WO2003061439A1

WO2003061439A1 - Improvements in or relating to an article for dispensing food or drink

Info

Publication number: WO2003061439A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mandy Nicola Haberman
Original assignee: Mandy Nicola Haberman
Priority date: 2002-01-23
Filing date: 2003-01-17
Publication date: 2003-07-31

Abstract

The article (1) has a structure at least partly defining a volume for holding or allowing the passage therethrough of food or drink (8). The article (1) comprises an upper edge (5) at least part of which defines a point of departure for food or drink from the article during dispensation, and a membrane (7) provided in a region of the article (1) located below the level of the point of departure when the article (1) is in a first orientation in which any food or drink (8) within the volume is prevented from flowing or falling over the point of departure. The membrane (7) is arranged so as to be contactable on a first side thereof with food or drink (8) within said volume, and contactable on a second side thereof by a person using the article (1). The membrane (7) has a high degree of flexibility, and/or a higher thermal conductivity, than the rest of the structure. The article (1) allows the user to assess the temperature of food or drink (8) contained therein, before the user places the food or drink into his/her mouth.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AN ARTICLE FOR DISPENSING FOOD OR DRINK

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an article for dispensing food or drink.

Trainer cups are very well known and have been used extensively to bridge the gap between use of a nursing bottle by a baby and use of a normal cup or glass by a young child. Trainer cups conventionally take the form of a generally cup-shaped container provided with a lid, the lid having a mouthpiece which is usually in the form of a spout. It has also been proposed previously to provide the mouthpieces of trainer cups with valve means configured only to allow the passage of liquid through the valve, from the inside of the container to the outside, upon the application of suction in the region of the mouthpiece.

It will be appreciated that whilst trainer cups are extremely valuable in teaching infant children the basic principles of drinking from a cup, namely how to hold the cup and that it is necessary to tilt the cup to drink from it, because they rely upon the provision of a mouthpiece, they do not adequately prepare young children for the techniques involved in drinking from the circumferential rim of a conventional open-mouthed cup in an adult manner. Typically, when a young child graduates from using a trainer cup to drinking from an open-mouthed cup or glass in an adult manner by putting their lips to the circumferential rim of the cup or glass and tilting the cup or glass, spillages frequently occur. This is because up to this point in their development, children have been used to drinking from trainer cups which are closed by a lid and have a mouthpiece such that, in use, the only liquid outlet from the trainer cup is located within the child's mouth. The result of this is that trainer cups do not properly teach young children how to tilt the cup carefully so as to avoid spillage, because the presence of the lid and mouthpiece prevents spillage regardless of how far, or how quickly a child tilts the cup when drinking from it. It is often the case that a young child who has only been used to drinking from a trainer cup, when first presented with a conventional open-mouthed cup, tilts the cup too much or too quickly such that liquid flows over the edges of the rim of the cup and over the child's face.

It has therefore been recognised that there is a need for a type of drinking vessel which helps to teach young children how to drink from the circumferential rim of a conventional open-mouthed cup or glass. In this regard, an important skill which the child must learn, is how far and how quickly the cup or glass may be tilted before liquid in the cup or glass begins to flow over the rim, or through the outlet of the drinking vessel.

However, it is also often desirable for a person drinking from a cup or bottle, or feeding from a spoon or a bowl, simply and easily to assess the temperature of the food or drink before placing it in his or her mouth, and without direct contact with the food or drink. For instance, it is common for hot beverages such as tea or coffee to be sold by take-away outlets, in plastic or polystyrene disposable cups. The material from which these disposable cups are made is chosen to be relatively thin and easily crushable to allow easy disposal, but also to be a good insulator to keep the contents of the cup hot, and to prevent a person holding the cup from burning his or her fingers. However, because the cups are made from material which is an effective insulator, and are typically provided with a lid having a small aperture therethrough to serve as a liquid outlet, it is easy for a person drinking from the cup (for example from the outlet in the lid) to burn his or her mouth on the hot beverage within the cup, because the insulated cup does not convey an accurate impression of the temperature of its contents. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a drinking vessel which is configured to convey to a person drinking from the vessel, an impression of the temperature of the liquid within the vessel, before the liquid reaches the circumferential rim during tilting of the vessel, and hence directly contacts the person's lips. Such an arrangement would reduce the risk of a person burning his or her lips on extremely hot contents of a drinking vessel.

