Baby Food Lid with Built-in straw

A baby food lid with a built-in straw provides female threads which enable the lid to be affixed to commercially available jars of baby food for easy consumption. The straw is rigid and gently curved, with a large circular cross-section. This enables the infant to easily draw foods with a thicker consistency through the straw, and also enables the adult user to easily clean the straw. The lid is dishwasher safe and is provided in a variety of bright colors and sizes, to fit any commercially available jar of baby food.

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PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to infant and child care accessories, and in particular to a baby food lid with a built-in straw. Various types of pureed baby food have been available in small jars for over a century. At the time of their introduction, they represented a great stride forward in convenience and food safety. However, times have changed and the demand for greater convenience is growing. Mothers are still required to transfer the food to a bowl or other container, slowly spoon-feed the infant, and then clean up and wash the bowl and spoon afterward. A baby food lid with a built-in straw, providing female threads which enable the lid to be affixed to commercially available jars of baby food for easy consumption, would resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a baby food lid with a built-in straw. The lid provides female threads which enable the lid to be affixed to commercially available jars of baby food for easy consumption. The straw is rigid and gently curved, with a large circular cross-section. This enables the infant to easily draw foods with a thicker consistency through the straw, and also enables the adult user to easily clean the straw. The lid is dishwasher safe and is provided in a variety of bright colors and sizes, to fit any commercially available jar of baby food.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a baby food lid10with a built-in straw.

The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of a circular lid10which provides female threads11, enabling the lid10to be affixed to commercially available jars14of baby food for easy consumption. The straw12is rigid and gently curved, with a large circular cross-section. This enables the infant to easily draw foods with a thicker consistency through the straw12, and also enables the adult user to easily clean the straw12, using a bottle brush or similar device. The lower end of the straw12provides a flexible, removable tip13, to minimize noise and damage when contacting the bottom of the jar14.

The lid10is dishwasher safe and is provided in a variety of bright colors and sizes, to fit any commercially available jar of baby food. A transparent, dishwasher safe, shatterproof container may also be provided with the lid, enabling the adult user to transfer baby foods from any commercially provided package into the container for consumption. An alternate embodiment, which provides a flexible gasket joining the straw12to the lid10, is contemplated. The gasket provides a tight seal, but enables tilting and sliding of the straw12within a central aperture.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the adult user opens a jar of baby food14and places the lid10over the mouth of the jar14, inserting the straw12into the baby food. The adult user then engages the male threads of the mouth of the jar14with the female threads11of the lid10, until a tight seal is created. The baby food may then be consumed by an infant user, using the straw12which is provided.

The lid10and the straw12are preferably manufactured from a rigid, durable material which is shatterproof, easily cleaned, and dishwasher safe, such as plastic or acrylic polymer. The tip13is preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material which is easily cleaned and dishwasher safe, such as silicone.

Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.