EP2128039B1 - Beverage container equipped with straw - Google Patents

Beverage container equipped with straw Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2128039B1
EP2128039B1 EP09158045A EP09158045A EP2128039B1 EP 2128039 B1 EP2128039 B1 EP 2128039B1 EP 09158045 A EP09158045 A EP 09158045A EP 09158045 A EP09158045 A EP 09158045A EP 2128039 B1 EP2128039 B1 EP 2128039B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
straw
container
bottle
beverage container
buoyant member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP09158045A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2128039A1 (en
Inventor
Balázs Kiss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to PL09158045T priority Critical patent/PL2128039T3/pl
Publication of EP2128039A1 publication Critical patent/EP2128039A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2128039B1 publication Critical patent/EP2128039B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/22—Details
    • B65D77/24—Inserts or accessories added or incorporated during filling of containers
    • B65D77/28—Cards, coupons, or drinking straws
    • B65D77/283—Cards, coupons, or drinking straws located initially inside the container, whereby the straw is revealed only upon opening the container, e.g. pop-up straws
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00—Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/0001—Details
    • B65D2517/0047—Provided with additional elements other than for closing the opening
    • B65D2517/0049—Straws, spouts, funnels, or other devices facilitating pouring or emptying

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a beverage container equipped with a straw. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage container within which a pop-up straw is arranged that emerges automatically when the container is being opened.
  • Beverage cans in particular the paper containers of reduced size that are used for storing a liquid volume of approximately 200-300 ml, which are packaged together with a straw, have been widely used nowadays.
  • the simplest solution is to package the straw in a thin packaging material and subsequently to fix the packaged straw to the beverage can from outside, typically by gluing.
  • several other solutions are also known, wherein the straw is arranged within a can or a bottle before or after the filling thereof with the beverage, and this kind of straw is formed to pop up automatically from the can or the bottle when the can or the bottle is being opened.
  • FIGS 3 and 4 of this document illustrate a bottle for beverages within which a straw is arranged that pops up from the bottle automatically when being opened.
  • the straw has a buoyant member to which a buoyant force is exerted by the liquid in the bottle, and both above and under the buoyant member the straw further has a rigid upper portion and a lower portion, respectively, wherein at least a section of said lower portion is formed in an accordion-like manner to be extendible and flexible.
  • This straw emerges automatically from the bottle filled up with the liquid when the bottle is being opened, due to the buoyant force exerted to the buoyant member.
  • a drawback of this arrangement is, however, that as the level of the liquid lowers, the upper portion of the straw gradually sinks back to the bottle, and below a certain level of liquid it may even entirely return into the bottle, which makes it difficult to withdraw the straw from the bottle by hand.
  • a further drawback of this solution is that the consumer must keep holding the straw while the level of liquid is lowering so that it does not sink back into the bottle.
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate to foregoing drawbacks and to provide a beverage container, in particular a beverage can or bottle, equipped with a straw that has a simple design, that may be manufactured at little cost in great quantities and that may be used in an easier and more convenient manner compared to the prior art solutions.
  • the invention is based on the recognition that the above mentioned drawbacks may be easily eliminated by guiding the upper portion of the straw arranged above the buoyant member and by forming said upper portion in an extendible manner.
  • the above objects are achieved by providing a straw according to the characteristics of appended claim 1. These objects are further achieved by providing a beverage container equipped with a straw according to appended claim 2, wherein said straw is arranged within the container so that the straw pops up automatically when the container is being opened
  • the beverage container further comprises, at its upper end, a means for guiding the straw, when the container is being opened, substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the container, said guiding means being adapted to fix the upper end of the straw in the state of storage of the container and to limit the extent of emersion of the straw.
  • FIGs 1a to 1c the beverage container equipped with a straw according to the invention is illustrated in three different states in sectional views taken along the longitudinal axis of the container, which is a plastic bottle 10 in this example.
  • the bottle 10 shown in Figures 1a to 1c comprises a body 11, a base 12, a neck portion 13 and a mouth 17.
  • a straw 14 that emerges automatically from the bottle 10 when the bottle 10 containing a beverage D is being opened 10, said straw 14 having an upper portion 14a which can be extended by means of an accordion section 14b thereof, a buoyant member 14c and a lower portion 14d.
  • a preferably flat inset 15 having a central through-hole is mounted from outside, wherein said inset 15 is adapted to guide the straw 14 emerging from the bottle 10 when the bottle is being opened, in such a way that the straw 14 emerges substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the bottle 10.
  • the diameter of the through-hole of the inset 15 exceeds the outer diameter of the buoyant member 14c of the straw 14 to a minimum extent, typically by several tenths of a millimeter, thus allowing the insertion of the straw 14 into the bottle 10 through the hole of said inset 15 after the filling of the bottle 10, whereas during a later use, the relatively narrow through-hole prevents the straw 14 from its entire ejection due to that the upper end of the buoyant member 14c of the straw 14 is blocked by the lower edge of the through-hole at the bottom of the inset 15. Consequently, the extent of the emersion of the straw 14 is limited.
  • the diameter of the through-hole of the inset 15 serving as the guiding means is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the buoyant member 14c (or preferably larger than the latter by several tenths of a millimeter as mentioned above), and to the fact that the length of the through-hole of the inset 15 is such that the straw 14 can be moved in the hole only in a direction substantially identical to the longitudinal axis of the bottle 10, it is achieved that the straw 14 emerges from the bottle 10 in a guided manner and after its emersion, the straw 14 always extends in the same direction.