It is also often the case that feeding equipment is typically used by a carer, for example in the case of feeding a disabled person, a baby or infant, or the elderly and infirm. In such instances, it is good practice for a carer to assess the temperature of food or drink before placing it in the subject's mouth, so as to avoid burning the subject. For example, it is common practice amongst mothers to dribble or dab a few drops of milk from a conventional nursing bottle on to the back of her wrist in order to assess the temperature of the milk before feeding it to her baby. This can be both inconvenient and messy.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved feeding article for dispensing food or drink.

According to the present invention, there is provided an article for dispensing food or drink, the article having a structure at least partly defining a volume for holding or allowing the passage therethrough of food or drink, and the article comprising: an upper edge, at least part of which defines a point of departure for food or drink from the article during dispensation; and a membrane extending across an aperture provided in a region of the article located below said point of departure when the article is in a first orientation in which any food or drink within said volume is prevented from flowing or falling over said point of departure, the membrane being arranged so as to be contactable on a first side thereof with food or drink within said volume, and contactable on a second side thereof by a person using the article, the membrane having a higher degree of flexibility, and/or a higher thermal conductivity, than the rest of the structure.

Preferably, the membrane is provided in a region of the article located so as to remain below said point of departure when the article is moved to a dispensing orientation in which at least some food or drink within said volume is allowed to flow or fall over the point of departure.

Advantageously, the article is in the form of a drinking vessel comprising an open-mouthed beverage container having a circumferential rim defining said upper edge, the membrane being arranged such that said second side contacts the lip of a person drinking from the circumferential rim.

Preferably, the aperture and membrane are provided in a side wall of the drinking vessel.

Conveniently, the drinking vessel is provided with a removable lid configured to releasably engage the open-mouthed beverage container.

Preferably, the article is in the form of a lid configured to releasably engage the circumferential rim of an open-mouthed beverage container and to define a liquid outlet to the beverage container, said upper edge being defined by the lid, the lid having a structure at least partly defining a volume for allowing the passage therethrough of food or drink.

Advantageously, the lid is provided with a raised mouthpiece defining a flow passage for liquid from the beverage container to a liquid outlet defined by said upper edge.

Conveniently, the fluid outlet is provided with valve means.

Advantageously, the article is provided in combination with an open- mouthed beverage container.

Conveniently, the article is in the form of a bowl.

Preferably, the article is in the form of a spoon.

Advantageously, the article is in the form of a straw.

Conveniently, the article is in the form of a nursing bottle.

Advantageously, the membrane is insert moulded across said aperture.

Conveniently, the membrane is integrally formed with the rest of the article's structure.

So that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

FIGURE 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view through an article in the form of an open-mouthed beverage container, illustrating the article in a first orientation;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating the article of Figure 1 in a tilted orientation;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through an alternative embodiment of the article of the present invention, the article taking the form of an open-mouthed beverage container provided with a lid having a mouthpiece, the article being illustrated in a first orientation;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an article in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, from a different angle, of part of the article illustrated in Figure 4;

FIGURES 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views taken along lines A-A and B-B respectively of Figure 5, illustrating the article of Figures 4 and 5 having a membrane secured thereto; FIGURE 7 is a perspective view corresponding generally to that of

Figure 4, illustrating a person's lips placed over the rim of the article of Figures 4 to 6 in an in-use position;

FIGURES 8A and 8B are transverse cross-sectional views corresponding to those of Figures 6 A and 6B taken through the entire article, illustrating the article being tilted;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view through an article of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the article taking the form of a nursing bottle; FIGURE 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an article of another embodiment of the present invention, the article taking the form of a spoon;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an article of a still further embodiment of the present invention, the article taking the form of a bowl;

FIGURE 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an article of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 13 is a view corresponding generally to that of Figure 12, but illustrating a person's finger being inserted through an aperture provided in the article;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged view of an alternative configuration of membrane suitable for use with the article illustrated in Figure 12;

FIGURE 15 is a view of another alternative configuration of membrane suitable for use an arrangement generally such as that illustrated in Figure 12; and

