CUP LID WITH STRAW

Abstract

An environmentally conscious lid assembly including a lid and a straw member. The lid defines an interior volume, and the straw member is at least partially arrangeable therein. The straw member may include a flexible portion that permits the straw member to be bent and manipulated into different orientations. In addition, the straw member may be configured to telescope into a container on which the lid assembly is provided.

Description

BACKGROUND

Standard drinking straws are causing global environmental and pollution challenges. Such drinking straws, however, are ubiquitous, as many people prefer drinking their beverages through such a drinking straw. This is especially true with regard to viscous beverages, such as smoothies, blended beverages, milk shakes, etc., where utilizing a drinking straw makes such difficult to drink beverages easier to drink and inhibits spills. Drinking straws are also prevalent where it is desirable to facilitate a user's beverage consumption with as little movement as possible, for example, for post-surgical patients. In addition, drinking straws are often utilized in combination with cup lids that seal a top opening of a beverage container for drinks such as coffee, tea, soda, etc., and such cup lids may include an opening or spout configured to receive such a drinking straw.

However, straws are commonly made from plastic and, as mentioned above, are controversial in that they are deemed to cause otherwise preventable waste and other environmental challenges. Thus, many vendors are no longer using plastic straws. Indeed, some jurisdictions have even banned plastic straws. Instead, vendors are providing paper straws or cup lids with sipping holes. Paper straws, however, deteriorate quickly when placed in liquids, thereby inhibiting their function, and leave a bad mouthfeel and/or a bad taste in users' mouths. Cup lids with sipping holes are not ideal for viscous beverages and may result in the user leaving a significant quantity of the beverage in the bottom of the container.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, a lid assembly is provided with a lid that defines an interior volume. The lid includes at least a first opening and a straw in communication with the first opening. The straw is at least partially arrangeable within the interior volume, and includes a joint and a telescoping portion extending from the joint.

The telescoping portion may include a sleeve, and a first telescoping shaft that is retractable within the sleeve. In some embodiments, the sleeve extends from the joint. In others, the telescoping portion includes a second telescoping shaft that is retractable within the first telescoping shaft. A second joint may be provided on the first or second telescoping shaft, or it may be provided on the sleeve.

The lid contains at least one opening, a first opening, which may be provided in a spout protruding upward from the lid. The lid may have a second or more openings. In some embodiments, the first opening includes a flap defined by a series of perforations and the flap may be opened by breaking the perforations. In other embodiments, the lid includes an access point having a flap defined by a series of perforations and the flap may be opened by breaking the perforations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure, and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example lid installed on a beverage container.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view the lid assembly of FIG. 1 wherein the straw has been manipulated into an extended orientation.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary straw that may be utilized with the lid assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is related to lids for beverage containers and, more particularly, to lids that are environmentally conscious and that may be used to consume viscous beverages.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example lid 100 for a beverage container 102, according to one or more embodiments. The depicted beverage container 102 is just one example beverage container that may suitably incorporate the principles of the present disclosure. Indeed, many alternative designs and configurations of the beverage container 102 may be employed, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the lid 100 may be used with various types of beverage containers 102, including without limitation, disposable cups commonly used at carry out or fast food establishments for beverages such as coffee, smoothies, milk shakes, iced coffee drinks, etc. Beverages containers 102 are commonly made of paper, Styrofoam, or other plastics. More recently, however, such beverage containers 102 are increasingly being made from various types of biodegradable, recycled, and/or reusable materials.

The beverage container 102 (hereinafter, the “container 102”) includes a circular upper lip 104 with a bead (obscured from view) formed thereon. The upper lip 104 (and the bead) define an opening (also obscured from view) of the container 102 that is covered and enclosed by the lid 100. Thus, the lid 100 provides a cover for the container 102, thereby inhibiting spillage and reducing heat transfer between the beverage contained within the container 102 and the ambient atmosphere. Embodiments of the lid 100 described herein may be made from various materials, for example, paper, Styrofoam, or other plastics. In some embodiments, the lid 100 is made from various types of biodegradable, recycled, and/or reusable materials. The container 102 may have various dimensions and/or volumes. In addition, the container 102 may rest on a surface S and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, extends upward therefrom along an axis Y that is normal to the surface S.

When evaluating the lid 100 along the axis Y, the lid 100 includes a lower end 110 and an upper end 112 that, as hereinafter described, may be configured to permit a user to access a beverage within the container 102. The lower end 110 of the lid 100 will be closer to the container 102 than the upper end 112 when the lid 100 is secured to the container 102. The lid 100 may have various geometries, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the lid 100 may have various other geometries without departing from the present disclosure, for example, the lid 100 may have a dome shape geometry.

