Abstract:
A drinking cup having a spill proof lid and a container. The lid fits to the container. The container has a place to write information, such as a medication dosage. The container also scaled gradations to determine the volume of fluid in the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Drinking containers, more specifically a drinking container including a spill proof lid and a writing surface on the side walls thereof, the writing surface adjacent a scale containing gradations for indicating the volume of the liquid contained therein, and a method for using the novel drinking container for recording dosages of a liquid therefrom. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various devices in the prior art have been provided for administering metered dosages of a liquid to a patient. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,937 discloses a container including a dosage dispenser incorporated on the inner walls thereof and scale markings on the outside of the dispenser so a user can ascertain the volume of liquid inside the container and inside the dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,078 discloses a graduated drinking mug having a handle with a moveable slider for keeping track of a volume of fluid in the container, the slider adjacent scaled markings in the handle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,892 discloses a drinking vessel having scaled gradations marked on the side thereof and a lid, the lid including clips, the clips to hold a card onto the lid, the card for indicating the patient&#39;s dosage prescription. 
     None of the prior art, however, provides the convenience of Applicant&#39;s novel combination of features, including scaled gradations or markings vertically oriented on the side walls of the container to determine the amount of liquid therein and a vertically oriented window adjacent the gradations and a writing surface for marking an initial level and subsequent levels of fluid in the container and thereby ascertain the amount of fluid consumed by a patient over a lime period. Other features of Applicant&#39;s novel drinking vessel include a spill proof lid, a hand conforming handle, insulation and a removable base. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate preferred embodiments of Applicant&#39;s present invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates Applicant&#39;s novel drinking container  10 , the drinking container including a body portion  12  and lid portion  14 , the lid for removable attachment to the body portion, the lid preferably being a “spill proof” lid as known in the prior art as hereinafter described. One such lid is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Reg. No. 37,016 Reissued Jan. 16, 2001, the specification and drawings which are incorporated herein by reference. The Reissue Patent discloses a spill proof lid with a flow control element. The flow control element is normally closed, only the users vacuum creation (as by sucking at a drinking orifice) will allow a liquid to flow. The body portion and/or the lid portion may be made from hard plastic, glass or other durable, suitable material. The body portion is seen to include side walls  18 , here the side walls being vertical and cylindrical in nature, the sidewalls including a writing panel  18 A on the surface thereof, the writing panel having a vertical border  18 B and, in an alternate preferred embodiment slots  18 C for receipt of a removable membrane  19  capable of receiving writing thereon. It is seen in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 that writing panel  18 A is a membrane, such as an appropriate dimensioned paper card, in a rectangular shape and intended for engagement with body portion  12  through the use of vertical slots or channels  18 C. 
    
    
     In an alternate preferred embodiment in FIG. 2 writing panel  18 A is integral with the side walls and is typically a roughened or frosted area so as to be capable of accepting writing on the surface thereof. In either case, side walls include a writing panel  18 A which may include a membrane  19  or may be integral with the side walls, for the receipt of writing thereon, the writing panel including a vertical border  18 B. Note that the vertical border is adjacent a scale  28 , such as a scale for denoting the volume of a liquid in the container-for example, a scale marked in either oz. (ounces) or milliliters (ml.). Adjacent the scale are gradations marks  26  and both the scale and gradations marks are adjacent vertical border  18 B. 
     Returning to body portion  12 , it is seen to include, optionally, a flared base  22  the flared base having a diameter greater than the greatest distance between the side walls, for providing stability when the container is resting on a support surface. The base may be formed integral with the side walls or may, as in FIG. 1 include interior walls  22 A dimensioned for receipt of closed bottom  20  snuggly thereinto, to maintain the base engaged with the side walls through a friction or interference fit. 
     Applicant&#39;s novel drinking container may also include a handle  24 , typically joined to the side walls and capable of being grasped by a patient, the handle maybe in any of a variety of configurations but may include removed ends  24 A and  24 B with a body  24 C therebetween The removed ends may be attached to the side walls so as to align the handle in vertical orientation. The handle may be dimensioned to include a body portion that is scalloped, oval or square, or otherwise shaped to fit the particular needs of the environment. There may be one handle or multiplicity of handles. 
