Straw Extends Through Removable Closure Patents (Class 220/709)
  • Patent number: 5509551
    Abstract: A beverage container dispensing cap assembly designed to replace the standard cap of a conventional beverage bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Robert C. Terrell, II
  • Patent number: 5501363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus which is easily convertible from a container such as a drinking cup, into a megaphone and thereafter back to a container. Ideally, the apparatus will include a team logo or other such representation of support thus making it especially suitable for use at sporting events and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Inventors: Robert E. Muller, Robert Tinari, David J. Canestrale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5497901
    Abstract: A structure for automated sticking out and retreating a pipette of a canteen includes a canteen, a canteen cover and a turning cover. A washer is threaded to the hollow, semi-spherical canteen. A bore penetrating the center of a tangent surface at the frond end of the canteen to allow both pipette base and fixing sleeve hold the pipette in position. At one side of the bore is a hollow snapping base with a ventilation outlet on it. In the turning cover which shreds onto the canteen cover, a snapping tab is provided and said pipette sticks out of a circular opening on the turning cover whereby the snapping tab pushes against the pipette to bend into the snapping base for closing up the ventilation outlet thus to achieve a complete leak-proof result and easy operation of the canteen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Cin-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 5484080
    Abstract: The base defines a liquid retaining reservoir and has a cover with a straw containing compartment which includes a tubular section and an enlarged section. A pivotally mounted lever has a portion accessible from the exterior of the container and an interior portion situated within the enlarged section of the straw containing compartment. In the retracted position of the straw, a lid seals the straw opening in the cover and the straw seals the liquid passage between the base reservoir and the tubular section. When pivoted, the lever moves the straw up the compartment to open the lid and protrude above the cover. The interior portion of the lever is bifurcated and moves through an arcuate path. The enlarged section is shaped to accommodate this arcuate travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventors: William Blasnik, Robert A. Coonradt
  • Patent number: 5465866
    Abstract: An automatically sealing cup composed generally of a cup body, a lid sealingly and releasably connected with the cup body, and an automatic sealing feature that includes, generally, a flexible tube communicating with the interior space of the cup body, an aperture in the lid through which the flexible tube sealingly passes, a pivotable handle associated with the lid wherein the position of the handle determines pinching or unpinching of the tube, and, consequently, sealed and open states, respectively, of the automatically sealing cup, and a biasing member associated with the lid which automatically biases the handle to provide the sealed state. To switch the automatically sealing cup to the open state in which liquid may be extracted therefrom through the tube, a user must continuously apply pressure to the handle, upon the cessation of which the automatically sealing cup automatically reverts to the sealed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Domenic Belcastro
  • Patent number: 5462194
    Abstract: A straw for a drinking container that is self-ventilating and self-sealing. The straw has two parts, a straw tip and a straw cover. The cover is retained on the straw tip and is movable by manual pressure between a closed position and an open position. The tip has a solid closed top and an open bottom to allow for a straw extension piece to extend into the container for drawing liquid up into the straw. The straw is self-sealing in that a hole in the cover through which a user would suck is sized to sealingly fit the end of the tip in the closed position. In addition, the cover and tip are sealed at the open bottom in the closed position and drainage holes in the tip allow any liquid that falls between the cover and the tip to flow back into the container. The tip has an abutment surface around its perimeter between holes that release liquid in the user's mouth and holes that allow for air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Candea Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Barnwell
  • Patent number: 5460286
    Abstract: A beverage cup lid is disclosed that comprises a circular closure panel, circumscribed by a side wall that terminates in a resilient, restricted diameter edge for capturing a brim of a beverage cup, and a frustro-conical skirt connected around the restricted diameter edge for increasing the hoop strength of the edge, and an extended diameter flange circumscribing the free edge of the skirt for further increasing the hoop strength of the restricted diameter edge such that the edge retains the brim with a force of at least 1 pound. The invention is particularly applicable to beverage cup lids formed by a plastic web machine that applies heat to only those areas that are deformed into structural components on the lid (such as the side wall, restricted diameter edge, and skirt), and which consequently results in some amount of wall thinning in the skirt, and hence some reduction in the hoop strength that the skirt gives to the restricted diameter edge that retains the cup brim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Rush, Thomas R. Toczek
  • Patent number: 5439125
    Abstract: Drinking devices include at least a drinking tube, a container lid and/or a container. The drinking tube includes a first free end located proximal a mouth of the container or the lid. At least a portion of the drinking tube, which is in or is intended to be placed in a container, is looped and is sufficiently flexible so as to tend to collapse under its own weight to open or close the individual loops and to permit at least a second free end of the drinking tube to drop to the lowest point within the container, regardless of the orientation of the container. A variety of specific configurations are disclosed for sports drink containers, infant nursing bottles, and drink bottles, cups, cans and other liquid containers for a variety of uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Harry S. Bloch
  • Patent number: 5419154
    Abstract: A beverage container is provided for use with a golf cart or the like having a support member. The container includes a body having a central beverage receiving cavity which extends from the closed bottom of the body to the open top end of the body. The container also includes means for receiving a freezable gel, the means being disposed within the beverage receiving cavity. A cap is provided to be releasably attached to the open top end of the body. The container further includes means for attaching the body to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: Mark P. Christoff
  • Patent number: 5415312
    Abstract: For a sturdy, reusable insulated cold beverage container, a closure including a lid and a stopper. The lid has two holes through it--a large drinking hole preferably with an ice guard secured in it and a smaller straw hole for receiving a drinking straw therein. The stopper has first and second end portions and a hinge formed between them and is formed as a separate piece from the lid. The first and second portions can be snap secured to the lid and over the drinking and straw holes, respectively, to individually seal the holes and thereby prevent the liquid contents of the container from spilling out the holes. The snap securing structures advantageously provide the only attachments of the stopper to the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Aladdin Synergetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan H. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5398838
    Abstract: A five compartment bin and accessories for use in separation of solid waste into recyclable and trash or to hold classified items of objects separately. The bin is divided into four top bin and a bottom compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Razak A. Dosunmu
  • Patent number: 5397023
    Abstract: A straw-insertable disposable lid is disclosed including a flexible disk-like body having a top surface for covering an opening of a cup, a plurality of intersecting lines of weakness each extending between two ends with the lines of weakness being located on the body and adapted to permit the insertion of a drinking straw through the top surface of the lid and a plurality of intersecting troughs for accommodating a respective one of the intersecting lines of weakness, with the troughs acting to stop the propagation of the tearing of the lines of weakness in a radially outward direction when a straw is inserted into the lid and for closing the plurality of intersecting lines of weakness in response to a fluid pressure force acting on an underside of the top surface of the lid should a filled cup incorporating such lid be inadvertently tilted over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventors: Thomas R. Toczek, Jonathan E. Rush, Michael T. Grolemund
  • Patent number: 5388712
    Abstract: A molded plastic container top has an upper surface from which extends an extensible dispensing tube with a liquid dispensing orifice. The orifice is closed by a removable closure in the form of a cap-like, hollow, open-ended body. A plug is formed integrally with the upper surface and extends upwardly therefrom. Extending upwardly from the plug is an integral, cylindrical, rod-like stopper extension. In the preferred embodiment, the plug is axially fluted, with three radial vanes, dimensioned to be received into the interior of the closure to retain the closure thereon with a frictional fit. The stopper extension is dimensioned to be received within dispensing orifice with a fluid-tight fit, so as to provide an alternative closure for the orifice when the dispensing tube is extended to bring the orifice into the proximity of the stopper extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Norvey, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey Brody
  • Patent number: 5381924
    Abstract: A reuseable non-spill drinking vessel is adapted to be used with a straw. The drinking vessel comprises an open-top container for holding a liquid and a removable lid which is configured to fit over the open-top container to effectively contain liquid therein. The lid has an orifice for receiving a straw and further the orifice has a sealing means which sealingly encompasses the straw in a liquid-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Carol A. Kiefel
    Inventor: Stanley A. Kiefel
  • Patent number: 5361935
    Abstract: A drinking cup for soft drinks and other beverages will resist spill of its content when it gets toppled over. The bottom end of a drinking straw is inserted into a built-in capping cavity at the bottom of the cup to keep the drink from flowing out through the straw, and a capping lid is disposed with corrugations, in a concentric pattern, to absorb the sudden force of the toppled over drink. Thus, there's better chance the lid will not break open and spill the cup's content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: Esteban N. Sagucio
  • Patent number: 5361934
    Abstract: A pop-up straw closure for liquid containers comprising a lid having an upper wall and circular side wall adapted to be threaded on the liquid container. The upper wall includes an upstanding hollow cylinder within which is held a flexible straw extending above and below the lid. A dome is rotatably secured to the lid and includes an elongated orifice. The upper end of the straw extends through the orifice when mated therewith and is folded by the dome when not mated with the orifice. When in use, a further straw is inserted in the lower section of the flexible straw such that it extends into the liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Lisco, Inc.
