One material, one piece spill-proof closure

Abstract

This invention relates to a closure for a drinking container and is particularly concerned with spill-proof closures, which remain in place while drinking. The inexpensive, effective and durable closures according to this invention are suitable for both disposable and nondisposable applications where both cost and performance are important.

Having described the invention, we claim:  
     
         1 . A spill-proof closure for a liquid container, said closure comprising an integral spout comprising a liquid exit valve region which provides a liquid passageway from the container, wherein the liquid exit valve opens upon suction from a user, said closure further comprising a means for attaching the closure to said container, wherein the entire closure comprises a single component and is manufactured in one operation.  
     
     
         2 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , further comprising an air entry valve region which provides a separate air passageway to and from the container.  
     
     
         3 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a substantially planar portion conforming in shape to the open end of an associated container  
     
     
         4 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , wherein the spout starts off center of the planar portion and extends upward from the planar portion to a desired height.  
     
     
         5 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner in the closure.  
     
     
         6 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 5 , wherein the liner is manufactured in the same operation as the closure.  
     
     
         7 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 5 , wherein the liner is molded in a separate molding operation.  
     
     
         8 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid exit valve region has a varying wall thickness, said wall thickness ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.10 inches at the edge of the valve and from about 0.000 to about 0.03 inches at the center of the exit valve of the spout.  
     
     
         9 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 2 , wherein the air entry valve region has a varying wall thickness, said wall thickness ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.10 inches at the edge of the air entry valve region and from about 0.000 to about 0.03 inches at the center of the air entry valve region.  
     
     
         10 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the entry valve and exit valve regions has from 1 to 10 slits running from the center of the valve regions outward toward the edge of the valve regions.  
     
     
         11 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 10 , wherein the individual slits are between from about 0.000 and 0.015 inches wide.  
     
     
         12 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the entry valve and exit valve regions is thin enough to allow the at least one valve to be easily punctured.  
     
     
         13 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid exit valve further comprises mating sections, said mating sections having edges that are chamfered or radiused.  
     
     
         14 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is made of a formable material selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes. polyethylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyamides, ethylene vinyl acetates, thermoset elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers. and blends or copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 1 . wherein the closure is molded via injection molding, compression molding, compression injection molding, thermoforming, or a variation thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A spill-proof closure for a liquid container, said closure comprising an integral spout comprising a liquid exit valve region which provides a liquid passageway from the container. an air entry valve region which provides a separate air passageway to and from the container, and a liner, wherein the liquid exit valve opens upon suction from a user, said closure further comprising an means for attaching the closure to said container. wherein the entire closure comprises a single component and is manufactured in one operation.  
     
     
         17 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 16 . wherein the closure is made of a formable material selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyamides, ethylene vinyl acetates, thermoset elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, and blends or copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 16 , wherein each valve region has a varying wall thickness, said wall thickness ranging from about 0.03 to about 0.10 inches at the edge of the valve region and from about 0.001 to about 0.03 inches at the center of the valve region.  
     
     
         19 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 16 . wherein at least one of the entry valve and exit valve regions has from 1 to 10 slits ranging in thickness from about 0.000 to about 0.015 inches running from the center of the at least one valve region outward toward the edge of the at least one valve region.  
     
     
         20 . The spill-proof closure of  claim 16 . wherein at least one of the entry valve and exit valve regions is thin enough to allow the at least one valve to be easily punctured.