Patent Publication Number: US-2013240547-A1

Title: Lip-operable spill-proof container

Description:
The invention relates to a lip-operable spill-proof container according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     Such containers are used for the drinking, in particular by sipping, of beverages, such as hot coffee or tea, and also cold milk etc, in circumstances where an open container would easily lead to the spilling of beverage. For instance, a moving car and also the holding of a baby or small child in one hand while holding a container in the other hand would provide such circumstances. 
     The patent publication WO 02/11587 A1 discloses a lip-openable container, comprising a container body for containing liquids and having an open top end; a removable cap hermetically sealed to said container body about its said open top end, said cap having a depending skirt with a ledge that extends radially inward from said skirt, forms a valve seat and defines a central opening; and a removable lip-openable lid for sealing said central opening of said cap, said lid comprising a gasket having an upstanding, lip engageable wall, said wall being disposed within said central opening and extending upward beyond said ledge, a flexible central panel radially inward of and communicating with said wall, said central panel being comprised of a flexible elastomer and having an integral flexible member that depends from said central panel, and a peripheral flange extending outward from said wall and having an upper surface, and a rigid support that supports said central panel of said gasket and maintains said flange in normal sealing engagement with said valve seat, said rigid support comprising a base, a central section, and liquid flow openings extending through said support, said base being maintained in position by being in contact with a surface of said container or said cap, said central panel of said gasket and said central section of said support each having securing means that are engaged with each other and flexibly secure said gasket to said support, said central panel of said gasket being capable of flexing and stretching downwardly in an area radially inward of said wall of said gasket to allow a portion of said upper surface of said flange to be displaced from said valve seat when lip pressure is applied against an adjacent portion of said wall of said gasket. An embodiment of this container is rotationally symmetrical, i.e. essentially cylindrical of shape, the axis of symmetry extending through the container body bottom and the lid. 
     In the known container of WO 02/11587 A1, the lid is operated by the lips; for sipping beverage, the upper lip pushes against the periphery of the lid, against the bias of the elastic valve, and depresses the lid. 
     Although the valve in WO 02/11587 A1 allows for a reliable closing of the container, and only a small surface of the lid and valve are permanently exposed to the liquid in the container, its construction is complicated, which leads to high manufacturing costs such as molding matrix costs. In particular, the rigid support is complicated. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lip-operable container of the type mentioned in the preamble that has a simplified construction, in particular with respect to the rigid support. 
     This goal is realized by the container having the features of claim  1 . 
     According to the invention, the carrier on the lid element and the mounting rim cooperate to carry the valve element. The fluid path, that was between the lid edge and the valve in WO 02/11587 A1, is now between the lid edge and the carrier. As a result, the valve element no longer needs the rigid support of WO 02/11587 A1 and is still operable in closing and opening the container. 
     Further advantages of the container according to the invention, are that the assembly and disassembly of the container is relatively simple, which is e.g. useful when cleaning the container. 
     In an embodiment, the mounting rim consists of a second valve flange, that is flexible and extends from said valve body and covers and engages the top of said carrier and a circumferential top surface of said edge, and seals the container when the valve element is in said first position. 
     In this embodiment, the double valve provides an improved anti-spill function, since it captures the liquid that is present above the lower positioned valve and second valve. The second valve also combines the function of elastically suspending the valve element, of which it is a part, and the function of valve, thus maintaining a relatively simple construction. 
