US3773256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of teaching use of drinking straw
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-14
•
Granted: 1973-11-20
•
Expires: 1992-06-14
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to apparatus for teaching infants and young children to use a drinking straw or tube. In particular, it relates to a bifurcated tube in which one leg is placed in an open liquid container and the other terminates in a liquid forcing means e.g., a squeeze bulb. The common leg of the tubing is a delivery leg which conducts liquid to the mouth of a child. In use, the squeeze bulb and its leg are filled with liquid so that a slight pressure on it will inject a small amount of liquid into the child''s mouth. Upon swallowing, a suction action will occur and this will cause liquid to be drawn from the container through the liquid leg.
Inventors
- 👤 K Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:34
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G21/00; A47G21/18; A47G2400/00; A47G2400/02; A47G2400/027; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2713; Y10T137/2842; Y10T137/2877; Y10T137/2897
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for teaching infant subjects and the like to drink through a drinking tube, comprising the steps of inserting one end of a drinking tube into a body of liquid; placing the other end of the drinking tube in the mouth of the subject; forcing through the drinking tube and into the mouth of the subject a portion of said liquid thereby causing the subject to swallow said portion of liquid and as a result of swallowing, creating a sucking action on the liquid remaining in the straw, discontinuing the forcing action and permitting flow of said liquid into the mouth of the subject as a result of said sucking action thereby inducing the subject to swallow again and learn the normal functions of drinking through a drinking tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for teaching infant subjects and the like to drink through a drinking tube, comprising the steps of inserting one end of a drinking tube into a body of liquid; placing the other end of the drinking tube in the mouth of the subject; forcing through the drinking tube and into the mouth of the subject a portion of said liquid thereby causing the subject to swallow said portion of liquid and as a result of swallowing, creating a sucking action on the liquid remaining in the straw, discontinuing the forcing action and permitting flow of said liquid into the mouth of the subject as a result of said sucking action thereby inducing the subject to swallow again and learn the normal functions of drinking through a drinking tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the said portion of the liquid is forced into the mouth of the subject by a pumping action.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of filling the drinking tube with liquid from the body of liquid before the step of forcing a portion of the liquid in the drinking tube into the mouth of the subject.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 3 including the step of preventing the liquid in the drinking tube from returning through the drinking tube to the body of liquid after the drinking tube is filled.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for teaching infant subjects and the like to use a drinking straw, comprising; providing open-ended conduit means for the transmission of liquids from an inlet end disposed in a liquid resevoir to an outlet end disposed in the mouth of the subject; pumping liquid through said conduit means to the mouth of the subject to initiate normal swallowing functions by the subject, resulting in a suction action on said inlet end; and discontinuing said pumping to enable free flow of said liquid through said conduit to the mouth of the subject in response to said suction action unassisted by said pumping, whereby said unassisted flow induces the subject to perpetuate said suction action and to thereby learn the normal functions of drinking through a straw.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for teaching infant subjects and the like to use a drinking straw, comprising; providing open-ended conduit means for the transmission of liquids from an inlet end disposed in a liquid resevoir to an outlet end disposed in the mouth of the subject; pumping liquid through said conduit means to the mouth of the subject to initiate normal swallowing functions by the subject, resulting in a suction action on said inlet end; and discontinuing said pumping to enable free flow of said liquid through said conduit to the mouth of the subject in response to said suction action unassisted by said pumping, whereby said unassisted flow induces the subject to perpetuate said suction action and to thereby learn the normal functions of drinking through a straw.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |