Patent Publication Number: US-2011062169-A1

Title: Arrangement for consuming drink from a beverage container

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The embodiments herein generally relate to a beverage container and particularly relate to the beverage containers with built-in straw. The embodiments herein more particularly relates to a pop-up straw arrangement for the beverage containers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Beverage containers or cans made out of aluminum are widely used in beverage industry. Conventionally a consumer drinks directly out of a can by removing the closing cap and placing his lips against the outer surface of the can. 
     The outer surface is usually contaminated with different kinds of dirt and pollution resulting from warehousing and handling during packaging, transport and storage of the cans. In the distribution networks, the cans are handled repeatedly by different people. For example, in the refrigerators at a supermarket, the cans are handled by a large number of people, typically to check them for coolness. Furthermore, the cans are often set down on the ground and are thus within the reach of animals or can come into contact with chemicals, detritus, grease, oils, etc. These inturn leads to serious health issues and diseases. Besides this, when a consumer, especially a child drinks directly from the can, it is not uncommon for him to injure his lips or tongue. Although a glass can be used to prevent this, the liquid will still contact an unhygienic surface. 
     Commonly, straws are in use for extracting beverages from the collapsible and disposable beverage containers. They are inserted into the container through the lid provided at a specific location near or at the top of the container to suck the liquid out of the container. However, these straws are supplied external to the container and are easily lost. 
     Hence there exists a need for a combination of beverage container and straw with an arrangement for poping up the straw from the container when the lid is opened. There also exists a need to prevent the straw from being easily removed from the container. 
     The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. 
     OBJECT OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The primary object of the embodiments herein is to provide a beverage container with an inbuilt straw arrangement to consume a drink. 
     Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a straw design for the beverage container which ensures a successful pop-up process when the lid is opened. 
     Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an arrangement for consuming drink with an option of using or not using the straw. 
     Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a cost-effective arrangement for consuming drink from the beverage container. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     The various embodiments herein provide an arrangement to consume a drink from a beverage container. A straw is inserted into the beverage container from a top and a lid of the beverage container is placed over a tip of the straw such that the straw gets compressed when the lid of the beverage container is sealed. The straw attains a spring shape thereby storing a mechanical energy when compressed inside the beverage container. When a consumer opens the lid using a tab provided on the lid of the beverage container, the straw pops out of the beverage container thereby enabling the consumer to drink the liquid without a direct contact with an outer surface of the beverage container. 
     According to one embodiment herein, the length of the straw is kept 1-2 inches bigger than the height of the beverage container such that the straw can be compressed into the beverage container. 
     According to one embodiment herein, the straw is arranged in the beverage container such that the tip of the straw is placed at the center of the lid. A stretcher plate provided at the bottom side of the lid is inserted into the tip of the straw to keep the straw in the center of the beverage container and to ensure the pop- up process. The stretcher plate inserted into the tip of the straw also acts as a rivet to connect the lid and the tab. 
     According to one embodiment herein, wherein a diameter of the straw is lesser than the diameter of a tab. 
     According to one embodiment herein, the pop-up straw arrangement is placed inside the beverage bottles for consumption of the liquid directly from the bottle. The straw is inserted into the beverage bottle and cap is sealed over the bottle opening. The height of the straw is more than the height of the bottle to compress the straw inside the bottle. The compression stores a mechanical energy in the straw. When the cap is opened by the consumer, the straw pops-out of the bottle releasing the stored mechanical energy. The diameter of the straw inside the bottle is kept smaller than the diameter of the bottle opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a beverage container with a pop-up straw arrangement, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of the lid of the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the beverage container showing the spring shaped arrangement of the straw inside the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the beverage container with the straw placed inside the beverage container and the lid is seamed to the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of the opened beverage container with straw popping out of the continer, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the beverage container showing the arrangement of the tab and the straw inside the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the tab detached from the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of the opened beverage bottle with the straw popped-out of the bottle, according to one embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of the beverage bottle with the straw placed inside the bottle and the cap seamed over the beverage bottle, according to one embodiment herein. 
