Portable Beverage Container For Serving And Entertaining Children

Abstract

A portable beverage container includes a container base adapted to store a liquid, a lid removably coupled to the base, a design element support structure, and a design element. The design element support structure is removably coupled to the lid to allow an end user of the portable beverage container to drink the liquid stored in the container base. The design element support structure is arranged in a fluid aperture defined by the lid such that a first portion of the design element support structure is arranged in the container base and a second portion of the drinking element is arranged outside of the container base. The design element is adapted to movably travel on the first portion of the design element support structure and is configured to float on the liquid stored in the container base.

1 . A portable beverage container, comprising:
 a container base adapted to store a liquid; and   a lid removably coupled to the base, the lid defining a fluid aperture;   a design element support structure removably coupled to the lid to allow an end user of the portable beverage container to drink the liquid stored in the container base, the design element support structure arranged in the fluid aperture such that a first portion of the design element support structure is arranged in the container base and a second portion of the design element support structure is arranged outside of the container base; and   a design element adapted to movably travel on the first portion of the design element support structure, the design element configured to float on the liquid stored in the container base.   
     
     
         2 . The portable beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the design element support structure includes first and second retaining elements, and the design element is adapted to movably travel on the first portion of the design element support structure between the first and second retaining elements. 
     
     
         3 . The portable beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the design element support structure further includes a cylindrical tube, and wherein the first and second retaining elements comprise first and second retention rings, respectively, overmolded on the cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         4 . The portable beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the design element support structure further includes a cylindrical tube having an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining elements. 
     
     
         5 . The portable beverage container of  claim 4 , wherein the design element comprises an annular ring, the annular ring having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical tube but smaller than the outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining elements. 
     
     
         6 . The portable beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid aperture extends along a centrally located longitudinal axis and the design element support structure extends along a first axis that is substantially co-axial with the centrally located longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The portable beverage container of  claim 6 , wherein the design element comprises an opening extending along a second axis that is co-axial with the centrally located longitudinal axis and the first axis, wherein the design element support structure extends through the opening of the design element. 
     
     
         8 . The portable beverage container of  claim 7 , wherein the design element comprises an annular ring arranged at a position proximate a bottom end of the opening, the annular ring having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical tube but smaller than an outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining elements. 
     
     
         9 . The portable beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the design element comprises a first body portion and a second body portion coupled to the first body portion, the second body portion being at least one of a different color, a different material, and a different texture than the first body portion. 
     
     
         10 . A straw assembly configured to be removably coupled to a lid of a portable beverage container, the portable beverage container including a container base adapted to store a liquid, the straw assembly comprising:
 a straw configured to allow an end user of the portable beverage container to drink the liquid stored in the container base, the straw including a first end, a second end, a first retaining ring arranged between the first and second ends, and a second retaining ring arranged between the first retaining ring and the second end; and   a design element adapted to movably travel on the straw between the first and second retaining elements, the design element configured to float on the liquid stored in the container base.   
     
     
         11 . The straw assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the straw further includes a cylindrical tube having an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining rings. 
     
     
         12 . The straw assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second retaining rings are overmolded on the cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         13 . The straw assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the design element comprises an annular ring having an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical tube but smaller than the outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining rings, such that the design element is retained on the straw between the first and second retaining elements. 
     
     
         14 . The straw assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the outer diameter of the straw is equal to approximately 8 mm, the outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining rings is equal to approximately 10 mm, and the inner diameter of the annular ring is equal to approximately 9.5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The straw assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the straw extends along a first axis and the design element comprises an opening that extends along a second axis that is co-axial with the first axis, and wherein the straw extends through the opening of the design element. 
     
     
         16 . The straw assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the design element comprises a first body portion and a second body portion coupled to the first body portion, the second body portion being at least one of a different color, a different material, and a different texture than the first body portion. 
     
     
         17 . A portable beverage container, comprising:
 a container base adapted to store a liquid; and   a lid removably coupled to the base, the lid defining a fluid aperture;   a design element support structure removably coupled to the lid to allow an end user of the portable beverage container to drink the liquid stored in the container base, the design element support structure comprising a cylindrical tube and first and second retaining elements disposed on the cylindrical tube, the design element support structure arranged in the fluid aperture such that the first and second retaining elements are arranged in the container base; and   a design element adapted to movably travel on the design element support structure between the first and second retaining elements, the design element configured to float on the liquid stored in the container base.   
     
     
         18 . The portable beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein the design element comprises an annular ring having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical tube but smaller than an outer diameter of each of the first and second retaining elements. 
     
     
         19 . The portable beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid aperture extends along a centrally located longitudinal axis, the design element support structure extends along a first axis that is substantially co-axial with the centrally located longitudinal axis, and the design element comprises an opening extending along a second axis that is co-axial with the centrally located longitudinal axis and the first axis, and wherein the design element support structure extends through the opening of the design element. 
     
     
         20 . The portable beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein the design element comprises a first body portion and a second body portion coupled to the first body portion, the second body portion being at least one of a different color, a different material, and a different texture than the first body portion.