    Inventor: Meredith Spence, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5346081
    Abstract: A kettle includes a kettle body, a kettle cap screwed on the kettle body, a cover member covering the kettle cap, and a sucker inserted through a hole in the kettle cap. One end of the kettle cap includes a pivot support seat onto which a resilient member is connected. A pressing board is fit onto the cover member and is engaged with the resilient member. The other end of the pressing board is formed with an engaging hook section which fits into a depression formed in the kettle cap. The pressing board simultaneously presses and folds the sucker to close flow therethrough. A prying member is pivotally disposed in the kettle cap. The front edge of the prying member has a trigger section located under the engaging hook section, whereby by pressing the prying member, the trigger section is able to move and separate the hook section from an engaging recess to uplift the pressing board and cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Shing Hong Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bang H. Lin
  • Patent number: 5339982
    Abstract: A canteen for children whose structure incorporates a drinking straw that also functions as a stopper. The canteen includes a cylindrical container for the liquid to be dispensed and a removable cover which is screwed onto the rim of the container and is provided with an off-center coupler. One end of the coupler projects from the underside of the cover to form a lower nipple to which is attached a long dip tube that extends into the container. The other end of the coupler projects from the top side of the cover to form an upper nipple to which is attached a short, flexible mouth tube, which in combination with the dip tube functions as a drinking straw. Mounted over the cover is a dome having a slot therein, the dome being turnable with respect to the cover from a drinking mode position in which the mouth tube then projects upwardly through the slot, to a sealing mode position in which the mouth tube is bent under the dome and is pinched at the bend so that it now acts as a stopper to seal the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Genin Trudeau
    Inventor: Pierre Tardie
  • Patent number: 5337918
    Abstract: A water bottle includes a container, a cap mounted to an upper end of the container and has two holes therein, and a cover which is mounted around the cap and is rotatable between first and second positions. When the cover is in the first position, a straw mounted on the cap is hidden inside the cover while the holes are blocked. When the cover is in the second position, the straw is rotated to extend through an opening in the cover and the holes are open to allow continuous suction of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Ching-Chen Wang
  • Patent number: 5335812
    Abstract: A lid formed from plastics material and used as a closure for a drinking vessel is disclosed. The lid includes a main disc closure portion and a perimeter wall for mounting the lid on the open top end of the vessel. The lid is characterized by a rupturable depression in the main disc portion which receives and can be ruptured by one end of a drink through straw when pushed by hand. The depression has an annular sleeve like sidewall which terminates in a bottom end wall and which at their juncture provides a predetermined tear line. The depression also includes a formation in each portion of the side and bottom wall which extends from a first selected area of the sidewall in a direction towards another selected area in the sidewall which is spaced from the first area. The formation is engageable with the one end of the straw and when the straw is pushed into the depression, initiates rupture in the depression adjacent the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Lily Cups Inc.
    Inventor: Peter K. Boller
  • Patent number: 5328069
    Abstract: A beverage-container carrier and sipping assembly (10) that is designed to replace the cap on a conventional bottle-type beverage container (60) or to be directly attached to the circumferential edge (72) of a sport bottle (71) or an opened beverage can (70). The assembly (10) consists of a dome shaped cover (12, 14) that has attached a carrying strap (40) and a straw bore (20) on its upper surface that to accepts a drinking straw (22). The strap can be adjusted to an optimum length to hand carry the cover or to a length that allows the assembly (10) to be placed around a person's neck or shoulders. In either case, the strap (40) is attached to the containers cover (12, 14) at points that correspond to the container (60) shoulder or center-of-gravity. Therefore, the container is comfortably balanced and supported when held by the strap (40). A vertically or horizontally oriented handle (50, 54) can be added to the cover (12, 14) to increase the assembly utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Bahram Cohanfard
  • Patent number: 5325982
    Abstract: A single, integral cap and handle assembly adapted to be screwed on the narrow threaded open neck of a container. The cap has an access port in registry with the open neck and a resealable plug engageable in said port which plug is integrally formed with the cap. The handle is integral with the annular perimetric wall of the cap and is constructed and arranged to be positioned in close proximity to and parallel with the cylindrical body of the container. The handle has aligned openings for removably engaging and holding a straw which can be inserted through the open port of the cap and the neck of the bottle for drawing fluid therethrough from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: BCI of Chicago, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce R. Cobb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5320231
    Abstract: A multi-purpose plastic bottle for adult personal care use in containing and dispensing liquid is disclosed having a generally cylindrical shape and tubular segments that define an aperture through the bottle so that it may be easily grasped by an adult. The bottle has a screw-type cap whereby its opening may be selectively closed or opened for dispensing liquid from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Ansa Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry G. Iodice
  • Patent number: 5282541
    Abstract: A cap locking device for a water bottle comprising a bottle cap threadably closing an inner bottle, a push button and a nipple pusher, the bottle cap shaped like a shell head having a diametric opening, a tubular post in the opening for a nipple fixed on top of a drinking tube extending vertically in the inner bottle to fit therein, a push button pivotally fitted in one side portion of the opening and the liftable nipple pusher pivotally fitted in another side portion of the opening, the liftable nipple pusher pushed down to close the opening or raised up to open the opening by pushing the push button for the nipple exposed for sucking the content of the inner bottle contained in an outer bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Wen-Yen Chen
  • Patent number: 5265757
    Abstract: A container with a sucking tube comprising a tubular post vertically passing through a cap covered on a container body, an inverted T-shaped short tube fixed on the top of the tubular post, an soft upper sucking tube forcefully fitted around the inverted T-shaped tube and protruding upward through an opening in a protective cap covered on the cap for sucking, a nut-like member inserted through the upper sucking tube to screw with a thread in the tubular post to secure the upper sucking tube tightly in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Yienn Lih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua-Te Wu
  • Patent number: 5244113
    Abstract: A lid assembly for a container is provided having a pour opening and a drinking straw opening, each opening having a corresponding closure hingedly connected to the lid. Each closure employs a novel sealing plug that matingly engages the opening to seal the opening with both a friction seal and a snap-fit seal. The lid assembly also has an independently formed handle hingedly connected to the lid for carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Northwestern Bottle Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Stymiest
  • Patent number: 5242079
    Abstract: This cover for an opened beverage container has a pivoted valve in the withdrawal passage that is opened and closed according to the position of a tubular spout integral with the valve. The valve is supported by journals engaging bearings, and having a conical sealing portion. The spout has a ball-ended vent plug engageable with a vent opening in the cover, with the opening having a snap-in section and a dissociated more relaxed sealing section that continues to grip the ball end gently after repeated uses of the snap-in function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Three Co.
    Inventors: Ruth A. Stephens, Giovanni Pino
  • Patent number: 5234117
    Abstract: A straw adaptor for a baby bottle comprised of an elongate tube having a first end adapted for drinking from and a second end adapted to be submerged in a drinking liquid in a baby bottle is disclosed. The first end is curved and flattened and the second end is straight and extends nearly to the bottom of a baby bottle. The device further includes a flattened, disc-shaped collar nearer its first end, this collar being integral with the tube and oriented in perpendicular relation to its long axis. The collar has a concentric, upstanding ridge on its upper face which registers with the inside edge of a threaded, annular baby bottle cap. Alternative embodiments further include a unidirectional valve and a mouthpiece with convolutions for added flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventor: Dawn R. Garvin
  • Patent number: 5221016
    Abstract: A new insulated container, includes a hollow bottle being composed of pliable resilient material, and an insulation sleeve disposed over a portion of the outer surface of the bottle and being contracted frictionally thereabout. The sleeve has a mouth portion for receiving the bottle. The sleeve is composed of a pliable resilient material and includes an outer insulation sleeve portion and an inner pliable sleeve portion having a smooth inner surface to facilitate the insertion of the bottle into the sleeve. The method includes forming the two-part sleeve, and then inserting the bottle into the sleeve by first moving them together telescopically until a portion of the bottle disposed within the sleeve. Thereafter, the axially directed bottle-contracting impacts are applied abruptly to the bottle and the sleeve at opposite ends thereof to cause them to move axially relative to one another until the bottle is free to expand outwardly within the sleeve for gripping the bottle frictionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Inventor: David Karpal
  • Patent number: 5183183
    Abstract: A bottle sling formed of a flexible web is arranged in surrounding and engaging securement relative to a drinking container, with a support ring mounting a flexible strap adjacent an upper distal end of the container for support of the web of the container about an individual's torso portion. A modification of the invention includes an agitator pump arranged within the fluid coaxially of a drinking tube directed through the container and a flavored tablet dispenser in communication with an interior portion of the container for projecting flavoring tablets within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: Trinidad Hernandez
  • Patent number: 5180079
    Abstract: The combined cup of the present invention for soft drinks is constituted with an upper cup body and a lower cup body jointed together by a connecting body; and in the center of the connecting body, there is formed a nozzle sticking upward to be received into the nozzle sleeve formed on the upper cup body so as to keep both cup bodies firmly connected. The lower cup body is used to contain soft drink while the upper cup body is used to contain solid snacks. By applying such combined cup, the user can therefore enjoy the fun of eating and drinking with one hand holding the combined cup containing both snacks and drink and one hand free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Inventor: John Jeng
  • Patent number: 5147065
    Abstract: A disposable cup lid has intersecting straw insertion slits and rip-stop end cuts located transversely to and spaced from the ends of the straw insertion slits. In a preferred embodiment, the rip-stop end cuts are stamped lines of weakness or perforations, located perpendicularly to, and between about 1/32 and 1/16 inch beyond, the ends of the straw insertion slits. In another preferred embodiment, the end cuts are portions of the arc of a circle with a diameter slightly larger than the length of the straw insertion slits. The rip-stop end cuts, together with the straw insertion slits, define frangible reinforcing webs connecting wedge-shaped lid portions defined by the straw insertion slits. The webs strengthen the cup during shipment, during mounting on the cup, and during transportation of the filled cup prior to insertion of the straw. The webs are broken by insertion of the straw, resulting in a structure that effectively prevents the force of straw insertion from tearing the top surface of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Rush, Robert J. Linnander
  • Patent number: 5147057
    Abstract: A single service container having a closure cap with a recessed portion extending generally interiorly of said container. A tab is defined by a score line which, upon deflection of a an actuating member on the cap, substantially separates from the remainder of the recessed portion forming an opening in the cap. Once the tab has been separated, it is deflected through the opening and prevented from obstructing the opening by the actuating member being positioned in an interference relationship between the interior of the container, adjacent the opening, and the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis L. Marshall, Bora Tekkanat, Bryan L. McKinney
  • Patent number: 5109995
    Abstract: A beverage serving set comprising a drinking straw and beverage container combination wherein the drinking straw is L-shaped having long and short parts, and the container has a guiding structure for maintaining the long part vertical in the container and the short part parallel to the lid of the container. The long part is slidable and rotatable in the guiding structure which may be an adapter depending from the lid or a guiding tube attached to the container wall. A clip is provided on the lid to securely hold the short part of the straw for storage, and in addition a cap may be provided at the clip for capping the end of the short part of the straw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Inventor: Kwong L. Lou
  • Patent number: 5105975
    Abstract: A non-spill container for preventing the spilling of liquid therefrom when the container is tipped or turned upside down is disclosed. The non-spill container includes a bottom member and a top member that is releasably mounted on the bottom member, the bottom member including an annular wall portion and an annular flange portion. The top member that is joined to the bottom member also includes an upper annular wall portion to which an upper annular flange section is joined at the lowermost end thereof, the flanges of the top and bottom members being interconnected to releasably interlock the top and bottom members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Little Kids, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5085335
    Abstract: A drinking cup defining a cup-shaped base, including an upper terminal end securably mounting a lid thereon, wherein the lid includes a guide bore directed coaxially of the lid and aligned with an axis defined by the cup. A drinking tube is slidably directed through the bore, with the drinking tube including an abutment formed about the tube below the bore. A modification of the invention includes the abutment formed of an upper and lower cup-shaped disk member defining a cavity therebetween, wherein the cavity is arranged to receive a fluid soluble food component therewithin for enhancing flavor of fluid directed through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: Donna Carbaugh
  • Patent number: 5071019
    Abstract: A lid-straw assembly installable on an opened beverage can to facilitate the process of drinking the liquid beverage from the can. The lid includes a peripheral rim wall that snaps down around the upper edge of the can to mount the lid on the can; the rim wall seals against leakage across the can-lid interface. A hollow drinking straw extends through the lid so that a portion of the straw is exposed for drinking purposes; a second portion of the straw extends downwardly into the can for extraction of liquid from the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: David W. Sizemore