초록

Improved no-spill drinking products including a nipple or soft spout having a valve incorporated therein. The valve is designed to provide an enhanced no-spill function providing an extremely secure seal against accidental liquid flow from the nipple or spout when the user is not drinking therefrom.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method, comprising: providing a drinking apparatus, said drinking apparatus being a no-spill drinking apparatus provided for a user to drink liquid therefrom and also being provided for preventing spilling of liquid when the user is not drinking from said apparatus; said d

What is claimed is: 1. A method, comprising: providing a drinking apparatus, said drinking apparatus being a no-spill drinking apparatus provided for a user to drink liquid therefrom and also being provided for preventing spilling of liquid when the user is not drinking from said apparatus; said drinking apparatus comprising a flexible material outer wall for the user to place its mouth on to drink liquid from said drinking apparatus, said flexible material outer wall comprising a tip, said outer wall further comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; said drinking apparatus further comprising a valve for preventing the spilling of liquid from said apparatus when the user is not drinking from said apparatus, said valve comprising a depression in said flexible material outer wall, said depression comprising an upper component and a lower component, said upper component comprising a tube, said tube comprising a sidewall, said sidewall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface of said sidewall being separated and spaced from said inner surface of said outer wall; said lower component of said valve comprising a bottom wall, said bottom wall comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of said bottom wall being a concave surface extending to said inner surface of said sidewall; said lower surface of said bottom wall comprising both a curved surface and a flat surface, wherein said flat surface is located in the center of said lower surface, and wherein said curved surface is peripheral to said flat surface; said bottom wall comprising an opening extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, and wherein said opening rests in a closed position; and wherein said bottom wall bends when the user places its mouth on said outer wall to compress said outer wall, such that liquid can pass through said opening. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said apparatus for use by a baby, wherein said apparatus comprises a baby bottle nipple. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said apparatus for use by a baby, wherein said apparatus comprises a baby bottle nipple and a baby bottle. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a product with a soft drinking spout. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a liquid holding container. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap, said cap comprising a soft drinking spout. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap for attachment to a liquid holding container, said cap comprising a soft lid for attachment to a hard screw-ring, said soft lid further comprising a soft drinking spout. 8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depression is made of said flexible material. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve is located in said tip. 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tip comprises a widened portion, and wherein said bottom wall is located near said widened portion of said tip. 11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bottom valve. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bottom valve, said bottom valve comprising a dome shaped depression in said flexible material, said dome shaped depression further comprising an opening, said opening comprising a slit. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein liquid does not emerge from said drinking apparatus upon shaking of said apparatus, unless said outer wall is compressed. 14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a hard cup. 15. A method, comprising: providing a drinking apparatus, said drinking apparatus being a no-spill drinking apparatus provided for a user to drink liquid therefrom and also being provided for preventing spilling of liquid when the user is not drinking from said apparatus; said drinking apparatus comprising a flexible material outer wall for the user to place its mouth on to drink liquid from said drinking apparatus, said outer wall further comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; said drinking apparatus further comprising an valve for preventing the spilling of liquid from said apparatus when the user is not drinking from said apparatus, said valve comprising a depression in said flexible material outer wall, said depression comprising an upper component and a lower component, said upper component comprising a tube, said tube comprising a sidewall, said sidewall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface of said sidewall being separated and spaced from said inner surface of said outer wall; said outer surface of said sidewall comprising a protrusion thereon, said protrusion extending from said outer surface of said sidewall toward said inner surface of said outer wall; said valve comprising a bottom wall, said bottom wall comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, said bottom wall comprising an opening extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, wherein said opening rests in a closed position; and wherein said inner surface of said outer wall contacts said protrusion when the user places its mouth on said outer wall to compress said outer wall, causing said bottom wall to bend such that liquid can pass through said opening. 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of providing said apparatus for use by a baby, wherein said apparatus comprises a baby bottle nipple. 17. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of providing said apparatus for use by a baby, wherein said apparatus comprises a baby bottle nipple and a baby bottle. 18. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a product with a soft drinking spout. 19. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a liquid holding container. 20. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap, said cap comprising a soft drinking spout. 21. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap for attachment to a liquid holding container, said cap comprising a soft lid for attachment to a hard screw-ring, said soft lid further comprising a soft drinking spout. 22. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said depression is made of said flexible material. 23. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said outer wall comprises a tip, and wherein said valve is located in said tip. 24. