Patent ID: 6443324
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B65D,Y10S

Abstract:
A beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw comprising:a can body having a circumscribing side wall, a bottom connected to said side wall and a top secured to the upper end of said side wall and serving to seal liquid contents within said can; wherein said top includes an upwardly extending hollow projection having a peripheral wall defining a cavity closed at its upper end, open at its lower end and defining a straw access orifice in said top, said projection having a scored perimeter; a drinking straw having an upper end and a lower end and an intermediate compressible accordion bellows spring section, said straw having a length greater than the height of said can when said spring section is relaxed, the upper end of said straw extending through the open lower end of the cavity into contact with the closed upper end of the cavity, said lower end of said straw extending into contact with said bottom such that said straw is held between the upper end of said cavity and said bottom by resilient compression of said bellows spring section; tab means for applying force to and detaching said peripheral wall from said top to permit said resilient accordion pleats to expand and project said straw upper end upwardly through said straw access orifice; and an outwardly extending retention bulge formed in said straw between the upper end and spring section of the straw, said bulge having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of said straw access orifice to prevent passage of said straw entirely out of said can and to facilitate longitudinal expansion of said straw.