Beverage container

• US 5,353,983 A
• Filed: 01/03/1994
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miller, Ronald A.
• Original Assignee: Miller, Ronald A.
• Inventors: Miller, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/176,531
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 229/103.1, 215/1 A, 220/705, 220/710, 222/527, 222/530, 222/534, 222/536, 222/538, 222/541
• US Class Current: 229/103.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/42 Integral or attached nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/286 formed integrally with the container containers having integrally formed tubes with contents expelled by deforming the container B65D1/326

Abstract

A drinking tube extends through a receptacle having a top, a bottom, and at least one side. The upper portion of the tube is located outside the receptacle, within a recessed portion of the receptacle, and the end of the tube is sealed by a seal, such as break-away tab. A connector connects the seal and the upper end the tube to the receptacle. A secondary connector located along the upper portion of the tube also connects the upper end of the tube to the receptacle. In one embodiment, the connector is broken to allow the seal and the upper portion of the drinking tube to be moved away from the receptacle. The seal is then removed from the tube, to open the tube and the receptacle. In a second embodiment, the upper end of the tube is broken away from the seal to open the tube and to allow the upper end of the tube to be moved away from the receptacle.

Claims

1. A beverage container, comprising:

a receptacle for containing a beverage, the receptacle having an outer surface and an interior defined by a top, a bottom, and at least one side;

a drinking tube having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an opening at one end of the upper portion, and the lower portion being located within the interior of the receptacle and having an opening to the interior of the receptacle at a point near the bottom of the receptacle;

a seal attached across the opening of the upper portion of the drinking tube for sealing the drinking tube, wherein the seal can be broken to open the tube, providing access to the interior of the receptacle only through the tube; and

a connector for connecting the upper portion of the drinking tube to the outer surface of the receptacle, wherein the drinking tube can be broken away from the connector to allow the upper portion of the tube to be moved away from the receptacle.

2. A beverage container, as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the drinking tube is located outside the receptacle.

3. A beverage container, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a secondary connector for connecting the upper portion of the drinking tube to the outer surface of the receptacle.

4. A beverage container, as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a recessed portion and the upper portion of the drinking tube is located within the recessed portion when the upper portion of the drinking tube is connected to the receptacle.

5. A beverage container, as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacle, the drinking tube, and the seal are all formed integrally from the same material.

6. A beverage container, comprising:

a receptacle for containing a beverage, the receptacle having an outer surface and an interior defined by a top, a bottom, and at least one side;

a drinking tube having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion extending across the top of the receptacle and having an opening at one end of the upper portion, and the lower portion being located within the interior of the receptacle and having an opening to the interior of the receptacle at a point near the bottom of the receptacle;

a break-away tab attached across the opening of the upper portion of the drinking tube for sealing the drinking tube, wherein the tab can be broken off of the tube to open the tube, providing access to the interior of the receptacle only through the tube; and

a connector for connecting the break-away tab to the outer surface of the receptacle, wherein the break-away tab can be broken away from the connector to allow the upper portion of the tube and the break-away tab to be moved away from the receptacle.

7. A beverage container, as recited in claim 6, wherein the upper portion of the drinking tube is located outside the receptacle.

8. A beverage container, as recited in claim 6, further comprising a secondary connector for connecting the upper portion of the drinking tube to the outer surface of the receptacle.

10. A beverage container, as recited in claim 6, wherein the receptacle, the drinking tube, and the break-away tube are all formed integrally from the same material.

9. A beverage container, as recited in claim 9, wherein the receptacle has a recessed portion and the upper portion of the drinking tube is located within the recessed portion when the upper portion of the drinking tube is connected to the receptacle.

11. A beverage container, comprising:

a receptacle for containing a beverage, the receptacle having an outer surface and an interior defined by a top, a bottom, and at least one side;

a drinking tube having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an opening at one end of the upper portion, and the lower portion having an opening to the interior of the receptacle at a point near the bottom of the receptacle;

a seal attached across the opening of the upper portion of the drinking tube for sealing the drinking tube, wherein the seal can be broken to open the tube, providing access to the interior of the receptacle only through the tube; and

a connector for permanently connecting the seal to the outer surface of the receptacle, wherein the drinking tube can be broken away from the seal to allow the upper portion of the tube to be moved away from the seal as the seal remains connected to the receptacle.

12. A beverage container, as recited in claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the drinking tube is located outside the receptacle.

13. A beverage container, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a secondary connector for connecting the upper portion of the drinking tube to the outer surface of the receptacle.

14. A beverage container, as recited in claim 11, wherein the receptacle has a recessed portion and the upper portion of the drinking tube is located within the recessed portion when the upper portion of the drinking tube is connected to the receptacle.

15. A beverage container, as recited in claim 11, wherein the receptacle, the drinking tube, and the seal are all formed integrally from the same material.