Patent Publication Number: US-6213339-B1

Title: Liquid container with a straw therein

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a liquid container with a straw provided therein so as to avoid the requirement of an external straw. The present invention also relates to a liquid container which facilitates the pouring of a liquid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, water and soft drinks, such as juice and milk, are stored in a plastic container which has a container body with an opening, and a cap for enclosing the opening. In some cases, the opening of the container is further sealed by a layer of paperboard, plastics and aluminum, or other metallic foil. The above container has several disadvantages. First, if the container is to be suitable for personal use, an external straw will be needed to be inserted into the container body, in order to suck the liquid from the container. It is not easy for a user to get a straw outdoors. Second, if there is no straw, a user has to directly drink the liquid by putting his/her mouth against the edge of the opening, which is inconvenient, particularly if the user is driving. Third, for a larger container, the opening of the container body will be large. Sudden pouring of the liquid into a glass cup makes the liquid splash out of the glass cup easily and may even turn the glass cup over. Fourth, since the layer of paperboard, plastics and aluminum or other metallic foil has to be torn off before drinking, the liquid therein is easily contaminated. If the container is accidentally turned over, the liquid therein will be spilled. 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in using a container which stores medicament preparation, such as a hemodialysis concentrate, a user has to tear off a layer of foil covering on the opening of the container and insert a tube therein which has an end further connecting to an adapter of a hemodialysis machine. In this way, the hemodialysis concentrate is easily contaminated by particulates or bacteria in the air. Further, while withdrawing the tube out of the container, some concentrate may drop on the user&#39;s skin or clothes, which may cause damages thereto. 
     Therefore, it is necessary to have a liquid container which is convenient for a user to suck the liquid therefrom without the requirement of an external straw or to smoothly pour the liquid into a glass cup. It is also necessary to provide with a liquid container, wherein the liquid will not be contaminated or accidentally contact with a user&#39;s skin or clothes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the above drawbacks, an objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid container with a straw therein, such that no external straw is required. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid container which has a straw therein for guiding the flow of liquid out of the container. By inserting an adapter into the straw, the liquid within the container can flow smoothly out of the container by means of the straw. 
     The other objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid container wherein the liquid therein will not be contaminated or contact with a user&#39;s skin or clothes. 
     To achieve the above objectives, the liquid container in accordance with the present invention, comprises: a cap; a container body having an opening, an inner bottom, a first sealing means sealing a cross section of the container body, the opening being enclosed by the cap so as to form a chamber between the cap and the first sealing means; a straw having a circumferential wall, an open end and a closed end, the open end contacting with the first sealing means, the closed end being attached to the inner bottom of the container body, a first bore further formed on the circumferential wall of the straw above the closed end; and a hollow adapter disposed within the chamber, the adapter having an end for piercing the first sealing means to engage and connect the open end of the straw, whereby liquid within the container body can flow from the first bore, through the straw, and out of the adapter. 
    
    
     The structure and objectives of-the present invention will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the conventional container for hemodialysis; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the liquid container in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the liquid container in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the adapter engages with the straw; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the liquid container in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the liquid container in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the adapter engages with the straw; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the liquid container in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the liquid container in accordance with the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the liquid container in accordance with the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a enlarged view of the liquid container in accordance with the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the adapter engages with the straw and the liquid flows out of the container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 2 shows a liquid container  1 , or a bottle  1 , in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The liquid container  1  comprises a cap  10 , a container body  11 , a straw  12  and an adapter  13 . 
     The container body  11  further has an opening  111 , an inner bottom  112 , a first sealing means  113 , and a second sealing means  114 . The first sealing means  113  seals a cross section of the container body  11  at a distance from the opening  111 . The second sealing means  114  covers the opening  111  which is then enclosed by the cap  10 . 
     Both the first sealing means  113  and the second sealing means  114  are preferably a layer of aluminum foil and can also be a layer of paperboard, plastics or other metallic foil. A chamber  115  is formed between the first sealing means  113  and the second sealing means  114 . 
     The straw  12  has a circumferential wall  121 , an open end  122  and a closed end  123 . The open end  122  contacts with the first sealing means  113  of the container body  11  with a mark (not shown) at the point of contact thereon. The closed end  123  is securely connected to the inner bottom  112  of the container body  11 , in which the connection is made by adhesion or may be achieved by integral formation. A first bore  124  is further formed on the circumferential wall  121  of the straw  12 , near and above the closed end  123 . 
