INFANT TRAINER CUP WITH STRAW LID

Abstract

A cup assembly including a cup having a pair of opposed curved sides, each of the pair of opposed curved sides is a deflectable side, a lid releasably connected to the cup, and a straw operatively associated with the cup to transport fluids from said cup to a user, is provided. The cup assembly has two opposed convex sides; and a zone of compression on each of the convex sides is provided. The zone of compression on one convex sides is deflectable towards a zone of deflection on the other convex side to permit the cup to be compressed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/347,726 filed on May 24, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to a cup and a lid with a straw for teaching an infant to drink using the straw. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to compressible or squeezable cup that is compressed or squeezed to force liquid through the straw to teach an infant how to drink from the straw.

2. Description of Related Art

Child feeding experts have noted that drinking from a straw at early ages promotes mature mouth movements that traditional spouted cups do not offer. Approximately 25 percent of the infants transitioning from bottles having nipples or spouts do not know how to drink using a straw.

Available cups that have straws and lids do not take advantage of cup geometry to train infants to drink from straws. Many cups are non-squeezable even if the cups have a lid with a straw. Such cups force the infant to apply a suction force to the straw to draw the fluid through the straw. However, the infant has no experience in such mouth movement that provides the suction force because the infant's experience is largely limited to drinking from a nipple or spout. In contrast, cups that are flexible and very easy for an infant to squeeze cause liquid to rapidly eject from such cups and straws in an uncontrolled fashion, thereby creating unwanted spillage.

Accordingly, there is a need for a squeezable cup that is geometrically structured to permit a caregiver to squeeze the cup and to prevent an infant from squeezing such cup. A cup squeezable by only the caregiver will enable the caregiver to train the infant to use the straw in a controlled and clean fashion and aid the infant in learning and mastering the sucking motion of the mouth from a straw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides for a cup that is shaped such that it prevents an infant from effectively squeezing the cup and permits a caregiver to effectively squeeze the cup to train such infant to drink from a straw in the cups.

A cup assembly including a cup having a pair of opposed curved sides that are each a deflectable side of the cup. The cup assembly further requires a lid releasably connected to the cup; and a straw operatively connected to the cup to transport fluids from the cup to a user.

A cup assembly including a cup having a pair of opposed curved sides, each of the pair of opposed curved sides is a deflectable side, a lid releasably connected to the cup, and a straw operatively associated with the cup to transport fluids from said cup to a user, is provided. The cup assembly has two opposed convex sides; and a zone of compression on each of the convex sides is provided. The zone of compression on one convex sides is deflectable towards a zone of deflection on the other convex side to permit the cup to be compressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a cup assembly including a cup, a lid and a straw, according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cup of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1, without the straw;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front perspective view of the lid and straw FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the cup of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the cup of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a cup assembly generally represented by reference numeral 10. Cup assembly 10 includes a cup 15 that is releasably connected, preferably by threaded engagement, to a lid 20 having a straw 25. Cup 10 is shown in an opened position with straw 25 extending in a vertical position from lid 20 to provide access to fluid in cup 15. In a closed position, straw 25 would be hidden from view and folded into channel 30. While the configuration of FIG. 1 is shown with lid 20 having a sliding member 35 to close lid 20, other configurations of a lid 20 may be used provided there is a straw 25 operably connected to lid 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, cup 15 has a top portion 40 and a cylindrical flange 45 that extends form top portion 40. Cylindrical flange 45 has threads 50 molded thereto to receive lid 20. Lid 20 has internal threads 55 that are configured to mate with threads 50 of cylindrical flange 45 in a sealing relationship to prevent fluids from being released from cup assembly 10.

