US2585445A - Child's drinking cup - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1952 K. A. DINGELDEIN 2,585,445

CHILDS DRINKING CUP Filed Oct. 14. 1948 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 cnrLns namnmc CUP KarlA. Dingeldein, Chicago, Ill., assignor to St. Louis Metalcrafts, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a 'corpo ration of Missouri Application October 14, 1948, Serial No. 54,420,

This invention relates to drinking cups, and with regard to certain more specific features, to metal drinking cups, particularly for young children.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a drinking cup, particularly for young children, adapted quickly to train them to drink from cups in general; the provision of a cup of the class described which may be easily handled by such children; the provision of a cup of this class which can be thoroughly sterilized; and the provision of parts therefor which may be easily manufactured. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing two parts of the cup about to be assembled; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the completed cup.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, numeral I shows an upper container in the form of an inverted-dome-like basin 3 from which extends an integral lower inverted-dome-like bulb or pocket 5 and around the rim of which is a smoothly outwardly flaring encircling integral, turned-down, open lip I. The cross-section of this lip is substantially semi-circular, making the lip semi-toroidal in its complete shape. The contours of the basin 3 and bulb 5 are smooth, the horizontal diameter of the bulb being in general smaller than the horizontal diameter of the basin. This provides for the liquid-containing parts a shape without a crease, as indicated by the arrow 9.

At numeral l l is shown a base formed with an annular inwardly open bead l3 and a lower bulged toroidal part [5. This provides a curvature ll. Thus when the parts are assembled (Fig. 2), curve 9 is connected with curve I! by the re-entrant curve l9. By this means a desired artistic hour-glass exterior curvature may be obtained in the assembled device without the requirement of complicated manufacturing operations for either part I or II and, what is also iml Claim. (CI. 6513) as indicated at 2|.

portant for ease of cleaning and sterilizing, with-f sired, the metal may finally be suitably plated,

but in the case of some metals such as stainless steel, final plating is not necessary.

The lower end of part I I is preferably left open, The upperopening 23 of the base II is of such a size as to accept the bulb 5 with a strong clutching or wedging fit when the parts are assembled in a suitable press. The head functions as a restraining band to maintain the desired hold.

The bead l3 may further be held to the bulb 5 by means of solder 25, or the like. This may be introduced through the opening 2| upon turning over the pressed-together assembly. This provision of the open bottom 2| in the base [5 allows for the introduction of attaching material 25 into the bead l3 without spoiling the appearance of the outside of the container I above the bead IS.

The parts may be made by drawing, spinning or the like, their shapes being conducive to operations easily carried out along such lines.

The resulting cup is easy to keep sterile because the continuous smooth inside of the container l is not conducive to inaccessible lodgment of septic material. Since the hollow bulb 5 is smaller in diameter than the basin 3 and involves no crease, it is quite easy to wipe out and dry the cup during sterilization and. cleaning.

The lip 1 has its edge turned down but is not rolled under, as indicated at 21. This has the effect of preventing very young children from attempting very long to suck improperly on the edge of the cup, thus teaching them early properly to drink from any cup. During this stage of learning they can and do engage the turned-down open lip I with their gums or teeth forming an effective attachment to the cup independent of sucking. which they therefore soon give up.

The elevated false bottom provided by the bulb 5 in the assembled condition tends to elevate the center of gravity of the cup when filled or partially filled. Thus when a child grips the constricted portion in the region of the bead 13, the cup may more readily be tilted in bringing it to the mouth- Thus the cup handles very easily.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A childs drinking cup comprising an upper inverted-dome-like basin, an upper integral turneddown open lip forming an upper flared rim of semi-toroidal shape completely surrounding said 1.")

basin, a surface forming a relatively smaller inverted-dome-like bulb extending downward from. said basin, no succeeding lower diameter throughout the basin and bulb being larger than any above, the lip, basin and bulb presenting a smooth adapted to form an annular attachment with the exterior of said bulb.

KARL A. DINGELDEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number D. 8,465 D. 9,006 D. 32,981 D. 35,477

4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lyon July 6, 1875 Jones Feb. 15, 1876 Holland July 24, 1900 Gnuchtel Dec. 24, 1901 Fenton June-11, 1935 Dingeldein June 1, 1948 Leach Jan. 12, 1869 Wetjen Sept. 12, 1871 Stewart Oct. 24, 1882 Curtis- Aug. 26, 1884 'Henckel Jan. 9, 1906 Hitchcock Apr. 21, 1908 Barnett Aug. 14, 1917 McQuirns Mar. 8, 1921 Dexter Jan. 31, 1928 Smith Q Feb. 8, 1938 Morton Aug. 15, 1939 Dodge Sept. 5, 1939 Nevin, Mar. 26, 1940 Bush Nov. 26, 1940 Potter Apr. 7, 1942 Clovis Nov. 7, 1944-

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