Patent Application
20050242103
This invention relates to spill-resistant cups, and more particularly to a children's drinking cup that can change colors.
Children, especially infants and toddlers, have specific nutritional needs. Often, these needs are for specific liquids. During this developmental time, however, it is often desirable to present nutrition to children in a way that fosters independence and self-reliance. Spill-resistant cups have been used in the past to provide children with nutrition while simultaneously preventing the child from accidental spillage of the contents of the cup. Additionally, many liquids that toddlers consume are required to be given to the children at a required temperature. Caregivers often attempt to present the beverage or contents of the cup at a particular temperature, however a mistake in preparing the contents can lead to a temperature that is either too hot or not warm enough. Alternatively, the temperature of the beverage may be cool or even cold, but over time the beverage may warm to room temperature.
Generally, thermo-chromatic substances display a color variance based on a temperature variance. The color variance of a particular thermo-chromatic substance may be changed along with the properties of the substance. In other words, various ranges of temperatures may be used to affect a color variance in a particular thermo-chromatic substance. Some thermo-chromatic substances exhibit a color variance upon the introduction of a substance colder than the temperature threshold of the particular thermo-chromatic substance. Other thermo-chromatic substances exhibit a color variance based on the introduction of a substance with a higher temperature or hotter than the temperature threshold of the thermo-chromatic substance. If the thermo-chromatic substance is used in a cup or other drinking vessel, the act of grasping the vessel may impart sufficient heat to the surface, and thus the thermo-chromatic substance affixed to or impregnated within the surface to reduce, eliminate, or exaggerate the thermo-chromatic properties.
A drinking cup includes an inner wall having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner wall includes a thermo-chromatic substance that may exhibit a color variance corresponding to a temperature variance in a beverage in the cup that is in contact with the inner wall. An outer wall is disposed about the inner wall that has a transparent area that allows someone to visually perceive at least a portion of the inner wall through the outer wall. The visual perception includes exhibition of the color variance, and a thermal insulation layer is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall.
The thermal insulation layer may be air or some other type of gas. Alternatively, the thermal insulation layer may be a vacuum or a space between the inner and outer walls that is substantially void of air and/or other gases.
In some configurations, the outer wall may be molded from a clear resin. The thermo-chromatic substance may be disposed in a layer on the outer surface of the inner layer. Alternatively, the thermo-chromatic substance may be a part of the material that comprises the inner wall.
Certain implementations may include a design disposed in a layer affixed to the outer surface of the inner wall. In yet another implementation, a graphic design may be formed by an absence of the thermo-chromatic substance in a portion of the inner wall. The drinking cup may also include a lid that resists spillage of the contents. The lid may include a valve and/or an air vent that is adapted to prevent a beverage disposed within the inner wall from exiting a space bounded by the inner wall and the lid except through the spout.
Certain implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following advantages. A thermo-chromatic substance may allow a visual perception of the temperature of the contents of the cup. Additionally, a graphic design may allow the cup to display a warning if the cup contains a beverage that has an improper temperature for the intended recipient of the contents. Additionally, the insulation layer may allow a user to grasp the outer layer and manipulate the cup without directly contacting, and thereby directly transferring energy in the form of body heat, to the inner layer and/or the beverage in contact with the inner layer.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Referring to
The outer wall 14 and/or the inner wall 20 may be manufactured from a resin, such as a thermoplastic resin, nylon, or other polymer. Additionally, the outer wall 14 is at least partially transparent, thus permitting a visual perception of at least a portion of the inner wall 20. Alternatively, the outer wall 14 may be entirely transparent, entirely translucent, or at least partially translucent. The outer wall 14 may also have a transparent, translucent, partially transparent, or partially translucent portion that permits a visual perception of at least a portion of the inner wall 20. The outer wall 14 may be a molded transparent resin that may be of unitary construction or assembled components. Additionally, the outer wall 14 may form a unitary outer cup 12 with a bottom surface 19 suitable for resting on a top surface of a table 21, or other suitable surface.
A thermal insulation layer 26 is present between the outer wall 14 and the inner wall 20. The thermal insulation layer 26 may be air, a mixture of inert gases, or a complete or partial vacuum. The thermal insulation layer 26 may limit or greatly reduce the amount of energy transferred from the outer wall 14 to the inner wall 20.
