US2811808A

US2811808A - Drinking tube

Info

Publication number: US2811808A
Application number: US616242A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Briese
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-10-16
Filing date: 1956-10-16
Publication date: 1957-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-05

Description

J. E. BRIESE DRINKING TUBE Nov. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1956 FIG. 3

FIG. I

FIG. 2

JOHN E. BRIESE INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. E. BRIESE DRINKING TUBE Ndv. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1956 JOHN E. amiss INYENTOR ATTORNEY described and claimed, reference United States Patent C DRINKING TUBE John E. Briese, Verdun, Quebec, Canada Application October 16, 1956, Serial No. 616,242 Claims. (Cl. 46116) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in childrens feeding devices, and more particularly to an improved toy drinking tube.

Many children go through the stage where it is necessary to either induce them to or force them to drink liquids, such as milk, fruit juices and the like. In view of this, it is the primary object of this invention "to provide a toy drinking tube which includes an animated toy portion operated due to the movement of liquids through the toy drinking tube during a liquid sipping or drinking process thus enticing children to drink liquids.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy drinking tube which includes tube portions for conveying liquids from a container to ones mouth, there being I mounted in one of the tube portions a pipe assembly, the pipe assembly including a motor assembly, there being connected to the motor assembly an animated object which is operated in response to a drinking operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved toy drinking tube which is readily manufactured from relatively cheap materials such as plastic or the like and which is so constructed whereby it may be mass produced at a nominal cost so as to make the manufacture thereof economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toy drinking tube for inducing children to drink liquids, the toy drinking tube including tube portions for conveying liquids from a container to a childs month, there being carried by one of the tubes an animated toy which is operated in response to adrinking operation, the toy having connected thereto motor means, the motor means being of such a nature whereby the toy may be varied .as desired, the drink tube including a pipe having a reciprocating shaft disposed therein comprising a portion of the motor means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts. throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form of the invention in general and shows generally the outline thereof;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through a major portion of the toy drinking tube of Figure 1 and shows the specific details thereof, a second tube portion of the drinking tube being shown in elevation with an intermediate portion thereof being broken away, .an elevated position of the movable parts of the toy drinking tube being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially from the plane indicated by section line 33 of Figure 1 and shows the position of a movable member of the animated toy assembly with respect to an enclosure in which it is positioned;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially from a plane indicated. by the section line ice 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows .a cross section of the second tube portion;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially from the plane indicated by section line 5-5 of Figure 2 and shows a cross section of a first tube portion;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through a major portion of a slightly modified portion of a toy drinking "tube, the toy drinking tube having a toy assembly which is in the form of a ring the bell type toy, a second tube portion thereof being shown in elevation with intermediate portion thereof being broken away, the operative means for the toy assembly being shown in a retracted position by dotted lines;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of still another modified form of toy drinking tube with portions thereof being broken away and shown in section illustrating the details thereof, an operating position of the toy assembly thereof shown in dotted lines;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially from the plane indicated by the section line 8--8 of Figure 7 and shows further the details of the toy assembly of the drinking tube of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view taken substantially from the plane indicated by the line 99 of Figure 6 and shows further details of the ring the bell type toy.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figures 1 through 5, inclusive, a toy drinking tube which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. Toy drinking tube 10 includes a first tube portion 12 which is normally vertically disposed. The first tube portion 12 is generally semicircular in cross section and includes an arcuate wall portion 14 and a fiat Wall portion 16. Connected to an upper part of the first tube portion 12 is a second tube portion 18. The second tube portion 18 includes an elongated part 20 which is circular in cross section, as is best illustrated in Figure 4. The elongated part 20, terminates in the lower end thereof in a curved part 22 which is connected to the flat wall 16 and which is communicated with the interior of the first tube portion 12. The opposite end 24 of the second tube portion 18 is intended to be disposed in a childs mouth.

The first tube portion 12 includes a lower intake end 26 which may be sloped if desired. The first tube portion 12 also includes an upper end 28.

