Drinking Cup With Valved Cap For Fluid Retention

Abstract

A drinking appliance for young children is provided. The appliance includes a cap having an upper side with a protrusion extending upwardly from the upper side defining a spout which terminates in a fluid outlet and a lower side having a retainer sleeve extending downwardly from the spout and adapted to retain a valve housing. Also included is a valve housing including a valve holder having an upwardly extending hollow cylindrical projection adapted to fit in the retainer sleeve of the cap and terminating in a valve head seat for maintaining the valve in operational position when the appliance is used, a bidirectional valve having a head section with a centrally disposed port and a downwardly extending valve element that terminates in a bottom slit defining a valve orifice that opens and closes to selectively allow fluid to flow out of the spout or to allow air and excess fluid to flow back into the cup, and a valve retainer that attaches to the valve holder and is formed with a centrally disposed bore into which the downwardly extending valve element is removably seated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A drinking appliance for young children comprising:
 a cap having an upper side with a protrusion extending upwardly from the upper side defining a spout which terminates in a fluid outlet and a lower side, the lower side having a retainer sleeve extending downwardly and formed and positioned within the spout to receive and retain a valve housing;   a valve housing including
 a valve holder formed and adapted to receive a valve, said valve holder having an upwardly extending hollow cylindrical projection adapted to fit in the retainer sleeve of the cap, said cylindrical projection being formed to receive and hold a valve and terminating in a valve head seat for maintaining the valve in functional position when the appliance is used, 
 a bidirectional valve having a head section with a centrally disposed port and a downwardly extending valve element that terminates in a bottom slit defining a valve orifice that opens and closes to selectively allow fluid to flow out of the spout or to allow air and excess fluid to flow back into the cup, and 
 a valve retainer that attaches to the valve holder, said valve retainer being formed with a centrally disposed bore into which the downwardly extending valve element is removably seated. 
   
     
     
         2 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the valve housing is constructed to friction fit into the retainer sleeve of the cap. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance according to  claim 2  wherein the valve retainer permanently attaches to the cylindrical projection of the valve holder. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance according to  claim 2  wherein the valve retainer is formed with a plurality of cut-outs in its top for fluid and air movement through the valve housing. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the valve holder includes a handle to facilitate removal and installation of the valve housing in the retainer sleeve of the cap. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the valve head seat of the cylindrical projection of the valve holder has a centrally disposed hole and a plurality of fins extending between the edge of the hole and the rim of the valve head seat. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the valve is composed of Silicone with a durometer of 50 to 70 shore A. 
     
     
         8 . A drinking appliance for young children comprising:
 a cup having an internally threaded mating upper end;   a cap having an upper side with a protrusion extending upwardly from the upper side defining a spout which terminates in a fluid outlet and a lower side, the lower side having a valve housing sleeve extending downwardly and formed and positioned within the spout to receive and retain a valve housing, and a downwardly extending, externally threaded collar;   a valve housing including
 a valve holder formed and adapted to receive a valve, said valve holder having an upwardly extending hollow cylindrical projection adapted to fit in the retainer sleeve of the cap, said cylindrical projection being formed to receive and hold a valve and terminating in a valve head seat for maintaining the valve in functional position when the appliance is used, 
 a bidirectional valve having a circumferentially angled top portion terminating in a flat head section having a centrally disposed port and a downwardly extending valve element that terminates in a bottom slit defining a valve orifice that opens and closes to selectively allow fluid to flow out of the spout or to allow air and excess fluid to flow back into the cup, and 
 a valve retainer that permanently attaches to the valve holder, said valve retainer being formed with a centrally disposed bore into which the downwardly extending valve element is removably seated. 
   
     
     
         9 . A drinking appliance for young children comprising:
 a cup defining an opening;   a cap sealingly engaging the cup to cover the opening when installed on the cup, said cap defining a cavity with said cup when installed on said cup, the cap having an upper side with an upwardly extending spout and a lower side with a tube section extending downwardly therefrom defining a passageway leading to the spout;   a valve housing releasably attached to the tube section on the lower side of the cap;   a bidirectional valve separate from the valve housing and mateably engaging the valve holder and adapted to control fluid flow through the spout by means of a centrally disposed port that terminates in a single, bottom slit defining a valve orifice that opens and closes to selectively allow fluid to flow out of the spout or to allow air and excess fluid to flow back into the cup; and   a valve retainer separate from the valve holder and formed to permanently attach to the valve holder to hold the valve in an operational position within the cap.