FIGURE 16 is a view of the membrane arrangement of Figure 15 in a compressed condition.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is illustrated a feeding article 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The feeding article 1 illustrated takes the form of an open-mouthed generally cup-shaped container 2 having a generally circular base 3 and a generally cylindrical side wall 4, although of course other shaped containers are equally possible. The beverage container 2 is typically moulded from either substantially rigid or flexible plastics material, although it should of course be appreciated that alternative materials and production methods could be used. For example, the container 2 could be produced from polystyrene in generally the same way as conventional disposable cups. As illustrated in Figure 1, the uppermost edge of the side wall 4 defines a circumferential rim 5. At a position spaced slightly below the uppermost edge of the side wall 4, there is provided an aperture 6 through the side wall 4. Across the aperture 6 extends a thin membrane 7 having a higher degree of flexibility, and/or a higher thermal conductivity than the side wall 2.

As will be clear, Figure 1 illustrates the drinking vessel 1 in an initial, substantially upright condition, and containing a drinking liquid 8. The orientation of the drinking vessel illustrated in Figure 1 can be considered as a first orientation of the vessel, in which the drink 8 is prevented from flowing over the upper edge defined by the circumferential rim 5. In contrast, Figure 2 illustrates the drinking vessel 1 in a tilted condition through which a person drinking from the circumferential rim 5 would turn the drinking vessel 1 whilst drinking from it in a conventional manner. As can clearly be seen from Figure 2, when the drinking vessel 1 is tilted as illustrated, the free surface 9 of the drinking liquid 8 impinges on the inner surface of the membrane 7 at a position spaced below the lowermost point along the circumferential rim 5. It will also be clear that it is possible for a person drinking from the circumferential rim 5, to position his or her lower lip immediately against the outer surface of the membrane 7.

By tilting the vessel 1 further from the position shown in Figure 1, a person using the vessel 1 will eventually position it in a dispensing orientation in which drink 8 will flow over the lowermost point around the upper edge defined by the circumferential rim 5. At any instant orientation of the vessel 1, the lowermost point around the upper edge, therefore defines a "point of departure" (indicated throughout the drawings by X) of the drink from the vessel. The membrane 7 preferably has a wall thickness of the order of 0.002 to 0.004 inches which, for most favoured materials, has been found sufficient to ensure that the membrane 7 can impart to a person's lip, an adequate impression of the flow and temperature of the liquid 8 impinging on the inner surface of the membrane 7. Because the free surface 9 of the liquid 8 impinges on the inner surface of the membrane 7 at a position below the lowermost point of departure, a person drinking from the drinking vessel 1 can detect the presence of liquid nearing the lowermost point of the circumferential rim 5 due to the small deflections of the membrane 7 imparted by the liquid 8 bearing against its innermost surface, and can also detect the temperature of that liquid due to the high thermal conductivity of the membrane material, before the liquid flows over the lowermost point of the circumferential rim and enters the person's mouth. It will therefore be clear that it in the event that the liquid 8 is extremely hot, a person drinking from the drinking vessel 1 in the manner described above, would be able to detect the temperature of the liquid and stop further tilting of the drinking vessel in the event that the liquid is perceived as being too hot to drink safely, before the liquid actually contacts a person's lips, thereby avoiding the risk of burning.

The membrane 7 can be moulded integrally with the side wall 4 of the drinking vessel 1 or it may take the form of a film, for example of polycarbonate material, insert moulded into the aperture 6. Alternatively, the membrane 7 could be an applied film (for example laminated polyester), bonded within the aperture 6 by any convenient means, for example, heat sealing. It is also envisaged that an alternative method of production could involve defoπning the side wall 4 in the desired region of the membrane 7, whilst the moulding is still hot, for example by localised stretching, to create a membrane 7. Turning now to consider Figure 3, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which the feeding article 11 takes the form of a removable lid 12 configured to engage releasably the circumferential rim 13 of an otherwise conventional open-mouthed generally cup-shaped drinking vessel 14. The removable lid 12 is provided with a raised mouthpiece 15 in the form of a spout-shaped formation, and in overall configuration is generally identical to lids of the afore-mentioned conventional trainer cups widely used for feeding liquid to infants and the elderly or infirm. The mouthpiece 15 defines a flow passage 16 between the interior volume 17 of the drinking vessel 14, and an open liquid outlet 18 provided at the top of the mouthpiece 15. In a preferred arrangement, the liquid outlet 18 can be provided with a valve arrangement, for example a membrane slit valve (not shown).

