Abstract: A cup assembly configured to be coupled to a second cup assembly is provided. The cup assembly includes a container having an open top, a closed bottom base, and a sidewall extending between the open top and the base. The open top, the base, and the sidewall define a cavity of the container. The cup assembly further includes a lid configured to removably couple to the container. The lid includes a lower portion configured to be received within the cavity of the container to couple the lid to the container.

Abstract: A bottle assembly including a bottle, a top closure member adapted for releasable engagement with a top portion of the bottle, and a bottom closure member adapted for releasable engagement with a base portion of the bottle. The bottom closure member has a base panel with at least one aperture therein. A diaphragm is positionable between the bottom closure member and the base portion. The diaphragm has at least one sealing element for sealingly engaging the base panel of the bottom closure member and an air passage extending through the at least one sealing element. The diaphragm is moveable between a sealed position and an unsealed position. The air passage is configured to inhibit liquid contained within a liquid chamber of the bottle from entering the air passage when the diaphragm is in its sealed position by trapping air within the air passage.

Abstract: A lid assembly for a cup is releasably attachable to a container. The lid assembly includes a closure member and a cover secured to the closure member. The cover is capable of rotating in a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction relative to the closure member while the cover is secured to the closure member.

Abstract: A leak resistant drinking cup has a container for holding liquid and a lid assembly selectively attachable to the container. A diaphragm of the cup includes a liquid discharge member and a sealing member adapted for movement between a sealed position in which the sealing member blocks the flow of liquid from the container to the liquid discharge member, and an unsealed position in which liquid is permitted to flow from the container to the liquid discharge member. The liquid discharge member and sealing member are formed as one-piece.

Abstract: A leak resistant drinking cup has a container with an open top and a lid assembly for removable attachment to the container for selectively closing the open top. The lid assembly includes a liquid discharge member for allowing liquid in the container to exit the cup. A closure member is adapted for placement adjacent the open top of the container when the lid assembly is attached to the container. A flexible diaphragm is moveable between a sealed position and an unsealed position. The diaphragm is moveable from the sealed position to the unsealed portion by a vacuum being applied to the diaphragm by a user sucking on the liquid discharge member. The vacuum causes the diaphragm to flex toward the container and at least in part away from the closure member and thereby move the diaphragm from the sealed position to the unsealed position.

Abstract: A drying rack assembly for drying baby bottle components features a drying rack and a drip pan which supports the drying rack. The drying rack suitably is porous, with tubular support posts extending upwardly from a support surface thereof, and the drip pan suitably has a draining configuration in which liquid caught by the drip pan drains out of the drip pan and a collecting configuration in which liquid caught by the drip pan remains within the drip pan. The drying rack assembly is suitably configured such that multiple such drying rack assemblies can be stacked on top of each other in a drying rack system. In another configuration, the drying rack is of one-piece construction, with a plurality of support posts and a plurality of longer stacking posts extending from a support surface of the drying rack. The one-piece configuration is designed for stacking of multiple such drying racks.

Abstract: In an apparatus for holding components of a nursing bottle assembly in a dishwasher, a loading member has a first opening sized and configured for receiving a portion of a first component of the bottle assembly therein to seat the first component on the loading member, and a second opening separate from the first opening. The second opening is sized and configured for receiving a portion of the second component of the bottle assembly therein to seat the second component on the loading member. The first and second openings differ in at least one characteristic indicative of the respective first and second components to facilitate identification of the first opening as being the proper location on the loading member for placement of the first component and of the second opening as being the proper location on the loading member for placement of the second component.

Abstract: In an apparatus for holding components of a nursing bottle assembly in a dishwasher, a loading member has a first opening sized and configured for receiving a portion of a first component of the bottle assembly therein to seat the first component on the loading member, and a second opening separate from the first opening. The second opening is sized and configured for receiving a portion of a second component of the bottle assembly therein to seat the second component on the loading member. The first and second openings differ in at least one characteristic indicative of the respective first and second components. A retaining member is connected to the loading member for pivoting movement between an opened position to permit loading of the first and second components onto the loading member and a closed position for use of the apparatus in the dishwasher during operation thereof.

Abstract: A leak resistant drinking cup has a diaphragm seal for normally closing an open top of a liquid container of the cup. The seal can be opened to permit liquid to flow past it and out of the cup upon application of a vacuum pressure by the person, typically a small child, drinking from the cup. The diaphragm seal has a peripheral edge margin that can be deflected upward by the vacuum pressure to open a path out of the drinking cup. A hold down rib may be employed to control the locations where the peripheral edge margin is permitted to deflect.

Abstract: A container having an open top and being adapted to be filled with liquid, wherein a vacuum is prevented from being formed within the container when inverted comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a vent unit adapted to fit within the receptacle comprising a reservoir tube having an upper and lower portion, the reservoir tube having a proximal first end adjacent the top of the container and an open second end projecting sufficiently downwardly in the container, wherein the vent unit has an airway between the outside of the container and a point in the reservoir tube, a reservoir tube having a distal end having an opening, the vent tube projecting downwardly into the upper portion of the vent tube, and an airway extending from outside the container through the vent tube into the vent unit so that when the container is filled with liquid and inverted, the open end of the reservoir tube is above the liquid level in the container and the opening in the vent tube is above the liquid level

Abstract: A wire retaining apparatus is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment this wire retaining apparatus is used in the construction of a child's activity toy generically referred to as a bead maze. The wire retaining apparatus includes a plug and a receptacle. The apparatus is designed to secure an elongate rigid wire having an L-shaped terminus. The L-shaped terminus of the wire engages an L-shaped channel in the plug. The plug has one or more prongs extending from the side thereof. The plug and the wire engage a receptacle formed in a base or other suitable support structure. The receptacle includes one or more slots to receive the prongs. A shoulder on each prong engages a shoulder formed in each slot of the plug in the receptacle. A foot extends from the plug and engages a step in the bottom of the receptacle. The foot is formed from resilient material and tends to urge the plug upward into locking engagement and into a generally coplanar relationship with the support structure.