Beverage containers and accessories with integrated straw

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to beverage containers having integrated straws, beverage container accessories having integrated straws, as well as methods of making and using the beverage containers and beverage container accessories with integrated straws. In particular, the disclosure relates to embodiments of such containers in the form of a pouch, a bottle, and a box, each having integrated straws and embodiments of accessories with integrated straws for use with conventional beverage cans and beverage bottles.

1 . A beverage container comprising: 
 a container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom end, and a top end defining an interior compartment for containing a beverage; and    an integrated straw having an upper straw portion with a top opening and a lower straw portion with a bottom opening,    wherein the lower straw portion is in communication with the interior compartment of the container for accessing a beverage contained therein via the bottom straw opening, and    wherein the upper straw portion is releasably enclosed within a releasable portion of the container located adjacent to the top end of the container.    
   
   
       2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is disposable.  
   
   
       3 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a bottle.  
   
   
       5 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a box.  
   
   
       6 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated straw includes a flexible joint located between the top straw portion and the bottom straw portion.  
   
   
       7 . The beverage container of  claim 3 , wherein the pouch comprises: 
 a front panel and a back panel opposed to the front panel, wherein each of the front and back panels has a top edge, a bottom edge, and a first and a second side edge, wherein the panels form the sidewalls of the container;    a base gusset forming the bottom end of the container;    a base seal securing the base gusset to the font and back panels, at least two peripheral seals securing the front and back panels together along the first and second side edges, and an upper seal securing the front and back panels together and defining a top end of the container, the upper seal, the base seal, and the peripheral seals defining the interior compartment;    an internal peripheral seal at least partially separating the lower straw portion from the interior compartment, and    an opening system adjacent to the upper end and releasable portion, releasably enclosing the upper straw portion within the releasable portion, wherein opening the opening system releases the releasable portion and provides access to the upper straw portion.    
   
   
       8 . The beverage pouch of  claim 7 , wherein the opening system is selected from: a perforation line, a peel-seal, a pull tab, a tear tab, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The beverage pouch of  claim 7 , wherein the releasable portion is re-sealable.  
   
   
       10 . The beverage container of  claim 4 , wherein the bottle comprises: 
 a bottle portion having sidewalls, a bottom end, a top end, and a neck portion forming part of the top end;    an in-mold straw forming the lower straw portion and at least partially defined by the sidewalls of the bottle portion;    a lower cap coupled to the neck portion of the bottle and having a flexible straw forming the upper straw portion; and    an upper cap releasably coupled to the lower cap forming the releasable portion, wherein the upper cap releasably encloses the upper straw portion.    
   
   
       11 . The beverage bottle of  claim 10 , wherein the lower cap further comprises a seal ring for engaging the upper straw portion with the lower straw portion.  
   
   
       12 . The beverage bottle of  claim 10 , wherein the lower cap further comprises at least one air vent.  
   
   
       13 . The beverage container of  claim 5 , wherein the box comprises: 
 a front panel and a back panel opposing the front panel, and a first side panel and a second side panel opposing the first side panel, wherein the front and back panels and first and second side panels form the sidewalls of the container;    a top flap defining a top end of the container and a bottom flap defining a bottom end of the container;    an internal straw chamber formed within the interior compartment and along one or more sidewalls of the container; and    a second, releasable top flap forming the releasable portion and releasably enclosing the upper straw portion.    
   
   
       14 . The beverage box of  claim 13 , wherein the internal straw chamber houses the lower straw portion of the integrated straw.  
   
   
       15 . The beverage box of  claim 13 , wherein the internal straw chamber forms the lower straw portion of the integrated straw.  
   
   
       16 . The beverage box of  claim 15 , further comprising a straw seal for engaging the upper straw portion with the internal straw chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The beverage box of  claim 13 , wherein the releasable top flap is removable.  
   
   
       18 . An accessory for use with a beverage container comprising: 
 a cap capable of being removably fitted over an opening in a beverage container; and    an integrated straw having an upper portion and a lower portion,    wherein, when the cap is fitted over the opening in the beverage container, the integrated straw passes through the opening in the beverage container such that the lower straw portion is in communication with a beverage contained in the beverage container and the upper straw portion is external to the container to permit consumption of the beverage by a user.    
   
   
       19 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the accessory substantially reduces spilling of the beverage.  
   
   
       20 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the container is a can and wherein the accessory further comprises a flange on the cap for removably securing the cap to the can.  
   
   
       21 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the container is a bottle and wherein the cap further comprises threads for removably securing the cap to a threaded neck of the bottle.  
   
   
       22 . The accessory of  claim 19 , wherein the cap further comprises an upper cap releasably coupled to the lower cap and wherein the upper cap releasably encloses the upper straw portion.  
   
   
       23 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the straw further comprises a valve for substantially preventing spilling of the beverage.  
   
   
       24 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the accessory is reusable.