WO2000049920A2 - Anti-spill drinking cup - Google Patents

Abstract

A container has a container lower part (51) and a top part (50) in which a valve (63) is provided. The valve (63) has a valve housing (64) with an inlet opening (13) and an outlet opening (17) which are connected to one another via a passage section (11). A sealing element (26) with which the inlet opening (13) can be automatically sealed is arranged in the vicinity of the inlet opening (13). The sealing element (26) can be opened by a control plunger (25). A suction plunger chamber (12) is also provided in the valve housing (64). A suction plunger segment (39) of the control plunger (25) is arranged in the suction plunger chamber (12) such that said chamber is subdivided into an outer area and into an inner area by the suction plunger segment (39), whereby the inner area is connected to the passage section (11).

Description

description

Leak-proof drinking cup

The invention relates to a leak-proof drinking cup and a valve that can be used in particular for a leak-proof drinking cup.

From DE 197 57 066 AI and from DE 197 05 282 AI drinking cups are known which have a lower container part and a cover part which can be placed on the lower container part, a valve being provided in the cover part. The valve has a valve inlet for the entry of liquid and a valve outlet for the exit of liquid, which are connected to one another via a passage section. In the area of the inlet opening, a closure element designed as a valve plate is provided, with which the inlet opening is closed in a basic state under the pressure of a return spring. An actuating element is provided on the closure element, which protrudes outward beyond the outlet opening of the valve housing. To remove liquid from the known drinking cups, the outlet opening is enclosed with the lips and the actuating element is actuated with the teeth or with the tongue, so that the closure element releases the inlet opening. Then liquid runs out of the interior of the lower part of the container through the inlet opening into the passage section, whereupon it emerges from the outlet opening into the mouth of the drinker. When the actuating element is released again, the return spring closes the inlet opening by moving the closure element back into its closed position.

A disadvantage of the cups of the prior art is that the actuation of the actuating element is perceived as disturbing. In the case of the valve covers known in the prior art, it is also disadvantageous that despite the intended outlet valve The liquid exits the passage through the suction opening to the outside of the valve cover when the suction opening is turned down.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a valve cover with an improved valve, which has improved protection against unwanted leakage of liquid and which is easy to use. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved drinking cup with a valve cover.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments result from the respective subclaims.

The valve according to the invention has a valve housing in which the inlet opening for the entry of liquid and the outlet opening for the outlet of the liquid are provided. The inlet opening and the outlet opening are connected to one another via a passage section, so that the liquid can flow through the valve. In the area of the entry opening, a closure element is arranged, with which the entry opening can in particular be closed automatically. Furthermore, the valve has a control piston with which the closure element can be actuated in such a way that it can be brought from a closed position into an open position. The control piston is arranged in a suction piston chamber of the valve housing in such a way that at least one suction piston section of the control piston is located in the suction piston chamber and divides it into an outer region and an inner region. The interior is connected to the feed-through section.

The valve according to the invention can be actuated particularly easily, although it is nevertheless ensured that the valve is only penetrated by liquid when it is on a negative pressure is generated in the outlet opening by suction. The negative pressure generated at the outlet opening acts on the control piston via the suction piston section in such a way that the control piston moves within the suction piston chamber and thereby moves the closure element into the open position. As a result, the negative pressure in the passage opening continues into the area behind the inlet opening, as a result of which liquid is sucked into and through the valve. When there is no longer any negative pressure at the inlet opening, the closure element closes the inlet opening again, so that liquid no longer passes through the valve.

The closure element is advantageously designed as a check valve, the direction of passage of which runs in a direction from the outlet opening to the inlet opening.

If such a closure element is used, it is ensured that no liquid can pass through the valve even when an interior space to which the valve is connected is under increased pressure. This is particularly advantageous with a drinking device used with a valve according to the invention. Then namely carbonated drinks can be used in the drinking cup without carbon dioxide escaping through the valve. This keeps drinks fresh longer. In addition, the drinking cup according to the invention can also be used for hot drinks, in which an overpressure can form due to, for example, evaporation of liquid inside.

The check valve can have a valve spring which is arranged in a spring chamber arranged in front of the inlet opening in the valve housing. This ensures reliable operation of the check valve according to the invention. Furthermore, the check valve can have a check valve body with a valve body sealing surface and a check valve seat arranged in the valve housing with a valve seat sealing surface O-ring made of elastic plastic can be arranged. A check valve designed in this way can be easily produced, and good function is additionally guaranteed.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the control piston is provided with an actuating plunger which can be brought into contact with the closure element or with the check valve body when the control piston moves, the control piston preferably being arranged such that the check valve body when the control piston moves can be brought into its open position by the actuating tappet, in which the check valve sealing surface is lifted off the check valve seat. A valve designed in this way can be actuated particularly simply and reliably by applying negative pressure to the outlet opening by suction. The position of the control piston is changed by the suction pressure until it rests on the closure element and lifts it into its open position.

In a preferred embodiment, the control piston also has a return spring which is arranged such that a return force can be applied to the control piston in a direction away from the closure element. Such a configuration of the valve according to the invention is particularly advantageous when the closure element cannot apply so much restoring force that the control piston can be returned from its actuating position to its rest position. This enables reliable operation of the valve according to the invention.

Furthermore, a control piston contact surface can be provided on the control piston and a valve housing contact surface can be provided on the valve housing, the return spring being arranged between the control piston contact surface and the valve housing contact surface. With such an arrangement of the return spring, a particularly good function of the check valve is ensured. provides, the valve of the invention can still be easily manufactured.

As far as the suction piston chamber and the suction piston section of the control piston are concerned, they can either be designed such that the outer region and the inner region are essentially gas-tightly divided from one another. Then a good function of the control piston is ensured, whereby it is additionally achieved that liquid from the passage section can only enter the inner region and not the outer region. It also prevents dirt from entering the interior from the outside.

As an alternative to the prescribed embodiment, a defined air gap can also be provided between an inner surface of the suction piston chamber and an outside of the suction piston section. A desired damping of the movement of the control piston can thereby be achieved. In addition, air is then let in from the outside of the valve into the passage section and subsequently through the inlet opening into the interior of a container provided with the valve, this air being able to compensate for a volume of liquid which was previously removed from the container via the valve.

