Beverage Container With Self-Contained Drinking Straw

The present invention relates to beverage containers and, in particular, to a beverage container having a self-contained straw. Currently, beverage containers are manufactured, fitted, and sealed in a high-speed automated process. This process includes manufacturing a separate body for containing the fluid or beverage and a separate lid for sealing the open end of the body. During manufacture of the beverage container, a manufacturing operation known as "seaming" places the lid on a filled can body and seals its perimeter. At present, known seaming operations pass the lids horizontally across the top of the beverage containers at a vertical distance of only a few millimeters above the top edge of the beverage container. The seaming operation involves the use of very expensive high-speed machinery and tooling.

Various designs have been proposed in the patent art for placing a straw within a beverage can that becomes accessible to the user when the tab in the lid of the can is deflected into the interior to open the can. The vast majority of these designs can be categorized into two groups. The first group comprises designs wherein the straw is installed within the can so as to be prealigned with the tab opening. Thus, when the tab is opened, access to the straw is presented. The practical disadvantage with this approach is that the bodies and lids of the cans are randomly oriented during the seaming operation. Consequently, any design that requires prealignment of the straw with the opening in the lid is not readily adaptable to existing canning equipment.

The second group of designs generally involves the mounting or attachment in some manner of the straw to the underside of the lid such that when the can is opened, the end of the straw is drawn through or otherwise made accessible through the opening. These designs are also not readily adaptable to existing canning equipment due to the fact, as noted above, that commercial canning processes pass the lid within a few millimeters of the top of the can during the high-speed seaming operation. Consequently, any structure that is attached or otherwise appended to the underside of the lid will disrupt the seaming process.

A third approach disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,112; 5,080,247; and 4,930,652 which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describe various embodiments of a straw-dispensing mechanism that is disposed within the body of the container and operates to rotate the straw into alignment beneath the orifice of an opened beverage container. In particular, the designs described in these patents respond to the deflection of the closure tab into the body of the container to actuate or drive the rotating mechanism. While these designs remain technologically and commercially viable, other means, and in particular other forces, are available to align the straw with the orifice of an opened beverage container.

In this regard, the present invention proposes a beverage container containing a straw-dispensing mechanism that relies upon user manipulation of the container and the forces of gravity to bring the straw into alignment with the opening in the lid. In particular, with the beverage container according to the present invention, the user merely tilts the container, preferably prior to opening, to cause the mechanism within the container to bring the straw substantially into alignment with the tab. Once the container is opened, further minor manipulation of the container may be necessary to complete the alignment of the straw with the orifice.

Several embodiments of the present invention are disclosed. A first embodiment employs a swing arm that is rotatably mounted at one end to a central post located on a base member mounted at the bottom of the container. The straw is supported vertically at the outer radial end of the swing arm. Preferably, the swing arm is weighted so that when the container is tilted, the arm freely rotates in the direction the container is tilted, to bring the straw into alignment with the orifice. If the container is manipulated before it is opened, the container is preferably tilted toward the user with the tab in the 8 o'clock position. This serves to position the straw in a slightly misaligned position with respect to the tab in the lid. In this manner, the tab will not strike the straw when deflected into the interior of the container. After the container is opened, a final slight manipulation of the container serves to align the straw with the orifice in the lid. Preferably, a float is attached to the straw to elevate the straw through the orifice.

In a second embodiment, a substantially vertically oriented guide post is pivotally mounted at its lower end via a ball and socket joint to the center of a base member that is mounted at the bottom of the container. A straw is slidably positioned onto the guide post. A weighted positioning disk is attached to the straw adjacent its upper end so that when the container is tilted, gravitational forces acting on the disk cause the straw to tilt in a corresponding direction. The diameter of the weighted disk is sufficient to properly position the straw radially beneath the tab when the disk contacts the sidewall of the container. As before, a float secured to the straw serves to elevate the straw through the orifice in the lid.

A third embodiment is disclosed which is similar to the second embodiment except that the base member has been eliminated so that the straw assembly is freely disposed within the container. A weighted positioning disk is attached near the upper end of the straw and a float is secured adjacent the bottom end of the straw. Thus, the buoyant characteristics of the float cause the bottom of the straw to contact the lower side of the container at a first point and the weighted disk contacts the upper side of the container at a substantially radially opposite point. Tilting of the container thus causes the weighted disk to move along the interior wall of the container, enabling the user to manipulate the container to bring the straw into alignment with the orifice in a manner similar to that described above. As before, the diameter of the weighted disk is such that the straw is radially offset by the disk from the sidewall of the container by the same distance as the lid orifice.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the latter two embodiments of the present invention in particular are readily adaptable for use in other types of beverage containers having offset orifices, such as gable-top containers and rectangular or square beverage cartons commonly referred to as "aseptic" cartons in the trade.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage container with a self-contained straw-dispensing mechanism that is compatible for manufacture with existing canning equipment.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a beverage container with a self-contained straw-dispensing mechanism that is simple in design, utilizes a minimum of material, is inexpensive to manufacture, and requires relatively inexpensive equipment to assemble and insert into the containers.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive straw-dispensing mechanism that is readily adaptable for use in a wide variety of beverage containers having offset orifices, such as beverage cans, gable-top containers, and square or rectangular cartons.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which makes reference to the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway view of a beverage can containing a straw-dispensing mechanism in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the beverage can shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a beverage can containing a straw-dispensing mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an equivalent sectional view of the beverage can shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the position of the straw when the can is slightly tilted;

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of the beverage can shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the straw ascending through the orifice in the lid of the can;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a beverage can containing a straw-dispensing mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an equivalent sectional view of the beverage can as shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the position of the straw when the can is slightly tilted;

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway view of the beverage can as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrating the straw ascending through the orifice in the lid of the can;

FIG. 9 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention illustrating its application to a gable-top beverage container; and

FIG. 10 is a fifth embodiment of the present invention illustrating its application to a rectangular or "aseptic" beverage container.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of a beverage can according to the present invention is shown. The beverage can 10 comprises a conventional aluminum container having a cylindrical body 12 with a closed bottom 14 and a lid 16 that is joined by a seaming operation to the body 12 of the can. The lid includes an actuating member lever ring 18 pivotally secured to the lid 16 that is adapted when actuated to open an orifice 20 in the lid by deflecting a closure tab 22 into the interior of the can. The closure tab 22 is formed by score lines in the lid 16 which enable a controlled portion of the closure tab 22 to break free from the lid 16 when the lever ring 18 is actuated against the tab by the user. As the user lifts the ring 18 to its maximum extent, the closure tab 22 is typically designed via the score lines to deflect downwardly and toward one side of the orifice 20 to fully open the orifice and facilitate the free flow of liquid through the orifice.

The straw-dispensing mechanism according to the present invention includes a base member 24 having either two or three radially extending legs 26. The base member 24 is preferably made from a lightweight plastic material with the legs 26 being flexible and adapted to be compression-fit to the bottom 14 and/or sidewalls of the can body 12. Alternatively, the base member 24 may be adhered to the bottom 14 of the can by other means.

Projecting vertically upward from the central portion of the base 24 is a post 28 about which a swing arm 30 is rotatably connected. In particular, the swing arm 30 includes a collar portion 32 at one end that is adapted to fit onto the post 28 with sufficient clearance to enable the swing arm 30 to freely rotate about the post 28. Preferably, the collar portion 32 of the swing arm 30 and the post 28 are designed so that the collar portion 32 snaps onto the post 28 to prevent inadvertent separation of the two components. The outer radial end of the swing arm 30 has integrally formed thereon a vertically extending locating post 34 which is adapted to receive a straw 36. The radial length of the swing arm 30 from the collar portion 32 to the straw locating post 34 is such that when the swing arm 30 is rotated to a position in line with the orifice 20 in the lid of the can, the locating post 34 will be directly beneath the orifice 20.

A drinking straw 36 having a float member 38, preferably cellular foam, attached near its bottom end, is adapted to freely slide onto the locating post 34. The float 38 is designed to provide sufficient buoyant force (when liquid is present in the can) to cause the straw 36 to ascend through the orifice 20 in the can lid 16 when the straw is aligned with the orifice 20. It will be noted that the height of the locating post 34 is substantially greater than the vertical distance between the top of the straw 36 and the underside of the lid 16 to ensure that the straw ascends in a straight path up through the orifice 20. As best shown in FIG. 1, the locating post 34 is preferably formed with a cross-shaped cross-section to minimize the frictional interface between the locating post 34 and the straw 36 when the straw ascends through the orifice 20.

