Spill-Proof Cup Assembly

Abstract

A spill-proof cup assembly is disclosed as including a cup with an open end, a cover for covering the open end of the cup to define a cavity for containing a liquid, the cover having a drinking spout, a vent, and support columns leading from the drinking spout towards the cavity, and a flow control mechanism engageable with the cover, and the flow control mechanism includes a first valve membrane and a second valve membrane, in which the first valve member includes an edge which is movable, when the flow control mechanism is engaged with the cover, between a first position in which the edge is in abutment with an interior surface of the cover to prevent fluid communication through the vent into the cavity, and a second position in which the edge of the first valve member is out of abutment with the interior surface of the cover to allow fluid communication through the vent into the cavity, and the second valve membrane is movable between a first position in which a generally convex surface of the second valve membrane is in abutment with a sleeve of the flow control mechanism to prevent fluid communication through the drinking spout from the cavity, and a second position in which the generally convex surface of the second valve membrane is out of abutment with the sleeve of the flow control mechanism to allow fluid communication through the drinking spout from the cavity, and the second valve membrane includes a generally concave surface engaged with the support columns of the cover for movement between the first and second positions.

Description

This invention relates to a spill-proof cup assembly and, in particular, a spill-proof cup assembly with a flow control mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are in existence various spill-proof cup assemblies designed for preventing or at least minimizing out-flow of content in the cup assemblies when, for example, the cup assemblies are accidentally knocked over. A number of such mechanisms for achieving spill-proof effect are rather complicated in structure and thus with a high production cost.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a spill-proof cup assembly and a spill-proof cover assembly in which the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spill-proof cup assembly including a container with an open end; a cover adapted to cover said open end of said container to define a cavity for containing a fluid, said cover having a drinking spout, a vent, and a support leading from said drinking spout towards said cavity; and a flow control mechanism engageable with said cover, wherein said flow control mechanism includes a first valve member and a second valve member; wherein said first valve member includes an edge which is movable, when said flow control mechanism is engaged with said cover, between a first position in which said edge is in abutment with an interior surface of said cover to prevent fluid communication through said vent into said cavity, and a second position in which said edge of said first valve member is out of abutment with said interior surface of said cover to allow fluid communication through said vent into said cavity; wherein said second valve member is movable between a first position in which a first surface of said second valve member is in abutment with a sleeve of said flow control mechanism to prevent fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity, and a second position in which said first surface of said second valve member is out of abutment with said sleeve of said flow control mechanism to allow fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity; and wherein said second valve member includes a second surface which remains in contact with said support of said cover during movement of said second valve member between its said first and second positions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spill-proof cover assembly, including a cover adapted to cover an open end of a container to define a cavity for containing a fluid, said cover having a drinking spout, a vent, and a support leading from said drinking spout towards said cavity; and a flow control mechanism engageable with said cover, wherein said flow control mechanism includes a first valve member and a second valve member; wherein said first valve member includes an edge which is movable, when said flow control mechanism is engaged with said cover, between a first position in which said edge is in abutment with an interior surface of said cover to prevent fluid communication through said vent into said cavity, and a second position in which said edge of said first valve member is out of abutment with said interior surface of said cover to allow fluid communication through said vent into said cavity; wherein said second valve member is movable between a first position in which a first surface of said second valve member is in abutment with a sleeve of said flow control mechanism to prevent fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity, and a second position in which said first surface of said second valve member is out of abutment with said sleeve of said flow control mechanism to allow fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity; and wherein said second valve member includes a second surface which remains in contact with said support of said cover during movement of said second valve member between its said first and second positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a spill-proof cup assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of a cover forming part of the spill-proof cup assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a top view of the cover of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the cover of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 2D is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2C;

FIG. 2E is a sectional view taken along the line K-K of FIG. 2C;

FIG. 3A is a bottom perspective view of a first flow control mechanism forming part of the spill-proof cup assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a first top perspective view of the flow control mechanism of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a second top perspective view of the flow control mechanism of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are sectional views showing the manner of operation of the spill-proof cup assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a reverse side view of a second kind of flow control mechanisms suitable for forming part of the spill-proof cup assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of a flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a top perspective view of a further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5D is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5C;

FIG. 5E is a top perspective view of a yet further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5F is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5E;

FIG. 6 is a reverse side view of a third kind of flow control mechanisms suitable for forming part of the spill-proof cup assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of a flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6B is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is top perspective view of further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6D is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6C,

FIG. 6E is a top perspective view of a yet further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6F is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6E;

FIG. 7 is a reverse side view of a fourth kind of flow control mechanisms suitable for forming part of the spill-proof cup assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of a flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7B is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a top perspective view of a further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7D is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7C;

FIG. 7E is a top perspective view of a yet further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7F is a top view of the spout valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7E

FIG. 7G is a top perspective view of a still further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7H is a top view of the vent valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7G;

FIG. 7I is a top perspective view of a yet still further flow control mechanism with its reserve side view as shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 7J is a top view of the vent valve membrane of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a spill-proof cup assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, generally designated as 10. The assembly 10 includes a cover 12, a flow control mechanism 14 and an open-end cup 16.

