GB1599050A

GB1599050A - Drinking vessels

Info

Publication number: GB1599050A
Application number: GB51618/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kin Hip Metal and Plastic Factory Ltd
Current assignee: Kin Hip Metal and Plastic Factory Ltd
Priority date: 1977-12-12
Filing date: 1977-12-12
Publication date: 1981-09-30
Also published as: JPS5483166A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN DRINKING VESSELS (71) We, KIN HIP METAL & PLASTIC FACTORY LIMITED, a Body Corporate organised under the Laws of Hong Kong, of 9 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to drinking vessels, its object being to provide an improved construction in which a dispensing opening is normally closed by a stopper which can be moved against resilient loading into an open position by actuation of a pusher element with the finger or thumb.

According to the present invention a drinking vessel comprises an upper part with a neck portion and an end wall with a dispensing opening therein, a stopper body carried by the upper part and urged by resilient loading means upwardly to effect sealing engagement of a stopper on said stopper body in the opening, a pusher member carried movably by the upper part, said pusher member and stopper body having cooperating inclined camming faces whereby movement of said pusher member causes movement of the stopper body in a direction to disengage the stopper from the opening, and actuating means coupled for operating the pusher member and projecting externally ot the upper part for manual shifting of the pusher member.

The actuating means and the pusher member may be a single body, e.g. an integral moulding.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuating means passes through an aperture in the wall of the upper part, and in such an arrangement the actuating means preferably carries a flange and a sealing ring disposed between the flange and the wall to seal the aperture when the actuating means is in rest position.

Preferably, the pusher member and the actuating means are spring-urged towards rest position by a spring abutting against the stopper body and the actuating member.

The pusher member shifts in a plane which is normal to the plane of movement of the stopper into and out of the opening.

The actuating member may be a rod which projects externally of the upper part for operation manually, and which may carry a knob. In another form, the upper part includes means providing a pivot for a handle positioned to abut against the actuating member for manual operation thereof.

The stopper body may include a stopper carried on two resiliently bendable arms secured to the underface of the end wall.

Preferably the upper part is included in a cap portion of the vessel which is removably engageable onto a body portion of the vessel, and sealing means may be provided between the cap portion and the body portion.

The vessel, e.g. at least the body portion thereof, is advantageously made doublewalled for heat insulation purposes.

In order that the nature of the invention may be readily ascertained, five embodiments of non-spilling mug in accordance therewith are hereinafter particularly described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a central vertical section and a plan view of a first embodiment of mug; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a central vertical section and a plan view of a second embodiment of mug; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view and a central vertical section of a third embodiment of mug, and Fig. 7 is a scrap section taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5; Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan view and a central vertical section of a fourth embodiment of mug; Fig. 10 is a scrap section taken on the line X-X of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a perspective elevation of a fifth embodiment of mug;; Fig. 12 is a plan view of the mug of Fig.

11; Fig. 13 is a partial section taken in a first vertical plane, and partial side elevation of the mug of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a partial section, taken in a vertical plane at a right angle to that of Fig. 13, and partial side elevation of the mug of Fig.

11; Fig. 15 is an underplan view of a removable upper part of the mug of Fig. 11.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the mug comprises a body portion A and a cap portion B.

The body portion is composed of an outer wall 1 and an inner wall 2 which are secured together at the top edge of wall 1 by adhesive and which define an insulating air space 3 between them.

Ibe cap portion B has a neck 4 at the lower part of which there is a flange 5 from which depends a skirt 6. Between the lower end of the neck, the flange 5 and the skirt 6 there is defined a recess to receive a sealing ring 7 which seats onto the top edge of the body A, the cap and the body being locked releasably in sealing engagement by catch means 8 engaging with resilient deformation under a shoulder 9 on the body A. Within the neck 4 there is a transverse wall 10 having a pouring opening 11 in it. To close the opening 11 there is provided a stopper 12 welch Is carried on two bendable arms 13 and 14 secured by lugs or rivets 15, 16 to the underside of the wall 10.

On the stopper body there is formed an inclined wall 17 against which there abuts a camming face at one end 18 of a push bar 19, the other end of the bar being integral with an actuating rod 20 projecting through an aperture in the neck 4, and carrying a knob 21. On the rod 20 there is provided a flange 22, and a sealing ring 23 is positioned between the flange 22 and the inside surface of the neck 4 to prevent liquid emerging. A leaf spring 24 acts between the stopper body and the flange 22 to urge the rod 20 and the push bar 19 into the rest position illustrated.