     In another embodiment the circumferential top surface of said edge and said longitudinal axis enclose an angle that is larger than zero degrees and smaller than 90 degrees. As a result, the valve element is self-centering, which is beneficial for maintain effective valve operation over time. 
     Another embodiment has an annular container and lid, with the carrier in the shape of an annular wall. The latter comprises on its side oriented towards the longitudinal axis of the container at least one spiral-shaped groove, which groove interrupts the wall and extends from its bottom to its top. The advantage is that the valve element, at least the valve body and the valve flange, can be mounted on the lid element in a simple manner, by a screwing movement relative to the lid element. 
     In still another embodiment, the valve body and the valve flange are integrated and consist of a flexible material on a frame of rigid material, which frame extends at least in the valve flange and part of the valve body. The rigid material keeps the valve flange in its originally manufactured shape. This allows for an improved valve-function, since a flatter valve surface is obtainable, resulting in fewer leaks. 
     In yet another embodiment, the control element of said valve element is provided with a stop surface that limits opening movement of said valve body. This prevents the valve element from being pushed out accidentally into the inside of the container. 
     In an embodiment, the valve flange is provided with three or more projections on the opposite side of the valve surface. This has the additional advantage that the valve flange, after washing it, may be put down and will then dry entirely, apart from the relatively small projections. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, the control element comprises of a top-element extending over most of the top-side of the container, from which top-element a mounting flange extends downward, wherein the valve body extends over the entire cross-section surface between the carrier circumference, apart from some play, and is provided with a cylindrical groove surrounded by rigid valve material, which groove accommodates the mounting flange in a clamping manner. 
     In this manner, a container is obtained that can be assembled and disassembled in an easy manner, thus e.g. reducing the amount of labor required for cleaning the container. 
     In still another embodiment, the mounting flange is provided with an opening near its top side. This opening provides an air outlet resp. inlet channel that further simplifies the assembly resp. disassembly of the control element on the valve element. 
     In one more embodiment, the mounting flange has a sufficiently large dimension in the longitudinal direction of the container to enable a transport-and-stock mode of the container, as opposed to its use mode, in which transport-and-stock mode the valve element is mounted below the carrier instead of between the carrier, and the control element is mounted directly on the carrier, and the valve element and the control element enclose the carrier. 
     The transport-and-stock mode has the advantage that the flexible part of the valve element is not loaded, and as a result it maintains its original shape and good elastic properties for a longer period of time. 
     In a final embodiment, the container is rotation-symmetrical around its longitudinal axis, the lid element is fixed on the container base by means of a screw connection, and an O-ring is provided between the container base and the lid element. The advantages of rotation-symmetrical shape are known, e.g. from WO 02/11587 A1. For instance, one has to pay less attention to how the container is held; sipping is possible from all 360 degrees. Additionally, the presence of an O-ring also provides for an overpressure relief valve. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be clarified on the basis of the Figures, in which corresponding components are provided with corresponding reference numbers. 
       Herein show: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  a lip-operable container according to the invention, respectively in a side view and cross-section over A-A in  FIG. 1A , 
         FIG. 2  the container of  FIG. 1 , in a perspective exploded view, in  FIG. 2A  from above and in  FIG. 2B  from below, 
         FIG. 3A-F  views of components of the container of  FIG. 1 :  FIGS. 3A through 3E  the lid element from different angles, and  FIG. 3F  the O-ring, 
         FIG. 4A-B  views of the valve element of the container of  FIG. 1  from above resp. below, and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  the container of  FIG. 1  in identical views as in  FIG. 1A  resp.  1 B, but with the valve element and control element mounted in the stock-and-transport mode. 
     
