Patent ID: 8453870

Claim:
A drinking cup comprising: a container having a cylindrical inner, upper surface; an abutment surface arranged along an upper edge of the cylindrical inner, upper surface; a plurality of channels or indentations arranged in the abutment surface; a splash guard member in the form of a disc element arranged in the interior of the container, the splash guard comprising an opening in its center for receiving an engagement portion of an actuating gasket, and further comprising passages along its periphery for permitting a flow of a liquid; and a gasket; wherein the gasket, when engaged with the splash guard, has an edge portion arranged to sealingly rest against the abutment surface such that the channels or indentations are covered by the gasket; and further wherein the edge of the gasket is arranged to lift, in response to a suction force generated by the mouth of a user, from the abutment surface such that one or more of the channels or indentations is at least partially exposed to form a fluid communication between the interior of the upper edge and the exterior, thus allowing a liquid to flow through the channels or indentations into the mouth of the user.