A method for managing the fluid intake of a child or an infirm individual comprising the steps of:
- providing a multiplicity of cups of varying sizes, said cups of varying sizes having an opening, wherein said cups of varying sizes are 4 ounces, 6 ounces, and 8 ounces;
- providing a uniform spill proof lid having a spout to allow the flow of a liquid;
- said spill proof lid having a vent hole and an underside having an open passage to said spout and a passage collar disposed around said open passage on said underside of said spill proof lid and a vent collar disposed around said vent hole on said underside of said spill proof lid;
- providing a first flow control valve and a second flow control valve having varying flow rates, said flow control valves having two identically sized stacks spaced and configured to engage said passage collar and said vent collar, said stacks have an internal passage to allow the flow of air or liquid through said valve, said stacks having a top with a slit to create a diaphragm, wherein the size of said slit controls the flow rate of said diaphragm, with the diaphragm of the first stack smaller than the diaphragm of the second stack, wherein said first flow control valve has a low flow rate diaphragm and an intermediate rate diaphragm, and said second flow control valve has a medium flow rate diaphragm and an advanced rate diaphragm;
- disposing a date indicator ring circumferential with said cup, wherein said date indicator ring is attachably connected to said cup by means of a corresponding threaded attachment disposed on said date indicator ring and said cup, and wherein said spill proof lid can be attachably connected to said date indicator ring by means of a correspondingly threaded attachment disposed on said spill proof lid and said date indicator ring;
- said date indicator ring consisting of a ring holder with a circumferential groove and a indicator ring rotatably disposed within said circumferential groove, said indicator ring having date indicia evenly spaced circumferentially around said indicator ring and having a series of small ridges protruding towards said ring holder, said ring holder having a series of small grooves sized and spaced to correspond to said series of small ridges such that said indicator ring can be held in place within said ring holder but can be moved around said ring holder, said date indicator ring further consists of an indicator arrow, wherein said indicator ring can be rotated about said ring holder to align the date indicia to said indicator arrow to denote the date when the cup was filled with the liquid;
- incorporating a content indicator on said spill proof lid, said content indicator comprises a groove with an elongated opening in said spill proof lid, said content indicator further consists of a slide plate mounted in said groove and an slip lever protruding through said elongated opening, said content indicator further including two indicator letters mounted at either end of said elongated opening, such that the content indicator will indicate the contents of said cup by positioning said slip lever adjacent one of the two indicator letters;
- disposing a threaded mount off center of said underside of said spill proof lid
- providing a chiller insert configured to hold an endothermic material, said chiller insert having a threaded portion aligned to correspond to said threaded mount such that said chiller attachment can be removably attached to said spill proof lid;
- introducing an endothermic material into said chiller insert and cooling said chiller insert;
- attaching said chiller insert to said attachment point;
- providing a handle with a stretchable attachment band and more than one hand grips, wherein said stretchable attachment band has a natural band circumference and a tension when stretched beyond the natural band circumference, wherein said cup has a cup circumference, and wherein said band circumference is smaller than said cup circumference such that said natural tension will hold said band to said cup when said band is disposed on said cup;
- stretching said stretchable attachment band and placing it circumferentially on said cup to secure the handle to said cup;
- selecting one of the multiplicity of cups based on the fluid needs of the child or infirm individual;
- filling the selected one of the multiplicity of cups with a drinkable liquid;
- selecting either said first control valve or said second flow control valve based on the drinking ability of the child or infirm individual;
- mounting said one of the multiplicity of flow control valves into the vent collar and passage collar on the underside of said spill proof lid, wherein the flow control valve limits the flow of liquid from said cup;
- attaching said spill proof lid to enclose said opening of said cup, wherein said chiller insert is inserted into said liquid to chill said liquid;
- rotating the date indicator ring to align the date of filling with the indicator arrow, thereby denoting the date that the liquid was introduced into the cup;
- sliding the slip lever of the content indicator to the indicator letter to indicate the contents of the cup;
- whereby a parent of a child or the caretaker of an infirm individual will be able to manage all of the child's or infirm individual's fluid intake needs and based upon the child's or infirm individuals drinking abilities, with a single system of multiple cups and multiple flow control valves for the spill proof lid.