Carried by the upper end 28 of the first tube portion 12 is an animated toy assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 30. The toy assembly in 30 includes an enclosure or box 32. Box 32 is formed of a bottom wall 34, a body portion 36 and a cover 38. The bottom wall 34 has an opening 40 in which the upper end 28 of the first tube portion 12 is received with the first tube 12 being secured to the bottom wall 34.

Disposed within the confines of the box 32 is a movable member 42 in the form of a figurine. The movable member is supported by a shaft 44 which entends down into the first tube portion 12 and which has its lower end secured to a piston 46. The piston 46 is of the same cross section as the first tube portion 12 and forms therewith a seal. Also, due to the conforming cross sections of the piston 46 and the first tube 12, rotation of the piston 46 and the movable member 42 is confined.

The normal position of the piston-46 is below the connection between the first tube portion 12 and the second tube portion 18. Thus when liquid is drawn up into the lower part of the first tube portion 12, the piston 46 is moved upwardly so that the liquid may pass into the second tube portion 18. As the piston 46 moves upwardly, the shaft 44 moves upwardly to move the movable member 42. to its upper dotted line position,

The cover of 38 is secured to the movable member 42 to move therewith. Thus the movable member 42 pops 1n and out of the box 32 so that the toy 30 is of the jackin-the-box type.

During a drinking operation, as the liquid passes up into the first tube portion 12, the piston 46 moves upwardly until it clears the second tube portion 18, the upper position of the piston 46 being clearly shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. At this time the liquid is free to flow from the first tube portion 12 into the second tube portion 18. When suction in the second tube portion 18 is diminished, the piston 46 will move downwardly by gravity and again assume a solid line position as seen in Figure 2.

At this time the movable member 42 returns to its position within the box 32 and the cover 38 returns to its normal box closing position.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 9 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a modified form of toy drinking tube which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 50. The toy drinking tube 50 in cludes a first tube portion 52 and a second tube portion 54.

Tube portions

52 and 54 are identical with the

tube portions

12 and 18, respectively, and further description is believed unnecessary. Carried by the upper end of the first tube portion 52 is a ring-the-bell type toy which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56.

The toy 56 includes a vertical support 58 secured to the upper part of the first tube portion 52 removed from the second tube portions 54. Carried on the upper part of the support 58 by means of a supporting end 60 is a bell 62.

Carried within the first tube portion 52 for vertical reciprocatory movement is a piston 64 similar to the piston 46. The piston 64 has connected thereto a reciprocal shaft 66 which is provided at its upper end with a movable member in the form of a striker 68 for the bell 62. In order that the shaft 66 may be guided in its vertical movement, there is secured to the upper end of the first tube portion 52 a guide plate 70.

It is to be understood that the mechanical operation of the components of the animated toy assembly 56 will be the same as that of the animated toy assembly 30. The only part which has been changed in the my drinking tube 50 over the toy drinking tube is the specific design of the animated toy assembly.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a third form of toy drinking tube which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 72. The toy drinking tube 72 includes a first tube portion 74 and a second tube portion 76, the

tube portions

74 and 76 corresponding to the

tube portions

12 and 18, respectively, of the toy drinking tube 10. Mounted on the upper end of the first tube portion 74 is an animated toy assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 78. The animated toy assembly 78 is of the animal feeding type.

The animated toy assembly 78 includes a supporting platform or perch 80. The supporting platform 80 overlies the upper end of the first tube portion 74 and is secured thereto. The supporting platform 80 is elongated and extends towards the second tube portion 76 in alignment therewith. The supporting platform has an enlarged opening 82 through which there passes a reciprocal shaft 84. The lower end of the shaft 84 is connected to a piston 86 which corresponds with the piston 46.

The right end of the supporting platform 80 as viewed in Figure 7, is provided with a pair of transversely spaced, upstanding ears 90 including transverse aligned apertures. The ears 90 carry a shaft 92. Mounted on the shaft 92 on opposite sides of the ears 90 are ears 94 which depend from a lever 96. The lever 96 has on the left end portion, as viewed in Figure 7, an outwardly the second drinking tube 76 and projecting equivalents may be resorted to,

raised portion 98 which presents a socket 100 in which the upper end of the shaft 84 is received.

