Cup assembly

Abstract

A cup for reducing or eliminating spillage or shake-out is provided. The cup has a cap and a spill and shake-out inhibiting element. The spill and shake-out inhibiting element is a dispensing tunnel, which provides for the formation of a pressure differential between the inside of the cup and the atmosphere when fluid begins to flow through the dispensing tunnel. The pressure differential, when it reaches a predetermined level, prevents further flow or movement of the fluid through the dispensing tunnel until additional suction is applied by the user. The diameter of the dispensing tunnel is small enough to effectively prevent air bubbles from flowing past the fluid in the dispensing tunnel. The cup is vented during dispensing of the liquid contained therein.

1 . A valve for a cup having a cap and an inner volume, the valve comprising: 
 a passageway having first and second ends, said first end being open and in fluid communication with the inner volume of the cup, said second end being open and in fluid communication with atmosphere, wherein said passageway has a cross-sectional area that is small enough to substantially prevent air from flowing past fluid in said passageway when the cup is tilted or inverted, wherein said passageway has a length and a dispensing volume, wherein said length and said dispensing volume are large enough to substantially prevent spillage or shake-out of the fluid from the inner volume of the cup when the cup is tilted or inverted; and    a vent that alleviates build up of vacuum in the inner volume only when the fluid is being dispensed.    
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said vent comprises a vent opening, wherein said vent opening sealingly abuts the cap when the inner volume is at ambient pressure, and wherein said vent opening is separated from the cap when the inner volume is at negative pressure.  
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein said vent has an annular wall that at least partially defines said vent opening.  
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said passageway is formed from a first channel having a first length that is open-faced, and wherein said first channel is sealed along said first length to form said passageway when the cap is connected to the cup.  
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 4 , further comprising a second channel having a second length that is open-faced, and wherein said first and second channels have corresponding shapes thereby allowing sealing engagement to form said passageway.  
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first and second channels is formed on the cap.  
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 4 , wherein said first channel is formed on the cap.  
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said passageway is disposed in a first planar section having a first longitudinal axis, wherein the cap is disposed in a second planar section having a second longitudinal axis, and wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         9 . A cup assembly comprising: 
 a cap having a first connecting structure;    a cup having an inner volume and a second connecting structure, said first and second connecting structures connecting said cap with said cup;    a valve having a passageway with first and second ends, said first end being open and in fluid communication with said inner volume of said cup, said second end being open and in fluid communication with atmosphere, wherein said passageway has a cross-sectional area that is small enough to substantially prevent air from flowing past fluid in said passageway when said cup is tilted or inverted; and    a vent that alleviates build up of vacuum in said inner volume only when the fluid is being dispensed.    
     
     
         10 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said passageway has a length and a dispensing volume, and wherein said length and said dispensing volume are large enough to substantially prevent spillage or shake-out of said fluid from said inner volume of said cup when said cup is tilted or inverted.  
     
     
         11 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said vent comprises a vent opening, wherein said vent opening sealingly abuts said cap when the inner volume is at ambient pressure, and wherein said vent opening is separated from said cap when the inner volume is at negative pressure.  
     
     
         12 . The cup assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said vent has an annular wall that at least partially defines said vent opening.  
     
     
         13 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said passageway is formed from a first channel having a first length that is open-faced, and wherein said first channel is sealed along said first length to form said passageway when said cap is connected to said cup.  
     
     
         14 . The cup assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said first channel is formed on said cap.  
     
     
         15 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said passageway is formed from first and second channels that each have a length that is open-faced, and wherein said first and second channels have corresponding shapes thereby allowing sealing engagement to form said passageway.  
     
     
         16 . The cup assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said first and second channels is formed on said cap.  
     
     
         17 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said passageway is disposed in a first planar section having a first longitudinal axis, wherein said cap is disposed in a second planar section having a second longitudinal axis, and wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         18 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said cap has a spout in fluid communication with said second end of said passageway.  
     
     
         19 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a disc having a first channel, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from said first channel.  
     
     
         20 . The cup assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said cap has a second channel, and wherein said first and second channels have substantially the same path and form lower and upper portions of said passageway.  
     
     
         21 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a disc having a first channel, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from said first channel, and wherein said vent is integrally formed with said disc.  
     
     
         22 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a disc having a first channel, an annular wall and a vent opening, wherein said passageway is at least partially formed from said first channel, wherein said vent comprises said vent opening and said annular wall, wherein said annular wall at least partially defines said vent opening, wherein said annular wall sealingly abuts said cap when said inner volume is at ambient pressure thereby sealing said vent opening, and wherein said annular wall is separated from said cap when said inner volume is at negative pressure thereby venting said vent opening.