Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to beverage containers that when opened allows deployment of a straw in communication with the beverage for immediate use. 
         [0003]    The beverage container of the present invention contains an internal flexible tube or straw having spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the beverage body port the stored energy within the straw flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the body port opening into an operative position. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, the present invention provides a straw having an exteriorly extending lip on the exteriorly extending top end of the straw which is diametrically greater than that of the contents beverage port or straw lip-retainer aperture so that the straw will not be displaced from its seat within the contents access port regardless on which side or end it is stored or while in use. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0006]    There are other beverage containers with attached or affixed straws or tubes. Prior art embodiments are exclusive of any beverage containers with self contained straws devices of which having a straw spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the contents access port the stored energy within the flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the access port opening into an operative position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0007]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container utilizing a self-deploying straw once the beverage container is opened. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw having spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body. 
         [0010]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the contents access port the stored energy within the flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the access port opening into an operative position. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an exteriorly extending lip on the exteriorly extending top end of the straw which is diametrically greater than that of the contents access port. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a straw that will not be displaced from its seat within the contents access port regardless on which side or end it is stored or while in use 
         [0013]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw that is cost effective and easy to manufacture. 
         [0014]    Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
         [0015]    The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a beverage container having an internal flexible straw with spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the contents access port the stored energy within the flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the access port opening into an operative position. Furthermore, the present invention provides an exteriorly extending lip on the exteriorly extending top end of the straw which is diametrically greater than that of the contents access port so that the straw will not be displaced from its seat within the contents access port regardless on which side or end it is stored or while in use. 
         [0016]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
         [0017]    The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0018]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  through  FIG. 6  illustrate the present invention using a rigid housing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates the constrained self-deploying straw. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 8  through  FIG. 10  illustrate the self-deploying straw in a pliable container. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  illustrates alternated straw flaired tip ends. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
       [0024]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the hybrid induction motor of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing Figures.
     10  beverage dispenser with self-deploying straw of the present invention     12  dispenser housing     14  dispenser housing interior     16  dispenser pull-tab     18  tensioned-deployable straw     20  rigid housing     22  pliable housing     23  pliable housing interior     24  top of  20       26  bottom of  20       28  front of  20       30  side of  20       32  back of  20       34  side of  20       36  beverage port     38  straw lip-retainer     40  aperture of  38       42  variant of  38       44  aperture of  42       46  pull-tab handle     48  pull-tab cover     50  pull-tab binding     52  binding of  18       54  straw-location indicator     56  flaired end of  18       58  end of  18       60  rigid portion of  18       62  flexible portion of  18       64  mitered end of  58       66  kinetic energy of  62       68  lines of flexure of  18       70  wall of  22       72  seam of  22       74  gusset of  22       76  variant of  62       78  variant of  56     
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0061]    The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is the present invention in use comprising containers having self-deploying straws. Shown is the present invention  10  comprising typical beverage containers  12 ,  22  having self-deploying straws  18  therein. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 11 , shown are examples of rigid  20  and pliable  22  containers having a self-deploying straw  18  illustrating the present invention  10 . Shown in  FIGS. 2 through 6  is one illustrated embodiment of the present invention  10  employed in dispenser housing  12  typically found in the single serving beverage industry forming rigid housing  20  comprising planar segments: top side  24 , bottom side  26  and walls  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  extending therebetween forming the dispenser body  12  encompassing body interior  14  having straw  18  comprising alternating segments of rigid portion  60  and flexible portion  62  with the flexible portions extended to an energy storage state wherein the flexible portions  62  having a flexible accordion-like structure that when extended resists compression which is used to advantage in raising that portion of the straw positioned within beverage port  36  when dispenser pull-tab  16  comprising handle  46  cover  48  and hinge  50  is moved to an open state whereby straw  18  deploys through port  36 . 
         [0064]    In an alternate method of producing a straw with stored energy consists of using a straw made of a memory retentive material whereby the accordion folds have a closed memory state and an open memory state so that when partially extended the remaining open memory state pressure forms potential energy  66 . When dispenser pull-tab  16  comprising handle  46  cover  48  and hinge  50  is moved to an open state. 
         [0065]    Also shown is straw  18  having end  58  with miter  64  which will prevent end  58  from completely engaging surface  26 . The present invention further provides that container  12  having port  36  which is sized ( FIG. 7 ) to allow the straw body sections  60 ,  62  to freely pass through further provides a straw lip-retainer  38 ,  42  positionable over body port  36  to restrict aperture  36  opening to lip-retainer  38 , 42  aperture  40 ,  44  which when used with a straw having flaired end  56  prevents straw  18  from completely entering body interior  14 . 
         [0066]    An aid is provided by the present invention in deploying straw  18  by providing adhesive element  52  between straw  18  and pull tab  16  so that the user imparts a force in deploying straw  18 . 
         [0067]    Also provided is indicator  54  positioned on the exterior housing corner of the straw location as a user informational aid. 
         [0068]    The present invention  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 6  an embodiment using rigid container  20  and is further illustrated in  FIGS. 8 through 10  using pliable housing  22  having walls  70  sealed along perimeter  72  having body interior  23  serving similar purpose as rigid container  20 . 
         [0069]    Further provided is pliable housing  22  having gusset  74  ( FIG. 10 ), which serves as base for straw end  58  when the self-deploying straw  18  is used in gusset pliable beverage containers  22 . 
         [0070]    Additionally provided ( FIG. 11 ) is flaired end  56  having various straw ends  78  serving similar purpose of having an exterior diameter greater than beverage port  32  or the additional straw lip-retainer  38 ,  42  respective aperture  40 ,  44 . 
         [0071]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0072]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Technology Category: 7