Abstract:
A convenient, portable, “all-in-one” kit that contains all of the feeding accessories that a child would require for a meal, and also provides a sanitary environment for eating the meal. The kit is comprised of members including a container member, which is a cup; and closing member, which is a lid with a controlled-flow drinking spout. The cup fitted with the lid is commonly known as a sippy cup. The lidded cup serves as an enclosure for the other members of the kit. The kit also includes a utensil member, such as a spoon or fork or both. The entire kit is inexpensive and therefore disposable after a single usage. A unique feature about the kit is the inclusion of a protective member that is a specialized sheet that can be adhesively fastened to a table or highchair and, as such, provides a sanitary zone for eating the meal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of the provisional patent application, bearing Ser. No. 60/676,125, which was filed on May 2, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1) Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a portable feeding kit, and more particularly a portable feeding kit for children.  
         [0004]     2) Prior Art  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,258 to Luigi Bertoli teaches a compact utensil set, where the set of utensils are contained in a case-container. Bertoli teaches that the set contains all the main things required for consuming food and drink, neatly arranged within a very limited space. A special feature of the set is that all the component parts are made specially to make best use of the space available, to be compact and hygienic, and to keep weight down to a minimum.  
         [0006]     U.S. Publication 2004/0245258 to Connors, James A. Jr. et al. teaches a disposable child&#39;s drinking cup, which has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,983 to Mary-Elizabeth Proshan teaches a cap for detachably closing a disposable container with liquid therein employs a flat horizontal disc having first and second openings disposed in spaced apart positions therein. The lid has a first opening that is a pinhole, and a second opening that is relatively large. The cap has a hollow vertical spout that tapers upwardly from the disc with an open lower end coincident with the second opening. The open upper of the spout is smaller in area than its lower end.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,339 to Michael J. Borgerson teaches a portable container for storing an edible liquid separate from an edible dry component, where the portable container houses a spoon. While the prior art addresses the mechanics of packaging utensils in a container, the prior art is largely centered on products used by adults, and the art is silent on a kit which enhances sanitation and reduces contamination. Sanitation and contamination are of preeminent importance in the care and feeding of children, as children are not innately endowed with knowledge of what can potentially make them sick, and, in general, because their immunological systems are less well developed than an adult&#39;s, they are more susceptible to becoming sick. Table 1 has a partial list of pathogens associated with foods and eating. What is needed is a sanitary, portable, feeding kit for children that not only provides the feeding utensils in a clean, compact disposable form, but also provides a protected sanitary zone for eating, and an apparatus to cover the child from spillage.  
                                                                                                         TABLE 1                           Common Foodborne Pathogens            Pathogen   Infection Symptoms in Humans   Reservoir   Cause of Infection                    Bacteria            Campylobacter   Fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps,   Intestines of healthy   Eating undercooked chicken or foods           nausea, vomiting; Most commonly   birds; Raw poultry   contaminated with juices from           identified cause of diarrheal illness   meat, cattle and   undercooked chicken; In developing           in the world; May cause Guillain-   sometimes swine.   countries: unchlorinated drinking water           Barre syndrome.       supplies, e.g., wells, contaminated with                   poultry feces.         Salmonella     Fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps,   Intestines of birds,   Spread to humans by a variety of foods           headache.   reptiles and   of animal origin, e.g., undercooked               mammals.   poultry, contaminated eggs (eaten raw)                   and raw milk; May invade the                   bloodstream in persons of poor health                   or weakened immune systems, causing                   life-threatening infections.         E. coli  O157:H7   Severe, bloody diarrhea, painful   Cattle and similar   Consuming food or water that has been           abdominal cramps; not much fever;   animals; also resides   contaminated with microscopic           May cause acute kidney failure,   in humans.   amounts of cow feces; Contaminated           hemolytic uremic syndrome, in       raw milk.           children.         Vibrio     Watery diarrhea, abdominal pain.   Estuarine and marine   Consuming raw, improperly cooked, or         parahaemolyticus         environment and fish   cooked, recontaminated fish and               and seafood from   shellfish.               those environments.            Viruses            Norwalk-like   Acute gastrointestinal illness,   Infected persons for   Contact with infected persons/food       virus   usually with more vomiting than   up to 2 days after   handlers.           diarrhea; Headache, myalgia and   diarrhea stops.           low-grade fever.       Hepatitis A   Infects the liver and causes   Feces of infected   Person-to-person fecal-oral route by           hepatitis A virus: fever, malaise,   people; Poor   infected food handlers.           nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark   sanitation and           urine and jaundice.   crowding facilitate               transmission.            Protozoa              Toxoplasma     No symptoms but possible diarrhea;   Found in virtually all   Consuming raw or undercooked meat         gondii     Infected pregnant women may pass   animal foods.   or contact with cats that shed cysts in           the disease to their fetuses,       their feces during acute infection.           resulting in death of the fetus or           severe health effects, such as           mental retardation.         Cryptosporidium     Profuse watery diarrhea; Life-   Waterborne or found         parvum     threatening among the   in animal manures.           immunocompromised.                  