     The adapter  13  is disposed within the chamber  115  formed between the first sealing means  113  and the second sealing means  114 . The adapter  13  comprises a hollow main tube  131  and a hollow vent tube  132 , which are interconnected in parallel by a horizontal solid link  133  which divides the main tube  131  into an upper portion  134  and a lower portion  135 . Since the vent tube  132  is used for balancing the pressure inside and outside the container  1 , to prevent the liquid flowing out from the vent tube  132 , the diameter and length of the vent tube  132  do not have to be large and are respectively smaller and shorter than those of the main tube  131 . The main tube  131  is used for engaging with the open end  122  of the straw  12  and thus the lower portion  135  has a sharp end for piercing the first sealing means  113 . The upper portion  134  of the main tube  131 , above the link  133 , is bellowed such that the upper portion  134  can be bent towards a user&#39;s mouth. The vent tube  132  is used for air flowing into the container body  11  such that the pressure inside and outside the container body  11  can be balanced and the liquid within the container body  11  will flow out of the container body  11  easier. Therefore, the vent tube  132  also has a sharp end for piercing the first sealing means  113 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in using the liquid container  1 , a user first takes off the cap  10  and breaks the second sealing means  114  with their fingers. Then, the main tube  131  of the adapter  13  pierces the first sealing means  113  at the marked position and engages with the open end  122  of the straw  12 . At the same time, the vent tube  132  of the adapter  13  also pierces the first sealing means  113 . Accordingly, by sucking the main tube  131 , the liquid within the container body  11  can flow from the first bore  124 , through the straw  12 , and out of the main tube  131 . 
     According to the current embodiment, no external straw is required and the liquid within the container  1  is not contaminated. Further, if the liquid container  1  with the liquid remaining therein is to be stored within a refrigerator, the user does not have to separate the adapter  13  from the straw  12 . He only needs to bend the upper portion  134  such that the adapter  13  can be stored within the chamber  115  for the cap  10  to close the opening  111 . 
     The liquid container  1  shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be modified by further forming a second bore  125  on the circumferential wall  121  of the straw  12 , near the open end  122 , and forming a bore  136  on the circumferential wall of the lower portion  135  of the main tube  131 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     In the current embodiment, if the bore  136  of the adapter  13  does not align with the second bore  125  of the straw  12 , the function of the liquid container  1  is the same as that in the first embodiment. Namely, the liquid can only be sucked out of the main tube  131 . Otherwise, by aligning the bore  136  of the adapter  13  with the second bore  125  of the straw  12 , instead of sucking the main tube  131 , the liquid within the container body  11  can automatically flow out by turning the container body  11  upside down. 
     Since the flow rate of the liquid flowing out of the container  1  through the main tube  131  is adjustable, even if the container  1  is turned upside down, the liquid flow does not splash out of a glass cup. In addition, the liquid within the container  1  is not easily contaminated. 
     FIG. 6 shows a liquid container  1 ′, or a jar  1 ′ in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. To simplify the description, the elements in the third preferred embodiment corresponding to those in the first preferred embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals with an apostrophe 
     In the current embodiment, the structure of the liquid container  1 ′ is substantially the same as that of the container  1  in the first preferred embodiment, except that only one sealing means  113 ′ is used to cover the opening  111 ′, which is then enclosed by a cap  10 ′. A chamber  115 ′ is formed between the cap  10 ′ and the sealing means  113 ′ for an adapter  13 ′ to be stored therein. Further, the open end  122 ′ of the straw  12 ′ contacts with the sealing means  113 ′ of the container body  11 ′ with a mark (not shown) at the point of contact thereon. 
     In using the liquid container  1 ′, a user first takes off the cap  10 ′. Then the main tube  131 ′ of the adapter  13 ′ pierces the sealing means  113 ′ at the marked position and engages with the open end  122 ′ of the straw  12 ′. At the same time, the vent tube  132 ′ of the adapter  13 ′ also pierces the sealing means  113 ′. Accordingly, the liquid within the container body  11 ′ can flow from the first bore  124 ′, through the straw  12 ′, and out of the adapter  13 ′. 
     FIG. 7 shows a liquid container  1 ″ in accordance with the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. To simplify the description, the elements in the fourth preferred embodiment corresponding to those in the first preferred embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals with a quotation mark (″). 
     In the current embodiment, the liquid container  1 ″ is primarily used for storing medicament preparation, such as hemodialysis concentrate. The structure of the liquid container  1 ″ is substantially the same as that of the container  1  in the first preferred embodiment, except that only one sealing means  113 ″ is used to seal a cross section of the container body  11 ″ and is below the opening  111 ″. The cap  10 ″ encloses the opening  111 ″ and a chamber  115 ″ is formed between the cap  10 ″ and the sealing means  113 ″ for an adapter  13 ″ to be stored therein. Further, the open end  122 ″ of the straw  12 ″ contacts with the sealing means  113 ″ of the container body  11 ″ with a mark (not shown) at the point of contact thereon. 