Secured to the right end of the lever 96 as viewed in Figure 7, is a movable member 102 in the form of a figurine. In the present instance, the figurine is illustrated by a bird, although other types of animals may be equally as well depicted. Secured on the intermediate portion of upwardly therefrom is a feeding bowl 104. The feeding bowl is so aligned with the figure 102 so that the head 106 of the figurine 102 moves down into alignment with the feeding bowl 104.

When the piston 86 is moved upwardly due to a drinking operation in the manner described with respect to the piston 46, the shaft 84 moves upwardly to pivot the lever 96 about the end 92. This results in the figurine 104 pivoting in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, so that the head 106 thereof will move towards the feeding bowl 104 so as to simulate the feeding of the animal which the figurine 102 presents.

Although the various components of the

toy drinking tube

10, 50 and 72 may be formed of any desired materials, it is preferred that they be formed of a suitable plastic material. This is particularly true because plastics are light weight and durable, and at the same time may be easily formed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes .will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toy drinking tube for inducing children to drink liquids, said drinking tube comprising a normally generally vertical first tube portion, a second tube portion, said second tube portion having one end communicating with said first tube portion intermediate its ends permitting fluid to flow therebetween, the other end of said second tube portion being a mouth engageable end, said first tube portion having a lower intake end and an upper end, a toy assembly mounted on said upper end, motor means carried by said first tube portion connected to said animated toy assembly for actuating the same, said motor means being actuated in response to flow of liquids into said first tube portion.

2. A toy drinking tube for inducing children to drink liquids, said drinking tube comprising a normally generally vertical first tube portion, a second tube portion, said second tube portion having one end communicating with said first tube portion intermediate its ends permitting fluid to flow therebetween, the other end of said second tube portion being a mouth engageable end, said first tube portion having a lower intake end and an upper end, a toy assembled mounted on said upper end, motor means carried by said first tube portion, said animated toy assembly including a movable member, said motor means including a reciprocable shaft connected to said movable member for actuating said movable member in response to flow of liquid into. said first tube portion.

3. A toy drinking tube for inducing children to drink liquids, said drinking tube comprising a normally generally vertical first tube portion, a second tube portion, said second tube portion having one end communicating with said first tube portion intermediate its ends permitting fluid to flow therebetween, the other end of said second tube portion being a mouth engageable end, said first tube portion having a lower intake end and an upper end, a toy assembly mounted on said upper end, motor means carried by said first tube portion, said animated toy asembly including a movable member, said motor means including a reciprocal shaft connected to said movable member, a piston on said reciprocable shaft for actuating said movable member in response to flow of liquid into said first tube portion.

4. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 3 wherein said piston is normally disposed below said second tube portion, said piston being movable :above said second tube portion in response to flow of liquid through said first tube portion into said second tube portion.

5. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 3, said first tube portion and said piston are of a cross section other than circular whereby rotation of said piston is prevented.

6. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first tube portion includes a flat side, said second tube portion being connected to said flat side.

7. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 2 wherein said toy assembly is in the form of a jack in the box, said toy assembly including a box secured to said first tube portion upper end, said movable member being in the form of a figurine.

8. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 7 wherein said box has a cover, said cover being secured to said figurine and movable therewith.

9. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 2 wherein said toy assembly is in the form of a feeding animal, said toy assembly including a supporting platform secured to said first tube portion upper end, a feeding bowl mounted on said second tube portion, said movable member being pivotally connected to said supporting platform and being in the form of an animal figurine.

10. A toy drinking tube as set forth in claim 2 wherein said toy assembly is in the form of a ring-the-bell toy and includes a support secured to said first tube portion upper end, a bell carried by said support, said movable member being in the form of a striker for said bell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,784,961 Enneking Dec. 16, 1930 2,058,241 Langos Oct. 22, 1936 2,063,803 Gildersleeve Dec. 8, 1936 2,544,594 Goldfarb Mar. 6, 1951. 2,619,770 Dinhofer Dec. 2, 1952