Patent Application
20130126527
The present invention relates generally to the field of containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to beverage containers having a straw.
Beverage containers have utilized a variety of mechanisms to allow a user to drink the beverage contained therein. Typically, in order to provide the user with access to the contents of the container, an opening must be provided into the container. The user is then able to drink from the opening. However, the presence of the opening in the container also provides a possible pathway for the containers of the container to spill, such as when the beverage container is placed in a position where the opening is below the surface of the beverage container therein. For this reason, many beverage containers include a mechanism for closing the opening.
In addition to a general opening in a container, certain structures may be utilized to assist the user in the process of drinking from the container. One such structure is a straw, which provides a pathway connecting a user's mouth to the contents of the container. However, the presence of a straw may further exacerbate the problem of leakage from the container, as the straw provides a defined pathway out of the container.
One embodiment is directed to a container for liquid. The container comprises a liquid container body, a lid configured to engage the body, and a straw. The straw has an outer portion, an inner portion, and a flexible portion therebetween, each of the outer portion, inner portion, and flexible portion having a passageway therethrough. The outer portion has a first outer portion end and a second outer portion end, the second outer portion end securable with a first end of the flexible portion. The inner portion has an first inner portion end and a second inner portion end, the first inner portion end securable with a second end of the flexible portion. The flexible portion is engageable with the lid, wherein, the flexible portion passageway is sealed at a bend in the flexible portion.
One embodiment is directed to a closure mechanism comprising a lid configured to engage the body and a straw. The straw has an outer portion, an inner portion, and a flexible portion therebetween, each of the outer portion, inner portion, and flexible portion having a passageway therethrough. The outer portion has a first outer portion end and a second outer portion end, the second outer portion end securable with a first end of the flexible portion and the inner portion having an first inner portion end and a second inner portion end, the first inner portion end securable with a second end of the flexible portion. The flexible portion engageable with the lid, wherein, the flexible portion passageway is sealed at a bend in the flexible portion.
One embodiment is directed to straw having an outer portion, an inner portion, and a flexible portion therebetween, each of the outer portion, inner portion, and flexible portion having a passageway therethrough. The outer portion has a first outer portion end and a second outer portion end, the second outer portion end securable with a first end of the flexible portion and the inner portion having an first inner portion end and a second inner portion end, the first inner portion end securable with a second end of the flexible portion. The flexible portion engageable with the lid, wherein, the flexible portion passageway is sealed at a bend in the flexible portion.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure may be set forth from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the present disclosure and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without further limiting the scope of the present disclosure claimed.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure.
The inner portion 120 includes a first opening 121 and a second opening 122 with a passageway 123 defined therebetween. In one embodiment, the inner portion 120 has a generally cylindrical outer shape and the passageway 123 is generally cylindrical, such that the outer portion 110 is generally tube-like. In an alterative embodiment, the outer shape of the inner portion 120 may be other than cylindrical. In addition, the inner portion 120 may have an asymmetrical shape.
In one embodiment, the outer portion 110 is made of relatively—especially with regard to the flexible portion 130—rigid material, such as, but not limited to rigid plastic, metal, wood, or glass. The flexible portion 130 comprises a flexible material such as, but not limited to, flexible plastic or silicone. In one embodiment, the flexible portion 130 has a Shore D hardness of about 40. The inner portion 120 may be made of rigid material, in one embodiment, similar to that of the outer portion 110. In another embodiment, the inner portion 120 is made of a flexible material.
In one embodiment, the flexible portion 130 is adapted to receive at least a section 115 of the outer portion 110, such that the outer portion retained section 115 is disposed within the flexible portion 130 and the remaining section 114 of the outer portion 110 extends from the flexible portion 130. As best illustrated in
The lid 230 may further comprise a straw latch 250. The straw latch 250 is configured to receive a portion of the straw 100. In one embodiment, the straw latch 250 retains the outer portion 110 of the straw 100. For example, the outer portion 110 may snap-fit within a groove defining the straw latch 250. When the outer portion 110 of the straw 100 is engaged with the straw latch 250, the straw 100 is in the closed position. The straw 100 may be bent about the flexible portion 130 such that the upper portion is more than 90 degrees from vertical. In one embodiment, the upper portion 110 of the straw snap-fits within the straw latch 250, positioning the first end 111 of the outer portion 110 below a bend in the flexible portion 130. In other embodiments, the straw 100 may be held mechanically such as, but not limited to, by hook, latch, gate, adhesion, or friction fit.
When the drink straw 100 is in the up position, liquid may flow freely from the container through the straw 100. When the user is finished drinking, the drinking straw 100 is bent over and snapped into a retaining feature 250 on the lid 230. By doing this, the flexible portion 130 is crimped in half thus preventing liquid from flowing out the drinking straw end. In this way, a spill proof seal is created in the straw 100. After use, the straw 100 may be removed by the user and cleaned in the dishwasher. In one embodiment, the straw 100 is bent to about 105 degrees from vertical in the closed position. The closed position is such that the straw 100 is bent about the flexible portion sufficiently to be sealed. It should be appreciated that the angle with respect to vertical necessary to be sealed may vary within the scope of this invention dependent on the diameter of and materials comprising the flexible portion 130.
During use, the consumer will remove the lid 230 and fill the container 10 with liquid and reattach the lid 230. Then the liquid may be consumed through the straw 100. After drinking a portion of the liquid, the user can bend the straw 100 to the closed position and seal the container 10 to prevent spills. In this way, the container 10 is an easy to open and close using the straw 100.
The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
