DYSPHAGIA CUP

Abstract

A cup for a patient suffering from dysphagia comprises a base upon which the cup is capable of standing when on a level surface and a leading wall extending from the base. The leading wall has a first portion that is substantially planar or concave when viewed from outside the cup, the first portion being at an angle of at least 100 degrees relative to the base. The cup also comprises a trailing wall opposite the leading wall, wherein the trailing wall extends from the base to the lip of the cup; and side walls extending between the leading and trailing walls, the side walls being convex when viewed from outside of the cup. The lip of the cup is upwardly inclined relative to the base in the direction of the trailing wall to the leading wall. The cup allows a patient suffering from dysphagia to drink without having to unduly tip back his or her head.

Claims

1. A cup for a patient suffering from dysphagia, wherein the cup comprises: a base upon which the cup is capable of standing when on a level surface; a leading wall extending from the base to a lip of the cup, wherein the leading wall includes a first portion proximate to the base of the cup that is substantially planar or concave when viewed from outside the cup, the first portion being at an angle of at least 100 degrees relative to the base, and wherein the leading wall includes a second portion distal to the base of the cup and adjacent the first portion, wherein the second portion curves longitudinally outwardly from the center of the cup; a trailing wall opposite the leading wall, wherein the trailing wall extends from the base to the lip of the cup; and side walls extending between the leading and trailing walls, the side walls being convex when viewed from outside of the cup; wherein the lip of the cup is upwardly inclined relative to the base in the direction of the trailing wall to the leading wall.

2. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the leading wall extends for at least 30% of the length of the leading wall.

3. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the leading wall extends for from 50% to 70% of the length of the leading wall.

4. The cup of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the leading wall is at an angle of from 102 to 108 degrees relative to the base of the cup.

5. (canceled)

6. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the second portion extends for from 15% to 35% of the length of the leading wall.

7. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the leading wall is concave when viewed from outside the cup.

8. The cup according to claim 1, wherein at least 50% of the length of the trailing wall is at an angle of less than 105 degrees relative to the base.

9. The cup according to claim 8, wherein the trailing wall includes a first portion proximate to the base of the cup, wherein the first portion extends for at least 60% of the length of the trailing wall, and wherein the first portion is at an angle of from 95 to 101 degrees relative to the base of the cup.

10. The cup according to claim 9, wherein the first portion of the trailing wall is substantially planar or concave when viewed from outside the cup.

11. The cup according to claim 9, wherein the distance between the top of the first portion of the leading and trailing walls is less than 71 mm.

12. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the cup is shaped so that a first said cup substantially fits within a second said cup.

13. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the leading and trailing walls each include a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges.

14. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the upwardly inclined lip is inclined upwardly from the trailing wall to the leading wall at an angle of about 1-7 degrees relative to the base.

15. The cup according to claim 14, wherein the upwardly inclined lip is inclined upwardly from the trailing wall to the leading wall at an angle of about 4 degrees relative to the base.

16. The cup according to claim 1, wherein a lip of the cup is ovoid or elliptical for accommodating a patient's nose when drinking from the cup.

17. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the cup are of substantially the same thickness.

18. The cup according to claim 1, having a total volume of from 100 to 300 mL.

19. A cup assembly, comprising a cup of claim 1 and at least one of: a holder for holding the cup including a cradle configured to support the cup and at least one handle attached to the cradle; and a lid releasably attached to the cup.

20. A prepackaged food or beverage comprising the cup of claim 1; a food or beverage located within the cup; and a releasable seal extending across the lip of the cup.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0073] Examples of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0074] FIG. 1 is a top view of an example cup of the present invention;

[0075] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0076] FIG. 3 is a front view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0077] FIG. 4 is a back view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0078] FIG. 5 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0079] FIG. 6 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0080] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0081] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cup of FIG. 1;

[0082] FIG. 9 is a top view of a second example cup of the present invention;

[0083] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cup of FIG. 9;

[0084] FIG. 11 is a front view of the cup of FIG. 9;

[0085] FIG. 12 is a back view of the cup of FIG. 9;

[0086] FIG. 13 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 9;

[0087] FIG. 14 is a second front view of the cup of FIG. 9;

[0088] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view through line F-F of the cup of FIG. 14;

[0089] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view through line E-E of the cup of FIG. 14;

[0090] FIG. 17 is a side view of a first cup of FIG. 9 stacked inside a second cup of FIG. 9;

[0091] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a holder for the cup of FIG. 9;

[0092] FIG. 19 is a top view of the holder of FIG. 18;

[0093] FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view through line A-A of the holder of FIG. 19;

[0094] FIG. 21 is a front view of the holder of FIG. 18;

[0095] FIG. 22 is a side view of the holder of FIG. 18;

[0096] FIG. 23 is a side view of the holder of FIG. 18;

[0097] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 18; and

[0098] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 18.

