GB2199234A - Drinking cups - Google Patents

Abstract

A cup having a generally annular base 22 with a centre of gravity off-set with respect to the central axis of the rest @> the cup such that when the cup is on its side it always tends to roll to a specific rotational orientation, and a restricted @> 20 at the mouth of the cup positioned adjacent the periphery of the mouth which is uppermost when the cup is in the @> specific orientation. The cup may have at least one handle on its side, in which case the base 22 extends outwards to @> beyond the line of the diametrical extremity of the handle or handles. <IMAGE>

Description

DRINKING CUPS The invention relates to drinking cups.

The invention relates more particularly to drinking cups for young children, and perhaps also for handicapped adults, where it is preferable that spillage is kept to a minimum when the cup is dropped or thrown down deliberately.

According to the present invention there is provided a cup having a generally annular base with a centre of gravity off-set with respect to the central axis of the rest of the cup such that when the cup is on its side it always tends to roll to a specific rotational orientation, and a restricted outlet at the mouth of the cup positioned adjacent the periphery of the mouth which is uppermost when the cup is in the said specific orientation.

Preferably, the base has a flat on its periphery in a position such that in the specific orientation the flat rests on the floor or other supporting surface.

The cup may have at least one handle on its side, in which case the base extends outwards to or beyond the line of the diametrical extemity of the handle or handles.

The restricted outlet is preferably formed in a removable lid which fits into or onto the mouth of the cup. The restricted outlet may take the form of an apertured mouthpiece, already known per se for baby cups.

The sealing platform may have one or more breather apertures therein to permit ingress of air as liquid flows out of the mouthpiece when the cup is in use for drinking.

Two baby cups according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a first cup; Figure 2 is an elevation of the first cup; Figure 3 is a side view of a lid for the first cup; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a second cup; and Figure 5 is an elevation of the second cup Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 3 the cup has a base 10 and a handle 11. The base is generally annular and extends just beyond the line of the diametrical extremity of the handle 11. The depth of the base 10 is chosen to be sufficiently deep to ensure the cup rolls readily on carpeted surfaces as well as smooth surfaces. A lid, which consists of a platform 12 at the lower edge of a stepped ring 13, has an inverted nose 14.The nose 14 has a side gap 15 to allow liquid to flow from inside the cup to above the platform 12.

The base 10 is formed of moulded plastics material and encasses a weight (not shown) positioned so that the centre of gravity of the base is adjacent a flat 16 formed on one part of the periphery of the base 10. As a result of the weight, the centre of gravity of the base is off-set from the central axis of the rest of the cup and the relative overall weight of the base results in providing a turning moment of sufficient magnitude to always turn the cup tc the position shown in Figure 1 with the flat 15 against a support surface, in practice usually a table top or floor. It will b noted that the turning moment must be capable of rolling the cul even when full of liquid and not only when empty. In this way if the cup is placed or thrown onto a support surface it will always roll to the position shown in Figure 1.

The gap 15 thus always comes to rest at an uppermost position when the cup is thrown onto or placed on its side and, as a result, spillage of the contents is thus kept to a minimum. If the gap 15 is very small virtually no liquid will escape during the brief period before the cup comes to rest at its stable position of Figure 1. However, it is preferred that the gap is generally large enough to permit a reasonably generous flow for normal drinking use of the cup and so in practice a certain amount of spillage is tolerated during those brief periods of time when the cup is rolling to the stable position. However, even bearing in mind such a practical compromise, the described cup will not remain in a non-stable orientation where spillage can occur from the cup for longer than brief periods of time.

In Figures 4 and 5, the cup is generally the same as already described except the lid consists of a known form of mouthpiece 20 having small apertures 21. The base 22 is also cut-away at 22 to provide' an easier access for gripping the cup handle 23. A flat 24, generally similar to the flat 16 of Figure 1, provides a seat for the cup in its stable position. As seen in Figure 4, the mouthpiece 20 will be at an uppermost position when the cup rests on its side and on the flat 24. As the lid can in fact be placed at any orientation with respect to the mouth of the cup, markers (not shown) are provided for indicating a desired alignment between the lid and the mouth. It is also possible to use a nipple and socket, or similar, fixed to the lid and the mouth of the cup, to ensure correct alignment.

With a conventional single handled cup, two relatively stable orientational positions are present when the handle rests on the support surface, table top or floor for example. These positions are when the handle is either to the left or to the right of the central axis when viewed from one end of the cup and the handle is resting against the support surface. The cup of Figures 4 and 5 is therefore arranged with sufficient loading and sufficient off-set of centre of gravity in its base and suitable base geometry of the cut-out so as to cause rotation of the cup (and its contents) in an appropriate direction to the left or right, even when the handle 23 is resting against the support surface, towards and to the stable position.

The cups described may be made of any suitable durable and chemically safe material. Further, the cup may be provided with additional or alternative lids for use when the cups are full but not required for immediate use to seal of the mouth of the cup totally for storage or transport, for example.

For either described cup, it is possible to ensure or to design the loading of the base and round off the lower periphery thereof such that the cup will tend to upright itself when placed on its side.

This will usually only happen when the cup has sufficient initial pitching momentum. Thus, if the cup does not upright itself it rolls, as described above, to its stable rotational orientation.

Claims (7)

1. A cup having a generally annular base with a centre of gravity off-set with respect to the central axis of the rest of the cup such that when the cup is on its side it always tends to roll to a specific rotational orientation, and a restricted outlet at the mouth of the up positioned adjacent the periphery of the mouth which is uppermost when the cup is in the said specific orientation.

2. A cup according to claim 1, in which the base has a flat on its periphery in a position such that in the specific orientation the flat rests on the floor or other supporting surface.

3. A cup according to claims 1 or 2, in which the cup has at least one handle on its side, in which case the base extends outwards to or beyond the line of the diametrical extremity of the handle or handles.

4. A cup according to any preceding claim, in which the restricted outlet is formed in a removable lid which fits into or onto the mouth of the cup.

5. A cup according to claim 4, in which the restricted outlet takes the form of an apertured mouthpiece.

6. A cup according to any preceding claim, in which the sealing platform has one or more breather apertures therein to permit ingress of air as liquid flows out of the mouthpiece when the cup is in use for drinking.

7. A cup substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.