The present invention relates to lids of drinking glasses. More specifically, the present invention provides a pump operated lid that uses an air pump to push air into the drinking glass forcing liquid inside the glass through an aperture or straw.
When drinking a beverage from a cup, mug, or tumbler, it is the user's responsibility to provide enough suctioning force to power the liquid through a straw to extract the beverage from the cup. However, it can be difficult for some people, such as children, disabled, or the elderly, to provide enough suction to receive the liquid through the straw. Additionally, it can be uncomfortable for some people to use a straw on a daily basis. Thus, there is a need for an improved force operated lid that is removably secure to a cup.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lids now present in the known art, the present invention provides a pump operated lid wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when operating a drink through a pump.
The present system comprises an enclosure having an interior volume and an outer perimeter, wherein the outer perimeter is configured to removably secure to a cup. An air pump is disposed within the interior volume along with a power source and a control circuit, each operably connected to the air pump. A switch is disposed on the enclosure and operably connected to the pump. One or more valves are disposed on the upper surface and configured to allow air into the interior volume, and close when the air pump is actuated, such that the liquid within the cup is expelled out. An aperture is disposed on the upper surface and extends through the enclosure and configured to receive a straw therethrough thereby producing a waterproof and airproof seal.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the pump operated lid. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The pump operated lid 11 further comprises one or more valves operably connected an air pump disposed within the interior volume. The one or more valves are configured to allow air into the interior volume when open. In the preferred embodiment, the valves are in an open configuration by default. In such an embodiment, when a user depresses a switch 15 which is operably connected to an air pump, the valves close. In this manner, air can flow into and out of the beverage container on which the pump operated lid 11 is installed when the switch 15 is not activated. When the pump is activated by the switch 15, the valves close, thereby enabling pressure to build within the interior volume of the beverage container via the pump. This increase in pressure forces liquid in the beverage container up and through an aperture 14 disposed on the upper surface 12. Other devices in the prior art utilize pressure exerted on exterior surfaces of the beverage container, thereby causing the beverage container to bend and deform. Such bending and deforming are undesirable as they sacrifice the structural characteristics, stability, and aesthetics of the beverage container in order to attain a flow of liquid from the beverage container. The present invention utilizes pressure inside the beverage container, and not on the beverage container structure itself, to force the liquid outside the beverage container without sacrificing said structural characteristics, stability, and aesthetics. In this manner, the beverage container can be reused repeatedly and does not need to be discarded after either a single or a small number of uses.
In one embodiment, a depressurizing valve is configured to release pressure and prevent pressure from building up inside the beverage container when the pump operated lid is disposed thereon. Such a feature is especially beneficial in the context of hot liquids, carbonated beverages, and sodas as such beverages tend to build pressure when stored in a sealed system, such as can be accomplished by the use of a pump operated lid one a drinking cup. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how such a pressure relieving valve will enable pressure inside the system to bleed off into the environment outside the system. In a further embodiment, a pressure release control switch is disposed on an exterior surface of the pump operated lid, such that a user can selectively control the amount of pressure bled from the system.
An aperture 14 is disposed on the upper surface 12, wherein the aperture 14 extends through the interior volume, and is configured to receive a straw, pipe, or tube therethrough A switch 15 is disposed on the upper surface 12, wherein the switch is operably connected to the air pump disposed within the pump operated lid, such that when the switch 15 is actuated, the air pump responds accordingly. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 15 comprises a biased switch, such as a push button switch, wherein holding the switch 15 completes the circuit and actuates the air pump. However, in other embodiments, the switch 15 comprises a toggleable switch such that the air pump can be toggled on or off. In an additional embodiment, the switch 15 comprises a force sensor that corresponds to the amount of air produced by the air pump, such that the harder the switch 15 is pressed the greater the power produced by the air pump, thereby allowing a user to adjust the flow rate of liquid through the straw.
Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, a light switch 16 is disposed on the upper surface 12, wherein the light switch 16 is operably connected to a plurality of lights disposed within the enclosure of the pump operated lid 11. In the shown embodiment, the light switch 16 is a toggle switch configured to respond to a plurality of options equivalent to the plurality of lights within the enclosure, respectively, such as moving the light switch in one direction actuates a blue light. The light switch 16 is toggleable, such that a user can not only control which light to use but whether to actuate any lights.
