Transitional Sippy Cup

Abstract

A sippy cup has a body defining an interior beverage space and having a top opening. A lid removably covers the top opening of the body and includes a drinking member having a drink opening. A straw assembly includes flexible tubing having a proximal end attached to the drink opening and a distal end having a weight positioned thereon. The drinking member is accessible by a user for drinking with the drink opening of the drinking member in fluid communication with the interior beverage space of the body through the flexible tubing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sippy cup comprising:
 a. a body defining an interior beverage space and having a top opening;   b. a lid configured to removably cover the top opening of the body, said lid including a drinking member having a drink opening;   c. a straw assembly including flexible tubing having a proximal end attached to the drink opening and a distal end having a weight positioned thereon;   d. said drinking member configured to be accessed by a user for drinking with the drink opening of the drinking member in fluid communication with the interior beverage space of the body through the flexible tubing.   
     
     
         2 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes an insert opening that removably receives an insert including the drinking member. 
     
     
         3 . The sippy cup of  claim 2  wherein the insert is a sipper insert including a spout and wherein the drink opening includes a drinking slit. 
     
     
         4 . The sippy cup of  claim 2  wherein the insert is a drinking straw insert including a drinking straw. 
     
     
         5 . The sippy cup of  claim 2  wherein the insert includes a vent. 
     
     
         6 . The sippy cup of  claim 5  wherein the vent includes a venting slit. 
     
     
         7 . The sippy cup of  claim 2  wherein the insert is constructed from silicone. 
     
     
         8 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the flexible tubing has a length such that the weight rests on a bottom of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the flexible tubing includes a material that surrounds the weight with a fluid passage of the flexible tubing passing through the weight. 
     
     
         10 . The sippy cup of  claim 9  wherein the material of the flexible tubing includes silicone and the weight is a metal cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes an insert opening that removably receives an insert including the drinking member and a socket and wherein the straw assembly includes a joint member attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing, said joint member configured to engage the socket of the insert so that the proximal end of the straw assembly is attached to the insert. 
     
     
         12 . The sippy cup of  claim 11  wherein the joint member includes a gripping tab. 
     
     
         13 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes a top cap, a rim and a hinge with the hinge pivotally attaching the top cap to the rim so that the top cap may pivot between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and further comprising:
 e. a toggle button configured to secure the top cap in the closed configuration and, when actuated, to release the top so that it may be pivoted into the open configuration; 
 f. a locking loop configured to pivot between a lock position and a release position, where the top cap is secured in the closed configuration even as the toggle button is actuated when the locking loop is in the lock position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The sippy cup of  claim 13  wherein the toggle button and the locking loop are pivotally attached to the rim of the lid by a pivot connection. 
     
     
         15 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  further comprising a handle removably attached to the body. 
     
     
         16 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the lid is removably secured to the body by a threaded connection. 
     
     
         17 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the drinking member is a spout. 
     
     
         18 . The sippy cup of  claim 17  wherein the spout is constructed of silicone. 
     
     
         19 . The sippy cup of  claim 1  wherein the drinking member is a drinking straw. 
     
     
         20 . The sippy cup of  claim 19  wherein the drinking straw is constructed of silicone.