Straw drinking cup
US7516862B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47G19/2266
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A straw drinking cup includes a container and a flexible straw having a first, drinking, end and a second and that is disposed within the container. Advantageously, the cup includes a straw positioning mechanism that ensures that the first, drinking end of the flexible straw will remain upwardly oriented to minimize the possibility of leakage, regardless of whether the straw positioning mechanism is in the open position, the closed position, or in transit between the two positions. The straw drinking cup further includes an advantageous venting mechanism that includes a flexible membrane that permits air to flow into the container only when a sufficient pressure differential is developed across the membrane, such as will occur when a consumer is sucking on the flexible straw. The venting mechanism further operates so as to prevent leakage from the container, as sufficient pressure will not exist to draw any liquid across the flexible membrane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.