Patent ID: 7207968

Claim:
A gravity-flow drinking dispenser apparatus for unassisted self-administration of liquids by a bedridden user, comprising: a non-pressurized container for holding a quantity of liquid and adapted to be positioned above the head of a user; a flexible tubing assembly connected in fluid communication with the container interior and having a free end; a mouthpiece connected at said tubing assembly free end adapted to be received in the mouth of the user and having an interior passageway through which liquids can flow; a solenoid valve disposed in said tubing assembly between said container and said mouthpiece and having a valve element movable between a closed position preventing liquid flow from said container to said mouthpiece and an open position allowing liquid to flow by gravity from said container to said mouthpiece; a low-voltage direct current electrical power source connected with said solenoid valve for supplying polarized low-voltage direct current thereto; and an ergonomic low-effort pressure-sensitive microswitch electrically connected in series between a first terminal of said low-voltage direct current electrical power source and a first contact of said solenoid valve for allowing the user to control the operation of said solenoid valve; said ergonomic low-effort pressure-sensitive microswitch having a generally oval-shaped housing with a generally flat bottom wall and a bulbous upper portion sized and shaped to receive the palm of the user and allow the user to put their fingers around it and actuate said microswitch by applying light pressure thereto and thereby control the operation of said solenoid valve for unassisted self-administration of liquids.