The lid 100 includes a mounting portion 120 at the lower end 110 thereof, and the mounting portion 120 is configured to engage the container 102 to seal the lid 100 thereon. In particular, the mounting portion 120 may be an annular shaped rim or opening that receives, or snaps over, the bead of the lip 104 that extends around the opening of the container 102. The lid 100 also includes a peripheral sidewall 122 that extends from the mounting portion 120 at the lower end 110, upward along the axis Y towards the upper end 112. The peripheral sidewall 122 may have various geometries. In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral sidewall 122 generally defines a frustoconical shape, such that its radius relative to the axis Y decreases when evaluated from the lower end 110 to the upper end 112. In other embodiments, however, the peripheral sidewalls 122 may be oriented parallel to the axis Y, as a frustoconical shape having a radius that increases when evaluated from the lower end 110 to the upper end 112, a rounded or arcuate geometry, or other geometries or combinations of geometries. In addition, the peripheral sidewall 122 may a continuous wall portion or be comprised of discrete wall portions.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the lid 100, according to one or more embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 100 includes a peripheral upper surface 124 that extends from the peripheral sidewall 122 and an inner upper surface 126 that is surrounded by the peripheral upper surface 124. Both the peripheral upper surface 124 and the inner upper surface 126 are positioned proximate to the upper end 112 of the lid 100. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the inner upper surface 126 is recessed towards the lower end 110, relative to the peripheral upper surface 124, so as to accommodate a user's nose. Thus, the inner upper surface 126 is offset from the peripheral upper surface 124 and are connected together via a sidewall 128. The sidewall 128 may have various geometries as described with reference to the peripheral sidewall 122. Thus, the sidewall 128 may have various slopes or curvatures. In addition, the sidewall 128 and the peripheral sidewall 122 may be oriented in parallel or in other non-parallel orientations.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the lid 100 also includes one or more openings configured to permit the user to drink beverages held within the container 102, as well as to permit venting between the interior of the container 102 and the ambient environment. Venting may also inhibit formation of a vacuum condition within the container 102 that may occur when a user drinks from a closed container. The lid 100 may also include various access points or locations, which a user may open to form auxiliary openings into the container 102. These openings and/or auxiliary openings may be disposed at various locations on the lid 100. For example, one or more openings may be provided on the peripheral upper surface 124 and/or the inner upper surface 126; and, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, one or more openings may be provided on the peripheral sidewall 122 and/or the sidewall 128 of the lid 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 100 includes a first opening 130 disposed proximate to the upper end 112 that is configured to enable a user to drink from the container 102 without removal of the lid 100. Also in this embodiment, a second opening 132 is provided to allow air venting and/or to provide a second location from which a user may drink. Here, the first and second openings 130,132 are both arranged on the upper peripheral surface 124; however, in other embodiments, either or both of the first and second openings 130,132 may be provided elsewhere on the lid, for example, on the inner upper surface 126 and/or on the peripheral sidewall 122. Also in other embodiments, the lid 100 may include more or less than the first and second openings 130,132. In some embodiments, an access point 134 is provided on the lid 100. In such embodiments, the access point 134 may include a perforated flap that is provided to the user in a “closed” state. If, however, the user wishes to access or open the access point 134, he or she may break the perforated flap to “open” the access point 134 and thereby form another opening in the lid 100, for example, by pushing a straw or drinking tube through the access point 134.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second openings 130,132 may each be preformed such a user need not poke an element, such as a straw, through a flap of material to form the first and second openings 130,132. In this manner, the first and second openings 130,132 may be in communication with the interior of the container 102 without having to break or remove material to unobstruct the first and second openings 130,132. In other embodiments, however, either or both of the openings 130,132 are not preformed, but instead provided in a “closed” state or configuration, for example, with score lines that define a removable flap or portion that may be broken or removed by the user to access the openings 130,132. When provided to the user in the “closed” configuration, the user would need to poke a straw or other element through the removable flap or portion to “open” the openings 130,132.

Any or all of the foregoing openings (e.g., the openings 130,132,134) may be provided in a mouthpiece, spout, or other structure arranged to raise or off-set the opening relative to neighboring surfaces (e.g., the peripheral upper surface 124 and/or the inner upper surface 126) of the lid 100. For example, the first opening 130 may be provided in a spout 140 that off-sets the first opening 130 towards the upper end 112 relative to the peripheral upper surface 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the spout 140 extends upward from the peripheral upper surface 124, thereby off-setting the first opening 130 from the peripheral upper surface 124. In other embodiments, the first opening 130 may be provided on the peripheral upper surface 124 of the lid 100 in a similar manner the second opening 132. In even other embodiments, however, the second opening 132 may also be provided in a spout or other structure that raises or off-sets the second opening 132 from neighboring surfaces.

