Abstract A non-spill drinking cup cover is formed of two sections joined at their center. The outer cover section can be secured to the outer periphery of a drinking cup in a conventional manner. The outer cover section further contains an annular well which in turn has a plurality of openings and at least one annular reinforcing rib means. The inner closure section nests within the central portion of the cover section and additionally contains at least one annular reinforcing rib means near the periphery thereof. The closure section is stressed such that the periphery thereof is normally biased toward contact with the bottom of the annular well of the cover section along a closed line such that all openings of the cover section are between the line of contact and the central portion of the cover section so as to form a fluid-tight seal. The cover section is more elastic than the closure section so that upon application of pressure, the cover section will undergo elastic deformation so as to open the contact between the cover section and closure section and allow fluid to flow through the holes into the annular well. The user may then drink from any annular position on the rim of the outer annular well.
A container closure comprising: a cover means having a raised central portion, an annular well between said raised central portion and the periphery of said cover means, a plurality of openings in said cover means situated within said well, and at least one annular reinforcing rib means within said well; a closure means symmetrical with said cover means, having a raised central portion and at least one annular reinforcing rib means near the periphery of said closure means; the raised central portion of said closure means nesting within the raised central portion of said cover means; said raised central portion of said cover means and said raised central portion of said closure means being interconnected by a raised annular rib means located on said raised central portion of said closure means; sAid closure means being stressed such that the periphery thereof is normally biased towards contact with the bottom of said annular well of said cover means at a point such that said openings are between said point of contact and said point of nesting, in a fluid-tight seal; and said cover means being more elastic than said closure means whereby the application of pressure upon the central portion of said cover means will cause elastic deformation of said cover means so as to open the contact between said cover means and said closure means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A container closure comprising: a cover means having a raised central portion, an annular well between said raised central portion and the periphery of said cover means, a plurality of openings in said cover means situated within said well, and at least one annular reinforcing rib means within said well; a closure means symmetrical with said cover means, having a raised central portion and at least one annular reinforcing rib means near the periphery of said closure means; the raised central portion of said closure means nesting within the raised central portion of said cover means; said raised central portion of said cover means and said raised central portion of said closure means being interconnected by a raised annular rib means located on said raised central portion of said closure means; sAid closure means being stressed such that the periphery thereof is normally biased towards contact with the bottom of said annular well of said cover means at a point such that said openings are between said point of contact and said point of nesting, in a fluid-tight seal; and said cover means being more elastic than said closure means whereby the application of pressure upon the central portion of said cover means will cause elastic deformation of said cover means so as to open the contact between said cover means and said closure means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The container closure of claim 1 wherein said cover means and said closure means are concentric circular discs, said cover means additionally has peripheral connection means connectible to the lip of an open container, said peripheral connection means having an outer stepped surface, said annular reinforcing rib means of said cover means and said annular reinforcing rib means of said closure means are located on diameters of equal dimension, and wherein said closure means has an annular reinforcing rib means between said raised central portion and said annular reinforcing rib means near the periphery of said closure means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The container closure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of openings are located on a common diameter and situated on the innermost wall of said annular well, said annular reinforcing rib means of said cover means having the same diameter as said annular reinforcing rib means of said closure means, and said closure means being sufficiently prestressed to snap back into said position of normal contact upon removal of said pressure which caused said elastic deformation thereof to open said contact.