CHILD'S CUP
A drinking cup is provided comprising a housing formed of an external shell defined by a base and side walls upwardly extending therefrom and terminating at a sipping edge. The cup further comprises an inside liner received within the external shell and spaced therefrom so as to form a reservoir therebetween. The inside liner defines a drinking well fitted at a bottom portion thereof with a port, wherein the port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and is configured to allow liquid bleeding from the reservoir to the drinking well.
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The subject matter disclosed hereinafter relates to a drinking cup and in particular, to a child's drinking cup suited for teaching a child how to drink from a cup.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTERSucking is an instinct toddlers are born with and after weaning from breast feeding, the next step in teaching a toddler to drink will typically be exercising sucking from a nursing bottle and thereafter sucking from suitable cup of the type fitted with a cap and provided with a dispensing sucking spout. Thereafter, the cap may be removed and the cup may be used for training regular use thereof.
Several training cups have been proposed and described, which are concerned with child drinking training whilst preventing spillage of the contents thereof. One such example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,596 directed to a drinking cup that teaches a child how to drink from a cup while minimizing spills includes an elongated, generally cylindrical housing for holding a liquid, the housing has an inside surface, an outside surface, and a bottom; an elongated, generally cylindrical insert with an inner surface and an outer surface where the insert fits within the housing; and a cap removably mounted to the housing. The insert includes a plurality of tabs located on the outer surface of the insert and a plurality of feet extending downwardly from the bottom of the insert that create a space between the insert and the housing. The space receives any liquid flowing between the inner surface of the insert and the outer surface of the insert. The cap has a plurality of openings formed therein and the openings are in fluid communication with the space formed between the insert and the housing.
Additional example is disclosed in WO09039632 directed to spill resistant container for dispensing liquid doses. The container includes a body of generally hollow form about a centre vertical axis with open ends and comprises a liquid deposit chamber having an open first end and an opposing closed second end, a liquid withdrawal chamber having an open first end and an opposing closed second end, one or more apertures between said deposit and withdrawal chambers adapted to selectively permit liquid communication in controlled doses from the liquid deposit chamber to the liquid withdrawal chamber. The container body further comprises a detachable base cap having a cavity in liquid communication with the liquid deposit and withdrawal chambers.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTERA drinking cup comprising housing formed of an external shell defined by a base and side walls upwardly extending therefrom and terminating at a sipping edge; an inside liner received within the external shell and spaced therefrom so as to form a reservoir therebetween, said inside liner defining a drinking well fitted at a bottom portion thereof with a port, wherein the port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and is configured to allow liquid bleeding from said reservoir to the drinking well.
The arrangement is such that liquid flow from the reservoir into the drinking well is restricted to a predetermined level, so that only a small amount of liquid will accumulate within the drinking well, to be consumed by the child. Accordingly, when the child learns how to drink from a cup, there is no risk of a whole cup spilling over the child when he grasps the cup or as he tilts it to drink. Even more so, even at the inadvertent case of turning over the cup, only a very small amount of liquid is spilled.
It should be appreciated that although the presently disclosed subject matter is exemplified for use as a child's cup, the cup in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter may be utilized as a travel cup, a dosing cup, e.g. for dosing an amount of liquid ready for consumption, etc. In the event that the cup is used as a dosing cup, the position of the port defines the amount of liquid per dose.
Whilst a port extends between the reservoir and the drinking well, the space of the reservoir is sealed in an air-tight fashion, whereby the rule of combined vessels does not apply and liquid level within the drinking well is restricted to a low level to thus hold only a significantly small amount of liquid. However, said low level is maintained owing to the flow path extending between the reservoir and the drinking well.
The cup in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter may comprise one or more of the following features:
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- the inside liner may be configured with one or more ports having a controllable opening size;
- the inside liner may be fitted with a restricting wall configured to cover at least a portion of the port opening;
- the restricting wall may be fitted on the base and the restricting wall may be configured to be moved with respect to the port such as to cover and seal at least a portion of the port opening;
- the base may be movably attached to the side walls of the cup and may be configured to be moved with respect thereto such as to controllably position the restricting wall over at least a portion of the port opening;
- the inside liner may be provided with two ports, each having a different size of the opening and wherein the base is fitted with a restricting wall adapted to coextend and sealably cover one opening at a time;
- the opening of the port may have a polygonal shape, and the shape is such that at least two of the edges of the opening are not parallel;
- the opening of the port may have an oval shape;
- the base may be configured with a central well which coextends with the drinking well defined by the inside liner and serves for holding liquid for consuming from the drinking well;
- the external shell and the inside liner may be integrated;
- the external shell and the inside liner may be sealingly articulated to one another;
- the base may be integrated with the external shell;
- a gripping arrangement may be provided;
- the base is sealingly attachable to the external shell; and
- the gripping arrangement may be integral with the base.
