Spill proof straw

1. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion;

a second straw portion;

a housing being adapted to be removably secured to said first straw portion, said housing having a housing cavity; and

a valve seat being adapted to be removably connected to said housing cavity for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, and said valve seat being adapted to be removably connected to a second straw portion; the valve seat can receive a second straw portion positioned in a container and control the flow of fluid in the container from the second straw portion to the first straw portion.

2. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve seat has an outer wall, and wherein said housing cavity has an inner diameter that can frictionally engage the outer wall of said valve seat.

3. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible tether.

4. The drinking straw assembly of claim 3 , wherein said flexible tether connects said valve seat to said housing.

5. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve seat has a gripping tab.

6. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane with at least one slit therein.

7. The drinking straw assembly of claim 6 , wherein said valve membrane is concave.

8. The drinking straw assembly of claim 6 , wherein said at least one slit is a pair of slits.

9. The drinking straw assembly of claim 8 , wherein said pair of slits intersect essentially at the midpoint of said pair of slits to form a cross.

10. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve membrane opens when negative pressure is applied to said first straw portion.

11. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve seat is tethered to said housing.

12. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said housing is substantially round.

13. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first straw portion, said housing and said valve seat are made of a flexible material.

14. The drinking straw assembly of claim 13 , wherein said flexible material is a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or any combinations thereof.

15. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 , wherein said second straw portion is made of rigid polymeric material.

16. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion;

a housing being adapted to be removably secured to said first straw portion, said housing having a housing cavity;

a valve seat being adapted to be removably connected to said housing cavity for selectively permitting or preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, said valve seat having a valve cavity the valve seat can receive a second straw portion positioned in a container and control the flow of fluid in the container from the second straw portion to the first straw portion; and

a second straw portion being adapted to be removably connected to said valve cavity of said valve seat.

17. The drinking straw assembly of claim 16 , wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane.

18. The drinking straw assembly of claim 16 , wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane with at least one slit therein.

19. The drinking straw assembly of claim 18 , wherein said valve membrane is concave.

20. The drinking straw assembly of claim 18 , wherein said at least one slit is a pair of slits.

21. The drinking straw assembly of claim 20 , wherein said pair of slits intersect essentially at the midpoint of said pair of slits to form a cross.

22. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion having a housing with a housing cavity; and

a second straw portion having a valve seat connected to said housing cavity for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane that is flexible and self-sealing and the valve seat can receive a second straw portion positioned in a container and control the flow of fluid in the container from the second straw portion to the first straw portion.

23. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22 , wherein said valve seat is adapted to be removably connected to said second straw portion.

24. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22 , wherein said valve seat has an outer wall, and wherein said housing cavity has an inner diameter that can frictionally engage the outer wall of said valve seat.

25. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22 , further comprising a flexible tether connecting said valve seat to said housing.

26. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22 , wherein said valve membrane is concave.

27. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22 , wherein said valve membrane has a pair of slits that intersect to form a cross.

28. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion having a housing with a housing cavity; and

a second straw portion having a valve seat adapted to be removably connected to said housing cavity for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane that is flexible and self-sealing and the valve seat can receive a second straw portion positioned in a container and control the flow of fluid in the container from the second straw portion to the first straw portion.

29. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28 , wherein said valve seat is adapted to be removably connected to said second straw portion.

30. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28 , wherein said valve seat has an outer wall, and wherein said housing cavity has an inner diameter that can frictionally engage the outer wall of said valve seat.

31. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28 , further comprising a flexible tether connecting said valve seat to said housing.

32. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28 , wherein said valve membrane is concave.

33. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28 , wherein said valve membrane has a pair of slits that intersect to form a cross.