Developmental Drinking Cup and Training Straw and Method of Use

Abstract

A developmental drinking cup and training straw and method for developmental drinking stages is presented. A first stage presents an open-topped tiny cup, having a small volume, whereby a toddler's eye-hand and hand-to-mouth coordination is promoted while encouraging head-forward drinking which lessens choking and reinforces a strong swallow reflex. Once mastery of the initial stage is attained, an open-topped mini cup is presented, having twice the capacity of the tiny cup, to reinforce the developmental drinking promoted in the initial stage. A third and fourth stage present the mini cup in use with a training straw which inverts to present a second end after use with the first end has been mastered. Eye-hand and hand-to-mouth coordination and head-forward drinking is developed while generating confidence with independent drinking without sippy cups or spouted vessels which are known to impact speech development.

Claims

1. A developmental drinking and training apparatus comprising: a training straw having a first end and a second end, said training straw further comprising a tactile marker disposed a specific distance from the first end; and a cup having an attachable lid, said lid including an aperture for sealable engagement with the training straw; wherein the training straw is invertible in use between a first position and a second position whereby the first position teaches correct engagement of the first end of the straw in the mouth of a user by haptically signaling contact with the tactile marker and whereby the second position enables the user to use the straw without the tactile marker engaged in the user's mouth.

2. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the training straw further includes a deflection proximal the first end.

3. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tactile marker is a plurality of bumps.

4. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the training straw is made out of a rubberlike polymer.

5. The attachable lid of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a sealing skirt adapted to sealably engage around the straw.

6. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cup includes an outer wall that thickens toward the base.

7. The training straw of claim 1 wherein the tactile marker is disposed between 8 millimeters and 12 millimeters from the first end.

8. The training straw of claim 2 wherein the deflection is an obtuse angle of not more than 25° off of the vertical.

9. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 4 wherein the training straw is not more than 109 millimeters in length.

10. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 4 wherein the training straw is not less than 6 millimeters in inner diameter.

11. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cup includes an interior volume that narrows toward the base, wherein a frustoconical cross-section supports head-forward drinking.

12. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 6 wherein the interior volume is 1 ounce.

13. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 6 wherein the interior volume is 2 ounces.

14. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 10 wherein the training straw is not less than 9 millimeters in outer diameter.

15. The developmental drinking and training apparatus of claim 11 wherein the interior slope of the cup is approximately 10.

16. A method of developmental drinking for infants and toddlers, said method comprising the steps of: serving beverages to a toddler in a tiny cup, said tiny cup comprising: a base; a mouth that is smaller in diameter than the base; a 1 ounce frustoconical interior volume surrounded by a sloped inner wall that inclines toward the base; an outer wall that thickens toward the base; wherein eye-hand and hand-to-mouth and head-forward drinking is promoted; once mastery of the tiny cup has been attained, serving beverages to the toddler in a mini cup, said mini cup comprising: a base; a mouth that is smaller in diameter than the base; a 2 ounce frustoconical interior volume surrounded by a sloped inner wall that inclines toward the base; an outer wall that thickens toward the base; wherein eye-hand and hand-to-mouth and head-forward drinking is reinforced by developing mastery of a cup having twice the capacity of the tiny cup; once mastery of the mini cup has been attained, serving beverages to the toddler in the mini cup with a sealable lid engaged within the mouth of the mini cup, said sealable lid adapted for insertion of a training straw through an aperture therein disposed, said training straw disposed in a first position with a first end uppermost, said training straw comprising: a tactile marker disposed proximal the first end, said tactile marker configured to haptically signal position of the first end interior to the mouth of the user and thereby discourage over insertion of the first end into the user's mouth; a deflection deflecting the first end off of the vertical; wherein eye-hand, hand-to-mouth coordination and head-forward drinking are reinforced to further promote development of a strong swallow reflex; and once mastery of the mini cup with training straw in the first position has been attained, serving beverages to the toddler in the mini cup with the training straw disposed in the second position, inverted relative the first position, whereby a second end of the training straw is presented for drinking by; wherein the tiny cup, mini cup, and training straw are usable in tandem to provide a graduated series of stages promoting and reinforcing eye-hand and hand-to-mouth coordination, head-forward drinking, and the development of a strong swallow reflex without impacting speech development or growth of the soft palette.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

[0021] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of a tiny cup, a mini cup with lid, and a straw that collectively comprise the present method and apparatus herein claimed.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section view of an example embodiment of the tiny cup and the mini cup showing the thickening of the cup toward the base and the angle of the sloped interior walls.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a detail view of an example embodiment of a first end of the training to straw with tactile marker evident.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of an example embodiment of the lid of the mini cup.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an example embodiment of the training straw disposed in the mini cup (illustrated in dashed lines) in a first position.

[0026] FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an example embodiment of the training straw disposed in the mini cup (illustrated in dashed lines) in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, example of the instant developmental drinking cup and training straw and method of use employing the principles and concepts of the present developmental drinking cup and training straw and method of use and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 a preferred embodiment of the present developmental drinking cup and training straw and method of use 10 is illustrated. Referring to FIG. 1, elevation views of example embodiments of a tiny cup 20, mini cup 40, and training straw 60 are provided. Tiny cup 20 is configured to house an interior volume of one ounce (1 oz). Outer wall 28 narrows toward mouth 24. However, interior volume 22 (see FIG. 2) narrows toward base 30, thereby thickening outer wall 28 and lowering the cup's 20 center of gravity. Tiny cup 20 is contemplated as the first stage in the developmental drinking method herein set forth, encouraging one-year-olds to drink directly from the cup 20 mouth 24 without need of an enclosed top or spout as is common with “sippy-cups” presently seen in the art.

[0029] Mini cup 40 is also shown in side elevation view. Mini cup 40 encloses twice the volume compared to tiny cup 20 and includes sealable lid 70. Mini cup 40 is used in the second stage of the instant developmental drinking method set forth herein, providing a larger capacity and larger circumference for use by older toddlers. Similar to tiny cup 20, mini cup 40 has an outer wall 48 that widens toward base 50. Also similar to tiny cup 20, mini cup 40 includes sloped interior wall 52 whereby interior volume 42 narrows toward the base 50 (see FIG. 2). Such a configuration assists in maintaining head-forward drinking (as set forth above) and the development of eye-hand and hand-to-mouth coordination as well as reinforcing the swallow reflex while reducing risks of choking. Sealable lid 70 is installable into mini cup 40 for use with training straw 60, shown in side elevation view in FIG. 1, which is releasably insertable into aperture 72 disposed in sealable lid 70. Training straw 60 is envisioned for use in the third and fourth stages of the developmental drinking method set forth herein. In the third stage, training straw 60 is contemplated for use in a first position, with first end 62 upright. In the fourth stage, training straw 60 is contemplated for use in a second position, with second end 66 upright, as will be set forth herein below.

[0030] Training straw 60 includes tactile marker 64 at first end 62. Tactile marker 64 is here represented as a plurality of raised bumps that signal position of the straw 60 interior to a toddler's mouth and thereby prevent overextension of the straw 60 into the mouth by the toddler during use, however it should be noted that any tactile marker 64 capable of signaling position of first end 62 interior to the mouth of a toddler is contemplated as within scope of this invention 10. First end 62 of training straw 60 includes deflection 68 to further encourage and assist in development of head-forward drinking.

[0031] Once a child has mastered use of training straw 60 in the first position, training straw 60 is invertible so that tactile marker 64 is no longer presented into the mouth of the user. Instead, first end 62 maybe inserted into sealable lid 70 and, alternatively, training straw 60 may be used with mini cup 40 without sealable lid 70 attached.