     
    
    
     Although the specific features of the embodiments herein are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the embodiments herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments herein that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments herein. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     The various embodiments herein provide an arrangement to consume a drink from a beverage container. The arrangement comprises a straw inserted into the beverage container from a top and a lid of the beverage container is placed over the tip of the straw such that the straw gets compressed when the lid of the beverage container is sealed. The straw attains a spring shape thereby storing a mechanical energy when pressed inside the beverage container. When the consumer opens the lid with a help of a tab for drinking the beverage, the straw pops out of the beverage container. Thus the consumer consumes the drink without any direct contact with the beverage container or bottle. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an arrangement for consuming a drink from a beverage container with a lid in an open condition, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The arrangement comprises of a beverage container  2 , having a lid  1 , a tab  6 , a stretcher plate  5  and a straw  3  arranged inside the beverage container  2 . The stretcher plate  5  acts as a rivet to connect the tab  6  to the lid  1 . At the filling stage of the beverage into the beverage container before the lid  1  of the beverage container  2  is seamed to the container&#39;s body, the straw  3  is placed inside the container as shown in  FIG. 1 . The straw is 1-2 inches longer than the beverage container&#39;s height. The lid  1  is then placed on the straw tip  4  in a way that the stretched plate  5  is inserted inside the straw&#39;s tip  4 . The straw  3  is arranged such that when the lid  1  is pressed down and seamed to the beverage container  2 , the straw  3  gets compressed in the form of a spring inside the beverage container  2 . During the compression, the length of the straws  3  is decreased and the mechanical energy from pressing is stored in the spring shaped straw  3 . 
     When the consumer opens the beverage container  2 , the energy stored in the spring straw  3  is released and the length of the straw  3  is extended, causing the straw  3  to pop out of the beverage container  2 . The straw is then available for the consumer to utilize it for drinking the liquid. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of the lid showing the arrangement of the tab, the stretcher plate and the straw tip, according to one embodiment herein. The stretcher plate  5  is provided at the bottom side of the lid  1 . The lid  1  is placed on the straw tip  4  in such a way that, the stretcher plate  5  provided at the bottom side of the lid  1  gets inserted into the straw tip  4 . The stretcher plate  5  acts as a rivet to connect the lid  1  and the tab  6 . The tab  6  is provided on the lid  1  to open the portion of the beverage container  2  to enable the consumer to consume the drink. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the beverage container showing the arrangement of the straw inside the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. The straw  3  is placed inside the container as shown in  FIG. 3 , during the filling stage of the beverages, before the lid  1  of the beverage container  2  is being seamed to the container&#39;s body, the straw  3  attains the spring shape when compressed inside the beverage container  2 . The straw  3  gets compressed when the lid  1  of the beverage container  2  is seamed as the straw  3  has a length 1-2 inches more than the height of beverage container. The stretcher plate  5  inserted into the straw tip  4  aligns the straw  3  at the center of the beverage container  2  and guarantees the pop up process. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the beverage container with the straw placed inside the beverage container and the lid seamed to the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. The lid  1  of the beverage container  2  is seamed to the container&#39;s body with the straw  3  placed inside. The lid  1  is placed on the straw tip in a way that the stretcher plate  5  gets inserted inside the straw&#39;s tip  4 . The stretcher plate  5  also acts as a rivet to connect the lid  1  and the tab  6 . The tab  6  is provided on the lid  1  to open the portion of the beverage container  2  in order to consume the drink by the consumer. When the lid  1  is seamed to the beverage container  2  the straw  3  is compressed, since the length of the straw  3  is more than the height of the beverage container  2 . During the compression, the length of straw  3  is decreased and the mechanical energy from pressing is stored in the straw  3  and the straw  3  attains a conical spring shape as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of the beverage container with the opened tab and the popped-up