Patent ID: 7748643

Claim:
A drinking assembly for use with a container lid and a container having a straw, the assembly having a proximal end, and a distal end remote from the proximal end, comprising: a first straw portion having a first straw, said first straw being at the proximal end of the drinking assembly for use in the mouth of a user, and said first straw portion having a distal end portion for removable engagement of the drinking assembly to the container lid; a housing connected to said distal end portion of said first straw portion, and being disposed in the container lid or the container distal of the removable engagement of the drinking assembly to the container lid, said housing defining therein a first cavity distal of said first straw portion, said first cavity frictionally removably receiving a valve seat therein; and a valve seat removably positioned in said first cavity of said housing, said valve seat having a pressure sensitive valve for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, wherein said valve seat has therein a lower portion that defines a valve cavity distal of said valve and for internally receiving and operably frictionally engaging the straw of the container, wherein said valve is a flexible membrane having a slit therein, said slit being normally closed and being openable when negative pressure is applied to said first straw portion and through it to said slit, and wherein said housing, said first cavity, said valve seat, said valve, and said valve cavity are disposed in the container lid or the container.