What it claims
Officially, it’s a “Device for the Treatment of Hiccups.” It’s a cup-like vessel with two electrodes made of dissimilar metals, a carbon-based metal body and a copper-alloy second electrode, that develop an electric potential when the cup is filled with tap water. One electrode contacts the lips and mouth, while the second extends above the rim to touch the temple and cheek as you drink, completing a circuit across the face. The resulting current is meant to galvanically stimulate the phrenic and vagus nerves and interrupt the hiccup reflex. The patent lays this out across 12 claims.
What it actually is
A mug that runs a current through your face. Two metals, a mouthful of tap water, and the quiet confidence that the fix for a hiccup is a small electric circuit routed through your lips and temple.
Why, though
The inventor’s complaint was that hiccup cures are everywhere but none are reliable, and that an earlier device required refrigeration and a neck-worn appliance. This one aims to be safe, simple and fast, treating the hiccups in the ordinary act of taking a drink. It’s an elegant pitch for a problem most people solve by holding their breath. The patent office signed off. Holding your breath remains free.