Spill proof drinking cap for bottles

Abstract

A no spill bottle arrangement including a bottle and a removable cap. A valve assembly is disposed on the inside of the cap to prevent liquid from accidentally flowing from the bottle. The cap has a housing having an inlet opening for liquid to enter the housing from the interior of the bottle and an outlet opening for liquid in the housing to flow into the spout. The valve assembly includes a valve seat in the housing and a valve cooperating with the seat for preventing flow of liquid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening when the valve engages the seat, said valve being biased to a closed position engaging the seat but disengaging the seat to move to an opened position in response to a drop in pressure caused by sucking action on the spout.

Description

PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/676,030 filed Apr. 29, 2005.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The inventions described and claimed herein relate to spill proof bottle caps. The inventions further relate to a no-spill cap assembly with an improved valve mechanism to prevent liquid from flowing out of a capped cup when not desired. They are particularly useful as bottle caps for use by toddlers.

There are presently available a number of so called no spill training cups for toddlers. As the name implies, these cups are intended to prevent liquid spilling from the cups when they are inverted or dropped. Ideally, the only way liquid can be withdrawn from such cups other than by removing their covers and pouring out the contents is by a toddler sucking on the drinking spout of a cup. The prior art products on the market perform with varying degrees of success, and many are relatively expensive to manufacture. Examples of the prior art are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,876,772; 3,967,748; 4,135,513; 4,836,404; 4,946,062; 5,050,758; 5,079,013; 5,186,347; 5,339,982; 5,542,670; 5,607,073; 5,706,973; and 5,890,621.

Another proposed solution for a no-spill cup is an automatically sealing cup as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,620. The '620 patent provides a cup having a multiple-piece valve assembly that is intended to engage a lid assembly. While the cup disclosed therein provides improved sealability, the valve assembly includes several parts that can complicate its design and manufacture. As a result, manufacturing cycle time and costs associated therewith are increased. Moreover, the intricate design makes it relatively difficult to access all surface areas of the valve assembly and the lid assembly for the purpose of cleaning. The valve assembly typically must be removed from the lid assembly and then taken apart and broken down into its several components every time the user wishes to clean the valve assembly. Also, since the individual components are small, they can be misplaced or lost. The time and effort required to dismantle the valve assembly, as well as to handle its small components, make cleaning of the valve assembly a somewhat cumbersome task.

There have long been various forms of cups and bottles designed to meet the particular specific or specialized drinking needs of various groups of people.

For example, the baby bottle, wherein liquid is drawn through a nipple of some form, is designed for use by infants that are just learning to handle and drink liquids and that may not yet be capable of drinking in the more conventional sense, but only of drinking by sucking. As is well known, drinking by sucking requires not only that an infant be able to suck liquid from a bottle, but also that a means be provided to vent air into the bottle so that the infant does not ingest excess air. In addition, the operation of the liquid and air valve or valves must be passive as infants are not capable of actively operating a valve and, because infants are typically not yet capable of handling a cup or bottle, the bottles must be designed to prevent spills, even when the bottle is dropped or is lying on its side.

There are in existence conventional drinking cups which are designed to be easily handled by babies and toddlers. As babies and toddlers are prone to mishandle cups whilst drinking, such cups are usually provided with some spill-proof mechanism for preventing accidental spilling of the content. Such spill-proof mechanism are usually sophisticated in structure, difficult to manufacture, and thus costly Some such mechanisms employ movable parts, which may break down or be damaged on repeated use. In addition, in order to ensure the spill proof effect, most such mechanisms are permanently secured to the cap and/or body of the cup, thus making it very difficult to clean.

Other types of bottles or cups are those designed for use by completely capable people that for some exterior reasons, such as being engaged in athletic activity of some form, require a bottle that is spill-proof or spill-resistant, even when shaken, dropped, turn upside down, and so on. Such people are capable of operating a relatively complex spill resistant valve mechanism, and a range of satisfactory designs for such are well known.

