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US4877148A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dispensing straw for liquid container

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-17
•
Granted: 1989-10-31
•
Expires: 2008-11-17
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Abstract

Abstract A straw assembly is provided for a liquid container having a push tab or pull tab closure in a metallic container or a screw type closure on a plastic container. The straw is retained within the container in a retracted position even following opening of the removable closure. The straw is moved to an operative position by depressing a portion of the container so as to shift the straw laterally and permit the straw to emerge through the dispensing opening by means of a buoyancy collar on the straw.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gordon Larson
  • 👤 John Pates

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 19:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/22; B65D77/24; B65D77/28; B65D77/283; B65D2517/00; B65D2517/0001; B65D2517/0047; B65D2517/0049

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A straw assembly for a liquid container having a top wall, bottom wall and side wall with an openable closure for the dispensing opening of the container in the top wall including a straw disposed in said container, means for retaining the straw attached to the side wall of the container in the same position completely within the container with the openable closure in place closing the container or with the container open and means for causing the straw to be released to emerge through the dispensing opening when the closure is opened by depressing a portion of the external surface of the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 104 words
A straw assembly for a liquid container having a top wall, bottom wall and side wall with an openable closure for the dispensing opening of the container in the top wall including a straw disposed in said container, means for retaining the straw attached to the side wall of the container in the same position completely within the container with the openable closure in place closing the container or with the container open and means for causing the straw to be released to emerge through the dispensing opening when the closure is opened by depressing a portion of the external surface of the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A straw assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes adhesive attaching the straw to the interior surface of the side wall of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A straw assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a c-clamp attaching the straw to the interior surface of the side wall of the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
A straw assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a lip in the top wall extending from the side wall of the container to the periphery of the dispensing opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A straw assembly according to claim 1 and further including a buoyancy collar on the straw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A straw assembly according to claim 1 and further including an accordion portion on the straw for elongating the straw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 179 words
A straw assembly for a liquid container having a top wall, bottom wall and side wall with a closure in the top wall with the outer peripheral edge of the closure being spaced from the periphery of the top wall to provide a lip portion in the top wall when the closure is opened, the straw assembly including bracket means on the interior surface of the side wall of the container, a straw slidably disposed in said bracket means, said bracket means being so located and dimensional to position the upper end of the straw beneath the lip portion of the top wall of the container so that when the closure of the container is opened the straw does not rise in the liquid, and indicator means on the container to indicate an area of the container to be depressed so as to move the straw to a position beneath the opening in the top wall of the container formed by removal of the closure so that the straw rises in the liquid within the container through the opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 179 words
A straw assembly for a liquid container having a top wall, bottom wall and side wall with a closure in the top wall with the outer peripheral edge of the closure being spaced from the periphery of the top wall to provide a lip portion in the top wall when the closure is opened, the straw assembly including bracket means on the interior surface of the side wall of the container, a straw slidably disposed in said bracket means, said bracket means being so located and dimensional to position the upper end of the straw beneath the lip portion of the top wall of the container so that when the closure of the container is opened the straw does not rise in the liquid, and indicator means on the container to indicate an area of the container to be depressed so as to move the straw to a position beneath the opening in the top wall of the container formed by removal of the closure so that the straw rises in the liquid within the container through the opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
A straw assembly according to claim 7 wherein said straw includes an accordion portion for elongating the straw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
A straw assembly according to claim 7 and further including a sleeve on said bracket means within which the straw slides when moving between retracted and operable positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
A straw assembly according to claim 7 and further including spring means mounted on the lower end of the straw to urge the straw upwardly within the container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
A straw assembly according to claim 7 and further including a buoyant ring on said straw disposed below said bracket means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 75 words
A method of providing a straw for dispensing liquid within a container having an openable closure comprising the steps of disposing a straw within a container in an inoperative position, retaining the straw in engagement with the side wall, opening the openable closure on the container while maintaining the straw in an inoperative position and activating the straw to move to an operative position by depressing a portion of the external surface of the container.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 75 words
A method of providing a straw for dispensing liquid within a container having an openable closure comprising the steps of disposing a straw within a container in an inoperative position, retaining the straw in engagement with the side wall, opening the openable closure on the container while maintaining the straw in an inoperative position and activating the straw to move to an operative position by depressing a portion of the external surface of the container.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3291331A Cited
US3568870A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-30 1993-05-01 1993-10-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-10-30 1997-05-01 1997-10-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-10-30 2001-05-01 2001-10-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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