Dual functioning straw and drink spout

Abstract

A beverage drinking apparatus has a container, a spout, a straw and a cap, and allows the user a choice of drinking method. When the user turns the cap in a first direction, the straw extends from spout for the user to drink from. When the user turns the cap in a second direction, the straw is removed from the container, allowing the user to drink from the spout.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a hollow container having an opening; a spout having a spout interior and a spout base, the spout base being attached to the opening of the hollow container; a collapsible straw attached to the spout interior; a cap removably attached to the spout; wherein the collapsible straw is removably secured to the inside of the cap; wherein turning the cap in a first direction separates the cap from the spout and extends the collapsible straw outwards from the spout; and wherein turning the cap in a second direction separates the spout interior from the spout, thus allowing the spout interior and the collapsible straw to be removed from the container with the cap.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a cap interior member, the cap interior member being adjacent to the spout interior when the cap is attached to the spout, wherein when the cap is turned in said first direction the cap interior rotates away from the spout interior, and when the cap is turned in said second direction the cap interior rotates with the spout interior.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the cap interior and the spout interior includes at least one mating element, the at least one mating element includes a curved ramp portion ending in a flat longitudinal portion, whereby the flat longitudinal portion of the cap interior is adjacent to the flat longitudinal portion of the spout interior when the cap is attached to the spout, thereby: when the cap is turned in said first direction the curved ramp portion of the cap interior engages the curved ramp portion of the spout interior, causing rotation of the cap interior away from the spout interior, and when the cap is turned in said second direction the flat longitudinal portion of the cap interior abuts against the flat longitudinal portion of the spout interior, causing rotation of the cap interior with the spout interior.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collapsible straw is removably attached to the cap with a food grade adhesive.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spout interior is removably connected to the spout with break-away tabs.

6. An apparatus for use with a hollow container having an opening, comprising: a spout having a spout base attached to the opening of the hollow container; a straw having: a collapsible top section; a rigid lower section extending into the container; and an attachment point in between the top section and the lower section, where the attachment point is connected to an interior of the spout; a cap removably attached to the spout, wherein the collapsible top section is removably secured to an inside of the cap, turning the cap in a first direction separates the cap from the spout and extends the collapsible top section of the straw outwards from the spout, and turning the cap in a second direction separates the attachment point of the straw from the interior of the spout, thereby allowing the straw to be removed from the container with the cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will be better understood having regard to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention, having two drinking options, dependent upon which way the cap is turned.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the straw, the spout and the cap of one embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3A shows an assembled view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 3B shows a partially exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 3A, with the cap removed.

(6) FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the spout and the spout interior.

(7) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the spout interior.

(8) FIG. 6 shows a lower perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

(10) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7, taken along the line B-B.

(11) FIG. 9 shows a side view of an embodiment of the cap.

(12) FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9, taken along the line A-A.

(13) FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the cap and the cap interior.

(14) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cap and cap interior.

(15) FIG. 13 shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of the spout, which mates with the cap of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(16) As can be seen in the Figures, an embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus 10, which includes a container 12, a spout 14 and a cap 20.

(17) When the cap 20 is turned in a first direction by the user, a straw 24 extends from the spout 14. The cap 20 can be removed from the end of the straw 24 and the user can then drink through the straw 24. This can be seen in FIG. 1.

(18) When the cap 20 is turned in a second direction, the straw 24 separates from the spout 14, and is removable from the container 12. The user can then drink from the container 12 through the spout 14. FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B show the cap 20 removed, along with the straw 24.

(19) This is accomplished in one embodiment by elements further described herein, and as can be seen in FIGS. 4-11.

(20) In one embodiment, spout 14 includes a spout base 16 and a spout interior 18. The spout interior 18 is removably connected to the spout base 16 by multiple break-away tabs 50. Similarly, cap 20 includes cap interior 22.

(21) As can be seen in FIGS. 4-6, spout interior 18 includes two curved sections 32, each having a flat longitudinal portion 34. The cap interior 22 has a similar profile but inverted, so that when they are combined, the flat longitudinal portions of the spout interior 18 abut against the flat longitudinal portions of the cap interior 22.