  • the upper portion 14a projects from the bottle 10 whereas the buoyant member 14c remains inside the bottle 10.
  • the upper portion 14a of the straw 14 may be extended by expanding the accordion section 14b to an extent that as the level of liquid L lowers further, even until the bottle 10 gets entirely empty, a substantially long section of the straw projects from the bottle 10 that the consumer can move to his mouth. This state is shown in Figure 1c .
  • the buoyant member 14c of the straw 14 is formed as an air-containing cell of cylindrical ring shape, the inner wall of which is defined by the wall of the suction channel of the straw 14, whereas its outer wall is defined by another wall arranged concentrically with said inner wall.
  • the outer wall and the inner walls of the buoyant member 14c are connected to each other at the upper and the lower ends of the buoyant member 14c so that they air-tightly seal the space enclosed thereby.
  • the length of the buoyant member 14c is significant relative to the entire length of the straw 14, preferably at least the half, more preferably at least the two third of the entire length of the straw 14 being in its initial state.
  • the initial state of the straw 14 is defined as the state in which the straw has a collapsed accordion section 14b. As shown in Figures 1a to 1c , the entire length of the straw 14 in its initial state is so that when the straw 14 is oriented in the direction of ejection, it may be accommodated within the closed bottle 10 (or in the container, in general).
  • the length of the lower portion 14d of the straw 14 is, however, at most 5% of the entire length of the straw being in its initial state.
  • the length of the lower portion 14d is virtually zero, that is the lower end of the straw is defined by the lower end of the buoyant member.
  • the buoyant force effecting to the straw 14 holds the straw 14 in an entirely ejected position until the level of liquid L of the beverage D in the bottle 10 decreases significantly.
  • the upper end position of the straw 14 is defined by the inset 15 serving as a guiding means in a manner that the upper end of the buoyant member 14c is blocked by the edge of the through-hole at the bottom of the inset 15.
  • the stem of the straw and, accordingly, the buoyant member of the straw have a cylindrical shape
  • the cross-sectional profile of the straw may obviously has any other shape, like an ellipse, a square or the similar.
  • the through-hole of the guiding means of the container may have not only circular shape, but any other shape corresponding to the cross-sectional profile of the straw, however, the through-hole should be wider than the cross-sectional area of the straw only to a minimum extent.
  • Figures 2a to 2c second embodiment of the beverage container equipped with a straw according to the invention is illustrated in three different states in sectional views taken along the longitudinal axis of the container.
  • Figure 2a illustrates a bottle 20 wherein a straw 24 that has the same design as the straw 14 shown in Figures 1a to 1c is arranged within the bottle 20 and fixed by a cap 26, preferably by a threaded cap, in the state of storage of the bottle 20, wherein the upper end 24e of the straw 24 is inserted into a through-hole formed at the center of the cap 26.
  • the inset 15 used for the first embodiment is not applied, because in this case, the means for guiding and fixing the straw 24 in its state of storage is formed by the cap 26 itself.
  • a sticker 28 adhered to the upper side of the cap 26 may be used, for example.
  • the sticker 28 may be re-adhered several times.
  • the bottle 20 according to the second embodiment is shown in a situation after the sticker has been torn and removed, when the straw 24 pops up automatically through the hole of the cap 26 in response to the buoyant force exerted by the liquid in the bottle 20.
  • Figure 2c shows the bottle 20 according to the second embodiment, when due to a decrease of the level of liquid L, the accordion section 24b of the straw 24 has been extended so that the upper portion 24a of the straw 24 projects from the bottle 20 to the necessary extent.
  • the diameter of the through-hole formed in the cap 26 of the bottle 20 is the same as the diameter of the central hole of the inset 15 used for the first embodiment, which allows for the straw 24 to be pushed into the bottle, while this arrangement is suitable for guiding the straw 24 and for limiting the extent of the emersion.
  • a third preferred embodiment of the beverage container equipped with a straw according to the invention is illustrated in three different states in sectional views taken along the longitudinal axis of the container.
  • the container is a bottle 30 of beverage, within which a straw 34 is arranged so that it can pop up from the bottle 30 automatically when the bottle 30 is being opened.
  • the neck portion 33 of the bottle 30 is formed as conically tapered, wherein the inner diameter of the mouth 37 of the bottle 30 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the buoyant member 34c of the straw 34.
  • the bottle 30 is preferably closed by a small cap 39 of the snap type that can be snapped off by even one hand.
  • the means for guiding the straw 34 is the conically tapered neck portion 33 of the bottle 30.
  • the straw 34 can move through the mouth 37 substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the bottle 30.
  • the construction of the straw 34 is similar to which has been applied for the straw 14 and 24 according to the first and second embodiments, respectively.
  • the bottle 30 is illustrated in a state in which after the removal of the cap, due to the buoyant force exerted by the liquid in the bottle 30, the straw 34. has been entirely emerged and thus it is staying in its upper end position. In this state, the upper end of the buoyant member 31c is blocked adjacent to the upper end of the tapered neck portion 33.
  • the bottle 30 is illustrated in a state in which due to a decrease of the level of liquid L, the accordion section 34b of the straw 34 is extended so that a substantially long portion of the upper portion 34a of the straw 34 projects from the bottle 30.
  • the beverage container equipped with a straw according to the invention has been described through three different preferred embodiments.
  • the present invention is, however, not limited to the embodiments as shown.
  • the beverage container may be not only a plastic bottle, but also a glass bottle, a paper container or an aluminum can.
  • For closing the container several other solutions may be suitable that are well-known in the field of packaging technology.
  • any modifications of the beverage container equipped with a straw according to the invention are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, wherein all of these modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
EP09158045A 2008-05-26 2009-04-16 Beverage container equipped with straw Not-in-force EP2128039B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL09158045T PL2128039T3 (pl) 2008-05-26 2009-04-16 Pojemnik na napój ze słomką

