IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0342403
(2006-01-30)
|
등록번호 |
US-7762423
(2010-08-13)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lieberman, Joshua S.
- Manganiello, Frank
- Maloney, Michael
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
There is provided a flow control element for use with a drinking cup cap having a first mating member in fluid communication with a spout aperture. The flow control element has a first stack and a first valve. The first stack has an upper portion that can be positioned to be removably sealed in or w
There is provided a flow control element for use with a drinking cup cap having a first mating member in fluid communication with a spout aperture. The flow control element has a first stack and a first valve. The first stack has an upper portion that can be positioned to be removably sealed in or with the cap. The first valve is defined in a sidewall of the first stack and is configured to provide selective fluid communication with the spout aperture.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A flow control element for use with a drinking cup cap, the cap having a spout aperture and a depending first mating member in fluid communication with the spout aperture, said flow control element comprising: a first stack having an upper portion and a lower portion, said up
What is claimed is: 1. A flow control element for use with a drinking cup cap, the cap having a spout aperture and a depending first mating member in fluid communication with the spout aperture, said flow control element comprising: a first stack having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being configured to be removably sealed adjacent to the spout aperture, wherein said upper portion and said lower portion each have an outer dimension, said outer dimension of said upper portion is smaller than said outer dimension of said lower portion, said lower portion can be frictionally received and sealed in a lower portion of the first mating member, said upper portion extends upwardly in the first mating member toward the spout aperture without being in contact with the cap when said lower portion is sealed in the first mating member, and said upper portion having a sidewall, said sidewall having a first valve, said first valve having a first valve face that is arcuate when viewed in vertical section taken along the axis of flow of said first stack and that defines an arcuate valve slit, said arcuate valve slit having a substantially vertical orientation, the elongated extent of said arcuate valve slit following along the curvature of the arc of the first valve face and along the axis of flow of liquid through said first stack, said first valve being to provide selective fluid communication through the arcuate valve slit with the spout aperture and prevent such fluid communication without said first valve coming into contact with the cap. 2. The flow control element of claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said first stack can engage an inside surface and an outside surface of the first mating member and thereby place said first stack in fluid communication with the spout aperture. 3. The flow control element of claim 2, wherein said lower portion can further engage a bottom surface of the first mating member. 4. The flow control element of claim 1, further comprising: a second stack having an upper portion being configured to be removably sealed within a second mating member of the drinking cup cap, the second mating member being in fluid communication with a vent aperture, said second stack being spaced apart from said first stack and defining a second valve providing selective fluid communication with the vent aperture. 5. The flow control element of claim 3, wherein the flow control element is formed of a single piece of elastomeric material. 6. The flow control element of claim 2, wherein said lower portion of said first stack engages said inner surface, said outer surface, and a bottom surface of the first mating member. 7. The flow control element of claim 1, further comprising a second stack, said second stack being removably sealable in a second mating surface of the drinking cup cap, the second mating surface being in fluid communication with a vent aperture, said second stack having a second valve for selective fluid communication with the vent aperture. 8. The flow control element of claim 7, wherein a portion of said second stack can engage an inside surface and an outside surface of the second mating surface. 9. The flow control element of claim 8, wherein said second stack can engage said inside surface, said outside surface, and a bottom surface of the second mating surface. 10. The flow control element of claim 7, wherein the flow control element is formed of a single piece of elastomeric material. 11. A drinking cup assembly comprising: a cup having an open end; a cap being adapted to seal said open end, said cap having a first aperture and a first mating member in fluid communication with said first aperture; and a flow control element, said flow control element having a first stack, said first stack being adapted to have an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion extending upwardly into and being removably sealed in said first mating member by said lower portion, said upper portion of said first stack having a first valve and a first valve face defined in a sidewall thereof, said first valve face being arcuate when seen in vertical section taken along the axis of flow through said first stack, said first valve face having a valve slit disposed thereon and defined therethrough, said valve slit having a substantially vertical orientation, the elongated extent of said valve slit being generally along the axis of flow of liquid through said first stack, said first valve being operative to selectively place said cup in fluid communication with said first aperture and prevent such fluid communication without said first valve coming into contact with said cup or said cap. 12. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said lower portion of said first stack engages at least an inside and an outside of said first mating member. 13. The drinking cup assembly of claim 12, wherein said lower portion of said first stack engages said inside, said outside, and a bottom of said first mating member. 14. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said flow control element is formed of a single piece of elastomeric material. 15. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said cap further includes a second aperture and a second mating member in fluid communication with said second aperture. 16. The drinking cup assembly of claim 15, wherein said flow control element further comprises: a second stack having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion for engaging three sides of said second mating member, said upper portion of said second stack including a second valve for selectively placing said cup in fluid communication with said second aperture. 17. The drinking cup assembly of claim 16, wherein said second valve is a duckbill valve. 18. The drinking cup assembly of claim 17, wherein said flow control element is formed of a single piece of elastomeric material. 19. The drinking cup assembly of claim 13, wherein said lower portion of said first stack has a rim that frictionally engages said inside, said outside, and a said bottom of said first mating member. 20. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said lower portion of said first stack has an outer dimension that is larger than the outer dimension of an upper portion of said first stack. 21. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said flow control element is formed of a single piece of elastomeric material. 22. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said cap further includes an air vent having a second aperture and a second mating member in fluid communication with said second aperture. 23. The drinking cup assembly of claim 22, wherein said flow control element further comprises: a second stack having a portion for engaging an inside and an outside of said second mating member and thereby place said second stack in fluid communication with said second aperture. 24. The drinking cup assembly of claim 23, wherein said portion of said second stack engages said inside, said outside, and a bottom of said second mating member. 25. The drinking cup assembly of claim 23, wherein said second stack comprises a second valve. 26. The drinking cup assembly of claim 25, wherein said second valve is a duckbill valve. 