Convertible Silicone Toddler Cup

Abstract

A toddler cup includes: a pouch having a closed bottom end and an open upper end, the pouch further including at least one rib formed around the pouch and spaced apart from a top end of the pouch; a ring including a ring body with threads formed on an outside thereof, the ring shaped to closely fit around the pouch and adjacent to the at least one rib formed around the pouch; a collar including a collar body having threads formed on an inner surface thereof, the ring shaped to threadably engage the ring when the ring is located around the pouch; and a spout including a spout body that is shaped to cover the open upper end of the pouch, wherein the spout is secured to the pouch between the ring and the collar when the collar is threadably secured to the ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toddler cup comprising:
 a pouch formed of a resiliently flexible material, the pouch having a closed bottom end and an open upper end, the pouch further including at least one rib formed around the pouch and spaced apart from a top end of the pouch;   a ring including a ring body with threads formed on an outside thereof, the ring shaped to closely fit around the pouch and adjacent to the at least one rib formed around the pouch;   a collar including a collar body having threads formed on an inner surface thereof, the ring shaped to threadably engage the ring when the ring is located around the pouch;   a spout including a spout body that is shaped to cover the open upper end of the pouch, wherein the spout is secured to the pouch between the ring and the collar when the collar is threadably secured to the ring.   
     
     
         2 . The toddler cup of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is formed of a silicone material. 
     
     
         3 . The toddler cup of  claim 2 , wherein the spout is also formed of a silicone material. 
     
     
         4 . The toddler cup of  claim 3 , wherein the ring and collar are formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The toddler cup of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lip formed around the open upper end of the pouch, the lip forming a flat surface on a top portion of the lip;   a notch formed in an underside of the lip;   an annular projection extending upwardly from a top of the ring, the annular projection shaped to fit within the notch formed in the underside of the lip of the pouch;   wherein when the spout is secured on the pouch, an underside of a body of the spout contacts the flat surface on the top portion of the lip between the collar and the ring.   
     
     
         6 . The toddler cup of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a spout notch formed on an underside of a top end of the collar adjacent an edge of the collar;   an upward projecting lip formed around an upper edge of the spout, the upward projection shaped to fit within the spout notch formed on the collar when the spout is secured to the pouch between the ring and the collar.   
     
     
         7 . The toddler cup of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate straw shaped to fit within a passage formed through the spout. 
     
     
         8 . The toddler cup of  claim 7 , wherein a thickness of a wall of the elongate straw tapers from a thicker end adjacent the spout to a thinner distal end. 
     
     
         9 . The toddler cup of  claim 8 , the elongate straw further comprising an angled end formed on a distal end of the elongate straw. 
     
     
         10 . The toddler cup of  claim 1 , the collar further comprising a cap mount formed on an edge of the collar. 
     
     
         11 . The toddler cup of  claim 10 , further comprising a cap hingedly attached to the cap mount of the collar, the cap shaped to fit over the spout in a closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The toddler cup of  claim 11 , further comprising an upward projection formed around a top surface of the collar, the upward projection shaped to closely fit with the cap when the cap is in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . A toddler cup comprising:
 a pouch formed of a resiliently flexible material, the pouch having a closed bottom end and an open upper end, the pouch further including at least one rib formed around the pouch and spaced apart from a top end of the pouch;   a ring including a ring body with threads formed on an outside thereof, the ring shaped to closely fit around the pouch and adjacent to the at least one rib formed around the pouch;   a collar including a collar body having threads formed on an inner surface thereof, the ring shaped to threadably engage the ring when the ring is located around the pouch;   a spout including a spout body that is shaped to cover the open upper end of the pouch, wherein the spout is secured to the pouch between the ring and the collar when the collar is threadably secured to the ring.   
     
     
         14 . The toddler cup of  claim 13 , wherein the pouch and spout are formed of a resiliently flexible silicone material, and wherein the ring and collar are formed of a more rigid polymer material. 
     
     
         15 . A toddler cup comprising:
 a pouch formed of a resiliently flexible material, the pouch having a closed bottom end and an open upper end, the pouch further including at least one rib formed around the pouch and spaced apart from a top end of the pouch;   a lip formed around the open upper end of the pouch, the lip forming a flat surface on a top portion of the lip;   a notch formed in an underside of the lip;   a ring including a ring body with threads formed on an outside thereof, the ring shaped to closely fit around the pouch and adjacent to the at least one rib formed around the pouch;   an annular projection extending upwardly from a top of the ring, the annular projection shaped to fit within the notch formed in the underside of the lip of the pouch;   a collar including a collar body having threads formed on an inner surface thereof, the ring shaped to threadably engage the ring when the ring is located around the pouch;   a spout including a spout body that is shaped to cover the open upper end of the pouch, wherein the spout is secured to the pouch between the ring and the collar when the collar is threadably secured to the ring;   wherein when the spout is secured on the pouch, an underside of a body of the spout contacts the flat surface on the top portion of the lip between the collar and the ring.   
     
     
         16 . The toddler cup of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a spout notch formed on an underside of a top end of the collar adjacent an edge of the collar;   an upward projecting lip formed around an upper edge of the spout, the upward projection shaped to fit within the spout notch formed on the collar when the spout is secured to the pouch between the ring and the collar.   
     
     
         17 . The toddler cup of claim  145  the collar further comprising a cap mount formed on an edge of the collar. 
     
     
         18 . The toddler cup of  claim 17  further comprising a cap hingedly attached to the cap mount of the collar, the cap shaped to fit over the spout in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The toddler cup of  claim 15 , further comprising an elongate straw shaped to fit within a passage formed through the spout. 
     
     
         20 . The toddler cup of  claim 19 , wherein a thickness of a wall of the elongate straw tapers from a thicker end adjacent the spout to a thinner distal end.