CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/699,025, entitled “Cup with Repositionable Handles”, filed Sep. 10, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to infant beverage container. More specifically, the present invention is an infant's cup that includes at least one handle that is repositionable between a deployed and a stored position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of beverage containers exist for growing children. Some beverage containers include handles, while others do not. The beverage containers that include handles allow parents and children to easily hold and carry the beverage containers. Beverage containers with handles aid in the development of hand eye coordination and motor skills of children. However, beverage containers without handles are more easily stored in cabinets and drawers, along with cup holders located in cars and on the trays of infant receiving devices (high chairs, strollers, boosters, etc.). Conversely, the beverage containers without handles are not as easily grasped by infants and children because the containers are generally too large to be grasped by an infant's small hands. Moreover, a parent trying to carry multiple beverage containers has a harder time carrying beverage containers without handles. Finally, beverage containers without handles do not aid in the development of the child's motor skills because they are generally larger than what can be easily grasped by an infant's small hands.
Therefore, what is needed is a beverage container that includes handles that are configurable between a deployed position, where the handles are configured to hold and use the beverage container, and a stored position, where the handles cannot be gripped and the beverage container is easily stored in a cup holder or cabinet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an infant's cup includes a container and at least one handle with a first distal end, a second distal end, and a gripping portion. Furthermore, the handle is attached to the container by the distal ends of the at least one handle being co-molded onto the container. Moreover, the handle is repositionable in a first position where an aperture/opening is formed between the gripping portion and the container enabling a user to grab the handle and the container and a second position where the gripping portion rests against the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of two embodiments of an infant cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of an infant cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 2a illustrates an exploded view the embodiment of the infant cup illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the infant cup illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates one step of the molding process of the embodiment of an infant cup illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4a illustrates another step in the molding process of the embodiment of an infant cup illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4b illustrates the handles of the embodiment of an infant cup illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4c illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the infant cup illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of the infant cup illustrated in FIG. 5 with the handles removed.
FIG. 5b illustrates a perspective view of one of the handles of the infant cup illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIG. 5c illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the infant cup illustrated in FIG. 5.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of two embodiments of the infant cup 10 are illustrated. The infant cup 10 includes a container 100, a lid 500, a first handle 300, and a second handle 400. In other embodiments, the infant cup 10 may have more or less than two handles. The lid 500 may include a sippy spout 510, as illustrated by infant cup 10 on the left of FIG. 1. In addition, the lid 500 may include a straw 520, as illustrated by the infant cup 10 on the right of FIG. 1.
Continuing with FIG. 1, according to the present embodiment, the container 100 is generally of a cylindrical hourglass shape and has a base 140. The container 100 includes a first side 110 and a second side 120. The first and second sides 110, 120 are a concave portion of the body of the container 100. The first side 110 includes a first handle receiving area 112, and the second side 120 includes a second handle receiving area 122. Additionally, the first handle 300 and the second handle 400 are repositionable between two configurations with respect to the container 100. Both handles 300, 400 have a stored position B, where the handles 300, 400 rest flush against the container 100, as illustrated to the left of FIG. 1. When the handles 300, 400 are in the stored position B, the first handle 300 rests within the first handle receiving area 112 on the first side 110 of the container 100, and the second handle 400 rests within the second handle receiving area 122 on the second side 120 of the container 100. Furthermore, both handles 300, 400 have a deployed position A, where the handles 300, 400 project outward from the container 100, as illustrated to the right of FIG. 1. In the deployed position A, the handles 300, 400 create an aperture between the handles 300, 400 and the first and second sides 110, 120, of container 100, allowing a user to grasp the handles 300, 400.