In order to understand the disclosed subject matter and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Attention is first directed to
As can best be seen in
As can be seen, the inside liner 22 has a bottom wall 30 extending almost towards the bottom edge 16 of the external shell 14 and fitted with a port 34 sized so as to facilitate liquid bleeding from the reservoir 26 into the drinking well 28.
A base 40 is screw coupled at 42 over the bottom edge 16 of the external shell in a sealing manner, wherein said base 40 is integrally formed with a pair of gripping handles 46 sized and shaped to facilitate gripping by toddlers and children.
In use, the base 40 is unscrewed from the housing and is removed therefrom whereby a drinking liquid is introduced into the reservoir 26 while held in an upright position (as illustrated in
Refilling of the liquid within the drinking well 28 will take place in a bleeding process through port 34 only upon tilting of the cup where a small amount of air is allowed to enter through port 34, said air designated at G′ in
It is appreciated that the distance D between the bottom end of the drinking well and the base 40 and likewise the elevation H of the bleeding port 34 from the base 40 determine the amount of liquid to be consumed from the drinking well 28. Likewise, the size of the aperture of the port 34 controls the bleeding rate into the drinking well 28.
The embodiment of
In the example of
Even more so it is noticed that the lower most wall 130 of the drinking well 128 extends almost towards the bottom most edge 116 of the external shell 114 whereby the liquid contents within the reservoir 126 may be more efficiently consumed. Likewise, it is possible to form one or more ports 135 at or adjacent the lower most wall 130 of the inside liner 122 whereby almost all the liquid within the reservoir 126 may be consumed as it will eventually occupy the bottom of the drinking well 128, ready for consuming by a child.
It is apparent as in the previous example, that the housing is sealingly engaged with the base 140, e.g. by threaded coupling at 142.
Turning now to the embodiment illustrated in
The cup 200 of
A bottom wall of the inside liner 222 is fitted with an upward tubular projection 229 formed at its upper end with a bleeding port 234 and a liquid flow control cap 237. A gap formed between cap 237 and the tubular projection 229 governs the liquid flow rate into the lower space of the drinking well 228.
As opposed to the previous examples, filling of the cup does not require holding it at an upright position but rather detaching the inside liner 222 from the cup 200, filling the desired liquid into the reservoir 226 of the external shell to a level not exceeding a predetermined level marked at 247 and then sealing engagement of the inside liner 222 into the position illustrated in
Though handles are not illustrated, any gripping aids may be attached, in an integrated manner or detachable therefrom.
The example of
The cup designated 300 follows the same principles as the cups illustrated in the previous examples wherein an external shell 314 is integrated with the inside liner 322 giving rise to a reservoir 326 extending between a top, sipping edge 318 and a lower most edge 316 of the external shell 314. In this example, the lowermost wall 330 extends downwards almost towards the base 340, however leaving a small gap therebetween, with a tubular portion 329 extending upwards therefrom and an inlet port 234 formed at the uppermost portion thereof for liquid flow from the reservoir 326 into the drinking well 328.
In this example, the base 340 is sealingly articulatable to the bottom edge of the external shell 314 (e.g. by press-fit) and a pair of gripping handles 346 are detachably attachable at an uppermost portion of the cup, by means of a removable coupling ring 347.
Further attention is now directed to
In the example of
In accordance with this example, the external shell 514 is integrated with the inside liner 522, with the sipping edge 518 extending between said walls and defining between them an annular reservoir 526. The inside liner 522 defines the centrally extending drinking well 528, similar to the arrangement disclosed in the previous embodiments.
A bottom cap, namely base 540 is sealingly fitted at the downwardly extending locking wall portion 541 of wall 514, said sealing articulation being by a snap-type fit.
The inside liner 522 extends downwardly to a level at which it engages a top surface 543 of base 540 however with two ports 534A (
It is noticed that the base 540 is fitted at its upper surface 543 with a port restricting gate in the form of upwardly extending wall portion 559 rotatable between two distinct positions namely a first position as illustrated in
Furthermore, base 540 is fitted with an indicia 579 in the form of a linear projection and likewise, the bottom skirt portion 541 of the external shell 514 comprises two indications, one associated with the position of
It is appreciated that the base 540 may be readily removed from the cup however is easily snapped into its rotatable though sealing position as illustrated in the drawings.
It is noticed that the base 540 is configured with a central well 563 which coextends with the drinking well 528 at the operative position of the cup and serves for holding liquid for consuming from the drinking well.
Further attention is now directed to
The cap illustrated in
Whilst the barrier wall 659 as a rectangle-like elevation (though extending about an arc), the aperture of port 634 progressively elevates from the bottom edge 635, wherein the height of barrier wall 659 exceeds the height of the aperture 634, for ensuring its sealing at the closed position. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that the barrier wall 659 extends flush against the external surface 661 of the liner 618, to thereby ensure effective sealing.
The arrangement is such that base 640 is sealingly though rotatably secured at the bottom of the cap (snap fitted to a lowermost position of the external shell 614) and is rotatable about a common central axis such that rotation of base 640 gradually exposes a larger portion of aperture 634, namely an aperture extending higher over the surface 643 of base 640, thus facilitating entrance of a larger amount of liquid into the drinking well 528.
It is noticed that the base 640 is configured with a central well 663 which coextends with the drinking well 628 at the operative position of the cup and serves for holding liquid for consuming from the drinking well.
In operation of the embodiments exemplified in
The cup 500 is then rotated 180 degrees to return to the drinking position. As the cup 500, 600 rotates, liquid fills the well 563, 663 and air from the drinking well 528 enters into the reservoir 526, 626 through the port 534A/534B, 634. The entering air causes liquid in reservoir 526, 626 to simultaneously flow through the port into the drinking well 528, 628 until the level of liquid in the well 528, 628 substantially covers the port 534A/534B, 634. Once the port 534A/534B, 634 is substantially covered by the liquid in the well 528, 628, no further air can enter the reservoir 526, 626 and thus no further liquid flows into the well 528, 628. The amount of liquid in cup 500, 600 represents a controlled amount of liquid that the user may drink from the drinking well 528, 628 by tilting the cup 500, 600.
Additional controlled amounts of liquid equal to the first amount are obtainable by withdrawing liquid from the reservoir by tilting the cup 500, 600 and drinking from the well to the amount substantially uncovering the port. As the liquid uncovers the port, volume of air is allowed to enter the reservoir and additional volume of liquid, equal to the volume of air entered into reservoir is released into the drinking well. Such process results in another small amount of liquid for further consumption by the user. These steps are repeatable until no liquid remains in the reservoir 526, 626.
The embodiment illustrated in
The example of
The inside liner 722 is formed at its lower portion with a tubular extension designated 731 formed with a plurality of axial ports 734 there being a sliding barrier ring 777 mounted over said tubular extension 731 whereby axial displacement of said ring 777 in direction of arrow 779 exposes the aperture port 734 at different levels, thereby determining the level of liquid flowing into the drinking well 728, as a result of level of liquid entering from the reservoir 726 through the exposed aperture 734.
In this example, the external shell 814 is integral with the base 840 defining together a cup-like shape. An inside surface 815 of the external shell 814 is provided with an annular rim 817 constituting a maximum liquid level indication.
A top edge 819 of the external shell 814 is formed with an annular infra radial inwardly projection fitted for snap arrestment of an appropriate annular recess 821 of the inside liner 822.
The inside liner 822 defines a drinking well 828 and when assembled within the external shell 814 defines together an annular liquid reservoir 826.
Liner 822 is fitted with a bottom base 841 with one or more apertures 834 formed in the inside liner 822, thereby defining the liquid level admitted to enter into the drinking well 828.
Once the cup 853 is filled with a liquid the resilient liner 861 is inverted into the position of
The embodiments of
Those skilled in the art to which this disclosed subject matter pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter, mutatis mutandis.
Claims
1. A drinking cup, comprising;
- a housing formed of an external shell defined by a base and side walls upwardly extending therefrom and terminating at a sipping edge; and
- an inside liner received within the external shell and spaced therefrom so as to form a reservoir between the external shell and the inside liner, said inside liner defining a drinking well fitted at a bottom portion thereof with a port, wherein the port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and is configured to allow liquid bleeding from said reservoir to the drinking well.
2. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inside liner is configured with one or more ports having a controllable opening size.
3. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inside liner is fitted with a restricting wall configured to cover at least a portion of the port opening.
4. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 3, wherein the restricting wall is fitted on the base and the restricting wall is configured to be moved with respect to the port such as to cover and seal at least a portion of the port opening.
5. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 4, wherein the base is movably attached to the side walls of the cup and is configured to be moved with respect thereto such as to controllably position the restricting wall over at least a portion of the port opening.
6. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 4, wherein the inside liner is provided with two ports, each having a different size of the opening and wherein the base is fitted with a restricting wall adapted to coextend and sealably cover one opening at a time.
7. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 4, wherein the opening of the port has a polygonal shape, and the shape is such that at least two of the edges of the opening are not parallel.
8. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 4, wherein the opening of the port has an oval shape.
9. The drinking cup in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base is configured with a central well which coextends with the drinking well defined by the inside liner and serves for holding liquid for consuming from the drinking well.
10. The drinking cup according to claim 1, wherein the external shell and the inside liner are integrated.
11. The drinking cup according to claim 1, wherein the external shell and the inside liner are sealingly articulated to one another.
12. The drinking cup according to claim 1, wherein the base is integrated with the external shell.
13. The drinking cup according to claim 1, wherein a gripping arrangement is provided.
14. The drinking cup according to claim 1, wherein the base is sealingly attachable to the external shell.
15. The drinking cup according to claim 1, wherein the gripping arrangement is integral with the base.
Type: Application
Filed: May 27, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2012
Applicant: KIDS-KIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD. (D.N. Upper Galilee)
Inventor: Yehuda Poran (D.N. Ramat Hagolan)
Application Number: 13/320,057
International Classification: A47G 19/22 (20060101);