Beverage container with self-retentive straw

Abstract

The invention provides a straw and beverage container combination wherein the straw has retention means such as a convoluted portion adjacent one end that resists removal of the straw from the central aperture of the container lid when a lid is attached to the container. The means also serve to maintain the straw inside the container in an upright position.

1 . A straw and beverage container combination, said combination comprising: 
 a container having an open end, a closed end and an interior cavity, the cavity including a sidewall having an outward bulging concave section between the open end and the closed end;    a container lid having a central aperture and a top surface, said lid being attachable to said open end of said container; and    a self-retentive straw dimensioned to be slip fitted through said aperture, said section of the straw disposed within the container having a convoluted portion adjacent one end wherein said convoluted portion interacts with the concave portion of the sidewall of the container to prevent the straw from being easily removed from the container when the straw is installed into said interior cavity of the container and the lid is attached to the container while permitting the straw to be readily removed when the lid is not attached to the container.    
   
   
       2 . The straw of  claim 1  wherein the convoluted portion is serpentine or S-shaped.  
   
   
       3 . The straw of  claim 1  wherein the convolution has an expanse substantially equivalent to the diameter of said closed end.  
   
   
       4 . The straw of  claim 1  having a portion that stands substantially straight upward from said top surface of said lid.  
   
   
       5 . The straw of  claim 1  wherein the convoluted portion includes curved portions having curvilinear dimensions.  
   
   
       6 . The straw of claim  9  wherein said curvilinear dimensions are greater than a radius of said lid.