Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Combined with drinking tube
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-20
2001-11-27
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Combined with drinking tube
C220S705000, C220S710000, C239S024000, C239S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321977
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved drinking container. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drinking container having an improved straw assembly connected thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, a drinking container, such as a Tetra Pak™ container, has a hole on an upper surface of the container. The hole is sealed by a layer of material, for example, aluminum foil. In addition, an external straw is attached to a side wall of the container by an adhesive. By detaching the external straw from the side wall and inserting it into the hole, a user can suck the liquid out of the container.
The above method of drinking has several disadvantages. First, after long-term storage, a certain amount of dust will accumulate on the upper surface of the container. By inserting the straw into the hole, the dust will fall into the container, which in turn will contaminate the liquid therein and may affect the user's health.
Furthermore, since the straw is attached to the side wall of the container by an adhesive, during the transportation of the container or while stacking several containers on the shelf, the straw is easily separated from the container or broken by collision between containers.
In addition, sometimes the straw will fall into the container, which forces the user to cut the container or to pour the liquid into a cup to continue drinking.
Another drinking container relates to a gable-topped container without the provision of a straw. Before drinking the liquid therein, the container has to be opened, causing the liquid to splash out.
Moreover, even though an external straw can be used for the gable-topped container, the straw is easily lost in the container or only a small portion of the straw is left outside the opening of the container.
A further example relates to an easy-to-open metallic can with an easy-opening tab provided on the upper surface of the can. In order to drink the liquid therein, a user has to pull on the tab to reveal an opening, and then put his mouth on the opening. However, the mouth may be hurt accidentally by the edge around the opening. Instead, an external straw has to be inserted into the opening or the liquid has to be poured into a cup, which, however, is inconvenient for the user.
In addition, for a plastic or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) drinking container having a cap and a layer of material sealing an opening of the container, usually, the user has to screw off the cap, tear the sealing, and insert an external straw into the opening or pour the liquid directly into a cup. Again, it is inconvenient for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above drawbacks, an objective of the present invention is to provide an improved drinking container, wherein while using the straw assembly, the liquid within the container body is not easily contaminated.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved drinking container, wherein the straw assembly is attached to the outside of the container body and is not easily separated from the container body due to collision.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved drinking container, wherein the straw cannot fall into the container body.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an improved drinking container, wherein the straw assembly is applicable to a variety of containers.
To achieve the above objectives, the improved drinking container, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, comprises: 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 to 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 bent section between the block and the joint of 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.
In the second embodiment, the container further includes a covering that seals 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 for a user to access the vertical section and bent section of the straw.
The third and fourth embodiments of the present invention relate to 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.
The fifth embodiment of the present invention is directed to a further 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 end thereof appearing outside the container body; a straw partially received within the block from the end 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 and is ready for drinking.
The sixth embodiment of the present invention modifies the container disclosed in the first embodiment by replacing the stop ring with at least one stop plate which is attached to the block, the removable stop plate further defines 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 of the through hole before drinking, and by pressing down on the stop plate and moving the bent section inward, the free end of the bent section pierces the sealed opening and is ready for drinking.
The structure and objectives of the present invention will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4573631 (1986-03-01), Reeves
patent: 4858766 (1989-08-01), Tsai
patent: 5199633 (1993-04-01), Jantzen et al.
patent: 5353983 (1994-10-01), Miller
patent: 5506036 (1996-04-01), Bergerioux
patent: 5597089 (1997-01-01), Smith
patent: 6050444 (2000-04-01), Sugg
Elkins Gary E.
Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
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