US2800265A - Containers with pressure closed self opening sipper straw - Google Patents

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CONTAINERS WITH PRESSURE CLOSED SELF OPENING SIPPER STRAW Filfld A115. 20, 1956 7 William A. Pugh, 5r. INVENTOR.

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CONTAINERS WITH PRESSURE CLOSED SELF OPENING SIPPER STRAW Filed Aug. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Shae William A Pug/1, .Sfr. INVENTOR.

, 2,800,265 CONTAINERS PRESSURE CLOSED SELF OPENING SIPPER STRAW William A. Pugh, Sp, Chicago, 111. Application August "20, 1955, Serial No. 604,896 7 '1 6Clai ms. c1.*229-'-7- My invention relates to dispensing beverage containers embodying a sipper straw and is designed as an improvement over my Patent No. 2,724,536, dated November22,1955.' r

. Thelprimarly. object .of my invention is to provide an improved dispensing liquid container for milk or soft drinks equipped for sale with a sipper straw having a mouth portion folded and closed under compression into the top portion of the container so that it will be leakproof and releasable to spring into erect self opening position for use.

Another object is to provide in conjunction with the above means for compressing and closing the mouth portion of the straw which will conceal and cover the same against contamination and which embodies means for releasing the mouth portion of the straw at will for use of the same.

Another object is to provide an improved plug for securing the sipper straw in the container and closing a filling opening in the top of the container and which is flanged above the top and adapted to be expanded beneath the top to form a leak proof seal around the opening and through which the straw extends out of the container with a leak proof seal between the plug and the straw.

Still another object is to provide a container with the above improvements which will meet all sanitary requirements and which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and foolproof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a rectangular container I equipped according to my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View in vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the manner in which the mouth portion of the sipper straw is released and springs into erect open position; I

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the plug fitted in the pouring opening before it is expanded beneath the top of the container;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section of a round container equipped according to my invention;

Figure 7 is a view in plan partly broken away of the same; and

Figure 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the round container and parts of the invention embodied therein.

Referring to the drawings by numerals and first to Figures 1 to 5, according to my invention the conventional rectangular beverage container 1 of commerce having the usual side walls 3 and sealed bottom 5 is equipped with a rectangular top 7 countersunk a slightly greater distance between the side walls 3 than is usual for a purpose presently seen. The conventional upstanding edge flange 11 having a bottom groove 13 in which said sidewalls 3 are fitted and glued secures the top wall 7 to the side walls 3 with a sealing fit.

The sipper straw 15 is formed of resilient elastic plastic, tapers upwardly out of the container from adjacent the bottom 5 and extends out of the top 7 to provide a mouth portion 17 and is secured by an annular plug 19 in a corner filling opening 21 in the top 7 after the container is filled. The plug 19 is resilient for a press fit in the opening 21 and expansion beneath the top 7 after it has been inserted in said opening. The plug 19 comprises a circumferential rim flange 23 overlying the top 7 around the opening 23 and which may be secured to said top 7 by cement or glue, not shown, and said plug is preformed with a central annular hub portion 20 havinga flat top ZZQa-flatbottorn '24 and an upwardly tapering bore 26 through which the sipper straw 17 extends and is.wedged therein with a tight fit to form a leak proof seal between said sipper straw 17 and said plug, the flange 23 and hub portion 20 being connected by an annular trough portion 28 depending therefrom. The trough portion 23 is press fitted in the opening 21 and then expanded to provide an annular external flange 30 thereon of double thickness underlying and engaging the top 7. As will be seen the trough portion 28 provides for take up therein to compensate for expansion thereof and acts as a depending splash guard around the bore 26 to fend liquid away from said bore and the flange 30 forms a liquid and air tight seal around the opening beneath the top 7 while the flange 23 accomplishes the same result above the top 7.

The mouth portion 17 is folded over the flat top 22 of the hub portion 20 flat against said top to pinch said portion closed, and extended from said plug diagonally of the top to the corner of the top 7 diagonally opposite said plug and is compressed against the flat top 22 of said hub portion 20 into tightly closed position by a cap 27 which together with said plug pinch the mouth into a right angled tightly closed bend 25.

The cap 27 is rectangular, provided with a countersunk bottom 29 fitting tightly in the top 7 against the mouth portion 17 of the sipper straw 15. An upstanding edge flange 31 on the cap 27 with a bottom groove 33 is tightly fitted over the flange 11 of the top 7 with a terminal edge 35 crimped under said flange 33. As will be seen, the cap 27 has a sealing fit on the top 7, forms together with the flange 11 a double seal around the rim of the container and sealingly covers the mouth portion 17'of the sipper straw also the plug 19 to protect the same from contamination.

A tear-out strip 37 is formed in the bottom 29 of the cap 27 diagonally thereof over the mouth portion 17 by parallel score lines 39 and which has a finger grip frangible end 41 over the plug 19.

With reference to the invention as embodied in the round or cylindrical container shown in Figures 6 to 8, the top 49 except for being circular is sealed to the side wall 43 in the same manner as the top 7 by a flange 47 like the flange 11 and is similarly countersunk. A circular cap 51 is formed with a circumferential upstanding edge flange 53 corresponding to the flange 31 and which is provided with a bottom groove 55 and fits tightly with a sealing fit over the flange 47. The mouth portion 57 of the sipper straw 59 extends diametrically of the top 49 as does the tear-out strip 61 in the cap 51. Otherwise, the construction and arrangement is the same as in the rectangular container.

As will be readily apparent, when the tear-out strips 37 or 61 are torn loose and pulled up as shown, for in- PatentedJuly 23 1 957 3 stance, inFigure 4, the mouth portion 17, or 57 of the sipper straw is released and will spring into erect position and will open, as shown inFigures 4 and 6, so that the contents of the container may be readily. sipped until the container iscomplete'ly emptied.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of. the invention. Further, .since numerous modifications and changes will readily .occur to .those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly,all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

.1. A liquid dispensing container having a .sealed'top countersunk therein, an annular plug in said 'top at :one side of the container, a sipper straw extending upwardly out of said container throughsaid plug, said .sipperxstraw having a sealing fit insaid plug and amouth portion folded down over said plug across said top, and means on said container releasably compressing said sipper straw against saidplug to close thesipper straw, .said straw being resilient to spring erect and forzself opening when released.

2. A liquid dispensing container as in claim 1 said s'ipper straw tapering and 'being wedgedin said plug for a sealing fit therein.

3. A liquid dispensing container as in claim 1, said means comprising a cap attached to said top and together therewith enclosing said mouth portion.

4. A liquid dispensing-container as in claim 3, said cap having a tear-out strip therein for releasing said mouth portion.

5. A liquid dispensing'containeras in claim 4, said top having a raisedgrooved flange .therein fittedi-tightly over said container and sealed thereto.

6. A liquid dispensingcontaineras-in'claim 5, said cap having a countersunk :bottnm fitting in said flange and also having a grooved flange fitted over said first-named flange and sealed thereto.

References Cited :in:.the:;file..ofi thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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