projection receiving surface  20  may be both a step and a portion of the inner wall of the receiving portion  18  such that the projection  42  contacts both the step and a portion of the inner wall of the receiving portion  18 . 
     The lid  14  also features a second receiving portion  34 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the second receiving portion  34  has a circular outer perimeter and is contiguous with the receiving portion  18 . One or more vent holes  132  defined through the lid  14  are located within the outer perimeter of the second receiving portion  18  but are spaced upwards vertically therefrom. Referring back to  FIG. 2 , a portion of the lid  14  extending downwards from the lower surface of the lid  14  defines a portion of both the receiving portion  18  and the second receiving portion  34 . The second receiving portion  34  may have a second projection receiving surface  36  and a second flow control engagement surface  38 . The surfaces  36  and  38 , along with the second receiving portion  34  can be arranged in an identical manner as the surfaces  20  and  22  and receiving portion  18  as previously discussed, and a repeat of this information is not necessary. Also, it is to be understood that the second receiving portion  34  need not be present in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. The receiving portions  18  and  34  may be separated from one another and need not share a common wall. In this regard, the attachment portion  40  having outer perimeter  86  may be distanced so that a space  144  is present between the outer perimeter  120  of the second attachment portion  46 . Space  144  may allow the attachment portions  40  and  46  to flex during insertion of the flow control element  16  so that a tighter seal is formed. One or more grips  142  may be included on the lid  14  in order to aid the user in grasping the lid  14  and turning same for removal. The grips  142  can be from 1-4, from 5-8, from 8-15, or up to 20 in number and may be disposed completely about the circumference of the lid  14  and may extend radially outwards from the side of the lid  14 . 
     The drinking cup  10  also includes a flow control element  16  that functions to assist the proper flow of beverage and medicine, if present, through the drinking cup  10 . With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flow control element  16  has an attachment portion  40  that extends upwards from a base  52 . The attachment portion  40  has a circular outer perimeter  86  and is configured for releasable engagement with the receiving portion  18 . The attachment portion  40  is shown attached to the receiving portion  18  in  FIG. 2 . A lid engagement surface  44  is located on the receiving portion  18  and engages the flow control engagement surface  22  of the lid  14 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the lid engagement surface  44  is concave in shape. The attachment portion  40  also has a projection  42  that is contiguous with the lid engagement surface  44  and extends therefrom. Projection  42  is received onto the projection receiving surface  20 . The projection receiving surface  20  is illustrated as being a step. However, it is to be understood that the projection receiving surface  20  can be variously configured in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. 
     The entire lid engagement surface  44  from the base  52  to the projection  42  can be concave in shape. However, other arrangements are possible in which only a portion of the lid engagement surface  44  between the base  52  and the projection  42  are concave while the other portion is not concave in shape. The lid engagement surface  44  can be convex, conical, funnel, straight, or variously shaped in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. The projection  42  may extend outward from the lid engagement surface  44  in the radial direction of the attachment portion  40 . The projection  42  can extend to such a radial distance that it is located completely radially outward from the entire lid engagement surface  44 . In other embodiments, the projection  42  extends radially outward of a majority of the lid engagement surface  44  but not the entire lid engagement surface  44 . The projection  42  can extend radially outward from the portion of the lid engagement surface  44  that is contiguous with the projection  42  and hence immediately adjacent the projection  42 . In this type of arrangement, the projection  42  may be located radially inwards or at the same position radially with respect to the portion of the lid engagement surface  44  that is adjacent and contiguous with the base  52 . 
     In order to attach the flow control element  16  and the lid  14 , the user may align a longitudinal axis  41  of the attachment portion  40  with a longitudinal axis  30  of the receiving portion  18 . The user may then push the flow control element  16  and lid  14  so that the projection  42  moves relative to the flow control engagement surface  22 . Due to the differences in radial size of these components, the projection  42  will be urged inwards radially as it advances along the flow control engagement surface  22  in a direction generally towards the drinking spout  24 . The convex shape of the flow control engagement surface  22  may assist in this insertion as it will facilitate a smooth transition. The attachment portion  40  may be made of a material resilient enough to allow the projection  42  to flex inwardly during this insertion. Once the projection  42  is moved into proximity with the projection receiving surface  20 , the radial forces imparted by the flow control engagement surface  22  will be lessened thus allowing the projection  42  to expand outwards in the radial direction and be seated onto the projection receiving surface  20 . The projection  42  may snap fit into place once properly positioned. The projection  42  and hence the attachment portion  40  may thus be retained onto the receiving portion  18 . 
