CUPS FOR SPILLPROOF CONTAINER ASSEMBLIES
A spillproof container assembly includes a container body and a lid body that is adapted to be fastened onto the container body by screwing. Both the container body and the lid body are advantageously provided with outwardly extending wing portions for enhancing the grippability of and properly orienting the container assembly for small children. The outwardly extending wing portions of the container body are aligned with the outwardly extending wing portions of the lid body. The lid body is provided with an acoustic waveguide, and sound generating structure is provided in communication with the acoustic waveguide for creating an audible feedback when the lid body has been tightened onto the container body to a predetermined relative position and tightness. The acoustic waveguide further functions as a viewing port that provides a visual feedback so that a user can visually verify the position of the lid body with respect to the container body. In addition, the wing portions of the lid body are designed to slightly interfere with and cam over respective upper platforms on the wing portions of the container body so that a user will be provided with a tactical feedback as a lid body is approaching an optimal amount of tightness with respect to the container body.
1 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly, comprising:
an inner surface having at least one thread defined thereon;
a rounded main body; and
a first wing protruding from a first side of the main body to facilitate gripping of the lid by a user.
2 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a second wing protruding from a second portion of the main body, and wherein the first and second wings facilitate gripping of the lid by a user.
3 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the main body is a second side that is substantially opposite the first side of the main body.
4 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the second wing is substantially symmetrical to the first wing.
5 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first wing has a port defined therein.
6 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second wings has a port defined therein.
7 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising structure for providing an audible feedback when the lid is in a predetermined position with respect to a container.
8 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the structure for providing an audible feedback is mounted within the port.
9 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the port is constructed and arranged to define an acoustic waveguide.
10 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the structure for providing an audible feedback comprises a flexible tab.
11 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the rounded main body is substantially circular as viewed in top plan.
12 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lid has a maximum lateral dimension, and the first wing extends radially outwardly from the rounded main body by a first distance, and wherein a ratio of the first distance to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.03 to about 0.25.
13 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the ratio of the first distance to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.04 to about 0.2.
14 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the first distance of the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.05 to about 0.16.
15 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first wing has a first maximum width as viewed in side elevation, and wherein the lid has a maximum lateral dimension, and wherein a ratio of the first maximum width to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.3 to about 0.85.
16 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the first maximum width to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.35 to about 0.8.
17 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the ratio of the first maximum width to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.4 to about 0.7.
18 . A lid for a child's drinking cup, comprising:
a lid body;
securement structure for facilitating releasable attachment of the lid body to a cup body;
a drinking opening defined in the lid body for permitting the passage of fluid through the lid body to a user for purposes of drinking; and
an acoustic waveguide defined in the lid body for transmitting a sound to the user.
19 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the lid body is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein the acoustic waveguide is oriented so that is substantially normal to the horizontal plane.
20 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the acoustic waveguide is substantially tapered in transverse cross-section so that it has an upper portion that is substantially broader than a lower portion.
21 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 18 , further comprising sound generating structure that is substantially positioned within the acoustic waveguide.
22 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the lid body includes a main body portion and at least a first wing portion that extends outwardly from the main body portion, and wherein the acoustic waveguide is defined in the first wing portion.
23 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the lid body includes a second outwardly extending wing portion that is substantially opposed to the first wing portion, and further comprising a second acoustic waveguide that is defined in the second outwardly extending wing portion.
24 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the sound generating structure comprises a flexible tab.
25 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the flexible tab is substantially L-shaped.
26 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the flexible tab has a hardness at room temperature that is substantially within a range of about 10 to about 150 Rockwell R.
27 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 26 , wherein the flexible tab has a hardness at room temperature that is substantially within a range of about 15 to about 130 Rockwell R.
28 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 27 , wherein the flexible tab has a hardness at room temperature that is substantially within a range of about 20 to about 117 Rockwell R.
29 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the flexible tab has a modulus of elasticity at room temperature that is substantially within a range of about 0.0001 to about 25.
30 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 29 , wherein the flexible tab has a modulus of elasticity at room temperature that is substantially within a range of about 15 to about 130.
31 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 30 , wherein the flexible tab has a modulus of elasticity at room temperature that is substantially within a range of about 20 to about 117.
32 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the flexible tab has a length that is substantially within a range of about 2 mm to about 10 mm.
33 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 32 , wherein the flexible tab has a length that is substantially within a range of about 3 mm to about 9 mm.
34 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 33 , wherein the flexible tab has a length that is substantially within a range of about 4 mm to about 7 mm.
35 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the flexible tab is constructed and arranged to be laterally deflected by a first distance when engaging structure on a cup body, and wherein the first distance is substantially within a range of about 1 mm to about 5.5 mm.
36 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 35 , wherein the first distance is substantially within a range of about 2 mm to about 4.75 mm.
37 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 36 , wherein the first distance is substantially within a range of about 3 mm to about 4 mm.
38 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly, comprising:
a lid body;
securement structure for facilitating releasable attachment of the lid body to a cup body;
a drinking opening defined in the lid body for permitting the passage of fluid through the lid body to a user for purposes of drinking; and
a viewing port defined in the lid body for viewing a portion of the cup body in order to verify proper alignment of the lid body and the cup body when the lid body is being secured to the cup body.
39 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 38 , wherein the lid body has a main body and at least a first wing protruding from a first side of the main body, and wherein the viewing port is substantially defined within the first wing.
40 . A lid for a spillproof drinking assembly according to claim 39 , wherein the lid body further includes a second wing protruding from a second side of the main body, and further comprising a second viewing port that is substantially defined within the second wing.