Beverage container with self-contained straw

Abstract

A tab top beverage can has a compressible drinking straw held between the can bottom and an upwardly extending detachable closed cavity formed in the can top. Detachment of the cavity by a pivoting tab top uncovers a straw access orifice through which the straw is projected by the force of a previously compressed corrugated spring section formed in the straw wall. A bulge located on the straw prevents passage of the straw from the can and facilitates extension of the straw. The tab is attached to the can top by outwardly projecting lips formed on upwardly projecting closed cavities defined in the can top. The cavities extend through openings in the tab and the lips extend beyond the opening perimeters to secure the tab to the cavities and top.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw comprising: 
 a can body having a circumscribing side wall, a bottom connected to said side wall and a top secured to the upper end of said side wall and serving to seal liquid contents within said can;    wherein said top includes an upwardly extending hollow projection defining a cavity closed at its upper end and open at its lower end defining a straw access orifice in said top, said projection having a scored perimeter;    a drinking straw having an upper end and a lower end and an intermediate compressible accordion bellows spring section, said straw having a length greater than the height of said can when said spring section is relaxed, the upper end of said straw extending through the open lower end of the cavity into contact with the closed upper end of the cavity, said lower end of said straw extending into contact with said bottom such that said straw is held between the upper end of said cavity and said bottom by resilient compression of said bellows spring section; and    tab means for applying force to and detaching said peripheral wall from said top to permit said resilient accordion pleats to expand and project said straw upper end upwardly through said straw access orifice.    
     
     
         2 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an outwardly extending retention bulge formed in said straw between the upper end and spring section of the straw, said bulge having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of said straw access orifice to prevent passage of said straw entirely out of said can and to facilitate longitudinal expansion of said straw.  
 
     
     
         3 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a pleated extension section formed near the upper end of said straw permitting said straw to be easily extended or bent.  
 
     
     
         4 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a depression formed in said bottom for positioning and stabilizing the straw lower end during fabrication and handling.  
 
     
     
         5 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  wherein said cavity peripheral wall has at least one inwardly projecting dimple for grasping said straw upper end.  
     
     
         6 . The beverage container with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  further comprising a scored bend-down panel formed in said top, said panel having a scored perimeter defining a pouring access orifice in said top, said panel being bent down to uncover said pouring access orifice by said tab means simultaneously with detachment of said cavity to uncover said straw access orifice.  
     
     
         7 . The beverage container with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 6  wherein said tab means is positionable to crimpingly seal said upwardly projecting straw while leaving said pouring access orifice uncovered.  
     
     
         8 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  further comprising a scored bend down panel formed in said top, said panel having a scored perimeter defining a pouring access orifice in said top, and means for bending said panel downward independently of said tab means for detaching said cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 8  wherein said panel bending means is a second tab co-located in a non-interfering manner with said first tab means.  
     
     
         10 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  wherein a projection is fixed in said tab means serving as a fulcrum to provide a mechanical advantage when the tab means applies force to said peripheral wall.  
     
     
         11 . The beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw of  claim 1  wherein a projection is fixed in said can serving as a fulcrum to provide a mechanical advantage when the tab means applies force to said peripheral wall.  
     
     
         12 . The method of assembling a beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw comprising the steps of: 
 (a) grasping a straw having an upper portion, a lower portion and a section formed therein of resilient compressible accordion springs in a vertical position with positionable clamp means, said straw having an uncompressed length greater than the height of the beverage can;    (b) positioning a beverage can having a circumscribing side wall and a bottom connected to said side wall under said straw lower portion;    (c) filling said container with beverage;    (d) positioning a top having an upwardly extending detachable closed cavity formed therein and tab means for detaching said cavity directly over said straw upper portion with said straw upper portion extending into said cavity;    (e) lowering said top and said straw simultaneously until said straw lower portion engages said bottom and said compressible accordion spring section begins to compress;    (f) releasing said straw from said clamp means;    (g) pivoting said clamp means away from said can;    (h) lowering said top further until said top seats on said side wall; and    (i) attaching said top to said side wall.    
     
     
         13 . The method of assembling a beverage can with a self-contained self-presenting straw comprising the steps of: 
 (a) grasping a straw having an upper portion, a lower portion and a section formed therein of resilient compressible accordion springs in a vertical position with positionable clamp means, said straw having an uncompressed length greater than the height of the beverage can;    (b) positioning a beverage can having a circumscribing side wall and a bottom connected to said side wall under said straw lower portion;    (c) filling said container with beverage;    (d) positioning a top having an upwardly extending detachable closed cavity formed therein and tab means for detaching said cavity directly over said straw upper portion with said straw upper portion extending into said cavity, said cavity having at least one inwardly projecting dimple for grasping said straw upper end;    (e) raising said clamp means to force said straw upper portion past said inwardly projecting dimples and into frictional engagement therewith;    (f) releasing said straw from said clamp means;    (g) pivoting said clamp means away from said can;    (h) lowering said top further until said top seats on said side wall; and    (i) attaching said top to said side wall.    
     
     
         14 . The method of fabricating a beverage can top comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a first upwardly extending closed cavity at a first location on the can top;    (b) forming a second upwardly extending closed cavity at a second location on the can top;    (c) positioning a tab, having first and second openings in registry with said first and second upwardly extending closed cavities, respectively, and sized to fit snugly over said cavities, onto said upwardly extending cavities;    (d) forming outwardly extending lips in the upper ends of upwardly extending first and second cavities, said lips overlapping said tab openings to secure said tab to said cavities; and    (e) scoring a weakened tear line in the can top around the perimeter of said first upwardly extending closed cavity.