Patent ID: 7204386

Claim:
A method, comprising: (a) providing a no-spill drinking apparatus, said apparatus being provided for a user to drink liquid out of, and to prevent accidental spilling of liquid by the user; (b) said no-spill drinking apparatus comprising a cap, said cap further comprising a spout, said cap being provided for the user to drink liquid from said spout, and to prevent spilling of liquid our of said spout when the user is not drinking from said spout; (c) said cap comprising a valve, said valve comprising a flexible material, said flexible material comprising an opening therein; (d) said apparatus comprising a blocking element below said flexible material; (e) wherein said opening of said flexible material rests against said blocking element when the user is not drinking from said spout; (f) and wherein said flexible material rises off of said blocking element, unblocking said opening, when the user sucks through said spout to drink from said spout; (g) wherein said apparatus is designed to allow air into said apparatus, said cap comprising an air vent, such that when the user sucks through said spout, liquid passes through said opening and out of said spout, and air passes through said vent and into said apparatus; (h) and wherein said apparatus comprises a flow bridge, said flow bridge being a barrier above said flexible material which blocks said flexible material from moving beyond a maximum distance after said flexible material rises off of said blocking element.