Patent ID: 8231067

Claim:
A straw, comprising: a fluid tube including a upstanding continuous sidewall having an inner surface defining a fluid transfer path, an outer surface, a proximal end forming an outlet, and an opposing distal end forming an inlet; the outlet and the inlet allowing liquids to be drawn through the fluid transfer path from the distal end to the proximal end under suction pressure; an insert positioned in the fluid transfer path between the proximal and distal ends, comprising: a first annular fixture having a first upper end directed toward the outlet, an opposing first lower end directed toward the inlet, a first annular outer surface attached to the inner surface of the upstanding continuous sidewall, a first annular inner surface defining a first bore therethrough being concurrent with the fluid transfer path; a second annular fixture having a second upper end directed toward the outlet, an opposing second lower end directed toward the inlet, a second annular outer surface attached to the inner surface of the upstanding continuous sidewall, a second annular inner surface defining a second bore therethrough being concurrent with the fluid transfer path and with the first bore; a pill-receiving shelf in the fluid transfer path between the first bore and the second bore, the pill-receiving shelf captured by and between the first lower end of the first annular fixture and the second upper end of the second annular fixture and having ports formed therethrough which are sufficiently large enough to allow liquids to pass therethrough from the second bore of the second annular fixture to the first bore of the first annular fixture.