Cup With Repositionable Insert

Abstract

An infant cup includes a container, a lid removably coupled to the container and having an opening, and an insert removably coupled to the lid. The insert is capable of providing various types of fluid flow outlets that control the amount of fluid that flow out of the infant cup. At least two types of outlets are disposed on the insert. Furthermore, the insert is capable of being repositioned with respect to the lid so the desired outlet is used on the infant cup. Each outlet may be designed to be used by children of certain ages, allowing continuing use of the infant cup as the child grows. Finally, the container of the cup may include an insulation layer and the lid may include a cover to sealingly engage the outlet on the insert.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant's cup comprising:
 a container with an opening;   a lid removably coupled to the container, the lid having an aperture in fluid communication with the opening of the container; and   an insert removably coupled to the lid, the insert including at least two outlets and repositionably coupleable to the lid enabling one of the at least two outlets to be in fluid communication with the opening of the container and the aperture of the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover pivotally coupleable to the lid, wherein the cover pivots between a first position where the cover is positioned to block the aperture and a second position where the cover is positioned away from the aperture.   
     
     
         3 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plate sized larger than the opening of the container, the plate being removably coupled to the lid and the container, the plate configured to be seated within the lid when the lid and the plate are removably coupled to the container.   
     
     
         4 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the plate further includes an opening that is in fluid communication with the container and the aperture of the lid when the plate and the lid are coupled to the container. 
     
     
         5 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the plate secures the insert against the lid when the plate is removably coupled to the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a first outlet, a second outlet, and a third outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the insert is configurable in three positions, the first outlet being in fluid communication with the container and aperture when the insert is in the first position, the second outlet being in fluid communication with the container and aperture when the insert is in the second position, and the third outlet being in fluid communication with the container and aperture when the insert is in the third position. 
     
     
         8 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the first outlet is a sippy spout, the second outlet includes at least two equally sized openings, and the third outlet includes one opening larger than each of the three openings of the second outlet. 
     
     
         9 . An infant's cup comprising:
 a container;   a lid removably coupled to the container, the lid having an aperture; and   an insert including at least two outlets, a first of the at least two outlets having a first rate of flow, a second of the at least two outlets having a second rate of flow different from the first rate of flow, the insert being repositionably coupleable to the lid enabling one of the at least two outlets to be in fluid communication with the container and the aperture of the lid.   
     
     
         10 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the insert includes a first outlet, a second outlet, and a third outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the insert is configurable in three positions, where the first outlet is in fluid communication with the container and aperture when the insert is in the first position, the second outlet is in fluid communication with the container and aperture when the insert is in the second position, and the third outlet is in fluid communication with the container and aperture when the insert is in the third position. 
     
     
         12 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the first outlet is a sippy spout, the second outlet includes at least two equally sized openings, and the third outlet includes one opening larger than each of the three openings of the second outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the first outlet includes a valve within the sippy spout. 
     
     
         14 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the valve is constructed from a flexible membrane that contains a slit, the flexible membrane deforming when a pressure is applied to the valve. 
     
     
         15 . An infant's cup comprising:
 a container;   a lid removably coupled to the container, the lid having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and an aperture extending through the exterior surface and the interior surface to be in fluid communication with the container; and   an insert with a first side, a second side, and at least two outlets, the insert being repositionably coupleable to the lid in at least two configurations, wherein the first side of the insert is disposed proximate the interior of the surface in a first of the at least two configurations, the second side of the insert is disposed proximate the interior of the surface in a second of the at least two configurations, and one of the at least two outlets being in fluid communication with the container and the aperture of the lid in any of the at least two configurations.   
     
     
         16 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the lid further comprises an opening spaced from the aperture, the opening being in fluid communication with the container. 
     
     
         17 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the insert further comprises a hole spaced from the at least two outlets, the hole being in fluid communication with the opening of the lid when the insert is in any of the at least two configurations. 
     
     
         18 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the insert includes a first outlet of a sippy spout, a second outlet of at least two equally sized openings, and a third outlet of one opening that is sized larger than each of the three openings of the second outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the insert has three configurations including a first configuration where the first outlet is in fluid communication with the container and aperture and the first side of the insert is disposed proximate the interior of the lid, a second configuration where the second outlet is in fluid communication with the container and aperture and the second side of the insert is disposed proximate the interior of the lid, and a third configuration where the third outlet is in fluid communication with the container and aperture and the second side of the insert is disposed proximate the interior of the lid. 
     
     
         20 . The infant's cup as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein each of the at least two outlets is configured to frictionally engage the aperture of the lid when each of the at least two outlets is in fluid communication with the aperture.