As will be clear, the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 is shown in a generally upright position, but in order to dispense the drinking liquid 19 from the drinking vessel 14, the entire arrangement is tilted in a manner generally identical to that described above in connection with the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 from a first orientation to a dispensing orientation such that the liquid 19 flows through the flow passage 16 and out of the liquid outlet 18, over the uppermost edge 20 of the mouthpiece 15. At any position of the article during this tilting action, the lowermost point of the uppermost edge 20 defines the point of departure X of the liquid 19 from the lid 12.

As illustrated in Figure 3, at a position spaced slightly below the uppermost edge 20 (and hence also below the point of departure X) of the mouthpiece 15, the side wall of the mouthpiece 15, in a region proximal to the periphery of the lid 12, is provided with an aperture 21 across which extends a membrane 22 in a generally identical manner to that described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. It will therefore be clear that during tilting of the lid 12 and associated drinking vessel 14 from the upright initial orientation illustrated in Figure 3 towards a dispensing orientation in which the drinking liquid 19 flows over the uppermost edge 20 at the point of departure X, the liquid 19 will impinge upon the innermost surface of the membrane 22 at a position spaced below the point of departure X and hence, providing a person drinking from the mouthpiece 5 positions his or her lower lip against the outermost surface of the membrane 22, the arrangement will convey to the person an impression of the presence and temperature of the liquid 19 in the container before the point at which the liquid flows out of the container and into the person's mouth, thereby offering similar advantages to the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2.

The lid arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 provided with the raised mouthpiece 15 is particularly advantageous in the field of trainer cups for young children, because it provides an arrangement which can be used to teach a young child to drink more carefully from the cup, by assessing the temperature of the drinking liquid and its approach to the point of departure X as the cup is tilted towards its dispensing orientation.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is illustrated a feeding article 31 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The feeding article 31 comprises an open-mouthed, generally cup-shaped container 32 having a lid 33 secured thereto so as to substantially cover the open mouth of the cup-shaped container 32. However, it should be appreciated that the container 32 need not take the form of a cup, but could instead take the form of any convenient open-mouthed beverage container. The container 32 and lid 33 are both preferably made from a substantially rigid plastics material. However, it should be appreciated that the container 32 and the lid 33 could be made from an alternative material, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is envisaged that this embodiment could also take the form of a disposable drinking vessel such as a paper or polystyrene cup and lid.

As illustrated most clearly in Figure 5, the lid 33 comprises a circumferential rim 34 which, when the lid 33 is properly secured to the container 32, bears against the circumferential rim 35 of the open-mouthed cup- shaped container 32.

The rim 34 of the lid projects outwardly from a downwardly-depending sleeve 36, the sleeve 36 being shaped and sized so as to be received within the cup-shaped container 32 as an interference fit. It should therefore be appreciated that when the lid 33 is engaged with the container 32 as illustrated in Figure 5, the outermost circumferential surface of the sleeve 36 is in intimate contact with the innermost surface of the sidewall 37 of the container 32. This intimate contact between the outermost surface of the sleeve 36 and the innermost surface of the sidewall 37 provides a substantially liquid-tight seal between the lid 33 and the container 32.

Whilst the container 32 and the sleeve 36 of the lid 33 are illustrated in the accompanying drawings as being of right-circular cylindrical form, they can take other suitable forms as long as the outermost surface of the sleeve 36 bears intimately against the innermost surface of sidewall 37 around substantially its entire extent. The lid 33 further comprises a generally flat and horizontal base plate 38 which extends across substantially the entire extent of the lid 33 from the lowermost edge 39 of the sleeve 36.

At a position around the inner edge 40 of the rim 34, the rim 34 is provided with a small lug 41 which projects inwardly of the rim. The lug 41 is sized so as to be receivable within the mouth of the person drinking from the rim 34 of the drinking vessel 31, and most preferably the lug 41 is small enough to be received within the mouth of a small child in this way. The lug 41 is provided with an aperture 42 therethrough. As will become apparent, the aperture 42 serves as a liquid outlet of the drinking vessel 41. However, it should be appreciated that the lug 41 is not essential. For example, if the rim 34 was sufficiently wide in the radial direction, the aperture 42 could be provided through the rim 34, without the need for a lug.

