Straw drinking cup

Abstract

A straw drinking cup includes a container and a flexible straw having a first, drinking, end and a second and that is disposed within the container. Advantageously, the cup includes a straw positioning mechanism that ensures that the first, drinking end of the flexible straw will remain upwardly oriented to minimize the possibility of leakage, regardless of whether the straw positioning mechanism is in the open position, the closed position, or in transit between the two positions. The straw drinking cup further includes an advantageous venting mechanism that includes a flexible membrane that permits air to flow into the container only when a sufficient pressure differential is developed across the membrane, such as will occur when a consumer is sucking on the flexible straw. The venting mechanism further operates so as to prevent leakage from the container, as sufficient pressure will not exist to draw any liquid across the flexible membrane.

1 . A straw drinking cup, comprising: 
 a container;    a flexible straw having a first end and a second end; and    a straw positioning mechanism for positioning said flexible straw with respect to said container, said straw positioning mechanism being movable between a first operative position wherein said first end of said flexible straw is presented for sipping by a consumer and a second storage position, and wherein said straw positioning mechanism is constructed and arranged so that said first end of said flexible straw is upwardly oriented when in said second storage position, whereby spillage from said first end of said flexible straw is minimized.    
     
     
         2 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said straw positioning mechanism is further constructed and arranged so that said first end of said flexible straw remains continuously upwardly oriented when said straw positioning mechanism is moved between said first and second storage positions.  
     
     
         3 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said flexible straw is upwardly oriented when in said second storage position at an angle that is 60 degrees or less divergent from a longitudinal axis of said container.  
     
     
         4 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 3 , wherein said first end of said flexible straw is upwardly oriented when in said second storage position at an angle that is 45 degrees or less divergent from a longitudinal axis of said container.  
     
     
         5 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a lid having an opening defined therein, and said straw positioning mechanism comprises a straw positioning member that is pivotally mounted to said lid and is disposed in said opening.  
     
     
         6 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 5 ,wherein said straw positioning member includes finger gripping structure for facilitating movement of said straw positioning member by a consumer.  
     
     
         7 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 5 ,wherein said straw positioning member has a recess defined therein for receiving said flexible straw.  
     
     
         8 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 5 ,wherein said straw positioning member further includes a protective shelf portion for precluding external contact with said first end of said flexible straw when said straw positioning mechanism is in the second storage position.  
     
     
         9 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 5 , wherein said lid comprises an internal sidewall that at least partially defines said opening, and wherein said straw positioning mechanism is constructed and arranged to slide a portion of said flexible straw over said internal sidewall when said straw positioning mechanism is moved between said first and second storage positions.  
     
     
         10 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 5 , wherein said straw positioning member has a recess defined therein for receiving a bent portion of said flexible straw when said straw positioning mechanism is in said second storage position.  
     
     
         11 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said straw positioning mechanism is constructed and arranged so as to crimp said flexible straw in at least two places when said straw positioning mechanism is in the second, closed position.  
     
     
         12 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said straw positioning mechanism is constructed and arranged so as to be biased for movement in at least one direction by elastic deformation of said flexible straw.  
     
     
         13 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 12 , further comprising a venting mechanism, said venting mechanism being constructed and arranged to permit air to flow into the container without permitting liquid to escape therethrough.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for serving a beverage, comprising: 
 a container;    a first passage in communication with said container for serving a beverage from said container;    a second, venting, passage that is in communication with said container; and    a flexible membrane interposed in said second passage, said flexible membrane being constructed and arranged to permit air to flow through said second passage when a predetermined pressure differential is developed across said flexible membrane.    
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for serving a beverage according to  claim 14 , wherein said first passage comprises a flexible straw that is inserted into the container through an opening that is defined in the container.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said flexible membrane is integral with said flexible straw.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said second, venting passage comprises a space that is defined between an outer surface of said flexible straw and said opening that is defined in the container.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said flexible straw comprises a circumferentially enlarged plug portion for securely fitting within said opening that is defined in said container, and wherein said second, venting passage comprises at least one longitudinal groove that is defined in an outer surface of said plug portion.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising an annular recess that is defined in said circumferentially enlarged plug portion, and wherein said flexible membrane is positioned as a radially extending projection within said annular recess, said flexible membrane having a radially outer edge that is sized so as to contact a sidewall defined in said opening in said container.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said second, venting passage comprises a plurality of said longitudinal grooves.  
     
     
         21 . A straw drinking cup, comprising: 
 a container;    a flexible straw having a first end and a second end, said flexible straw having an integral valve defined therein; and    a straw positioning mechanism for positioning said flexible straw with respect to said container, said straw positioning mechanism being movable between a first operative position wherein said first end of said flexible straw is presented for sipping by a consumer and a second storage position.    
     
     
         22 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 21 , wherein said flexible straw and said integral valve are fabricated from a single, unitary piece.  
     
     
         23 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 22 , wherein said single, unitary piece is fabricated from a material comprising silicone.  
     
     
         24 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 22 , wherein said integral valve comprises a membrane that is positioned within said straw so as to normally occlude fluid flow through said straw, and a plurality of slits that are defined in said membrane so as to define a plurality of flaps, said flaps being displaceable when a pressure differential is applied across said membrane in order to permit fluid flow therethrough.  
     
     
         25 . A flexible straw assembly, comprising: 
 a flexible straw having a first end and a second end, an outer wall and an inner wall defining a lumen; and    an integral valve positioned within said flexible straw for impeding fluid flow through said lumen unless a pressure differential is applied thereto.    
     
     
         26 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 25 , wherein said flexible straw and said integral valve are fabricated from a single, unitary piece.  
     
     
         27 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 26 , wherein said single, unitary piece is fabricated from a material comprising silicone.  
     
     
         28 . A straw drinking cup according to  claim 26 , wherein said integral valve comprises a membrane that is positioned within said straw so as to normally occlude fluid flow through said straw, and a plurality of slits that are defined in said membrane so as to define a plurality of flaps, said flaps being displaceable when a pressure differential is applied across said membrane in order to permit fluid flow therethrough.