EP0871386B1

EP0871386B1 - Liquid dispensing cup for toddlers

Info

Publication number: EP0871386B1
Application number: EP96939577A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Austin Iodice; John G. Iodice; Jerry G. Iodice; Jeannine M. Iodice
Original assignee: Ansa Company Inc; Ansa Co Inc
Current assignee: Ansa Company Inc; Ansa Co Inc
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1996-11-07
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-07
Also published as: AU7671496A; TW306877B; WO1997017005A1; BR9611552A; ZA969420B; AR004313A1; CN1201377A; ES2136439T3; NO982005L; NO982005D0; DE69603981D1; HK1016043A1; KR19990067330A; ATE183624T1; MY132598A; CA2235682A1; CA2235682C; GR3031664T3; DE69603981T2; AU706704B2

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing cups and, more particularly, to a cup and closure combination for use by a toddler during transition from a baby bottle with a nipple.

Background of the Invention

Liquid dispensing cups for use by toddlers are well known in the art. These cups, typically known as "sipper cups" in the baby care industry, are used for dispensing liquids, such as milk, juice or the like, to toddlers after or during transition by the toddler from a baby bottle with a nipple. Typically, known "sipper cups" include a generally cylindrical body of greater diameter than a baby bottle and, sometimes, at least one handle extending outwardly from the body of the cup. The external handle or handles of known "sipper cup" designs enable handling of the cup by the small hands of a toddler. Moreover, known "sipper cups" for use by toddlers generally include a closure secured to an upper portion of the cup to prevent spillage of liquid contained within the cup.

While presently available "sipper cup" designs are sized or provide external handles for grasping of the cup by the toddler, it will be appreciated that toddlers have a tendency to ignore the handles as they attempt to grasp the cylindrical body of the cup. Furthermore, the larger diameter of "sipper cups" compared to the smaller diameter of baby bottles makes handling of the cups awkward for the small hands of a toddler. Moreover, when the toddler does use the handles, the handles of known "sipper cup" designs move the toddler's hand away from the center of gravity of the cup, thus adding to handling difficulty in view of the toddler's reduced muscle development and motor skills.

U.S. Patent US-A-4750630 describes a baby bottle formed with a central opening defined by two tubular sections connecting upper and lower cylindrical portions, the sections being grippable by a baby.

G.B. Application GB-A-2029379 describes an infant feeder comprising a cylindrical lid having an integral sport and engageable with a feeding bottle.

While improvements have been made in the design of baby bottles to facilitate handling thereof, such as is disclosed in U.S. Patent US-A-4 750 630 mentioned above, there exists a need for a "sipper cup" design which eases a toddler's transition from the baby bottle to an ordinary cup or glass.

Summary of the Invention

A liquid dispenser in accordance with the invention comprises a integrally molded plastic liquid container having generally cylindrical upper and lower portions the upper and lower portions being joined in fluid communication by a pair of integrally connected and longitudinally extending tubular sections for grasping by a user, the upper and lower portions and the pair of tubular sections defining a central opening through the container and a plastic closure removably engageable with the container upper portion characterised in that the dispenser is a dispensing cup for use by a toddler, the container being a cup, in that the tubular sections are sized to be easily grasped by a toddler during use of the cup and in that the closure has an integrally molded spout for fluid communication with the interior of the cup for sipping fluid contained therein, the plastic cup and closure spout enabling the toddler's transition from the baby bottle with a nipple to an ordinary cup.

The present invention is directed to a liquid dispensing cup for use by a toddler. The cup includes a central opening through the cup and a pair of tubular portions which are sized to be easily grasped by the toddler. The central opening through the cup, in connection with the tubular portions, provides a balanced feel to the cup when it is either partially or fully filled as the toddler's hands are positioned near the center of gravity of the cup. Thus, the liquid dispensing cup of the present invention overcomes many disadvantages currently associated with available "sipper cup" designs.

The liquid dispensing cup includes an integrally molded plastic cup having generally cylindrical upper and lower portions joined in fluid communication by a pair of tubular sections. The upper and lower portions and the pair of integral sections or handles define the central opening through the cup. The tubular sections, in connection with the central opening, thus provide readily grippable handles on the cup for the toddler to grasp with one or both hands.

A closure having an integrally molded spout in fluid communication with the interior of the cup is provided for sipping fluids contained within the cup. The closure is preferably a screw-type cap which cooperates with a screw formation integrally molded in the upper portion of the cup to provide a fluid seal between the cup and the closure. In its preferred form, the closure is a "spill-proof" type closure to prevent spillage of liquids contained within the liquid dispensing cup.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other modifications and advantages will become even more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and from the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a liquid dispensing cup in accordance with the principles of the present invention with a portion thereof shown in cross-section for purposes of illustration; and,

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1 with a portion thereof shown in cross-section.

Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, a liquid dispensing cup for use by a toddler is shown in accordance with the present invention. An integrally molded cup 10, preferably made of plastic, such as polyethylene or polycarbonate, and having generally cylindrical upper and

lower portions

12 and 14, respectively, is provided to hold liquid for dispensing to the toddler as described in more detail below. As shown in the figures, the upper and

lower portions

12 and 14 of the cup 10 are joined in fluid communication by a pair of integrally connected and longitudinally extending tubular sections or

handles

16 and 18 disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the cup. In this way, liquid introduced into an opening defined by a peripheral lip 20 about upper portion 12 is free to travel through

tubular portions

16 and 18 and fill the upper and

lower portions

12 and 14 of the cup. In its preferred form, the cup 10 is designed to hold between about, 170.1 and 226.8g (six and eight ounces) of liquid while other forms of the cup may hold more or less liquid as desired.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, the upper and

lower portions

12 and 14, and the

tubular portions

16 and 18, define a central opening 22 through the integrally molded cup 10. The central opening 22 is generally elongated, although this is not required, and is preferably located near the center of gravity of the cup to provide a balanced container when it is either partially or fully filled.

In accordance with the invention, the

tubular portions

16 and 18 are sized to be easily grasped by a toddler during use of the liquid dispensing cup. Preferably, the

tubular portions

16 and 18 have a smaller circumferential diameter near the midpoint of the central opening 22, shown generally as portions 24 and 26 in the figures, than the circumferential diameter of the tubular portions at their connections with the upper and

lower portions

12 and 14. The

tubular portions

16 and 18 of the liquid dispensing cup, in combination with the central opening 22, thus provide readily grippable handles near the center of gravity of the cup for the toddler to hold with one or both hands.

The liquid dispensing cup of the present invention further includes a closure 28 removably engageable with the upper portion 12. The closure 28 preferably includes an integrally molded spout 30 in fluid communication with the interior of the cup. In its preferred form, the cup includes a screw formation, shown generally at 32, integrally molded about the upper portion 12 of the cup at or below the peripheral lip 20. In this configuration, the closure 28 has a cooperating screw formation (not shown) integrally molded therein to provide a fluid seal between the cup 10 and the closure 28 when the closure is fully tightened about the upper portion 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other structures are available for joining the cup 10 and closure 28.

The closure 28 of the present invention is preferably a "spill-proof" type closure having the design details fully described in U.S. Patents US-A-4 795 052 and US-A-4 915 250, both of which patents are herewith fully incorporated herein by reference. It will be recognized that "spill-proof" closures of the type disclosed herein are particularly advantageous for use in combination with the cup 10 of the present invention as liquid contained within the cup is generally dispensed only upon a sucking action by the toddler user. When the liquid dispensing cup is in a horizontal position, such as if it were accidently knocked on its side, or if the cup is violently shaken by the toddler, the spill-proof closure 28 will prevent liquid from exiting the cup through the spout 30.

In its preferred form, the closure 28 is non-vented, i.e., the closure includes one or more apertures through the spout 30 through which liquid is dispensed without having a second "venting" aperture through the closure. As shown in Figures 1-2, the spout 30 extends upwardly from closure 28 adjacent its periphery and the spout 30 is contoured to facilitate sipping by a toddler. In this way the elimination of a second "venting" aperture greatly improves the "spill-proof" capability of the closure. It will be appreciated that other types of closures, with or without spill-proof capability, are readily adaptable for use with the liquid dispensing cup of the present invention.

In view of the above description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel liquid dispensing cup with integral handles for use by toddlers during the transition from a baby bottle with a nipple.

Claims

A liquid dispenser comprising an integrally molded plastic liquid container (10) having generally cylindrical upper and lower portions (12, 14), the upper and lower portions (12, 14) being joined in fluid communication by a pair of integrally connected and longitudinally extending tubular sections (16, 18) for grasping by a user, the upper and lower portions (12, 14) and the pair of tubular sections (16, 18) defining a central opening (22) through the container (10) and a plastic closure (28) removably engageable with the container upper portion (12) characterised in that the dispenser is a dispensing cup for use by a toddler, the container being a cup (10), in that the tubular sections (16, 18) are sized to be easily grasped by a toddler during use of the cup and in that the closure (28) has an integrally molded spout (30) for fluid communication with the interior of the cup (10) for sipping fluid contained therein, the plastic cup (10) and closure spout (30) enabling the toddler's transition from the baby bottle with a nipple to an ordinary cup.
A liquid dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each of the tubular sections (16, 18) has a circumferential dimension of lesser extent proximate a midpoint of the central opening (22) than at the connection of each of the tubular portions (16, 18) with the upper and lower portions (12, 14).
A liquid dispenser as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the closure (28) is a screw-type cap and the cup upper portion includes a screw formation (32) integrally molded therein for cooperation with the closure (28) whereby a fluid seal is formed between the cup and the closure.
A liquid dispenser as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the closure (28) is a spill-proof type closure.
A liquid dispenser as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the closure (28) is non-vented.
A liquid dispenser as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the integrally molded spout (30) extends upwardly adjacent the periphery of the closure (28).
A liquid dispenser as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the spout (30) is contoured to facilitate sipping of fluid by a toddler.
A liquid dispenser as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the plastic cup (10) and closure (28) are made of polyethylene or polycarbonate.