[0032] It should be noted that training straw 60 is relatively shorter and has a relatively larger diameter than a standard drinking straw. These stouter dimensions present a straw 60 more easily handled by a toddler. Further, the relatively larger diameter assists in the development of a strong swallow reflex, while the relatively shorter length makes eye-to-mouth coordination of the straw easier. In the example embodiment illustrated herein, training straw 60 is not more than 09 millimeters long and has a diameter of not less than 9 millimeters. Tactile marker 64 is disposed not more than 10 millimeters from first end 62. Deflection 68 originates approximately halfway along length of straw 60, and deflects first end 62 not more than 25° off of the vertical.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, tiny cup 20, mini cup 40, sealable lid 70, and training straw 60 are manufactured from a rubberlike polymer, such as food grade silicone. As such, the outer surfaces of the tiny cup 20, mini cup 40, sealable lid 70, and training straw 60 are rubberlike and tactile, resilient and yielding to prevent breakage when dropped or injury when forcibly contacting the body, and firm enough for use as intended.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal cross-sections of each of tiny cup 20 and mini cup 40 to expose frustoconical interior volumes 22, 42 and widening walls 28, 48 that create a lower center of gravity of each said tiny and mini cup 20, 40. Interior sloped walls 28, 48 incline from a maximum inner diameter of each cup 20, 40 at the mouth thereof to a minimum inner diameter proximal the base thereof. Similarly, outer walls 28, 48 thicken from the mouth of each cup 24, 44 toward bases 30, 50, with maximum thickness expressed proximal bases 30, 50. Bases 30, 50 include a plurality of protrusions 34, 54 projected therefrom in a circular pattern around the circumference of each said base 30, 50. This plurality of protrusions 34, 54 provides increased tractive engagement of each said cup 20, 40 when positioned upright upon a surface.

[0035] The sloped interior walls 32, 52, inclining toward each base 30, 50, present a declining slope toward each said cup's mouth 24, 44 when each respective cup 20, 40 is upended. The sloped interior walls 32, 52 therefore present a gradient down which liquid held in the cup 20, 40 is accelerated when the cup 20, 40 is tipped for drinking. Such a configuration assists in developing head-forward drinking, the development of a strong swallow reflex, and improved eye-hand and hand-to-mouth coordination.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates training straw 60 in side elevation view, with detail inset for showing tactile marker 64 disposed proximal first end 62. In this example embodiment depicted, tactile marker 64 is disposed 10 mm from first end 62. Tactile marker 64 signals position of first end 62 of training straw 60 in the mouth of a user. Tactile marker 64 thus assists in preventing over insertion of training straw 60 first end 62 into the mouth. Training straw 60 is shown as 109 mm along outer length and 106 mm along inner length. This is approximately half the length of a standard drinking straw (typically approximately 216 mm long). Training straw 60 is also not more than 9 mm outer diameter and 6 mm inner diameter (and therefore 3 mm thick). A standard drinking straw is typically approximately 6.1 mm outer diameter, 5.8 mm inner diameter, and only 0.3 mm thick. This stouter configuration of training straw 60 assists developmental drinking by requiring stronger lip closure around the straw 60 circumference and promotes easier handling by a toddler. The shorter straw 60 also allows drawing fluid into the mouth in less time, reducing the amount of time a toddler needs to hold its breath during use. Further, deflection 68 presents first end anteriorly deflected not more than 25° off the vertical to encourage head-forward drinking.

[0037] In the third stage of the developmental method set forth herein, training straw 60 is used in conjunction with mini cup 40 and sealable lid 70 shown in FIG. 4. Sealable lid 70 is configured for removable engagement into mouth of mini cup 40 and presents aperture 72 with sealing skirt 74 for engagement with training straw 60 and to lessen spillage through the aperture 72 should the cup 40 be tipped over. Sealable lid 70 further includes tactile marker 76 disposed upon the exterior surface diametrically opposed relative to aperture 72. Tactile marker 76 assists a toddler grasping the cup orient the cup by haptically signaling the orientation of the cup relative the toddler when the toddler grasps the cup 40.

[0038] Training straw 60 is insertable into aperture 72 in sealable lid 70 (see FIGS. 4 through 6) in each of a first position and a second position. The third stage of the developmental drinking method set forth herein employs training straw 60 in the first position. As shown in FIG. 5, training straw 60 in the first position presents first end 62 to the user and tactile marker 64 is employed to signal position of first end 62 interior to the user's mouth. Further, deflection 68 presents first end 62 forwards for easier engagement by the user without tipping of the cup 40 forward or tilting the head downwards. Once use of the straw 60 has been mastered in the first position, stage four of the present method employs training straw 60 in the second position, with second end 66 exposed for use absent tactile marker 64 (see FIG. 6).

[0039] Thus a user is encouraged to progress through four stages of developmental drinking, learning eye-hand and hand-to-mouth coordination as well as developing a strong swallow reflex while reducing risks of choking. Further, use of straw 60 from the first position to the second position encourages learning how to use a straw correctly.