The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 25, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1992
Richard H Kaufman, Chappaqua, NY (US);
Theodore J Kovacic, Bedford, NY (US);
Hideyoshi Okita, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Martin M Bestwick, Norwalk, CT (US);
Andrew T Kostanecki, Darien, CT (US);
Robert H Brainard, Danbury, CT (US);
Partick B Nolan, Norwalk, CT (US);
Kraft General Foods, Inc., Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
Unitary beverage containers and methods of filling thereof are disclosed where the beverage container includes a main body and a filling conduit extending from the top thereof which is closed off after filling. In embodiments with a separate straw, an attaching mechanism removably attaches the distal end of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture in the distal end. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow bridge is connected to a hollow chamber member which is otherwise isolated fluidly from the container volume. A concavity is provided at the top in which a mouthpiece at the distal end of the straw is received. In some preferred embodiments, the filling conduit extends from the top of the main body, and from adjacent the mouthpiece or from the mouthpiece itself. In another embodiment, the filling conduit acts as a beverage conduit and mouthpiece for both filling and ultimate drinking by the consumer. With this latter embodiment, the beverage conduit is inverted into the main body after filling and returned outside of the main body for drinking.