Referring to FIG. 3 (shown without straw 25) and FIG. 4, lid 20 has two opposed arms 60 that an infant holds when drinking from cup assembly 10. Lid 20 also has a central ridge 65 that receives straw 25 and a sliding member 35. Sliding member 35 slides in tracks 70 disposed on opposite sides of central ridge 65. Sliding member 35 is able to slide along central ridge 65 to provide and prevent access to contents of cup 15 by exposing or covering straw 25. In the position shown in FIG. 4, straw 25 is exposed and in a vertical position not covered by sliding member 35. When cup assembly 10 is not in use, sliding member 35 is moved over straw 25, thereby forcing straw into channel 30 in central ridge 65.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, cup 15 has a front curved side or convex side 75 and a rear curved side or convex side 80. Cup 15 has a lateral curved side 85 and an opposite lateral curved side 90. Each of the pair of opposed curved sides 75 and 80 and 85 and 90, provide cup 15 with a four-sided geometry. Cup 15 has two inverted U-shaped surfaces or lines of demarcation 95 and 100 that mark the change of curvature between front curved side 75 and lateral sides 85 and 90 and rear curved side 80 and lateral sides 85 and 90, respectively. Lines of demarcation 95 and 100 are thin surfaces that separate adjacent sides, namely, front curved side 75, rear curved side 80, lateral side 85 and lateral side 90. Alternatively, lines of demarcation may be an edge where front curved side 75 and lateral sides 85 and 90 and rear curved side 85 and 90, respectively, meet. Front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 each has a zone of compression 105.

In use, when front rear side 75 and rear curved side 80 are depressed at zone 105, front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 are brought closer and fluid is ejected from straw. The compressive force required to deflect front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 to bring zones of compression 105 closer together and create a positive pressure in cup 15 is preferably from 7 lb-f to 13 lb-f. An infant would not be able to compress cup 15 with that required force. However, a caregiver could easily compress cup with such a force and teach infant to use suction with straw 25 and draw fluid from cup assembly 10. Zone of compression 105 can be highlighted with a particular color or shape on surface of cup 15.

The convex configuration of front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 that are shortened by lines of demarcation 95 and 100, respectively, permits each side to be easily deflected by a caregiver when a compressive force is applied to cup 15 to eject fluid. Were cup 15 of a cylindrical shape, the force required to compress the cup and eject fluid would be higher because cylindrical shapes distribute force across the surface and actually prevent compression. The force required to compress a cylindrical cup would be substantially greater than the 7 lb-f to 13 lb-f curved front side 75 and rear curved side 80. Were a force higher than 13 lb-f required to eject fluid and train infant, caregiver may experience a loss of control and ejected excessive amounts of fluid when pressing zones of compression 105.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80, each has a center line 120 and 125, respectively. Center line 120 lies along inclined front curved side 75 at cup 15 and traverses zone of compression 105. Similarly, center line 125 lies along inclined rear curved side 80 and traverses zone of compression 105. Lower surface of cup 110 lies in a plane 115. Lines 120 and 125 each lie at an angle of from 75° to 85° relative to lower surface of cup 110. This range of angles enables sides 75 and 85 to be compressed at zones of compression 105 with ease due to their slight curvature. Zones of compression 105 are shown as being circular, however, they could have a different shape. Further, zones 105 may have a textured surface to enhance the gripping effect for the caregiver.

Further, cup 15 is preferably made from polypropylene, although other materials could also be used. The wall thickness or thickness between inside and outside of cup 15 at zones 105 on front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 is preferably between 0.02 inches and 0.045 inches. Table 1 shows a range of acceptable wall thicknesses and the forces required to compress cup at zone of compression 105 of front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80. The thickness of zones of compression 105 will provide the required stiffness of the cup to resist the compressive force of an infant, yet the flexibility to permit deflection by a caregiver. The inclination of front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80, together with the thickness of cup at zones of compression 105, enables caregiver to provide a controlled compression or squeezing motion of cup 15. The controlled squeezing motion permits simple training of an infant as they learn to suction fluid from cup 15 through straw 25.

TABLE 1
                   Force Required to Compress
Cup Wall Thickness Cup Wall
(inches)           (lb-f)
0.051              12.936
0.051              12.012
0.030              11.440
0.0415             11.990
0.051              11.396
0.0415             11.968
0.0410             11.660
0.0390             10.032
0.0315             8.800
0.0315             9.900
0.0315             9.240
0.0315             11.220
0.0315             9.020
0.0300             11.400
0.0310             9.240
0.0295             9.900
0.0295             10.340
0.0290             9.680
0.0290             9.020

The geometry of cup assembly 10 permits a positive force to deflect front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 towards each other to compress such cup 15 and create a positive force to eject fluid from the straw 25. Front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80 each has a convex configuration such that when a predetermined force is applied to each of the two opposed convex sides 75 and 80, compression of cup 15 occurs. The predetermined force is a force that could not be achieved by an infant. Zone of compression 105 on opposite sides, front curved side 75 and rear curved side 80, are depressed by caregiver to deflect sides 75 and 80 towards each other to thereby compress cup 15.