(22) It should be noted that although this embodiment, and FIGS. 5 and 6, shows the spout interior 18 and cap interior 22 having two curved sections 32, that it could be within the scope of the invention to have only one curved section 32, or to have more than two sections.

(23) Also seen in FIG. 2 is the straw 24, which includes an extendable top portion 26, a rigid lower portion 28, and an attachment point 30.

(24) In one embodiment, as assembled, the straw 26 is sealed at the attachment point 30 to the spout interior 18, preferably with a food safe adhesive. In one embodiment, the attachment point 30 is removably attached to the spout interior 18, and the straw 26 can be separated from the spout 14.

(25) In one embodiment, the top of the straw 26 is then also sealed to the inside of the cap 20, also preferably with food safe adhesive. The cap 20 is then pressed downwards, collapsing the top section of the straw 26 until the cap 20 is connected to the spout 14 by a tamper-seal ring 40. Tamper-seals are well known in the industry.

(26) In another embodiment, the top of the straw 26 is attached to the inside of the cap 20 by a pressure fitment, thus securing the straw to the cap, but allowing for them to be separated when necessary.

(27) This combination of the spout 14, the straw 24 and the cap 20 is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Once container 12 is filled, this combination is then inserted into the opening of container 12 and sealed thereto.

(28) One embodiment of the apparatus 10 will now be described, and makes reference to elements shown in FIGS. 4 to 11.

(29) As mentioned above, when the cap 20 is secured to the spout 14, the spout interior 18 will be mated with the cap interior 22 in such a way that flat longitudinal portions 34 from the spout interior will abut against the flat longitudinal portions of the cap interior.

(30) Thus, when the user turns the cap 20 in a first direction, the flat longitudinal portions 34 will move away from each other, and the curved sections 32 will engage each other. As the cap 20 rotates, curved sections 32 will force the cap upwards, separating the cap interior 22 away from the spout interior 18, which is held in place, connected to the spout base 16, by break-away tabs 50. and breaking the tamper-seal ring 40.

(31) Once the tamper-seal ring 40 is broken, the user will be able to pull on the cap 20, thus extending the top section 26 of the straw 24. This can be seen in option A of FIG. 1. After the straw 24 has extended, the cap 20 can be separated from the straw 24, and the user can drink the beverage freely using the straw 24.

(32) Instead, if the user were to turn the cap 20 in a second direction, the flat longitudinal portions 34 from the cap interior 22 will abut the flat longitudinal portions from the spout interior 18. As cap 20 continues to turn in the second direction, the break-away tabs 50 will break, thus severing the connection between the spout interior 18 and the spout base 16.

(33) Once the break-away tabs 50 are broken, the user will be able to pull cap 20 upwards. This will pull the spout interior 18, along with the entire straw 24, free from the spout base 16, and separated from container 12. This can be seen in option B of FIG. 1. Once separated, the user can drink the beverage freely using the spout 14.

(34) In one embodiment of the invention the spout base 16 and the cap 20 would include threading to allow for the cap to be re-attached to the spout 14. In this embodiment, if the user chose option B and wanted to drink from the spout, they would separate the straw 24 and cap 20 from the container and then separate the cap from the straw 24. At this point, should they want to re-attach the cap 20 to the spout 14 so that they can enjoy the remainder of their beverage at a later moment, they could do so. One example of such threading is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, but other embodiments that perform a similar function would fall under the scope of the invention.

(35) The embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems or methods having elements corresponding to elements of the techniques of this application. This written description may enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the techniques of this application. The intended scope of the techniques of this application thus includes other structures, systems or methods that do not differ from the techniques of this application as described herein, and further includes other structures, systems or methods with insubstantial differences from the techniques of this application as described herein.

(36) In differing embodiments, the apparatus may be made 100% of plant-based materials, in compliance with regulatory requirements. In other embodiments, the apparatus may be made from traditional plastics, within those jurisdictions that allow for such usage. These differing materials all fall within the scope of the present invention.

(37) Moreover, the previous detailed description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention described herein. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article a or an is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

(38) The above description provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

(39) As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term coupled to is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms coupled to and coupled with are used synonymously.

(40) It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms comprises and comprising should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification or claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.