 
       SUMMARY OF T INVENTION  
       [0009]     In the broadest sense, the invention is a convenient, portable, “all-in-one” kit that can be easily transported and which contains all of the feeding accessories that a child would require for a meal, and also provides a sanitary environment for eating the meal. The kit is comprised of members, including a container member, which is a cup; and a closing member, which is a lid with a controlled-flow drinking spout. The cup, when fitted with the lid having a controlled-flow drinking spout, is commonly known as a sippy cup, where a sippy cup is refillable. The cup, capped with the lid, serves as an enclosure for the other members of the kit, as well as a drinking vessel. The kit is further comprised of a utensil member, such as a spoon or fork or both, that is a feeding utensil, which is sized so as to fit within the cup. All of the members of the kit are relatively inexpensive, so that the entire kit can be considered disposable after a single usage. None of the members of the kit are believed to present a choking hazard; however, the kit should only be used with adult supervision. The feeding utensil(s) is/are relatively flexible and have no sharp points or edges, and are believed to be safe; however, the kit should only be used with adult supervision. Substantially, each member of the kit is engineered so as to be appropriate for a supervised child, and to be contained within the interior of the cup. It is anticipated that members of the kit are not only functional, but are also engaging to the child. The cup is appropriately sized for a child under the age of about six years, and has a volume of 6-12 ounces, and more preferably 8-10 ounces. The cup, (i.e. container member), preferably is composed of plastic and has a rim with a rounded lip. The lid (i.e. closing member) is preferably composed of plastic and is a snap-on lid. The feeding utensil (i.e. utensil member) is preferably composed of plastic, and has a length, such that when enclosed in the cup and lid, the utensil is snuggly restrained at an angular orientation within cup against the lid. The kit is normally packaged for sale with the lid inverted, such that the drinking spout is protected inside the cup. The kit is further comprised of a packaging member, which is a plastic film such as shrink-wrap. The cup and the inverted lid and cup are substantially completely enclosed by the packaging member. The plastic film holds the lid on the cup and protects the contents from contamination. By packaging the kit with the lid inverted, the kit advantageously takes up less shelf room and is stackable.  
         [0010]     The kit is further comprised of a protection member that provides a sanitary zone for eating the meal. The protection member is a specialized sheet that, when folded, fits within the interior of the lidded cup, and when unfolded provides an eating area free of contamination for placement of food and utensils. The specialized sheet is sized so that a protective contamination-free zone is created between the child&#39;s eating area and the supporting surface underneath it, which may be soiled or contaminated with pathogens or detritus. The specialized sheet is comprised of a material selected to have good lay flat (drape) properties after being unfolded. The flatness of the specialized sheet can be augmented with strips of double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is covered with a protective release liner. The tape is positioned along the edges of the backside of the specialized sheet, so that the specialized sheet can be smoothed flat and tensioned between the strips of tape. The specialized sheet can be printed, and if so, the printing is preferably reverse printed to ensure that no ink comes into contact with food or utensils or the child. The protection member works synergistically in concert with the other members of the kit to provide a sanitary zone for eating, even in areas that would otherwise present an unacceptable risk that the child may become sick from the ambient pathogens.  
