US20060130256A1

US20060130256A1 - Scrubber for sippy cup lid

Info

Publication number: US20060130256A1
Application number: US11/018,098
Authority: US
Inventors: Wendy Lowry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-20
Filing date: 2004-12-20
Publication date: 2006-06-22

Abstract

A flat handled scrubber has abrasive sponge elements adhered to opposing ends. The two abrasive sponges are precisely sized and configured to enhance cleansing of interior surfaces of a sippy cup lid, particularly, in and around the mouthpiece.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of cleaning devices. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a scrubber specifically designed to clean internal surfaces of a sippy cup lid.
As an infant transitions into a toddler, the child gives up the bottle in favor of a drinking glass or cup. This can lead to a considerable amount of spilt milk (with or without tears) and require a mom to be involved with frequently mopping up. As a result, many mothers opt for the use of a “sippy cup” or a “Tommy tippy”, as they were once known. This greatly reduces the amount of liquid which spills when the cup is mishandled and, accordingly, the amount of aggravation during these transition years.
One of the key problems with sippy cups is the lack of any suitable appliance to clean the internal surfaces. As a result, the inside of the mouthpiece can develop a buildup of milk, juice and other potentially harmful residue. Toddlers are sufficiently prone to illness as it is, without creating an additional health concern associated with a cup which the child uses at every meal and, often, several times between meals.
It is the purpose of the present invention to remedy this problem by providing a suitable scrubber for cleaning the internal surfaces of a sippy cup lid. Specifically, the present invention is a scrubber for cleansing an interior surface of the lid of a sippy cup which has a cylindrical feed tube with a first internal diameter, a tapered mouthpiece extending from the feed tube with a second maximum lateral dimension and a third lesser transverse dimension, the scrubber comprising a support handle having a first end and a second end; a first abrasive scrubber; a second abrasive scrubber extending a second maximum lateral distance d₁which is greater than the second maximum lateral dimension d₂of the tapered mouthpiece to facilitate cleansing of the internal surfaces of the lid of the sippy cup.
Preferably, the support handle is a flat member facilitating manipulation of the scrubber and the flat member tapers from a maximum dimension in a central region thereof downwardly toward each of the first end and the second end. The first and second scrubber are preferably made of the same material which can be a compressible sponge-like material.
Various other features, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after a reading of the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention is/are described in conjunction with the associated drawings in which like features are indicated with like reference numerals and in which
FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the sippy cup lid scrubber of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a front view of an existing sippy cup lid; and
FIG. 4 is a side view of the mouthpiece of the lid shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

A first embodiment of the sippy cup lid scrubber of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally at 20. Scrubber 20 has a support handle 22 which is preferably flat (FIG. 2) having a maximum thickness d₃, a maximum width in a central region and tapering downwardly toward each end (FIG. 1). First abrasive scrubber 24 is affixed (as by an adhesive) to first end 26 of support handle 22 and second abrasive scrubber 28 is affixed to second end 30. First and second abrasive scrubbers 24 and 28 are preferably made of a compressible material, such as a closed-cell sponge, which is highly durable.
A conventional sippy cup lid is depicted in FIG. 3 generally at 11. The external surface of mouthpiece 13 tapers from its root 12 to its discharge end 14 in two orthogonal directions. A cylindrical central feed tube 15 extends downwardly into the interior of the lid 11 and has a maximum internal diameter of d₂. Feed tube 15 tapers within the mouthpiece 13 in one of the orthogonal directions to a minimum dimension d₄at the discharge end 14 while maintaining a second maximum dimension in the other orthogonal direction which is equal to d₂. First abrasive scrubber 24 has a maximum lateral dimension d₅which is preferably less than the maximum dimension d₂. Second abrasive scrubber 28 preferably extends a second maximum lateral dimension d₁which is greater than the second maximum lateral dimension d₂of the tapered mouthpiece to facilitate cleansing of the internal surfaces of the lid of the sippy cup.
Scrubber 20 is very effective at cleaning the internal surfaces of sippy cup lid 11. The tapering ends 26 and 30 of support handle 22 facilitate the insertion of scrubbers 24, 28 into and around the feed tube 15 and the sizing of the scrubbers 24, 28 ensure positive cleansing contact with the surfaces. The flat support handle 22 facilitates rotation of scrubbers 24, 28 within the mouthpiece 13 to scrub the region clean and remove any residue that might have collected there. Accordingly, a mom with a clean sippy cup lid not only doesn't have to cry over spilt milk, she also doesn't have to lie awake at night worrying about infectious diseases lurking within mouthpiece 13.
Various changes, alternatives and modifications will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art following a reading of the foregoing specification. It is intended that any such changes, alternatives and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims be considered part of the present invention.

Claims

1. A scrubber for cleansing an interior surface of a lid of a sippy cup lid which has cylindrical feed tube with a first internal diameter, a tapered mouthpiece extending from the feed tube with a second maximum lateral dimension d₂and a third minimum transverse dimension d₄, said scrubber comprising

a) a support handle having a first end and a second end and a maximum thickness d₃which is less than the minimum transverse dimension d₄;

b) a first abrasive scrubber having a first maximum lateral dimension d₅;

c) a second abrasive scrubber extending a second maximum lateral dimension d₁which is greater than the second maximum lateral dimension d₂of the tapered mouthpiece to facilitate cleansing of the internal surfaces of the lid of the sippy cup.

2. The scrubber of claim 1 wherein said first maximum lateral dimension d₅of first abrasive scrubber is less than the second maximum lateral diameter d₂.

3. The scrubber of claim 1 wherein said support handle is a flat member facilitating manipulation of said scrubber.

4. The scrubber of claim 3 wherein said flat member tapers from a maximum dimension in a central region thereof downwardly toward each of said first end and said second end.

5. The scrubber of claim 1 wherein a material comprising said first scrubber and a material comprising said second scrubber is the same.

6. The scrubber of claim 5 wherein said material comprises a compressible sponge-like material.