Advanced transitional cup
US8432249B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2010 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47G19/2227
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An advanced transitional cup (ATC) for training developing children and developmentally-challenged individuals to drink from a cup. The ATC includes a lid with a small fluid aperture and an electric air valve. A microcontroller located in the base of the ATC converts a user-defined “flow rate” into a PWM voltage signal that successively opens and closes the air valve. A higher flow rate results in a PWM signal that opens the air valve for longer spans of time and closes the air valve for shorter spans of time as compared to a lower flow rate, thereby allowing more air to enter the ATC and fluid to be expressed from the fluid aperture more readily. A touch sensor on the sidewall of the ATC prevents the air valve from being opened, and thus fluid from exiting the fluid aperture, unless a drinker is touching the touch sensor, thereby preventing accidental spills.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.