Drinking containers

Abstract

A disposable child's drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drinking container comprising:
 a main body defining an interior cavity that is closed at a lower end of the main body and that is accessible through a first opening at an upper end of the main body, the main body having a rim about the upper end, the rim including
 an outer surface having an inboard side wall and an upper portion that is contoured in the form of a first curve, wherein the first curve has a point farthest from the lower end of the main body, wherein the first curve merges with the inboard side wall, 
 an inner surface defining a recess at least partially around the upper end of the main body; and 
   a removable lid configured to cover at least a portion of the first opening, the lid including
 a second opening configured to dispense liquid from the interior cavity, 
 a groove formed to receive at least a portion of the rim, the groove having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the groove having an inboard side wall and an upper portion that is contoured in the form of a second curve, wherein the second curve merges with the inboard side wall, 
 wherein a variation in thickness between the outer and inner surfaces of the rim on the inboard side wall of the rim and a variation in thickness between the outer and inner surfaces of the groove on the inboard side wall of the groove form cooperating surface contours to provide a snap fit to form a seal between the rim and the lid in the groove below the point of the first curve farthest from the lower end of the main body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The drinking container of  claim 1 , wherein the cooperating surface contours on the inboard side wall of the rim and the inboard side wall of the groove are the only surface contours on the outer surface of the rim and the inner surface of the groove to form a seal between the lid and the rim. 
     
     
         3 . The drinking container of  claim 1 , wherein forming the seal does not substantially deform the groove. 
     
     
         4 . The drinking container of  claim 1  wherein the cooperating surface contours on the inboard side wall of the rim and the inboard side wall of the groove each form a lip. 
     
     
         5 . The drinking container of claim,  1  wherein the lid includes a spout, and wherein the second opening is formed in the spout. 
     
     
         6 . The drinking container of  claim 5 , wherein the spout is integrally formed with the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The drinking container of  claim 1 , wherein the seal between the rim and the lid does not allow air to pass through the seal. 
     
     
         8 . The drinking container of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded connection between the rim and the lid. 
     
     
         9 . A drinking container comprising:
 a main body defining an interior cavity that is closed at a lower end of the main body and that is accessible through a first opening at an upper end of the main body, the main body having a rim about the upper end, the rim including
 an outer surface having an inboard side wall and an upper portion that is contoured in the form of a first curve, wherein the first curve has a point farthest from the lower end of the main body, wherein the first curve merges with the inboard side wall, 
 an inner surface defining a recess at least partially around the upper end of the main body; and 
   a removable lid configured to cover at least a portion of the first opening, the lid including
 a second opening configured to dispense liquid from the interior cavity, 
 a groove formed to receive at least a portion of the rim, the groove having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the groove having an inboard side wall and an upper portion that is contoured in the form of a second curve, wherein the second curve merges with the inboard side wall, 
 wherein a variation in thickness between the outer and inner surfaces of the rim on the inboard side wall of the rim and a variation in thickness between the outer and inner surfaces of the groove on the inboard side wall of the groove form cooperating surface contours to provide an interference fit to form a seal between the rim and the lid in the groove below the point of the first curve farthest from the lower end of the main body. 
   
     
     
         10 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , wherein the cooperating surface contours on the inboard side wall of the rim and the inboard side wall of the groove are the only surface contours on the outer surface of the rim and the inner surface of the groove to form a seal between the lid and the rim. 
     
     
         11 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , wherein forming the seal does not substantially deform the groove. 
     
     
         12 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , wherein the cooperating surface contours on the inboard side wall of the rim and the inboard side wall of the groove each form a lip. 
     
     
         13 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , wherein the lid includes a spout, and wherein the second opening is formed in the spout. 
     
     
         14 . The drinking container of  claim 13 , wherein the spout is integrally formed with the lid. 
     
     
         15 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , wherein the seal between the rim and the lid does not allow air to pass through the seal. 
     
     
         16 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , further comprising a threaded connection between the rim and the lid. 
     
     
         17 . The drinking container of  claim 9 , wherein the interference fit is a snap fit. 
     
     
         18 . A drinking container comprising:
 a main body defining an interior cavity that is accessible through an opening at an upper end of the main body, the main body having an interior ledge extending at least partially around an interior surface of the interior cavity and a rim about the upper end;   a removable lid configured to enclose the interior cavity and having a bottom surface that is received in the interior cavity, the lid including
 an opening configured to dispense liquid from the interior cavity, and 
 a groove formed to receive the rim of the main body; and 
   a baffle having an aperture, wherein the baffle is disposed between the ledge and the bottom surface of the lid.   
     
     
         19 . The drinking container of  claim 18  wherein the lid includes a spout, and wherein the opening is formed in the spout. 
     
     
         20 . The drinking container of  claim 19  wherein the spout is integrally formed with the lid. 
     
     
         21 . The drinking container of  claim 18 , wherein the baffle has a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         22 . The drinking container of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of apertures is offset from the opening in the lid. 
     
     
         23 . The drinking container of  claim 18 , wherein the aperture in the baffle is offset from the opening in the lid. 
     
     
         24 . The drinking container of  claim 18 , wherein the aperture in the baffle is formed by an inwardly extending flap. 
     
     
         25 . The drinking container of  claim 18 , wherein the baffle is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the lid and the ledge. 
     
     
         26 . The drinking container of  claim 18 , wherein the main body includes a side wall and a periphery of the baffle engages the side wall.