The pump operated lid 11 further comprises a charging station 28. In various embodiments, the charging station 28 can be utilized to charge a power source of the pump operated lid 11 and can also be used to charge external devices connected to the pump operated lid. In some embodiments, the charging station 28 has a USB port 24 configured to accept a USB cord 73 therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the charging station 28 is disposed on the upper surface 12 of the pump operated lid 11. The charging station 28 is protected by a cover 41 having a tab 42 at one end configured to allow a user to easily lift the cover 41 thereby exposing USB port 24. Additionally, in the shown embodiment, an indicator light 40 is disposed atop the cover 41, wherein the indicator light 40 is operably connected to the USB port 24. In this way, the indicator light 40 is configured to actuate when the USB cord 73 is inserted into the USB port 24, thereby indicating the charging station 28 is charging. In the illustrated embodiment, the charging station 28 can be utilized to either recharge a rechargeable battery disposed within the enclosure or to recharge an electronic device, such as a cell phone.
Referring to
The interior is further defined by a lower surface 121. The lower surface 121 is smaller than the upper surface of the pump operated lid, such that a flange 131 is created where the upper surface overlaps the lower surface 121. The flange 131 is configured to rest atop a perimeter of a cup or tumbler when the pump operated lid is disposed within the cup. Additionally, an extension 231 of the air pump extends through the lower surface, wherein the extension 231 is operably connected to the air pump. The extension 231 allows the air pump push air into the cup from the air surrounding pump operated lid. In this way, a pressure differential is created that forces liquid through the straw out of the aperture 14 at a controlled rate.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, an internal memory is configured to allow the monitoring of a user's usage of the pump operated lid, such as the frequency, time, and amount of liquid dispensed through the device. In some embodiments, an alert can be presented when an individual has not utilized the device to a desired setting, such as where a patient has not ingested enough fluid within a set period of time. In a further embodiment, the pump operated lid can be in communication with software and applications such as health-based computer applications. In some embodiments, such communication is achieved through a wired connection while in other embodiments, wireless communications, such as through Bluetooth, WiFi, and the like, enables the pump operated lid to communicate to other electronic devices. In another embodiment, at least one speaker and at least one microphone are in communication with the control circuit 19. The speaker and microphone can be utilized to play music, make telephone calls, issue voice commands, play alerts, and the like. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how portions of the microphone and speakers will be disposed on an exterior surface of the device while being in communication with the control circuit 19. In some embodiments, a plurality of buttons is disposed on the lid that can be utilized to provide an input to the control circuit 19. For example, the buttons can be utilized to provide direct programming and settings of the control circuit 19 and other various components of the pump operated lid system. In some embodiments, the buttons are small in size to minimize the amount of space used on the external surface of the pump operated lid.
In a further embodiment, a display is disposed on an external portion of the pump operated lid. The display can show a user various output from the pump operated lid, such as an temperature of liquid stored within the beverage container (through the use of temperature sensors strategically disposed in order to measure the temperature of the liquid), as well as basic functions determined by the control circuit 19 such as notifications, time, status of the device, and so on. In embodiments with such temperature sensors, the display and speakers can be utilized to provide an alert where the liquid falls outside of a desired range, such as where the liquid is too hot to be safe, or is too cold for people sensitive to cold temperatures. In embodiments where the pump operated lid is in communication with an external device such as a cellphone, the display can be utilized to show texts, notifications, alerts, and the like in the same manner as a display on the cellphone.
The air pump 23 disposed within the interior of the pump operated lid is operably connected to the control circuit 19 and powered by the rechargeable battery 18. The control circuit 19 is configured to control the amount of power the air pump 23 receives, such that the air pump 23 is not accidentally overheated. The air pump 23 is operably connected to the switch 15 disposed on the upper surface of the pump operated lid, such that the switch 15 actuates the air pump 23. When the air pump 23 is actuated, the valves close, and air is pushed into the interior of the cup thereby increasing the interior pressure and pushing the liquid out through the straw. In various embodiments, the rechargeable battery 18 can be recharged via wireless charging such as but not limited to inductive charging or Qi charging. In further embodiments, a wireless remote can similarly be recharged via wireless charging. The rechargeable battery 18 and control circuit 19 are configured to not only be recharged by an outside source but can also be utilized to recharge an outside electronic, such as a tablet or cellphone, themselves. In this manner the rechargeable battery 18 provides a power source to such electronic devices and a user can utilize the stored charge in the rechargeable battery 18 to charge such devices absent any other power sources in the area.
In one embodiment, a remote switch 20 is disposed on the pump operated lid, such that the pump operated lid can be configured to respond to a remote control 25. Additionally, the remote switch 20 is operably connected to a remote control receiver 21 configured to receive the radio waves emitted by the remote control 25. In this way, when the remote switch 20 is actuated, the pump operated lid can receive power instructions from the remote control 25 through the remote control receiver 21.
