초록

Limited flow cups are provided which deliver a metered amount of fluid to a user during a drinking motion.

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1. A limited flow drinking cup for dispensing a limited volume of liquid to a user each time the limited flow cup is tilted to a drinking position, comprising:an outer cup for containing a supply of liquid,a middle cup nested within the outer cup, andan inner cup nested within the middle cup, the in

1. A limited flow drinking cup for dispensing a limited volume of liquid to a user each time the limited flow cup is tilted to a drinking position, comprising:an outer cup for containing a supply of liquid,a middle cup nested within the outer cup, andan inner cup nested within the middle cup, the inner cupincluding a cover portion that includes an aperture through which the limited volume of liquid can be delivered to a user,the middle cup and the inner cup each having bottom and side walls that are adjacent to and spaced from each other to define a metering chamber, a portion of which is disposed between the bottom walls of the middle cup and the inner cup, the metering chamber including a cavity and a passage in fluid communication between the cavity and the aperture, the cavity including an opening through which liquid can flow from the outer cup to the cavity, the opening being positioned so that it will be above the liquid level in the outer cup when the limited flow cup is tilted sufficiently to allow liquid to flow from the aperture. 2. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the opening is configured to allow entry of liquid from the reservoir into the metering chamber when the limited flow cup is in a first position, and restrict entry of liquid from the reservoir into the metering chamber when the limited flow cup is in a second, tilted position. 3. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the opening is in the middle cup. 4. The limited flow cup of claim 3 wherein the opening is in a side surface of the middle cup, and the opening extends up the side surface a sufficient distance to allow for delivery of essentially all of the liquid in the reservoir. 5. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the middle cup includes a rim portion that sealingly engages a peripheral edge of the cover portion. 6. The limited flow cup of claim 5 wherein the rim portion also sealingly engages a rim of the outer cup. 7. The limited flow cup of claim 5 wherein the cover portion and an upper wall of the middle cup together define an annular channel that, when the cover is in place, is in fluid communication with the metering chamber. 8. The limited flow cup of claim 7 wherein the cover portion defines one or more apertures that communicate between the ambient air and the annular channel, allowing air to enter the annular channel. 9. The limited flow cup of claim 8 wherein the cover portion further defines a drinking spout, and the aperture(s) allow sufficient air to enter the annular channel so that a user of the limited flow cup is hindered from withdrawing liquid from the limited flow cup by sucking on the drinking spout. 10. The limited flow cup of claim 1 further comprising a pair of regions constructed to receive a corresponding pair of handles. 11. The limited flow cup of claim 10 further comprising a handle constructed to be received by the regions and thereby securely attached to the limited flow cup. 12. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the volume of said metering chamber is from about 4.5 to 5.5 ml. 13. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the volume of the metering chamber is less than 10% of the volume of the fluid reservoir. 14. The limited flow cup of claim 1, wherein the amount of liquid delivered to the user when the liquid reservoir is 10% full varies by no more than 25% from the volume delivered when the liquid reservoir is 100% full. 15. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the amount delivered to the user when the reservoir is 100% full will be less than or equal to the volume of the metering chamber. 16. The limited flow cup of claim 1 wherein the amount delivered to the user immediately after the reservoir is initially filled by the user will be less than or equal to the volume of the metering chamber. 17. A limited flow cup for dispensing a limited volume of liquid to a user each time the limited flow cup is tilted to a drinking position, the limited flow cup comprising:an outer cup for containing a sup ply of liquid,a middle cup nested within the outer cup, andan inner cup nested within the middle cup, the inner cupincluding a cover portion that includes an aperture through which the liquid can be delivered to a user, the middle cup and the inner cup each having bottom and side walls that are adjacent to and spaced from each other to define a metering chamber that includes a cavity, and an elongated fluid passage in fluid communication between the cavity and the aperture, the cavity including a fluid inlet through which fluid can flow from the outer cup to the cavity, the inlet being positioned so that it will be above the liquid level in the outer cup when the limited flow cup is tilted sufficiently to allow fluid to flow from the aperture,a lower surface of the cover portion defining an annular channel that, when the cover portion is in place, is in fluid communication with the metering chamber,the cover portion further defining a drinking spout, and one or more apertures that communicate between the ambient air and the annular channel, allowing air to enter the annular channel, the apertures allowing sufficient air to enter the annular channel so that a user of the limited flow cup is hindered from withdrawing liquid from the limited flow cup by sucking on the drinking spout. 18. A limited flow cup, comprising:a first cup,a second cup disposed within the first cup,a third cup, disposed within the first cup in nested relationship with the second cup, and including a cover portion that defines an opening through which the user can drink the liquid, anda fluid reservoir, defined by the first cup,wherein the nested relationship of the second cup and the third cup defines a metering chamber, in fluid communication with the reservoir, constructed to contain an amount of fluid for delivery to a user during a drinking motion, the metering chamber being configured to restrict the amount of fluid delivered to a user when the limited flow cup is tilted during the drinking motion, andthe second cup includes a rim portion that sealingly engages a peripheral edge of the cover portion, and the cover portion and an upper wall of the second cup together define an annular channel that, when the cover is in place, is in fluid communication with the metering chamber. 19. The limited flow cup of claim 18 wherein the cover portion defines one or more apertures that communicate between the ambient air and the annular channel, allowing air to eater the annular channel. 20. The limited flow cup of claim 19 wherein the cover portion further defines a drinking spout, and the aperture(s) allow sufficient air to enter the annular channel so that a user of the limited flow cup is hindered from withdrawing fluid from the limited flow cup by sucking on the drinking spout. 21. The limited flow cup of claim 18 wherein the first cup includes a rim portion that sealingly engages the rim portion of the second cup.