Another class of bottles or cups are intended for persons who are not as limited as infants, but that still require or would benefit from a cup or bottle that provides some assistance in drinking from the cup or bottle. The users of such bottles and cups may include, for example, toddlers and other young children past the infant stage, and adults who are handicapped in some manner, such as by age or illness. In such instances, the user will be drinking from the cup rather than sucking, but the requirement that the cup or bottle be spill-proof or spill-resistant when dropped or positioned at a large angle still applies, as does the requirement that any valve or mechanism be simple to use and passive in operation, that is, that it does not require active operation by the user.

Other requirements are that the spill resistant valve mechanism be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, that the valve provide a smooth and reliable outward flow of liquid, that the valve allow relatively complete drainage of the cup or bottle, and that if the valve is reusable it will be easy to clean. It is also advantageous if the flow of liquid by the valve has no abrupt steps or surges, but instead smoothly increases from a relative small starting flow to a large maximum flow, and if the valve does not require excessive suction to operate.

Beverages may be contained by and dispensed from many different types of containers. These include aluminum cans, drink boxes, glass bottles and plastic bottles. Beverage dispensers using the latter two container types may also utilize one or more types of caps, including a screw-on cap, a crimp-on bottle cap, a snap-on cap, and a plunger-based sport cap. Moreover, each cap may be constructed from a material that is suitable for its target market and/or expected use.

Some beverage dispensers utilize special caps that are designed to substantially retain beverages inside the dispensers until suction is applied to the cap. These dispensers are often given to children, as they are less likely to spill their contents if accidentally squeezed, dropped or otherwise tilted. Several patents have been directed to the design of such dispensers.

Current spill-proof beverage bottle dispensers can be expensive to manufacture, difficult for adults to configure, difficult for children to operate, limited in their uses, or otherwise unsatisfactory. A new substantially spill-proof beverage bottle dispenser is therefore desired.

No-spill cup assemblies are well known in the art. In the past, a variety of such assemblies have been developed and marketed. In general, the goal of a no-spill cup is to provide a construction which minimizes or prevents liquid from emerging out of the cup when liquid flow is not desired, i.e. when the user is not drinking. However, though the assemblies of the prior art are intended to avoid such accidents, their construction is such that they generally do not provide a secure enough protection against undesirable spilling or leakage. Thus, when such cups are inverted, or more significantly, when they are shaken vigorously, liquid will often emerge from them. This can be a particular problem with young children, for whom these cups are usually intended. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved cup assembly for preventing undesired spilling of liquids.

The inventions described herein provide a solution to these and other related problems of the prior art. According to one aspect of the inventions, they provide an improved no-spill bottle cap assembly. They also provide a bottle cap assembly which prevents liquid from flowing out of the cap when the user is not drinking. According to another aspect of the inventions, they provide a cap assembly which minimizes and/or eliminates accidental or undesirable liquid flow or spillage out of bottles. They also provide a bottle cap assembly which can be used by young children, to avoid accidental spilling of liquid therefrom.

The inventions provide an improved bottle cap construction and valve assembly which provides a secure seal against accidental liquid flow from the cap spout. A user places his or her mouth against the spout of the cap assembly to suck liquid out of the cap when desired. The act of sucking at the spout of the cap creates negative pressure or a partial vacuum against a valve in the cap spout, causing the valve to invert, move, or turn inside out, either partially or totally, thereby unblocking an opening such as an orifice or slit in the valve. Once the opening is unblocked, liquid can flow freely through the valve and spout.

In contrast, when not in use, the valve sits in a resting, closed position, thereby sealing off the opening in the valve assembly. Thus, in its relaxed state, with no negative pressure applied, the valve sits in a closed position with the fluid opening sealed.

The spill proof cap in accordance with one aspect of this invention is attachable to a bottle and has a drinking spout extending upwardly therefrom. A valve assembly is mounted on the inner side of the cap in communication with the inlet end of the spout so that liquid to be drawn through the spout must flow through the cap housing. In accordance with another aspect of this invention the valve assembly includes a diaphragm or similar valve in and supported by the housing and biased to a closed position. The diaphragm or similar valve remains closed unless the pressure on the outlet side of the diaphragm is less than the pressure on the inlet side thereof. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the diaphragm may be made of a thin silicon wafer that may be extruded in sheet form and simply stamped from the sheet in the size and shape desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is view of a bottle sealed with a cap and valve assembly (not visible in drawing) according to the inventions.

FIG. 2 is view of a bottle sealed with a cap and valve assembly (not visible in drawing) according to the inventions. The bottle is tilted so that water in the bottle would flow from the cap if the valve assembly were not in place.

FIG. 3 is view of a cap alone according to the inventions.

FIG. 4 is view of the valve assembly alone according to the inventions.

FIG. 5 is view of the cap and valve assembly together according to the inventions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is view of a bottle 100 sealed with a cap 110 and valve assembly 120 (not visible in drawing) according to the inventions. FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but bottle 100 is tilted so that water in the bottle would flow from the cap if the valve assembly 120 were not in place.

The cap 110 is approximately the same diameter size as an original bottle cap that it replaces and mates with the existing bottle top threads so that it is attachable to any conventionally sized bottle and may be composed of any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the like. The bottle 110 may comprise any shape, size, configuration and volume in which water or a beverage is contained.

FIG. 3 is view of a cap 110 alone according to the inventions.

FIG. 4 is view of the valve assembly 120 alone according to the inventions.

FIG. 5 is view of the cap 110 and valve assembly 120 together according to the inventions.

Valve assembly 120 according to a preferred embodiment of the inventions is releasably mated to and within the cap. Preferably, the valve assembly 120 is composed of a flexible material, e.g. injection molded silicone. However, it is understood that the valve assembly may be made of various other suitable materials.

The cap 110 may comprise a single, integrally-formed piece and/or may also comprise one or more suitable materials. In some embodiments, the materials used are selected to be easily disposable. Easily disposable materials include materials possessing one or more features such as low cost and recyclability.

The cap 110 includes a suction portion for mating with a mouth during use. Valve assembly 120 is affixed in the suction portion to seal dispensing apertures. Cap 110 may be coupled to a bottle 100 preferably by having threads on its interior surface, which interface with threads located on an exterior surface of the neck of the bottle.

Valve Assembly 120 is fitted within cap 110. Valve assembly 120 is unique in its ability to keep fluid from spilling out. Prior art bottle caps have a one-way valve in their top. However the present invention has a two-way valve which keeps it from spilling out as it is laid down on its side or turned upside down with no need to turn or push the top in or out. You must turn or push the top in or pull the top out in order to drink with prior art caps. Also, the cap 110 will open so a child can drink the fluid out of the bottle with no help. This is a major advantage over the prior art. Cap 110 can be of one size with the ability to fit many types of drink bottles such as water, juices of all types, milk, and the like. There is no need to pour the liquid from a bottle into another container so that a child can drink. The child can drink the liquid straight from the bottle with cap 110.

Valve assembly 120 keeps fluid inside the bottle until enough suction is applied and the valve is drawn back. Once this happens, a restricted flow of fluid travels through the valve and into the mouth of the user. To use simply remove (and dispose of) the cap of the bottle of liquid, such as water (the caps are small and are a choking hazard) and screw on the present inventive cap.

The most common thread type is a relatively course thread with a single starting point. This thread type is used by Aquafina®, Dasani®, and 90% of the other water brands. The present cap is of approximately the same diameter as the existing bottle cap and fits these and other juice, soft drink and the like bottles.

The inventive no-spill cap 110 for bottled water will fit most available bottles. This cap enables children to get the water they need without soaking everything around them.

The inventive cap 110 is approximately the same size as the bottle's cap and contains a valve assembly 120 that restricts the flow of water until the child sucks hard enough to open the valve. This can only happen when the child's mouth is around the opening.

