Hiccup relieving apparatus

Abstract

The hiccup relieving apparatus includes a tube with a first end having a mouthpiece, a second end for immersion in water or other potable liquid in a container, and an obstruction in the tube between the first end and the second end. The obstruction requires an adult user, using the mouthpiece, to produce a threshold suction of at least 20 cm of water before water can flow from the water in the water container, through the tube, through the mouthpiece, and to the user. The obstruction can take the form of a threshold valve in the tube, a sized orifice in the immersed end of the tube, or a wad of cellulosic material in the tube.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hiccup relieving apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube;   b. a mouthpiece attached to a first end of the tube;   c. a second end of the tube for submersion in a potable liquid in a container; and   d. an obstruction in the tube between the first end and the second end, wherein the obstruction requires a user to exert a suction of at least 10 cm of water in order to draw the potable liquid from the container through the tube and the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obstruction is a threshold valve with a suction threshold of at least 10 cm of water. 
     
     
         3 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obstruction is a wad of cellulosic material requiring the user to exert a suction of at least 10 cm of water in order to draw the potable liquid from the container through the tube and the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         4 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wad of cellulosic material is cotton. 
     
     
         5 . A hiccup relieving apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube;   b. a mouthpiece attached to a first end of the tube;   c. a second end of the tube for submersion in a potable liquid in a container; and   d. an obstruction in the tube between the first end and the second end, wherein the obstruction requires a user to exert a suction of at least 20 cm of water in order to draw the potable liquid from the container through the tube and the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         6 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obstruction is a threshold valve with a suction threshold of at least 20 cm of water. 
     
     
         7 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obstruction is a wad of cellulosic material requiring the user to exert a suction of at least 20 cm of water in order to draw the potable liquid from the container through the tube and the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         8 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the wad of cellulosic material is cotton. 
     
     
         9 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the wad of cotton weighs approximately 5-10 grams. 
     
     
         10 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the wad of cotton is rolled inside a paper towel. 
     
     
         11 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the paper towel has a pore size of less than 100 microns. 
     
     
         12 . A hiccup relieving apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube;   b. a mouthpiece attached to a first end of the tube; and   c. a second end of the tube for submersion in a potable liquid in a container and having sized orifices to require a suction of at least 10 cm of water before the potable liquid is delivered through the tube to a user.   
     
     
         13 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of the  claim 12 , wherein the tube further has serpentine channels connecting the orifices to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         14 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the tube further has a support structure for supporting an obstruction between the orifices and the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         15 . A hiccup relieving apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube;   b. a mouthpiece attached to a first end of the tube; and   c. a second end of the tube for submersion in a potable liquid in a container and having sized orifices to require a suction of at least 20 cm of water before the water is delivered through the tube to a user.   
     
     
         16 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of the  claim 15 , wherein the tube further has serpentine channels connecting the orifices to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         17 . The hiccup relieving apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tube further has a support structure for supporting an obstruction between the orifices and the mouthpiece.