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:
Aug. 01, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1992
Richard H Kaufman, Chappaqua, NY (US);
Theodore J Kovacic, Bedford, NY (US);
Hideyoshi Okita, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Martin M Bostwick, Norwalk, CT (US);
Andrew T Kostanecki, Darien, CT (US);
Robert H Brainard, Danbury, CT (US);
Patrick B Nolan, Norwalk, CT (US);
Kraft Foods, Inc., Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
A unitary beverage container includes a main body defining a container volume. A flexible straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom of the main body. The flexible straw also includes a distal end in the form of a hollow mouthpiece having a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. In many configurations of the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece includes a cylindrical base portion from which levers extend. An attaching mechanism removably attaches the mouthpiece of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture of the mouthpiece. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw 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 which is attached to the top. A concavity in which the mouthpiece is received is provided at the top. The hollow chamber is permanently attached in some embodiments and removably attached in others. Various different configurations of the mouthpiece are provided for use with the various embodiments.