straw, according to one embodiment herein. The lid  1  of the beverage container  2  is seamed to the body of the beverage container with the straw  3  placed inside the container. When the lid  1  is seamed to the beverage container  2 , the straw  3  is compressed, and the length of straw  3  is decreased and the mechanical energy from pressing is stored in the straw  3 . When the consumer wants to drink the beverage from the container  2 , he opens the tab  6  by bending the tab  7  outwards as shown in  FIG. 2  and the straw  3  pops out releasing the stored energy from the beverage container  2  through the opening provided on the lid  1 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the beverage container showing the arrangement of the tab and the straw inside the beverage container according to an embodiment herein. At the filling stage, the straw  3  is placed inside the container as shown in  FIG. 3  even before the lid  1  of the beverage container  2  is seamed to the body of the container. The straw  3  attains a spring shape when compressed inside the container  2 . The straw  3  gets compressed when the lid of the beverage container is seamed since the straw is 1-2 inches longer than the height of the beverage container. The stretcher plate  5  inserted into the straw tip  4  aligns the straw  3  at the center of the beverage container  2  to ensure the pop up process. The circular end  9  of the tab  6  holds the straw at the center of the beverage container  2 . Furthermore, when the lid  1  is scored as shown in  FIG. 6  in the manufacturing stage, the circle end of the tab  9 , which is the first part detached from the lid  1  after the tab  6  is pulled by the consumer, is provided with a diameter more than the straw&#39;s diameter. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the tab detached from the beverage container, according to one embodiment herein. The tab  6  is provided on the lid  1  of the beverage container  2  to open a small portion on the lid  1  to consume the drink. When the lid  1  is scored as shown in  FIG. 6  in the manufacturing stage, the circle end of the tab  9  holds the straw at the center of the beverage container  2 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of the beverage bottle with the straw popped-up, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The arrangement to consume a drink from a beverage bottle  12  comprises a straw  3  placed inside the beverage bottle  12  and cap  13  ( FIG. 9 ) to seal the beverage bottle  12 . At the filling stage, the straw  3  is placed inside the beverage bottle  12  as shown in  FIG. 8  even before the cap of the beverage bottle  12  is seamed to the body of the bottle. The straw is 1-2 inches longer than the height of the beverage bottle  12 . The bottom diameter of the straw  3  is smaller than the diameter of the opening  11  of the bottle  12  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of the beverage bottle with the straw placed inside and the cap seamed over the beverage bottle, according to one embodiment herein. At the filling stage, the straw  3  is placed inside the beverage bottle  12  as shown in  FIG. 9  even before the cap  13  of the beverage bottle  12  is seamed to body of the bottle. The straw  3  attains a spring shape when compressed inside the beverage bottle  12 . The straw  3  gets compressed when the cap  14  of the beverage container  12  is seamed since the straw  3  is 1-2 inches longer than the beverage bottle&#39;s height. The cap  14  is placed on the straw tip to align the straw  13  at the center of the beverage bottle  2  to ensure the pop up process. 
     The embodiments herein enable the user to consume the liquid from the beverage container without tearing off the tab completely (as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). The consumer can bend the tab and drink the liquid through the straw. The tab is attached to the container and a higher amount of aluminum can be obtained while recycling the container. Further, the consumer can also drink the liquid by the conventional way by tearing off the tab from the container, pressing the tip of the straw down and pushing the straw under the lid. 
     The embodiments herein prevent the contact between the lip of the consumers and the unhygienic cum dirty surface thereby reducing possible diseases. The length of the straw is adequate to consume the liquid completely. The consumer also has the options of using the straw or not. The arrangement does not require any significant changes in the current design of the beverage containers. The arrangement is feasible from economical, logical and manufacturing aspects as the implementation costs and the manufacturing costs are low in accordance with the material used for manufacturing the straw. The arrangement provides the flexibility for extending to other similar applications. 
     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept and therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
     Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.