The flow control mechanism 14 is made of a resilient material, e.g. synthetic rubber, and is adapted to be releasably frictionally engaged with the cover 12 to form a spill-proof cover assembly. A neck 18 of the cup 16 is provided with external threads 20 for establishing releasable threaded engagement with threads 22 on an inner surface of the cover 12. When the cover 12 is thus engaged with the cup 16, an enclosed cavity is formed for containing a liquid, e.g. water or fruit juice. The flow control mechanism 14 serves to control the flow of the liquid contained in the cup assembly 10 to the outside environment and the flow of air from the outside environment into the cup assembly 10, in a manner to be discussed below.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2E, the cover 12 has a body 23 with a drinking spout 24 fixed with two parallel support columns 26 extending into the cover 12. The support columns 26 are integrally formed with the body 23 of the cover 12. Each support column 26 is of a generally semi-circular cross section, and the two columns 26 are spaced apart from each other, allowing fluid communication between the interior of the cover 12 and the outside environment via the spout 24. The two columns 26 are surrounded by a circular wall 28 integrally formed with the cover 12.

The cover 12 also has a vent 30 leading into the interior of the cover 12. A circular interior surface 32 facing towards an open end 34 of the cover 12 is surrounded by four sleeves 36 which are spaced apart from each other by a slot 38. Each of the sleeves 36 is of a generally arc-shaped cross-section.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A to 3C, such show various views of the flow control mechanism 14. The mechanism 14 is integrally formed of a resilient material, e.g. synthetic rubber, and has two frusto-conical valve membranes 52, 54 made of the same resilient material. The vent valve membrane 52 has a generally convex outer surface 56 and a generally concave inner surface 58 joined with each other by a circular edge 60. As to the spout valve membrane 54, such also has a generally convex outer surface 62 and a generally concave inner surface 64 joined with each other by a circular edge 66. The valve membrane 54 is surrounded by a taller outer circular sleeve 68 and a shorter inner circular sleeve 72 which are concentric with each other.

FIGS. 4A to 4C show the inter-engagement among the cover 12, the flow control mechanism 14, and the cup 16 when in use, i.e. when the spill-proof cup assembly 10 is properly assembled, and with liquid, e.g. water 70, contained in a cavity 71 defined by the cover 12 and the cup 16, and in the situation in which the cup assembly 10 is positioned upside down.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in this upside down position, the circular edge 60 of the valve membrane 52 abuts the circular interior surface 32 to close the vent 30, and thus prevents the water 70 in the cavity 71 from exiting the assembly 10 via the vent 30. At the same time, the convex outer surface 62 of the valve membrane 54 abuts a free end of the shorter circular sleeve 72 to prevent the water 70 in the cavity 71 of the cup 16 from entering the interior cavity 74 of the cover 12, and thus out of the drinking spout 24 to the outside environment.

Upon application of a suction force via the drinking spout 24, the valve membrane 54 is caused to deform such that the convex outer surface 62 of the valve membrane 54 is out of abutment with the circular sleeve 72. The water 70 in the cavity 71 of the cup 16 is then allowed to enter the interior cavity 74 of the cover 12 via a number of openings 76 of the flow control mechanism 14, subsequently through the space between the valve membrane 54 and the circular sleeve 72, then through the space between the columns 26, via the drinking spout 24, and eventually out of the cup assembly 10.

Upon flowing of the water 70 from the cavity 71 of the cup 16 into the interior cavity 74 of the cover 12, a pressure difference is developed across the valve membrane 52. In particular, the atmospheric pressure is larger than the air pressure in the cavity 74. When such a pressure difference is large enough, the valve membrane 52 is deformed, in particular the edge 60 of the valve membrane 52 is forced out of abutment with the circular interior surface 32 of the cover 12 whereby air is drawn from the outside environment via the vent 30 into the cavity 71 until a pressure equilibrium is reached.

Upon cessation of the application of the suction force through the drinking spout 24, the valve membrane 54 returns to its normal stable configuration as shown in FIG. 4C by virtue of its own resilience, so as to close the space between the valve membrane 54 and the circular sleeve 72. Similarly, the valve membrane 52 also returns to its normal stable configuration as shown in FIG. 4C by virtue of its own resilience, so as to close the vent 30. In the situation as shown in FIG. 4C, although water is contained in the cavity 74, such is prevented by the atmospheric pressure from exiting the cup assembly 10 via the drinking spout 24.

It can be seen that during the course of the deformation of the valve membrane 54 between its normal stable configuration as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C and the deformed configuration as shown in FIG. 4B, the concave inner surface 64 remains in contact with the columns 26 and is supported by the columns 26 for the resilient deformational movement.