To align the straw 36 with the orifice 20 in the lid 16, the user momentarily tilts the can toward himself with the closure tab 22 aligned in approximately the 8 o'clock position, or angularly offset slightly from the user (the 6 o'clock position defining the direction toward the user). The tilting of the can toward the user causes the swing arm 30 to rotate under the force of gravity to the 6 o'clock position so that the straw 36 is slightly misaligned with the orifice 20. With the can preferably reoriented to its normal vertical position, the user then lifts the lever ring 18 to deflect the closure tab 22 into the interior of the can. With the orifice now opened, a further slight manipulation or tilting of the can in the direction of the orifice 20 serves to bring the straw 36 into alignment and thereby permit the straw to ascend through the orifice 20.

Note, when the can is initially tilted toward the user, it is preferred that the closure tab 22 be oriented in the 8 o'clock position rather than the 4 o'clock position. This is due to the fact that conventional beverage cans typically have closure tabs 22 that are designed to deflect downwardly and toward the left side of the orifice 20 (i.e., left-hinged closure tabs). Consequently, when the can is subsequently opened by the lifting of the lever ring 18, the closure tab 22 does not strike the straw 36 as it is deflected into the interior of the can, nor does it obstruct the final movement of the straw 36 to bring it into alignment with the orifice 20. Obviously, for beverage cans with right-hinged closure tabs, an initial 4 o'clock position would be preferred.

Optionally, of course, the user may elect to open the can first before the can is manipulated to bring the straw into alignment with the orifice. When this procedure is followed, the user tilts the opened can in the direction of the orifice 20 as though intending to dispense liquid from the can. The resulting rotation of the swing arm 30 will thus bring the straw 36 directly into alignment with the orifice 20. Obviously, when following this procedure, the user must be careful to avoid tilting the can too much so that liquid is not inadvertently dispensed from the can. However, this procedure can readily be accomplished without spillage given the typical level of liquid in a filled can.

In addition, the user may manipulate the can in other ways to cause the straw 36 to move into alignment with the orifice 20. For example, the user may impart a circular motion to the can to initiate a circular movement of the liquid within the can. Alternatively, the user may combine both circular and tilting motions and impart a slow "wobble" to the can to facilitate the desired rotational movement of the straw.

In order to facilitate the movement of the swing arm 30 in response to the relatively slight tilting of the case, the swing arm 30 is preferably weighted or localized weight is added to the outer radial end of the swing arm 30. The added weight enables the swing arm 30 to more quickly respond to the user manipulation of the can. The additional weight may also serve to enable the user to achieve the desired alignment with a smaller angle of tilt, thus facilitating proper manipulation of the can without spillage.

In addition, the central post 28 may be lengthened so that the swing arm 30 rotates about a horizontal plane that is closer to the middle of the can from a height standpoint. In such an embodiment an annular guide sleeve would be substituted for the straw locating post 34 at the outer radial end of the swing arm 30 to support the straw. With this alternative embodiment, the straw-manipulating mechanism will respond to smaller tilt angles, thus facilitating attainment of the desired alignment with less risk of spillage.

To prevent the float 38 from elevating the straw 36 during the can filling and seaming processes, and thus possibly interfering with these processes, a small amount of soluble adhesive, such as glucose or thixotropic gel, is preferably applied to temporarily bond the straw 36 to the locating post 34 and/or the swing arm 30. Accordingly, after the seaming operation is completed, the adhesive will gradually dissolve and thereby enable the straw 36 to float freely upward until it contacts the underside of the lid 16.

Alternatively, the straw-locating post 34 may be thermally expanded prior to placement of the straw 36 onto the post 34. The resulting slight thermal expansion of the post 34 creates a friction fit between the straw 36 and the post. After the filling and seaming processes are completed, the subsequent lowering of the temperature of the locating post 34 causes it to contract and thereby release its frictional engagement with the straw 36. Either of these alternative means for temporarily securing the vertical position of the straw 36 can, of course, be used with a swing arm 30 having a guide sleeve for supporting the straw instead of a support post 34.

In addition, it may be desirable to provide a stop member 40, which may comprise a simple annular ring having a pair of flexible arms, that is secured to the straw 36 near its upper end to limit the extent to which the straw is elevated by the float 38 through the orifice 20, but which may be readily overcome by the user simply by grasping the top of the straw and pulling the stop 40 through the orifice 20. The stop 40 would thus serve to ensure that the straw 36 does not inadvertently choke a user that opens the can and begins ingesting the liquid directly from the can in a conventional manner.

