Natural Drinking Training Apparatus and Training System Facilitating Normal Development of Oral Postures, Oral Movements, and Jaw/Mouth Anatomy

Abstract

A baby and/or child training drinking cup system and apparatus is described. The system is configured to minimally inhibit the flow of liquid from the cup to the mouth of the child via a simulated natural-form cup rim configured to permit passage of liquid from the apparatus freely after the apparatus is tipped to the requisite degree, providing a natural drinking experience. Providing children liquids in this manner prevents incorrect training induced by conventional ‘sippy’ cups, and prevents development of resulting speech disorders, dental issues, impaired tongue movement, and jaw/palate disorders. The complete system is designed to correctly train users in the anatomically appropriate manner to consume liquid from cups, or food from containers with protruding tops to be put in the mouth to consume food contents.

Description

CONTINUITY[0001]This application is a Continuation-in-Part of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15 / 218,786, filed on Jul. 25, 2016, and priority is claimed thereto.FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the education and training of conventional freeform or ‘natural’ drinking from a cup to individuals, and more specifically relates to a training drink receptacle apparatus and system configured to natively train a child to use the correct oral, head, and neck postures, form, and style of drinking conventionally to develop a normal, healthy drinking pattern using the normal physical sequential oral muscle movements.BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0003]Babies and young children learning to drink from containers other than a baby bottle or a mother's nipple are often provided beverages within conventional child ‘sippy’ cups. Often these cups are small and spill-proof, which is initially a benefit to many parents and caregivers, as le...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]Some embodiments of the present invention may be equipped with a straw which extends from above the top of the cup lid. In such embodiments, the straw has a built-in lip stopper. This lip stopper will only allow the straw to enter the child's lips, not beyond the lips into the mouth, thus ensuring that the child cannot suckle on the straw, preventing dental and speech damage from straw use. Regular straw use can be as damaging as a spout since the child can put the straw into the mouth well beyond the lips and suckle the straw in the exact same way the child suckles the sippy spout. A lip stopper is disposed on the straw approximately one-eighth to one-quarter inch from the end of the straw to prevent the user from placing the straw beyond the lips into the mouth during use. This ensures that the child cannot suckle on the straw, thus preventing dental and speech damage caused by improper straw use. One embodiment includes the use of a one-way valve. Use of this one-way valve will ensure no spillage. Other embodiments of the present invention may include lids equipped with straws having lip stoppers at decreasing distances from the tip of the straw, starting at approximately three quarters of an inch from the lid, progressing to a final cap equipped with a straw extending one quarter to one eight of an inch from the op of the lid. Such a series of lids are designed for children who have learned incorrect straw/mouth placement, and require the progressive ‘grading down’ of the length of the straw tip in order to eventually achieve the normal and correct placement of the straw between the lips of the mouth. Some instances of this embodiment are preferably equipped with a lip stopper/straw cap, which is configured to press-fit onto the opening of the straw and butts up to the lip stopper, helpin...

Problems solved by technology

Such a cap inhibits unwanted spillage of the liquid; ...

Images