Beverage container with integral straw

Claim 1

An improved packaging system for beverages, the system comprising a beverage container having, at a top portion, a pull tab and a pull ring; said pull tab and pull ring being joined by anchoring means; wherein when separated along the weakened seam said ring cooperates with said tab to produce a drinking opening in said container top portion; an integral, flexible, resilient, tubular drinking straw disposed internally of said beverage container; and a resilient collar member disposed on the underside of said tab for holding said drinking straw in a deformed condition internally of said container when said pull tab is not separated from said container top portion; said collar member comprising a top collar portion which is received and joined within a hollow disposed in the underside of said anchoring means, said collar member further comprising two resilient legs to surround a majority of the circumferential surface of said tubular drinking straw except for a minor portion sufficient to enable said drinking straw to slip therethrough; said retaining collar member being of a diameter sufficient to receive and to substantially envelope an upper portion of said drinking straw when threaded through said collar member; wherein said retaining collar member cooperates with said drinking straw to hold said straw in a deformed condition when said pull tab is not separated from said container top portion and causes automatic emergence of said drinking straw when said pull tab is separated from said container top portion.