    
    
     In  FIG. 1 , a lip-operable spill-proof container  1  according to the invention has a container base  2  provided with an open top side  3  (see  FIG. 2 ), a lid element  4  with a lid edge  5  mountable on the circumference of said top side  3  of said container base  2 . The lid element  4  is provided with a valve seat surface  7  directed to the inside of the container  1 , perpendicular to a longitudinal axis  8  of the container. The longitudinal axis  8  is directed from the bottom side  9  of the container base  2  to its top side. The lid element  4  supports a partially flexible valve element  11 . The latter has 
     1) a valve body  12  extending across at least part of the area enclosed by said lid element, 
     2) a valve flange  13  extending from the valve body  12  and provided with a valve surface  14  that faces said valve seat surface  7 , and 
     3) a control element  15  at the top side of the valve element  11 . 
     The lid element  4  is provided with a carrier  16  positioned at a distance inwards from said lid edge  5  and extending along the lid edge  5  circumference and mounted to said lid edge  5  by means of a radial bridge member  10  (see also  FIG. 10 ). The valve element  11  is provided with a mounting rim  17 . 
     The mounting rim  17  consists of a second valve flange  18 , that is flexible and extends from said valve body  12  and covers and engages the top of said carrier  16  and a circumferential top surface of the lid edge  5 , and seals the container  1  when the valve element is in its first position (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     In a variant to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , not-shown in this document, the circumferential top surface of said lid edge  19  and the longitudinal axis  8  enclose an angle that is larger than zero degrees and smaller than 90 degrees. This provides a self-centering feature of the valve element, and thus provides proper valve operation even after intensive use of the valve. 
     In  FIGS. 3D and 3E , it is shown that the container  1  and the lid element  4  are annular and said carrier  16  has the shape of an annular wall, and comprises on its side oriented towards the longitudinal axis of the container at least one spiral-shaped groove, which groove interrupts said wall and extends from the bottom to the top of said wall, or carrier. Between the carrier  16  and the lid edge  5  a liquid channel is thus formed. 
     In the embodiment shown, the valve body  12  and the valve flange  13  are integrated and consist of a flexible material on a frame  31  of rigid material, which frame  31  forms part of the valve flange and a cylindrical part of the valve body  12 . This is shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  FIG. 1B  does not show that the valve body  12  consists of two kinds of material, for the sake of simplicity. 
     The control element  15  of the valve element  11  is a separate part, in this embodiment, and provided with a stop surface  22  on a stop flange  21 . The stop surface  22  limits opening movement of the valve element  11 . 
     The valve flange  13  (see  FIG. 4 ) is provided with four projections  23  on the opposite side of the valve surface  14 , i.e. on the bottom side of the valve element  11 . 
     The control element  15  comprises a top-element  24  extending over most of the top-side of the container, from which top-element  24  a mounting flange  25  extends downward, wherein the valve body  12  extends over the entire cross-section surface between the carrier circumference, apart from some play, and is provided with a cylindrical groove  26  surrounded by rigid valve material  31 , which groove accommodates the mounting flange  25  in a clamping fashion. 
     The mounting flange  25  is provided with an opening  27  near its top side, in order to allow air to escape from the closed space that is created when the valve element  11  and the control element  15  are put together. The opening also allows air to enter this space, when disassembling. 
     The length of the mounting flange  25  is chosen sufficiently large to enable a transport-and-stock mode of the container, shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , as opposed to its use mode shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . In the transport-and-stock mode, the valve element  11  is mounted below the carrier  16  instead of in the space enclosed by the carrier, and the control element  15  is mounted directly on the carrier  16 , and the valve element  11  and the control element  15  enclose the carrier  16 . 
     The lid element  5  is fixed on the container base  2  by means of a screw connection comprising a screw thread  30  on the lid element (see  FIGS. 3B-E ) and on the container base  2 . Between the container base  2  and the lid element  5 , an O-ring  29  is inserted. This O-ring  29  serves to close the container in a reliable manner, and to open it before the inside overpressure of the container reaches a value high enough to damage or destroy the container. 
     The operation of the container is as follows. The valve element  11  engages the carrier  16  when the container  1  is closed and allows movement of the valve element  11  along the longitudinal axis  8  of the container  1  by elastic deformation of the valve element  11 , in this embodiment deformation of the second valve flange  18 , between a first position in which the valve flange  13  seals the container and a second position in which a fluid path is present from the inside of the container  1  along the valve flange and between the edge and the carrier to the outside of the container.  FIG. 1  shows the container with the valve element  11  in its first position, i.e. closed. Movement of the valve element  11  is obtained by applying pressure on the control element  15 , usually by the upper lip, possibly also by a finger or thumb. Possibly, pressure-relief is obtained by using a finger or thumb, and subsequently the upper lip may be used for sipping. 
     For all components of the container according to the invention, appropriate materials should be selected. Advantageously, these materials are suited for cleaning the container in dish-washing machines, and/or for withstanding the varying temperatures of the container, e.g. when hot beverages are kept in it. The valve element should remain its elasticity even after extended use. None of the materials may have an odor or taste, in order to keep the original odor and taste of the beverage intact. 
     Variants are possible, to the embodiment shown in the Figures. For instance, the valve body  12  and valve flange  13  may be comprised of two separate parts. 
     Component list: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Container 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Container base 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Top side of container base 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Lid element 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 Lid edge 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Circumference of top side 3 of container base 1 
                 6 
               
               
                   
                 Valve seat surface 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 Longitudinal axis 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 Bottom side of container base 
                 9 
               
               
                   
                 Bridge member 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Valve element 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 Valve body 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 A valve flange 
                 13 
               
               
                   
                 A valve surface 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 A control element 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Carrier 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting rim 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 Second valve flange 
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 Circumferential top surface of lid edge 
                 19 
               
               
                   
                 Spiral-shaped groove 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Stop flange 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 Stop surface 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 Projections 
                 23 
               
               
                   
                 Top-element 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting flange 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 cylindrical groove 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 opening 
                 27 
               
               
                   
                 screw connection 
                 28 
               
               
                   
                 O-ring 
                 29 
               
               
                   
                 Screw thread 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Frame of rigid material 
                 31