In this embodiment, as well as the other embodiments described herein, the straw 36 is preferably convoluted along most of its length so that it can be extended by the user to reach fully to the bottom of the can.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. Equivalent components to those shown in the previous embodiment are labeled with a "/". The straw-manipulating mechanism in this embodiment also includes a base member 24' similar to the base member 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with either two or three legs 26' adapted to engage the bottom 14 of the can 12. Located at the center of the base member 24' is a socket 28' that is adapted to receive an appropriately sized ball 42 that is formed at the bottom of the straw support post 34'. The ball end 42 of the support post 34' is thus adapted to be snapped into the socket 28' in the base 24' so that the support post 34' can freely pivot and rotate about the base socket 28'. The straw 36 is adapted to be slid onto the support post 34' and temporarily retained thereon as described above.

Attached to the upper portion of the straw 36 is a positioning disk 44 having a central aperture or bore 45 formed therein for frictionally receiving the straw 36. Once attached to the straw, the positioning disk 44 has associated therewith sufficient weight to cause the upper end of the straw to fall toward the sidewall of the can 12 when the can is tilted, as shown in FIG. 4. The diameter of the positioning disk 44 is sized so that when the disk contacts the sidewall of the can, the straw 36 is offset therefrom by an amount equal to the radial offset of the orifice 20 in the lid 16. This ensures proper radial alignment between the straw 36 and the orifice 20 when the straw and the orifice are angularly aligned.

Thus, to align the straw 36 with the orifice 20 in the lid 16, the user follows either of the procedures outlined above. In this embodiment, when the can is tilted, the gravitational force exerted on the positioning disk 44 causes the disk, together with the straw, to rotate freely along the sidewall of the can 12 about the ball and socket joint until the low point is reached (i.e., the direction of the tilt). When the straw is aligned with the orifice, the buoyancy of the float 38, which is sufficient to overcome the weight of the positioning disk 44, causes the top of the straw to ascend through the orifice 20 until the positioning disk 44 contacts the underside of the lid 16. In the preferred embodiment, the straw will initially ascend approximately 1-2 inches above the lid of the can.

At this point the user may elect to commence drinking through the straw, or withdraw the straw further from the can. In this embodiment, the positioning disk 44 may be formed with sufficient rigidity and the frictional interface between the straw 36 and the positioning disk may be sufficiently low to permit the straw to be pulled upwardly through the positioning disk as the positioning disk is held against the underside of the lid 16. As presently noted, the straw 36 is preferably convoluted along most of its length so that it can thereafter be extended by the user to reach fully to the bottom of the can.

Alternatively, the positioning disk 44 may be sized and designed with sufficient flexibility to enable the user to extract the positioning disk through the orifice 20 as the straw 36 is pulled out of the can. Once pulled through the orifice and while still positioned on the straw, the positioning disk 44 may optionally be configured to compressively fit into the orifice. The user may thereupon elect to position the disk 44 into the orifice 20 so that it is retained under slight compression along the edges of the orifice. Once positioned in this manner, the positioning disk 44 serves to stabilize the straw 36 during use and also substantially encloses the orifice 20 to prevent contaminants as well as insects from entering the can.

Turning now to FIGS. 6-8, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment the straw 36 has a float 38 attached near its lower end and a weighted positioning disk 44' attached near its upper end. When initially disposed in the can prior to the filling and seaming processes, the lower end of the straw 36 is preferably adhered temporarily adjacent to the bottom 14 of the can with a small amount of soluble adhesive 46, as described in the initial embodiment. Subsequently, after the filling and seaming processes are completed, the adhesive bond 46 will dissolve, enabling the straw 36 to float freely within the can. Due to the positioning of the float 38 beneath the disk 44' on the straw, the orientation of the straw 36 within the can will remain substantially as shown in FIG. 8 with the bottom end of the straw 36 contacting the sidewall of the can 12 at a first point and the positioning disk 44' contacting the sidewall of the can at a second substantially radially opposite point. As in the previous embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the diameter of the position disk 44' is selected so that the top of the straw is radially offset from the sidewall of the can by a distance corresponding to the radially offset position of the orifice 20 in the lid 16. In this manner, when the user manipulates the can to cause the disk 44' to move along the inside wall of the can, the straw 36 will rotate into alignment with the orifice 20. The buoyancy of the float 38 is sufficient to overcome the weight of the positioning disk 44' so that when brought into alignment with the orifice 20 the straw 36 will ascend through the orifice 20.