Furthermore, a substance can be provided between an inner surface of the suction piston chamber and an outside of the suction piston section or at another area between the control piston and valve housing, which reduces the coefficient of friction between the suction piston chamber and suction piston section between the control piston and valve housing. A desired damping of the movement of the control piston in the valve housing can also be achieved with such a measure. For this purpose it can also be useful to increase the coefficient of friction between the suction piston chamber and the suction piston section or between the control piston and the valve housing. The control piston can also have a first piston sealing surface directed towards the passage section and a first piston seat arranged in the valve housing with a first piston seat sealing surface. The first piston sealing surface and the first piston seat sealing surface are preferably designed such that a passage between the suction piston chamber and the passage section can be closed. This effectively prevents the entry of liquid from the passage section into the suction piston chamber, with the valve according to the invention being produced in a particularly simple manner if an O-ring made of elastic plastic is provided in the area of the first piston seat sealing surface.

For a good function of the valve according to the invention, a compensation opening can be provided in the suction piston chamber, via which the outer area is connected to the surroundings of the valve. Such a compensation opening can be used to compensate for volume changes in the outside area with air from the surroundings of the valve. This enables free movement of the control piston. In this embodiment, the control piston can be provided with a second piston sealing surface which is executed for the compensation opening, a second piston seat arranged in the valve housing having a second piston seat sealing surface being provided. The second piston sealing surface and the second piston seat sealing surface are designed such that a passage between the suction piston chamber and the compensation opening can be closed. This effectively prevents liquid from escaping to the outside of the valve according to the invention, and in the course of simple manufacture of the valve according to the invention, the second piston seat sealing surface can in particular have an O-ring made of elastic plastic material.

A container according to the invention can be designed as a drinking cup and it has a lower container part and a cover part which can be placed on the lower container part, kelteil a valve is provided according to one of the corresponding claims. In a modification of this embodiment, a container is also conceivable, the lower part of which has the valve according to the invention.

Especially when designing the container according to the invention as a drinking cup, it is particularly advantageous if a drinking section is provided in the area of the outlet opening, which can also have the shape of a straw. Furthermore, a suction snorkel can be provided in the area of the inlet opening, which protrudes into the interior of the lower part of the container. With such a suction snorkel, which can also have a flexible, hose-like section, a drinking cup can be designed which can be reliably drunk out completely.

In the case of a drip-free drinking cup which is secured against tipping over, the lid part and the bottom part of the container can be connected to one another essentially in a sealed manner, wherein a sealing means, in particular a sealing ring, can be provided between the lid part and the bottom part of the container.

Furthermore, at least one compensating valve designed as a check valve can be provided in the cover part, the opening direction of which runs from the outside of the container to the inside of the container. With such a compensating valve, a missing volume in the interior of the container, which has arisen due to the suction of liquid, can be compensated for by air from the surroundings of the container.

The lid part can also be designed so that it can be attached to the upper edge of a beverage can. Then the lower part of the container is formed by the beverage can. In this way, you can easily make non-drip cups from standard beverage cans. For fastening to the upper edge of a beverage can, the cover part can have latching lugs on its underside, which can be snapped onto a flanged edge of the beverage can under a particularly elastic deformation. The lid part can also have a circumferential locking shoulder on its underside, which can be snapped onto a flanged edge of the beverage can under a particularly elastic deformation. This is particularly advantageous, since a simple seal between the lid part and the beverage can is then possible.

As far as the arrangement of the valve according to the invention in the cover part is concerned, this can be done in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the control piston runs parallel to an axis of symmetry of the cover part. Deviating from this, the valve according to the invention can also be arranged in the cover part in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the control piston runs parallel to a main extension plane of the cover part. In the first embodiment, simple manufacture of the cover part and the container according to the invention is ensured, while the second embodiment enables the valve to be accommodated in the cover part in a particularly space-saving manner.

The container according to the invention is preferably designed such that, when the cover part is in place on the lower container part, the inlet opening is arranged in the region of an inner wall of the lower container part. This can be achieved, for example, by a special arrangement of the valve in the cover part. Alternatively, it is conceivable to provide guide ribs in the interior of the lower container part, which guide the liquid to the inlet opening.

The object is achieved in a further embodiment of the invention in that the valve cover has a passage for the liquid to pass through to the outside of the valve cover. The passage extends between an nenraum executed inlet area and an outlet area directed towards the outside of the valve cover and opens into a suction opening from which the liquid can escape. A closable outlet valve, such as a check valve, is provided in the passage. At least one passage opening is provided in the passage in the area of the suction opening. The passage opening is designed in such a way that liquid in the area between the outlet valve and suction opening with the suction opening directed downward can be kept essentially within the passage due to a surface tension effect and / or capillary effect acting against the action of gravity.

This aspect of the invention is based on the knowledge that the liquid which escapes onto the outside of the drinking cup in the known leak-proof drinking cups comes from the liquid column between the outlet valve and the suction opening. This liquid remains there after liquid has been removed from the drinking cup after the outlet valve has closed. By providing one or more passage openings in which this liquid column is retained due to a surface tension effect and / or capillary effect, this problem is solved in a simple manner without the need for an additional valve with moving parts or dead spaces which are difficult to clean.

The term "surface tension effect" means a physical effect which occurs in the case of liquid which is held under the action of air pressure in a vessel which is only open at the bottom. The surface tension of the liquid at the open end of the vessel, together with the air pressure, prevents the water from escaping from the vessel. The term "capillary effect" means a physical effect that occurs at points where three phases touch, in the present case liquid, ambient air and the material of the passage opening. This effect is referred to as "wetting", the free surface of the liquid in the vicinity of the solid surface of the passage opening having a curvature which is referred to as the "meniscus". If the solid surface has hydrophilic properties, a concave meniscus is formed, in which the liquid wets the wall of the passage opening. In this case, a critical angle 0 occurs between the wetted solid surface and the meniscus at the point of contact along the extent of the wetting, which is less than 90 °. The hydrophilic character of a substance, here the material of the passage opening or its surface, is understood to mean its tendency to penetrate and remain in water. Hydrophilic compounds can have surfactants such as surfactants. Typical hydrophilic groups are carboxylate, sulfate and sulfonate functions or polyether chains or carbonates, silicates, sulfates and quartz.

