Paper cup sip adaptor

#The present invention relates generally to drink cups for infants, and more particularly to a sip adaptor specifically sized and configured for retrofit attachment to a conventional paper drink cup.

#Most parents of infants and young children are very familiar with drinking cups often referred to as “sippy” or “sip” cups. Sip cups as currently known in the art typically comprises a cup portion which is fabricated from a plastic material and formed in the same general shape as a conventional paper drinking cup. In addition to this cup portion, the sip cup includes a lid which is engageable to the top rim of the cup portion. The lid itself typically includes an elongate spout which protrudes from a peripheral portion of the top surface thereof and includes a flow opening therein which fluidly communicates with the interior of the sip cup. In certain sip cups, the lid is threadably engaged to the cup portion, i.e., the cup portion is formed to include external threads about the rim thereof, with the lid being internally threaded with complementary threads. In other sip cups, the lid is frictionally engaged to the cup portion. The lid of some sip cups is provided with a valve arrangement which allows liquid to be drawn out of the flow passage of the spout when suction is applied thereto, but otherwise prevents liquid from spilling or dripping out of the spout when the sip cup is turned upside down or on its side and no suction is being applied to the spout.

#In eating establishments where young children or toddlers are often found (e.g., fast-food restaurants, amusement park concession stands, etc.), it is the typical practice that a beverage is provided in a paper drinking cup. The paper drinking cup is typically provided with a plastic lid enclosure on one end thereof to contain the liquid within the cup, the lid enclosure including a slit for accommodating the advancement of a straw therethrough into the interior of the cup. Oftentimes, a toddler cannot be trusted to drink out of the cup/straw arrangement since there is still a high susceptibility for the lid enclosure to be dislodged from the cup and the contents spilling over the toddler. As such, it is a common practice for parents to pour the contents of the paper drinking cup into the cup portion of a sip cup, thereafter re-attaching the lid to the cup portion of the sip cup. The sip cup filled with the beverage is typically easier for the toddler to handle, and has substantially less susceptibility to spillage.

#These, as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the sip cup adaptor assembly of the present invention as operatively interfaced to a conventional paper beverage cup; and

#FIG. 2 comprises top views of the collar and lid components of the sip cup adaptor assembly of the present invention;

#Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating one embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, the subject invention is directed to a sip cup assembly 10 which is adapted for retrofit attachment to a conventional paper beverage cup 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, such conventional beverage cup 12 comprises an outer wall 14 which has a generally frusto conical configuration. Extending along the periphery of one end of the outer wall 14 is a continuous, enlarged bead 16 which defines the rim of the beverage cup 12 and that encircles the opening that allows access to the inside of cup. The opposite end of the outer wall 14 is enclosed by a bottom wall 18. In accordance with conventional construction techniques, the bead 16 of the beverage cup 12 has a generally circular cross-sectional configuration. The cup 12, and bead 16, are typically made of a paper-based material coated with a sealant such as wax or plastic, or the entire cup may be made of plastic. Other materials could of course be used to form a fluid container comprising the cup 12.

#As used herein, the up, upper or top direction or part refers to the relative direction along a longitudinal axis 13 extending from the bottom of the cup 18 toward the top of the cup 12, which direction is generally vertical when the bottom 18 rests on or parallel to the ground. As used herein, the term inner or inward refers to a direction generally toward the inside of the cup 12 and preferably toward a longitudinal axis 13 of the cup 12. The term outer or outward indicates a direction away from that centerline.

#The sip cup assembly 10 of the present invention comprises two parts, the first of which is an annular collar 20 which is preferably fabricated from a plastic material such as PVC, although any other plastic material suitable for holding beverages consumed by mammals, and especially consumed by humans, could be used. The collar 20 has a top rim 22 sized and located to generally match the bead 16 and engage an exterior of wall 14 and a lower portion of bead 16. The collar 20 also defines an outer or exterior surface 26 which is itself tapered and includes a plurality of recesses 28 formed therein to provide a gripping surface for the sip cup assembly 10 when the collar is interfaced to the beverage cup 12 in a manner which will be described in more detail below.