Drinking cup construction

Claim 2

A drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion provided with integral connector means configured to permit removal of the molded container from a maintained rigid mold in which it is molded; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connector means with a variable connection force, said connector means and connector portion being constructed to cause an increase in the connection force as a result of weight of liquid placed in the container with the handle being supported as by a person drinking the liquid from the cup; and means operatively associated with a closure for said container and with said handle for increasing the connection force selectively independently of the presence of liquid in the container.

Claim 3

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle comprise cooperating wedging means having a wedging interaction in a preselected wedging direction.

Claim 4

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle comprise cooperating wedging means having a wedging interaction in a preselected wedging direction and interlocking means for preventing removal of the connector portion from the connection means transversely to said wedging direction.

Claim 5

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle comprise a single connection means on said container and a single connector portion on said handle.

Claim 6

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle comprise a plurality of connection means on said container and a plurality of connector portions on said handle.

Claim 7

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connector portion of the handle is formed as an integral portion of the handle unitarily therewith.

Claim 8

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said container and handle are formed of synthetic resin.

Claim 9

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises cooperating tapered interlocking key means.

Claim 10

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said container and handle define cooperating tapered interlocking key means narrowing upwardly.

Claim 11

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle define a cooperating, upwardly narrowing connection portion and complementary recess in said container sidewall.

Claim 12

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle define cooperating tapered interlocking key means having frictionally interfitted confronting planar surfaces.

Claim 13

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connection means of the container and connector portion of the handle define cooperating tapered interlocking key means having frictionally interfitted confronting rounded surfaces.

Claim 14

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connector portion of the handle defines upwardly narrowing tapered dowel means.

Claim 15

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said connector portion of the handle defines upwardly narrowing tapered dowel means, said handle defines a grasping portion, and further comprises spacer means spacing the dowel means from the handle grasping portion.

Claim 16

The drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said handle defines a grasping portion and further comprises means for spacing the connector portion from the grasping portion.

Claim 17

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining an upper circumferential edge portion, and provided with integral connection means configured to permit removal of the molded container from a rigid mold in which it is molded; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means with a variable connection force, said connection means and connector portion being constructed to cause an increase in the connection force as a result of weight of liquid placed in the container with the handle being supported as by a person drinking the liquid from the cup; a closure for frictional engagement with said edge portion for selectively closing the cup; and connecting means connecting the closure to the handle and defining means for causing an increase in the connection force as a result of the closure being secured to said edge portion.

Claim 18

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining an upper circumferential edge portion, and provided with integral connection means configured to permit removal of the molded container from a rigid mold in which it is molded; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means with a variable connection force, said connection means and connector portion being constructed to cause an increase in the connection force as a result of weight of liquid placed in the container with the handle being supported as by a person drinking the liquid from the cup; a closure for frictional engagement with said edge portion for selectively closing the cup; and connecting means connecting the closure to the handle and defining means for causing an increase in the connection force as a result of the closure being secured to said edge portion.

Claim 19

The drinking cup of claim 16 wherein said connecting means comprises means defining a resilient connection of the closure to the handle.

Claim 20

The drinking cup of claim 16 wherein said handle defines an upper portion and said connecting means comprises means defining a resilient connection of the closure to said upper portion of the handle.

Claim 21

The drinking cup of claim 16 wherein said connecting means comprises means defining a resilient connection of the closure to the handle causing the closure to extend perpendicularly to a plane defining the upper distal surface of said upper circumferential edge portion of the container.

Claim 22

The drinking cup of claim 16 wherein said connecting means comprises means defining a resilient connection of the closure to the handle causing the closure to extend perpendicularly to a plane defining the upper distal surface of said upper circumferential edge portion of the container, said connecting means comprising a twistable and bendable means formed of synthetic resin.

Claim 23

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining an upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said closure being disposed in any one of a plurality of different positions relative to the container when the handle is retained in fixed association with the container, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure.

Claim 24

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining an upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said closure being disposed in any one of a plurality of different positions relative to the container when the handle is retained in fixed association with the container, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure.

Claim 25

The drinking cup of claim 21 wherein said connecting means comprises a flexible strap.

Claim 26

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure, said connecting means being connected to an upper portion of the handle.

Claim 27

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure, said connecting means being connected to an upper portion of the handle.

Claim 28

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure, said closure comprising a flat element, and the connecting means causing the closure to extend perpendicularly to the plane of the circumferential edge portion of the container when the closure is released from closing association with the container.

Claim 29

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure, said closure comprising a flat element, and the connecting means causing the closure to extend perpendicularly to the plane of the circumferential edge portion of the container when the closure is released from closing association with the container.

Claim 30

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure, said connecting means being arranged to urge the connector portion of the handle into maintained association with the connection means on the container.

Claim 31

A selectively closable drinking cup comprising: a molded cup-shaped container having a sidewall portion defining upper circumferential edge portion and integral connection means on the sidewall portion; a handle having an integral connector portion configured to be removably connected to said connection means; a closure for selectively closing the container by extension thereof across the container at said upper edge portion; and connecting means unitarily connecting the closure to the handle, said handle, closure, and connecting means being unitarily molded of synthetic resin to define a one-piece structure, said connecting means being arranged to urge the connector portion of the handle into maintained association with the connection means on the container.