CUP INSERT PROVIDING VOLUME AND FLOW REGULATION
The present disclosure relates to an insert for a drinking vessel that limits the flow rate and volume of the liquid to be delivered to a user. The illustrative insert includes a cap for interfacing with the drinking vessel, the cap forming an outlet for delivery of the liquid, and a stem forming a reservoir for controlling the volume of the liquid to be delivered and a channel connecting the reservoir with the outlet.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/846,446, filed May 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present application relates to volume and/or flow regulation of a drinking cup and, more specifically, to a cup insert that can be utilized with an existing cup to regulate the volume and flow of fluid delivery to a user.
Transitioning to a standard drinking cup from a bottle or other cup designed specifically for small children or infants is a milestone development. However, completing such a transition may come with difficulties. Similarly, the use of a standard drinking cup by an adult or child with disabilities may pose its own challenges. For example, the inability to firmly grasp a standard drinking cup may result in dropping the cup, leading to large spills and the loss of the entirety of the fluid previously contained by the cup. Otherwise, a standard drinking cup may introduce too much fluid to the user, which could overwhelm the user and result in aspiration. Similarly, a standard drinking cup may introduce fluid at an increased flow rate that may overwhelm the user and result in aspiration.
Prior attempts to solve the above presented problems are not comprehensive and/or may introduce new problems that could pose a risk to the user's health. For example, cups with lids are known in the art. However, these cups often have a free flow spout that is open during use, which may still lead to large spills and the loss of the entirety of the fluid contained by the cup if they are dropped during use. Additionally, these cups do not regulate the flow and volume of fluid delivery, which may still lead to the aspiration problems as described above. Alternately, cups including lids with straws and cups including regulating suckling inserts are known. However, these cups require, and therefore promote, a suckling or sucking behavior by the user that may hinder the transition of the user to a standard drinking cup and may further harm the user's gums or teeth. Alternate solutions are therefore desired.
The present disclosure relates to an insert for a drinking vessel that limits the flow rate and volume of the liquid to be delivered to a user. The illustrative insert includes a cap for interfacing with the drinking vessel, the cap forming an outlet for delivery of the liquid, and a stem forming a reservoir for controlling the volume of the liquid to be delivered and a channel connecting the reservoir with the outlet.
In an illustrative embodiment, an insert for use with a drinking vessel is provided, the insert including a cap having a floor and a splash guard disposed centrally on the cap, the splash guard covering and spaced apart from an outlet formed in the cap. The illustrative insert further includes a stem body coupled to the cap, and an opening formed in the stem body. The opening is in communication with a volume regulator for holding a predetermined amount of liquid, and a flow regulator is formed between the opening of the stem body and the outlet of the cap.
In another illustrative embodiment, an insert for use with a drinking vessel is provided, the insert including a cap having a floor and an outlet formed by the cap. The illustrative insert further includes a stem body coupled to the cap. The stem body includes a volume regulator and a flow regulator.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures, in which:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described herein. The embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. Therefore, no limitation of the scope of the claimed invention is thereby intended. The present invention includes any alterations and further modifications of the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of principles in the invention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
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Certain illustrative embodiments detailed herein allow for a one-size-fits-all-type of stem 104 that can be used with a variety of replaceable caps 102 which may be provided in shapes and sizes varying from what is shown in
The cap 102 illustratively includes a cap floor 114 configured to cover a substantial portion of the upper opening 3 of the vessel 2 and an upper seal 116 that is configured to interact with an interior sidewall 4 of the vessel 2 to create a fluid-tight connection via a vessel interface 115. The upper seal 116 may be constructed of a soft, pliable polymer as discussed above to facilitate such a fluid-tight connection, or the upper seal 116 may be constructed of alternate materials. In such an embodiment, a separate seal (not shown) may be coupled to the vessel interface 115 to help facilitate a fluid-tight connection with the vessel 2. As noted above, the remaining portions of the cap 102 may be constructed from a same or different material as the upper seal 116.
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Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. An insert for use with a drinking vessel, the insert comprising:
- a cap having a floor;
- a splash guard disposed centrally on the cap, the splash guard covering and spaced apart from an outlet formed in the cap;
- a stem body coupled to the cap;
- an opening formed in the stem body, the opening in communication with a volume regulator for holding a predetermined amount of liquid; and
- a flow regulator formed between the opening of the stem body and the outlet of the cap.
2. The insert of claim 1, further comprising an indicator disposed on the splash guard to indicate the location of the outlet of the cap.
3. The insert of claim 1, the stem body forming a cut-out portion.
4. The insert of claim 1, wherein the stem body is removably coupled to the cap.
5. The insert of claim 1, further comprising an upper seal disposed around a perimeter of the floor of the cap.
6. The insert of claim 5, further comprising a lower seal located around a perimeter of the stem body.
7. The insert of claim 6, wherein a lip of the drinking vessel is received between the floor of the cap and the lower seal.
8. The insert of claim 1, wherein the volume regulator comprises a reservoir.
9. The insert of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator comprises a channel.
10. The insert of claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional area of the channel defines the flow rate of the liquid.
11. An insert for use with a drinking vessel, the insert comprising:
- a cap having a floor, the cap forming an outlet;
- a stem body coupled to the cap;
- a volume regulator formed within the stem body; and
- a flow regulator formed within the stem body.
12. The insert of claim 11, wherein the volume regulator comprises a reservoir formed within the stem body.
13. The insert of claim 12, wherein the flow regulator comprises a channel formed within the stem body.
14. The insert of claim 13, wherein a cross-sectional area of the channel defines the flow rate of a liquid held by the drinking vessel.
15. The insert of claim 11, further comprising a splash guard disposed centrally on the cap, the splash guard covering and spaced apart from the outlet.
16. The insert of claim 11, wherein the stem body is removably coupled to the cap.
17. The insert of claim 16, further comprising an upper seal disposed around a perimeter of the floor of the cap.
18. The insert of claim 17, further comprising a lower seal located around a perimeter of the stem body, wherein a lip of the drinking vessel is received between the floor of the cap and the lower seal.
19. The insert of claim 1, the insert further comprising an indicator disposed on the splash guard to indicate the location of the outlet of the cap.
20. The insert of claim 1, the stem body forming a cut-out portion.
Type: Application
Filed: May 6, 2020
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2020
Inventors: Matthew Batie (West Chester, OH), Karen A. Rizzo (Loveland, OH)
Application Number: 16/868,060