In a region generally below the lug 41, there is provided a generally rectangular aperture 43 through the sleeve 36 of the lid 33. As will be apparent from Figure 5, the aperture 43 is sized so as to extend to either side of the lug 41. Also in this region, an area 44 of the base 38 is cut away such that the area 44 forms a horizontal extension of the aperture 43. As illustrated in Figure 5, the rim 34 of the lid 33 is uninterrupted by the aperture 43 such that the rim 34 extends over the aperture 43.

As illustrated most clearly in Figures 6A and 6B, the innermost edge 40 of the rim 34, in the region in which the rim 34 extends over the aperture 43, is provided with a small recess 45 therealong which follows the arc defined by the innermost edge of the lug. Similarly, the edge 46 of the base 38 defining the cut-away region 44 is also provided with a recess 47 therealong. The side edges 43 a and 43b of aperture 43 and the side edges 44a, 44b of the cut-away region 44 are also preferably provided with similar recesses (not shown) therealong.

As illustrated in Figures 4, 6A and 6B in particular, the aperture 43 in the lid 33 is closed by a thin flexible membrane 48 which is preferably co- moulded or insert moulded into the above-mentioned recesses 45, 47 of the lid. Preferred materials for the membrane 48 include latex rubber, silicon or thermo-plastic elastomers such as polythene or Evoprene (RTM). However, it is also envisaged that the membrane could comprise metallic foil material, e.g. the membrane could be a heat-sealed foil membrane; or polycarbonate film. The membrane 48 extends over the aperture 43 so as to close the aperture in a substantially liquid-tight manner.

As illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, across its entirety, the membrane 48 is spaced from the sidewall 37 of the container 32 when the lid 33 is secured to the container 32. It will be appreciated that the membrane 48 is spaced from the sidewall 37 by a greater distance in the region of the lug 41 than in the two regions either side of the lug 42. The membrane 48 and the sidewall 33 of the container 32 in the region of the aperture 43, define a flow passage extending substantially from the rim 34 of the lid 33 to the lowermost part of the lid defined by the base 38. As illustrated in Figure 6A, the liquid outlet defined by the aperture 42 is in fluid communication with the flow passage 49.

Figure 7 illustrates a person, for example an infant or small child 50, drinking from the rim of the drinking vessel. It should be appreciated here, that in the embodiment described above, the rim of the vessel is, in effect, defined by the rim 34 of the lid 33. Because the base 38 of the lid 33 is located substantially below the rim 34 of the lid 33 by virtue of the sleeve 36, the rim 34 of the lid may be received between a person's lips 51 in a manner generally similar to the way in which the circumferential rim of a conventional open mouthed cup or glass is received between a person's lips. The configuration of the drinking vessel is therefore such that it simulates for a person drinking from it, the sensation of drinking from a normal open-mouthed cup, whilst still having a lid to prevent, or at least minimise, inadvertent spilling of liquid.

It will be seen from Figure 7 that the rim 34 of the lid is received within the person's lips 51 in the region of the lug 41 and the membrane 48 located therebelow. In particular, it will be appreciated that the upper lip of the person 50 engages the membrane 48 in the region located generally below the rim 34 of the lid which, as described above, effectively defines the rim of the vessel 31.

In order to drink from the drinking vessel 31 of the above-described embodiment, the person 50 simply tilts the vessel 31 in a generally conventional manner, whilst the rim 34, in the region of the lug 41 and its associated aperture

42 is received between the person's lips 51, such that the person's top lip engages the membrane 48 as described above.

Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the drinking vessel described above in a tilted, drinking position. It should be appreciated from these drawings that the liquid 52 held within the container 32 comes into contact with the innermost surface of the membrane 48 before the surface 53 of the liquid reaches the rim 35 of the container or, more importantly, the aperture 42 (which effectively defines the point of departure X of this embodiment) provided in the lug 41 of the lid. This is because the flow passage 49 extends downwardly from the rim 34 of the lid to the base 38 of the lid. It will therefore be appreciated that the liquid 52 contacts the inside surface of the membrane 48 in the general region in which the person's lips 51 contact the outside surface of the membrane 48, which is at a position generally below the rim 34 and the point of departure X.