It can be seen in FIGS. 5 to 5F that the cross section of the valve membrane 54a may be circular (as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B), oval (as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D) or rectangular (as shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F). In addition, and as shown in FIGS. 6 to 6F, a free edge of the valve membrane 54b may be reinforced with a thickened lip portion 78.

As shown further in FIGS. 7 to 7F, the valve membrane 54c has a generally concave outer surface 80 and a generally convex inner surface 82, and the cross section of the valve membrane 54c may be circular (as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B), oval (as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D) or rectangular (as shown in FIGS. 7E and 7F).

FIGS. 7G to 7J further show that the cross section of the valve membrane 52 may be oval (as shown in FIGS. 7G and 7H) or rectangular (as shown in FIGS. 7I and 7J) in shape.

It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.

Claims

1. A spill-proof cup assembly including:

a container with an open end;

a cover adapted to cover said open end of said container to define a cavity for containing a fluid, said cover having a drinking spout, a vent, and a support leading from said drinking spout towards said cavity; and

a flow control mechanism engageable with said cover, wherein said flow control mechanism includes a first valve member and a second valve member;

wherein said first valve member includes an edge which is movable, when said flow control mechanism is engaged with said cover, between a first position in which said edge is in abutment with an interior surface of said cover to prevent fluid communication through said vent into said cavity, and a second position in which said edge of said first valve member is out of abutment with said interior surface of said cover to allow fluid communication through said vent into said cavity;

wherein said second valve member is movable between a first position in which a first surface of said second valve member is in abutment with a sleeve of said flow control mechanism to prevent fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity, and a second position in which said first surface of said second valve member is out of abutment with said sleeve of said flow control mechanism to allow fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity; and

wherein said second valve member includes a second surface which remains in contact with said support of said cover during movement of said second valve member between its said first and second positions.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first valve member is generally frusto-conical in shape.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second valve member is generally frusto-conical in shape.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first surface of said second valve member is generally concave and said second surface of said second valve member is generally convex.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first surface of said second valve member is generally convex and said second surface of said second valve member is generally concave.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second valve member is movable from its first position to its second position upon application of a suction force via said drinking spout.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first valve member is movable from its first position to its second position when the atmospheric pressure is larger than the pressure in said cavity by a sufficient amount.

8. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein movement of said second valve member from its first position to its second position is adapted to bring about movement of said first valve member from its first position to its second position.

9. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first valve member is resilient and is biased towards its first position.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second valve member is resilient and is biased towards its first position.

11. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said edge of said first valve member is generally circular, oval or rectangular in shape.

12. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein an outer edge of said second valve member is generally, circular, oval or rectangular in shape.

13. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein an outer edge of said second valve member is reinforced with a lip portion.

14. A spill-proof cover assembly, including:

a cover adapted to cover an open end of a container to define a cavity for containing a fluid, said cover having a drinking spout, a vent, and a support leading from said drinking spout towards said cavity; and

a flow control mechanism engageable with said cover, wherein said flow control mechanism includes a first valve member and a second valve member;

wherein said first valve member includes an edge which is movable, when said flow control mechanism is engaged with said cover, between a first position in which said edge is in abutment with an interior surface of said cover to prevent fluid communication through said vent into said cavity, and a second position in which said edge of said first valve member is out of abutment with said interior surface of said cover to allow fluid communication through said vent into said cavity;

wherein said second valve member is movable between a first position in which a first surface of said second valve member is in abutment with a sleeve of said flow control mechanism to prevent fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity, and a second position in which said first surface of said second valve member is out of abutment with said sleeve of said flow control mechanism to allow fluid communication through said drinking spout from said cavity; and

wherein said second valve member includes a second surface which remains in contact with said support of said cover during movement of said second valve member between its said first and second positions.

15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first valve member is generally frusto-conical in shape.

16. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said second valve member is generally frusto-conical in shape.

17. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first surface of said second valve member is generally concave and said second surface of said second valve member is generally convex.

18. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first surface of said second valve member is generally convex and said second surface of said second valve member is generally concave.

19. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said second valve member is adapted to move from its first position to its second position upon application of a suction force via said drinking spout.

20. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first valve member is adapted to move from its first position to its second position when the atmospheric pressure is sufficiently larger than the pressure in said cavity.

21. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein, when said assembly is engaged with a container, movement of said second valve member from its first position to its second position is adapted to bring about movement of said first valve member from its first position to its second position.

22. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first valve member is resilient and is biased towards its first position.

23. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said second valve member is resilient and is biased towards its first position.

24. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said edge of said first valve member is generally circular, oval or rectangular in shape.

25. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein an outer edge of said second valve member is generally, circular, oval or rectangular in shape.

26. An assembly according to claim 16 wherein an outer edge of said second valve member is reinforced with a lip portion.

27. An assembly according to claim 25 wherein an outer edge of said second valve member is reinforced with a lip portion.

28. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein an outer edge of said second valve member is reinforced with a lip portion.