The curvature of the surface layer of the meniscus leads to the occurrence of an additional pressure in the liquid, which depends on the surface tension and the surface curvature of the liquid. This creates a negative pressure when the meniscus is concave. If the suction opening in the valve cover according to the invention is directed downward, this negative pressure counteracts the pressure of the liquid column inside the passage opening, so that it is drawn into the suction opening. Leakage of the liquid in the passage from the suction opening is effectively reduced or completely prevented when the suction opening is directed downward. The use of suitable materials and the suitable design of the diameter, at least at the passage opening, can ensure that the capillary effect inside the passage opening The negative pressure is equal to or less than the pressure that can be generated by the liquid standing in the passage opening.

According to the invention, two or more passage openings are provided. This ensures, even with very small diameters of the passage openings, that a sufficiently large volume flow can pass through the passage, especially if the passage openings are arranged next to one another. Advantageously, passage openings are each separated from one another by at least one wall, the

Walls can also be arranged along the diameter of the passage if it has a substantially cylindrical shape. This ensures a particularly simple manufacture of the valve cover.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the effective diameter of the suction opening is made narrower than the effective diameter of the passage and / or the passage openings. Such a configuration of the diameter of the suction opening can produce an additional capillary effect between the suction opening and the passage, which improves the effect of the valve cover according to the invention. By "effective diameter" it is meant that there is a connection between the diameter of the suction opening and the effect of the capillary effect, which can be determined in particular by experiment. Preferably, the effective diameter should be larger at those points of the passage where no capillary effect is desired than at those points where a capillary effect is desired.

The passage opening can have various shapes, each of which produces a desired capillary effect in connection with the configuration of the passage opening. For this purpose, it is conceivable to plan the suction opening with a cruciform, with a rod-shaped, with a circular, with a partially circular or with a star-shaped against the outline. A suitable design of the suction opening can also prevent liquid from flowing out of the passage if the valve cover is tilted in any spatial direction.

Furthermore, a distance can be provided between the suction opening and the passage opening, by means of which the interaction of the suction opening with the passage opening can be influenced with regard to the capillary effect.

Finally, it is provided to design the outlet valve as a valve which can be actuated by a suction pressure at the suction opening. This is possible through training as a check valve. The invention can also be used in connection with other outlet valves, for example with externally actuable outlet valves.

The invention is also realized by a drinking cup with a lower part of the cup, which is closed by a valve cover according to the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing using several exemplary embodiments.

1 shows a cross section through a valve according to the invention in the closed state, FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the valve from FIG. 1 in the open state, FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a lid part according to the invention in the mounted state on a beverage can, FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a container according to the invention and Figure 5 shows a cross section through the container of Figure 4 in a state before the removal of liquid. FIG. 6 shows a cross section through another valve according to the invention in the closed state, FIG. 7 shows an enlarged cross section through an outlet area of the valve from FIG. 1, FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the outlet area from FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, FIG. 9 shows a partial view of the valve Valve from Figure 7 together with liquid, Figure 10 shows three schematic representations of suction openings of the valve according to the invention in the

Top view, FIG. 11 shows a further outlet area of a valve according to the invention, FIG. 12 shows a top view of a further outlet area of a further valve according to the invention and

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of a further outlet area of a further valve according to the invention.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a cross section through a valve 1 according to the invention.

The valve 1 has a valve housing 2 on which a cover 3 is provided. The valve housing 2 has a horizontally extending base plate 4, in which a suction opening 5 is provided. In this case, a suction nipple 6 is inserted into the suction opening 5, which has a through opening 7 and a hose extension 8, into which a suction hose, not shown here, can be inserted. A substantially cylindrical valve dome 9 extends from the top of the base plate 4 as a section of the valve housing 2 upwards. The valve dome 9 is hollow inside. It is divided into a check valve chamber 10, a control piston chamber 11 arranged above the check valve chamber 10 and a suction piston chamber 12 arranged above the control piston chamber 11. The check valve chamber 10 is connected to the underside of the base plate 4 via the suction opening 5. Furthermore, the check valve chamber 10 is connected to the control piston chamber 11 via an inlet opening 13. The control piston chamber 11 is connected to the suction piston chamber 12 via a control piston opening 14, and the suction piston chamber 12 is connected to the outside of the valve 1 via a compensating opening 15 in the valve dome 9 and a cover opening 16 in the cover 3.

In the control piston chamber 11, an outlet opening 17 is provided radially in the wall of the valve dome 9, which opens out via a cover opening 18 in a suction space 19 between the valve housing 2 and cover 3. The suction space 19 tapers upwards to a mouthpiece 20, into which a suction opening 21 is made. In order to reinforce the mouthpiece 20, a mouthpiece insert 22 is provided in the suction opening 21, which has a through hole 23.

A check valve 24 is arranged in the interior of the valve dome 9 in the area between the check valve chamber 10 and the control piston chamber 11 and a control piston 25 which extends in the area of the control piston chamber 11 and the suction piston chamber 12.

The check valve 24 has a check valve body 26 which has a valve body sealing surface 27 on its upper side and a valve spring guide section 28 on its underside, on which the upper end of a valve spring 29 is received. The lower end of the valve spring 29 is mounted on a guide cone 30 which extends upwards in the area of the suction opening 5 from the base plate 4. In the illustration shown in FIG. 1, the valve body sealing surface 27 of the check valve body 26 comes into contact with an O-ring 31 which is arranged in a check valve seat 32 provided in the region of the inlet opening 13. The valve spring 29 presses the check valve body 26 firmly against the O-ring 31, so that the inlet opening 13 is tightly closed in the state shown in FIG.

The control piston 25 is divided into a plunger section 33, which is provided on its underside with a spherical cap-shaped cavity 34, in a thrust washer 35, which adjoins the plunger section 33, in a transmission section 36, which adjoins the thrust washer 35, and in an operating piston 37 provided at the end of the transmission section 36.

