초록 ▼

A replaceable valve member for a sippy cup assembly is disclosed. The valve member is a flexible, resilient member for releasable mounting in the lid of the sippy cup. It includes a normally closed, but openable slit located within the sippy cup's spout when the valve member is in its operative posi

A replaceable valve member for a sippy cup assembly is disclosed. The valve member is a flexible, resilient member for releasable mounting in the lid of the sippy cup. It includes a normally closed, but openable slit located within the sippy cup's spout when the valve member is in its operative position. The valve member includes another normally closed, but openable slit located at a vent in the sippy cup's lid when the valve member is in the operative position. The two slits open when suction is applied to the spout to enable liquid to be withdrawn through the spout. A recess is provided in a portion of the periphery of the valve member to preclude the trapping of residual liquid in the sippy cup. The valve member also includes an opening for releasably mounting it on a handle of the sippy cup in a storage position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A replaceable valve member for a sippy cup assembly having a cup for holding a liquid and a lid releasably secured to the cup, the lid including a hollow spout and an air vent, the sippy cup assembly also includes at least one handle for manually supporting the cup to enable a person to suck on t

1. A replaceable valve member for a sippy cup assembly having a cup for holding a liquid and a lid releasably secured to the cup, the lid including a hollow spout and an air vent, the sippy cup assembly also includes at least one handle for manually supporting the cup to enable a person to suck on the spout to withdraw the liquid from the cup through the spout, said replaceable valve member being a unitary, elongated member formed of a resilient flexible material having a first end, and a second end located opposite said first end, said replaceable valve member comprising: a) a first projection portion including a first, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said first projection portion including a hollow interior communicating with said valve element, a skirt portion having a height depending downward from said first projection portion and providing a passage communicating with the hollow interior of said projection portion, a notch extending through said skirt portion and having a height greater than the height of said skirt portion, said notch providing a radial passage through said skirt portion communicating with the passage provided by said skirt portion and the hollow interior of the first projection portion for enabling liquid from the sippy cup to pass therethrough into the interior of said first projection portion, through said first valve element and through the spout to enable the entire liquid content of the sippy cup to be withdrawn therefrom by the person sucking on the spout, said first projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted within the spout when said replaceable valve member is in an operative position;b) a second projection portion including a second, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said second projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted in the lid with said second valve element in communication with the vent when said replaceable valve member is in said operative position, said second valve element being arranged to open upon negative pressure being applied to the spout by the person sucking on the spout, whereupon liquid within the cup flows through said first valve element and the spout, while said second valve element opens to enable air to enter into the sippy cup through the vent; andc) an opening located at said second end and configured to receive and frictionally engage a portion of the at least one handle therein to releasably secure said replaceable valve member on the at least one handle when said replaceable valve member is removed from said operative position and placed in a storage position. 2. The replaceable valve member of claim 1 wherein said first valve element comprises a slit. 3. The replaceable valve member of claim 1 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 4. The replaceable valve member of claim 2 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 5. The replaceable valve member of claim 1 wherein said resilient flexible material comprises silicone rubber. 6. A replaceable valve member for a sippy cup assembly having a cup for holding a liquid and a lid releasably secured to the cup, the lid including a hollow spout, an air vent and at least one handle for manually supporting the cup to enable a person to suck on the spout to withdraw the liquid from the cup through the spout, said replaceable valve member being a unitary, elongated member formed of a resilient flexible material having a first end, and a second end located opposite said first end, said replaceable valve member comprising: a) a first projection portion including a first, normally closed but openable valve element, at an upper end thereof, said first projection portion including a hollow interior communicating with said valve element, a skirt portion having a height depending downward from said first projection portion and providing a passage communicating with the hollow interior of said projection portion, a notch extending through said skirt portion and having a height greater than the height of said skirt portion, said notch providing a radial passage through said skirt portion communicating with the passage provided by said skirt portion and the hollow interior of the first projection portion for enabling liquid from the sippy cup to pass therethrough into the interior of said first projection portion, through said first valve element and through the spout to enable the entire liquid contents of the sippy cup to be withdrawn therefrom by the person sucking on the spout, said first projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted within the hollow spout when said replaceable valve member is in an operative position;b) a second projection portion including a second, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said second projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted to the lid with said second valve element in communication with the vent when said replaceable valve member is in said operative position, said second valve element being arranged to open upon negative pressure being applied to the spout by the person sucking on the spout, whereupon liquid within the cup flows through said first valve element and said spout, while said second valve element opens to enable air to enter into the cup through said vent. 7. The replaceable valve member of claim 6 wherein said first valve element comprises a slit. 8. The replaceable valve member of claim 6 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 9. The replaceable valve member of claim 7 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 10. The replaceable valve member of claim 6 wherein said resilient flexible material comprises silicone rubber. 