Where utilized, the spout 140 may have various geometries or shapes. Here, for example, the spout 140 is generally shaped to conform to a user's mouth. Also in the illustrated embodiment, the first opening 130 is an individual hole (or orifice or aperture) in the spout 140 through which fluid may flow into the user's mouth. However, in other embodiments, the first opening 130 in the spout 140 may include more than one hole. In addition, the second opening 132 may be similarly or differently configured as described with reference to the first opening 130. Moreover, the spout 140 may be configured as a bendable and/or extendible conduit that a user may manipulate into a desired orientation and/or length as described with reference to FIG, 5, below.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the lid 100 illustrating an interior volume 150 thereof, according to one or more embodiments. As illustrated, the lid 100 includes an interior surface 152 that surrounds and defines the interior volume 150 of the lid 100. As described below, the interior surface 152 may include various surface portions and sidewalls, which correspond with the exterior surface portions and sidewalls previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-2. Thus, the interior surface 152 configuration (and the interior volume 150 defined thereby) may depend on the assemblage of the peripheral sidewalls 122, the peripheral upper surface 124, the inner upper surface 126, and the sidewall 128. In some embodiments, the interior surface 152 of the lid 100 is arranged to permit stacking the lids 100, one upon another (i.e., within the interior volume 150 of another of the lids 100), thereby reducing space when storing in inventory, shipping, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the interior surface 152 includes a groove 154, which corresponds to the peripheral upper surface 124 and, where included, a width of the groove 154 may depend upon the spacing between the peripheral sidewalls 122 and the sidewalls 128. Here, the groove 154 is an annular channel that extends around a circumference of the interior volume 150. Also in the illustrated embodiment, the interior surface 152 includes an inner lower surface 156 that is off-set from the surface of the groove 154 and corresponds with the inner upper surface 126. In another non-illustrated example, the peripheral upper surface 124 and the inner upper surface 126 are not off-set relative to each other (i.e., they define a uniform upper surface), such that the surface of the groove 154 and the inner lower surface 156 are similarly not off-set and define a corresponding uniform underside. In even other non-illustrated embodiments, the surface of the groove 154 and the inner lower surface 156 are continuous with each other and not off-set from each other such that they define an interior domed surface as described above. In such non-illustrated embodiments, the uniform underside may include a channel formed into that uniform underside that protrudes upward from the peripheral upper surface 124 and/or the inner upper surface 126 towards the upper end 112; and the channel may extend along a diameter or a chord of the uniform underside, or the channel may even wrap around a circumference of the uniform underside or spiral circumferentially around the uniform underside.

The lid 100 also includes a straw or tube 160 through which the user may draw the beverage from the container 102 and then consume it. As mentioned, the straw 160 may be in fluid communication with the exterior of the container 102 or it may be closed, for example, with a perforated flap of material that a user may break to open the straw 160 such that the beverage may be drawn there-through. Here, the straw 160 is in fluid communication with the first opening 130 such that the user may draw fluid (contained within the container 102) upward through the straw 160 and outward from the first opening 130. Thus, the straw 160 may be attached to a region of the interior surface 152 that surrounds the first opening 130. In other non-illustrated embodiments, the lid 100 may include at least a second straw or tube connected to another opening, such that a pair of users may utilize the lid 100 to share a beverage without sharing germs. The lid 100 may be designed to not accommodate straws from outside sources so as to limit the number of straws that may be used with any given drink, reducing waste. Also, in embodiments of the lid 100 that include the spout 140, the straw 160 may extend into the spout 140 and be connected to an interior surface of the spout 140 at a region that surrounds the first opening 130 (or any of them). Here, for example, the straw 160 extends into the spout 140 and is integral therewith such that the straw 160 bends or rolls down from the opening 130 as a continuous piece; however, the straw 160 and the spout 140 may be separate components in other embodiments. In even other embodiments, the straw 160 may attach to a region of the interior surface 152 surrounding a base of the spout 140, such that the spout functions as a separate, distinct drinking tube that is connected to the straw 160.