The actuating piston 37 has three functional areas, namely on its underside facing the transmission section 36 a first piston sealing surface 38 in the form of a spherical cap, which is adjoined by a cylindrical piston section 39, and a second piston sealing surface 40 provided on the upper side of the piston section 39, which likewise is shaped.

The diameter of the tappet section 33 is such that there is a gap between the inlet opening 13 in the valve housing 2 and the outside of the tappet section 33, which gap is so large that liquid can enter the control piston chamber 11 from the check valve chamber 10 without significant hindrance . Furthermore, a return spring 41 is provided around the tappet section 33, which is supported at one end on the underside of the thrust washer 35 and which is supported at the other end on the partition between the check valve chamber 10 and the control piston chamber 11. A first piston sealing surface 42, in which an O-ring 43 is arranged, is formed in the partition between the control piston chamber 11 and the suction piston chamber 12 in the region of the control piston opening 14. As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 2, the O-ring 43 together with the first piston sealing surface 38 seals the passage between the suction piston chamber 12 and the control piston chamber 11 when the control piston 25 has moved so far down that the first piston sealing surface 38 is on the O -Ring 43 rests.

The piston section 39 is formed so large that between the cylindrical inner wall of the suction piston chamber 12 and the cylindrical outer wall of the piston section 39 a defined air gap 44 remains, through which the movement of the actuating piston 37 in the suction piston chamber 12 is damped.

In the area of the compensation opening 15, a second piston seat 42 is formed in the valve housing 2, into which an O-ring 46 is inserted. As best seen in Figure 1, the second piston sealing surface 40, together with the O-ring 46, seals a passage between the control piston chamber 11 and the equalization opening 15 when the piston is in an upward state.

In operation, valve 1 behaves as follows. In a state according to FIG. 1, in which no suction is carried out at the suction opening 21, the control piston 25 is pressed upwards due to the action of the return spring 41 until the second piston sealing surface 40 bears against the O-ring 46. The check valve 24 is in the closed state since the valve spring 29 presses the check valve body 26 against the O-ring 31 and thereby closes the inlet opening 13. If liquid enters the check valve chamber 10 in this state, it cannot overcome the check valve 24. In this State is thus the passage between the hose attachment 8 and the suction opening 21 is closed.

Figure 2 shows a state of the valve 1 after the application of negative pressure to the suction opening 21. This is preferably done in that the mouthpiece 20 is enclosed by a user with the lips sucking.

The vacuum generated in this way continues from the suction opening 21 via the suction space 19 into the control piston chamber 11 and into the suction piston chamber 12. Due to the effect of the negative pressure on the piston section 39, the control piston 25 is pulled downward in the direction of the control piston chamber 11, counter to the action of the return spring 41. In a predetermined position of the control piston 25 moving downward, the cavity 34 also comes along the valve body sealing surface 27 of the check valve body 26 is in contact and lifts the check valve body 26 from the O-ring 31, counter to the action of the valve spring 29. In this state, the negative pressure of the control piston chamber 11 continues into the check valve chamber 10 and into the through opening 7, whereupon liquid is sucked into the check valve chamber 10 from a hose, not shown here. In FIG. 2 the liquid is shown by way of example with a liquid level 47.

In the case of a further suction, the liquid passes through the inlet opening 13, the control piston chamber 11, the outlet opening 17, the hood opening 18, the suction space 19 and the through hole 23 until it emerges from the suction opening 21 into the user's mouth. This allows the user to comfortably absorb liquid from the valve 1.

As soon as the user stops the suction process on the mouthpiece 2, the liquid flows back from the through hole 23 through the suction chamber 19 and through the control piston chamber. mer 11 in the check valve chamber 10 and the passage opening 7 back. At the same time, the control piston 25 is pressed back into the position shown in FIG. 1, in which the valve 1 is closed, due to the action of the return spring 41 and the action of the valve spring 29 acting on the control piston 25 via the check valve body 26.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a lid part 50 according to the invention, which is placed on a beverage can 51.

The beverage can 51 is subdivided into an outer wall 52 with an essentially cylindrical shape and into a lid wall 53 which has a lid opening 54 and which is connected to the outer wall 52 via a circumferential flanged edge 55.

The cover part 50 has a cover housing 56, which is provided on its underside with an annular locking groove 57, in which an O-ring 58 is inserted. On the underside of the latching groove 57 and on its outer edge, an annular, circumferential latching shoulder 59 is formed, which is latched onto the flanged edge 55 of the beverage can 51.

The cover part 50 has essentially a cylindrical shape on its outside, a mouthpiece 60 tapering to a point with a passage channel 61 being formed at one point on its circumference. On its inside, the cover part 50 has a valve receiving shaft 62, which is connected to the passage channel 61 and which has a first cover part passage opening 68 on the upper side, which connects the valve receiving shaft 62 to the outside of the cover part 50.

The valve receiving shaft 62 is extended downwards in such a way that it extends through the cover opening 54 into the interior of the beverage can 51. A valve 63 is accommodated in the valve receiving shaft 62, which is essentially the valve 1 from FIG 1 and Figure 2 corresponds. The same parts of the valve 63 and the valve 1 are therefore provided with the same reference numerals. Essentially, the valve 63 differs from the valve 1 by a valve dome 64, which can be provided on the underside with a hose adapter 65. The hose receiving attachment 65 has a through opening 66, into which a suction hose 67 can be inserted, which extends to the bottom of the beverage can 51. The compensating opening 15 of the valve 63 is arranged in the region of a first cover part passage opening 68 in the cover part 50.