     The projection receiving surface  20  and/or the flow control engagement surface  22  may still function to push the attachment portion  40  inwards during this attachment and thus further function to hold the two components together. The convex shape of the flow control engagement surface  22  may be complimentary with the concave shape of the lid engagement surface  44 . In this regard, the surfaces  22  and  44  may have the same radii of curvature so that they fit closely against one another during attachment. The entire surfaces  22  and  44  may engage one another, or only portions of the surfaces  22  and  44  may contact one another during attachment in certain exemplary embodiments. The complimentary convex/concave curvature of the surfaces  22  and  44  may likewise function to hold the two components  14  and  16  to one another. The synergistic holding effect of both the projection  42  and surface  20  in combination with the complimentary convex/concave arrangement of surfaces  22  and  44  has been found to effect a surprisingly strong attachment. However, it is to be understood that both of these attachment features need not be present in other arrangements. For example, the projection  42  and surface  20  can be present while the surfaces  22  and  44  are not convex or concave or do not even engage one another. 
     Once desired, the flow control element  16  and lid  14  can be disengaged from one another through the application of relative force to these components. The user can grasp the base  52  and apply force so as to urge the attachment portion  40  downwards in relation to the receiving portion  18 . The projection  42  can be urged out of the projection receiving surface  20  and against the flow control engagement surface  22 . This urging will cause the projection  42  to be displaced inwards in the radial direction of the attachment portion  40 . The convex shape of the flow control engagement surface  22  will facilitate removal as it acts as a transitional surface to control the radial movement of the projection  42 . 
     The flow control element  16  can also include a second attachment portion  46  that is spaced from the attachment portion  40 . The second attachment portion  46  can be seen with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  and may include a second projection  48  and a second lid engagement surface  50 . During attachment, the user can align a longitudinal axis  47  of the second attachment portion  46  to a longitudinal axis  39  of the second receiving portion  34  so that the axes  47  and  39  are coaxial. The second projection  48  and the second lid engagement surface  50  may engage the second projection receiving surface  36  and the second flow control engagement surface  38  during attachment. The second projection  48  and the second lid engagement surface  50  may be configured in a manner similar to that previously discussed with respect to the projection  42  and the lid engagement surface  44  and a repeat of this information is not necessary. As such, the second receiving portion  34  and the second attachment portion  46  function to effectively double the holding power of the flow control element  16  to the lid  14 . It is to be understood that the second attachment portion  46  need not be present in other embodiments or can be configured differently from the attachment portion  40  in other arrangements. 
