Closure for a weaning cup

Abstract

A sipper cup ( 10 ) includes a valve ( 16 ), when the valve ( 16 ) is not deformed, the valve is in an “off” position, so that no substantial liquid flows, even if the cup is turned upside down.

1 . A closure for a drinking cup comprising; 
 a body having a skirt, an and wall, and a valve;    said end wall having an opening therethrough;    said skirt structured to engage said drinking cup; and    said valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said top including two flexible portions divided by said slit; and    said flexible portions each having a thickened internal bridge and movable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.    
   
   
       2 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;    said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval;    said slit extending between the long sides of said oval; and    said elongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between said closed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed.    
   
   
       3 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 2  wherein said elongated body is structured to be squeezed and deformed by the force of a child's lips, gums or teeth.  
   
   
       4 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein when said flexible portions are in said open position, said flexible portions bow outward.  
   
   
       5 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said flexible, elongated body includes at least one transition portion;    said transition portion disposed between said flexible, elongated body and said top; and    said transition portion slanted away from said end wall.    
   
   
       6 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 5  wherein a transition portion is disposed between said end wall and said flexible, elongated body.  
   
   
       7 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein said skirt includes at least one lip structured to engage a thread on said cup.  
   
   
       8 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 1  wherein said body is made from a flexible material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and an olefin.  
   
   
       9 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 8 , wherein said thermoplastic elastomer and olefin are present in said flexible material in a ratio of about 6.5-9.5 parts thermoplastic elastomer to about 0.5-3.5 parts olefin.  
   
   
       10 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 8 , wherein said flexible material has a durometer hardness of between about 60-90 A.  
   
   
       11 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 8 , wherein said flexible material requires a force of at least about 1.5-9.0 newtons to deform said flexible material and open said valve.  
   
   
       12 . A closure for a drinking cup comprising: 
 a skin having a flange,    an end wall having a valve;    said end wall having an opening therethrough;    said skirt structured to engage said drinking cup; and    said valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said top includes two flexible portions divided by said slit; and    said flexible portions having a thickened internal bridge and movable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.    
   
   
       13 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 12  wherein: 
 said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;    said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval;    said slit extending between the long sides of said oval; and    said elongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between said closed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed.    
   
   
       14 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 12  wherein a seal is disposed between the flange and the end wall.  
   
   
       15 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 12 , wherein each of said thickened internal bridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.  
   
   
       16 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 1 , wherein each of said thickened internal bridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.  
   
   
       17 . A valve assembly for a closure for a drinking cup comprising: 
 a body having an end wall and a valve;    said end wall having an opening therethrough; and    said valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said top including two flexible portions divided by said slit; and    said flexible portions having a thickened internal bridge and movable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.    
   
   
       18 . The valve assembly of  claim 17  wherein: 
 said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;    said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval;    said slit extending between the long sides of said oval; and    said elongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between said closed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed.    
   
   
       19 . The valve assembly of  claim 17  wherein said elongate body is structured to be squeezed and deformed by the force of a child's lips, gums or teeth.  
   
   
       20 . The valve assembly of  claim 18  wherein when said flexible portions are in said open position, said flexible portions bow outward.  
   
   
       21 . The valve assembly of  claim 17  wherein: 
 said flexible, elongated body includes at least one transition portion;    said transition portion disposed between said flexible, elongated body and said top; and    said transition portion slanted away from said end wall.    
   
   
       22 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  wherein a transition portion is disposed between said end wall and said flexible, elongated body.  
   
   
       23 . The valve assembly of  claim 17  wherein said end wall and said valve arc made from a flexible material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and an olefin.  
   
   
       24 . The valve assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said thermoplastic elastomer and olefin are present in said flexible material in a ratio of about 6.5-9.5 parts thermoplastic elastomer to about 0.5-3.5 parts olefin.  
   
   
       25 . The valve assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said flexible material has a durometer hardness of between about 60-90 A.  
   
   
       26 . The valve assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said flexible material requires a form of at least about 1.5-9.0 newtons to deform said flexible; material and open said valve.  
   
   
       27 . The valve assembly of  claim 17 , wherein each of said thickened internal bridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.  
   