Furthermore, a compensation valve shaft 69 is formed in the cover part 50, which has a second cover part passage opening 70 on the upper side, which connects the compensation valve shaft 69 to the outside of the cover part 50. A compensating valve 71 designed as a check valve is inserted into the compensating valve shaft 69. The compensating valve 71 has a compensating valve body 72 which is pressed via a compensating valve spring 73 to an O-ring 75 arranged in the region of a compensating valve bore 74. The compensating valve bore 74 is arranged in a substantially cylindrical compensating valve housing 76 such that the inside of the compensating valve housing 76 can be connected to the outside of the cover part 50 via the compensating valve bore 74 and the second cover part passage opening 70. The compensating valve housing 76 also has an outlet bore 77 on its underside, in the region of which the compensating valve spring 73 is supported.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a drinking cup 80 according to the invention. The drinking cup 80 is subdivided into a cover part 81 and a lower container part 82, the cover part 81 and lower container part 82 having an essentially cylindrical shape on the outside. The lower container part 82 is provided at its upper edge with an external thread 83 onto which the cover part 81 is screwed, which in the A corresponding internal thread in the area of its underside

84 has.

Furthermore, the cover part 81 has a bottom wall 85 directed towards the lower container part 82 and one parallel to the bottom wall

85 arranged cover wall 86. A valve 87 according to the invention is arranged between the bottom wall 85 and the top wall 86, and its essential parts correspond to the valve 1 from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The same parts are therefore provided with the same reference numbers.

In the area of the outlet opening 17, an upwardly extending mouthpiece 88 is formed in the cover wall 86 and has a suction opening 89. The check valve chamber 10 is connected to the interior of the lower container part 82 via a passage opening 90 in the bottom wall 85. The passage opening 90 is arranged in the bottom wall 85 in such a way that it just ends with the inner surface of the lower container part 82.

FIG. 5 shows a state of the drinking cup 80 with the liquid 91 inside before a suction process on the mouthpiece 88.

As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 5, the drinking cup 80 is tilted for drinking when the passage opening 90 is turned down so that the liquid 91 from the interior of the lower container part 82 enters the check valve chamber 10 through the passage opening 90 and fills it. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the mouthpiece 88 is not yet sucked on. Therefore, the control piston 25 is in a position pushed away from the check valve 24, so that the check valve 24 is closed. The liquid 91 can therefore not enter the control piston chamber 11. If suction is now carried out on the mouthpiece 88, the control piston 25 moves in the direction of the check valve 24 so that it is opened. Due to the suction pressure, the liquid passes from the check valve chamber 10 into the control piston chamber 11 and through the outlet opening 17 into the suction opening 89, from which the liquid 91 flows into the user's mouth.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section through a further valve 101 according to the invention, which is provided in a valve cover of a drinking cup, not shown here.

The valve 101 has a valve housing 102 on which a cover 103 is provided. The valve housing 102 has a horizontally extending base plate 104, in which a cover opening 105 is provided. In this case, a suction nipple 106 is inserted into the suction opening 105, which has a passage opening 107 and a hose extension 108, into which a suction hose, not shown here, can be inserted. A substantially cylindrical valve dome 109 extends from the top of the base plate 104 as a section of the valve housing 102 upwards. The valve dome 109 is hollow on the inside. It is divided into a check valve chamber 110, a control piston chamber 111 arranged above the check valve chamber 110 and a suction piston chamber 112 arranged above the control piston chamber 111.

The check valve chamber 110 is connected to the underside of the base plate 104 via the cover opening 105. The check valve chamber 110 is also connected to the control piston chamber 111 via an inlet opening 113. The control piston chamber 111 is connected to the suction piston chamber 112 via a control piston opening 114, and the suction piston chamber 112 is connected via a compensating opening 115 in the valve dome 109 and a cover opening 116 in the cover 103 with the outside of the valve 101 in connection.

In the control piston chamber 111, an outlet opening 117 is provided radially in the wall of the valve dome 109 and opens through a cover opening 118 in a suction space 119 between the valve housing 102 and cover 103. The suction space 119 tapers upwards to a mouthpiece 120 which is formed with a mouthpiece insert receptacle 147. A mouthpiece insert 122 made of hydrophilic plastic is inserted into the mouthpiece insert receptacle 147. The mouthpiece insert 122 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is designed such that it fits tightly with the mouthpiece 120 into the mouthpiece insert receptacle 147 when inserted. For this purpose, the mouthpiece insert 122 is formed on its underside with an insert stop 148, as can best be seen in FIG. 7, which represents an enlarged partial cross section of the mouthpiece 120. An insert tube 149 adjoins the insert stop 148, which essentially has a cylindrical cross section. A continuous dividing wall 150 is also formed along a diameter of the insert tube 149 and forms two passage openings 123 separated from one another within the insert tube 129. The partition 150 is also made of hydrophilic plastic. The through openings 123 narrow in an upward direction because the insert tube 149 tapers slightly conically upwards.

At the top, the mouthpiece insert receptacle 147 is closed by a circular disk-shaped closure part 151, a circular disk-shaped suction opening 121 being provided in the closure part 151, from which liquid emerges during operation of the valve 101. As best seen in Figure 7, there is a slight clearance between the bottom of the closure member 151 and the top of the insert tube 149.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the mouthpiece 120 from FIG. 7 and FIG. 6. In this view it can be seen particularly well that the through openings 123 open into the suction opening 121 in the top view.

As can best be seen in FIG. 6, a check valve 124 in the area between check valve chamber 110 and control piston chamber 111 and a control piston 125, which extends in the area of control piston chamber 111 and suction piston chamber 112, are arranged in the interior of valve dome 109.

The check valve 124 has a check valve body 126 which has a valve body sealing surface 127 on its upper side and a valve spring guide section 128 on its underside, on which the upper end of a valve spring 129 is received. The lower end of the valve spring 129 is mounted on a guide cone 130 which extends in the area of the suction opening 105 from the base plate 104 upwards.

In the illustration shown in FIG. 6, the valve body sealing surface 127 of the check valve body 126 comes into contact with an O-ring 131 which is arranged in a check valve seat 132 provided in the region of the inlet opening 113. The valve spring 129 presses the check valve body 126 firmly against the O-ring 131, so that the inlet opening 113 is tightly closed in the state shown in FIG.

The control piston 125 is divided into a tappet section 133, which has a spherical cap-shaped on its underside

Hollow 134 is provided in a thrust washer 135, the adjoins the tappet section 133, into a transmission section 136, which connects to the thrust washer 135, and into a control piston 137, which is provided at the end of the transmission section 136.

