Abstract:
The invention provides a straw and beverage container combination wherein the straw has retention means such as a convoluted portion adjacent one end that resists removal of the straw from the central aperture of the container lid when a lid is attached to the container. The means also serve to maintain the straw inside the container in an upright position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/424,323 filed Apr. 28, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a beverage container having a lid and a straw and more particularly to a beverage container having a lid with a self-retentive straw that resists removal when the lid is attached to the container.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is known in the prior art to combine the concept of a drinking container and a drinking straw into one convenient device. Many such devices provide a novelty straw that has adequate utility for withdrawing liquid from a container but also includes non-utility aspects for amusing the consumer. In many cases, the novelty straw is what entices consumers to purchase the drinking container at the point of sale. As such, many retailers provide open shelf displays to make their drinking containers, having novelty straws included therein, readily accessible whereby consumers can conveniently select the containers they prefer. However, many retailers have suffered losses due to theft of the novelty straws from the containers thus requiring the purchase of additional straws or possibly the container and straw combination if they are not sold separately. Accordingly, a need exists for a combination beverage container and straw whereby a retaining means is provided that prevents the straw from being easily removed from the container.  
         [0004]     The present invention provides a beverage container and straw device wherein a self-retentive straw is included that operates to resists removal of the straw from the container without the need of an additional retaining element. Additionally, the self-retentive straw is maintained within the container in an upright position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a straw and beverage container combination wherein the straw and container interact to prevent the straw from being easily removed from the container without the use of a separate retaining means. Additionally, the straw is maintained inside the container in an upright position.  
         [0006]     The straw and beverage container combination includes a container having an open end, a closed end and an interior cavity for receiving a beverage.  
         [0007]     A container lid having a central aperture operates to fasten to the open end of the container such that the liquid is substantially contained within the container other than passage through the central aperture.  
         [0008]     A self-retentive straw having retention means such as a convoluted portion adjacent one end is dimensioned to be slip fitted through the central aperture of the lid. In operation the straw is partially slip fitted through the aperture of the lid such that the convoluted portion is disposable into the interior cavity of the container while the second portion of the straw extends above the lid providing convenient access for sipping. After inserting the straw through the aperture in this manner, the lid is fastened to the container.  
         [0009]     Combined in this manner the straw is substantially retained within the container in an upright position due to its interaction with the container walls and the lid. However, the straw is removable for cleaning, or replacing with a new straw, by carefully manipulating the lid to pass over the convoluted portion when separated from the container.  
         [0010]     Additionally, the inventive straw may be used with conventional container and lid combinations wherein the container and lid are capable of receiving the straw in the manner described above. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the straw and beverage container combination including a cutaway view of the lid and container whereby the interior cavity of the container is exposed.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating, in solid and phantom line, the lid being received onto the convoluted portion as according to the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the straw and container combination in detail.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is illustrates a second embodiment of a container and straw as according to the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  having an alternate retention means. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     The present invention provides a straw and beverage container combination  10  wherein the straw is configured in a manner that prevents the straw from being removed from the container without first removing the lid from the container. Accordingly, the straw may be grasped as a means for carrying the container combination as well as providing a deterrent to a shoplifter seeking an easy score.  
         [0018]     The container combination  10  includes a container  12  that has an open end  18 , a closed end  19  and an interior cavity  20  defined by the interior walls of the container  12 . The container may take on a variety of shapes and sizes and thus the forms of the container shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  are merely illustrative.  
         [0019]     A lid  14  having a central aperture  26 , a top face  22  and a bottom face  24  operates to fasten to the open end  18  of the container  12 .  
         [0020]     A self-retentive straw  16  having a convoluted portion  28  adjacent one end is dimensioned for slip fit engagement through the central aperture  26  of the lid  14 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the convoluted portion  28  is configured to allow the lid  14  to be received onto an intermediate portion  32  of the straw such that a first portion of the straw  30  extends and stands substantially straight above the top face of the lid and the convoluted portion or second portion of the straw extends below the bottom face of the lid.  
