| 摘要 |
<p>The spout (12) has a side wall (18) made of a flexible material defining an outer surface to be contacted by the lips of a drinker and an inner surface defining a discharge passage leading to a mouth of the spout to permit a beverage to sucked from the container by the drinker. A valve is provided in the discharge passage to prevent undesired spillage of the beverage when no person is drinking from the cup. The valve comprises two flanks (16a, 16b) formed integrally with the side wall (18) of the spout (12) and projecting from opposite sides of the inner surface of the spout. The front end faces of the flanks mate with one another along a slit (30) that extends generally parallel to the longer axis of the spout. At least the front portions of the flanks are inclined away from the mouth of the spout (12) such that pressure within the container acts to urge the flanks (16a, 16b) against one another so as to maintain the slit (30) closed. Deformation of the side wall (18) of the spout (12) when the spout is held between the lips of a drinker acts to open the slit (30).</p> |
