Abstract:
A beverage container is provided which comprising a body having proximal and distal ends, and a cap or tab for sealing the container. The container also includes a straw having a top section and a bottom section movable between a first, locked position in which the straw is locked entirely within the container and the container is sealed, and a second, open position in which the straw extends from the container. A leading-maintaining element may be provided for maintaining the straw in said locked position while the container is sealed, and releasing the straw from said locked position while the container is open, and further for leading the straw within the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from Israeli Patent Application No. 163603 filed Aug. 18, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to beverage containers and more particularly, the invention relates to straw integration with a beverage container.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Every person who ever bought a bottle or a can with some kind of beverage, has felt a need for using a straw. Straws are well known devices and are well adapted to allow a person to drink a beverage from a can, bottle or any other beverage container. Straws are usually hollowed and cylindrical. In most cases the straws are manufactured from a plastic or other flexible material in order that a user will be able to change its form according to his need.  
         [0004]     Generally, the use of a straw makes the drinking process more comfortable and convenient. However, the consumer must obtain a straw separately from the bottle, can or any other beverage container since the beverage container is not integrated with the straw during the manufacturing process.  
         [0005]     In addition, usually, a consumer may not purchase only a single straw but a packet of straws. Moreover, the salesperson may not have a straw in his inventory, and therefore he will not be able to provide it to his consumer.  
         [0006]     When a consumer opens a bottle, can or other container and does not use a straw, he must place his mouth directly in contact with the open portion of said container. This is not sanitary. Moreover, the use of the straw protects consumers&#39; teeth since it prevents the beverage from coming into direct contact with the teeth of the consumer.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Therefore, there is a need for a combination or incorporation of a straw with a beverage container. The present invention fulfills this need and provides further related advantages, presenting a self-contained straw that is stored within the bottle, can or other beverage container until use, and readily presents itself to the user upon opening of a tab or cap.  
         [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pop-up straw which can be used with cans, bottles and any other beverage containers.  
         [0009]     It is still another object of the present invention to eliminate the need for buying or obtaining a straw separately from the beverage container.  
         [0010]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a beverage container integrated with a straw during the manufacturing process.  
         [0011]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a consumer with the convenience of readily having a straw within a bottle or can and eliminating the need of inserting the straw inside the container such as chocolate milk bag for example.  
         [0012]     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a consumer with a straw integrated inside a beverage container which can be opened and sealed an unlimited number of times.  
         [0013]     It is still a further object of the present invention to improve hygiene by providing a straw with a bottle, can or other beverage container.  
         [0014]     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a sanitary method for drinking beverage from a bottle, can or other container.  
         [0015]     It is still a further object of the present invention to protect the consumers&#39; teeth since the use of the straw prevents the beverage from coming into direct contact with the front teeth of the consumer.  
         [0016]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a beverage container with pop-up straw that is economical in cost for manufacturing.  
         [0017]     It is still a further object of the present invention to reduce paper and plastic pollution associated with the packaging of individually wrapped straws.  
         [0018]     Also, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage container with pop-up straw that is simple and easy to use.  
         [0019]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The present invention relates to straw incorporation with a beverage container.  
         [0021]     The beverage container may comprise: (a) a body having proximal and distal ends; (b) a cap or tab for sealing said container; (c) a straw having a top section and a bottom section, movable between a first, locked position in which the straw is locked entirely within the container and the container is sealed, and a second, open position in which the straw extends from the container; and (d) a leading-maintaining element for maintaining the straw in said locked position while the container is sealed, and releasing the straw from said locked position while the container is open, and further for leading the straw within the container.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the bottom section of the straw is situated close to the distal end of the container body.  
         [0023]     Preferably, the straw with the leading-maintaining element may be removed from the beverage container.  
         [0024]     Preferably, the leading-maintaining element is a funnel-like element having upper and lower sections.  
         [0025]     Preferably, the upper section of the funnel-like element comprises a plurality of slots.  
         [0026]     Preferably, the straw has a circular frame situated at straw bottom section.  
         [0027]     Preferably, the funnel-like element has a circular frame.  
         [0028]     Preferably, the funnel-like element has at least two teeth attached to the lower section of said funnel-like element.  
         [0029]     Preferably, the funnel-like element has at least two legs at its lower section.  
         [0030]     Preferably, the elastic element is situated close to the distal end of the container body.  
         [0031]     Preferably, the leading-maintaining element together with the straw and the elastic element may be removed from the beverage container.  
         [0032]     Preferably, the leading-maintaining element is a cylindrical caddy having a top edge and a bottom surface with a slot for fitting the straw.  
         [0033]     Preferably, the slot in the cylindrical caddy for fitting the straw may have a diameter that is greater or equal to the diameter of the straw.  
         [0034]     Preferably, the cylindrical caddy has plurality of slots between its top edge and bottom surface.  
         [0035]     Preferably, the top edge of the cylindrical caddy has at least two teeth for holding said caddy on the container proximal end.  
         [0036]     Preferably, the top edge of the cylindrical caddy has a circular extension.  
         [0037]     Preferably, the straw has an intermediate extendable section.  
         [0038]     Preferably, the intermediate extendable section of the straw has a plurality of inwardly oriented pleats.  
         [0039]     Preferably, the straw does not have to pop up from the container after the seal is removed, but can be pulled out of said container while the intermediate extendable section of said straw is extended.  
         [0040]     Optionally, the funnel-like element may be slanted relative to the container body and the lower section of said funnel-like element may be located near the edge of the container, formed by intersection of distal end of the container body and each wall of said container&#39;s body.  
         [0041]     Optionally, the intermediate extendable section of the straw provides a bend in said straw for orthogonally positioning straw top section relative to straw bottom section.  
         [0042]     Optionally, the container comprises an additional opening.  
         [0043]     Optionally, the additional opening may be sealed by means of cap or tab.  
         [0044]     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0045]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0046]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective cross-sectional view according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrating a sealed can with an integrated straw;  
         [0047]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective cross-sectional view according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the can shown in  FIG. 1A , wherein it has been opened and the straw has popped up;  
         [0048]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective illustration of a funnel-like element;  
         [0049]      FIG. 1D  is a perspective illustration of the straw;  
         [0050]      FIG. 2A  is a side cross-sectional view according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a sealed bottle with an integrated straw;  
         [0051]      FIG. 2B  is a side cross-sectional view according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the bottle shown in  FIG. 2A , wherein it has been opened and the straw has popped up;  
         [0052]      FIG. 2C  is a side cross-sectional view of a caddy according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0053]      FIG. 2D  and  FIG. 2E  are perspective illustrations of the caddy according to different variants;  
         [0054]      FIG. 2F  is a perspective illustration of the straw according to one embodiment;  
         [0055]      FIG. 2G  is a perspective illustration of the caddy according to still another variant of the present invention; and  
         [0056]      FIG. 2H  is a side cross-sectional view according to still another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a bottle with an additional opening. 
     
    
       [0057]     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0058]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective cross-sectional view according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrating a sealed can having a body  200  with a proximal end  201  and a distal end  202 , comprising an integrated straw  110 , having a top section  260  and a bottom section  280 . Said sealed can also comprises a funnel-like element  250  having an expanded upper section  230  and a lower section  240 . The funnel-like element comprises a straw  110 , an elastic element such as spring  130 , two teeth  140  for holding said elastic element close to the distal end  202  of the can and a circular frame  151 . The upper section  230  of the funnel-like element  250  also comprises plurality of slots  231  for air transfer from outside to the body  200  of the can. The funnel-like element  250  may be slanted relative to the can body  200 , and the lower section  240  of the funnel-like element  250  may be located near the edge of the container, formed by intersection of distal end  202  of the can body and wall  203  or  204  of the body of the can. The straw is in contact with the elastic element  130 , for example by means of a circular frame  150 . While the can is sealed by means of conventional tab  220 , the elastic element  130  is stretched, since the straw  110  pushes on it from the top. Moreover, until the tab  220  is opened the straw top section  260  is located entirely inside the body  200 . The straw  110  also may have an intermediate extendable section  270  with plurality of inwardly oriented pleats. This section  270  may be extended according to the consumer need as is desirable for his or her convenience. Also this section may be flexible allowing the user to bend the top section  260  of the straw  110  positioning it orthogonally relative to straw&#39;s bottom section  280 . The funnel-like element  250  together with the straw  110  and the elastic element  130  may be removed from the container  200  if the user decides not to use the straw.  
         [0059]     It should be noted that the present invention in all embodiments may be employed for any beverage container such as can, bottle, beverage bag, carton etc. All components of the present invention may be manufactured from plastic, ribbon, aluminum or any other materials which do not cause corrosion while in touch with liquid such as water. Moreover, all components in all embodiments may not be separated from the container depending on manufacturing process.  