The control piston 137 has three functional areas, namely on its underside directed towards the transmission section 136 a first piston sealing surface 138 in the form of a spherical cap, to which a cylindrical piston section 139 adjoins, and a second piston sealing surface 140 provided on the upper side of the piston section 139, which likewise is shaped like a spherical cap.

The diameter of the tappet section 133 is such that there is a gap between the inlet opening 113 in the valve housing 102 and the outside of the tappet section 133, which gap is so large that liquid from the check valve chamber 110 into the control piston chamber 111 without significant hindrance can occur. Furthermore, a return spring 141 is provided around the tappet section 133, which is supported at one end on the underside of the thrust washer 135 and which is supported at the other end on the partition between the check valve chamber 110 and the control piston chamber 111.

A first piston sealing surface 142, in which an O-ring 143 is arranged, is formed in the partition between the control piston chamber 111 and the suction piston chamber 112 in the region of the control piston opening 114. As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 7, the O-ring 143, together with the first piston sealing surface 138, seals the passage between the suction piston chamber 112 and the control piston chamber 111 when the control piston 125 has moved so far down that the first piston sealing surface 138 is on the O - Ring 143 rests. The piston section 139 is formed so large that a defined air gap 144 remains between the cylindrical inner wall of the suction piston chamber 112 and the cylindrical outer wall of the piston section, through which the movement of the control piston 137 in the suction piston chamber 112 is damped.

In the area of the compensation opening 115, a second piston seat 142 is formed in the valve housing 102, into which an O-ring 146 is inserted. As best seen in Figure 6, the second piston sealing surface 140, together with the O-ring 146, seals a passage between the control piston chamber 111 and the equalization port 115 when the piston is in an upward state.

In operation, valve 101 behaves as follows. In a state according to FIG. 6, in which no suction is carried out at the suction opening 121, the control piston 125 is pressed upwards due to the action of the return spring 141 until the second piston sealing surface 140 bears against the O-ring 146. The check valve

124 is in the closed state because the valve spring 129 presses the check valve body 126 against the O-ring 131 and thereby closes the inlet opening 113. If liquid enters the check valve chamber 110 in this state, it cannot overcome the check valve 124. In this state, the passage between the hose attachment 108 and the suction opening 121 is closed.

By applying negative pressure to the suction opening 121, a negative pressure is generated in the latter, and preferably by the mouthpiece 120 being enclosed in a sucking manner by a user.

The vacuum generated in this way continues from the suction opening 121 via the suction space 119 into the control piston chamber 111 and into the suction piston chamber 112. Due to the effect of the pressure on the piston section 139, the control piston 125 is pulled downward in the direction of the control piston chamber 111, counter to the action of the return spring 141. In a predetermined position of the downwardly moving control piston 125, the cavity 134 with the valve body sealing surface 127 enters Check valve body 126 in contact and lifts the check valve body 126 from the O-ring 131 against the action of the valve spring 129. In this state, the negative pressure of the control piston chamber 111 continues into the check valve chamber 110 and into the passage opening 107, whereupon liquid from one Hose not shown here is sucked into the check valve chamber 110. In Figure 7, the liquid is shown as an example with a liquid level 147.

During a further suction, the liquid passes through the inlet opening 113, the control piston chamber 111, the outlet opening 117, the hood opening 118, the suction space 119 and the through openings 123 until it emerges from the suction opening 121 into the user's mouth. This allows the user to comfortably absorb liquid from the valve 101.

As soon as the user stops the suction process on the mouthpiece 102, the liquid flows back from the passage opening 123 through the suction chamber 119 and through the control piston chamber 111 into the check valve chamber 10 and the passage opening 107. At the same time, the control piston 125 is pressed back into the position shown in FIG. 6, in which the valve 101 is closed, due to the action of the return spring 141 and the action of the valve spring 129 acting on the control piston 125 via the check valve body 126. In this condition, liquid may remain in the passage between the check valve body 126 and the suction port 121.

FIG. 9 shows a region of the mouthpiece 120, of which only a part of the partition 150 can be seen in this view. As can be seen particularly well in this view, there is liquid in the passage opening 123 up to a liquid level 152 which separates the liquid located at the bottom in FIG. 8 from the air above the liquid. Due to the formation of the partition wall 150 from hydrophilic material, a concave meniscus is formed, in which the critical angle θ between the wetted surface of the partition wall 150 and the liquid level 152 is less than 90 ° at the point of contact. Due to the capillary effect, a negative pressure is created in the liquid in the passage opening 123, which depends on the radius of curvature of the liquid level 152. The smaller the radius of curvature of the liquid level 152, the greater the magnitude of the resulting negative pressure.

If in this state the valve 101 is rotated so that the suction opening 121 points downward, the negative pressure in the liquid in the passage opening 123 counteracts the effect of gravity on the liquid, thereby effectively preventing leakage from the suction opening 121.

Due to a special design of the suction opening 121, a capillary effect between the liquid and the closure part 151 can also be used, which is also for a

Improves the leakage safety of the valve 101 according to the invention.

FIG. 10 shows schematically three different ways of designing the suction opening 121. In FIG. 10 a, the suction opening 121 is formed by two parallel slits. det. In Figure 10b, the suction opening 121 is formed by a partially circular suction slot. In FIG. 10c, the suction opening 121 is formed by three slots arranged in a star shape.

FIG. 11 shows a mouthpiece 160 of a further valve according to the invention, which essentially corresponds to the valve from FIGS. 6 to 10. The same parts are therefore provided with the same reference numbers.

