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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cup assembly comprising:
 a cup; and   a lid body having a lid wall with a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface;
 an annular flange having a flange wall extending downwardly from said lid wall that is connectable to said cup, said flange wall having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite said outer surface; 
 a spout extending from said top surface, said spout having a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall connecting said front wall and said rear wall on a first side, a second side wall connecting said front wall and said rear wall on a second side opposite said first side, and a top wall, said top wall being connected to said front wall, said rear wall, said first side wall and said second side wall, said top wall forming edges with said front wall and said rear wall; 
 a vent; and 
 a flow control valve, 
   wherein said bottom surface includes a vent mating surface that is adjacent to or incorporated into said vent,   wherein said vent mating surface is configured to frictionally engage said flow control valve to place said valve in fluid communication with said spout and said vent,   wherein said bottom surface includes a valve securing member that engages said flow control valve to orientate and/or assist in holding said valve in position, said valve securing member extending orthogonally from said bottom surface.   
     
     
         2 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said front wall and said rear wall are aligned so that said first sidewall and said second sidewall are chamfered edges. 
     
     
         3 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said rear wall has an outwardly convex shape with a first radius of curvature and said front wall has an outwardly convex shape with a second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         4 . The cup assembly of  claim 3 , and wherein said first and second radii of curvature are between about 3.0 inches to about 7.0 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said spout has a proximal end connected to said lid body and a distal end opposite said proximal end. 
     
     
         6 . The cup assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said spout has a height from said proximal end to said distal end, and wherein said height is from about 0.80 inches to about 1.80 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The cup assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said proximal end has a width from said first side wall to said second side wall and said distal end has a width from said first side wall to said second side wall, and wherein said width of said distal end is from about 0.50 inches to about 0.90 inches and said width of said proximal end is from about 0.80 inches to about 1.2 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The cup assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said proximal end has a depth from said front wall to said rear wall and said distal end has a depth from said front wall to said rear wall and said distal end has a depth from said front wall to said rear wall, and wherein said depth of said distal end is from about 0.10 inches to about 0.25 inches and said depth of said proximal end is from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said front wall and said rear wall are tapered. 
     
     
         10 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said front wall and said rear wall are inwardly tapered. 
     
     
         11 . The cup assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said taper is along a substantially straight line or is a constant slope. 
     
     
         12 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said spout has an angle of taper β 1  and an angle of taper β 2  that are substantially equal 
     
     
         13 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said spout has an angle of taper or and an angle of taper α 2  that are substantially equal 
     
     
         14 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said spout top wall has a plurality of holes therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said spout is made from a rigid material. 
     
     
         16 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said spout is made from a flexible, resilient and/or soft material. 
     
     
         17 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said spout has a generally elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said spout has a proximal end connected to said lid body and a distal end opposite said proximal end, wherein said proximal end has a first width from said first side wall to said second side wall and said distal end has a second width from said first side wall to said second side wall, and wherein said first width is greater than or equal to said second width. 
     
     
         19 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle, where the handle has a gripping portion.