Container for retaining liquids and valve for use in the same

Abstract

A container for retaining liquids includes a straw assembly that permanently lies partially within an interior cavity of the container and partially outside the container. The straw assembly includes an elongated tubular member which is slidably received in a valve. A first end of the tubular member lies outside the container and is covered by a tear-away strip to protect it from contamination and damage. A second end of the tubular member lies within the cavity and is selectively engeagable with the valve to either prevent liquid from being withdrawn from the container or allow liquid to be withdrawn from the container through the tubular member.

1 . A container for retaining liquids comprising: 
 a body having a first wall and a second wall and defining an interior cavity therebetween, the body being adapted to hold a quantity of liquid within the interior cavity; and wherein the first wall has an aperture formed therethrough;    an elongated tubular member received through the aperture in the first wall, such that a first part of the tubular member lies within the cavity of the body and a second part of the tubular member lies outside the body; and    a valve engaged with the first part of the tubular member; whereby said valve is set at a first position where liquid is prevented from flowing through the tubular member; and whereby the valve and tubular member are movable relative to each other to a second position where liquid can flow through the tubular member.    
   
   
       2 . The container as set out in  claim 1 , wherein the body is a pouch manufactured from a flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The container as set out in  claim 2 , wherein the valve is free-floating within the interior cavity of the pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The container as set out in  claim 3 , wherein the valve has a width and the aperture has a diameter and the width of the valve is greater than the diameter of the aperture; whereby the valve cannot be withdrawn from the cavity of the pouch through the aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The container as set out in  claim 4 , wherein the tubular member is slidably receivable within the valve.  
   
   
       6 . The container as set out in  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member is removable from the valve.  
   
   
       7 . The container as set out in  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member cannot be completely withdrawn from the valve.  
   
   
       8 . The container as set out in  claim 7 , wherein the elongated tubular member has an axial bore and the valve includes a plug; and wherein the plug is selectively receivable within the bore; and wherein the plug and bore are substantially equal in diameter.  
   
   
       9 . The container as set out in  claim 8 , wherein the valve further comprises: 
 a base; and    a stop disposed a spaced distance from the base; and wherein the plug extends outwardly from the base and toward the stop.    
   
   
       10 . The container as set out in  claim 9 , wherein the stop further defines an aperture through which the tubular member is received; and a first end of the tubular member is movable between the base and the stop of the valve.  
   
   
       11 . The container as set out in  claim 10 , wherein the plug includes a first section of greater diameter disposed proximate the base and includes a tapered tip disposed remote from the base; and wherein the first end of the tubular member is receivable over the first section of the plug and is deformed thereby.  
   
   
       12 . The container as set out in  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the tubular member is permanently deformed to be complementary in size and shape to the first section of the plug.  
   
   
       13 . The container as set out in  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the tubular member includes an outer edge and an annular shoulder disposed a spaced distance therefrom; and wherein the shoulder is greater in diameter than the aperture in the stop of the valve.  
   
   
       14 . The container as set out in  claim 13 , wherein the base includes: 
 a pair of arms extending outwardly from the base in opposing directions; each arm terminating in an end member;    a hinge section disposed between each arm and the base, the arms being foldable about the respective hinge section; whereby the arms lie substantially on either side of the plug.    
   
   
       15 . The container as set out in  claim 14 , wherein the end members of the arms are connectable to form the stop of the valve.  
   
   
       16 . The container as set out in  claim 15 , wherein the end members of the two arms include complementary sized and shaped sections which allow the end members to interlock with each other.  
   
   
       17 . The container as set out in  claim 16 , wherein the end members each include arcuate surfaces which form the aperture in the stop when the end members are connected together.  
   
   
       18 . The container as set out in  claim 13 , wherein valve comprises a first member and a second member; and wherein the first member includes the base and the plug and the second member includes the stop and aperture; and wherein the first and second members are complementary sized and shaped to interlock with each other.  
   
   
       19 . The container as set out in  claim 9 , wherein the plug has a tip disposed remote from the base of the valve; and the valve has an outermost edge; and the wherein the plug further comprises a boss which extends outwardly from the tip of the plug beyond the outermost edge of the valve.  
   
   
       20 . The container as set out in  claim 19 , wherein the boss extends outwardly from the center of the tip.  
   
   
       21 . The container as set out in  claim 20 , wherein the boss extends outwardly from the tip proximate a side edge thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The container as set out in  claim 1 , wherein the valve is selectively movable between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       23 . The container as set out in  claim 2 , where the pouch is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, foils and polyolefin films.  
   
   
       24 . The container as set out in  claim 1 , further comprising a tear-away strip adhesively secured to an exterior surface of the first wall of the body, said tear-away strip being disposed over the second part of the straw assembly.  
   
   
       25 . The container as set out in  claim 24 , wherein the tear-away strip includes a plurality of perforations therein.  
   
   
       26 . The container as set out in  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a sleeve which completely surrounds the second end of the tubular member thereby preventing liquid from flowing into the tubular member.  
   
   
       27 . A method of manufacturing a container for retaining liquids comprising: 
 providing a valve including a base with a plug extending outwardly therefrom;    providing an elongated tubular member having a bore therethrough;    rotating the tubular member;    pushing a first end of the rotating tubular member into contact with the plug, whereby the plug enters the bore of the rotating tubular member and the rotating tubular member heats up through frictional contact with the plug;    stopping the rotation of the tubular member;    pushing a second end of the tubular member through an aperture in a sheet of plastic film;    forming a pouch from the sheet of plastic film, whereby the valve and first end of the tubular member are enclosed within an interior cavity of the pouch;    filling the pouch with a liquid;    sealing the pouch.    
   
   
       28 . The method of manufacturing a container as set out in  claim 27 , wherein the tubular member is rotated at a speed of between  800  rpm and  2800  rpm.  
   
   
       29 . The method of manufacturing a container as set out in  claim 28 , wherein the valve further includes a pair of arms extending outwardly in opposing directions from the base, each arm including an end member; and wherein the valve further includes a hinge area disposed between each arm and the base; and wherein the method of manufacture further comprises the step of: 
 rotating the arms upwardly and inwardly through 90 degrees toward the plug on the base.    
   
   
       30 . The method of manufacture as set out in  claim 29 , wherein the step of rotating the arms occurs simultaneously with the step of pushing the rotating tubular member onto the plug.  
   
   
       31 . The method of manufacture as set out in  claim 30 , further comprising the step of: 
 ultrasonic welding the end members of the arms together about the tubular member to form a stop.    
   
   
       32 . The method of manufacture as set out in  claim 31 , wherein the valve further includes a housing having a tapered internal cavity and an aperture with an annular stop; and wherein the method of manufacture further includes the step of: 
 inserting the tubular member through the aperture in the housing;    snap fitting the housing together with the base, whereby the plug extends inwardly into the internal cavity of the housing and toward the annular stop; and wherein the tubular member is received on the plug.