By careful selection of the material and thickness of the membrane 48, the membrane 48 is configured so as to be sufficiently flexible and pliable such that when a person's lips 51 engage the outermost surface of the membrane 48, the person is alerted to the presence of the liquid 52 in the flow passage 49, by virtue of the liquid deflecting the membrane 48, before the surface of the liquid 52 reaches the rim of the vessel and flows through the aperture 42. This sensation of the liquid is important and helps infant children to co-ordinate tilting of the drinking vessel more accurately as they drink from the rim 34.

It is also envisaged that the membrane 48 may be made from a material chosen to have a higher degree of thermal conductivity than the structure of the rest of the drinking vessel. In such an arrangement, the membrane 48 is configured so as convey to a person drinking from the drinking vessel as described above, an impression of the temperature of the liquid 52 within the drinking vessel, before the liquid 52 passes through the aperture 42 and into the person's mouth. As mentioned previously, this can be important in preventing inadvertent burning of the person's lips, tongue and throat, in the event that hot liquid is provided in the drinking vessel. In this type of arrangement, the membrane 48 will readily conduct heat from its innermost surface to its outermost surface when a hot liquid impinges on it from inside the vessel. Thus, a person, by virtue of engagement of their top lip with the outermost surface of the membrane 48, can readily detect the presence of hot liquid in the flow passage 49.

Turning now to consider Figures 9, 10 and 11, it should be appreciated that the feeding article of the present invention can also be embodied in various other configurations. For example, Figure 9 illustrates the feeding article taking the form of an otherwise conventional nursing bottle 60 comprising a bottle-shaped container 61 made from, for example, high impact transparent plastics material, with a removable flexible teat 62 mounted on the neck 63 of the bottle 61. In a conventional manner, the distal end of the teat 62 is provided with a small hole or slit 64, serving as a liquid outlet from the arrangement. At a position spaced below the liquid outlet 64 (defining the point of departure X) in the orientation illustrated in Figure 9, there is provided an aperture 65 through the side wall 66 of the bottle 61, the aperture 65 having a flexible heat conductive membrane 67 stretched there-across in generally the same manner as described previously.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 9, the membrane 67 is intended to be contacted on its outermost surface by a person using the nursing bottle 60 to feed a baby or young child. The membrane 67 provides a convenient region of the bottle which a person using the bottle can touch, for example with a fingertip, to assess quickly and easily the temperature of the milk or other drinking liquid 68 within the bottle, before using the bottle to feed a baby. This eliminates the need for a mother to dab drops of the drinking liquid 68 on to the back of her wrist before feeding her baby.

As alluded to above, Figure 9 illustrates the nursing bottle 60 in a first orientation, in which the membrane 67 is located below the point of departure X defined by the liquid outlet 64. It is usual when feeding babies from nursing bottles to hold the bottle in a substantially inverted position, in which the liquid outlet 64, or in other words the point of departure X, is located substantially below the volume of liquid 68 held within the bottle 61. This reduces the risk of the baby swallowing gulps of air. It will therefore be appreciated that in contrast with the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, this arrangement differs in that when the nursing bottle 60 adopts its usual dispensing orientation, the membrane 67 becomes located above the point of departure X. This does not matter in this instance because the membrane 67 is intended for use by a person using the bottle to feed the baby, rather than for use by the baby itself.

Figure 10 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention in the form of a spoon 70 having a membrane 71 provided across an aperture 72 provided in the dished region 73 of the spoon 70. The uppermost edge 74 of the dished region 73 of the spoon defines, at a point there-around, the point of departure X of the spoon when the spoon is tilted to dispense food 75, or liquid (not shown) retained in the dished region 73. This arrangement is particularly useful for use by an individual such as a nurse or care worker when feeding hot food to people who are incapable, for whatever reason, of doing so for themselves. The membrane 71, being substantially more heat conductive than the material of the rest of the spoon 70, provides a panel which can easily be touched on its outermost surface by the nurse or care worker, so that the nurse or care worker can assess the temperature of the food 75 without directly contacting the food with his or her fingers or mouth which would be unhygienic.