In certain implementations, a handle assembly 28 may also be coupled to an upper end 29 of the drinking cup 10. The handle assembly 28 may be molded or assembled, and may also include a male portion 34 adapted to couple a lid assembly 30 to the drinking cup 10. The handle assembly may be formed to an appropriate size that facilitates manipulation of the drinking cup 10 by a child of about six months of age or older. In the implementation shown, the male portion 34 of the handle assembly 28 includes a male threaded portion 36 adapted to rotatably couple the lid assembly 30 via a female threaded portion 36 formed in the lid assembly 30. A seal 32, such as an O-ring or other suitable seal, may be disposed between the handle assembly 28 and the lid assembly 30 to prevent leakage.
The lid assembly 30 may alternatively be coupled to the drinking cup 10 by a snap-on coupling or other suitable coupling (not explicitly shown). In certain implementations, the lid assembly 30 my incorporate a valve assembly similar to the valve assembly of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/648,974, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the implementation shown, the lid assembly 30 includes a flexible outer member 38 that includes a spout 40 coupled to the outer member 38 or formed as a part of the outer member 38. A channel 42 may be formed within the spout 40 that is more rigid than the spout 40 and or the outer member 38 to prevent folding of the spout 40 that may prevent or limit flow through the channel 42.
An end surface 44 may be incorporated that is substantially circular or forms a perimeter around the channel 42 of the spout 40. The end surface 44 contacts an inner member 47 when no force is acting on the spout 40. The outer member 38 may also include a vent 46 formed through the outer member 38. The inner member 47 may be more rigid than the outer member 38. One or more apertures 48 are formed through the inner member 47 that provide communication with any contents, such as a liquid or beverage 54, disposed within the inner wall 20 of the drinking cup 10. When a force acts on the spout 40, the force moves a portion of the end surface 44 away from the inner member 47 to permit the beverage 54 to flow through the apertures 48 to the channel 42 of the spout 40. The vent 46 provides air to enter the drinking cup 10 to replace the space within the inner wall 20 vacated by the beverage 54.
The inner wall 20 may be impregnated by a thermo-chromatic substance, such as a thermo-chromatic ink 52. Various methods of adding thermo-chromatic materials exist and would be suitable for application to the inner wall, such as thermo-chromatic liquid crystal ink or leucodye ink. The thermo-chromatic ink 52 may be disposed within the resin that forms the inner wall 20. Alternatively, the thermo-chromatic ink 52 may be disposed in a layer affixed to the outer surface 22 of the inner wall 20. A graphic design 50 may also be disposed on the outer surface 22 of the inner wall 20. The graphic design 50 may be fixed in a decal 58 or other device or layer disposed on the outer surface 22 of the inner wall 20. Additionally or alternatively, the decal 58 may include a thermo-chromatic ink 52 in an adhesive layer or in the decal 58 itself.
The outer wall 14 performs at least two functions. First, the transparent or translucent properties of the outer wall 14 allows a visual perception of the color variance exhibited by the thermo-chromatic ink 52 impregnated in or affixed to the inner wall 20. Additionally, the presence of the thermal insulation layer 26 between the outer wall 14 and the inner wall 20 reduce the amount of heat transfer between the inner wall 20 (and therefore the beverage 54) and the outer wall 14. The outer wall 14 also allows a visual perception of the graphic design 50 affixed to the outer surface 22 of the inner wall 20.
The drinking cup 10′ also includes a thermo-chromatic ink 52 or other suitable thermo-chromatic substance. Upon the introduction of a beverage 54 into the inner surface 24 of the inner wall 20, the thermo-chromatic ink displays a color variance. A message 60 may be displayed upon the introduction of a beverage that has a temperature greater than the temperature threshold of the thermo-chromatic ink 52. For example, if the drinking cup 10′ is being used for baby formula, which must be delivered to the child at a temperature warm enough to satisfy the baby but not too warm to burn or irritate the child, the thermo-chromatic substance may only show the message 60 when the beverage has a higher temperature than the temperature threshold of the thermo-chromatic ink 52. For example, a baby formula may be too hot for a child at a temperature greater than 110° F. The thermo-chromatic ink 52 may be impregnated within the inner wall 20, or may be affixed to the outer surface 22 of the inner wall 20. Alternatively, the message 60 may be formed by molding the inner wall 20 with an inkless portion or portions that do not exhibit a color variance, so that the arrangement of the inkless portion forms the message 60. Thus, when the thermo-chromatic substance exhibits a color variance, the portions of the inner wall 20 that are not impregnated with the thermo-chromatic ink 52 display the message 60.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the thermo-chromatic ink may be adapted to show multiple color variances corresponding to multiple temperature thresholds. Alternatively, multiple variations of thermo-chromatic ink may be used so that multiple thermo-chromatic temperature thresholds exist in the drinking cup. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