         [0060]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective cross-sectional view according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the can shown in  FIG. 1A , wherein the can has been opened and the straw  110  has popped up. It can be seen that when a user opens the removable tab  220 , the straw elevates by means of the extending of elastic element  130 . Once the tab  220  is opened, the absence of pressure on the top of the elastic element causes the elastic element to relax and push the straw  110  upward. The top section  260  of the straw  110  pops-up outside the can allowing the user to drink the beverage from the can at his or her convenience. The circular frame  151 , which is attached to the funnel-like element  250 , prevents from the straw  110  and from the elastic element  130  to jump outside via the can opening  210  at the moment of the opening of tab  220 . When the tab  220  is removed, the circular frame  151  comes in contact with the circular frame  150 , which is attached to the straw  110 , and prevents from the straw to move upward to the can opening  210 . The length of the elastic element  130  and its expansion depends on the length desired for the straw  110  to protrude outside the container after the seal is opened. In order for the straw  110  to protrude more, the length of the elastic element  130  may be longer and the circular frame  151  of the funnel-like element  250  may be situated closer towards the opening  210 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective illustration of the funnel-like element. The funnel-like element  250  has an expanded essentially conical top section  230  and a bottom section  240 . Also a couple of teeth  140  are located near the bottom section of the funnel-like element for maintaining the straw with the elastic element such as spring as described in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . The bottom section  240  also comprises at least a couple of legs  141 . The funnel-like element  250  stands on these legs  141  while located inside the beverage can. The funnel-like element further comprises the circular frame  151 .  
         [0062]     It should be noted that such arrangement can be applied with some adaptation to any type of beverage container, such as bottle, beverage bag, carton etc.  
         [0063]      FIG. 1D  is a perspective illustration of the straw, having a top section  260  and a bottom section  280 . The straw may further comprise an intermediate extendable section  270 . The bottom section  280  of the straw  110  comprises the circular frame  150 .  
         [0064]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2A ; it is a side cross-sectional view according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a sealed bottle having a body  300  with a proximal end  301  and a distal end  302 , comprising an integrated straw  310  having a top section  390 , an intermediate extendable section  320  with plurality of inwardly oriented pleats, and a bottom section  395 . The bottle is sealed by means of a cap  350 . The bottle also comprises a cylindrical caddy  330  having a top edge  341  with at least two teeth  340  for holding the caddy at the bottle&#39;s proximal end  301 , and a bottom surface  342  with a slot  370  for fitting the straw  310 . The caddy  330  has a plurality of slots  343  for air transfer, which are located between the top edge  341  and the bottom surface  342 . The caddy  330  provides a counter force while pushing the straw  310  inside the container  300  in order to seal it. The bottom section  395  of the straw  310  must be placed close to the distal end  302  of the bottle body  300  in order to allow the user to sip entire the beverage filling bottle body. The caddy  330  together with the straw  310  may be removed from the container  300  if the user decides not to use the straw.  
         [0065]      FIG. 2B  is a side cross-sectional view according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the bottle shown in  FIG. 2A , wherein the cap  350  has been opened and the top section  390  of the straw  310  has popped up. The extendable section  320  with the plurality of inwardly oriented pleats behaves like an elastic element and therefore, in the absence of counter force from the sealed cap  350  at the top of the straw  310 , this section  320  extends and allows the user to drink from the bottle by means of the straw  310 .  
         [0066]      FIG. 2C  is a side cross-sectional view of the cylindrical caddy having a top edge  341  and a bottom surface  342  according to an embodiment of the invention. The caddy  330  is situated at the top of the bottle body  300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , by means of at least two teeth  340  and has a slot  370  at it bottom surface  342  for fitting the straw  310 . The caddy  330  comprises plurality of slots  343  for air transfer, which are located between the top edge  341  and the bottom surface  342 .  
         [0067]      FIG. 2D  and  FIG. 2E  are perspective illustrations of the cylindrical caddy  330  according to two different variants of the invention. In  FIG. 2D  at least two teeth  340  exist at the top edge  341  of the caddy  330 . In  FIG. 2E  the caddy  330  has a circular extension  380  at its top edge  341  for attachment of the caddy to the proximal end  301  of the bottle body  300 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 2F  is a perspective illustration of the straw  310  according to an embodiment of the invention. The straw  310  has an intermediate extendable section  320  with a plurality of inwardly oriented pleats for the extension of the straw at the time when the sealing cap  350  is open.  
         [0069]      FIG. 2G  is a perspective illustration of the cylindrical caddy  330  according to still another variant of the invention comprising plurality of slots  343  between the top edge  341  and the bottom surface  342 . The cylindrical caddy  330  maintains the straw  310 , and the intermediate extendable section  320  of the straw, having plurality of inwardly oriented pleats, is located close to the bottom surface  342  of the caddy  330 .  
         [0070]      FIG. 2H  is a side cross-sectional view according to still another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a bottle  400  with an additional opening  410 . This embodiment may comprise, for example, the funnel-like element with the straw and with the elastic element as described in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0071]     Further it should be noted that all components in all embodiments may be manufactured and assembled at the factory and shipped to the distribution points later. Also in all embodiments the top section of the straw does not have to pop up from the container after the seal is taken off, but it can be pulled out from the container while the extendable section of the straw is extended.  
         [0072]     While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.