Regulated intake means

Abstract

A regulated intake apparatus for providing a means for a person to regulate a rate of intake of liquid such as water over an extended time period. The first regulated intake means ( 11 ) can include a first and second gauging means for use by the user depending on whether the bottle is the first of the day or the second of the day. The first gauging means includes a timing period being morning as identified by indicator (AM) at ( 31 ) and further including graduated markings ( 32 ) down the bottle. However those graduated markings are predetermined time intervals but are identified by hours in the morning which in this case are indicated as (8 AM) down to (12) Midday and to (1 PM). Due to the bottle ( 15 ) being substantially transparent, the level of the water remaining is clearly determinable. However instead of needing to undertake any calculations the first gauging means ( 31, 32 ) shows that by (8 AM) the volume from the top to this marking should have been consumed. Graduated volumes should then be consumed hourly according to the graduated markings ( 32 ) down the bottle till (1 PM) while the remaining volume below this marking should be consumed by (2 PM).

1 . A regulated intake apparatus for providing a means for a person to regulate a rate of intake of liquid such as water over an extended time period, the apparatus including:
 a. a container having a volume related to the user's expected intake over a particular time period;   b. a gauging means providing graduations for statically indicating the remaining contents;   c. the gauging means including a time indication associated with the graduations;   
       wherein the user can readily observe the remaining volume and the remaining time to achieve consumption of the remaining volume according to a predetermined rate of intake. 
     
     
         2 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the gauging means includes a time indicator scale having the time indication associated with the graduations forming time intervals associated to a predetermined rate of consumption over the extended time period. 
     
     
         3 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the expected intake over a particular time period can be a recommended daily intake (RDI) such that the gauging means includes a time indicator having intervals predetermined to a predetermined rate of consumption corresponds to the rate of the average recommended daily rate of consumption. 
     
     
         4 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the volume of the container can be the RDI. 
     
     
         5 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a divisional amount of the RDI such that the container has a handy carryable volume. 
     
     
         6 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the RDI for a man can be about 2550 millilitres and the bottle can have a volume with about half of the RDI. 
     
     
         7 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the gauging means includes a time indicator relating to the time of day such that the user need not assess the time to go and quantity to go but merely reviewing the quantity left at a time of day indicates if the right quantity has been consumed to present time according to the predetermined rate of consumption. 
     
     
         8 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the time indicator is an hourly clock indicator. 
     
     
         9 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the container has a volume that is a proportional amount to the volume related to the user's expected intake over a particular extended time period at a predetermined rate of consumption and the apparatus includes a plurality of gauging means to represent more than one time period wherein the container can be used for one or more of the proportional parts of the extended time period and a different one of the time gauges can provide the remaining volume and the remaining time to achieve consumption of the remaining volume according to the predetermined rate of intake for that particular proportion of the time period. 
     
     
         10 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein in the usage of a bottle having half the RDI there is a first gauging means for half of the day with related time indicator and a second gauging means for second half of the day with related time indicator such that the user can readily assess the time rate left of consumption if in the first or second half of the day. 
     
     
         11 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein time period expended from or to or during an event time are displayed according to the time usage of the user. 
     
     
         12 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the time indicator is marked on the container. 
     
     
         13 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the time indicator is moulded into the container. 
     
     
         14 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the time indicator is included on a label affixable to the container in such a way to match the contents of the container at a recommended rate of consumption. 
     
     
         15 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the time indicator is an even rate over the time period. 
     
     
         16 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the predetermined rate can include fluctuations that are recommended in the intake over a predetermined period including less in the morning or less at meals or other variations which can result in linear or non-linear (varied) rates of consumption. 
     
     
         17 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  having a translucent container to allow ready viewing of the internal quantity of the liquid in the container. 
     
     
         18 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the container is transparent particularly when used with transparent liquids such as water. 
     
     
         19 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes an indicator means for indicating the recommended user for providing a means for that user to regulate their rate of intake of liquid such as water. 
     
     
         20 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the indicator means is a colour indicator such that different colours are indicative of a different category of user that is to use the regulated intake apparatus such as a standard man user can have a predetermined indicator that matches a proportional amount of the RDI for a man and a different indicator for a standard woman user can have a predetermined indicator that matches a proportional amount of the RDI for a woman. 
     
     
         21 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein different indicators are for different hydration requirements of users, such that a user undertaking high daily exertion or experiencing high temperatures could have a higher RDI and therefore a different indicator will indicate the apparatus with the relevant quantity and gauging means for that user. 
     
     
         22 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the volume of the container is modified for the particular indicated user to more easily provide the differing RDI quantity of liquids. 
     
     
         23 . A regulated intake apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein different indicators are for different hydration requirements of users include one or more but not limited to:
 a. Age; 
 b. Sex; 
 c. Environment; 
 d. Physical activity; 
 e. Pregnancy; 
 f. Lactation; and 
 g. Illness. 
 
     
     
         24 . A method of indicating and regulating fluid intake including the steps of:
 a. providing a container with a volume that is related to a recommended intake of liquid;   b. providing a gauging means on the container for indicating spaced time intervals relative to the level of liquid remaining at that level to provide a predetermined recommended rate of consumption of the liquid;   c. comparing actual time with the time indicated at the level of liquid remaining in the container and thereby determining if user is consuming at the recommended rate of intake;   d. abstaining from or undertaking consumption of the remaining liquid to substantially match the time indicated at the level of liquid remaining in the container with the actual time; and   e. repeating comparison and consumption steps over regular intervals to maintain the recommended rate of intake of the liquid.   
     
     
         25 . A method of indicating and regulating fluid intake according to  claim 24  wherein the time indicated on the gauging means includes a time indicator relating to the time of day such that the user need not assess the time to go and quantity to go but merely reviewing the quantity left at a time of day indicates if the right quantity has been consumed to present time according to the predetermined rate of consumption. 
     
     
         26 . A method of indicating and regulating fluid intake according to  claim 24  wherein the time indicated on the gauging means is a relative time to an event. 
     
     
         27 . A method of indicating and regulating fluid intake according to  claim 24  wherein the time indicated on the gauging means is an event portion time. 
     
     
         28 . A method of manufacture of a regulated intake apparatus including the steps of:
 a. determining a hydration regime for a user, group of users or type of user;   b. selecting a container with a volume that is related to a recommended intake of liquid;   c. creating a scale relating the determined hydration regime with the selected container;   d. forming a gauging means providing graduations for statically indicating the remaining contents the gauging means including a time indication associated with the graduations;   wherein in use with the gauging means associated with the selected container the user can readily observe the remaining volume and the remaining time to achieve consumption of the remaining volume according to a predetermined rate of intake   
     
     
         29 . A regulated intake apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 
     
     
         30 . A method of indicating and regulating fluid intake substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 
     
     
         31 . A method of manufacture of a regulated intake apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.