Patent ID: 7516862

Claim:
An apparatus for serving a beverage, comprising: a container; a flexible straw in communication with said container for serving a beverage from said container, said flexible straw having a first end and a second end, an outer wall and an inner wall defining a lumen, an integral valve positioned within said flexible straw for impeding fluid flow through said lumen unless a pressure differential is applied thereto; a second, venting, passage that is in communication with said container, wherein said second, venting passage comprises a space that is defined between an outer surface of said flexible straw and said opening that is defined in the container with at least a portion of said outer surface engages with at least a portion of said container; and a flexible membrane interposed in said second passage, said flexible membrane being constructed and arranged to permit air to flow through said second passage when a predetermined pressure differential is developed across said flexible membrane; and wherein said flexible straw comprises a circumferentially enlarged plug portion for securely fitting within said opening that is defined in said container, and wherein said second, venting passage comprises at least one longitudinal groove that is defined in said outer surface of said plug portion.