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said outer wall comprises a tip, and wherein said tip comprises a widened portion, and wherein said bottom wall is located near said widened portion of said tip. 25. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bottom valve. 26. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bottom valve, said bottom valve comprising a dome shaped depression in said flexible material, said dome shaped depression further comprising an opening, said opening comprising a slit. 27. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein liquid does not emerge from said drinking apparatus upon shaking of said apparatus, unless said outer wall is compressed. 28. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said apparatus includes a hard cup. 29. A method, comprising: providing a drinking apparatus, said drinking apparatus being a no-spill drinking apparatus provided for a user to drink liquid therefrom and also being provided for preventing spilling of liquid when the user is not drinking from said apparatus; said drinking apparatus comprising a flexible material outer wall for the user to place its mouth on to drink liquid from said drinking apparatus, said outer wall further comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; said drinking apparatus further comprising a valve for preventing the spilling of liquid from said apparatus when the user is not drinking from said apparatus, said valve comprising a depression in said flexible material outer wall, said depression comprising an upper component and a lower component, said upper component comprising a tube, said tube comprising a sidewall, said sidewall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface of said sidewall being separated and spaced from said inner surface of said outer wall; said outer surface of said sidewall comprising a protrusion thereon, said protrusion extending towards said inner surface of said outer wall; said lower component of said valve comprising a bottom wall, said bottom wall comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of said bottom wall being a concave surface extending to said inner surface of said sidewall; said lower surface of said bottom wall comprises both a curved surface and a flat surface, wherein said flat surface is located in the center of said lower surface, and wherein said curved surface is peripheral to said flat surface; said bottom wall comprising an opening extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, wherein said opening rests in a closed position; and wherein said inner surface of said outer wall contacts said protrusion when the user places its mouth on said outer wall to compress said outer wall, causing said bottom wall to bend such that liquid can pass through said opening. 30. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of providing said apparatus for use by a baby, wherein said apparatus comprises a baby bottle nipple. 31. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of providing said apparatus for use by a baby, wherein said apparatus comprises a baby bottle nipple and a baby bottle. 32. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus comprises a product with a soft drinking spout. 33. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus comprises a liquid holding container. 34. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap, said cap comprising a soft drinking spout. 35. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus comprises a cap for attachment to a liquid holding container, said cap comprising a soft lid for attachment to a hard screw-ring, said soft lid further comprising a soft drinking spout. 36. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said depression is made of said flexible material. 37. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said outer wall comprises a tip, and wherein said valve is located in said tip. 38. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said outer wall comprises a tip, and wherein said tip comprises a widened portion, and wherein said bottom wall is located near said widened portion of said tip. 39. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bottom valve. 40. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bottom valve, said bottom valve comprising a dome shaped depression in said flexible material, said dome shaped depression further comprising an opening, said opening comprising a slit. 41. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein liquid does not emerge from said drinking apparatus upon shaking of said apparatus, unless said outer wall is compressed. 42. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said apparatus includes a hard cup. 43. A method, comprising: providing a drinking apparatus, said drinking apparatus being a no-spill drinking apparatus provided for a user to drink liquid therefrom and also being provided for preventing spilling of liquid when the user is not drinking from said apparatus; said drinking apparatus comprising a flexible material outer wall for the user to place its mouth on to drink liquid from said drinking apparatus, said outer wall further comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; said drinking apparatus further comprising a valve for preventing the spilling of liquid from said apparatus when the user is not drinking from said apparatus, said valve comprising a depression in said flexible material outer wall, said depression comprising an upper component and a lower component, said upper component comprising a tube, said tube comprising a sidewall, said sidewall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface of said sidewall being separated and spaced from said inner surface of said outer wall; said lower component of said valve comprising a bottom wall, said bottom wall comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of said bottom wall being a concave surface extending to said inner surface of said sidewall; said lower surface of said bottom wall approximating the shape of the top of a trapezoid, said lower surface comprising both a outer surface and a flat surface, wherein said flat surface is located in the center of said lower surface, and wherein said outer surface is peripheral to said flat surface; said bottom wall comprising an opening extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, and wherein said opening rests in a closed position; and wherein said bottom wall bends when the user places its mouth on said outer wall to compress said outer wall, such that liquid can pass through said opening. 44. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said apparatus includes a hard cup. 45. A method as claimed in claim 44, wherein said outer surface of said lower surface of said bottom wall is straight. 46. A method as claimed in claim 44, wherein said outer surface of said lower surface of said bottom wall is curved.