In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a drinking flask which comprises a housing which is formed with a lower compartment for containing a drinks liquid and an enclosed space above said lower compartment, a delivery passage extending from adjacent the bottom of said lower compartment and having its upper end directed upwardly into said enclosed space, and a suction tube extending from said enclosed space.

In use, the user applies suction to the suction tube, thus creating a partial vacuum within the enclosed space above the liquid-containing lower compartment of the flask. This causes liquid to be drawn up the delivery passage, to emerge into the upper enclosed space as a vertical jet, creating a fountain. It will be appreciated that the flask therefore provides an attractive visual effect, particularly for children, when in use.

In one embodiment, the drinking flask is arranged so that, in use, the liquid drawn up the delivery passage emerges into the upper enclosed space of the flask as an unobstructed vertical jet.

In another embodiment, the drinking flask comprises a ball or other member normally disposed in a rest position above the upper end of the delivery passage, and arranged so that the vertical jet of liquid, emerging from the delivery passage in use of the flask, impinges on this ball or other member, to lift it and support it in an elevated position. The ball or other member may be coloured (e. g. painted) or it may be transparent and house a character or other item.

Preferably the housing has a flat bottom for resting the flask on a table top or other support surface, and a domed top.

Preferably the delivery passage is formed by a tube positioned centrally of the lower compartment of the flask.

Preferably the flask includes a partition which closes the top of the lower compartment and has a central orifice into which the top end of the delivery tube is fitted.

Preferably the flask includes an annular partition above and spaced from the top end of the delivery tube, the jet created in use of the flask passing upwardly through the opening in the centre of this partition. The ball or other member, where provided, normally seats on this partition over the central opening.

Preferably the suction tube extends from the upper enclosed space of the flask adjacent the bottom of that enclosed space.

Preferably the suction tube comprises a helical section which encircles an upper portion of the flask.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of drinking flask in accordance with the invention, shown with a ball of the flask in its rest position; FIGURE 2 is a similar view of the drinking flask of Figure 1 when in use, its ball being lifted on a fountain created within the flask; FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of drinking flask in accordance with the inventors; and FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the drinking flask of Figure 3 when in use, showing an unobstructed jet or fountain created within the flask.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a drinking flask which comprises a unitary housing made up of a cup-shaped base 10, a ring-shaped intermediate section 12 removably fitted to the top of the base 10, a dish-shaped section 14 fixed to the top of the intermediate section 12, and

an inverted cup-shaped top 16 fixed to the dish-shaped section 14.

The intermediate section 12 has a partition 13 extending across it, adjacent its bottom edge: the partition 13 has an orifice at its centre, into which the top end of a delivery tube or straw 11 is fitted, the delivery straw 11 extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of the cup- shaped base 10.

The dish-shaped section 14 comprises an annular portion 15 which is inclined downwardly towards a central orifice 15a.

The annular portion 15 forms a seat for a ball 17 which, when at rest as shown in Figure 1, closes the central orifice 15a.

The drinking flask further comprises a suction tube or straw 18, which comprises a lower, helical section 18a and an upper, straight section 18b. The helical section 18a encircles the intermediate and upper sections 12,14, 16 of the flask and its bottom end 18c turns radially inwardly and is fitted into an orifice 12a in the intermediate section 12 of the flask.

The upper section 18b of the suction straw projects upwardly and radially outwardly, therefore in a manner convenient for a user to apply suction when holding the flask in one hand.

The components of the flask are formed of plastics material: at least the top section 16 of the flask is of transparent material.

The base 10 of the flask is removable, for filling with a drinks liquid, but when replaced forms a seal with the intermediate section 12. In use, when the user applies suction to the free end of the suction straw 18, this suction is transmitted through the straw to the space, in the intermediate section 12, over the partition 13. The partial vacuum thus created causes liquid to be drawn up the delivery straw 11 from within the base 10, the liquid emerging from the top end of the delivery straw 11 as a vertical jet J as shown in Figure 2.

The liquid jet J impinges on the ball 17 and lifts it towards the top of the space within the top section 16 of the flask.

The user's suction applied to the straw 18 accordingly creates a fountain within the flask, the fountain supporting the ball 17 in an elevated position. The liquid which falls from the fountain flows onto the partition 13, from where it is drawn up the suction straw 18 and into the user's mouth.

Whilst the flask which has been described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 includes a ball, it may include any other member which is light in weight so that it is capable of being lifted and supported by the jet of liquid emerging from the delivery tube 11.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown a drinking flask which is similar to the flask of Figures 1 and 2, like parts being denoted by like reference numerals.

The drinking flask of Figures 3 and 4, however, is devoid of the ball (or other member) provided in the flask of Figures 1 and 2 to be lifted by the fountain. As a result, in use of the flask, the liquid emerges from the top and of the delivery straw as an unobstructed vertical jet J, as shown in Figure 4.

It will be appreciated that the drinking flasks which have been described are of simple construction yet provide an attractive visual feature when in use, by means of the unobstructed jet or fountain J in the flask of Figures 3 and 4 and by means of the jet J lifting and supporting the ball 17 in the flask of Figures 1 and 2.