Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a cap for a no spill drinking container. Background of the Invention

No spill drinking cups are well known. No spill cups are intended to retain liquid unless a user is drinking from it. Such cups are commonly used as a training cup with toddlers and small children. They usually include a container, generally made of plastic, and a removable cap with a spout which allows a user to drink without spilling. A drawback of the current no spill cups is that their construction is not robust enough to withstand substantial shaking as is common with toddlers and leakage does occur.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a cap for a no spill drinking container having an open top. The cap includes a demand valve. The also includes a removable top cover arranged to be coupled to the open top of the container and a bottom cover having a valve seat and arranged to be removably inserted into the top cover. The cap further includes a flexible sealing member having a valve stem disposed on a diaphragm. The sealing member is located between and removably coupled to both the top cover and the bottom cover. The valve stem is adapted to sealingly engage and disengage with the valve seat. The top cover further includes a conduit open to the top of the sealing member above the diaphragm, such that when suction pressure is applied to the conduit, the diaphragm is pulled toward the removable top to disengage the valve stem from the valve seat.

Preferably, the sealing member further includes an air inlet valve in fluid communication with an air inlet in the top cover.

Preferably, the sealing member includes a body having a rim, and a passageway having a top surface and a bottom surface, extending through the body to allow fluid to flow through the sealing member. The passageway is at least partially defined by a top raised wall along the top surface and a bottom raised wall along the bottom surface, and the bottom raised wall includes a fluid inlet and the top raised wall includes a fluid outlet.

Preferably, the top cover includes an outlet stem projecting outwardly from the top cover. The sterri includes a base disposed adjacent the top cover and an inlet in fluid communication with a fluid volume disposed at the base of the outlet stem.

Preferably, the cap further includes a teat over molded onto the outlet stem.

Preferably, the bottom cover further includes a well around the valve seat, a conduit in fluid communication with the well, and a cavity in fluid communication with the conduit, wherein the bottom raised wall sits in the cavity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 A is a cross-sectional view of a drinking container cap with a demand valve.

Figure 1 B is an exploded view thereof; Figure 2A is a top isometric view of the removable top cover; Figure 2B is a top view of the removable top cover; Figure 2G is a bottom view of the removable top cover; Figure 3A is an isometric bottom view of the sealing member; Figure 3B is a bottom view of the sealing mer ber; Figure 3C is a top isometric view of the sealing member; Figure 3D is a top view of the sealing member; Figure 3E is a left-side view of the sealing member; Figure 3F is a right-side view of the sealing member; Figure 4A is a top isometric view of the bottom cover; Figure 4B is a top view of the bottom cover; Figure 4C is an isometric bottom view of the bottom cover; Figure 4D is a bottom view of the bottom cover; Figure 4E is a left-side view of the bottom cover; Figure 4F is a right-side view of the bottom cover;

Figure 5A is a bottom view of the sealing member and bottom cover assembly;

Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of Figure 5A;

Figure 6A is a top isometric view of the removable top cover and teat;

Figure 6B is a bottom isometric view of the removable top cover and teat;

Figure 6C is a second bottom isometric view of the removable top cover and teat;

Figure 6D is a bottom view of a removable top cover and teat cut along two axes to illustrate the fluid flow path;

Figure 6E is a bottom isometric view of the cut shown in Figure 6D;

Figure 7A is a bottom view of the assembled cap;

Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 7A; and

Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view of the assembled cap taken along line C-C of Figure 7A. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Figures 1A to 7C illustrate one embodiment of a drinking container cap 10 for an open top container (not shown) such as a baby bottle, sippy cup, or the like. The drinking container cap 10 includes a teat 12, a removable top cover, or screw top 20, sealing member 50 and bottom cover 80. Sealing member 50 and bottom cover 80 comprise assembly 70 that is removable from screw top 20 so that the sealing member 50 and bottom cover 80 can be cleaned or replaced. The teat 12 is an elastomeric member typically made of silicone having a durometer of about 30A-50A. Teat 12 is over molded onto screw top 20. Cap 10 is constructed and arranged such that liquid in the container is delivered through the teat 12 when suction is applied. The cap 10 includes a vacuum-demand valve that is normally closed to inhibit or prevent liquid from spilling if the container is up-ended. Only a gentle suction action is needed in order to open the valve to allow for the flow of liquid. The cap 10 is thus useful for bottles and other containers that are used to feed liquids, slurries and the like to young children.

