US20070289980A1

US20070289980A1 - Beverage package with concealed straw

Info

Publication number: US20070289980A1
Application number: US11/309,080
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrick Yeh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-16
Filing date: 2006-06-16
Publication date: 2007-12-20

Abstract

A beverage package with a concealed straw includes a container, a straw holder, a straw, and a cover. The container is made of a laminated material containing paper, and has an opening. The straw holder is connected to a portion of the inner surface of the container surrounding the opening, and has a recessed groove with a straw hole. The straw passes through the straw hole, and has a first section and a second section connected to the first section, wherein the first section is placed in the container and the second section is placed in the recessed groove of the straw holder. The cover is connected to the straw holder for sealing the recessed groove of the straw holder.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a beverage package. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage package with a concealed straw.
2. Description of Related Art
Beverage filled in beverage packages can be conveniently stored, conveyed, shown, and drunk. For example, a Tetra pak (a most commonly used beverage package in the market) is a beverage package made of a laminated material containing paper and a waterproof thin film. Beverage is filled into the beverage package at the same time that the laminated material is processed to manufacture the beverage package. In addition, the laminated material used for manufacturing the beverage package is further constituted of a thin metal film (e.g., aluminum foil), so as to shield external light rays and protect the beverage contained inside the beverage package from being damaged due to the external light rays.
When drinking the beverage in the beverage package, a straw is usually used for suction of beverage contained inside the beverage package. Therefore, in order to facilitate drinking, a straw wrapped with a plastic sleeve is usually attached to the outer side of some kinds of beverage packages.
However, the straw attached to the outer side of the beverage package easily come loose when being conveyed or displayed for sale. Once the straw is lost from the outer side of the beverage package, the consumer cannot drink the beverage contained inside the beverage package in a case when no spare straw is available.
In addition, since the length of the straw attached to the outer side of the beverage package is limited to the size of the beverage package, i.e., cannot be greater than the diagonal length of the outer side of the beverage package, after the straw is inserted into the beverage package and one end of the straw touches the bottom of the beverage package, the part of the straw left outside the beverage package is short. Therefore, when drinking beverage using the straw, the consumer is often inconvenienced due to the straw being not long enough.
Additionally, as for the beverage package with the straw attached outside, the consumer has to instantaneously exert a force to pierce the waterproof thin film at the straw hole of the beverage package by the use of the bottom end of the straw. However, in this manner, there is no space between the straw and the waterproof thin film to allow air to get out of the beverage package, and when the consumer carelessly presses the beverage package, the beverage in the beverage package spills out through the straw.
A beverage container with a concealed straw has been disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,283. A lower section of the straw is disposed in the container by passing through a penetrating hole in a recessed groove atop the container, a pleated portion of the straw is correspondingly placed in the penetrating hole, and an upper section of the straw is accommodated in the recessed groove. Finally, a sealing tape is used to seal the recessed groove. It should be noted that in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,283, the material of the container is not defined except plastic.
Therefore, according to the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,283, if the material of the container is the aforementioned laminated material containing paper and a waterproof thin film, the recessed groove formed on the top of the container may cause the uncovered edge of the wall of the container on the periphery of the recessed groove wet due to the beverage in the container.
It should be noted that the wet paper will weaken the structural strength of the container, thus impairing the visual appearance of the container. Moreover, chemical substances and microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses on the paper may contaminate the beverage. Furthermore, before the beverage is filled into the beverage package, the microorganisms in the paper cannot be completely eliminated by UV lights or hydrogen peroxide.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,283 has not disclosed a specific solution directed to overcome the aforementioned defects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a beverage package with a concealed straw for packaging beverage and offering a straw for suction for ingesting of beverage.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a beverage package with a concealed straw, which comprises a container, a straw holder, a straw, and a cover. The container is made of a laminated material containing paper, and has an opening. The straw holder is connected to a part of the inner surface of the container surrounding the opening, and has a recessed groove with a straw hole. The straw passes through the straw hole, and has a first section and a second section connected to the first section, wherein the first section is placed in the container and the second section is placed in the recessed groove of the straw holder. The cover is connected to the straw holder for sealing the recessed groove of the straw holder.
In order to the make aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, preferred embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage package in FIG. 1 with the cover being pulled open.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the beverage package in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage package in FIG. 1 with the cover being pulled open, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the beverage package in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the beverage package 101 with a concealed straw of the present invention comprises a container 110, a straw holder 120, and a straw 130 and a cover 140.
The container 110 is made of a laminated material containing paper, wherein the laminated material containing paper is constituted of paper and a waterproof thin film. Here, the paper refers to a sheet of material containing plant fiber, and is capable of being printed with characters and patterns about the product on the surface thereof and also capable of keeping the shape of the container 110. Furthermore, the waterproof thin film is, for example, a thin film made of polyethylene film (PE film) or other high molecular polymers. In addition, the laminated material containing paper further comprises a thin metal film (e.g., aluminum foil), so as to shield external light rays and protect the beverage in the beverage package 110 from the effects due to the external lights. In order to mount the straw holder 120, the container 110 has an opening 112.
The straw holder 120 is connected to a part of the inner surface of the container 110 surrounding the opening 112, the enlarged portion as shown in FIG. 3. The material of the straw holder 120 comprises a nonpaper material or a waterproof material, such as plastic. The straw holder 120 has a recessed groove 122 with a straw hole 122 a.
