Leak-proof cup assembly with flow control element

Abstract

A drinking cup assembly including a cup having an open end; a cap adapted to enclose the open end, the cap including a drinking spout and an air vent and mating surfaces adjacent or incorporated into the drinking spout and the air vent; and a flow control valve including two stacks adapted to engage the mating surfaces, each of the two stacks having a concave valve face at a top portion thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A drinking cup assembly comprising: 
 a cup having an open end;    a cap adapted to enclose said open end, said cap including a drinking spout and an air vent and mating surfaces adjacent or incorporated into said drinking spout and said air vent; and    a flow control valve including two stacks adapted to engage said mating surfaces, each of said two stacks having a concave valve face at a top portion thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said concave valve faces has a single valve slit therethrough.  
     
     
         3 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said two stacks are of substantially equal height.  
     
     
         4 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said stacks have a stepped outer contour.  
     
     
         5 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said two stacks has a smooth inner contour.  
     
     
         6 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 5 , where said smooth inner contour is selected from the shape consisting of cylindrical, frustoconical, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flow control valve comprises two separate pieces, each of which bears one of said two stacks.  
     
     
         8 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said mating surfaces comprise cylindrical recesses.  
     
     
         9 . The drinking cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said valve face is about 0.023 inches thick.  
     
     
         10 . A flow control element for use in a spill-proof cup assembly, said element comprising two stacks adapted to engage a drinking spout and an air vent, respectively, each of said two stacks having a concave valve face at a top portion thereof.