To bring the straw 36 into alignment with the orifice 20 in the lid, the user follows either of the same two procedures outlined above. As in the previous embodiment, once aligned with the orifice 20, the straw will elevate through the orifice until the positioning disk 44' contacts the underside of the lid 16. Thereupon, the options presented to the user are the same as those described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-5.

Referring to FIG. 9, an exemplary application of the teachings of the present invention to a gable-top container SO is shown. The container 50 illustrated in FIG. 9 is of conventional design commonly used as a milk carton. The container 50 is typically formed with a square-sided body 52 having a gabled top portion 54 that is sealed along its upper edge 56. The container 50 is opened by breaking the seal at one end, folding back the top sides, and then forming a spout from the exposed end portion 58 of the gabled top 54 in a conventional manner.

The straw 36 in this embodiment has a float 38 attached near its lower end and a weighted sleeve member 60 attached near its upper end. In the preferred embodiment the upward buoyant force exerted on the straw 36 by the float 38 when liquid is present in the container 50 is slightly greater than the downward gravitational force exerted on the weighted sleeve 60. Accordingly, when the upper end of the straw 36 is aligned with the opening in the container 50, the float 38 will serve to elevate the straw up through the opening.

Once the container 50 has been opened in the conventional manner, the upper end of the straw 36 is aligned with the opening by tilting the container slightly toward the formed spout, being careful, of course, not to inadvertently dispense liquid from the container. The gravitational force on the weighted sleeve 60 causes the upper end of the straw 36 to pivot toward the opening, thus permitting the straw to elevate up through the opening. Optionally, the user may tilt the container 50 toward the appropriate gabled end portion 58 of the container prior to opening of the container to pre-position the upper end of the straw 36 in the vicinity of the opening. In this manner, when the container 50 is then opened, the straw 36 will either immediately, or following further minor manipulation of the container, ascend through the opening.

To temporarily secure the straw 36 to prevent premature elevation and interference with the filling and/or sealing process, any of the techniques previously enumerated in connection with the description of the previous embodiments may be used.

Turning now to FIG. 10, an exemplary application of the present invention to a rectangular beverage carton or "aseptic" carton 62 is shown. Beverage cartons of this general type typically include an offset orifice 64 that is exposed by the removal of a seal (not shown). Although the orifice 64 is located in the top 66 of the carton 62 shown in FIG. 10, it will be understood that the carton may be formed with the orifice located in a sidewall 68 adjacent the top end 66 of the carton 62.

The straw 36 in this embodiment is supported by a base member or strip 72 that is fitted to, adhered, or otherwise secured to the bottom 70 of the carton 62. A socket 74, similar to that described in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, is located at the center of the base member 72 and is adapted to receive an appropriately sized ball (not shown) that is formed at the bottom of a straw support post 76. The ball end of the straw support post 76 is thus adapted to snap into the socket 74 so that the support post 76 can freely pivot and rotate about the base socket 74.

The straw 36, which is adapted to be slid onto the straw support post 76, has a float 38 attached near its bottom end and a weighted positioning disk 78 attached near its top end. As in the embodiment described in FIGS. 3-5, the positioning disk 78 is sufficiently weighted such that when the carton 62 is tilted, the upper end of the straw 36 pivots accordingly.

Thus, to align the straw 36 with the orifice 64, the carton 62 is tilted slightly toward the orifice, the gravitational force exerted on the positioning disk 78 causes the straw 36 to pivot about the socket 74 in the base member 72 until the positioning disk 78 contacts the sidewall 68 of the carton. The diameter of the positioning disk 78 is sized so that when the disk 78 contacts the sidewall 68 of the carton 62, the upper end of the straw 36 is offset therefrom by an amount sufficient to position the straw beneath the orifice 64. When the straw 36 is aligned with the orifice 64, the buoyancy of the float 38, which is sufficient to overcome the weight of the positioning disk 78, causes the top of the straw 36 to ascend through the orifice until the positioning disk 78 contacts the underside of the top 66 of the carton 62. As before, the user may at this point elect to commence drinking through the straw, or withdraw the straw further from the carton. Preferably, the positioning disk 78 is positioned near the upper end of the straw 36 so that approximately one to two inches of the straw initially projects through the orifice 64, when the positioning disk 78 contacts the underside of the top 66 of the carton 62.

It will further be understood that the invention is subject to additional variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.