27. A drinking cup assembly comprising: a cup having an open end; a cap adapted to seal said open end, said cap having a drinking spout, a first mating member, a vent and a second mating member, said first mating member having a first mating surface and being in fluid communication with said spout; said second mating member having a second mating surface and being in fluid communication with said vent; and a flow control element, said flow control element having a first stack and a second stack, said first stack having a first valve face, first inner and outer surfaces and first upper and lower portions, said first upper portion having a first outer diameter and said first lower portion having a second outer diameter, wherein said first stack is sized to frictionally engage and hold in position said first mating surface of said first mating member and thereby place said first stack in fluid communication with said spout, wherein said first outer diameter is smaller than said second outer diameter, wherein said first valve face includes a first valve defined in a sidewall of said first stack, said first valve comprising a valve slit defined in said first valve face, wherein said valve slit has a substantially vertical orientation, the elongated extent of said valve slit being generally along the axis of flow of liquid through said first stack, and wherein said first valve face is connected to said first inner surface of said first stack; wherein said second stack is sized to frictionally engage said second mating surface of said second mating member and thereby place said second stack in fluid communication with said vent, wherein said second stack has second upper and lower portions, said second upper portion having a third outer diameter and said second lower portion having a fourth outer diameter, and wherein said third outer diameter is smaller than said fourth outer diameter, and wherein said second stack has a second valve face, a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein said second valve face is connected to said second inner surface of said second stack, and wherein said second inner surface of said second stack is smooth and tapered. 28. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said first outer surface of said first upper portion of said first stack is separated from said first mating surface of said first mating member. 29. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said flow control element has a first flange extending outwardly from said first lower portion of said first stack, wherein said first mating member has a first rim, and wherein said first rim abuts against said first flange. 30. The drinking assembly of claim 29, wherein said first flange is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first stack, and wherein said first flange traverses a substantial portion of said cap. 31. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said first stack has a first middle portion disposed between said first upper portion and said first lower portion, and wherein said first outer surface along said first middle portion has a substantially equal slope between said first upper portion and said first lower portion. 32. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said second outer surface of said second upper portion of said second stack is separated from said second mating surface of said second mating member. 33. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said flow control element has a second flange extending outwardly from said second lower portion of said second stack, wherein said second mating member has a second rim, and wherein said second rim abuts against said second flange. 34. The drinking assembly of claim 33, wherein said second flange is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second stack, and wherein said second flange traverses a substantial portion of said cap. 35. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said second stack has a second middle portion disposed between said second upper portion and said second lower portion, and wherein said second outer surface along said second middle portion has a substantially equal slope between said second upper portion and said second lower portion. 36. The drinking assembly of claim 34, wherein said first flange is integrally molded with said second flange to secure said first stack with said second stack. 37. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said first valve has a first slit formed therethrough. 38. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said first mating member is a cylindrical recess. 39. The drinking assembly of claim 27, wherein said second mating member is a cylindrical recess. 40. The flow control element of claim 1, wherein said valve slit is normally closed. 41. The flow control element of claim 40, further comprising an air vent valve to selectively allow air to enter the cup, wherein said first stack is comprised of resilient elastomeric material, said normally closed valve slit being adapted to open when a suction applied by a user on the spout aperture forms a negative pressure of a first predetermined limit on said first valve face that overcomes the resiliency of said valve slit, causing at least a portion of said first valve face to deflect and in turn cause said valve slit to open, thereby to allow the contents of the cup to be drawn through said valve slit from the cup by the negative pressure, and to remain open when the negative pressure within the cup reaches a second predetermined limit that allows air to enter the cup through said air vent valve, the elastomeric properties of said upper portion of said first stack being sufficient to close said valve slit upon removal of the suction force to a level below the first and second predetermined limits. 42. The flow control element of claim 1, wherein said first stack has a step between said upper and lower portions to ensure that said sidewall of the upper portion of said first stack does not come into contact with the first mating member. 43. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said valve slit is normally closed. 44. The drinking cup assembly of claim 43, further comprising an air vent valve to selectively allow air to enter the cup, wherein said first stack is comprised of resilient elastomeric material, said normally closed valve slit opens when a suction is applied by a user on the spout aperture to form a negative pressure of a first predetermined limit on said first valve face that overcomes the resiliency of said valve slit, causing at least a portion of the valve face to deflect and in turn cause said valve slit to open, thereby to allow the contents of the cup to be drawn through said valve slit from the cup by the negative pressure, and to remain open when the negative pressure within the cup reaches a second predetermined limit that allows air to enter the cup through the air vent valve, the elastomeric properties of said first valve being sufficient to close said valve slit upon removal of the suction force to a level below the first and second predetermined limits, respectively. 45. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said first stack has a step between said upper and lower portions to ensure that the sidewall of said upper portion of said first stack does not come into contact with said first mating member. 46. The flow control element of claim 1, wherein said upwardly extending sidewall of said first stack communicates with and is closed by an uninterrupted top end, and said sidewall has a said first valve to provide selective fluid communication with the spout aperture. 47. The flow control element of claim 46, wherein said upwardly extending sidewall is of uniform height, and said top end is horizontally disposed on said sidewall. 48. The flow control element of claim 1, wherein said upper portion of said first stack that extends upwardly in the mating member is not in contact with the first mating member of the cap, and said first valve of said sidewall provides selective fluid communication with the spout aperture and prevents such fluid communication without said first valve coming into contact with the first mating member of the cap. 49. The drinking cup assembly of claim 11, wherein said first valve of said upper portion of said first stack that extends upwardly in said first mating member provides selective fluid communication with the spout aperture and prevents such fluid communication without said first valve coming into contact with said cup or said first mating member of said cap.
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