Cup with integrated straw

Abstract

The disclosure concerns an improved cup for use by restaurants and other servicing entities. The improvement includes an integrated straw, and orientation of the integrated straw for enabling nesting of cups in a stackable manner. In some embodiments, a lid is utilized to cover the cup and integrated straw while no in use. The lid may also include a flexible element which allows the integrated straw to be conveniently uncovered when desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cup with integrated straw comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end,
 the body having an upper edge comprising an upper edge periphery disposed at the first end and a base comprising a base periphery disposed at the second end; 
   a channel disposed at a portion of the body extending from the upper edge to the base, the channel includes a left side and a right side; and   an integrated straw having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the distal end;   wherein the integrated straw is coupled to the channel at a center portion.   
     
     
         2 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first flange extending from the proximal end at the left side to the upper edge periphery; and 
 a second flange extending from the proximal end at the right side to the upper edge periphery. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge periphery is greater than the base periphery. 
     
     
         4 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1 , the integrated straw further comprising a straw exterior, and wherein a portion of said straw exterior is visible outside the body. 
     
     
         5 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1 , the integrated straw further comprising a distal aperture disposed at the distal end, the distal aperture configured to receive liquid contained within an interior. 
     
     
         6 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1 , the integrated straw further comprising a proximal end extension coupled to the proximal end such that a straw aperture is at least 0.5 inches from the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         7 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1 , wherein the body, channel, and integrated straw comprise a monolithic piece. 
     
     
         8 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured to couple to the upper edge, the lid comprising a straw cap configured to engage the proximal end of the integrated straw. 
     
     
         9 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 8 , the lid further comprising a cap holder aperture disposed on a lid surface, said cap holder aperture configured to couple with the straw cap. 
     
     
         10 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 9 , the lid further comprising a flexible element coupled to the lid surface and further coupled to the straw cap, the flexible element configured to rotatably move the straw cap to couple with the cap holder aperture thereby allowing access to a straw aperture of the integrated straw. 
     
     
         11 . The cup with integrated straw of  claim 10 , the flexible element further comprising a plurality of perforated edges, the plurality of perforated edges coupled to the lid surface and configured to tear and detach from said lid surface. 
     
     
         12 . A lid for engaging with a cup with integrated straw, comprising:
 a lid surface having a lid periphery;   a straw cap disposed at a portion of the lid periphery and configured to engage with a proximal end of an integrated straw;   a straw holder aperture disposed on the lid surface and configured to couple with the straw cap; and   a flexible element coupled to the lid surface and further coupled to the straw cap, the flexible element is configured to rotatably move the straw cap to couple with the cap holder thereby allowing access to a straw aperture.   
     
     
         13 . The lid for engaging with a cup with integrated straw of  claim 12 , the flexible element further comprising a plurality of perforated edges, the plurality of perforated edges coupled to the lid surface and configured to tear and detach from said lid surface. 
     
     
         14 . The lid for engaging with a cup with integrated straw of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of lid-flanges extending from the straw cap to the lid periphery.