The straw 130 passes through the straw hole 122 a, such that a first section 132 of the straw 130 is placed in the container 110 and a second section 134 of the straw 130 connected to the first section 132 is placed in the recessed groove 122 of the straw holder 120. Additionally, the straw 130 further comprises a bendable section 136 connected between the first section 132 and the second section 134 and near the straw hole 122 a, such that the included angle of the first section 132 and the second section 134 in the length direction can be adjusted in a limited range.
The inner diameter of the straw hole 122 is greater than the outer diameter of the straw 130, such that a slit is formed between the straw hole 122 a and the straw 130 to allow air to get into and out of the container 110, thereby preventing the beverage spilling out of the container 110 through the straw 130 when the container 110 is distorted under a pressure. In addition, the inner diameter of the straw hole 122 a can also be smaller than or equal to the outer diameter of the straw 130. In this circumstance, the recessed groove 122 has an air aperture to allow air to get out of the container 110, thereby preventing the beverage spilling out of the container 110 through the straw 130 when the container 110 is distorted under a pressure.
The cover 140 is connected to the straw holder 120 to seal the recessed groove 122 of the straw holder 122, as shown in FIG. 3. The cover 140 can be a waterproof sheet or a laminated material having the waterproof function. In the first embodiment, the cover 140 is adhered to or melted with the straw holder 120.
The cover 140 is further connected to the container 110 to seal the opening 120, thereby keeping the periphery of the opening 112 clean. In the first embodiment, the cover 140 can be adhered to, melted with the container 110, or integrally formed with the container 110.
According to the first embodiment, after the cover 140 is pulled open to expose the recessed groove 122, the user can lift the second section 134 of the straw 130 from the recessed groove 122 for suction of beverage contained in the container 110, as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, compared with the first embodiment in FIG. 3, the bottom of the recessed groove 122 of the beverage package 102 in the second embodiment in FIG. 4 is inclined, and the straw hole 122 a is located in the lowest portion of the bottom of the recessed groove 122. Therefore, the beverage accumulated in the recessed groove 122 flows back to the container 110 along the inclined recessed groove 122 under gravity.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, compared with the first embodiment in FIG. 3, the recessed groove 122 of the beverage package 103 in the third embodiment in FIG. 5 further comprises one or more discharge orifices 122 b on the bottom of the recessed groove 122. Therefore, the beverage accumulated in the recessed groove 122 flows back to the container 110 through the discharge orifices 122 b on the bottom of the recessed groove 122.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, compared with the first embodiment in FIG. 3, an innermost waterproof thin film 110 a of the container 110 according to the beverage package 104 in the fourth embodiment in FIG. 6 seals the opening 112, and the cover 140 passes through the opening 112 to be directly connected to the outer side of the waterproof thin film 110. Therefore, after exerting a force on the cover 140 to tear the waterproof thin film 110 to expose the recessed groove 122, the user can lift the straw 130 out of the recessed groove 122 for suction of beverage contained in the container 110.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a part of a beverage package according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, compared with the fourth embodiment in FIG. 6, the cover 140 of the beverage package 105 in the fifth embodiment in FIG. 7 is formed by a part of the wall of the container 110 at the opening 112. The cover 140 and the container 110 have a continuous cutting or a discontinuous cutting at the boundary of the opening 112. The innermost waterproof thin film 110 a of the cover 140 and the container 110 is not cut and seals the opening 112. Additionally, the cover 140 further comprises a pull tab 142 on the outer side thereof. Therefore, after exerting a force to the cover 140 through the pull tab 142 to tear the waterproof thin film 110 a to expose the recessed groove 122, the user can lift the straw 130 out of the recessed groove 122 for suction of beverage in the container 110.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, compared with the basin shaped recessed groove 122 in the first embodiment in FIG. 3, the straw holder 120 of the beverage package 106 in the sixth embodiment in FIG. 8 comprises a pectinate structure (or a comb shaped structure) 124 to form the recessed groove 122 to confine the position of the second section 134 of the straw 130 relative to the opening 112. The pectinate structure 124 has a plurality of discharge orifices 124 a to make the beverage flowing back to the container 110.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, compared with the straw holder 120 only being disposed on a part of the top of the container 110 in the first embodiment in FIG. 2, the straw holder 120 of the beverage package 107 in the seventh embodiment in FIG. 9 is disposed on the whole top of the container 110. The top of the container 110 in the seventh embodiment has an opening 112, and the straw holder 120 is connected to a part of the inner surface of the container 110 surrounding the opening 112. Additionally, the cover 140 is adhered to the periphery of the recessed groove 122 of the straw holder 120, so as to seal the recessed groove 122.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a beverage package with a concealed straw according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10, compared with the cover 140 adhered to the straw holder 120 in the seventh embodiment in FIG. 9, the cover 140 of the beverage package 108 in the eighth embodiment in FIG. 10 is melted to the straw holder 120 or integrally formed with the straw holder 120. Therefore, by exerting a force on the cover 140, the fragile connection between the periphery of the cover 140 and the straw holder 120 may be released for exposing the recessed groove 122. In addition, when the straw holder 120 and the cover 140 are integrally formed, the recessed groove 122 of the straw holder 120 may also be engaged with, adhered to, or melted with the straw holder 120, or integrated with the straw holder 120 into one-piece, thereby reducing the difficulty in manufacturing.
In view of the above, the beverage package with a concealed straw provided by the present invention has at least the following advantages.
1. The straw is concealed in the beverage package so that the straw can be directly lifted for suction of beverage contained in the beverage package, thereby facilitating sucking and ingesting the beverage.
2. The straw is concealed in the beverage package so that the straw can be kept clean before use, thereby improving the hygiene condition when sucking beverage.
3. The present invention provides a long straw for suction of beverage, thereby enhancing comfort in sucking and ingesting beverage.
4. According to the present invention, the slit between the straw and the straw hole or the discharge orifices can form the air channels communicating space inside and outside the container, so that the beverage in the container does not easily spill out when the container is distorted under a pressure, thereby enhancing the comfort in sucking beverage.
5. According to the present invention, the wall of the container containing paper can be protected from getting wet so that the structural strength and visual appearance of the container can be maintained and the beverage in the container is protected from being contaminated by the paper in the walls of the container.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage package with a concealed straw, comprising:

