Beverage Container with Retractable Straw

Abstract

The current invention includes a beverage container with an integrally molded handle. Housed within the handle sits a retractable, sliding straw track. The straw track adjusts along the length of a straw track housing located in the handle to substantially seal the jug and adjust an internal, flexible beverage straw. The straw may be connected, via placeholder loops, at intervals along the sidewall of a jug. The straw may extend to a base of the jug, allowing a consumer to create an internal vacuum through a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece end of the straw may be sealed and secured in a substantially fixed position within the jug when the straw track and the cover are in the closed position and is exposed through the neck of the jug when the straw track and the cover are in the opened position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage container comprising:
 a jug comprising a neck and a handle;   a straw at least partially located within the jug, the straw passing through the handle to the neck;   a straw track located adjacent to the handle;   a grip movable to manipulate the straw between a closed position and an opened position, the grip being attached to a straw prong to affect a position of the straw; and   a cover located adjacent to the neck, the cover substantially exposing the straw in the opened position and substantially covering the straw in the closed position;   wherein the straw at least partially extends through the neck in the opened position and is substantially enclosed by the neck in the closed position;   wherein the straw prong connects to the straw at a connection point;   wherein the straw is securable to at least part of the jug via a loop, the straw being movable through the loop.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck comprises a neck track to guide the cover; and wherein the grip is operatively attached to a cover prong to manipulate a position of the cover to expose the straw in the opened position and substantially cover the straw in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the straw comprises a solid section that is substantially rigid and a pleat that is at least partially bendable. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a liquid is removable from the jug in the opened position and wherein the jug is substantially hermetic in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a straw track housing oriented substantially vertically on an outward facing surface of the handle, the straw track housing further comprising the straw track and the grip. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the straw track housing comprises a locking mechanism to restrict movement of the grip about the straw track in a locked state, the locking mechanism being manipulated from the locked state to an unlocked state by depressing the grip at least partially inward into the straw track mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the jug comprises a base; wherein the straw comprises a mouthpiece end positioned near the neck and a content suction end positioned near the base. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the base comprises a depressed chamber; and
 wherein the content suction end of the straw is locatable substantially within the depressed chamber.   
     
     
         9 . A beverage container comprising:
 a jug further comprising:
 a neck near the top of the jug, 
 a base near the bottom of the jug, and 
 a handle located between the neck and the base; 
   a straw at least partially located within the jug, the straw comprising a content suction end located near the base and a mouthpiece end located near the neck, the straw at least partially passing through the handle;   a straw track housing located on the handle further comprising:
 a straw track, 
 a grip movable about the straw track to manipulate the straw between a closed position and an opened position, the grip being attached to a straw prong to affect a position of the straw, and 
 a locking mechanism to restrict movement of the grip about the straw track in a locked state and to substantially permit movement in an unlocked state; and 
   a cover located adjacent to the neck, the cover substantially exposing the straw in the opened position and substantially covering the straw in the closed position;   wherein the straw prong connects to the straw at a connection point.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the neck comprises a neck track to guide the cover; and wherein the grip is operatively attached to a cover prong to manipulate a position of the cover to expose the straw in the opened position and substantially cover the straw in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the straw comprises a solid section that is substantially rigid and a pleat that is at least partially bendable. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein a liquid is removable from the jug in the opened position and wherein the jug is substantially hermetic in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the straw at least partially extends through the neck in the opened position and is substantially enclosed by the neck in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the straw is securable to at least part of the jug via a loop, the straw being movable through the loop. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a beverage container comprising a jug with a handle and a straw passing through the handle, the method comprising:
 (a) manipulating a grip within a straw track housing located on the handle to manipulate the straw between a closed position and an opened position, the grip being movable about a straw track of the straw track housing;   (b) to access contents held by the jug, positioning the grip in the opened position to position a cover located at a neck of the jug to substantially expose the straw and at least partially extend the straw through the neck; and   (c) to substantially enclose the contents, positioning the grip in the closed position to substantially withdraw the straw and positioning the cover to substantially cover the straw;   wherein the straw passes through the handle to the neck;   wherein the grip is attached to a straw prong to affect a position of the straw, the straw prong connecting to the straw at a connection point;   wherein the straw is securable to at least part of the jug via a loop, the straw being movable through the loop.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the neck comprises a neck track to guide the cover; and wherein the grip is operatively attached to a cover prong to manipulate a position of the cover to expose the straw in the opened position and substantially cover the straw in the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the straw comprises a solid section that is substantially rigid and a pleat that is at least partially bendable. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the contents are removable from the jug in the opened position and wherein the jug is substantially hermetic in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the straw track housing comprises a locking mechanism to restrict movement of the grip about the straw track in a locked state; wherein step (a) further comprises depressing the grip at least partially inward into the straw track housing to manipulate the locking mechanism from the locked state to an unlocked state. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the jug comprises a base further comprising a depressed chamber; wherein the straw comprises a mouthpiece end positioned near the neck and a content suction end positioned substantially within the depressed chamber.