Referring to Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, screw top 20 is a relatively hard injection molded plastic member, generally a thermoplastic elastomer or urethane type ^' material. It will be understood that other removable top covers may also be suitable such as a snap-on top cover. Screw top 20 includes a base 21 having an upper exterior surface 27 and a lower internal surface 31. A side skirt or flange 22 extends generally downward from the base 21. The flange 22 includes integral interior threads 23 (see Figure 6B) that mate with threads on the container (not shown) to allow cap 10 to be screwed on and off the container. The lower internal surface 31 engages with assembly 70. The screw top 20 includes a seating rim 30 and a cup seal 36 located on the lower internal surface 31. Referring to Figure 2A, outlet stem 24 defines liquid conduit 25. Fluid passageway or inlet 28 comprises of conduit 29 that leads to conduit 25.

Collection volume 37 is defined at the base of stem 24. As shown in Figure 2C, supports 34 and 35 help to keep sealing member 50 in place as assembly 70 is pushed into and pulled out of engagement with the bottom of screw top 20.

Sealing member 50 is soft and pliable so that it accomplishes the necessary movement upon application of a slight vacuum via outlet 13 that is applied to the top of diaphragm 54 and thus pulls the diaphragm 54 up, which disengages valve stem 52 from valve seat 87 of bottom cover 80. Member 50 also includes fluid passageway 60 that passes through body 67. Inlet 62 is a passageway that allows fluid to flow into passageway 60 and through body 67 and then out through outlet 64 at the top of member 50. The other major aspect of member 50 is air inlet valve 56 that is located at the end of air port 57 that communicates with air passageway 32 that communicates with inlet 33.

Referring to Figures 3A to 3F, sealing member 50 includes a body 67 having a rim 66. Rim 66 abuts seating rim 30 (See Figure 2C) of the screw top 20. An air inlet valve 56 having valve seat 58 is disposed on body 67. A fluid inlet 62 and passageway 60 are also disposed on body 67. Valve stem 52 engages valve seat 87 of the bottom cover 80. Seat 58 of air inlet valve 56 of sealing member 50 engages with the rim of opening 90 on the bottom cover 80.

Bottom cover 80 is mated to sealing member 50. Referring to Figures 4A to 4F, bottom cover 80 is a relatively hard injection molded plastic member.

When the bottom cover 80 is mated to the sealing member 50 well 85 is defined. Well 85 is fluidly coupled to valve seat 87 by conduit 86. Fluid travels through valve seat 87, into channel 86, and through passageway 60. Seat 58 of air inlet valve 56 of sealing member 50 engages with the rim of opening 90.

Referring to Figures 1A, 3A and 4A, when the cap 10 is engaged with the open top of a liquid container (not shown), valve stem 52 of sealing member 50 is seated in valve seat 87 of bottom cover 80. When suction is applied via teat 2, the decreased pressure lifts stem 52 (which is part of diaphragm surface 54) from seat 87. Fluid is then able to travel via a fluid path to teat outlet 13 then into the mouth. As fluid is withdrawn, air enters the container through air inlet opening 33 and duck-bill valve 56. Flange 93 sits below rim 66 and rim 30. Pull tab 92 extends from the bottom of the cover to allow the user to grip cover and sealing member assembly 70 and remove it from top 20 so that it can be disassembled and cleaned or replaced.

Fluid flow is best depicted in Figures 7A-7C. When valve stem 52 lifts, the fluid flows into the well around valve seat 87. The fluid flows through conduit 86 into well 85 via inlet 62 of passageway 60. The fluid then flows out of outlet 64 and passageway 60 into inlet 28 through conduit 29 to collection volume 37 where it can then flow through conduit 25 and out of teat outlet 13.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.