The container 100 of the infant cup 10 is constructed from a hard and rigid material, such as polypropylene or other similar material. This allows the container 100 to keep its rigid shape and be durable for use by an infant or toddler. Conversely, the handles 300, 400 are constructed from a soft, grippable, and flexible material such as a thermoplastic elastomer or other similar material. This allows the handles 300, 400 to be reshapeable, bending from the deployed position A to the stored position B, and vice versa. In addition, the handles 300, 400 being constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer provides the handles 300, 400 with a softer, more grippable touch than that of the container 100 constructed from a material such as polypropylene. The grippier material of the handles 300, 400 allows the outside of the handles 300, 400 to provide a grippable surface along the container 100 when the handles 300, 400 are in the stored position B. Additionally, the grippier material of the handles 300, 400 enables a user to comfortably grab and hold onto the handles 300, 400 when the handles 300, 400 are in the deployed position A.
Referring to FIG. 2, illustrated is an embodiment of the infant cup 10 that differs slightly from the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1. As stated previously, the infant cup 10 includes a container 100. In both this embodiment and the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1, the container 100 contains a rim 130, threads 132, and an edge 150. These features enable a lid 500 (illustrated in FIG. 1) to be screwed onto the top of the container 100, enclosing any contents within the container 100. The container 100 includes an edge 150 located near the top of the container 100. Furthermore, extending vertically from the edge 150 is a rim 130 that includes the threads 132. The embodiment of the infant cup 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 also differs from the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1 in that the container 100 has an overmold material 200 overmolded onto the container 100. The overmold material 200 is constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer or similar type of material. The overmold material 200 includes a lower portion 220 and an upper portion 210. The lower portion 220 of the overmold material 200 is overmolded onto the base 140 of the container 100. Furthermore, the upper portion 210 of the overmold material 200 is overmolded onto the container 100 proximate to the edge 150 of the container 100.
As best illustrated in FIG. 2a, the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 220 of the overmold material 200 include a first connection 230 and a second connection 240. The first and second connection 230, 240 are also constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer. Accordingly, the upper portion 210, lower portion 220, and first and second connections 230, 240 may be formed as one continuous member of thermoplastic material. In addition, the first connection 230 extends from the upper portion 210 to the lower portion 220 of the overmold material 200 proximate to the first side 110 of the container 100. Similarly, the second connection 240 extends from the upper portion 210 to the lower portion 220 of the overmold material 200 proximate to the second side 120 of the container 100. The handles 300, 400 are attached to the infant cup 10 by being overmolded onto the first and second connections 230, 240. The first handle 300 includes an upper distal end 310 and a lower distal end 320. The first handle 300 is overmolded onto the first connection 230, and thus, the upper distal end 310 of the handle 300 is attached to the upper portion 210 of the overmolded material 200 and the lower distal end 320 of the handle 300 is attached to the lower portion 220 of the overmolded material 200. Moveover, the second handle 400 includes an upper distal end 410 and a lower distal end 420. The second handle 400 is overmolded onto the second connection 240, and thus, the upper distal end 410 of the handle 400 is coupled to the upper portion 210 of the overmolded material 200 and the lower distal end 420 of the handle 400 is attached to the lower portion 220 of the overmolded material 200. Note that the linear length of handles 300 and 400 is slightly longer (up to ½ an inch) than the linear length of the handle attachment points on the overmolded material 200. Thus, the handle's length is greater that the distance between the handle's attachment point to the cup. This mounting position, the length of the handles, and the soft and pliable nature of the handle material places the handles in a constant state of flexure and allows the handles to flex inward and outward and pop from the deployed position A to the stored position B and vice versa.
In addition, FIG. 2a illustrates the manufacturing technique used to manufacture the embodiment of the infant cup 10 illustrated in FIG. 2. Firstly, the container 100 may be created through injection or blow molding. As stated earlier, the container 100 may be constructed from a hard rigid material such as polypropylene. Secondly, once the container 100 has formed, the container 100 can be placed into another mold to mold ribs and rings along the base 140 and below the edge 150 of the container 100. Thirdly, the overmolded material 200 is overmolded onto the container 100, the ribs and rings along the base 140 and below the edge 150 of the container 100 (molded on during the second step) enable the overmolded material 200 to be coupled to the container 100. Finally, the first and second handles 300, 400 are overmolded onto the first and second connections 230, 240, as explained above.
Referring to FIG. 3, a cross section of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2a is illustrated. As illustrated, the upper distal ends 310, 410 of the handles 300, 400 are attached to the upper portion 210 of the overmolded material 200 or the container 100. Similarly, the lower distal ends 320, 420 of the handles 300, 400 are attached to the lower portion 220 of the overmolded material 200 or the container 100. When the infant cup 10 is constructed in the manner described for this embodiment, the interior chamber 160 of the container 100 remains smooth and continuous, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As explained later, this differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 4a, 4b, 4c.
Referring to FIG. 4, 4a, 4b, illustrated are steps of the manufacturing process for manufacturing the embodiment of the infant cup 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4a, the handles 300, 400 are injection molded in a first handle mold 620 and a second handle mold 630. As illustrated in FIG. 4b, the first handle 300 is injection molded in the first handle mold 620. As illustrated in FIG. 4a, the first handle mold 620 includes first closure 622 and second closure 624. The first closure 622 and the second closure 624 are mirrored molds of each other, each closure 622, 624 forming half of the mold used to form first handle 300. Similarly, the second handle mold 630 includes a first closure 632 and a second closure 634, the two closures 632, 634 being mirrored molds of each other. Further, the first closure 632 and the second closure 634 of the second handle mold 630 each are used to form half of the second handle 400.
As illustrated in FIG. 4b, the first handle 300 includes tabs 312, 322 disposed on the upper distal end 310 and lower distal end 320 on the handle 300. Furthermore, the second handle 400 includes tabs 412, 422 disposed on the upper distal end 410 and lower distal end 420 of the handle 400. Once the handles 300, 400 are formed with the tabs 312, 322, 412, 422, the handle molds 620, 630 with the handles 300, 400 molded inside, are placed in the cup mold 410 as illustrated in FIG. 4. When inserted into the cup mold 610, the tabs 312, 322, 412, 422 are exposed. The cup mold 610 includes a first cup closure 612, a second cup closure 614, and base 616. The first and second cup closures 612, 614 are configured to receive the first handle mold 620 and second handle mold 630 and injection mold a container 100 around the tabs 312, 322, 412, 422 of the handles 300, 400. As illustrated by FIG. 4, once the container 100 has been injection molded, the first cup closure 612 and the second cup closure 614 are pulled away, revealing the container 100 with first and second handle molds 620, 630 appearing to be coupled to the container 100. Furthermore, the container 100 is disposed on the base 616 of the cup mold 610.
As illustrated by FIG. 4a, the next step includes separating the first and second handle molds 620, 630 from the container 100 and handles 300, 400. The first closure 622 and second closure 624 of the first handle mold 620 are pulled apart from one another revealing a first handle 300 attached to the container 100. The first closure 632 and second closure 634 of the second handle mold 630 are then pulled apart from one another revealing a second handle 400 attached to the container 100 at a position opposite to that of the first handle 300.
When an infant cup 10 is molded according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 4a, 4b, and 4c, the handles 300, 400 are attached to the container 100 as shown in FIG. 4c. The cross sectional view of FIG. 4c illustrates that the tabs 312, 322, 412, 422 of handles 300, 400 are molded within the sidewall of the container 100. Unlike the cross sections illustrated in FIG. 3, where the interior chamber 160 of the container 100 remains smooth and continuous, the interior chamber 160 of the container 100 illustrated in FIG. 4c contains protrusions from molding the sidewall of the container around the tabs 312, 322, 412, 422 of the handles 300, 400.