When the knob 21 is pushed in manually, e.g. with the thumb, the camming face pushes the wall 17 downwards to move the stopper 12 away from the opening 11. The spnng 24 also acts to urge the stopper into closing position.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the second embodiment is similar in construction and operation to that of Figs. 1 and 2, but has the flange 5a formed internally instead of externally, and the neck 4a manufactured as a separate item which is then secured on the skirt 6a by adhesive.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a third embodiment wherein there is provided a trigger action operable at a right angle to the plane in which the stopper moves with respect to the opening. The stopper 25 is positioned in an opening 26 of a top wall 27, and is carried on resiliently bendable arms 28 secured on lugs 29 at the underside of the top wall. On the stopper body there is formed an inclined surface 30 against which abuts a camming face 31 on a push bar 32 which is integral with an actuating rod 34. A flange 35 on the rod 34 abuts against a sealing ring 36, and the rod and push bar are urged to the rest position shown by a spring 37 acting between the stopper body and the flange 35. On the exterior of the neck 33 there is formed a housing 38 having a pivot 39 for a handle 40 which abuts against the actuating rod 34.

The handle 40 is aligned with a grasping handle 41 for easy operation by the user's thumb. When the handle 40 is depressed, the camming face 31 abuts the inclined surface 30 and lowers the stopper 25 away from the opening.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, there is shown a fourth embodiment which is identical in construction and operation to that described in relation to Figs. 5 to 7, with the exception that the neck 33 and skirt 33a of Figs. 5 to 7, are replaced by a single integral moulding 42.

Referring to Figs. 11 to 15, the fifth embodiment of mug has a cup shaped lower portion 43 with fixed handle 44. A removable upper portion 45 can seat on the rim of the lower portion 43, by means of a sealing ring 46. Camming tenons 47 on the inside periphery of the upper portion 45 can engage under lugs 48 on the external periphery of the lower portion 43, so that by rotation of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion, the two portions can be brought into liquid-tight engagement.

In neck 49 of the upper portion there is a transverse wall 50 with a dispensing opening 51 therein. A stopper 52 is carried by resilient arms 53, 53 and 54 urging it into sealing position. A pusher member 55 is slidable transversely and is under the action of a return spring 56. The pusher member has a cam face 57 which can abut against a cam follower 58 on the arms 53 to move the stopper 52 downwardly out of sealing engagement to open the mug. The pusher member 55 projects at the exterior at 59, and can be acted upon by a handle 60 pivoted at 61. Downward and inward pressure on the handle 60 causes the stopper to be moved to open position.

With such constructions, there is provided a drinking mug which is spill-proof but which can be opened when desired by a very simple pressing movement on an actuating rod or on a pivoted handle acting on such a rod. The double-walled construction ensures that there is heat insulation for both hot and cold beverages and, as compared with the conventional vacuum flask, there is the possibility of drinking the contents directly through the opening in the top wall.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A drinking vessel comprising an upper part with a neck portion and an end