The straw 160 may be stowed or secured within the interior volume 150 of the lid 100. This permits the lid 100 to be stacked with other lids 100 in an efficient and cost effective manner when not being utilized to draw fluid from the container 102. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the straw 160 includes a bottom end 162 and is held proximate to the interior surface 152 of the lid 100. Here, an indentation or groove 164 is formed on a portion of the interior surface 152 that corresponds with the peripheral sidewall 122, and the indentation or groove 162 is configured to receive the bottom end 162 of the straw 160. In other embodiments, the indentation or groove 164 is configured as an abutment extending from the interior surface 152 of the peripheral sidewall 122 secures the bottom end 162 of the straw 160 within the interior volume 150. In other embodiments, the bottom end 162 of the straw 160 is integral with the interior surface 152 and the connection of the bottom end 162 of the straw to the interior surface 152 is perforated, such that the end-user may selectively break the bottom end 162 from the interior surface 152 to thereby release the straw 160 from such stowed position. Optionally, an adhesive is utilized to secure the straw 160 within the interior volume 150. In even other embodiments, the straw 160 is formed from a resilient material that holds shape, and the straw 160 holds a desired orientation (e.g., an un-deployed or stowed orientation) solely by bending it in the desired orientation without need of supplemental securing means. In even other embodiments, there may be a hook to hold the straw, a non-toxic adhesive, or a dissolvable securing mechanism.

The user may also manipulate the straw 160 into a deployed or un-stowed orientation or position to access the beverage contained within the interior of the container 102. FIG. 4 illustrates the straw 160 in a deployed or un-stowed position, according to one or more embodiments. Alternatively, the user may leave the straw 160 in the stowed or un-deployed position and access the beverage contained within the interior of the container 102 via one or more other openings where included, for example, the access point 134 and/or a third opening configured with a mouth piece. In the illustrated embodiment, the straw 160 is a tube member that includes a joint 170 arranged above the bottom end 162 of the straw. Here, the joint 170 is arranged at an upper end of the straw and extends into the spout 140 such that the opening 130 feeds directly into the joint 170. Thus, the joint 170 may be arranged at the upper end of the straw opposite the bottom end 162. However, in other embodiments, the upper end of the straw 160 is configured as a tube member that extends into the spout 140, with the joint 140 being arranged there-below, such that the joint 170 interposes the upper end and the bottom end 162. Thus, the joint 170 may be arranged at various interior locations along the straw 160, for example, at a mid-point of the straw 160, or above or below the mid-point of the straw 160.

The joint 170 is flexible and configured to permit bending the bottom end 162 of the straw 160 relative to the remainder of the straw 160. The joint 170 may also be configured to permit stretching and compressing of the straw 160. In addition, the joint 170 may be configured to retain or hold the shape at which the upper portion is oriented with respect to the bottom end 162 after being manipulated by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the joint 170 is an accordion or bellows type element, however, other flexible structures may be utilized, such as a flexible, foldable or collapsible material, or the joint may be simply creased or folded.

The straw 160 may also be configured to “telescope.” In the illustrated example, the straw 160 includes telescoping portion extending from a bottom of the joint 170. Here, the telescoping portion includes a sleeve portion 180 oriented proximate to the upper end of the straw 160 and a telescoping shaft 182 oriented proximate to the bottom end 162 of the straw 160, where the telescoping shaft 182 is retractable within (or over) the sleeve portion 180. In some embodiments, a securing means is provided on either or both of the sleeve portion 180 and/or the telescoping shaft 182 to secure them relative to each other when in the extended configuration. For example, the sleeve portion 180 may include an annular groove 184 that receives a corresponding lip (obscured from view) of the telescoping shaft 182 when the former is fully extended. And in these embodiments, the telescoping shaft 182 may include two or more such corresponding lips at different axial locations such that the telescoping shaft 182 may be selectively locked into more than one extended orientations, thereby permitting the straw 160 to be selectively extended into two or more overall lengths. This may be beneficial when the lid 100 is utilized with the containers 102 having various depths. Also, the straw 160 may include one or more additional telescoping shafts that are configured to permit additional expansion and contraction of the straw 160. For example, the straw 160 may include a second telescoping shaft that is configured to “telescope” relative to the telescoping shaft 182, and, in such embodiments, the straw 160 may further include a third telescoping shaft that is configured to “telescope” relative to the second telescoping shaft, etc.

In addition, the straw 160 may include one or more additional telescoping shafts that are configured to permit additional expansion and contraction of the straw 160. For example, the straw 160 may include a second telescoping shaft that is configured to “telescope” relative to the telescoping shaft 182, and, in such embodiments, the straw 160 may further include a third telescoping shaft that is configured to “telescope” relative to the second telescoping shaft, and so on. Moreover, one or more of these additional telescoping shafts, for example, the sleeve portion 180 and/or the telescoping shaft 182, may include one or more flexible joints as described above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom end 162 of the straw 160 is tapered. In other embodiments, it may be rounded or have other geometries. In even other embodiments, the bottom end 162 is a cylindrical opening without special geometry. The spout 140 from which the user drinks the beverage may be similarly configured. For example, spout 140 may include a mouth piece element or be configured with a certain geometry, for example, a non-sharp geometry suitable for use by children or in situations where safety is paramount. In even other examples, a portion of the straw 160 may extend upward from the spout 140 and be configured with a mouth piece as described above.

