US4226356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container and dispenser straw
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-09-02
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1997-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A liquid container such as a metal or plastic cannister or can having a drinking straw disposed therein which straw becomes available for drinking the liquid contents of the container when the container is opened. In one form, the container top wall is provided with a finger pulled tab secured to or extending from a removable portion of the top wall and, when pulled, the tab not only provides an opening in the top wall but exposes or pulls out of the container the upper portion of a drinking straw. In a preferred embodiment, the straw is a plastic or impregnated paper tube containing a pleated or bendable portion thereof and the upper portion of the straw is deformed either downwardly along the remaining body of the straw or conforms to that portion of the container top wall which is removed so that, upon removal of the removable portion, the upper portion of the straw will be pulled thereby through the opening so that it may be engaged by mouth and used. The lower portion of the straw may be secured or frictionally held against the side or bottom wall of the container to maintain it in place.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome H. Lemelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/22; B65D77/24; B65D77/28; B65D77/283; B65D2517/00; B65D2517/0001; B65D2517/001; B65D2517/0013; B65D2517/0047; B65D2517/0049; B65D2517/0058; B65D2517/0059; B65D2517/0061; B65D2517/0062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A container and dispenser for a liquid held by said container comprising: a closed container having a circumscribing side wall, a bottom wall connected to said side wall and a top wall secured to the upper end of side wall and serving to seal liquid contents within said container, a drinking straw disposed within said container and having an upper end portion connected to a lower portion by a bendable portion which may be bent without collapsing the wall of said straw, tab means integral with said top wall and removable therefrom, said tab means having at least one longitudinal formation retentively engaging a portion of the length of the upper end of said straw in a manner to permit said straw to be separated from said tab means by a manual pulling force applied between the end of said straw and said tab means, said upper portion of said straw extending in said container at an angle to said lower portion by virtue of the bending of said bendable portion within said container, means for opening said container by pulling said tab means to provide an opening in said top wall, which opening is in line with said straw, wherein said upper portion of said straw is pulled upwardly and passes through said opening and is accessible to the exterior of said container to permit a person holding said container to drink the contents of said container through said straw.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A container and dispenser for a liquid held by said container comprising: a closed container having a circumscribing side wall, a bottom wall connected to said side wall and a top wall secured to the upper end of side wall and serving to seal liquid contents within said container, a drinking straw disposed within said container and having an upper end portion connected to a lower portion by a bendable portion which may be bent without collapsing the wall of said straw, tab means integral with said top wall and removable therefrom, said tab means having at least one longitudinal formation retentively engaging a portion of the length of the upper end of said straw in a manner to permit said straw to be separated from said tab means by a manual pulling force applied between the end of said straw and said tab means, said upper portion of said straw extending in said container at an angle to said lower portion by virtue of the bending of said bendable portion within said container, means for opening said container by pulling said tab means to provide an opening in said top wall, which opening is in line with said straw, wherein said upper portion of said straw is pulled upwardly and passes through said opening and is accessible to the exterior of said container to permit a person holding said container to drink the contents of said container through said straw.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 including means for retaining the lower portion of said straw substantially fixed within said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab means is adapted to be pulled and severed from said top wall to form said opening in said top wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A container in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for retentively engaging the upper portion of the straw to said tab means is frictional means permitting said upper portion of said straw to be removed from said tab means after it has been pulled through the opening in said top wall of said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A container in accordance with claim 4 wherein said tab means is formed of the material of the top wall of said container and the upper portion of said straw is frictionally retained in assembly with said tab means within said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A container in accordance with claim 5 wherein said top wall of said container is formed of sheet metal, such as aluminum, and said tab means is formed of an assembly of a ring-shaped portion connected to a portion of the top wall of said container located inwardly of a circumscribing score line which defines a portion of the top wall of said container which is removed when said ring-shaped portion is pulled, said tab means being longitudinally deformed so as to frictionally retain the upper portion of said straw thereagainst.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 including means for retaining said lower portion of said straw within said container comprising a shaped portion of the bottom wall of said container engaging and holding the lower end of said straw in place thereagainst when the upper portion of the straw is retained by said tab means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 including a shaped portion formed in the wall of said straw frictionally secured to said longitudinally formed portion of said tab means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container top wall has an opening therein and said tab means comprises a strip of flexible sheet material adhesively bonded to the top wall of said container across said opening therein, said upper end portion of said drinking straw being longitudinally bonded to said strip of flexible sheet material along its length for retaining said straw in place thereagainst and for causing the upper end portion of said straw to be drawn upwardly by said tab means through said opening in said container top wall when said flexible sheet material is peeled away from its position covering said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab means is shaped with a longitudinal indentation therein and a portion of the upper end portion of said straw is frictionally secured within said longitudinal indentation formed in said tab means to permit said upper portion of said straw to be pulled through the opening in said container provided when said tab means is pulled upwardly and away from the top wall of the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |