US 3,972,443 A · Drinking receptacle

Abstract

A drinking receptacle provided with a generally cup-like body and an enclosing cover removably coupled to the top portion and upper open end of the cup-like body; the cover having a drinking or outlet opening near the peripheral rim thereof; and a finger operated valve adapted to open and close said drinking or outlet opening whereby the receptacle may contain hot or cold beverages therein and the valve prevents spillage of said beverages at times when beverages are not being poured or drunk from said drinking or outlet opening. The finger operated valve having an actuator portion reciprocally mounted in the side of the cover or in the side of the drinking receptacle and being coupled directly to and integral with the valve whereby pressure on the actuator by a persons finger may directly open the valve in such a manner as to allow liquid to pass through said drinking or outlet opening. Resilient means tend to hold the valve closed and in accordance with various species of the invention, the finger operated valve may be a poppet type valve openable in a direction against pressure in the receptacle or in the opposite direction whereby pressure may be automatically relieved by force on the poppet against spring pressure which normally tends to hold it closed. The spring force being capable of holding the valve closed to prevent escape of liquid when the contents thereof are under safe pressure conditions.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A drinking receptacle provided with a generally cup like body having a normally upper open end;

a cover for said body removably and sealingly secured to said upper open end of said cup like body;
said cover having a peripheral rim and a top plate portion surrounded by said rim;
said top plate portion having upper and lower sides;
said top plate portion having an outlet opening extending therethrough;
said outlet opening being at a first location near the proximity of said rim;
an openable valve disposed and adapted to close and open said drinking outlet opening;
a finger engagable valve actuator movably mounted on said cover and being disposed at a second location near the proximity of said rim;
said valve actuator having a shank integral with and fixed to said valve;
said second location being disposed relative to said first location whereby said receptacle may be tilted to a disposition wherein said outlet opening is in a downward position and said valve actuator is in a relative upward position;
said shank is provided with a poppet valve portion adjacent said actuator portion;
said poppet valve portion adapted to seat against said side of said cover and in said opening therein around said shank;
said poppet valve spaced from said openable valve so as to permit both valves to close concurrently in response to resilient action of said spring as it closes said openable valve in said outlet opening.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drinking receptacle

Life of this patent

Drinking receptacle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5