11. The replaceable valve member of claim 6 additionally comprising an opening configured to receive and frictionally engage a portion of the at least one handle therein to releasably secure said replaceable valve member on the at least one handle when said replaceable valve member is removed from its operative position and placed in a storage position. 12. In combination a lid and a replaceable valve member for a cup to form a sippy cup assembly, said lid comprising a hollow spout and an air vent, the sippy cup assembly also includes at least one handle for manually supporting the cup to enable a person to suck on the spout to withdraw the liquid from the cup through the spout, said replaceable valve member being a unitary, elongated member formed of a resilient flexible material having a first end, and a second end located opposite said first end, said replaceable valve member comprising: a) a first projection portion including a first, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said first projection portion including a hollow interior communicating with said valve element, a skirt portion having a height depending downward from said first projection portion and providing a passage communicating with the hollow interior of said projection portion, a notch extending through said skirt portion and having a height greater than the height of said skirt portion, said notch providing a radial passage through said skirt portion communicating with the passage provided by said skirt portion and the hollow interior of the first projection portion for enabling liquid from the sippy cup to pass therethrough into the interior of said first projection portion, through said first valve element and through the spout to enable the entire liquid contents of the sippy cup to be withdrawn therefrom by the person sucking on the spout, said first projection being arranged to be releasably mounted within said spout when said replaceable valve member is in and operative position;b) a second projection portion including a second, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said second projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted in said lid with said second valve element in communication with said vent when said replaceable valve member is in its operative position, said second valve element being arranged to open upon negative pressure applied to said spout by the person sucking on said spout, whereupon liquid within the cup flows through said first valve element and said spout, while said second valve element opens to enable air to enter into said cup through said vent, andc) an opening located at said second end and configured to receive and frictionally engage a portion of the at least one handle therein to releasably secure said replaceable valve member on the at least one handle when said replaceable valve member is removed from its operative position and placed in a storage position. 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said first valve element comprises a slit. 14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 15. The combination of claim 13 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 16. The combination of claim 12 wherein said resilient flexible material comprises silicone rubber. 17. In combination a lid and a replaceable valve member for a cup to form a sippy cup assembly, said lid comprising a hollow spout, an air vent and at least one handle for manually supporting the cup to enable a person to suck on the spout to withdraw the liquid from the cup through the spout, said replaceable valve member being a unitary, elongated member formed of a resilient flexible material having a first end and a second end located opposite said first end, said replaceable valve member comprising: a) a first projection portion including a first, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said first projection portion including a hollow interior communicating with said first valve element, a skirt portion having a height depending downward from said first projection portion and providing a passage communicating with the hollow interior of said projection portion, a notch extending through said skirt portion and having a height greater than the height of said skirt portion, said notch providing a radial passage through said skirt portion communicating with the passage provided by said skirt portion and the hollow interior of the first projection portion for enabling liquid from the sippy cup to pass therethrough into the interior of said first projection portion, through said first valve element and through the spout to enable the entire liquid contents of the sippy cup to be withdrawn therefrom by the person sucking on the spout, said first projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted within said spout when said replaceable valve member is in and operative position;b) a second projection portion including a second, normally closed but openable valve element at an upper end thereof, said second projection portion being arranged to be releasably mounted in said lid with said second valve element in communication with said vent when said replaceable valve member is in its operative position, said second valve element being arranged to open upon negative pressure being applied to said spout by the person sucking on said spout, whereupon liquid within the cup flows through said first valve element and said spout, while said second valve element opens to enable air to enter into said cup through said vent. 18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said first valve element comprises a slit. 19. The combination of claim 17 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 20. The combination of claim 18 wherein said second valve element comprises a slit. 21. The combination of claim 17 wherein said resilient flexible material comprises silicone rubber. 22. The combination of claim 17 additionally comprising an opening configured to receive and frictionally engage a portion of the at least one handle therein to releasably secure said replaceable valve member on the at least one handle when said replaceable valve member is removed from its operative position and placed in a storage position.