Travel Cup

Abstract

A travel receptacle comprising a receptacle for holding a liquid and a lid for selectively closing the receptacle. The lid includes a first piece for engaging the top of the receptacle, the first piece having an impermeable portion which blocks the passage of the liquid therethrough and a first opening for allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough; and a second piece having an impermeable portion which blocks the passage of the liquid therethrough and a second opening for allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough. At least one of the first piece and the second piece is movable with respect to the other, between an open position in which the first and second openings align to allow passage of the liquid therethrough and a closed position in which the first and second openings are not aligned, thereby blocking passage of the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A travel cup comprising:
 a receptacle including
 an interior for holding a liquid, 
 an exterior, and 
 an open top; and 
   a lid for selectively closing said top of said receptacle, said lid including
 a first piece for engaging said open top of said receptacle, said first piece having an impermeable portion which blocks the passage of the liquid therethrough and a first opening for allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough, and 
 a second piece having an impermeable portion which blocks the passage of the liquid therethrough and a second opening for allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough, at least one of said first piece and said second piece being movable with respect to the other of said first piece and said second piece, between an open position in which said first and second openings align to allow passage of the liquid therethrough and a closed position in which said first and second openings are not aligned, thereby blocking passage of the liquid from said interior of said receptacle to said exterior of said receptacle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The travel cup of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle is generally cylindrical in shape about an axis, and said open top is located at a top end of said cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The travel cup of  claim 2 ,
 whereby at least one of said first piece and said second piece may be rotated to align said first and second openings and allow the passage of the liquid therethrough.   
     
     
         4 . The travel cup of  claim 3 ,
 wherein said first piece further includes a third opening for allowing the return passage therethrough of air when liquid passes through said first opening;   wherein said second piece further includes a fourth opening for allowing the return passage therethrough of air when liquid passes through said second opening; and   wherein said third and fourth openings are positioned to align when said first and second pieces are in said open position and are out of alignment when said first and second pieces are in said closed position.   
     
     
         5 . The travel cup of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second pieces further includes a stop to limit the relative rotation of said first and second pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The travel cup of  claim 5 , wherein said stop includes a first stop for limiting the relative rotation of said first and second pieces when in said open position and a second stop for limiting the relative rotation of said first and second pieces when in said closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The travel cup of  claim 3 ,
 wherein said impermeable portions of said first and second pieces are configured so that they do not interfere when said first and second pieces are rotated between said open and closed positions.   
     
     
         8 . The travel cup of  claim 7 , wherein said impermeable portions of said first and second pieces are positioned to provide the minimal amount of clearance necessary to accommodate relative rotation of said first and second pieces without interference therebetween during rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The travel cup of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second pieces further includes a stop to limit the relative rotation of said first and second pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The travel cup of  claim 9 , wherein said stop includes a first stop for limiting the relative rotation of said first and second pieces when in said open position and a second stop for limiting the relative rotation of said first and second pieces when in said closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The travel cup of  claim 1   wherein said first piece further includes a third opening for allowing the return passage therethrough of air when liquid passes through said first opening;   wherein said second piece further includes a fourth opening for allowing the return passage therethrough of air when liquid passes through said second opening; and   wherein said third and fourth openings are positioned to align when said first and second openings are aligned.   
     
     
         12 . The travel cup of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle further includes a band removably attachable to said exterior of said receptacle, and extending from said open top downwardly from said open top, to permit the gripping of said band by a user without the user directly contacting said exterior of said receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The travel cup of  claim 12 , wherein said band is removably attachable to said exterior of said receptacle, said band being configured to prevent the passage of fluid between said band and said receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The travel cup of  claim 13 , wherein said band is made substantially of platinum silicone. 
     
     
         15 . The travel cup of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second pieces includes a barrier which extends from a side of said at least one of said first and second pieces towards the other of said first and second pieces and contacts a side of said other of said first and second pieces which faces said side of said at least one of said first and second pieces and is configured so as to provide a seal against leakage of the liquid from said first opening to said second opening when said first and second openings are not aligned. 
     
     
         16 . The travel cup of  claim 15 , wherein said barrier includes a portion thereof which substantially surrounds one of said first and second openings located in said at least one of said first and second pieces on which said barrier is positioned, and is sized to not interfere with the passage of fluid through said first and second openings when said first and second pieces are in said open position. 
     
     
         17 . The travel cup of  claim 1 , wherein said first piece may be rotated with respect to said receptacle into a disengaging position in which said first piece may be disengaged from said receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . A travel cup comprising:
 a receptacle which is generally cylindrical in shape about an axis and having a top end located at one end of said cylinder, said receptacle including
 an interior for holding a liquid, 
 an exterior, and 
 an open top located at said top end of said cylinder; 
   a band removably attachable to said exterior of said receptacle, and extending from said open top downward a predetermined distance from said open top, said predetermined distance being selected to permit the gripping of said band by a user without the user directly contacting said exterior of said receptacle; and   a lid for selectively closing said top of said receptacle; said lid including
 a first piece for engaging said open top of said receptacle, said first piece having an impermeable portion which blocks the passage of the liquid therethrough and a first opening for allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough, said first piece being generally circular in cross-section, and having a first axis of rotation which is generally aligned with said axis of said cylindrical receptacle; and 
 a second piece having an impermeable portion which blocks the passage of the liquid therethrough and a second opening for allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough, said second piece being generally circular in cross-section, having a second axis of rotation, and being sized to overlie and substantially enclose said first piece when in use, said first and second axes of rotation being generally co-linear; 
 wherein at least one of said first piece and said second piece is movable with respect to the other of said first piece and said second piece, between an open position in which said first and second openings align to allow passage of the liquid therethrough and a closed position in which said first and second openings are not aligned, thereby blocking passage of the liquid from said interior of said receptacle to said exterior of said receptacle; 
 wherein at least one of said first and second pieces further includes a stop for limiting the relative rotation of said first and second pieces when in at least one of said open position and said closed position; 
   whereby at least one of said first piece and said second piece may be rotated to align said first and second openings to permit passage of liquid therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The travel cup of  claim 18   wherein said first piece further includes a third opening for allowing the return passage therethrough of air when liquid passes through said first opening;   wherein said second piece further includes a fourth opening for allowing the return passage therethrough of air when liquid passes through said second opening; and   wherein said third and fourth openings are positioned to align when said first and second openings are aligned.   
     
     
         20 . The travel cup of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of said first and second pieces includes a barrier which extends from a side of said at least one of said first and second pieces towards the other of said first and second pieces and contacts a side of said other of said first and second pieces which faces said side of said at least one of said first and second pieces and is configured so as to provide a seal against leakage of the liquid from said first opening to said second opening when said first and second openings are not aligned.