         [0011]     The kit is further comprised of a covering member that provides a barrier from spillage. In one embodiment the covering member is a disposable bib having an adjustable fastening means. The packaged bib is folded rectangularly so as to easily fit within the interior volume of the lidded cup. The bib is preferably comprised of a printed nonwoven material with a polymeric backside coating, such that only the front side of the bib is absorbent. The nonwoven material is selected such that it will unfold to a substantially flat material, where residual creasing is not sufficient to cause distortion of the bib. The adjustable fastening means is comprised of a sectional neck strap that is perforatedly attached, and a means for adhesively connecting the sections of the neck strap. One section of the neck strap has a pressure-sensitive double coated fastening tape protectively covered with a removable release liner, and the other section has a target tape attached to the front side of the bib. The neck strap is opened into sections by tearing along the perforations. The strap is adhered by peeling the release liner off the fastening tape, and pulling the strap and the bib around the wearer&#39;s neck until it is approximately chin high, and then adhering the fastening tape to the release side of the target tape. The strap can be adjusted by repositioning where the fastening tape adheres to the target tape, or the strap can be released by peeling the fastening tape off the target tape.  
         [0012]     The kit can be further comprised of a cleaning member, such as a wipe, a napkin, Kleenex, a dental product, an antibacterial lotion, and soap. The kit can be further comprised of a resealing member, such as a resealable bag, and a cot for sealing the drinking spout.  
         [0013]     The kit exists in substantially two states, either in the closed state or in the open state. In the closed state the contents are wrapped in the plastic film (i.e. packaging member), and the kit is portable. In the open state the plastic film is removed, the specialized sheet (i.e. protective member) is unfolded providing a substantially flat, contamination-free eating area, the refillable sippy cup (i.e. the container member capped with the closure member) is ready for filling with a liquid, the feeding utensils (i.e. the utensil members) are available for use, and the bib (i.e. the covering member) is available to be strapped around the child. If other members, such as the cleaning member and the resealing member, were in the kit, then they are available for use.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The foregoing and other objects will become readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the sippy cup comprised of a container member (cup) and a closure-member (lid);  
         [0016]      FIG. 1   a  is an overhead view of the closure member (a lid with tapered controlled-flow drinking spout);  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective elevational view of utensil members (a spoon and a fork);  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of the fork;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sippy cup;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of the cup containing all the members, folded, and packed in the interior of cup;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5   a  is a frontal view of the covering member (bib) with the strap perforatedly attached;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5   b  is a rear view of the bib with the strap perforatedly attached;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5   c  is a front view of the bib with the strap adhesively attached;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5   d  is a front view of the bib with the strap detached;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6   a  is a plan view of the front of the protective member (specialized sheet);  
         [0026]      FIG. 6   b  is a plan view of the rear of the protective member (specialized sheet);  
         [0027]      FIG. 6   c  is an exploded view of the double-sided tape shown in  FIG. 6   b,  wherein the release liner has been partially pulled away;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a closed kit, illustrating the container member (cup) and the closing member (inverted lid) enclosed in the packaging member (plastic film); the folded covering member (bib), the folded protective member (specialized sheet), and the utensil members (spoon and fork) are enclosed within the container member (cup) and the closing member (inverted lid);  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is an elevational perspective view of an open kit, illustrating a substantially flat protective member (specialized sheet) adhered to an underlying surface, and resting on the front of the protective member is a fork and a spoon, a sippy cup partially filled with a liquid, a cleaning member (wipe), a resealing member (resealable bag), and a covering member (bib). Not shown is the packaging film, which has been disposed of when removed. The specialized sheet provides a sanitary zone for eating the meal. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     The invention is a sanitary, portable, feeding kit  10  for children. In a prepackaged compact form the kit  10  provides a drinking cup  22  and feeding utensils  40  all in a clean, compact disposable form. The kit further includes accoutrements for providing a protected sanitary area for eating, a bib, and, optionally, cleaning and resealing supplies. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a sippy cup  20  is comprised of a cup  12  and a lid  22  with a controlled-flow drinking spout  24 . The cup  12 , which as a member of the kit, is generically referred to as a container member  12 , and the lid is a referred to as a closing member  22 . The cup is plastic, and has a rim  14  with a rounded lip. The lid  22 , which snaps on the rim  12  of the cup, has a circular ridge  32  and a finger tab  32  for removing the lid. The drinking spout  24 , which projects from the plane of the lid, is tapered, and as can be seen in  FIG. 1   a,  has a single opening  26  which restricts the rate of flow of liquid exiting the sippy cup  20 . The tapered drinking spout  24  enables drinking to be effected using a combination of sucking and taking small sips. The sip size is generally restricted to the size of a well  28  formed in the spout. This combination of cup  12  and lid  22  is well known as a sippy cup  20 . The single outlet hole  26  is advantageous, as air is substantially occluded while drinking, and after several swallows the flow slows until the sippy cup  20  is turned upright and ambient air can reenter the sippy cup clearing the outlet hole  26 . The single hole minimizes spillage, while at the same time teaches the user to take small sips. Only a small amount of the liquid in the sippy cup  20  will seep out if the sippy cup  20  is turned over. The sippy cup  20  with the lid snapped on is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1   a , the outlet  26  is located in the bottom of the well  28 .  
         [0031]     The kit  10  is further comprised of a utensil member  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The utensil member  40  is preferably two members, a spoon  42  and fork  44 . The stem  46  of the utensil  40  is preferably slightly curved, both lengthwise and crosswise, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The crosswise arc creates what in effect is a ridge, so that when the stem  46  is stressed, it is in a compressed state, which imparts additional strength to the utensil  40 . The gripping end  48  of the utensil&#39;s stem, sometimes called the bit, is widened so as to ergonomically enhance the ease of gripping, therein making it easier to access the bottom of the cup or another relatively deep container for food without extending one&#39;s fingers much beyond the rim. The ergonomic grip  48  prevents probable contact between the fingers and the food, and the probable coincidental contamination of the food and the user&#39;s hand. The widened gripping end  48  of the stem  46  is also preferably decorous with a final  49 , wherein the final  49  is an imprinted or embossed design area.  
         [0032]     The kit is further comprised of a protection member  50 , as shown in  FIG. 6   a,    6   b  and  6   c,  which provides a sanitary zone for eating the meal. The protection member  50  is comprised of a sheet of material  51 , such as a flexible plastic film that, when folded, fits within the interior of the lidded cup  12 , as shown in  FIG. 4   a,  that when unfolded provides an eating area free of contamination for placement of food and utensils. The specialized sheet  50  is sized so that the front side  52  of the protection member  50  is a protective contamination-free zone between the child&#39;s eating area and the supporting surface underneath it, which may be soiled or contaminated with pathogens or detritus. Examples of supporting surfaces are tables, highchairs, trays, and the ground. The sheet material  51  has good, lay flat (drape) properties after being unfolded. The front  52  of sheet, as shown in  FIG. 6   a  and  FIG. 8 , has a kid&#39;s entertainment center  54 . The center  54  can for instance have a picture of their favorite characters, instructional information, or outlines for their dinnerware.  FIG. 6   b  is planar view of the back  56  of the protective member  50 . The edges are framed with strips of a double-sided pressure-sensitive tape  58 , which is covered with a release liner  60 . As shown in  FIG. 6   c,  the adhesive  62  is exposed upon removal of the release liner  60 . The tape  58  ensures that the protective member is flat, and difficult for the child to lift up, therein providing a sanitary zone for eating, even in areas that would be otherwise present an unacceptable risk that the child may become sick from the ambient pathogens. As illustrated, the protective member, which is a clear plastic, is reverse-printed to ensure that no ink comes into contact with food or utensils  40  or the child  1 .  
