Spill-resistant tumbler

Abstract

A spill-resistant drinking vessel includes a body; a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing; a vent and seal plate having an integral vent valve and an integral liquid valve and further having a plate seal flange on one side; wherein the first and plate seal flanges are configured to engage with one another to provide a seal between the lid housing and the seal and vent plate; and wherein the vent orifice and the integral vent valve are in fluid communication with one another. An associated method of assembling a spill-resistant drinking vessel is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spill-resistant drinking vessel, comprising:
 a body;   a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing;   a vent and seal plate having an integral vent valve and an integral liquid valve and further having a plate seal flange on one side;   wherein the first and plate seal flanges are configured to engage with one another to provide a seal between the lid housing and the seal and vent plate; and   wherein the vent orifice and the integral vent valve are in fluid communication with one another.   
     
     
         2 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the vent and seal plate further comprises an integral straw extension. 
     
     
         3 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plate further comprises an integral straw extension with upper and lower portions to accommodate upper and lower straw parts and wherein the integral liquid valve is configured between the upper and lower portions of the integral straw extension. 
     
     
         4 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the upper straw part further comprises a flange configured to seal against the vent and seal plate. 
     
     
         5 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the lid housing further comprises a straw orifice to allow the upper straw part to pass through the lid housing. 
     
     
         6 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the lid housing comprises an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage external screw threads on the body and wherein the plate seal flange is configured to fit concentrically between the annular skirt and the lid seal flange when the lid housing and plate are assembled onto the body, the plate seal flange extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative to the body and the annular skirt and lid seal flange extending downwardly from the lid housing relative to the body, and wherein the plate seal flange is compressed between the lid housing and a rim of the body as the lid housing is screwed onto the body. 
     
     
         7 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the vent and seal plate further comprises at least one projection extending from an underside of the vent and seal plate adjacent to a periphery of the vent and seal plate. 
     
     
         8 . A spill-resistant drinking vessel, comprising:
 a body having a rim at an open top end and external screw threads extending circumferentially around the body adjacent to the rim;   a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing, wherein the vent orifice and the vent valve are in fluid communication with one another, the lid housing further comprising an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage the external screw threads on the body;   a vent and seal plate comprising;
 an integral vent valve; 
 an integral straw extension for at least one straw part, the integral straw extension including upper and lower portions and an integrally formed liquid valve configured between the upper and lower portions; and 
 a plate seal flange on one side extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative the body; and 
   wherein the plate seal flange is configured to fit concentrically between the annular skirt and the lid seal flange when the lid housing and plate are assembled onto the body; and   and wherein the plate seal flange is compressed between the lid housing and a rim of the body as the lid housing is screwed onto the body.   
     
     
         9 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the integral straw extension further comprises upper and lower portions to accommodate upper and lower straw parts and wherein the integral liquid valve is configured between the upper and lower portions of the integral straw extension. 
     
     
         10 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the upper straw part further comprises a straw flange configured to seal against the vent and seal plate. 
     
     
         11 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the lid housing further comprises a straw orifice to allow the upper straw part to pass through the lid housing. 
     
     
         12 . The spill-resistant drinking vessel as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the vent and seal plate further comprises at least one projection extending from an underside of the vent and seal plate adjacent to a periphery of the vent and seal plate and configured to engage the rim of the body when the vent and seal plate is assembled onto the body. 
     
     
         13 . A spill-resistant drinking vessel, comprising:
 a body having a rim at an open top end and external screw threads extending circumferentially around the body adjacent to the rim;   a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, further having a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing, wherein the vent orifice and the vent valve are in fluid communication with one another, the lid housing further comprising an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage the external screw threads on the body;   a vent and seal plate comprising;
 an integral vent valve; 
 an integral straw extension for at least one straw part, the integral straw extension including an integrally formed liquid valve therein; 
 a plate seal flange on one side extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative to the body; and 
 at least one projection extending from an underside of the vent and seal plate adjacent to a periphery of the vent and seal plate, wherein the at least one projection contacts a rim of the body when the vent and seal plate is seated on the body; 
   wherein the plate seal flange is configured to fit concentrically between the annular skirt and the lid seal flange when the lid housing and plate are assembled onto the body; and   and wherein the plate seal flange is compressed between the lid housing and a rim of the body as the lid housing is screwed onto the body.   
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a spill-resistant drinking vessel, comprising the steps of:
 providing:
 a body having a rim at an open top end and external screw threads extending circumferentially around the body adjacent to the rim; 
 a lid housing securable to the body and having a top surface from which a lid seal flange extends downwardly on one side, a straw orifice and a vent orifice passing through the lid housing, wherein the vent orifice and the vent valve are in fluid communication with one another, the lid housing further comprising an annular skirt having internal screw threads configured to engage the external screw threads on the body; 
 a vent and seal plate comprising;
 an integral vent valve; 
 an integral straw extension, the integral straw extension including an integrally formed liquid valve therein, and upper and lower portions between which the integrally formed liquid valve is positioned; and 
 a plate seal flange on one side extending upwardly from the vent and seal plate relative the body; and 
 
 wherein the plate seal flange is configured to fit concentrically between the annular skirt and the lid seal flange when the lid housing and plate are assembled onto the body; and 
 wherein the plate seal flange is compressed between the lid housing and a rim of the body as the lid housing is screwed onto the body; 
   inserting at least a lower straw part into the lower portion of the straw extension;   seating the vent and seal plate against the rim of the body;   inserting an upper straw part into the upper portion of the straw extension if not inserted at the same time as the lower straw part;   guiding the upper straw part through the straw orifice of the lid housing while lowering the lid housing onto the vent and seal plate and body assembly; and   screwing the lid housing onto the body.