Cup Assembly

Abstract

A cup is provided having a lid with a spout defined by walls tapered towards a distal end of the spout. The lid has handles extending therefrom that are preferably formed of a first and second material having different Shore A hardnesses to define a rigid portion and a gripping portion.

1 . A cup assembly, comprising:
 a cup defining an interior volume having a top portion with an open end, a middle portion, and a bottom portion with a closed end;   a lid removably securable to said open end of said cup having a generally circular lid wall with a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface; said bottom surface having a liquid mating surface and a venting mating surface; said lid having an orifice and a vent that are in fluid communication with said inner volume of said cup;   a flow control valve that matingly engages said venting surface of said lid, said flow control valve in fluid communication with said vent to provide resistance to spillage in the absence of a sucking force applied to said orifice; and   a handle ring removably securable to said lid, wherein at least one handle is connected to said handle ring and extends curvingly downward to said bottom portion of said cup; said handle having proximal end connected to said handle ring and a distal end, said distal end being spaced a sufficient distance from said cup such that a child's hand can pass between said distal end and said cup.   
     
     
         2 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising two handles that are diametrically opposed to each other, wherein said handles have a length and a width that allow an infant or child to fully grasp said handles. 
     
     
         3 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cup lid has a spout with said orifice therethrough, said spout having a distal end, a proximal end, a height, a first width defined at said distal end and a second width defined at said proximal end, wherein said first width is less than or equal to said second width, wherein said spout has a generally elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The cup assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said spout further comprises a top wall with plurality of holes therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The cup assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said spout further comprising a front wall and a rear wall that extend from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said front wall and said rear wall taper inwardly from said proximal end to said distal end such that said first width is less than said second width. 
     
     
         6 . The cup assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said spout further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall that are integrally molded to and connect said front wall and said rear wall, wherein said top wall, first side wall, front wall, second side wall and said rear wall form a spout volume that is in fluid communication with said inner volume of said cup. 
     
     
         7 . The cup assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said first side wall and said second side wall taper inwardly such that said first width is less than said second width. 
     
     
         8 . The cup assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said top wall has an upwardly convex or arcuate shape and forms a chamfered edge with said front wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said rear wall, wherein said top wall has a radius of curvature r. 
     
     
         9 . The cup assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said spout is made from a flexible, resilient and/or soft material. 
     
     
         10 . A cup lid assembly, comprising:
 a lid removably securable to said open end of said cup having a generally circular lid wall with a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface; said bottom surface having a liquid mating surface and a venting mating surface; said lid having an orifice and a vent that are in fluid communication with said inner volume of said cup;   a flow control valve that matingly engages said venting surface of said lid, said flow control valve in fluid communication with said vent to provide resistance to spillage in the absence of a sucking force applied to said orifice; and   a handle ring removably securable to said lid, wherein at least one handle is connected to said handle ring and extends curvingly downward to said bottom portion of said cup; said handle having proximal end connected to said handle ring and a distal end, said distal end being spaced a sufficient distance from said cup such that a child's hand can pass between said distal end and said cup.   
     
     
         11 . The cup lid assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising two handles that are diametrically opposed to each other, wherein said handles have a length and a width that allow an infant or child to fully grasp said handles. 
     
     
         12 . The cup lid assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said cup lid has a spout with said orifice therethrough, said spout having a distal end, a proximal end, a height, a first width defined at said distal end and a second width defined at said proximal end, wherein said first width is less than or equal to said second width, wherein said spout has a generally elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . The cup lid assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said spout further comprises a top wall with plurality of holes therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The cup lid assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said spout further comprising a front wall and a rear wall that extend from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said front wall and said rear wall taper inwardly from said proximal end to said distal end such that said first width is less than said second width. 
     
     
         15 . The cup lid assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said spout further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall that are integrally molded to and connect said front wall and said rear wall, wherein said top wall, first side wall, front wall, second side wall and said rear wall form a spout volume that is in fluid communication with said inner volume of said cup. 
     
     
         16 . The cup lid assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said first side wall and said second side wall taper inwardly such that said first width is less than said second width. 
     
     
         17 . The cup assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said top wall has an upwardly convex or arcuate shape and forms a chamfered edge with said front wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said rear wall, wherein said top wall has a radius of curvature r. 
     
     
         18 . A handle for a cup assembly, comprising:
 a handle ring removably securable to a cup lid, wherein at least one handle is connected to said handle ring and extends curvingly downward from said handle ring; said handle having proximal end connected to said handle ring and a distal end, said distal end being spaced a sufficient distance from said cup such that a child's hand can pass between said distal end and said cup.   
     
     
         19 . The handle for a cup assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising two handles that are diametrically opposed to each other, wherein said handles have a length and a width that allow an infant or child to fully grasp said handles.