Figure 11 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention in the form of a bowl 80 having an uppermost peripheral edge 81 and an aperture 82 provided through the lowermost region of the bowl, the aperture 82 having a membrane 83, substantially identical to those described above, extending there- across. This arrangement serves in use, in a very similar manner to the spoon arrangement illustrated in Figure 10, in that the membrane 83 can be contacted, on its outermost surface, by a person in order to convey to that person an impression of the temperature of the food 84, or liquid such as soup (not shown) held within the bowl 80.

Figure 12 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in the form of a bowl or dish 90 which could, for example, take the form of a plastic disposable container such as that in which convenience and microwaveable foods are often provided. The container 90 defines an uppermost peripheral rim 91 and, similar to the embodiment described above with reference to Figure 11, is provided with an aperture 92 provided through the lowermost region, or base 93 of the container. In this arrangement, a thin membrane 94 of material having elastic properties is provided within the container 90 so as to lie intimately against the innermost surface of the container 90 over its entire extent. It is proposed that the membrane 94 will be secured to the container 90 only around the peripheral rim 91, for example by adhesive or heat fusion. The weight of food 95 within the container 90 serves to press the membrane 94 against the innermost surface of the container as illustrated.

Of course, the membrane 94 extends across the aperture 92 provided through the base 93 of the container 90. As illustrated in Figure 13, a person's finger 96 can easily be inserted through the aperture 92 such that the tip of the person's finger 96 bears against the membrane 94. By pushing the finger 96 into the interior of the container 90, the membrane 94 is deformed away from the aperture 92 and is pressed further into the volume of food 95 within the container 90. This has two effects. Firstly, it ensures that the tip of the person's finger 96 bearing against the membrane 94 is located within the central region of the food 95 which is important where, for example, the person is wishing to check the temperature of the food 95 after the food has been heated in a microwave oven. This is because, it is a common problem when heating foodstuffs with microwave ovens, that if the food has not been heated in the oven for a sufficient time, then the outside regions of the food may be hot, but the central region may still not be sufficiently hot for any bacteria to be killed. Another effect of this membrane arrangement would occur if the membrane 94 is caused to stretch as the person inserts his or her finger 96 through the aperture 92, in which case then the effective surface area of the stretched membrane region 94 which bears against the food 95 is increased. Also, if the membrane is allowed to stretch as the finger 96 is inserted through the aperture 92, then the membrane will become thinner in the region pushed into the food 95, thereby increasing the temperature sensation conveyed to the finger 96.

The above-mentioned arrangement described with reference to Figures 12 and 13 could be further modified by the provision of a removable or "tear- off tab within the aperture 92 which serves initially to close the aperture 92 and support the region of the membrane 94 extending thereacross. Such tab arrangement could be formed integrally with the body of the container 90 and could be defined by a perforated periphery providing a line of relative mechanical weakness and hence facilitating easy removal of the tab after heating of the container and its contents, ready for insertion of a finger 96 through the aperture 92. This perforated-type arrangement is particularly suitable where the container 90 is provided from cardboard or similar fibrous paper-type material.

It is envisaged that where the container 90 is provided is pre-packed with a convenience food 95, then the membrane 94 could be fused to the peripheral rim 91 integrally with a sealing film covering the food 95.

FIGURE 14 illustrates a modified version of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, in which the membrane 94, in the region in which it extends across the aperture 92 formed in the base 93 of the container is treated or otherwise folded so as to provide a "concertina-type" arrangement. This type of arrangement ensures that the membrane 94 can be easily deformed as a person's finger 96 is inserted through the aperture 92, and is particularly suitable where it is desirable to use a membrane made of material which is not particularly elastic. As a person's finger is inserted through the aperture 92, then the pleated or otherwise folded region of the membrane 94 unfolds and hence opens out as it is deformed into the interior volume of the container.

FIGURE 15 illustrates another possible modified version of the arrangement illustrated generally in Figures 12 and 13, in which the membrane 94 is formed integrally with the base portion 93 of the container by stretching the material of the container in the region of the aperture 92 so that the material thins hence defining the flexible membrane region 94. In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 15, the material of the container in the region of the aperture 92 has been pulled upwardly such that the membrane 94 is defined at the top of a re-entrant region 97. The membrane 94 could be left in this configuration such that it is located within the central region of the container and hence will be located centrally within a volume of food carried in the container, or, could then subsequently be compressed, for example in a concertina fashion, so as to adopt the configuration illustrated in Figure 16. In this arrangement, the membrane 94 can be easily deformed upon insertion of a finger through the aperture 92 so as to re-assume the position illustrated generally in Figure 15 which the membrane 94 is located centrally within the volume of food stored within the container.

