Patent ID: 7374061

Claim:
A sealing device for a drinking container or for a part configured for connection to a drinking container, said sealing device comprising: a plastically deformable material comprising a portion that is plastically deformed so as to form a bulge of thinned wall material that spans said portion of the plastically deformable material, said sealing device defining an opening for a drinking straw when the drinking straw is inserted through the bulge of thinned wall material; wherein the bulge of thinned wall material is folded upon itself to form a ring-shaped fold on the inside of the drinking container or the part configured for connection to the drinking container; wherein the fold encircles the plastically deformed and thinned wall material of the bulge, said bulge of thinned wall material forming an inner seal ring around the drinking straw when the bulge of thinned wall material is perforated by the drinking straw; wherein an outer seal ring of the fold is reinforced by attaching all or parts of the inner surfaces of the fold to each other.