Beverage container with drinking straw

Abstract

 A beverage container (1) has a drinking straw (8) immersed in the beverage which becomes accessible to the user when the container (1) is opened. To this end a magnet (6) is attached to the flap (4) and the straw (8) is provided with a magnetically attracted material (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage container with an opening flap in its lid, having a drinking straw immersed in the beverage which becomes accessible at the opening flap when the container is opened.

[0002] Beverage containers with a drinking straw immersed in the beverage and accessible to the user when the container is opened are known. There are basically two different approaches to direct the straw towards the container orifice. According to one approach the straw is kept in a defined position below the opening flap and pops up when the flap is opened. An example of this solution is disclosed in GB 2447932. A straw inside a beverage can is provided with floaters to urge the straw upwards when the can is opened. The floaters also function as locators which position the straw under the opening flap. It is obvious that this construction is quite complicated and thus too expensive in relation to the value of a beverage can.

[0003] According to another solution the straw is freely floating in the beverage. Examples of this approach are disclosed in US 6,095,368. To direct the straw towards the opening flap the underside of the container lid may either be configured in a specially contoured manner or may be provided with an appropriately contoured insert. The respective configuration of the lid or an insert is also quite complicated and inadequately expensive.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a beverage container of the type mentioned at the outset, but without the disadvantages of the prior art solutions.

[0005] This is achieved by a container having the characterising features of claim 1.

[0006] In the following a preferred embodiment of the invention is described referring to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1

shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a beverage can in its closed condition

Fig. 2

shows the can with a partially opened flap

Fig. 3

shows the can with the flap fully opened.

[0007] A beverage can 1 is of the well-known type broadly used for beer, soft beverages etc. and consists of a body 2 and a separate lid 3 which is seamed onto the upper rim of the body. The lid is provided with an opening flap 4 which is defined by score lines in the lid. The flap is connected with a ring 5 which tears up the flap when pulled.

[0008] A small permanent magnet 6 is attached to the opening flap at a position which is raised when the flap is pulled open.

[0009] The can is filled with a beverage 7. A drinking straw 8 is immersed in the beverage. The straw has a bent upper portion as is also well-known from straws which are attached to the outside of beverage containers. In the curved portion of the bend the straw is surrounded by a sleeve 9 of a material which is attracted by magnetic force.

[0010] After the filling and sealing of the can the straw may initially be freely floating in the beverage, but will quite immediately be attached with its bend to the magnet 6 as shown in Fig. 1. Slightly shaking the can will assist the movement of the straw towards the magnet. When the can is opened as shown in Fig. 2, the straw is hold at the flap 4 and moved up with it. When the can is fully opened as shown in Fig. 3, the straw is projecting sufficiently out of the orifice to be grabbed or by the user thereby separating the magnetic attraction so that the straw may fully emerge from the beverage to be ready for use.

Claims

1. Beverage container having a lid with an opening flap and having a drinking straw immersed in the beverage which becomes accessible at the opening flap when the container is opened, characterised in that the flap and the straw are provided with means for mutual magnetic attraction.

2. Beverage container according to claim 1, characterised in that the flap is provided with a magnet and the straw is provided with a magnetically attracted material.

3. Beverage container according to claim 1, characterised in that the upper portion of the straw is bent and the magnetically attracted material is located in the bent region.

Drawing