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
HU0800332A HUP0800332A2 (en) 2008-05-26 2008-05-26 Drink storage container with a straw

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2128039A1 EP2128039A1 (en) 2009-12-02
EP2128039B1 true EP2128039B1 (en) 2010-12-01

Family

ID=89988295

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09158045A Not-in-force EP2128039B1 (en) 2008-05-26 2009-04-16 Beverage container equipped with straw

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2128039B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE490195T1 (es)
DE (1) DE602009000409D1 (es)
ES (1) ES2356513T3 (es)
HU (1) HUP0800332A2 (es)
PL (1) PL2128039T3 (es)
RU (1) RU2009119047A (es)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012212359A1 (de) 2012-07-13 2014-01-16 Ball Packaging Europe Gmbh Behälterdose, Halteeinrichtung und Verfahren zum Bereitstellen einer Behälterdose
DE202013008357U1 (de) 2013-09-13 2013-11-18 Ball Europe Gmbh Behälterdose und Halteeinrichtung

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7908774A (nl) * 1979-12-05 1981-07-01 Franciscus Petrus Wilhelmus Va Hulpmiddel voor het consumeren van in een fles aanwezige vloeistof.
US4892187A (en) 1988-05-04 1990-01-09 Peter Stein Drinking apparatus
US6095368A (en) * 1997-05-15 2000-08-01 The Popstraw Company, Llc Beverage container with self-contained drinking straw
US5975340A (en) * 1997-12-17 1999-11-02 The Popstraw Company, Llc Straw and dispensing device for use in a beverage container
EP0933308A1 (en) * 1998-01-22 1999-08-04 Jung-Kuo Lee Container with a suction pipe contained therein
US5823422A (en) * 1998-04-27 1998-10-20 Collier; Douglas Allen Beverage dispenser with pop-up drinking straw
IT1307754B1 (it) * 1999-02-05 2001-11-19 Daniele Piazza Dispositivo di apertura con tappo a strappo per contenitori ermeticidi bevande in specie lattine e tetrapacco, con cannuccia interna a
AU2001260660A1 (en) * 2000-06-02 2001-12-17 Flexo Manufacturing Corporation Beverage container
US20080173610A1 (en) * 2004-11-16 2008-07-24 Esposito James A Beverage container with self-contained straw or prize capsule

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PL2128039T3 (pl) 2011-05-31
RU2009119047A (ru) 2010-11-27
DE602009000409D1 (de) 2011-01-13
HUP0800332A2 (en) 2009-11-30
ES2356513T3 (es) 2011-04-08
EP2128039A1 (en) 2009-12-02
ATE490195T1 (de) 2010-12-15
HU0800332D0 (en) 2008-07-28

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