Leak proof collapsible cup

Abstract

Provided are collapsible compact cups and sealing cup lids for everyday use. The cups are designed with two or more rigid portions that are used to engage with the cup lids and support the cup. The rigid portions are interconnected by one or more flexible middle portions configured to support the upper rigid portion when the cup is in the upper operational position. At the same time, the flexible portion may bend under a certain force exerted by the user during collapsing of the cup and may allow one rigid portion to slide over another rigid portion. Even in this lower collapsed position, all rigid and flexible portions of the cup may remain connected to each other, thereby preventing any spills from the cups (e.g., residual liquids) creating a pocket sized cup with a sealing lid.

1 . A collapsible cup comprising:
 a top portion comprising a first rigid plastic material;   a bottom portion comprising a second rigid plastic material; and   a middle portion comprising a flexible plastic material, the middle portion attached to the top portion and the bottom portion and providing a connection at a first interface between the top portion and the middle portion and at a second interface between the middle portion and the bottom portion, the middle portion allowing the top portion to move between:   an upper operational position in which the top portion, the bottom portion, and the middle portion are extended with respect to each other, resulting in a maximum cup height and forming a closed end cavity configured for storing contents; and   a lower collapsed position in which the top portion, the bottom portion, and the middle portion are collapsed, resulting in a minimum cup height and in which the top portion is positioned around the bottom portion, wherein a connection between the top portion and the bottom portion is maintained.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , wherein the first rigid plastic material and the second rigid plastic material comprise high density polyethylene (HDPE); and wherein the flexible plastic material comprises a flexible polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , wherein the first rigid plastic material, the second rigid plastic material, and the flexible plastic material are transparent and allow for detecting a liquid level when the cup is used to store the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion has a variable thickness of the flexible plastic material along a height of the cup and the variable thickness is configured to allow for ease of collapsing into designated grooves and for the lower and middle section of the cup to fit into the center portion of the upper ring of the cup when it is in the compact collapsed position. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum cup height is less than about 1.5 inch. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , wherein the cup is configured to store between about 2 ounces and 24 ounces of the contents in the upper operational position. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , wherein the cup is configured to store the contents in the lower compact position. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible cup of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured for sealing with the top portion, the lid comprising a slidable element configured to move between multiple positions for controlling a size of a liquid delivery opening. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible cup of  claim 8 , wherein the slidable element is configured to temporary stop and/or lock in at least three positions: a fully-closed position, an intermediate open position, and a fully-open position. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible cup of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid delivery opening is configured to accommodate a straw for delivering the liquid out of the collapsible cup when the slidable element is the fully-open position. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible cup of  claim 9 , wherein the cup is spill proof when the slidable element is the fully-closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible cup of  claim 11 , wherein the cup remains spill proof, when the slidable element is the fully-closed position, in both the upper operational position and the lower compact position of the collapsible cup. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible cup of  claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises a ventilation aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible cup of  claim 8 , wherein the slidable element comprises a center column knob extending in an upward direction from the lid and configured to assist in moving the slidable element between the multiple positions. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible cup of  claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises an open channel disposed on a top surface of the lid and in communication with the liquid delivery opening and configured to maintain the liquid within the channel during delivery of the liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible cup of  claim 15 , wherein the lid comprises two protrusions positioned adjacent to the channel for supporting the lips to rest against a smooth surface while drinking to provide comfort. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible cup of  claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises a thread configured for engaging with a corresponding thread on the top portion during engaging and sealing the lid with respect to the top portion. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible cup of  claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises a carrying feature. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible cup of  claim 18 , wherein the carrying feature comprises a protrusion extending from an edge of the lid and a through-hole made in the protrusion. 
     
     
         20 . A cup lid comprising:
 a lid body forming a connecting edge configured for connecting with a top portion of a cup, the lid body comprising:
 a ventilation aperture 
 an open channel disposed on a top surface of the lid body and in communication with a content delivery opening and configured to maintain the conntent within the open channel during delivery of the content; 
 two protrusions positioned adjacent to the channel for supporting walls defining the channel with respect to an outside rim of the lid; 
 a thread configured for engaging with a corresponding thread on the top portion during engaging and sealing the lid with respect to the top portion; and 
   a slidable element supported by the lid body and configured to move between at least three positions with respect to the lid body for controlling a size of the content delivery opening, the three positions including a fully-closed position, an intermediate open position, and a fully-open position,
 wherein the content delivery opening is configured to accommodate a straw for delivering the content out of the cup when the slidable element is the fully-open position, 
 wherein the cup is spill proof when the slidable element is the fully-closed position and wherein the cup remains spill proof, when the slidable element is the fully-closed position, in both a upper operational position and a lower collapsed position of the cup, 
 wherein the slidable element comprises a center column knob extending in an upward direction from the lid and configured to assist in moving the slidable element between multiple positions of the slidable element.