Mouthpiece apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mouthpiece apparatus for bridging the mismatch in shape between the generally circular cross section of a tube, such as a straw, and the more oval or elliptic shape of a person's mouth. The mouthpiece has an input interface, an output interface, and a continuous passageway connecting the input interface and the output interface. The input interface forms a socket in which to seat the tube, and the output interface conforms generally to the shape of the lips of a person's mouth in a natural state. In alternate embodiments, the adapter may be formed with, or pre-mounted to, a tube or straw, or to a vessel such as a juice box.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouthpiece adapter comprising:
 a body, the body comprising a first wing and a second wing adjoined by a cubic central portion, wherein each of the first wing and second wing comprise a trapezoidal shape when viewed in plan view and wherein a narrow end of the trapezoidal shape of each of the first wing and the second wing adjoins the cubic central portion;   a bore defining a passageway therethrough in the cubic central portion, the bore comprising an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the passageway comprises an internal axial stop. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the passageway is inwardly tapered. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the body is symmetrical relative to the passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the inlet has a chamfered lead-in. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the trapezoidal shape of each of the first and second wing adjoin with flat sides of the cubic central portion to form a continuous lip engagement surface. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a major dimension defining a length of the mouthpiece adapter and a minor dimension defining a width of the mouthpiece adapter, the major dimension being larger than the minor dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 7  wherein the first wing and second wing comprise an outwardly tapering, diminishing profile when viewed from a front or rear view along the major dimension, the outwardly tapering, diminishing profile of each of the first wing and the second wing forming a triangle shape. 
     
     
         9 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 7  wherein the major dimension is larger than the minor dimension by a factor of about 2 to about 4. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  further comprising a stem portion in fluid communication with and extending from the passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The mouthpiece adapter of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a hollow portion. 
     
     
         12 . A mouthpiece adapter and tube combination for drinking or inhaling a fluid, comprising:
 a body having an inlet connected to a perpetually open outlet by a passageway comprising a continuous opening, and an exterior wall, wherein the cross-section of the inlet is substantially the same size and shape as the cross-section of the perpetually open outlet;   a length of tube extending outwardly from the inlet, the passageway positioned between, and in fluid communication with, the perpetually open outlet and the length of tube, and,   wherein the exterior wall extends peripherally about the passageway and comprises a lip engagement surface wherein the lip engagement surface defines a sealing interface for engaging with a user's lips.   
     
     
         13 . The mouthpiece adaptor and tube combination of  claim 12  wherein the body further comprises a major dimension and a minor dimension, the major dimension being larger than the minor dimension. 
     
     
         14 . The mouthpiece adaptor and tube combination of  claim 12  wherein the body is symmetrical relative to the passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The mouthpiece adapter and tube combination of  claim 12 , wherein the exterior wall extends peripherally about the passageway and comprises a lip engagement surface. 
     
     
         16 . The mouthpiece adapter and tube combination of  claim 12  further comprising a stem portion extending from the inlet, the stem portion having a distal end with an internal shoulder and socket for receiving the tube. 
     
     
         17 . A mouthpiece apparatus, the mouthpiece apparatus comprising,
 a body, the body comprising,
 an input interface defined by a passageway with an inlet and an outlet; 
 an output interface conforming generally to a shape of a human's mouth; 
 a rearward facing portion extending radially outwardly from the outlet towards the output interface; and, 
 a forward facing portion extending radially outwardly from the inlet towards the output interface. 
   
     
     
         18 . The mouthpiece apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the body is symmetrical relative to the passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The mouthpiece apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the output interface comprises a surface extending peripherally about the body and axially tapering in a direction away from the passageway. 
     
     
         20 . The mouthpiece apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the passageway comprises an internal axial stop.