[0099] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The following Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0100] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 25. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like features.

[0101] FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrate a cup 1 for a patient suffering from dysphagia. The cup 1 includes a base 10 upon which the cup is capable of standing when on a level surface. The cup 1 also includes a leading wall 20 extending from the base 10. At least 50% of the length of the leading wall 20 is at an angle of at least 100 degrees relative to the base 10. Preferably, the lower 50% of the length of the leading wall 20 is at an angle of at least 100 degrees relative to the base 10. Furthermore, in a plane parallel to the base 10 a lip 30 of the leading wall 20 is arcuate with a greater curvature than a lower region 22 of the leading wall 20. The leading wall 20 is the wall of the cup 1 that faces a patient, if the patient were drinking from the cup 1.

[0102] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the leading wall 20 includes a first portion 22 proximate to the base 10 (in the cup 1 of FIGS. 1 to 8, the first portion 22 is the same as the lower region 22), a second portion 24 distal to the base 10 and adjacent the first portion 22, and a third portion 26 distal the base 10 of the cup and adjacent to the second portion 24. In the cup 1 of FIGS. 1 to 8, the first portion 22 extends for about 60% of the length of the leading wall 20, and the first portion 22 extends at an angle of about 105 degrees relative to the base 10 of the cup. The second portion 24 curves longitudinally outwardly from the centre of the cup 1 and extends for about 25% of the length of the leading wall 20. The third portion 26 extends for about 15% of the length of the leading wall 20. At least a section of the third portion 26 may be substantially perpendicular relative to the base 10. In the cup of FIG. 1-8, the leading wall is about 9 cm long, with the first portion about 5.5 cm long, the second portion about 2.2 cm long and the third portion about 1.3 cm long.

[0103] The lip 30 of the leading wall (which may form part of the third portion 26) is arcuate, and the first portion 22 is concave (when viewed from outside the cup) to provide a depression to accommodate a patient's thumb. The first portion 22 is about 3.7 cm wide and is of substantially constant width along its length. The second portion 24 narrows in width towards the lip 30 and is generally arch-shaped.

[0104] The first portion 22 of the leading wall includes nine longitudinally extending ridges 32, and each ridge is about 4 mm apart and about 2 mm thick. The longitudinally extending ridges 32 may assist a patient to grip the cup 1 and may also assist in destacking the cups 1 (when two or more cups 1 are nested together).

[0105] The cup 1 includes a trailing wall 40 extending from the base 10 opposite to the leading wall 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the trailing wall 40 includes a first portion 42 proximate to the base 10, a second portion 44 distal to the base 10 and adjacent the first portion 42, and a third portion 46 distal the base 10 of the cup and adjacent to the second portion 44. In the cup 1 of FIGS. 1 to 8, the first portion 42 extends for about 75% of the length of the trailing wall 40, and the first portion 42 extends at an angle of about 98-99 degrees relative to the base 10 of the cup. The second portion 44 curves longitudinally outwardly from the centre of the cup 1 and extends for about 6% of the length of the trailing wall 40. The third portion 46 extends for about 17% of the length of the trailing wall 40. At least a section of the third portion 46 is substantially perpendicular relative to the base 10. In the cup of FIGS. 1-8, the leading wall is about 8 cm long, with the first portion about 6.1 cm long, the second portion about 0.6 cm long and the third portion about 1.3 cm long.

[0106] The lip 50 of the trailing wall (which may form part of the third portion 46) is arcuate, and the first portion 42 is concave (when viewed from outside the cup) to accommodate a patient's fingers when drinking from the cup 1. The first portion 42 is about 2.3 cm wide and is of substantially constant width along its length. The second portion 24 narrows in width towards the lip 30 and is generally arch-shaped. The distance between the top of the first portion of the leading and trailing walls 22, 42 is about 57 mm. This distance may advantageously assist a patient to grip the cup 1.

[0107] The first portion 42 of the trailing wall includes five longitudinally extending ridges 52, and each ridge is about 4 mm apart and about 2 mm thick. The longitudinally extending ridges 52 may assist a patient to grip the cup 1 and may also assist in destacking the cups 1 (when two or more cups 1 are nested together).

[0108] The cup 1 includes a plane of symmetry bisecting the leading and trailing walls 20, 40. The cup 1 includes two side walls 60, which each extend between the leading and trailing walls 20, 40. At least 80% of the length of each side wall 60 is at an angle of about 96 degrees relative to the base 10. Each side wall 60 includes five longitudinally extending ridges 62. Each ridge 62 is about 2 mm thick and about 5 mm apart.

