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:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
May. 15, 1997
Peter F Murphy, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Doug Brewer, Chicago, IL (US);
Dave Brown, Chicago, IL (US);
Jon Taylor, Chicago, IL (US);
Paul Doczy, Chicago, IL (US);
The PopStraw Company, LLC, Eastpointe, MI (US);
Abstract
A beverage container has a straw-dispensing mechanism that is disposed within the container to bring the straw into alignment with the orifice in the top of the container. When the orifice is opened, the straw elevates through the orifice to become accessible to the user. In one embodiment, the straw is attached to a buoyant member which urges the straw into contact with a contoured surface on the can lid. The contoured surface is angled towards the orifice. In a second embodiment, the straw engages a floating member which is urged against the lid of the container. When the container is opened by deflecting a closure tab into the container, the closure tab engages a cam surface on the floating member and imparts rotational motion to the floating member. The floating member rotates until the straw is aligned with the open orifice and a buoyant member associate with on the straw elevates the straw through the orifice.