     In using the liquid container  1 ″, a user first takes off the cap  10 ″. Then, a sharp end of the main tube  131 ″ of the adapter  13 ″ pierces the sealing means  113 ″ at the marked position and engages with the open end  122 ″ of the straw  12 ″. The other end of the main tube  131 ″ connects with an adapter of a hemodialysis machine. At the same time, the vent tube  132 ″ of the adapter  13 ″ also pierces the sealing means  113 ″. Accordingly, the liquid within the container body  11 ″ can flow from the first bore  124 ″, through the straw  12 ″, and out of the main tube  131 ″. 
     In the current embodiment, the hemodialysis concentrate will not be contaminated by particulates or bacteria in the air. In addition, the concentrate will not drop on the user&#39;s skin or clothes to cause damages thereto. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show a liquid container  2  in accordance with the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The liquid container  2  comprises a cap  20 , a container body  21 , a first short straw  22 , a second short straw  23 , a main adapter  24  and a vent adapter  25 . The container body  21  has an opening  211 , an inner wall  212  and a sealing means  213 . The sealing means  213  seals a cross section of the container body  21  at a distance from the opening  211 . The sealing means  213  is preferably a layer of aluminum foil and can also be a layer of paperboard, plastics or other metallic foil. The cap  20  encloses the opening  211  and a chamber  215  is formed between the cap  20  and the sealing means  213 . 
     The first straw  22  has a circumferential wall  221 , an open end  222  and a closed end  223 . The circumferential wall  221  is attached to the inner wall  212  of the container body  21  and the open end  222  contacts with the sealing means  213  of the container body  21  with a first mark (not shown) at the point of contact thereon. A bore  224  is further formed on the circumferential wall  221  of the first straw  22 , preferably adjacent to the inner wall  212  of the container body  21 . 
     The second straw  23  has a circumferential wall  231 , a first open end  232  and a second open end  233 . The circumferential wall  231  is attached to the inner wall  212  of the container body  21 , substantially opposite to the first straw  22 . The first open end  232  of the second straw  23  contacts with the sealing means  213  of the container body  21  with a second mark (not shown) at the point of contact thereon. The diameter and length of the second straw  23  do not have to be large, and are respectively smaller and shorter than those of the first straw  22 . 
     The main adapter  24  and the vent adapter  25  are respectively a hollow tube disposed within the chamber  215 , with each having a sharp end for piercing the sealing means  213  and respectively engaging with the open end  222  of the first straw  22  and the first open end  232  of the second straw  23 . Similarly, the diameter and length of the vent adapter  25  do not have to be large, and are respectively smaller and shorter than those of the main adapter  24 . A bore  246  is formed on a circumferential wall of the main adapter  24 . In addition, a portion of the main adapter  24 , above the bore  246 , can be bellowed. 
     In using the liquid container  2 , a user first takes off the cap  20 . Then the main adapter  24  pierces the sealing means  213  at the first marked position and engages with the open end  222  of the first straw  22 . Further, the vent adapter  25  also pierces the sealing means  213  at the second marked position and engages with the first open end  232  of the second straw  23 . By laying down the container body  21  toward the side with the first straw  22  attached thereto, air can flow into the container body  21  through the second straw  23 , and the liquid within the container body  21  can flow from the bore  224  of the first straw  22  out of the main adapter  24 . 
     In the current embodiment, while laying down the container body  21  on its side with the first short straw  22  attached thereto, if the bore  246  of the main adapter  24  does not align with the bore  224  of the first straw  22 , the liquid within the container body  21  cannot flow out. By aligning the bore  246  of the main adapter  24  with the bore  224  of the first straw  22 , the liquid within the container body  21  can flow from the bore  224 . That is to say, the flow rate of the liquid can be adjusted by the alignment of the bore  224  on the first straw  22  with the bore  246  on the main adapter  24 . 
     Since the flow rate of the liquid flowing out of the container  2  through the main adapter  24  is adjustable, even if the container  2  is turned upside down, the liquid flow does not splash out of a glass cup. In addition, the liquid within the container  2  is not easily contaminated. 
     If the liquid container  2  with the liquid remaining therein is to be stored within a refrigerator, the user does not have to separate the main adapter  24  from the first straw  22 . He only needs to first misalign the bore  246  of the main adapter  24  with the bore  224  of the first straw  22 , and further bend the bellowed portion such that the main adapter  24  can be stored within the chamber  215  for the cap  20  to close the opening  211 . 
     The structures disclosed in the above embodiments are merely directly to the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention. However, the present invention may also have other modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the inner bottom  112  of the container body  11  can have a convex central portion with the remaining portion of the inner bottom  112  flat and the closed end  123  of the straw  12  is attached to the flat portion of the inner bottom  112 . In addition, the vent tube is not an essential element and the adapter can only comprise the main tube. Moreover, in the fifth embodiment, the second straw  23  can be L-shaped such that by laying the container body  21  on its side with the first straw  22  attached thereto, air can flow into the container body  21  through the second straw  23  and the liquid will not flow out therefrom. 
     The structure of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.