Closure Cap For Using With Containers to Allow Sharing Drinks in a Hygienic Manner

Abstract

A closure cap for a beverage container that enables people to share beverages from the same container in a hygienic manner. The closure cap comprises a central capping member with a plurality of drinking tubes attached thereto. Each tube can be opened for drinking while the remaining tubes stay closed and they are preferably distinguishable from each other by markings, color, etc. In particular embodiments, each of the drinking tubes or the central member comprises a one-way valve allowing beverage to flow through the drinking tubes in only the outward direction, thereby preventing saliva, or beverage that has entered a drinker's mouth, from returning to the container. In such embodiments, the closure cap preferably has one or more pressure equalizing holes to equalize the air pressure inside the container as the beverage is consumed, and optional one-way valves to prevent beverage leakage via the pressure equalizing holes.

1 . A closure cap for capping a closed-type beverage container, the cap comprising: a central member adapted for said capping of said container; and a plurality of drinking tubes attached to said central member and adapted so each of the drinking tubes can be individually positioned in an open drinking position or a closed position. 
   
   
       2 . The closure cap according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the drinking tubes or the central member comprise a one-way valve allowing the beverage to flow through the drinking tubes in only the outward direction, thereby preventing saliva, or beverage that has entered a drinker's mouth, from returning to the container. 
   
   
       3 . The closure cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the central member comprises one or more pressure equalizing holes for facilitating equalization of pressure between the inside and outside of the container as the beverage is consumed, to ease drinking. 
   
   
       4 . The closure cap according to  claim 3 , wherein the pressure equalizing holes comprise one or more check valves to prevent spillage via the holes. 
   
   
       5 . The closure cap according to  claim 3 , wherein the central member and drinking tubes are adapted so that the one or more pressure equalizing holes are automatically closed when any of the drinking tubes are closed. 
   
   
       6 . The closure cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the drinking tubes are distinguishable from each other and for that purpose comprise one of the following distinguishing features: different colors, different shapes, different sizes, different markings, different text or symbols, different textures or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The closure cap according to  claim 1  wherein the central member further comprises an internal tubular member extending toward the inner part of the container, allowing the drinkers to drink from the container while the container is standing in an upright position via suction. 
   
   
       8 . The closure cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the central member is adapted to be detachably attached from the beverage container. 
   
   
       9 . The closure cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the central member is adapted to be integrally formed with the beverage container.