Unlike the mouthpiece 120, the mouthpiece 160 has no mouthpiece insert. Rather, two passage openings 123 are formed within the mouthpiece 160 by a partition 161. On the top of the mouthpiece 160, an attachment cap 162 is placed, into which suction opening 163 is attached. Both the mouthpiece 160 and the cap 162 are made of hydrophilic plastic material.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the mouthpiece 160 from FIG. 11. As can be seen particularly well in this view, the suction opening 163 is formed as a narrow slot which extends across the two through openings 123 on the upper side of the mouthpiece 160.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of a mouthpiece 165 of a further valve according to the invention, which essentially corresponds to valve 101 from FIG. 6. As can be seen clearly in FIG. 13, a mouthpiece insert receptacle 166 is formed in the interior of the mouthpiece 165, into which a mouthpiece insert is formed

167 is used. The mouthpiece insert 167 has four partitions 168, which are arranged in a star shape and each extend to the inside of the mouthpiece insert receptacle 166. In this way, four separate through openings 169 are formed which run in the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece 165 and which are separated from one another are. At the top of the mouthpiece 165, a closure part 170 is inserted, in which four star-shaped suction openings 171 are provided, each suction opening 171 being assigned to a passage opening 169 so that liquid can be removed from it. The mouthpiece 165, the mouthpiece insert 167 and the closure part 170 are made of hydrophilic plastic.

Reference list

1) valve 33) tappet section

2) valve body 34) cavity

3) Cover 35) thrust washer

4) Base plate 36) Transmission section

5) Intake opening 37) Actuating piston

6) Intake nipple 38) first piston sealing surface

7) Through opening 39) Piston section

8) Hose extension 40) second piston sealing surface

9) Valve dome 41) Return spring

10) check valve chamber 42) first piston seat

11) Control piston chamber 43) O-ring

12) Suction piston chamber 44) Air gap

13) inlet opening 45) second piston seat

14) Control spool opening 46) O-ring

15) Compensation opening 47) Liquid level

16) Cover opening 50) cover part

17) Outlet opening 51) Beverage can

18) Cover 52- outer wall opening 53) ceiling wall

19] Intake space 54) Lid opening

20 mouthpiece 55) flanged edge

21 Intake opening 56) Cover housing

22 Mouthpiece insert 57) Locking groove

23 Through hole 58) O-ring

24) Check valve 59) Locking heel

25> control piston 60) mouthpiece

26 i Check valve body 61) Pass-through channel

27) Valve body sealing surface 62) Valve receiving shaft

28) Valve spring guide ab63) Valve cut 64) Valve dom

29) Valve spring 65) Hose adapter

30) Guide cone 66) Through opening

31) O-ring 67) suction hose

32) Check valve seat 8) first cover part through 112) suction piston chamber through opening 113) inlet opening 9 compensating valve shaft 114) control piston opening 0 second cover part through 115) compensating opening through opening 116) cover 1 compensating valve opening 2 compensating valve body 117) outlet opening 3 compensating valve spring 118) covering cover 4 compensating valve bore through opening Ansauging space 5 O-ring 119 Compensating valve housing 120) Mouthpiece 7 outlet bore 121) Suction opening 0 drinking cup 122) Mouthpiece insert 1 cover part 123) Through opening 2 lower container part 124) Check valve 3 external thread 125) Control piston 4 internal thread 126) Non-return valve 5 bottom wall valve body 6 cover wall 127) valve body 87 valve sealing surface 88 mouthpiece 128) Valve spring guide from 89 Intake opening cut 90 passage opening 129) valve spring 91 liquid 130) guide cone

131) O-ring

101) Valve 132) Check valve seat

102) Valve housing 133) Tappet section

103) Cover 134) Hollow out

104) Base plate 135) Thrust washer

105) Lid opening 136) Transmission section

106) Intake nipple 137) Control piston

107) passage opening 138) first piston sealing surface

108) Hose attachment che

109) valve dome 139) piston section

110) Non-return 140) second piston seal valve chamber surface

111) Control piston chamber 141) Return spring 142) first piston seat 161) partition