         [0033]     The kit is further comprised of a covering member  80 , which is illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d.  The covering member, which is a disposable bib  80 , provides a barrier from spillage. The disposable bib  80  has an adjustable fastening means that is a repositionable adhesive—target system. The target tape  84  enables the adhering tape  92  to be adhered, and released, multiple times without delaminating the bib material. The bib, packaged in the cup of the unopened kit, is folded rectangularly so as to easily fit within the interior volume  16  of the cup  12 . The bib  50  is composed of a printed nonwoven material with a polymeric coating on the backside  97 , where the front side  95  of the bib is absorbent, whereas the back  97  of the bib is not. The nonwoven material is selected such that it unfolds to a substantially flat material, where residual creasing does cause distortion of the bib  80 . The neck portion of the bib has a sectional neck strap  82  that is perforatedly attached, so that the sectional neck strap can be easily separated, where upon separation there is first section  84  and a second section  86 . The perforations  104  divide the first  84  and second  86  sections. As illustrated, the front  95  of the bib has the target tape  8  on the first section  84  of the strap  82 , as shown in  FIG. 5   a.  The backside  97 , as shown in  FIG. 5   b,  of the bib  80  has a double-sided adhesive tape  92  on the second section  84 . The double-sided adhesive fastening tape  92  is covered with a release liner  94 . The strap  82  is adhered by peeling the release liner  94  off the fastening tape  92 , and pulling the strap  82  and the bib around the child&#39;s neck until it is approximately chin high, and then adhering the fastening tape  92  to the release side of the target tape  88 , as shown in  FIG. 5   d.  The strap  82  can be adjusted by repositioning where the fastening tape  92  adheres to the target tape  88 , or the strap  82  can be released by peeling the fastening tape  92  off the target tape  88 , as shown in  FIG. 5   c.  The bottom portion  100  of the bib has an inverted crumb catcher  98 . Prior to forming the inverted crumb catcher, the crumb catcher is a sealed pocket  96  on the backside  97  of the bib  80 . When sealed pocket  96  is inverted, the inverted seals cause the pocket to flare, therein creating a crumb catcher  98  on the front of the bib.  FIG. 5   b  illustrates the sealed pocket  96  prior to inverting, and  FIG. 5   d  illustrates the crumb catcher  98  after the sealed pocket  96  has been inverted.  
         [0034]     The kit  10 , prior to being opened, is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As is apparent, the lid  22  is inverted so that the feeding spout  24  is in the interior  16  of the cup  12 . The lid  22  and cup  12  are completely enclosed by a packing member  110 , which is a plastic film. The plastic film holds the lid  22  in place. As can be seen in  FIG. 4   a,  where the packing member  110  and the lid  22  are removed, the other members are enclosed in the cup  12 . The bib  80  and the specialized sheet  50  are folded and inserted in the cup  12 , along with two utensil members  40 . The utensil members  40 , when angled, are near the rim  14  of the cup  12 . The length of the utensil members  40  is sized so that they can suitably fit inside the cup  12 . As shown, the cup is  9 - 10  ounces in volume.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates the kit  10  after it has been opened, and is being used. The packaging member  110  has been removed, liquid has been added to the sippy cup  20 , and the lid  22  is snapped on. The protective member  50  has been unfolded, and adhered to the table where the child  1  is eating. The covering member  80  has been unfolded, separated along the perforations, the sealed pocket  96  has been inverted forming the inverted crumb catcher  98 , and the sections of the strap  82  are adhesively fastened around the child&#39;s neck. The plastic utensil members  40  are set out on the protective member  50 . Two other members of the kit have been added, and are at ready. There is a cleaning member  300  which is a wipe, and a resealing member  200  which is a resealable plastic bag. The characters on the child&#39;s printed bib match the characters on the entertainment center  54  reverse-printed on the backside  56  of the protective member  50 . Even the ergonomic grips  48  on the spoon  42  and fork  44  have characters embossed and outlined on the finals  49 . After the meal, the bib  80  can be removed and stacked on the protective member  50 , and the entire kit can be disposed. Alternatively, if the child is still drinking, or will want to drink later, everything but the sippy cup  20  can be disposed, and the sippy cup  20  can continue to be used.  
         [0036]     The descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment or embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Where a claim is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function, it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures.