Drinking tube

Abstract

A reusable and portable drinking tube for use by quadriplegics or otherwise immobilized or handicapped individuals that is attachable to any fluid reservoir and that allows for activation through minimal exertion of suction force due to a valved mouthpiece that allows for fluid to remain primed in the tube of the device when not in use.

1 . A drinking device comprising 
 a flexible section comprising a flexible tube having a releasable mating end;    an inflexible section releasably connected to said flexible section through a releasable connection to an outlet end, said outlet end being internally ribbed and said inflexible section comprising a straight portion having one end that is angled at a lower horizontal designed to be submersed in fluid for drinking and having the other end merge upwardly into an arcuate trap portion that terminates at an outlet end;    a mouthpiece valve connected to said flexible section;    fastening means for attachment to the sidewall of a fluid container.    
   
   
       2 . A drinking device according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible section is provided as a coiled section of tubing that can be cut to a given length according to the distance of the fluid container from the user.  
   
   
       3 . A drinking device according to  claim 1  wherein said mouthpiece comprises: 
 an internally ribbed mouthpiece inlet portion, which tapers and narrows into a valve mid-portion, which further merges into a tapered mouthpiece outlet portion, said mouthpiece inlet portion being attached to said mouthpiece end of said flexible section by urging said mouthpiece end into an inlet chamber defined in said mouthpiece inlet portion and further providing an orifice that provides a path of fluid communication between said inlet chamber and said valve chamber that is formed in a valve mid-portion, said valve mid-portion having an end opposite from said orifice, said valve chamber being bounded by an annular shoulder;    a mouthpiece lumen with an outlet portion that provides a path of fluid communication from said valve chamber through said mouthpiece outlet portion;    an internal sprocket;    a poppet comprising a bell portion that merges into a stem;    a resilient member that interconnects said sprocket with said poppet.    
   
   
       4 . A method of delivering drinkable fluids to a person limited in his or her ability to hold a straw or exert a large amount of force comprising 
 the placement of a user's lips on a mouthpiece outlet portion of a drinking device said drinking device comprising 
 a mouthpiece outlet portion;  
 a flexible section comprising a flexible tube having a releasable mating end;  
 an inflexible section releasably connected to said flexible section through a releasable connection to an outlet end, said outlet end being internally ribbed and said inflexible section comprising a straight portion having one end that is angled at a lower horizontal designed to be submersed in fluid for drinking and having the other end merge upwardly into an arcuate trap portion that terminates at an outlet end;  
 a mouthpiece valve connected to said flexible section;  
 fastening means for attachment to the sidewall of a fluid container.  
   inhalation by the user.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein said flexible section is provided as a coiled section of tubing that can be cut to a given length according to the distance of the fluid container from the user.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein said mating end is permanently fixed to said outlet end of said inflexible tube.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein a plurality of adjustable headset clips are included to allow for said flexible section to be fixed to a user-worn headset