     The flow control element  16  is present to help direct the flow of beverage and medicine through the drinking cup  10 . The flow control element  16  has a valve receiving portion  58  that is used to hold a valve  56 . Beverage may be dispensed from the cup body  12  through the valve  56  and into the chamber formed by the drinking spout  24  or likewise at a location between the lid  14  and the flow control element  16 . The flow control element  16  has a valve receiving portion  58  that is located within the outer perimeter of the attachment portion  40 . The valve receiving portion  58  extends upwards from the base  52  and has a step  62  and a notch  66 . The valve  56  rests on the step  62 . The valve  56  may be made of a resilient material and can be a one way valve in certain arrangements so that fluid is only capable of moving one way through the valve  56 . In yet other arrangements, the valve  56  may be a two way valve so that fluid can move in both directions through the valve  56 . A valve retainer  64  is inserted into the valve receiving portion  58  and has a projection  66  that is received with the notch  60  of the valve receiving portion  58 . The valve retainer  64  thus functions to hold the valve  56  in place within the valve receiving portion  58 . Upon insertion, the upper surface  68  of the valve retainer  64  may be made so as to be flush with the upper surface  70  of the valve receiving portion  58 . The valve retainer  64  can be arranged so that a flange is not present such that the valve retainer  64  does not cover a portion of the upper surface  70  and such that the projection  66  extends completely radially beyond any other portion of the valve retainer  64 . The outer side surface of the valve retainer  64  may thus have a single, constant dimension in the radial direction except for the projection  66 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , the flow control element  16  may have a member that forms both a portion of the valve receiving portion  58  and the attachment portion  40 . In other exemplary embodiments, the valve receiving portion  58  can be completely separate from the attachment portion  40 . The valve receiving portion  58  may be located within the outer perimeter  86  and may form the highest vertical portion of the flow control element  16 . A second valve  72  may be included and can he held onto the flow control element  16  inside of a second valve receiving portion  74 .  FIG. 2  shows the second valve  72  as being associated with the medicine cup  124  to allow medicine to flow from the medicine cup  124  and into the portion of the drinking cup  10  between the lid  14  and the flow control element  16  to subsequently mix therein with the beverage. The valve  72  may prevent fluid from moving back from this portion into the medicine cup  124 . As such, the second valve  72  can be a one way valve in that fluid or air is not allowed to revert back into the medicine cup  124  and can only move one way across the valve  72 . The second valve receiving portion  74  may include a notch  76 , step  78  and an upper surface  85 . Likewise, a second valve retainer  80  may be included to retain the second valve  72  to the second valve receiving portion  74  and can have a projection  82  and an upper surface  84 . When assembled, the upper surface  84  can be flush with the upper surface  85 . The second valve  72 , second valve receiving portion  74 , and the second valve retainer  80  and their associated features can be configured in an identical manner as the valve  56 , valve receiving portion  58 , and valve retainer  64  as previously discussed and a repeat of this information is not necessary. 
     The flow control element  16  may also include features that allow air to flow into the drinking cup  10  as beverage or medicine is dispensed from the drinking cup  10 . Venting of the drinking cup  10  allows for easier dispensing of fluid from the drinking cup  10 . The second attachment portion  46  has an outer perimeter  120  that surrounds both a third valve receiving portion  90  and a fourth valve receiving portion  106 . The third valve  88  is used to allow air from the vent holes  132  to be transferred into the medicine cup  124  to facilitate transfer of medicine from the medicine cup  124  and prevent a vacuum from forming therein and preventing or hindering dispensing. The third valve  88  may be a one way valve so that medicine is not capable of being transferred across the third valve  88  and into the location illustrated between the lid  14  and the flow control element  16 . The third valve receiving portion  90  can include a notch  92  and a step  94 , and a third valve retainer  96  may be present with a projection  98 . These elements can be configured in a similar manner as those previously discussed with respect to the valve  56 , valve receiving portion  58 , and valve retainer  64  and a repeat of this information is not necessary. Further, when assembled the upper surface  100  of the third valve retainer  96  can be flush with the upper surface  102  of the third valve receiving portion  90 . 
     A fourth valve  104  may be included in the drinking cup  10  and can be used to allow air from the vent holes  132  to be transferred into the cup body  12  so that beverage in the cup body  12  can be more easily dispensed therefrom through valve  56 . The fourth valve  104  may be a one way valve to prevent beverage from being dispensed through the fourth valve  104  and into the location between the lid  14  and the flow control element  16 . The fourth valve receiving portion  106  may include a notch  108  and a step  110 . A fourth valve retainer  112  may likewise be present to effect attachment of the fourth valve  104  to the fourth valve receiving portion  106  and can include a projection  114 . The fourth valve  104 , fourth valve receiving portion  106 , and fourth valve retainer  112  can be arranged in a manner similar to the valve  56 , valve receiving portion  58 , and valve retainer  64  as discussed above and a repeat of this information is not necessary. The upper surface  116  of the fourth valve retainer  112  can be flush with the upper surface  118  of the fourth valve receiving portion  106 . In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, the upper surfaces  70 ,  85 ,  102  and  118  may be located at the same vertical height as one another and may be the highest vertical surfaces of the flow control element  16 . The upper surfaces  68 ,  84 ,  100  and  116  may be located at the same vertical height and at a vertical height below the surfaces  70 ,  85 ,  102  and  118  or may be located flush and hence as the same vertical height as surfaces  70 ,  85 ,  102  and  108 . In other exemplary embodiments, the surfaces  68 ,  84 ,  100  and  116  may be located at the same vertical height as one another and may be at a vertical height above the upper surfaces  70 ,  85 ,  102 , and  118  and hence may be the highest vertical surfaces of the flow control element  16 . 
     The flow control element  16  may include a medicine cup receiving portion  54  that extends downwards from the base  52  so as to be on the opposite side of the base  52  as the attachment portion  40  and the second attachment portion  46 . The medicine cup receiving portion  54  can include internal threading that engages external threading of the medicine cup  124  so as to effect attachment. The user may unscrew the medicine cup  124  to detach same from the medicine cup receiving portion  54  when desired to fill the medicine cup  124  or to clean the medicine cup  124 . Although shown as being releasably attached through the use of a threaded connection, the medicine cup  124  can be releasably attached to the flow control element  16  through the use of a projection and concave/convex surfaces in a manner as previously discussed with respect to the receiving portion  18  and the attachment portion  40 . 
     An alternative exemplary embodiment of the drinking cup  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Here, the attachment portion  40  is arranged so that the lid engagement surface  44  is cone shaped and has a consistent angular orientation from the base  52  to the projection  42 . The lid engagement surface  44  thus does not have a concave or a convex shape but rather has a cone shaped surface that has the same line of inclination throughout its entire length. The projection  42  extends outwards radially from the lid engagement surface  44  so as to extend radially beyond at least a portion of the lid engagement surface  44 . In other arrangements, the projection  42  may extend radially beyond the entire lid engagement surface  44  or a majority of the lid engagement surface  44 . The flow control engagement surface  22  has a funnel shape and does not have a convex or a concave shape. The flow control engagement surface  22  has a shape that is complimentary to the lid engagement surface  44  such that the flow control engagement surface  22  engages the lid engagement surface  44  along its entire length when the flow control element  16  is attached to the lid  14 . The bottom surface of the receiving portion  18  engages the top surface of the base  52 . Further, the projection  42  engages a projection receiving surface  20  when the flow control element  16  is attached. Attachment is effected in a similar manner as previously discussed in that the flow control element  16  is inserted into the lid  14  and the projection  42  is urged radially inwards as it moves upwards across the flow control engagement surface  22 . Once the projection  42  encounters the projection receiving surface  20 , the radially inward force on the projection  42  ceases and the projection  42  expands or snaps outwards onto the flow control engagement surface  22 . The attachment portion  40  can be secured through either the engagement with the projection  42  to the projection receiving surface  20 , or through the engagement between the cone shaped lid engagement surface  44  and the funnel shaped flow control engagement surface  22 , or through the combination of these features. When removal is desired, the user can urge the flow control element  16  apart from the lid  14  so that the projection  42  is forced radially inwards upon being urged vertically downwards and against the flow control engagement surface  22 . 
     Another alternative exemplary embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Here, the lid engagement surface  44  has a conical portion  136  that is contiguous with and extends from the base  52 , and a concave portion  134  that is contiguous with the conical portion  136  and extends therefrom to the projection  42 . The flow control engagement surface has a funnel portion  140  that is complimentary with the conical portion  136  and that engages the conical portion  136  during attachment. The funnel portion  140  extends from the bottom of the receiving portion  18 . The flow control engagement surface  22  also includes a convex portion  138  that is contiguous with the funnel portion  140  and that engages the concave portion  134  during attachment. The concave portion  134  and convex portion  138  have shapes that are complimentary to one another and thus fully engage one another during attachment. 
     The projection receiving surface  20  is a notch into which the projection  42  is inserted during attachment. The notch  20  thus extends around more than 180° of the outer surface of the projection  42  that has a circular cross-sectional shape. The notch  20  may thus engage a portion of the bottom, side, and top surfaces of the projection  42 . The projection receiving surface  20  can be sized so as to tightly receive the projection  42  such that the projection  42  snap fits into the notch  20 . Disengagement of the flow control device  16  may be effected in a similar manner as previously discussed. 