         [0021]     Again referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the convoluted portions  28  and  30  are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. However, it is important that the straw  16  has at least one convoluted or curvilinear portion adjacent one end to satisfy the objective of the invention.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the at least one convoluted portion is serpentine or S-shaped in configuration such that the dimension (D) of the curved portions is greater than the radius (r) of the lid as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . This ensures that the lid may be easily slip fitted onto the straw.  
         [0023]     Operation of the invention will be better understood by referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the following description. First, the lid  14  is slip fitted onto the straw  16  through the central aperture  26  as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The lid may be slip fitted onto the straw over the first portion  30  if not limited by the convolutions configured in this portion, if any.  
         [0024]     Preferably the lid is received onto an intermediate portion  32  of the straw such that a portion of the straw extends below the bottom face  24  of the lid  14  and a portion extends above the top face  22  such that a portion of the straw  16  provides convenient access for sipping.  
         [0025]     Next, the convoluted portion  28  is disposed within the interior cavity  20  of the container  12  and the lid  14  is fastened to the open end  18  to seal the container.  
         [0026]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the convoluted portion  30  stands substantially straight upward from the top surface  22  of the lid  24  whereby the user does not have to manipulate the straw  16  into position before sipping. Additionally, the portion  30  may serve as a handle for holding and carrying the container combination  10 . The convoluted portion  28  extends substantially from the bottom face  24  of the lid  14  to the closed end  19  of the container  12 . Preferably, the convolution portion  28  is configured such that the distance (d) between opposing curved portions of the convolution  28  is substantially equivalent to the diameter of the closed end  19  of the container  12 .  
         [0027]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , it is apparent that if someone tries to remove the straw from the container by pulling on the portion  30  that extends above the lid  14  the convoluted portion  28  is dimensioned such that it is caused to abut against the interior walls and the lid  14  of the container  12  resulting in a retaining force that prevents the straw  16  from being easily removed from the container  12 . This straw and beverage container combination provides an intrinsic retaining means that prevents the straw from being easily removed from the container while on display in a store without first removing the lid.  
         [0028]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the straw  16  may have first  30  and second  28  convoluted portions wherein only the second convoluted portion  28  allows the lid  14  to be received onto the straw  16  through its central aperture  26 . The first convoluted portion  30  is configured such that the lid  14  could not be passed onto the straw through its central aperture  26  thus providing only one way for the lid to be received onto the straw.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the invention wherein the straw  116  and container  112  have different structural characteristics but are designed to function in the same manner as the above described embodiment. In this case, the container  112  is substantially in the form of a flower pot closable with lid  122 , while the straw  126  includes a substantially knotted portion  128  disposed at one end. The knotted portion  128  prevents the straw from being easily removed from cavity  120  without first removing the lid  112 . It should become apparent that other structural characteristics of the straw and container may be used to meet the objective of the present invention.  
         [0030]     In addition, the straw  116  includes a second end  132  in the form of a connector which attaches to second straw  110  configured in the form of a flower. Alternatively, the flower could be formed by extending the straw  116 .  
         [0031]     In the  FIG. 4  embodiment, the knotted portion  126  serves two functions. It prevents the straw  116  from being removed from the container  112  as long as lid  122  remains secured thereonto; and it holds straw  116  upright in the container both for display purposes, and so that the straw  116  may more easily be sipped from. Alternatively, the knotted portion  126  could be eliminated, and the straw  116  provided with a connector  128  ( FIG. 5 ) fastened to the bottom of the container  112  by glue or similar means, thus retaining the straw  116  in the container  112  and keeping it upright. Alternatively, the connector  128  could simply be fastened to the straw  116 , thus permitting some movement of the straw with the container, but still making it difficult to remove therefrom. Alternatively, the straw  116  could simply be glued to the lid  114 .  
         [0032]     Each of the straw, lid and container may all be made of plastic or other material known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, the straw  16  may be made of a transparent plastic material that includes a color tint as a decorative feature.  
         [0033]     From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple straw and container combination for use as a novelty item for drinking beverages. Although the invention has been described with respect to certain exemplifications and embodiments thereof, many modifications thereto may become apparent to one of skill in the art without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.