     In FIG. 2 Applicant&#39;s are seen to provide side walls  18  that may be partially opaque but include one or more vertically oriented, narrow, clear windows  30 , the clear windows having horizontal gradation marks  26 , the gradation marks keyed to a scale  28  to designate a level of fluid in the container. It is seen, for example, in FIG. 2 that there are a pair of clear windows  30 , one of which is designated in a milliliter scale and the other designated in ounces. Note again that the vertical border  18 B is adjacent, indeed may make contact with, the individual gradation marks on the side walls. 
     Turning now to Applicant&#39;s lid portion  14  it is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the lid portions are slightly different. Both figures, however, disclose lids that are “spill proof.” In FIG. 1 it is seen that lid portion  14  includes a top surface  32  and side walls  33 . It is noted that side walls  33  in FIG. 1 may include threaded outer walls  355 B for engagement with matching threaded outer walls  35 A adjacent open top  16  for threadable engagement between the lid and the open top. A gasket (not shown) may be used to help seal the lid to the open top. Again with reference to the lid illustrated in FIG. 1 it is seen that the lid includes a top surface  32  which has a drinking orifice  32 A incorporated thereinto. Opposite the drinking orifice  32 A is a vent orifice  32 B for venting the interior of the container so as to facilitate drinking therefrom through the drinking orifice  32 A. The drinking orifice may be located at the tip of a drinking snout  32 C. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2 it is seen that an alternate preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s lid portion  14  it is disclosed. This lid portion, which is known in the prior art includes, inner side walls  34  for snug friction fit with smooth outer walls  16 A adjacent open top  16 . An advantage of the friction fit over the threaded engagement means is that with friction fit the drinking orifice may be rotated and positioned anywhere with respect to the handle, for ease of drinking. It is seen in FIG. 2 that vent orifice  32 B includes a valve  36  that will prevent the passage of a fluid therethrough and will open in response to a drinking drawing suction, the suction within the container generating a pressure differential that will open a normally closed valve  36 . 
     Turning back to FIG. 1 it is seen that Applicant&#39;s novel drinking container  10  includes a writing panel  18 A with a vertical border  18 B adjacent scale  28  and gradation marks  26 . FIG. 1 illustrates a manner of using a writing instrument (not shown) and a writing panel to designate certain information regarding the patient, such as the patient name, the treating doctor&#39;s name, the type of dosage contained in the container, the doctor&#39;s orders regarding the dosage, etc. Note that by positioning the vertical border of the writing panel adjacent the gradation marks and scale, arrows can indicate the fluid levels in the container at certain times. For example, in FIG. 1 it is seen that there was 13 oz. of the designated liquid in the container at 2:00 P.M. on a designated date At 4:00 P.M. on designated date it was seen that there are 10 oz., such as indicated by the marking “arrows” indicated adjacent the gradation marks, any type of marking can be used to show the liquid level in the container and a time placed right next to the at mark. This, for example shows that there was 3 oz. of fluid consumed between 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. Two hours later, at 6:00 P.M. the fluid level was down to 5 oz. as indicated by the markings on the writing panel  18 A (“6:00 P.M.”). This is a convenient method of utilizing Applicant&#39;s novel drinking container  10  maintained an active record of the fluid intake of a patient. 
     It is understood that while the preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s present invention uses the term for “dosage” this term is broad enough to include any medicine or, in fact, any liquid. Indeed, Applicant&#39;s novel invention and method may be utilized anywhere that metering of a liquid is required. Further, while the specifications and claims show the gradation scale in milliliters and/or ounces, they can be, in fact, any volumetric unit of measurement. Note also that in a preferred embodiment, the “zero” would be at the top and the maximum volume would be at the bottom (see FIG.  2 ). Finally, although the cup may be any size, the typical volume would range from 0.25 liters to 1.25 liters. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will over such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.