NO SPILL DEVICE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel no spill device useful in conjunction with a cup lid or other coverings to avoid spilling liquid from an opening in the lid when such a lidded container is in an unstable position. The no spill device can be used universally wherever spillage of hot or cold liquid from a container that is covered by a lid having an open spout is being carried or transported and where spillage is to be avoided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

It is generally known that a liquid is one of the states of matter and particles in a liquid are free to flow, so for example, when contained in a hand-carried lidded container and depending on the volume of the liquid in the container being carried or transported, the liquid may be prone to swap out from the opening of the lid of the container.

This is a daily occurrence because daily, hot or cold drinks of tea, coffee, soup or other consumable liquids are carried by millions of customers in a container from carry-out food places or any other place from which a customer carries away liquids in a lidded container.

To avoid liquid being swapped out or spill, the container may have a cover on top. One way is providing a lid for the container. However, the lid that covers the liquid has to be removed when drinking and depending on the situation in which the person drinks from the cup, the liquid may then still spill out of the cup. The cover, which is for example a lid, may therefore have a type of opening or spout from which the liquid in the container can then be drunk, or can be sipped or poured. In many cases, with a lid or cover having an open spout, which is very common, the liquid in the container is still prone to spilling from the lid spout when transported or when the person is holding the container while walking. This results in spillage of the content from the container into the transport environment or onto the hands of the holder or on the clothes of the holder.

Currently, there are a number of ways to avoid spillage from a coffee cup container having a lid with an open spout is, for example to use a plastic widget that gets placed into the lid opening for containing the liquid therein. These widgets are often made from hard plastic, are expensive to produce and are used only one time and thrown away with the container.

Another way of containing unstable liquid in a container while, for example walking, is a type of lid that has a perforated line scoring a portion of the lid so as to create a latch from the lid itself, which latch can be opened for drinking or pouring through the opening created by the opened latch. However, once the latch is opened, it may not be able to be closed back entirely and is therefore not spill proof.

Also, there are other very elaborate spill proof container covers or lids that can be opened and thereafter closed again tightly. One of these container lids includes a separate smaller lid for opening and closing the drinking opening or spout. While, this type lid may keep the liquid inside the container from spilling in any way, this lid is an elaborate container covering, costly to produce and are not used in places where cutting cost on such items is key.

It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved cover for a container holding liquid on a carry-out basis, or any cup as the case may be, obviating the afore-stated drawbacks and which is so configured that no spillage of the content of the container occurs through its lid cover spout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention an improved container cover such as, for example, a no spill-lid for a container containing liquids renders the cover spill proof, that is easy to manufacture and less costly as compared to the conventional covering lids for cups by forcing the liquid away from its usual path of finding the lowest level and to direct it.

This aspect, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a no spill device in the form of a covering or lid for a container, where the lid has an open outlet for the liquid that prevents spillage.

In one aspect of the present invention, the no-spill device is embodied in a lid in conjunction with a straw for drinking liquid from a covered container which when in an unstable environment prevents spillage from the container or the straw.

One of the easiest examples of spillage is a throw-away cup holding coffee where the cup includes a typical lid having an open spout. When the cup is in an unstable environment such as being held while the holder is walking or the cup is transported in any other way spillage of coffee through the open spout can hardly be prevented.

The no spill device of the present invention is based on creating a set of containers in communication with each other by the liquid in the container. For example, a coffee cup represents the first container and its lid acts as the second container. The lid is configured as a container by creating a channel within the lid into which the liquid can reach through an inlet and leave via an outlet. The coffee cup represents one of the containers which communicates with a channel as a second container that is arranged in the lid. In other words, the container for carrying a homogeneous fluid is a container in communication via the liquid with the channel that is provided in the lid and which represents the second container.

For example, a cup container represents one chamber while the cover or lid acts as a separate chamber. Viewed that way, the two would now be considered two separate chambers. To render the lid a separate chamber, the lid is provided with an integrated channel. This channel acts as communicating device that allows the two chambers to be in communication. By providing the integrated channel, the cup with its lid can be viewed as a two chamber system, where the communicating chambers are the cup and the integrated channel in the lid.

The channel in the lid can be created in a number of different ways. For example, the lid can be molded with the lower half of the channel in it. The channel cover with the upper half of the channel is then glued or molded to the lid. When the channel cover is attached to the lid the channel is thereby created.

The channel cover can be glued to the lid or can be fastened by any other method that can create a closed chamber. Of, course the channel cover has an inlet for liquid such that the two chambers can be connected via the liquid.

The no-spill lid can be produced or molded from any material that allows forming any needed shape. On the other hand, the channel can also be a separate tube which can be attached to the lid. There are a multitude of other ways to create a channel within the lid.

In the presence of gravity the same level of liquid is reached in each chamber. When the liquid settles, it balances out to the same level in both containers. When the orientation of the vessels changes by means of tilting or rotating the container or an additional liquid is added, the liquid inside the containers will again find a new equal level in the communicating chambers.

In order for the liquid to spill through an outlet in the lid, the level of the liquid inside the cup must reach the top point of the chamber inside the lid which is configured as a container by integrating a chamber within the lid. This is accomplished by creating a lid that contains a closed channel within. The channel is attained with a channel cover covering thus creating a chamber. When the cup is tilted, the level of the liquid in the cup may be lower than the top of the liquid in the channel, therefore the liquid cannot spill or come out through the outlet. A partition wall separates the inlet side from the outlet side in the integrated channel.