   
       28 . A closure for a drinking cup comprising: 
 a body having a skirt, an end wall, and a valve;    said end wall having an opening therethrough;    said skirt structured to engage said drinking cup; and    said valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said valve characterized as opened by bite, lip or gum pressure but not opened by suction, and the nursing action of an infant will not produce significant fluid flow.    
   
   
       29 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 28  wherein: 
 said top includes two flexible portions divided by said slit; and    said flexible portions movable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.    
   
   
       30 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 29  wherein: 
 said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;    said elongated, flexible body being structure to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval;    said slit extending between the long sides of said oval; and    said elongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between said closed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed.    
   
   
       31 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 30  wherein said elongated body is structured to be squeezed and deformed by the force of a child's lips, gums or teeth.  
   
   
       32 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 29  wherein when said flexible portions are in said open position, said flexible portions bow outward.  
   
   
       33 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 32  wherein: 
 said flexible, elongated body includes at least one transition portion;    said transition portion disposed between said flexible, elongated body and said top; and    said transition portion is slanted away from said end wall.    
   
   
       34 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 33  wherein a transition portion is disposed between said end wall and said flexible, elongated body.  
   
   
       35 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 28  wherein said skirt includes at least one lip structured to engage a thread on said cap.  
   
   
       36 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 29 , wherein said flexible portions each have a thickened internal bridge.  
   
   
       37 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 36 , wherein each of said thickened internal bridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.  
   
   
       38 . A closure for a drinking cup comprising: 
 a skirt having a flange,    an end wall having a valve;    said end wall having an opening therethrough;    said skirt structured to engage said drinking cup; and    said valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said valve characterized as opened by bite, lip or gum pressure but not opened by suction, and the nursing action of an infant will not produce significant fluid flow.    
   
   
       39 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 38  wherein: 
 said top includes two flexible portions divided by said slit; and    said flexible portions movable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.    
   
   
       40 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 38  wherein: 
 said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;    said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval;    said slit extending between the long sides of said oval: and    said elongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between said closed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed.    
   
   
       41 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 38  wherein a seal is disposed between the flange and the end wall.  
   
   
       42 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 38 , wherein said flexible portions each have a thickened internal bridge.  
   
   
       43 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 42 , wherein each of said thickened internal bridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.  
   
   
       44 . A valve assembly for a closure for a drinking cup comprising: 
 a body having an end wall and a valve;    said end wall having an opening therethrough; and    said valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said valve characterized as opened by bite, lip or gum pressure but not opened by suction, and the nursing action of an infant will not produce significant fluid flow.    
   
   
       45 . The valve assembly of  claim 44  wherein: 
 said top includes two flexible portions divided by said slit; and    said flexible portions movable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.    
   
   
       46 . The valve assembly of  claim 44  wherein: 
 said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;    said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval;    said slit extending between the long sides of said oval; and    said elongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between said closed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed.    
   
   
       47 . The valve assembly of  claim 44  wherein said elongated body is structured to be squeezed and deformed by the force of a child's lips, gums or teeth.  
   
   
       48 . The valve assembly of  claim 45  wherein when said flexible portions are in said open position, said flexible portions bow outward.  
   
   
       49 . The valve assembly or  claim 44  wherein: 
 said flexible, elongated body includes at least one transition portion;    said transition portion disposed between said flexible elongated body and said top; and    said transition portion is slanted away from said end wall.    
   
   
       50 . The valve assembly or  claim 44  wherein a transition portion is disposed between said end wall and said flexible, elongated body.  
   
   
       51 . The valve assembly of  claim 45 , wherein said flexible portions each have a thickened internal bridge.  
   
   
       52 . The valve assembly of  claim 51 , wherein each of said thickened internal bridge s a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.  
   
   
       53 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 1 , further comprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup aid prevent formation of a vacuum.  
   
   
       54 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 12 , further comprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum.  
   
   
       55 . The valve assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum.  
   
   
       56 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 28 , further comprising a second opening in said end wall to case the flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum.  
   
   
       57 . The closure for a drinking cup of  claim 38 , further comprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum.  
   
   
       58 . The valve assembly of  claim 45 , further comprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum.