Straw drinking cup
First Claim
1. A straw drinking cup, comprising:
- a container;
a flexible straw having a first end and a second end; and
a straw positioning mechanism for positioning said flexible straw with respect to said container, said straw positioning mechanism being movable between a first operative position wherein said first end of said flexible straw is presented for sipping by a consumer and a second storage position, and wherein said straw positioning mechanism is constructed and arranged so that said first end of said flexible straw is upwardly oriented when in said second storage position, whereby spillage from said first end of said flexible straw is minimized.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A straw drinking cup includes a container and a flexible straw having a first, drinking, end and a second and that is disposed within the container. Advantageously, the cup includes a straw positioning mechanism that ensures that the first, drinking end of the flexible straw will remain upwardly oriented to minimize the possibility of leakage, regardless of whether the straw positioning mechanism is in the open position, the closed position, or in transit between the two positions. The straw drinking cup further includes an advantageous venting mechanism that includes a flexible membrane that permits air to flow into the container only when a sufficient pressure differential is developed across the membrane, such as will occur when a consumer is sucking on the flexible straw. The venting mechanism further operates so as to prevent leakage from the container, as sufficient pressure will not exist to draw any liquid across the flexible membrane.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A straw drinking cup, comprising:
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a container;
a flexible straw having a first end and a second end; and
a straw positioning mechanism for positioning said flexible straw with respect to said container, said straw positioning mechanism being movable between a first operative position wherein said first end of said flexible straw is presented for sipping by a consumer and a second storage position, and wherein said straw positioning mechanism is constructed and arranged so that said first end of said flexible straw is upwardly oriented when in said second storage position, whereby spillage from said first end of said flexible straw is minimized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for serving a beverage, comprising:
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a container;
a first passage in communication with said container for serving a beverage from said container;
a second, venting, passage that is in communication with said container; and
a flexible membrane interposed in said second passage, said flexible membrane being constructed and arranged to permit air to flow through said second passage when a predetermined pressure differential is developed across said flexible membrane. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A straw drinking cup, comprising:
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a container;
a flexible straw having a first end and a second end, said flexible straw having an integral valve defined therein; and
a straw positioning mechanism for positioning said flexible straw with respect to said container, said straw positioning mechanism being movable between a first operative position wherein said first end of said flexible straw is presented for sipping by a consumer and a second storage position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A flexible straw assembly, comprising:
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a flexible straw having a first end and a second end, an outer wall and an inner wall defining a lumen; and
an integral valve positioned within said flexible straw for impeding fluid flow through said lumen unless a pressure differential is applied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification