Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to drinking vessels with attachable or integrated drinking straws and, more particularly, to an otherwise conventional drinking vessel having a button actuated, retractable straw. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   As is well-known in the art, drinking vessels such as cans, cups and, particularly, bottles are well known. As a particular example, bottled water is generally conventionally available in 16 or 20 ounce bottles, and carbonated beverages are also conventionally available in the same bottles or in 12 ounce cans. However, as purchased from retailers, such drinking vessels are unable to include an integrated drinking spout such as a straw and, as such, the fluid contained therein must either be consumed either by drinking directly from the nozzle of the vessel, placing of a separate straw within the beverage container, or by pouring the beverage out into a separate cup. 
   Numerous attempts have been made to correct for the foregoing. By way of example, the conventional method for attaching a straw to a beverage container has been by connecting a pivoting straw into the lid or cap of the container. 
   Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which allows a user to access an attached straw to a drinking vessel with one hand. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved drinking vessels with attachable or integrated drinking straws 
   It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved drinking vessels having a button actuated, retractable straw. 
   Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a drinking vessel with retractable drinking straw is provided as a bottle having a threaded upper spout that is threadingly engaged to a lid. The lid is formed of an upper cap covering a lower lid assembly. A retractable straw, supported on the lower lid assembly, extends in a vertical, linearly actuated manner by a lifting cam is pivotally supported by an axle and drives a spring returned transfer gear. The transfer gear functions similar to a rack-and-pinion arrangement with a series of linearly aligned, vertically extended gear detente along the outer surface of the straw. 
   An advantage of the present invention is that the straw can be linearly dispensed for drinking with the push of a button and using a simple, one-handed operation. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that when the straw is retracted, it seals against a straw housing such as to seal the bottle volume to form a spill proof opening. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drinking vessel with retractable straw according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a top perspective view of a lower lid assembly  20  for use with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   b  is an exploded perspective view of the lower lid assembly of  FIG. 3   a ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a retractable straw  26  for use with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the FIGURES. 
   1. Detailed Description of the FIGURES 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a drinking vessel with retractable drinking straw  10  is shown, according to the present invention, having an otherwise conventional beverage container, shown herein as a bottle  12  having a threaded upper spout  14  that is threadingly engaged to a lid  16 . The lid  16  is formed of an upper cap  18  covering a lower lid assembly  20 . The upper cap  18  is attached to and covers a housing base  21 , and forms an orifice  24  through which a retractable straw  26  extends in a vertical, linearly actuated manner. As shown best in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the straw  26  forms generally cylindrical tube, and circumscribing the outer cylindrical surface of the straw  26  are a series of linearly aligned rack gears  28  are formed and engage with the radially extended gears  22   b  of a lifting cam  22   a , as described in greater detail below. Although the tubular straw  26  forms an upper drinking orifice  40  at the end surface of the upper portion of the straw  26 , the end surface of the lower portion of the straw  26  terminates at a closed engagement nipple  42 . An entry orifice  44  is formed vertically along the outer cylindrical surface at the lower portion of the straw  26 . In this fashion, as suction is applied to the upper drinking orifice  40  fluid is drawn side-ways in from the entry orifice  44 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in conjunction with  FIG. 3   a  and  FIG. 3   b , the lower lid assembly  20  is shown and described in greater detail. The lifting cam  22   a  is pivotally supported by an axle  30  upon cam holding tabs  32  formed along the upper surface  34  of the housing base  21 . A linearly tracking actuation button  36  is guided perpendicular to the lifting cam  22   a , and drives a transfer gear  38  having series of linearly aligned, vertically extended gear detente  38   b . The transfer gear  38  is spring urged against the actuation button  36  by at least one return spring  50 . 
   Further, the straw  26  penetrates downward through the housing base  21  in order to form a fluid communication between the drinking orifice  40  and a lower straw housing  54 . The lower straw housing  54  retains the lower portion of the straw  26 , and is in fluid communication with a dip tube  52  that extends into the fluid volume of the bottle  12 . 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   By way of example, and not as a limitation, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the actuation button  36  extends outwardly through the upper cap  18  such as to allow it to be manually manipulated by pressing in against the upper cap  18 . The actuation button  36  horizontally tracks and drives a transfer gear  38  laterally. The vertically extended gear detente  38   b  thereby rotate the axle  30 , which pivots the lifting cam  22   a  in an upward direction. As the lifting cam  22   a  rotates upward, the radially extended gears  22   b  lift against the linearly aligned rack gears  28 , driving the straw  26  upward through the orifice  24 . While holding the button  36 , there is now fluid communication between the drinking orifice  40  and the bottle  12  such that the user can use the straw  26  to access the bottle contents. 
   Upon releasing the actuation button  36 , the spring  50  urges the transfer gear  38  backwards to reverse the process and automatically lower the straw  26 . 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Technology Category: 7