Referring to FIG. 5, illustrated is yet another embodiment of the infant cup 10 that differs from the previous embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. Similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the infant cup 10 includes a container 100 that has an hourglass shape. The container 100 includes a rim 130, threads 132, and an edge 150. These features enable a lid 500 (illustrated in FIG. 1) to be screwed onto the top of the container 100, enclosing any contents within the container 100. The edge 150 is located near the top of the container 100. Extending vertically from the edge 150 is a rim 130 that includes threads 132. When the lid 500 is placed on the container 100, the lid 500 is screwed onto the top of the container 100 so that the lid 500 engages the threads 132. Furthermore, when attached to the container 100, the bottom of the lid 500 is configured to rest against the edge 150.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, this embodiment of the infant cup 10 includes a first side 110 and a second side 120. Similar to the previous embodiments, the first and second sides 110, 120 are a concave portion of the body of the container 100, giving the container 100 its hourglass shape. The first side 110 includes a first handle receiving area 112, and the second side 120 includes a second handle receiving area 122. Additionally, repositionably attached to the sides 110, 120 of the container 100 are a first handle 300 and a second handle 400. The first handle 300 and the second handle 400 are repositionable between two configurations with respect to the container 100, a stored position B, where the handles 300, 400 rest flush against the container 100, and a deployed position A, where the handles 300, 400 project outward from the container 100. The handles are illustrated in the deployed position A in FIG. 5.
The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 differs from the previous embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the connection of the handles 300, 400 to the container 100. As illustrated in FIG. 5a, the container 100 includes an upper receiving region 114 and a lower receiving region 116 on the first side 110. Identical to the first side 110, the second side 120 includes an upper receiving region 124 and a lower receiving region 126 (illustrated in FIG. 5C). On the first side 110, the upper and lower receiving regions 114, 116 are aligned with the handle receiving area 112. The upper receiving region 114 is positioned at the top of the handle receiving area 112, while the lower receiving region 116 is positioned at the bottom of the handle receiving area 112. Similarly, on the second side 120, the upper and lower receiving regions 124, 126 are aligned with the handle receiving area 122. The upper receiving region 124 is positioned at the top of the handle receiving area 122, while the lower receiving region 126 is positioned at the bottom of the handle receiving area 122. The receiving regions 114, 116, 124, 126 are formed on the outer surface of the container 100. Illustrated in FIG. 5b is a first handle 300, which includes an upper distal end 310 and a lower distal end 320. Identical to the first handle 300, the second handle 400 (illustrated in FIG. 5c) includes an upper distal end 410, and a lower distal end 420. As stated previously, each of the handles 300, 400 is constructed from a soft, grippable, and flexible material such as a thermoplastic elastomer or other similar material.
Referring to FIG. 5c, a cross section of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5, 5a, and 5b is illustrated. Each of the handles 300, 400 is configured to be molded onto the container 100, and specifically, into the receiving regions 114, 116, 124, 126. As illustrated, the upper distal end 310 of the first handle 300 is molded into the upper receiving region 114, while the lower distal end 320 of the first handle 300 is molded into the lower receiving region 116 of the first side 110 of the container. Moreover, the upper distal end 410 of the second handle 400 is molded into the upper receiving region 124, while the lower distal end 420 of the second handle 400 is molded into the lower receiving region 126 of the second side 120 of the container 100. The receiving regions 114, 116, 124, 126, each form a cavity that allows the distal ends 310, 320, 410, 420 of the handles 300, 400 to be molded within the receiving regions 114, 116, 124, 126. When an infant cup 10 is constructed in the manner described for this embodiment, the interior chamber 160 of the container remains smooth and continuous, similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 2a, and 3. A smooth interior chamber 160 enables better fluid flow of the contents of the infant cup 10 from the container 100. A smooth interior chamber 160 also allows for easier and more thorough cleaning. However, the embodiment of FIGS. 5, 5a, 5b, and 5c also provides advantages over the embodiment FIGS. 2, 2a, and 3. By directly molding the distal ends 310, 320, 410, 420 of the handles 300, 400 into the receiving regions 114, 116, 124, 126, the overmold material 200 and first and second connections 230, 240 of the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 2a, and 3 are not used to attach the handles 300, 400 to the container 100. Therefore, the embodiment of FIGS. 5, 5a, 5b, and 5c reduce the number of parts and materials used when compared with the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 2a, and 3.
It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention.
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.