The present invention resolves prior problems by providing a two chamber system in the lid so as to prevent the liquid from flowing into its natural flow pattern and allow it to only flow in a certain prescribed direction.

The container with the lid attached, containing a homogenous liquid represents the communicating chambers that are connected below the top of the liquid in the communicating chambers. The top of the liquid is represented by the liquid having entered the channel. When the liquid settles, it balances out to the same level in all of the container. When the orientation of the container changes, for example by a tilting angle or by rotation the container or an additional liquid is added, the liquid inside the vessel will again find a new equal level in all of the communicating vessels.

For example, in order for the liquid to spill through an outlet of the lid, the, level of the liquid inside the cup must reach the top point of the integrated channel. On the other hand, spillage is prevented when the level of the liquid in the cup is lower than the top point of the integrated channel.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the two chamber system is created by means of a lid through which a straw extends. This configuration is often used, for example, for cold drinks that contain ice cubes.

In that example, the communication vessels are a cup and a no-spill straw. In order for the liquid to spill through the outlet of the straw, the level of the liquid in the cup must reach the horizontal line and passing through the top point of the no-spill straw. When the cup is tilted, the level of the liquid in the cup is lower than the top of the straw spiral, therefore, the liquid cannot spill or exit through the outlet.

In another aspect of the invention, communicating chambers can also work in a number of other combinations of chambers. The system as shown here can be applied to great number of different-sized containers in situations which preventing spillage is desired. The system described herein can be used in various industries

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The following figures depict certain illustrative embodiments of the invention in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the exterior of a lid for a container showing the liquid outlet and supra, the channel cover showing the open interior of a portion of the channel;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior side of the lid of FIG. 1 with the channel cover superposed;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lid from an interior position showing a portion of the channel according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged detail of the top view in FIG. 3 with an inlet side and an outlet side, showing the partition wall;

FIG. 4 is a section side view of the lid with the channel cover attached;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a container filled with liquid and capped with the lid with the integrated channel;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the interior of the lid indicating by arrows the liquid flow path;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the interior of the lid in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a lid with a straw extending through the lid;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the interior of the lid with the straw Extending there through;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the container with the lid and the straw extended through the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are generally indicated by same reference numerals.

Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown in an exploded view the exterior of a lid 1 with an opening 6 for a liquid; underneath, the channel cover 2 is shown from an inside perspective view, showing a portion of the channel 5 and opening 3 for liquid.

In FIG. 2, in an exterior exploded view, channel cover 2 is seen with liquid opening 3 and supra, the lid 1 is seen in an interior view with the integrated channel 5 and the partition wall 4. In FIG. 3, the interior of the lid 1 is shown in a top view. The flow path of the liquid is indicated by arrows. Shown is also opening 6.

In the detail shown in FIG. 3A, the opening 6 is seen in an enlarged view with arrows indicating the liquid flow. Also shown is the partition wall 4 that separates the outlet side from the inlet side of the integrated channel 5. A line-up of the partition wall 4 is indicated by the broken line.

In FIG. 4, the lid 1 is shown in a section side view where the integrated channel 5 is indicated and the cover 2 for attachment to lid 1.

FIG. 5 shows lid 1 in conjunction with a cup 10 and how the communicating chambers operate in a cup. FIG. 5 shows the lid 1 is fastened to the cup 10. A liquid level 8 of the tilted cup is shown and shown is also outlet 6. The horizontal line 7 in broken lines indicates the top point of the integrated channel 5. In order for the liquid to spill from the outlet 6 of the lid, the level of the liquid 8 must reach the horizontal line 7 passing through the top point of the integrated channel 5.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the assembly pieces of lid 1, an inner tube 12 and inner tube cover 14. The lid 1 is seen with outlet 6 and underneath the inner tube 12 for insertion into groove 13 of lid 1 (FIG. 6A). The inner tube 12 includes an inlet 120 and an outlet 140 for liquid which connect respectively to outlet 6 of lid 1 and to inlet 140. The inner tube 12 is covered by an inner tube cover 14 which also shows an inlet 140A.

FIG. 6 indicates by arrows how the lid outlet 6 lines up with the outlet 120 of the inner tube 12 and the liquid inlet 140 of the inner tube 12 is lined up with the inlet 140A of the inner tube cover 14.

FIG. 7, a different embodiment of the present invention, shows a side view of a straw 40 in conjunction with lid 110. The straw 40 exhibits 2 turns of the spiral section 400 seen below lid 110. Also shown are outlet 60 and inlet 30 extending in opposite direction. The straw 40 and lid 110 can be unit or can be an assembly of a lid and a cover.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the underside of lid 100 with straw 40 and spiral section 400.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the cup 10 with lid 1 and the non-spill straw 40 in a tilted position of about 45°. The liquid level 8 is seen with the broken line 70 indicating the horizontal axis line passing through the top of the spiral section 400 of the straw 40.

The same principle as in the example with the cup and the lid alone applies here as well. In order for the liquid to spill through an outlet in the straw, the level of the liquid inside the cup must reach a horizontal line in the system passing through the top point of the horizontal axis of spiral section of the straw which is configured as a container by integrating a chamber within the straw.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a cup lid or a straw and lid, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.