The present disclosure has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments. It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions and examples are only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications thereof can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cup assembly comprising:

a cup having a pair of opposed curved sides, wherein each of said pair of opposed curved sides is a deflectable side of said cup;

a lid releasably connected to said cup; and

a straw operatively connected to said cup to transport fluids from said cup to a user.

2. The cup assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pair of opposed curved sides comprise a pair of opposed convex sides.

3. The cup assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said pair of opposed convex sides is deflectable in a direction towards the other of said pair of opposed convex sides to compress said cup.

4. The cup assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second pair of opposed curved sides, wherein said second pair of opposed curved sides and said pair of opposed curved sides form a four-sided cup.

5. The cup assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a first line of demarcation and a second line of demarcation that separate said pair of opposed curved sides from said second pair of opposed curved sides.

6. The cup assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of said pair of opposed curved sides is disposed between said second pair of opposed curved sides.

7. The cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cup further comprises a bottom surface and a plane coincident with said bottom surface and a first line and a second line, wherein said first line and said second line are each coincident a center line of each of said opposed curved sides, and each of said first line and said second line intersect said plane coincident with said bottom surface with a predefined angle.

8. The cup assembly according to claim 6, wherein said predefined angle ranges from 75° to 85°.

9. The cup assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of said pair of opposed curved sides comprises a zone of compression and one of said first line and said second line traverses a center of said zone of compression disposed on one of said pair of opposed curved sides and the other of said first line and said second line traverses a center of said zone of compression disposed on the other of said pair of opposed curved sides.

10. The cup assembly according to claim 9, wherein said zone of compression has a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.045 inches in a direction towards the center of cup.

11. The cup assembly according to claim 4, wherein said line of demarcation is a surface or an edge that separates said pair of opposed curved sides.

12. A cup assembly according comprising:

a cup having two opposed convex sides;

a zone of compression on each of said convex sides, wherein a zone of compression on one side of said convex sides is deflectable towards a zone of deflection on the other of said convex sides to permit said cup to be compressed; and

a lid releasably connected to said cup and a straw operatively associated with said lid and said cup to transport fluid from said cup to a user when fluid is suctioned or squeezed from said cup.

13. The cup assembly according to claim 12, further comprising two opposed curved sides, wherein said two opposed convex sides and said two opposed curved sides form a four sided cup.

14. The cup assembly according to claim 13, wherein one of said two opposed curved sides is disposed between said two opposed convex sides to position said two opposed convex sides and said two opposed curved sides on opposite sides of said cup.

15. The cup assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a first line of demarcation and a second line of demarcation, wherein said first line of demarcation separates one of said two convex sides from said two opposed curved sides and said second line of demarcation separates said other of said two convex sides from said two opposed curved sides.

16. The cup assembly according to claim 12, wherein each of said opposed convex sides comprises a zone of compression, wherein each of said opposed convex sides is deflectable at said zone of compression to reduce a volume of said cup and eject fluid from said cup through said straw.

17. The cup assembly according to claim 16, wherein said zone of compression has a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.045 inches in a direction towards the center of cup.

18. The cup according to claim 17, wherein said cup further comprises a bottom surface and a plane coincident with said bottom surface and a center line of each of said opposed convex sides that intersects said plane coincident with said bottom surface to form an angle ranging from 75° to 85°.

19. The cup according to claim 17, wherein said center line of each of said opposed convex sides traverses said zone of compression.

20. The cup assembly according to claim 12, wherein said lid has two opposed handles for holding by a user.

21. The cup assembly according to claim 12, wherein a force required to compress a zone of compression ranges from 7 lb-f to 13 lb-f.

22. The cup assembly according to claim 12, wherein said cup is formed from flexible polypropylene.