# US 11,439,260 B2 · Non-spill cup and fluid control valve system with all round drinking rim > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,260 B2 - Document ID: US11439260B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/763,176 - Filed: 2018-11-23 - Published: 2020-12-10 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-27 - Assignees: AR Design Consulting Limited - Applicants: AR Design Consulting Limited - Inventors: Arnold Rees - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439260B2 ## CPC - A47G 19/2272: {from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers} - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) ## Abstract A non-spill drinking valve system includes a generally circular collar including a flange extending radially inwardly, an aperture defined by the flange and a circumferential drinking rim above the flange; and a flexible valve member removably attachable to the collar, comprising a first lip that engages with a lower face of the flange to create a liquid seal, and a second lip which engages with the drinking rim of the collar; wherein, when pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, the first lip is caused to disengage from the lower face of the flange and the second lip is caused to disengage from the drinking rim of the collar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-spill drinking valve system comprising: a generally circular collar including a flange extending radially inwardly, an aperture defined by the flange and a circumferential drinking rim above the flange; a flexible valve member removably attachable to the collar, comprising a first lip that engages with a lower face of the flange to create a liquid seal, and a second lip which engages with the drinking rim of the collar; and wherein, when pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, the first lip is caused to disengage from the lower face of the flange and the second lip is caused to disengage from the drinking rim of the collar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 1, wherein the first lip comprises one or more flow holes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 2, wherein, when pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, the first lip is caused to disengage with the lower face of the flange, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the one or more flow holes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 2, wherein the first lip comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are spaced apart by the or each flow hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 4, wherein the second lip creates an additional liquid seal with the circumferential drinking rim. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 2, wherein the flow holes are spaced entirely around the first lip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 6, wherein the flow holes are spaced equidistant with respect to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 1, further comprising a void between an upper face of the flange and a lower face of the second lip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 1, wherein an upper face of the flange includes a series of grooves spaced apart entirely around the flange. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 9, wherein the upper face of the flange includes a series of ribs formed between each groove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 1, wherein the collar comprises: an upper wall forming the flange; a lower truncated conical wall; and wherein the lower truncated conical wall includes one or more flow holes, and includes the aperture located centrally therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 11, wherein the upper wall includes a series of grooves spaced apart entirely around the upper wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 12, wherein the upper wall includes a series of ribs formed between each groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 11, wherein the collar includes a sealing lug which engages with an inner wall of a cup base to provide a liquid seal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible valve member includes an annular ring which frictionally engages within the aperture to provide a liquid seal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A non-spill drinking cup system comprising: a non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 1; and a cup base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 16, wherein cup base and collar are secured by screw thread, a push-fit or a clip-fit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-spill drinking cup system according to claim 16, wherein the flexible valve member is frictionally engaged between the collar and the cup base. ### Claim 19 A non-spill drinking valve system comprising: a generally circular collar including a flange extending radially inwardly, an aperture defined by the flange and a circumferential drinking rim above the flange; a flexible valve member removably attachable to the collar, comprising a first lip that engages with a lower face of the flange to create a liquid seal, and a second lip which engages with the drinking rim of the collar; wherein, when pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, the first lip is caused to disengage from the lower face of the flange and the second lip is caused to disengage from the drinking rim of the collar; wherein the first lip comprises one or more flow holes; wherein the first lip comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are spaced apart by the or each flow hole; and wherein the first portion of the first lip engages with the lower face of the flange when no pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, thereby creating a liquid seal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-spill drinking valve system according to claim 19, wherein the first portion of the first lip disengages with the lower face of the flange when pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, thereby allowing fluid to flow through one or more of the elongate flow holes. ### Claim 21 A non-spill drinking valve system comprising: a generally circular collar including a flange extending radially inwardly, an aperture defined by the flange and a circumferential drinking rim above the flange; a flexible valve member removably attachable to the collar, comprising a first lip that engages with a lower face of the flange to create a liquid seal, and a second lip which engages with the drinking rim of the collar; wherein, when pressure is applied to the flexible valve member, the first lip is caused to disengage from the lower face of the flange and the second lip is caused to disengage from the drinking rim of the collar; wherein the first lip comprises one or more flow holes; wherein the first lip comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are spaced apart by the or each flow hole; and wherein the second portion of the first lip comprises an upper circumferential rib and a lower circumferential rib.