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Fig. 14 is a partial section, taken in a vertical plane at a right angle to that of Fig. 13, and partial side elevation of the mug of Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is an underplan view of a removable upper part of the mug of Fig. 11. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the mug comprises a body portion A and a cap portion B. The body portion is composed of an outer wall 1 and an inner wall 2 which are secured together at the top edge of wall 1 by adhesive and which define an insulating air space 3 between them. Ibe cap portion B has a neck 4 at the lower part of which there is a flange 5 from which depends a skirt 6. Between the lower end of the neck, the flange 5 and the skirt 6 there is defined a recess to receive a sealing ring 7 which seats onto the top edge of the body A, the cap and the body being locked releasably in sealing engagement by catch means 8 engaging with resilient deformation under a shoulder 9 on the body A. Within the neck 4 there is a transverse wall 10 having a pouring opening 11 in it. To close the opening 11 there is provided a stopper 12 welch Is carried on two bendable arms 13 and 14 secured by lugs or rivets 15, 16 to the underside of the wall 10. On the stopper body there is formed an inclined wall 17 against which there abuts a camming face at one end 18 of a push bar 19, the other end of the bar being integral with an actuating rod 20 projecting through an aperture in the neck 4, and carrying a knob 21. On the rod 20 there is provided a flange 22, and a sealing ring 23 is positioned between the flange 22 and the inside surface of the neck 4 to prevent liquid emerging. A leaf spring 24 acts between the stopper body and the flange 22 to urge the rod 20 and the push bar 19 into the rest position illustrated. When the knob 21 is pushed in manually, e.g. with the thumb, the camming face pushes the wall 17 downwards to move the stopper 12 away from the opening 11. The spnng 24 also acts to urge the stopper into closing position. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the second embodiment is similar in construction and operation to that of Figs. 1 and 2, but has the flange 5a formed internally instead of externally, and the neck 4a manufactured as a separate item which is then secured on the skirt 6a by adhesive. Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a third embodiment wherein there is provided a trigger action operable at a right angle to the plane in which the stopper moves with respect to the opening. The stopper 25 is positioned in an opening 26 of a top wall 27, and is carried on resiliently bendable arms 28 secured on lugs 29 at the underside of the top wall. On the stopper body there is formed an inclined surface 30 against which abuts a camming face 31 on a push bar 32 which is integral with an actuating rod 34. A flange 35 on the rod 34 abuts against a sealing ring 36, and the rod and push bar are urged to the rest position shown by a spring 37 acting between the stopper body and the flange 35. On the exterior of the neck 33 there is formed a housing 38 having a pivot 39 for a handle 40 which abuts against the actuating rod 34. The handle 40 is aligned with a grasping handle 41 for easy operation by the user's thumb. When the handle 40 is depressed, the camming face 31 abuts the inclined surface 30 and lowers the stopper 25 away from the opening. Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, there is shown a fourth embodiment which is identical in construction and operation to that described in relation to Figs. 5 to 7, with the exception that the neck 33 and skirt 33a of Figs. 5 to 7, are replaced by a single integral moulding 42. Referring to Figs. 11 to 15, the fifth embodiment of mug has a cup shaped lower portion 43 with fixed handle 44. A removable upper portion 45 can seat on the rim of the lower portion 43, by means of a sealing ring 46. Camming tenons 47 on the inside periphery of the upper portion 45 can engage under lugs 48 on the external periphery of the lower portion 43, so that by rotation of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion, the two portions can be brought into liquid-tight engagement. In neck 49 of the upper portion there is a transverse wall 50 with a dispensing opening 51 therein. A stopper 52 is carried by resilient arms 53, 53 and 54 urging it into sealing position. A pusher member 55 is slidable transversely and is under the action of a return spring 56. The pusher member has a cam face 57 which can abut against a cam follower 58 on the arms 53 to move the stopper 52 downwardly out of sealing engagement to open the mug. The pusher member 55 projects at the exterior at 59, and can be acted upon by a handle 60 pivoted at 61. Downward and inward pressure on the handle 60 causes the stopper to be moved to open position. With such constructions, there is provided a drinking mug which is spill-proof but which can be opened when desired by a very simple pressing movement on an actuating rod or on a pivoted handle acting on such a rod. The double-walled construction ensures that there is heat insulation for both hot and cold beverages and, as compared with the conventional vacuum flask, there is the possibility of drinking the contents directly through the opening in the top wall. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A drinking vessel comprising an upper part with a neck portion and an end

wall with a dispensing opening therein, a stopper body carried by the upper part and urged by resilient loading means upwardly to effect sealing engagement of a stopper on said stopper body in the opening, a pusher member carried movably by the upper part, said pusher member and stopper body having cooperating camming faces whereby movement of said pusher member causes movement of the stopper body in a direction to disengage the stopper from the opening and actuating means coupled for operating the pusher member and projecting externally of the upper part for manual shifting of the pusher member.

2. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating means and the pusher member are a single body.

3. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuating means passes through an aperture in the wall of the upper part.

4. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuating means carries a flange and a sealing ring disposed between the flange and the wall to seal the aperture when the actuating means is in rest position.

5. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pusher member and the actuating means are spring-urged towards rest position by a spring abutting against the stopper body and the actuating member.

6. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pusher member and the stopper body are provided with cooperating complementary camming faces.

7. A drinking vessel, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pusher member is shiftable in a plane which is normal to the plane of movement of the stopper into and out of the opening.

8. A drinking vessel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating member is a rod which projects externally of the upper part for operation manually.

9. A drinking vessel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stopper body includes a stopper carried on two resiliently bendable arms secured to the undersurface of the end wall.

10. A drinking vessel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper part is included in a cap portion of the vessel which is removably engageable onto a body portion of the vessel.

11. A drinking vessel, as claimed in claim 10, wherein sealing means are provided between the cap portion and the body portion.

12. A drinking vessel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the body portion of the vessel is made double-walled for heat insulation purposes.

13. A drinking vessel, as claimed in either of claims 10 and 11, wherein the cap portion and the body portion of the vessel include co-operating cam and tenon means permitting the cap portion to be tightened into sealing engagement with the body portion by relative rotation.

14. A drinking vessel substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 3 and 4, or Figs. 5 to 7, or Figs. 8 to 10, or Figs. 11 to 15, of the accompanying drawings.