a container, comprised of a laminated material containing paper, and comprising an opening;

a straw holder, connected to a portion of an inner surface of the container surrounding the opening, and having a recessed groove with a straw hole;

a straw, passing through the straw hole, and comprising a first section and a second section connected to the first section, wherein the first section is placed in the container and the second section is placed in the recessed groove of the straw holder; and

a cover, connected to the straw holder for sealing the recessed groove of the straw holder.

2. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laminated material containing paper is composed of a paper and a waterproof thin film.

3. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 2, the laminated material containing paper is comprises of a thin metal film.

4. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the straw holder comprises a nonpaper material or a waterproof material.

5. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the straw hole is greater than the outer diameter of the straw.

6. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the straw hole is smaller than or equal to the outer diameter of the straw, and the recessed groove has an air aperture to allow air to get out of the container.

7. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, a bottom of the recessed groove of the straw holder is inclined, and the straw hole is placed in the lowest portion of the bottom of the recessed groove.

8. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recessed groove comprises at least a discharge orifice formed on a bottom thereof.

9. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the straw comprises a bendable section connected between the first section and the second section and near the straw hole.

10. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the straw holder comprises at least a pectinate structure to form the recessed groove to confine a position of the second section of the straw relative to the opening and the pectinate structure comprises at least a discharge orifice.

11. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein a waterproof thin film of the container located closer to the interior of the container than the paper of the container seals the opening, and the cover passes through the opening to be connected to an outer side of the waterproof thin film.

12. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is formed by a part of the wall of the container at the opening, and the cover and the container have a continuous cutting or a discontinuous cutting at a boundary of the opening, but an innermost waterproof thin film of the cover and the container is not cut and seals the opening.

13. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a pull tab on an outer side thereof.

14. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is adhered to or melted with the straw holder, or integrally formed with the straw holder.

15. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recessed groove is engaged with, adhered to or melted with the straw holder, or integrally formed with the straw holder.

16. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is connected to the container to seal the opening.

17. The beverage package with a concealed straw as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover is adhered to or melted with the container, or integrally formed with the container.