Drinking container

• US 6,321,977 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Han-Pin Lee
• Original Assignee: Han-Pin Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Han-Pin
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/813,177
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 229/103.1, 220/705, 220/709, 220/710, 215/388, 239/24, 239/33
• US Class Current: 229/103.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/28 Cards, coupons, or drinking straws B65D5/4212, B65D23/14, B65D25/205, B65D33/004, B65D51/245, B65D75/54 take precedence

Abstract

An improved drinking container, comprising: a container body having: a side wall, which is recessed inward to form a vertical groove throughout the side wall, in which the vertical groove is defined by at least one inner face; a sealed hole formed on the inner face; and a straw assembly which is mounted in the vertical groove, the straw assembly including: a straw having a vertical section, a bent section and a joint at which the vertical section and bent section are joined together, the bent section having a free end for piercing the sealed hole inward; a block which has a through hole for the bent section of the straw being inserted therethrough, in which the block is secured in the vertical groove with the through hole being aligned with the sealed hole formed on the inner face of the container body; and a removable stop ring which is disposed on the straw to keep the free end of the bent section of the straw from the sealed hole; whereby the free end of the bent section inserted through the through hole of the block stays out of the sealed hole of the container body before drinking, and by removing the stop ring and moving the bent section inward, the free end of the bent section pierces the sealed hole to be ready for drinking.

Claims

1. An improved drinking container, comprising:

a container body having;

a side wall, which is recessed inward to form a vertical groove throughout the side wall, in which the vertical groove is defined by at least one inner wall;

a sealed hole formed on the inner wall; and

a straw assembly which is mounted in the vertical groove, the straw assembly including;

a straw having a vertical section, a bent section and a joint at which the vertical section and bent section are joined together, the bent section having a free end for piercing the sealed hole inward;

a block, which has a through hole for the bent section of the straw, being frictionally inserted therethrough, in which the block is secured in the vertical groove with the through hole being aligned with the sealed hole formed on the inner wall of the container body;

whereby the free end of the bent section inserted through the through hole of the block stays out of the sealed hole of the container body before drinking, and by moving the bent section inward, the free end of the bent section pierces the sealed hole to be ready for drinking.

2. The improved drinking container according to claim 1, further comprising a removable stop ring disposed on the bent section between the block and the joint of the straw.

3. The improved drinking container according to claim 2, wherein the stop ring has a notch formed thereon for fitting the stop ring onto the bent section, and the container further comprises a tab connected under the stop ring for a user to easily remove the stop ring from the bent section of the straw.

4. The improved drinking container according to claim 1, wherein the vertical section of the straw is telescopic.

5. The improved drinking container according to claim 1, wherein the vertical section of the straw is bellowed.

6. The improved drinking container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has three inner walls, in which one of the inner walls is substantially parallel with the side wall of the container body and is formed with the sealed hole.

7. The improved drinking container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has an inner wall which is arcuate.

8. The improved drinking container according to claim 4, wherein the container body is a rectangular parallelepiped which includes a top wall and a bottom wall and wherein the container further includes a covering sealing the vertical groove formed on the side wall of the container body so as to fully enclose the straw therein, in which the covering adjacent to the top wall and bottom wall are formed with opening weak lines so that a user may access the vertical section and bent section of the straw.

9. The improved drinking container according to claim 1, wherein the container is a gable-topped container.

10. An improved drinking container, comprising:

a container body having;

a surface; and

a sealed hole formed on the surface; and

a straw assembly including;

a block having a side wall recessed inward to form a vertical groove throughout the side wall and having a through hole formed at the vertical groove, in which the block is attached to the surface of the container body with the through hole thereof being aligned with the sealed hole formed on the surface of the container body; and

a straw having a vertical section, a bent section and a joint at which the vertical section and bent section are joined together, the bent section being frictionally inserted through the through hole of the block and having a free end for piercing the sealed hole inward;

whereby the free end of the bent section inserted through the through hole of the block stays out of the sealed hole of the container body before drinking, and by moving the bent section inward, the free end of the bent section pierces the sealed hole to be ready for drinking.

11. The improved drinking container according to claim 10, wherein the block further comprises a bottom wall to seal an end of the vertical groove.

12. The improved drinking container according to claim 10, wherein the vertical groove is defined by at least one inner wall, and the container further comprises a notch formed near the through hole where the inner wall and the side wall of the vertical groove intersect, as well as a removable insert which is inserted into the through hole and has a curved side for mating with the bent section of the straw to prevent the free end of the bent section from piercing the sealed hole before drinking.

13. The improved drinking container according to claim 10, further comprising at least one knob disposed on the inner wall for preventing the vertical section of the straw from leaving the vertical groove.

14. The improved drinking container according to claim 13, wherein the container further includes a covering sealing the vertical groove which is formed on the side wall of the block so as to fully enclose the straw therein.

15. A straw assembly for use with a drinking container having a surface, including:

a block having a side wall recessed inward to form a vertical groove throughout the side wall and having a through hole formed at the vertical groove, in which the block is attached to the surface of the container; and

a straw having a vertical section, a bent section and a joint at which the vertical section and bent section are joined together, the bent section being frictionally inserted through the through hole of the block and having a free end for piercing the surface of the container;

whereby the free end of the bent section inserted through the through hole of the block stays out of the container surface before drinking, and by moving the bent section inward, the free end of the bent section pierces the surface to be ready for drinking.

16. An improved drinking container, comprising:

a container body having a flexible surface; and

a straw assembly including;

a block at least partially enclosed by the surface of the container body with an opening thereof appearing outside the container body;

a straw partially received within the block from the opening thereof, in which the straw has a free end for piercing the surface of the container body;

whereby the free end of the straw inserted through the block stays out of the surface of the container body before drinking, and by moving the straw inward, the free end of the straw pierces the surface of the container body to be ready for drinking.

17. The improved drinking container according to claim 16, wherein the straw comprises a first section and an enlarged second section, the first section being fitted within the block, the free end being provided on a bottom end of the first section for piercing the surface of the container body, whereas the enlarged second section cannot pass through the block.

18. The improved drinking container according to claim 17, further comprising a removable stop ring which is disposed on the first section of the straw between the enlarged second section and the opening of the block.

19. The improved drinking container according to claim 18, wherein the stop ring has a notch formed thereon for fitting the stop ring onto the first section, and the container further comprises a tab connected under the stop ring for a user to easily remove the stop ring from the first section of the straw.

20. The improved drinking container according to claim 19, wherein the container further includes a covering sealing the straw assembly appearing outside the container body so as to fully enclose the straw therein.

21. An improved drinking container, comprising:

a container body having;

a side wall, which is recessed inward to form a vertical groove throughout the side wall, in which the vertical groove is defined by at least one inner wall; and

a straw assembly which is mounted in the vertical groove, the straw assembly including;

a straw having a vertical section, a bent section and a joint at which the vertical section and bent section are joined together, the bent section having a free end for piercing the sealed hole inward;

a block, which has a through hole for the bent section of the straw being frictionally inserted therethrough, in which the block is secured in the vertical groove with the through hole being sealed at a side facing the inner wall of the container body to form a sealed opening;

at least one stop plate which is attached to the block, the removable stop plate further defining a hole which contains the vertical section of the straw mounted within the vertical groove;

whereby the free end of the bent section inserted through the through hole of the block stays out of the sealed opening before drinking, and by moving the bent section inward, the free end of the bent section pierces the sealed opening to be ready for drinking.

22. The improved drinking container according to claim 21, wherein the container further includes a covering sealing the vertical groove formed on the side wall of the block so as to fully enclose the straw assembly therein.