As previously mentioned, the spout 140 may be configured with a joint and/or be configured to “telescope” as described above. FIG. 5 illustrates the spout 140 configured on the joint 170, according to one or more embodiments. Here, the joint 170 extends through the interior surface 152 of the lid 100, and includes an exterior portion 174 and an interior portion 176. The interior portion 176 of the joint 174 is arranged within the interior volume 150 and the portion of the straw 160 extending therefrom may be configured as described above; however, the straw 160 extending from the interior portion 176 may be configured as illustrated in FIG. 5, where the bottom end 162 of the straw 160 is configured as a sleeve that slides over (or within) the remainder of the straw 160. Also in these embodiments, the exterior portion 174 of the joint 170 may include a sleeve portion and a telescoping portion configured to extend and retract therefrom, as described above. The exterior portion 174 of the joint 170 extends upward from the lid 100 and may be manipulated by the end-user to permit beverage consumption from the container in a desirable orientation. Thus, the spout 140 may be extended and/or telescoped upward from the upper side 112 of the lid 100 such that the user may comfortably drink from the container 102 without having to place their face in close proximity to the lid 100 as may occur when drinking from the first opening 130 arranged on the peripheral upper surface 124 or the spout 140. This may be beneficial for post-surgical end-users that need to consume beverage from the container 102 with minimal body movement, In these embodiments, a tab may be provided on the spout 140 or on a portion of the exterior portion 174 of the joint 170 for the user to grip when manipulating the straw 160. However, in other embodiments, the joint 170 terminates within the spout 140, and a second joint (not illustrated) extends upward from the spout 140, and such second joint may be similarly configured as described with reference to the exterior portion 174 of the joint 170.

Therefore, the disclosed systems and methods are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the teachings of the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The systems and methods illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein. While compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.

The terms “upper” and “lower” are defined herein relative to a cup lid having a lower side that covers a cup containing a beverage and an upper side from which the user may drink a beverage. The term “upper” refers to the position of an element closer to the user and the term “lower” refers to the position of an element further away from the user. Moreover, the use of directional terms such as above, below, upper, lower, upward, downward, inward, left, right, and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward or upper direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure and the downward or lower direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.

Claims

1. A lid assembly, comprising: a lid that defines an interior volume, the lid including at least a first opening; anda straw in communication with the first opening and at least partially arrangeable within the interior volume, the straw including a joint and a telescoping portion extending from the joint.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the telescoping portion includes a sleeve and a first telescoping shaft that is retractable within the sleeve.

3. The lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the sleeve extends from the joint.

4. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the telescoping portion includes a second telescoping shaft that is retractable within the first telescoping shaft.

5. The lid assembly of claim 2, wherein a second joint is provided on the first telescoping shaft.

6. The lid assembly of claim 2, wherein a second joint is provided on the sleeve.

7. The lid assembly of claim 4, wherein a second joint is provided on the second telescoping shaft.

8. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the joint is at least partially arranged within the interior volume of the lid.

9. The lid assembly of claim 8, wherein the joint extends through the first opening of the lid and protrudes upward from an upper surface of the lid.

10. The lid assembly of claim 9, wherein a second opening is provided at an upper end of the joint, and the first opening of the lid is integrally connected around the joint of the straw.

11. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the first opening is provided in a spout protruding upward from the lid.

12. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the joint is at, least partially arranged within the interior volume of the lid and extends into an interior of the spout.

13. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the spout is integral with the joint.

14. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the joint extends upward from the spout.

15. The lid assembly of claim 11, wherein the joint extends through the first opening provided on the spout and protrudes upward therefrom.

16. The lid assembly of claim 15, wherein a second opening is provided at an upper end of the joint, and the first opening provided on the spout is integrally connected around the joint of the straw.

17. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a second opening.

18. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the first opening includes a flap defined by a series of perforations and the perforations are breakable to open the flap.

19. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein lid includes an access point having a flap defined by a series of perforations and the perforations are breakable to open the flap.

20. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the straw extends through the first opening of the lid and extends upward from an upper surface of the lid, wherein a portion of the straw extending upward from the upper surface of the lid is configured with a manipulatable portion, the manipulatable portion selected from the group consisting of a second joint and at least one telescoping portion, and combinations of the same.