In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of lights 17, such as color LEDs, is additionally disposed within the interior of the pump operated lid and joined to the circuit. The plurality of LEDs 17 is operably connected to the light switch 16, such that actuating the light switch 16 will actuate one LED light from the plurality of LEDs 17. In this way, the light 17 aids the user in utilizing the pump operated lid, as well as providing an enjoyable decorative element to the pump operated lid.
In one embodiment, the pump operated lid further comprises a solar panel 27 configured to provide power to the rechargeable battery 18 and operably connected to the control circuit 19. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of wires 22 are utilized to connect the electronics disposed within the interior of the pump operated lid.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the charging station is disposed on a sidewall of the pump operated lid. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 41 provides protection for the USB port 24 and micro USB port 241. The addition of the solar panel 27 allows a user to draw power from the rechargeable battery using the USB port 24 or the micro USB port 241, per the configuration of the circuit, while the solar panel 27 provides energy to the rechargeable battery.
In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 131 is disposed such that it does not interfere with the use of the charging station, such that the flange 131 does not overlap the cover 41 and tab 42. This allows the user to easily remove the cover 41 to utilize the USB port 24 without impedance from the flange 131. The flange 131 is disposed such that it does not block the indicator light 40, thereby ensuring that there is still a visual indicator when a device is utilizing the USB port 24 or micro USB port 42.
Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment the switch 15 is also disposed on the sidewall of the pump operated lid. In the shown embodiment, the flange 131 extends further out where it aligns with the switch 15 in a curved protrusion 60. The curved protrusion 60 provides a physical indicator for the user on where to place a finger to utilize the switch 15, thereby making it easier for the user to find the switch 15. Further, the curved protrusion 60 ensures that it is not uncomfortable for the user to continually push the switch 15 by giving the user's finger a support when pushed. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 15 comprises a plurality of flow rate adjustments, such that actuating the switch 15 once generates a first flow rate, actuating the switch 15 a second time generates a second flow rate, and actuating the switch 15 a third time turns discontinues the power to the air pump.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, a screw joint 43 is disposed on the upper surface of the pump operated lid. The screw joint 43 is configured to removably secure to a support 50 for the medical tube 51. In the illustrated embodiment, the medical tube 51 is offset from the cup through the use of a protruding support 49. The medical tube 51 is flexible, such that the user can manipulate the medical tube 51 to reach a plurality of angles. The medical tube 51 is hollow and configured to accept the extended straw 47 therethrough.
Additionally, the medical tube 51 is configured to accept a control wire 48 therethrough, such that the control wire 48 runs parallel to the extended straw 47 through the medical tube 51. A control power port 44 is disposed on the upper surface of the pump operated lid configured to receive a control cord head 55 therein. In this way, the control wire 48 is operably connected to the control circuit disposed within the interior of the pump operated lid, such that it can be utilized as a switch to actuate the air pump.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, a remote 52 is provided, wherein the remote 52 houses the remote control configured to actuate the air pump. The remote 52 is configured to communicate with the air pump through a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth. In this way, a nurse, doctor, or family member can utilize the remote 52 to actuate the pump operated lid in a more conventional manner, or on behalf of a person who is unable to utilize the bite nozzle 54.
Referring now to
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/538,307 filed on Jul. 28, 2017, as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/048,619 filed on Jul. 30, 2018. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4174743 | Beny et al. | Nov 1979 | A |
5111946 | Glanz | May 1992 | A |
5127808 | Nichols et al. | Jul 1992 | A |
6968870 | Tsay | Nov 2005 | B1 |
7131556 | Tseng | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7882986 | Huang | Feb 2011 | B2 |
8097159 | Peng | Jan 2012 | B1 |
8460234 | Duron-Smith | Jun 2013 | B1 |
8568351 | Thalab | Oct 2013 | B2 |
9346607 | Madjar | May 2016 | B2 |
9375742 | Yoked | Jun 2016 | B1 |
10654057 | Jacquemart | May 2020 | B2 |
20030218076 | Farnsworth et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20040069008 | Kreutzmann et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20050268985 | Litto | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060021999 | Jonjic | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20080308646 | Wu | Dec 2008 | A1 |
20100092309 | Hockemeier | Apr 2010 | A1 |
20100096040 | Litto | Apr 2010 | A1 |
20110127258 | Chodosh et al. | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20180099105 | Pitcher | Apr 2018 | A1 |
20180305091 | Krafft | Oct 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200345162 A1 | Nov 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62538307 | Jul 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16048619 | Jul 2018 | US |
Child | 16933012 | US |