Spill-resistant container

Abstract

A spill-resistant container is disclosed including a cup and a cap. The cup includes an inwardly projecting ledge and a plurality of spaced apart recesses. The cap includes a cover portion having a plurality of spaced apart openings. The inwardly projecting ledge between each of the plurality of spaced apart recesses is disposed on a plane that is formed at an angle to horizontal. The peripheral lip is disposed on a plane that is formed at the same angle as the plane of the inwardly projecting ledge. Rotation of the cap with respect to the cup causes the peripheral lip of each of the plurality of spaced apart openings to form a seal against the inwardly projecting ledge.

1 . A spill-resistant container, comprising: 
 a cup, comprising: 
 a cap-engaging portion adjacent a lip surrounding an opening;  
 an inwardly projecting ledge adjacent the cap-engaging portion and having a plurality of spaced apart recesses, the inwardly projecting ledge between each of the plurality of spaced apart recesses being disposed on a plane that is formed at an angle to horizontal;  
   a cap, comprising: 
 a cup-engaging portion adapted to engage the cap-engaging portion of the cup;  
 a cover portion adapted to cover the opening of the cup;  
 a plurality of spaced apart openings extending through the cover portion, wherein each of the openings corresponds to a different one of the recesses in the ledge of the cup; and  
 a peripheral lip surrounding each of the plurality of spaced apart openings, the peripheral lip also being disposed on a plane that is formed at the same angle as the plane of the inwardly projecting ledge,  
 whereby rotation of the cap with respect to the cup causes the peripheral lip of each of the plurality of spaced apart openings to form a seal against the inwardly projecting ledge.  
   
   
   
       2 . The spill-resistant container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cup-engaging portion of the cap is adapted to rotatably engage the cap-engaging portion of the cup such that the cup and the cap can be rotated relative to one another between closed and open positions.  
   
   
       3 . The spill-resistant container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein in the open position, the plurality of spaced apart openings are aligned with the plurality of spaced apart recesses such that a liquid stored in a chamber of the cup may flow through the cover portion of the cap.  
   
   
       4 . The spill-resistant container as recited in  claim 3 , wherein in the closed position, the plurality of spaced apart openings are positioned between the plurality of spaced apart recesses such that the peripheral lip of each of the plurality of spaced apart openings forms a seal against the inwardly projecting lip such that the liquid stored in the cup may not flow through the cover portion of the cap.  
   
   
       5 . The spill-resistant container as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of baffles, each of the plurality of baffles being formed over one of the plurality of spaced apart openings.  
   
   
       6 . The spill-resistant container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baffles includes a vertical wall that extends upwardly from the cover portion away from the cup, and a horizontal wall that connects the vertical wall to the cap.  
   
   
       7 . The spill-resistant container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cup engaging portion includes an annular sidewall that forms, in cooperation with the cover portion, a reservoir above the cup.  
   
   
       8 . A spill-resistant cap for a cup having a lip surrounding an opening, the spill-resistant cap comprising: 
 an annular sidewall having a lip engaging portion and a lower end, the lip engaging portion being adapted to engage the lip of the cup;    a cover portion closing the lower end of the annular sidewall to cover the opening, such that the annular sidewall and the cover portion together form an upper reservoir;    a plurality of spaced apart openings extending through the upper reservoir; and    a plurality of baffles, each of the plurality of baffles being formed over one of the plurality of spaced apart openings, each of the plurality of baffles including a vertical wall that extends upwardly from the cover portion away from the cup, and a horizontal wall that connects the vertical wall to the annular sidewall.