Drinking Apparatus

Abstract

A drinking apparatus from which a beverage may be consumed and an expandable device for preventing the beverage from being dispensed from the drinking apparatus to a consumer after a selectable amount of time has elapsed or has substantially elapsed. The expandable device includes a soluble composition and an expandable portion. The expandable portion protrudes from the expandable device to substantially block the dispensation of the beverage from the drinking apparatus upon the partial or full dissolution of the soluble composition by a solvent. By making the beverage available to the consumer for only a limited amount of time, the drinking apparatus reduces the possibility that the consumer, and in particular, a young child, a toddler, or an infant, will drink a spoiled beverage.

1 . A drinking apparatus for dispensing a beverage, comprising:
 a. a beverage vessel;   b. a cap having one or more drinking openings; and   c. an expandable device having a soluble composition, wherein the expandable device is capable of preventing the beverage from being substantially dispensed from the drinking apparatus through the one or more drinking openings upon partial or entire dissolution of the soluble composition by a solvent.   
   
   
       2 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an expandable device holding member. 
   
   
       3 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the expandable device is removably connectable to the expandable device holding member or the expandable device is integral with the expandable device holding member. 
   
   
       4 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the expandable device holding member is removably connectable to the beverage vessel or the expandable device holding member is integral with the beverage vessel. 
   
   
       5 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable device is directly and removably connectable to the cap. 
   
   
       6 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cap includes a nipple or a mouthpiece and the one or more drinking openings are formed through the nipple or the mouthpiece. 
   
   
       7 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the soluble composition includes one or more sugars. 
   
   
       8 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, milk, and fruit juice. 
   
   
       9 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an amount of time required for the solvent to dissolve the soluble composition sufficiently enough to effect the prevention of the beverage from being substantially dispensed from the drinking apparatus is selectable. 
   
   
       10 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the amount of time is at least about 30 minutes. 
   
   
       11 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the amount of time is about two hours. 
   
   
       12 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the amount of time is about two hours to about four hours. 
   
   
       13 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the amount of time is at least about four hours. 
   
   
       14 . An expandable device, comprising:
 a. a first member;   b. a spring member;   c. a soluble composition; and   d. a housing member having an expandable portion,   wherein the first member, the spring member, and the soluble composition are contained within the housing member, wherein the housing member is capable of containing a solvent that is capable of dissolving the soluble composition, and wherein the first member causes the expandable portion to protrude from the remainder of the housing member upon partial or entire dissolution of the soluble composition by the solvent.   
   
   
       15 . The expandable device of  claim 14  wherein the expandable device is removably connected to or is integral with a drinking apparatus, and wherein the expandable device is capable of preventing a beverage from being substantially dispensed from the drinking apparatus upon partial or entire dissolution of the soluble composition by the solvent. 
   
   
       16 . The expandable device of  claim 14  wherein an amount of time required for the solvent to partially or entirely dissolve the soluble composition is selectable. 
   
   
       17 . The expandable device of  claim 16  wherein the amount of time is at least about 30 minutes. 
   
   
       18 . The expandable device of  claim 16  wherein the amount of time is about two hours. 
   
   
       19 . The expandable device of  claim 16  wherein the amount of time is about two hours to about four hours. 
   
   
       20 . The expandable device of  claim 16  wherein the amount of time is at least about four hours.