Devices and methods for consuming a plurality of liquids and mold apparatuses for forming such devices

Abstract

Devices, methods, and mold apparatuses for forming devices facilitate consumption of a plurality of liquids by a user, such as a first liquid followed by a second liquid. In some cases, the first liquid is a relatively harsh liquid and the second liquid is a relatively mild liquid.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A mold apparatus for forming a liquid consumption device, the mold apparatus comprising:
 a die comprising a die chamber, the die chamber being adapted to receive an uncured material and permit the uncured material to cure therein and thereby form the liquid consumption device;   a liquid chamber-forming feature disposed within the die chamber and adapted to form a liquid chamber in the liquid consumption device when the uncured material cures in the die chamber; and   a liquid channel-forming feature disposed within the die chamber and adapted to form a liquid channel in an outer surface of the liquid consumption device when the uncured material cures in the die chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The mold apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid channel-forming feature monolithically couples to the die within the die chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The mold apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the die is a first die, and further comprising a second die being movable relative to the first die, the second die comprising the liquid chamber-forming feature. 
     
     
         4 . The mold apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second die further comprises a base, and the liquid chamber-forming feature monolithically couples to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The mold apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first die includes an opening through which liquid is pourable when the first die is coupled to the second die. 
     
     
         6 . The mold apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the die comprises a plurality of die chambers, each of the die chambers being adapted to receive an associated uncured material and permit the associated uncured material to cure therein and thereby form an associated liquid consumption device, and further comprising:
 a plurality of liquid chamber-forming features, each of the liquid chamber-forming features disposed within one of the die chambers and adapted to form a liquid chamber in the associated liquid consumption device when the associated uncured material cures in the die chamber; and   a plurality of liquid channel-forming features, each of the liquid channel-forming features disposed within one of the die chambers and adapted to form a liquid channel in an outer surface of the associated liquid consumption device when the associated uncured material cures in the die chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The mold apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the liquid channel-forming features monolithically couples to the die within one of the die chambers. 
     
     
         8 . The mold apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the die is a first die, and further comprising a second die being movable relative to the first die, the second die comprising the liquid chamber-forming features. 
     
     
         9 . A mold apparatus for forming a liquid consumption device, the mold apparatus comprising:
 a base adapted to engage a rim of a coverless container while the coverless container carries an uncured material, the base being adapted to permit the uncured material to cure in the coverless container and thereby form the liquid consumption device;   a liquid chamber-forming feature carried by the base and adapted to form a liquid chamber in the liquid consumption device when the uncured material cures in the coverless container; and   a liquid channel-forming feature carried by the base and adapted to form a liquid channel in an outer surface of the liquid consumption device when the uncured material cures in the coverless container.   
     
     
         10 . The mold apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid chamber-forming feature monolithically couples to the base. 
     
     
         11 . The mold apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid channel-forming feature monolithically couples to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The mold apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base is adapted to carry the coverless container in an inverted position when the uncured material cures in the coverless container. 
     
     
         13 . The mold apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base is a first base, and further comprising a second base adapted to detachably couple to the first base. 
     
     
         14 . The mold apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second base is adapted to engage a foot of the coverless container. 
     
     
         15 . The mold apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid chamber-forming feature comprises a cone. 
     
     
         16 . The mold apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cone is a semi-spherical tipped cone. 
     
     
         17 . The mold apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base is a first base, and further comprising:
 a second base adapted to engage a foot of the coverless container; and   a plurality of arms detachably coupling the first base to the second base such that the first base and the second base are adapted to securely carry the coverless container therebetween.   
     
     
         18 . A method for consuming a first liquid and a second liquid carried by a liquid container, the liquid container comprising a liquid container outlet adapted to permit passage of the second liquid therethrough, the method comprising:
 providing a device having a body, the body comprising:
 a first liquid chamber adapted to carry the first liquid; 
 an attachment element coupled to the first liquid chamber and adapted to attach the device to the liquid container proximate the liquid container outlet; 
 a device outlet adapted to permit passage of the second liquid therethrough; 
   coupling the device to the liquid container proximate the liquid container outlet via the attachment element;   positioning a first liquid within the first liquid chamber;   positioning the device and the liquid container in a first orientation in which the body is positioned so as to inhibit flow of the second liquid through the device outlet;   consuming the first liquid from the first liquid chamber while the device and the liquid container are positioned in the first orientation;   repositioning the device and the liquid container in a second orientation in which the body is positioned so as to permit flow of the second liquid through the device outlet; and   consuming the second liquid from the device outlet while the device and the liquid container are positioned in the second orientation.   
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 18 , wherein in the first orientation the device outlet is at a first elevation, in the second orientation the device outlet is at a second elevation, and the second elevation is less than the first elevation. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 18 , wherein the liquid container is a coverless container having an inner surface, the attachment element comprises a tapering outer surface of the device, and coupling the device to the liquid container comprises detachably engaging the outer surface against the inner surface.