초록 ▼

Apparatus for delivering liquid to the mouth of an individual includes a hollow body portion having an inlet end and an outlet having at least one dispensing slit, and structure connected to the hollow body portion exerting forces on the hollow body portion and closure continuously urging the at lea

Apparatus for delivering liquid to the mouth of an individual includes a hollow body portion having an inlet end and an outlet having at least one dispensing slit, and structure connected to the hollow body portion exerting forces on the hollow body portion and closure continuously urging the at least one dispensing slit to closed condition.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] Apparatus for positioning in the mouth of an individual for selectively delivering liquid from a liquid source for consumption by the individual, said apparatus being formed of resilient, flexible material, and comprising, in combination:a hollow body portion defining an interior fo

[ I claim:] [1.] Apparatus for positioning in the mouth of an individual for selectively delivering liquid from a liquid source for consumption by the individual, said apparatus being formed of resilient, flexible material, and comprising, in combination:a hollow body portion defining an interior for accommodating fluid received from a liquid source, said body portion including a fluid inlet end communicating with said interior for receiving liquid from the liquid source and a fluid outlet end spaced from said fluid inlet end;a deformable closure connected to said body portion and extending across the fluid outlet end of said body portion, said closure including an outer closure wall and an inner closure wall spaced from said outer closure wall and an inner closure wall spaced from said outer closure wall and having at least one straight dispensing slit formed therein extending alone a longitudinal axis, said at least one dispensing slit extending between said outer closure wall and said inner closure wall and normally closed to prevent liquid flow through said at least one dispensing slit from said interior, said closure changing shape upon application of opposed external forces on said apparatus along said longitudinal axis to open said at least one dispensing slit and form at least one opening allowing liquid flow from said interior; anda mouth retention member affixed to said hollow body portion at the fluid outlet end thereof and defining a passageway for receiving liquid exiting said hollow body portion interior through said at least one dispensing slit and directing the liquid into the mouth of an individual, said mouth retention member being in the general shape of a truncated cone flaring outwardly from said hollow body portion and having a distal end defining an unobstructed liquid exit opening which is larger than the fluid outlet end of said body portion, said mouth retention member exerting stress forces on said hollow body portion and said closure continuously urging said at least one dispensing slit to closed condition and including an outer retention member surface engageable by a user of the apparatus to retain the apparatus in the user's mouth for directly delivering liquid into the user's mouth through the unobstructed liquid exit opening.