The inventive cap is significantly smaller than the smallest prior art no-spill cap. The cap and valve assembly according to the inventions provides a safe, no-spill, reusable cap for bottled water and other fluids that enables children care free use of the same containers they see adults using without the choking hazards and difficulties associated with traditional type sports tops.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a) a cap of substantially the same diameter and size as the cap provided with a bottle having connection means such that connection can be made with a variety of bottle openings; and

b) a valve within the cap to inhibit spillage through the cap.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cap has a mouth piece taken from the group consisting of: nipples, passifiers, sippy cup constructions, flip tops, turn and screw construction, tubular, and any combinations thereof.

3. The device of claim 1, constructed from the group consisting of glasses, plastics, acrylics, metals, rubbers, and combination thereof.

4. A device comprising:

a) a cap of substantially the same diameter and size as the cap provided with a bottle having connection means of multiple geometries such that connection can be made with a variety of bottle openings; and

b) a valve within the cap to inhibit spillage through the cap.

5. A no spill bottle comprising:

a) a bottle and a removable cap attached to the bottle;

b) a spout on the cap having a passage therethrough for drawing liquid from the bottle,

c) a valve assembly disposed on the inside of the cap for preventing liquid from accidentally flowing from the bottle out the spout, said assembly including a housing having an inlet opening for liquid to enter the housing from the interior of the bottle and an outlet opening for liquid in the housing to flow into the spout;

d) a valve seat in the housing; and

e) a valve cooperating with the seat for preventing flow of liquid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening when the valve engages the seat, said valve being biased to a closed position engaging the seat but disengaging the seat to move to an opened position in response to a drop in pressure caused by sucking action on the spout.

6. A no spill bottle as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing has an inlet section on one side of the valve and an outlet section on the other side thereof and a support for the valve as one of the housing sections.

7. A valve for use in a spill resistant bottle cap to retain liquid in the bottle, the cap including a spout to dispense the liquid and a valve mount within the spout to engage with the valve, the valve comprising:

a) a generally cylindrical valve tower extending from a valve base to sealingly engage the valve mount and having an interior bore for the passage of liquid;

b) a valve face across an upper end of the valve tower bore; and

c) a valve mechanism located in the valve face for controlling a flow of the liquid through the valve mechanism dependent upon a pressure differential across the valve face.

8. The valve of claim 7 wherein the valve mechanism is a valve slit extending through the valve face and extending across the valve face from near the first side of the valve tower to near the second side of the valve tower.

9. The valve of claim 8 wherein the spout includes a mouth opening extending generally along and adjacent to the periphery of the cap, the first side of the valve tower is located adjacent a periphery of the cap and the second side of the valve tower is located inwards of the first side and towards the center of the cap, so that the valve slit is oriented generally perpendicular to the mouth opening.

10. The valve of claim 9 wherein the valve further comprises an outer valve wall extending from the valve base circumferential to the valve tower to form a circumferential recess for receiving the valve mount so that the outer surface of the valve tower and an inner circumferential surface of the outer valve wall frictionally engage the inner surface of the valve mount and an outer circumferential surface of the valve mount.

11. An apparatus for use in a no-spill bottle cap, said apparatus comprising:

a valve holder, such valve holder comprising at least one valve and a blocking element, said valve comprising a flexible material, said blocking element comprising an area of material which is inpenetratable to the flow of liquid, said valve further comprising an opening through said flexible material, said valve having a resting position wherein said flexible material sits with said opening against said blocking element such that said valve is closed to the passage of liquid through said valve, said valve moving into an open position for the passage of liquid through said valve upon the application of negative air pressure to the top of said valve, said open position being a position wherein said flexible member comprising said opening lifts off of said blocking element.

12. An apparatus for use in a no-spill bottle cap, comprising:

a flexible valve member comprising an opening through said valve member, said valve member having a closed position and an open position, wherein said valve member sits against a blocking element with said opening against said blocking element when in said closed position such that said blocking element blocks the passage of fluid through said opening in said valve member, and wherein said valve member moves away from said blocking element to allow passage of liquid through said opening of said valve member upon application of negative air pressure to said valve member.