     The variously exemplary embodiments presented show the lid engagement surface  44  and the projection  42  on an outer surface  128  of the attachment portion  40 , and the flow control engagement surface  22  and the projection receiving surface  20  on the inner surface  130  of the receiving portion  18 . As such, to effect attachment, the outer surface  128  of the attachment portion  40  engages the inner surface  130  of the receiving portion  18 . However, it is to be understood that other exemplary embodiments are possible in which the inner surface of the attachment portion  40  engages the outer surface of the receiving portion  18  to effect releasable attachment. In such arrangements, the aforementioned surfaces may have a convex or concave shape and may or may not include a projection to effect the releasable attachment. Further, although shown as being on the attachment portion  40 , the projection  42  may be on the receiving portion  18  in other arrangements and the projection receiving surface  20  can be located on the attachment portion  40 . Likewise, the projection  42  need not be located at the upper portion of the attachment portion  40  in other exemplary embodiments. For example, the projection  42  may be located proximate the base  52  or may be located intermediate the base  52  and the upper surface of the attachment portion  40  in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. In certain exemplary embodiments, both the flow control engagement surface  22  and the lid engagement surface  44  are both straight surfaces and are not convex, concave, conical, or funnel shaped. The flow control element  16  may be attached through the use of the projection  42  received onto the projection receiving surface  20  with minimal or no frictional engagement between the flow control engagement surface  22  and the lid engagement surface  44 . 
     An alternative exemplary embodiment of the drinking cup  10  is disclosed in  FIG. 7 . Here, the cup body  12  is double walled so that a space  152  is present between the two walls of the cup body  12 . Space  152  functions as an insulator to inhibit heat flow through the cup body  12 . The space  152  may be completely empty or may include some type of additional insulation in accordance with other embodiments. The arrangement in  FIG. 7  has a first straw  146  that extends from the flow control element  16  below the valve  56 . The flow control element  16  may have projections extending therefrom around which the first straw  146  is seated and retained via a frictional fit. The first straw  146  is used to pull fluid from the cup body  12  and then through the valve  56 . A second straw  147  is located in the medicine cup  124  and is likewise attached to the flow control element  16 . The second straw  147  may be frictionally fit into a projection of the flow control element  16 . In other arrangements, the first and second straws  146  and  147  may be retained by being forced inside of a projection of the flow control element  16  rather than around such projections. Medicine from the medicine cup  124  is pulled through the second straw  147  and through the second valve  72 . A third straw  148  likewise extends from the flow control element  16  and is located above the valves  56  and  72  so that flow exiting the valves  56  and  72  flow into the third straw  148 . The third straw  148  is branched so that fluid exiting valve  56  mixes with fluid exiting second valve  72 . The third straw  148  may be a single component or may be made of multiple components that are joined together. The third straw  148  may be arranged so that it is frictionally fit around a projection of the flow control element  16  at the valve  56  and frictionally fit around a projection of the flow control element  16  at the valve  72 . It is to be understood that various arrangements are possible for effecting attachment of the straws  146 ,  147  and  148  to the flow control element  16  and that the disclosed arrangements are only exemplary. 
     A straw closing mechanism  150  is included on the lid  14  and functions to close the third straw  148  when moved from an open to a closed position. The straw closing mechanism  150  in the closed position completely covers the tip of the third straw  148  and may in some arrangements function to pinch the tip of the third straw  148 . In this regard, a ridge or bump may be provided on the lid  14  and the turning of the straw closing mechanism  150  will cause the third straw  148  to be moved over the bump and hence pinched between the bump and the straw closing mechanism  150 . This pinching may function to both seal the third straw  148  and pull the third straw  148  into the cavity of the straw closing mechanism  150 . 
     Further, although shown as employing four valves  56 ,  72 ,  88 , and  104 , it is to be understood that any number of valves may be included in other embodiments. For example, the drinking cup  10  may include but a single valve, from 2-5 valves, from 4-6 valves, or up to 10 valves in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. The drinking cup  10  may be provided with one or more handles to assist the user in holding the drinking cup  10  during use. The handle may extend from the cup body  12  and may be variously configured. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.