Beverage Bottle with Integrated Straw

Abstract

A plastic beverage bottle has an integrated straw through which the user can drink the bottle's contents. The straw insert follows the contours of the exterior wall of the bottle, so as to minimize intrusion and interference with the flow of liquid in the bottle. Moreover, by hugging the side of the bottle, the straw can be readily engaged by the drinker's mouth. The drinking end of the straw is located within the interior of the bottle neck, while the rest of the straw runs along the exterior of the bottle in a channel or indentation provided for that purpose.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A beverage container comprising:
 a bottle having an open bottle mouth and, below the mouth, a substantially cylindrical bottle neck, which transitions into a larger diameter bottle body, which terminates in a substantially flat or concave bottle bottom, wherein the bottle neck and the bottle body together define an interior bottle contour and an exterior bottle contour;   a substantially tubular integrated drinking straw, having an open proximal end located inside the bottle neck and proximate to the bottle mouth, and having an open distal end located inside the bottle body and proximate to the bottle bottom, wherein the drinking straw extends longitudinally along the exterior bottle contour, from the bottle neck, within a quarter-inch of the mouth, to within a quarter-inch of the bottle bottom.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle neck and the bottle body together define, within the exterior body contour, an indented longitudinal straw channel, and wherein the drinking straw extends through the straw channel from the bottle neck, within a quarter-inch of the mouth, to within a quarter-inch of the bottle bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the drinking straw is supported within the straw channel by a longitudinal flange extending orthogonally from the straw channel. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking straw is supported by a longitudinal flange extending orthogonally from the exterior bottle contour. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container of  claim 4 , wherein the drinking straw and the exterior bottle contour together define an oblong handle aperture, and wherein the drinking straw extends around the handle aperture so as to define a bottle handle.