Recent advances in silicone technology have resulted in a variety of valve designs for children's sippy cups. Although many existing designs are effective in preventing the escape of liquid from a container without the application of negative pressure from a user, these valves are generally permanently installed in the cup, thereby reducing sanitation and longevity of the cup. Particularly when used by children or the infirmed, sterilization of all components of a cup is extremely important, but cannot be accomplished without each component's removal.
Permanent valve installations in such cups can cause mold and bacteria buildup, which can eventually pose significant risks to the user. Accordingly, cups having permanent valve installations may be used a limited number of times before customary cleaning techniques are no longer able to thoroughly sanitize the valve components, requiring the user to dispose of the cup. Such requisite disposal has obvious economic and environmental implications to the users and consumers generally, in addition to the significant distress disposal of a child's favorite cup can impose on familial relations.
When sippy cup designs provide for a removable valve assembly, however, the assembly is generally constructed of a single material that, while flexible, is generally easily torn with repeated extractions and insertions of the valve assembly. Given the repeated washings required for utensils and containers used by children, in particular, durability is a significant aspect for consumers of such products. Accordingly, existing valve assemblies fail to provide the removability—desirable from a sanitation perspective—and durability—preferable from an economic and environmental perspective—deemed necessary to modern consumers, and possible to manufacturers given new advances in overmolding processes.
There is disclosed herein an improved sippy cup assembly which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages.