Drinking apparatus

Abstract

A drinking apparatus including: a container having a lid and defining an internal cavity for holding a body of liquid; a valve element operates in conjunction with an opening on the container and is operable between an open condition and a closed condition; the valve element is biased to the closed condition wherein the apparatus completely encapsulates the internal cavity to thereby prevent substances from being introduced to the cavity; and removal of the lid from the container results in an indication that the apparatus has been tampered with.

1 . A drinking apparatus including: 
 a container having a lid and defining an internal cavity for holding a body of liquid;    a valve element operates in conjunction with an opening on the container and is operable between an open condition and a closed condition;    the valve element is biased to the closed condition wherein the apparatus completely encapsulates the internal cavity to thereby prevent substances from being introduced to the cavity; and removal of the lid from the container results in an indication that the apparatus has been tampered with.    
   
   
       2 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the action of drawing liquid through the opening causes the valve element to move to the open condition.  
   
   
       3 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the valve element is biased to the closed condition by gravity.  
   
   
       4 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the container is a cup.  
   
   
       5 . A drinking container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid is arranged to be snap fitted to the container.  
   
   
       6 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the lid and container fit together closely to resist removal of the lid by use of a leveraging tool.  
   
   
       7 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the opening is the bore of a straw.  
   
   
       8 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the straw is marked on its outer surface in the region of the valve element.  
   
   
       9 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the region of the straw is marked by colouring the region.  
   
   
       10 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the region of the straw is marked by being fluorescent or luminous.  
   
   
       11 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the valve element is luminous or fluorescent.  
   
   
       12 . A drinking apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the indication that the apparatus has been tampered with includes damage to either the lid or the cup.