It is also envisaged that the feeding article of the present invention could be embodied, for example, in a drinking straw (not shown). In such an arrangement, the membrane of the invention could be provided across a small aperture formed in the side wall of the straw, spaced slightly from one end of the straw such that when the straw is positioned in a vertical or vertically inclined in-use position, the membrane is located below the edge defined by the upper end of the straw.

Whilst the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be appreciated that certain modifications could be made to those embodiments, without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. For example, whilst specific reference has been made to each embodiment comprising a single membrane, the invention could comprise a plurality of such membranes. For instance, in the arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, instead of providing a single membrane across a single aperture at a position around the periphery of the driving vessel, a plurality of apertures and associated membranes could be provided, spaced or adjacent one another around the periphery of the drinking vessel.

Furthermore, the or each individual membrane could comprise a plurality of individual membrane facets adjacent one another, for example, to increase the flexibility of the overall membrane structure.

Throughout the above description and the appending claims, the term "membrane" is used to refer simply to an area of any suitable wall material, configured to be substantially thinner than the rest of the wall structure of each article. It should particularly be noted that whilst the membrane material may be pliable or flexible, this is not an essential requirement. For example, it is envisaged that the membrane could take the form of a twin sheet of metal (such as stainless steel) or plastic which is not substantially pliable. The membrane may be substantially flat or configured to adopt, for example, a domed shape. The material of the membrane may be stretched or unstretched to span the area. The membrane may be formed in a separate component. The component may be fixed, or removable, whichever configuration is the more convenient for any particular application. For example, the membrane may be permanently secured to the article in question by adhesive or insert moulding. Alternatively, the membrane could be releasably securable to the article, for example by way of a snap fit, or screw-threaded arrangement.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

Claims:

1. An article for dispensing food or drink, the article having a structure at least partly defining a volume for holding or allowing the passage therethrough of food or drink, and the article comprising: an upper edge, at least part of which defines a point of departure for food or drink from the article during dispensation; and a membrane extending across an aperture provided in a region of the article located below the level of said point of departure when the article is in a first orientation in which any food or drink within said volume is prevented from flowing or falling over said point of departure, the membrane being arranged so as to be contactable on a first side thereof with food or drink within said volume, and contactable on a second side thereof by a person using the article, the membrane having a higher degree of flexibility, and/or a higher thermal conductivity, than the rest of the structure.

2. An article according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is provided in a region of the article located so as to remain below said point of departure when the article is moved to a dispensing orientation in which at least some food or drink within said volume is allowed to flow or fall over the point of departure.

3. An article according to claim 1 or claim 2, in the form of a drinking vessel comprising an open-mouthed beverage container having a circumferential rim defining said upper edge, the membrane being arranged such that said second side contacts the lip of a person drinking from the circumferential rim.

4. An article according to claim 3, wherein the aperture and the membrane are provided in the side wall of the drinking vessel.

5. An article according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the drinking vessel is provided with a removable lid configured to releasably engage the open- mouthed beverage container.

6. An article according to claim 1 or claim 2, in the form of a lid configured to releasably engage the circumferential rim of an open-mouthed beverage container and to define a liquid outlet to the beverage container, said upper edge being defined by the lid, the lid having a structure at least partly defining a volume for allowing the passage therethrough of food or drink.

7. An article according to claim 6, wherein the lid is provided with a raised mouthpiece defining a flow passage for liquid from the beverage container to a liquid outlet defined by said upper edge.

8. An article according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the liquid outlet is provided with valve means.

9. An article according to any one of claims 6 to 8, provided in combination with an open -mouthed beverage container.

10. An article according to claim 1 or claim 2, in the form of a bowl.

11. An article according to claim 1 or claim 2, in the form of a spoon.

12. An article according to claim 1, in the form of a straw.

13. An article according to claim 1 or claim 2, in the form of a nursing bottle.

14. An article according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane is insert moulded across said aperture.

15. An article according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane is integrally formed with the rest of the article's structure.

16. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

18. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

19. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

20. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

21. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.