143) O-ring 162) Heel cap

144) Air gap 163) Intake opening

145) second piston seat 165) mouthpiece

146) O-ring 166) mouthpiece

147) Mouthpiece insert holder insert holder 167) Mouthpiece insert

148) Insert stop 168) Partition

149) insert tube 169) passage opening

150) partition 170) closure part

151) Closure part 171) suction opening

152) Liquid level

160) mouthpiece

Claims

Patent claims 1. Valve (1; 63; 87), in particular for a drinking cup (80), with a valve housing (9; 64) which has an inlet opening (13) for the entry of liquid (91) and an outlet opening (17) for the exit the liquid (91), which are connected to one another via a passage section (11), the valve (1; 87) further having the following features: - a closure element (26) arranged in the area of the inlet opening (13), which so is designed so that the inlet opening (13) can be closed, a control piston (25), which is designed so that the closure element (26) can be actuated by the control piston (25) in such a way that the inlet opening (13) is open, in the valve housing (9; 64), a suction piston chamber (12) is provided, in which a suction piston section (39) of the control piston (25) is arranged so that the suction piston chamber (12) passes through the suction piston section (39) is divided into an outside area and an inside area, the inside area being connected to the passage section (11). 2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure element (26) is designed so that the Entry opening (13) can be closed automatically. 3. Valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (26) is designed as part of a check valve (26), the direction of passage of which runs from the outlet opening (13) to the inlet opening (17). . Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that the check valve (24) has a valve spring (29) which is arranged in a spring chamber (10) in the valve housing (9; 64) arranged in front of the inlet opening (13). 5. Valve according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the check valve (24) has a check valve body (26) with a valve body sealing surface (27) and a check valve seat (32) arranged in the valve housing (9; 67) with a valve seat sealing surface ( 31). 6. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control piston (25) has an actuating plunger (33) which can be brought into contact with the closure element (26) when the control piston (25) moves. 7. Valve according to claim 6 and claim 5, characterized in that the actuating plunger (33) can be brought into contact with the check valve body (26). 8. Valve according to claim 7, characterized in that the control piston (25) is arranged such that the check valve body (26) can be actuated by the actuating plunger (33) when the control piston (25) moves so that the check valve sealing surface ( 27) is lifted from the check valve seat (32). 9. Valve according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the control piston (25) has a return spring (41) which is arranged so that the control piston (25) in a A restoring force can be applied in the direction away from the closure element (26). 10. Valve according to claim 9, characterized in that a control piston contact surface (35) is provided on the control piston (25) and that a valve housing contact surface is provided on the valve housing (9; 67), the return spring (41) between the control piston contact surface (35) and the valve housing contact surface is arranged. 11. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction piston chamber and the suction piston section of the control piston are designed such that the outer area and inner area are divided essentially gas-tight against one another. 12. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a defined air gap (44) is provided between an inner surface of the suction piston chamber (12) and an outside of the suction piston section (39). 13. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a substance is provided between an inner surface of the suction piston chamber and an outside of the suction piston section, which reduces the coefficient of friction between the suction piston chamber and the suction piston section. 14. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a substance is provided between an inner surface of the suction piston chamber and an outside of the suction piston section, which increases the coefficient of friction between the suction piston chamber and the suction piston section. 5. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control piston (25) has a first piston sealing surface (38) directed towards the passage section (11) and a first piston seat (42) arranged in the valve housing (9; 67) with a first piston seat sealing surface (43), which are designed such that a passage (14) between the suction piston chamber (12) and the passage section (11) can be closed. 16. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction piston chamber (12) has a compensation opening (15) via which the outer area of the suction piston chamber (12) is connected to the surroundings of the valve (1; 63; 87). 17. Valve according to claim 16, characterized in that the control piston (25) has a second piston sealing surface (40) directed towards the compensation opening (15) and a second piston seat (45) arranged in the valve housing (9; 67) with a piston seat sealing surface (46). which are designed so that a passage between the suction piston chamber (12) and the compensation opening (15) can be closed. 18.Lid part (50; 81) for a container, in particular for a drinking cup (80), which is placed on a lower part of the container (51; 82) can be placed, characterized in that a valve (63; 87) according to one of claims 1 to 17 is provided in the cover part (50; 81). 19.Lid part according to claim 18, characterized in that a drinking section (60; 88) is provided in the area of the outlet opening (17). 20. Lid part according to claim 18 or claim 19, characterized in that a compensation valve designed as a check valve (71) is also provided in the cover part (50), the opening direction of which is from the outside of the cover part (50) to the inside of the cover part (50 ) runs. 21. Lid part according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the lid part (50) is designed so that it can be fastened to the upper edge of a beverage can (51). 22. Lid part according to claim 21, characterized in that the lid part has locking lugs on its underside which can be snapped onto a flanged edge of the beverage can under a particularly elastic deformation. 23. Lid part according to claim 21, characterized in that the lid part (50) has on its underside a circumferential locking shoulder (59) which can be snapped onto a flanged edge (55) of the beverage can (51) under a particularly elastic deformation. 24. Lid part according to one of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that the valve (63) is arranged in the cover part (50) in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the control piston (25) runs parallel to an axis of symmetry of the cover part (50). 25. Lid part according to one of claims 18 to 24, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the control piston (25) is parallel to a Main extension plane of the cover part (81). 26. Container, in particular drinking cup (80), with a lower container part (51; 82) and a lid part (50; 81) that can be placed on the lower container part (51; 82), characterized in that a lid part (50; 81) according to one of Claims 18 to 25 are provided. 27. Container according to claim 26, characterized in that in the area of the inlet opening (13) a suction snorkel (67) is provided which projects into the interior of the lower container part (51). 28. Container according to claim 26 or claim 27, characterized in that the cover part (50; 81) and the lower container part (51; 82) can be connected to one another in a substantially sealing manner. 29. Container according to claim 28, characterized in that a sealing means designed in particular as a sealing ring (58) is provided between the cover part (50; 81) and the lower container part (51; 82). 30. Container according to one of claims 26 to 29, characterized in that the lower part of the container is designed as a beverage can (51). 31. Container according to one of claims 26 to 30, characterized in that when the lid part (81) is placed on the lower container part (82), the inlet opening (13) or a Passage opening (90) to the inlet opening (13) is arranged in the area of an inner wall of the lower container part (82). 32. Valve cover, in particular for a drinking cup, which has an interior for receiving liquid, the valve cover having at least one passage for the liquid to pass through to the outside of the valve cover, the passage being between an inlet region (106) directed towards the interior. and an outlet area directed towards the outside of the valve cover and opening into at least one suction opening (121; 163; 171) for the liquid to exit and a closable outlet valve (124) being provided in the passage, characterized in that in the passage in the area of Suction opening (121; 163; 171) at least one passage opening (123; 169) is provided, which is designed so that liquid in the area between the outlet valve (124) and suction opening (121; 163; 171) with the suction opening (121; 171) directed downwards. 163; 171) due to a surface tension effect and/or capillary effect in the passage opening (123; 169) is essentially durable within the passage. 33. Valve cover according to claim 32, characterized in that two or more passage openings (123; 169) are provided. 34. Valve cover according to claim 33, characterized in that the passage openings (123; 169) are arranged next to one another. 35. Valve cover according to claim 34, characterized in that the passage openings (123; 169) are each separated from one another by at least one partition (150; 161; 168). 36. Valve cover according to one of claims 33 to 35, characterized in that the passage in the area of the passage openings (123; 169) has a substantially cylindrical shape, the passage openings (123; 169) being arranged through partition walls in the area of the diameter of the passage (150; 161; 168) are separated from each other. 37. Valve cover according to one of claims 32 to 36, the passage at least in the area of the passage opening (123; 169) has material that repels the liquid. 38. Valve cover according to claim 37, characterized in that the diameter of at least one passage opening (123; 169) is designed such that a negative pressure resulting from the capillary effect inside the passage opening (123; 169) is equal to or smaller than that caused by the in the pressure that can be generated in the liquid opening (123; 169). 39. Valve cover according to one of claims 32 to 38, characterized in that the effective diameter of the suction opening (121; 163; 171) is narrowed compared to the effective diameter of the passage and / or the passage opening or the passage openings (123; 169). 40. Valve cover according to claim 39, characterized in that the suction opening (121; 163; 171) has a cross-shaped, a rod-shaped, a circular, a part-circular or a star-shaped outline in the plan view. 41. Valve cover according to claim 39 or claim 40, characterized in that a distance is provided between the suction opening (121; 163; 171) and the passage opening (123; 169). 42. Valve cover according to one of claims 32 to 41, characterized in that the valve is designed as a valve (124) which can be actuated by a suction pressure at the suction opening. 43. Drinking cup with a cup base that is closed by a valve cover according to one of claims 32 to 42.