[0109] The lip 70 of the cup is ovoid to accommodate a patient's nose when drinking from the cup 1. The distance at the lip 70 between the inside of the leading and trailing walls 20, 40 (i.e. along a plane bisecting the leading and trailing walls 20, 40) is about 7.7 cm, and the distance between the outside of the leading and trailing walls 20, 40 is about 8.6 cm. The distance between the inside of the two side walls 60 (i.e. along a plane bisecting the two side walls 60) is about 6.7 cm, and the distance between the outside of the two side walls 60 is about 7.8 cm. The inner circumference of the lip 70 is about 230 mm. The outer circumference of the lip 70 is about 260 mm. The lip 70 is angled at about a 4 degree upward incline relative to the base from the trailing wall 40 to the leading wall 20. This also reduces the need for a patient to tilt his or her head backwards during drinking (i.e. lifting the chin), thereby assisting in keeping the laryngeal inlet closed during drinking.

[0110] The lip 70 includes a flange 72 (the lip 70 is formed from the leading and trailing walls 20, 40 and the side walls 60). The flange 72 is about 5 mm wide and is adapted for adhesion of a seal to seal the contents of the cup 1. The cup includes a substantially cylindrical headspace 80 defined by the walls 20, 40, 60 of the cup 1 (including the third portions 26, 46 of the leading and trailing walls 20, 40). The usable volume of the cup (below the headspace 80) is about 150 mL. The total volume (including the headspace 80) is about 200 mL.

[0111] The walls of the cup 1 are angled so as to provide substantially no residual volume of fluid at the bottom of the cup 1 after drinking from the cup 1. The cup is stackable, so that one cup 1 will substantially fit within or nest within a second cup 1. The walls of the cup 1 are of substantially the same thickness. The cup may be made from a laminate of polypropylene and an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer.

[0112] FIGS. 9 to 17 illustrate a second example cup 100 for a patient suffering from dysphagia. The cup 100 may be as described above for the cup of FIGS. 1 to 8. However, the cup of FIGS. 9 to 17 includes six longitudinally extending ridges 62. Each ridge 62 is positioned at an angle relative to the base 10. The cup 100 also includes a horizontally extending ridge 110 in the first portion 22 of the leading wall 20, and a horizontally extending ridge 112 in the first portion 42 of the trailing wall 40. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the horizontally extending ridge 110 protrudes slightly further than longitudinally extending ridges 32. Horizontally extending ridges 110, 112 act to stabilise the cup 100 in the holder 200 (as shown in FIGS. 18 to 25, as described below). Horizontally extending ridges 110, 112 also assist in improving the lateral rigidity of the first portion 22 of the leading wall 20, and the first portion 42 of the trailing wall 40. FIG. 17 shows two cups 100 stacked together.

[0113] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the cup includes an angled lower portion of the leading wall and an oval-shaped opening at the top of the cup. The angle of the lower portion of the leading wall, in combination with the oval-shaped opening at the top of the cup, means that the cup can be emptied without the person drinking from the cup having to tilt their head backwards to any great extent. The angle of the lower portion of the leading wall facilitates emptying of the cup without requiring that the cup be tilted to as much of an angle as that required for cups without such an angle in the leading wall. Further, the oval-shaped opening at the top of the cup provides clearance around the nose of the user when the cup is tilted, thereby further obviating the need for the user to tilt their head backwards during drinking. This beneficial effect is even further enhanced in embodiments where the top of the cup angles downwardly from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the top of the cup. In these embodiments, the trailing edge of the top of the cup is lower than the leading edge of the top of the cup and therefore the cup may be tilted to a greater angle before the trailing edge of the top of the cup comes into close proximity with the nose or face of the user. Cups of preferred embodiments of the present invention may contain volumes of fluid that are larger than other cups that are of small size to avoid coming into contact with the nose of the user during drinking. This also enhances convenience for the user in that it is not necessary to fill the cup multiple times to enable a reasonable volume of fluid to be drunk.

[0114] FIGS. 18 to 25 illustrate a holder 200 for holding the cup 100 of FIGS. 9 to 17. The holder 200 includes a cradle 220 configured to support the cup 100. The cradle 220 is configured to slideably engage with the cup 100, especially at least the first portion 22, 42 of the leading and trailing walls 20, 40. The cradle 220 is configured to envelop a portion of the cup 100. The holder 200 also includes two handles 240 attached to the cradle 220. The handles 240 may include substantially straight terminal portions 250 (as shown in FIGS. 18 to 25) or rounded terminal portions.

[0115] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0116] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0117] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.