US3542278A - Beverage container with straw - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Avery Verne Denver 928 Bradley Drive, Colma, California 94015 June 24, 1968 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 598,125, Nov. 30, 1966, abandoned.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Inventor Appl. No. Filed BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH STRAW 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 229/7, 222/523 Int. Cl 865d 83/00 Field of Search 215/1A; 229/7S; 220/901, 90.4; 222/523, 527, 529, 525, 522

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,545,480 7/1925 Boyle 229/7(S)UX 2,392,479 1/1946 Humbert 229/7(S)UX 2,805,809 9/1957 Pugh 229/7(S)UX 2,837,234 6/1958 Mainiere 229/7(S)UX 2,844,267 7/1958 Petriccione 215/1 (A)UX 3,074,610 1/1963 Pugh 229/7(S)UX 3,106,312 10/1963 Hitchcock 2l5/1(A)X 3,263,855 8/1966 Pugh 215/1(A)X 3,298,577 1/1967 Chlyston 229/7(S)X Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton An0rney-Limbach, Limbach & Sutton ABSTRACT: A built-in straw for a beverage container which is extracted upon opening a pull-tab closure. A single pulling motion on the pull-tab opens the container, withdraws the straw and unplugs the straw for use. The plug engages the straw with a universal coupling.

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ATTORNEYS for many years. Such I 1 BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITII STRA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a beverage container having a built-in straw. More particularly, the invention re lates to a pull-tab closure which, when removed, serves to open the container, extract the straw, and unplug the straw after extraction, all with a single motion.

Beverage containers with built-in straws have been known containers have the advantage of dispensing with the requirement for a supply of loose straws and yet provide a means ofliquid consumption which is enjoyable. especially for children. However, these containers have not met with commercial success because of the multiplicity of operations required withdrawing the beverage. By way of example, in Humbert U.S. Pat. 2,392,479 a beverage container is shown with builtin telescoping drinking tubes, but the purchaser of the container, desiring to drink the liquid contents thereof, must pull on a first cord to pull up a container seal; he then must draw out an extension tube by pulling on a second cord; and finally he must remove a cork from the end of the drinking tube. Other prior art patents require the use of prying instruments or fingernails to extract the straw. Since beverage containers of this type are often purchased or used by children, prying instruments and fingernails are not practical means of extracting straws.

Still other prior art containers require that the end of the built-in straw be uncovered and then grasped to be withdrawn. Not only is there danger that the end of the straw will be collapsed, but also gripping the straw with ones fingers at the point where the straw is to be contacted with the lips may be unsanitary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS The invention relates to the combination ofa beverage container with tube means therein adapted to be extended for withdrawing the beverage. A pull-tab is releasably engaged with the container and with the tube means so that when the pull-tab is removed from the container and moved away, the tube means is automatically extended.

. It is an object of the present invention to provide an im proved beverage container with a built-in straw.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage container which is easily and pleasurably opened by children to encourage consumption of the beverage within the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a built-in straw for a beverage container which may be extracted without premature unplugging or bending of the straw.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a built-in straw for a beverage container which may be unplugged by forces directed at various angles to the axis of the straw.

It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide a built-in straw in a beverage container which is safe and sanitary to use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage container which can be opened, a self-contained straw therein extracted and unplugged, all by a single motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an isometric view of a flat-top beverage container including thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a gable-top beverage container including the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail, in cross section of the built-in straw of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternative closure means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another alternative closure means.

in preparing the container for' .collar 31 retaining tube DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a beverage container 10, such as a half-pint milk carton or the like, having a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12 and side walls 13. In this embodiment, the top 11 has a square configuration and lies horizontally. The top 11 and bottom 12 are crimped together with side walls 13 in the manner widely used in the art.

Pull-tab 16, consisting of a tab portion 17 and a closure portion 18, fits over one corner of the container 10. Pull-tab 16 is secured to container 10, as by adhesive. As shown in FIG. I, closure portion 16 may be crimped or bent over the corner of top wall 11. When adhesively secured to the container 10, pull-tab 16 prevents liquid discharge from the container 10. Pull-tab l6 completely covers aperture 19 in top wall I1.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative container structure also in wide use. Container 21 consists of top walls 22, bottom wall 23 and side walls 24. Top walls 22 are formed into a gable. One of the top walls contains an aperture 26 which is covered by pull-tab 27, consisting of a tab portion 28 and a closure portion 29.

' FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container 10 in FIG. 1, showing aperture 19 in top wall 11. Within aperture 19 is a means 32. Tube means 32 may comprise paper or plastic tubing of more or less rigid construction. For example, flexible and bendable straw known as Flex- Straw is conveniently used, or, preferably, a length of plastic tubing. Tube means 32 fits snuggly within an opening 33 in collar 31. Where flexible tube means 32 is used, it may be coiled within closed container 10 and extended through opening 33 when the beverage is to be withdrawn. Opening 33 serves as a guideway when a coiled tube is extended.

Where more rigid tube means 32 is used, as in the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of lengths of tubing may be telescopically engaged. In the embodiment shown, two lengths of tubing 32 and 34 are telescopically engaged with tube 34 shown in phantom. A plurality of tube lengths telescopically engaged may be employed, with at least an inner tube length .34 and an outer tube length 32.

from the beverage container, it is to replace it. This is accomplished in the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 by air hole 37 located in the collar 31 which permits air to replace liquid withdrawn through opening 36 into tube means 32.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the gable-top container 21 shown in FIG. 2. Pull-tab 27, shown in FIG. 2, is removed in FIG. 4, revealing tube means 32 within aperture 26. Tube means 32 is mounted in opening 33 of collar 31, as in the first described embodiment. Although coiled flexible straw may be employed, it is preferred to have tube means 32 enclose a second tube 34, telescopically engaged within tube means 32.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail, in cross section, showing the preferred arrangement for opening and extracting the built-in straw of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows tube means 32 disposed vertically, perpendicular to top wall 11 and bottom wall 12. This corresponds to the flat-top container shown in FIG. 1, but it will be apparent that the same tube extracting means may be placed in aperture 26 of top wall 22 of the gable-top carton shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, or in an aperture in the top wall of a beverage container of any configuration.

Referring to FIG. 5, tube means 32 is mounted in collar 31 to pass through opening 33. Collar 31 has a recessed groove 38 around its circumference to engage top wall 11 at aperture 19. A bulbous extension or plug 39 is formed on the underside of pull-tab 16 to engage the inner tube 34 of the telescoping tube means to plug the straw. Tube 34 has a lip on its inner circumference to engage the bulbous extension 39, thereby plugging the opening and preventing beverage leakage. When pull-tab 16 is lifted, extension 39, engaged with lip 41 of tube 34, causes the inner tube 34 to be extended or use. When tube 34 is extended beyond collar 31, the relationship between bulbous plug 39 and the lip 41 on the end of tube 34 is such that a universal coupling is formed. This universal coupling permits tube 34 to continue to be extended along its axis even where forces are directedat angles to its axis. In this manner, the likelihood is reduced that premature disengagement of the bulbous plug 39 from lip 41 or bending of the straw will occur.

The length of tube means 34 and 32 is substantially the same as the inner height of container 10. Tube means 32 and 34 are teiescopicallyengaged to be movable within two limiting positions: fully telescoped and fully extended. In the fully telescoped position, the container may 16 adhered to top wall 11. The outer limit for the telescoping tubes 32 and 34 is provided by shoulders 42 and 43 formed in tubes 32 and 34, respectively. Shoulder 42 is at the upper end of tube 32, while shoulder 43 is at the lower end of tube 34 as be closed with pull-tab.

shown in FIG. 5. When tube 34 is extended from the con-' tainer, shoulder 43 abuts shoulder 42, and thereby limits further extension of tube 34 from the container..

Pull-tab 16 is adhesively secured to top wall 11. Where the container is constructed of waxed paperboard,-the adhesive may simply be additional wax securing pull-tab 16 to the top wall of the container. Where the container is constructed of plastic-coated paperboard, it is convenient to use the same plastic in adhering the pull-tab to the top wall. Additional adhesive may be necessary to secure pull- tab 16 or 27 to the top wall 1'1 or 22, depending on the carton construction, to be certain that there is no leakage of contents when the container is closed. Any one of a large number of adhesives known in the art have been found to be suitable.

In operation, pull-tab 16 is lifted from the top wall 11 of the container to break the adhesive bond, As the adhesive bond is broken, pull-tab is lifted further to extend the built-instraw. This is accomplished because ofthe engagement of plug 39 on pull-tab 16 with lip 41 on inner tube 34, thus extending tube 34 from the container. When tube 34 reaches its maximum limit, upon continued pulling motion, shoulder 43 abuts shoulder 42 and the tube is on pull-tab 16 separates plug 39 from lip 41 to unplug the built-in straw so that it may be used. As beverage is withdrawn from the container, air replaces it through air hole 37.

In practice, the operations of breaking the adhesive seal between pull-tab 16 and top wall 11, extending tube 34 within tube 32 and unplugging tube 34 by separating plug 39 from lip 41 are all accomplished in a single motion. In fact, children find it easy and pleasurable to open and extend the tube means, which encourages consumption of desired beverages, such as milk, by children.

FlG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment to the device as shown in FIG. 5 in connecting pull-tab 16 to inner tube 34. In this embodiment, tube 34 is engaged to pull-tab 16 by an L- shaped strap 44. One end of strap 44 adhesively engaged to pull-tab 16 and the other end is adhesively secured to the inner surface of tube 34. Upon full extension of tube 34 from compensated lay-attachment of strap 44 on the same side of tube 34 at which tab portion 17 is located in order to give maximum strength.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the relationship between the pull-tab and the inner tube in which the end of tube 34 is of reduced strength and can be broken off. As shown in H6. 7, tube 34 has perforations 46 which materially weaken the tube 34 at the point in which th'eyare olaced, but sufficient strength remains tl'l tube 34 to permit fu extension of the telescoping tube means. Tube 34 is secured to pull-tab 16 in any convenient fashion, as by adhesive. When the shoulders of tubes 32 and 34 abut at full extension, continued lifting force on pull-tab 16 causes the end of tube 34 to break off at perforations 46.

The invention provides an improved beverage container with straw which is adaptable to beverage containers of a variety of constructions. The straw comprises extencable tube means which may be extended in several ways as described above. The container may be opened, the tube means extended, and unplugged all by a single pull on the pull-tab. It is easy and safe to open and extend the straw even by children, and the improved container with straw is sanitary since it is not necessary to grasp the end of the tube means with the fingers. In one embodiment, extension of the tube means is accomplished by pulling force in any one of a variety of directions at angles to the axis of the tube means, without bending the straw or disconnecting the pull-tab from the tube.

lClaim:

1. In combination with a container for marketing beverages, the container having top and bottom and side walls, the top wall having an'aperture, tube means slidably engaged to the container and adapted to be extended for withdrawing beverage from the container, and a pull-tab releasably enfully extended. Continued pulling 4 tube 32, the end of strap 44 engaged to tube 34 is separated,

leaving tube 34 ready for withdrawal of beverage. This embodiment lacks the flexibility of the universal coupling shown in FIG. 5 between plug 39 and lip 41. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is less costly in manufacture and is suitable for many purposes since the primary pulling force is directed along the axis of tube means 32 and any angular forces are directed away from the side of pull-tab 16 where the tab portion 17 is located. Therefore, upon extension of tube 34, by pulling on tab portion 17, any angular forces will be gaged to both the container and one end of the tube means, said pull-tab comprising the sole means for closing the tube and sealing the aperture whereby when the pull-tab is removed from the container and moved away from the same, the tube means is automatically extended.

2. A container as in claim 1 wherein the tube means is mounted on the container and includes means to prevent separation of the tube means from the container.

3. A container as in claim 1 wherein the tube means consists of a plurality of telescoping members, including an inner telescoping member releasably engaged with the pull-tab and an outer telescoping member fixedly engaged to the container.

4. A container as in claim 3 wherein the telescoping members are movable within two limiting positions, one of which is fully telescoped and the other of which is extended for use.

5. A container as in claim 1 wherein the tube means is mounted on the container by a collar sealed to both the container and the tube means said collar including air inlet means to permit air to replace withdrawn liquid.

6. A container as in claim 1 wherein the pull-tab includes plug means formed therein adapted to engage the inner surface of the tube means to form a universal coupling.

7. In combination with a container for marketing beverages, the container having top and bottom and side walls, the top wall having an aperture, a collar within the aperture, telescoping tube means including an outer tube mounted in the collar and an inner tube adapted to be extended for withdrawal of the beverage from the container, and a pull-tab releasably attached to said top wall and covering said aperture to prevent discharge of beverage when attached, said pull-tab also ineluding a bulbous plug releasably engaging the inner tube.

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