LOW COST SPILL-RESISTANT CUP
The improved low cost cup and container for storing and dispensing liquids has a scoop-like-baffle that separates the body of the cup with the mouth opening of the cover. It resists spilling when shaken or vibrated suddenly. When the improved cup and container is tilted for pouring, such that the liquid level inside the storage chamber of the cup chamber is higher than the liquid level at the mouth opening, no liquid pours out of the cup. The liquid starts to flow out of the mouth opening after the cup is tilted beyond a start-to-pour angle. The start-to-pour angle is reached when the cup is tilted permitting the outside air to pass through the scoop-like-baffle and into the storage chamber. The improved cup has a removable cover with a scoop-like-baffle bended downward toward the body of the cup.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/307,912 filed Feb. 28, 2006. The entirety of each of these disclosures is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe field of the invention is cups and other containers for dispensing a liquid and more particularly, is cups for dispensing a liquid with a smoother pour and with reduced spilling especially when shaken or vibrated suddenly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMan has used containers for storing and dispensing liquids for millennia. However, containers still have their problems. For example, full cups of soda or hot coffee sold in fast food restaurants being consumed in moving cars have caused many spilling accidents. Although these cups may be equipped with sealing lids with small mouth openings, spilling mishaps are still very common. Serious burns or a moving car accident may result from a very hot coffee spill. Therefore, there is a need for an improved low cost disposable cup and container, which ideally does not spill while drinking and, realistically is spill-resistant.
On the market, most low cost drinking cups for take out from a restaurant have attachable cover for customer to prevent spill. These covers are usually flat or have some forms of a dome shape with bent edges that fits snugly to the rim of the cup. A small opening is provided on the cover so that the user can drink from the cup with the cover remains attached. When the cup is shaken or vibrated suddenly due to unexpected breaking in a moving car or any other reason, spilling liquid splashed from the opening is common and often unavoidable. A simple low cost yet effective design is needed to replace the current cup design and prevent the spill is needed.
This inventor has developed a number of spill-resistant containers; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,098,850; 6,374,541; 6,460,741; and 6,758,375 using a hydrostatic principle in achieving the spill-resistant feature. The present invention simplifies the design and allows a scoop-like-baffle to be made as an integral part of the cover and achieving the desired low cost spill-resistant cup.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe improved cup for storing and dispensing liquids has an integral downward scoop-like-baffle on the cover of the cup. The improved cup resists spilling and pours the liquid more smoothly.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. However, like parts do not always have like reference numerals. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.
Claims
1. A cup for dispensing a liquid with less spilling, the cup comprising:
- a cover;
- a bottom opposite the cover;
- a cup body disposed between the cover and the bottom;
- the cup body including a liquid storage chamber;
- a mouth opening disposed in the cover and a baffle bended downward on the cover projected to form a start-to-pour line and adapted to allow a liquid in the cup to flow out of the cup when the cup is tilted beyond a start-to-pour angle.
2. The cup of claim 1 wherein the mouth opening has a lowest point and the baffle has an apex point and both points are located at two different elevation of the cover.
3. The cup of claim 1 wherein the baffle is a scoop-like baffle.
4. The cup of claim 1 wherein the start-to-pour angle is greater than 45 degrees.
5. The cup of claim 1 wherein the start-to-pour angle is greater than 60 degrees.
6. The cup of claim 3 wherein the baffle has a curved surface.
7. The cup of claim 1 wherein the cover has a pinhole.
8. A cup for dispensing a liquid with less spilling, the cup comprising:
- a cover;
- a mouth opening with a lowest point disposed on the cover;
- a bottom opposite the cover;
- a sidewall disposed between the cover and the bottom forms a liquid storage chamber;
- a scoop-like-baffle bended downward from the cover forms a liquid flow area with the sidewall having an apex point;
- a start-to-pour line may be drawn from the lowest point to the apex point;
- the start-to-pour line forms a start-to-pour angle with a horizontal line; and
- the mouth opening disposed on the cover and adapted for the liquid in the cup to flow out of the cup when the cup is tilted beyond the start-to-pour angle.
9. The cup of claim 8 wherein the liquid flow area connecting the mouth opening to the liquid storage chamber.
10. The cup of claim 8 wherein the start-to-pour angle is greater than 45 degrees.
11. The cup of claim 8 wherein the start-to-pour angle is greater than 60 degrees.
12. The cup of claim 8 wherein the scoop-like-baffle has a curved surface.
13. The cup of claim 8 wherein the cover has a pinhole.
14. A cup for dispensing a liquid with less spilling, the cup comprising:
- a cover;
- a bottom opposite the cover;
- a cup body disposed between the cover and the bottom;
- a mouth opening in the cover;
- the cup body including a liquid storage chamber;
- a baffle with an opening and adapted for the liquid in the cup to flow through the baffle opening out of the mouth opening when the cup is tilted beyond a start-to-pour angle.
15. The cup of claim 14 wherein the baffle is a scoop-like baffle.
16. The cup of claim 14 wherein the start-to-pour angle is greater than 45 degrees.
17. The cup of claim 14 wherein the start-to-pour angle is greater than 60 degrees.
18. The baffle of claim 15 wherein the scoop-like-baffle has a curved surface.
19. The cup of claim 14 wherein the cover has a pinhole.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 5, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2007
Inventor: I-Chung Ho (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
Application Number: 11/428,691
International Classification: A47G 19/22 (20060101);