Drinking assembly with integral straw
View Patent ↗A cup ( 22 ) includes a base ( 26 ) and a wall ( 30 ) with an integral straw ( 36 ). A lid ( 24 ) includes a flange ( 52 ) for mating with the cup ( 22 ) to establish an assembled position of the drinking assembly ( 20 ). The lid ( 24 ) defines an orifice ( 66 ) aligned with the integral straw ( 36 ) in the assembled position, and a flexible straw ( 68 ) is disposed within the orifice ( 66 ). The flexible straw ( 68 ) has a nipple portion ( 70 ) extending to an inlet end ( 72 ) disposed in abutting relationship with the integral straw ( 36 ) in the assembled position to establish a compression fit between the flexible straw ( 68 ) and the integral straw ( 36 ). The lid ( 24 ) is also stackable with identical lids ( 24 ) and includes a cavity ( 60 ) extending between first and second ends ( 62, 64 ). The orifice ( 66 ) is disposed about one of the ends ( 64 ) and the cavity ( 60 ) has an open portion ( 90 ) disposed about the other of the ends ( 62 ) for receiving a nipple portion ( 70 ) of the identical lid ( 24 ) being stacked in alternating relationship.
1. A drinking assembly comprising;
a cup including a base and a wall extending upwardly from said base for receiving a fluid,
said cup including an integral straw integrally disposed with said wall and extending from a lower end to an upper end for conveying the fluid from said base,
a lid including a locking mechanism for mating with said cup to establish an assembled position of said drinking assembly,
said lid defining an orifice aligned with said integral straw in said assembled position,
a flexible straw disposed within said orifice and having a nipple portion extending to an inlet end disposed in abutting relationship with said upper end of said integral straw in said assembled position; and
said flexible straw including a locking tab engaged with said lid in said assembled position to prevent said flexible straw from exiting said orifice and establish a compression fit between said abutting ends of said straws for sealing fluid communication therebetween.
2. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said flexible straw defines a groove for seating said flexible straw within said orifice.
3. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said locking tab extends outwardly from said nipple portion between said groove and said inlet end to define an annular shoulder for engaging said lid in said assembled position to prevent said flexible straw from exiting said orifice.
4. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said flexible straw includes an annular rib extending outwardly from said nipple portion and disposed adjacent said groove and opposite said locking tab for engaging said lid in said assembled position to further retain said flexible straw within said orifice.
5. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lid includes a cavity extending along a cavity axis and said flexible straw having a straw portion extending from said nipple portion and being bendable to establish a stored position of said flexible straw defined by said straw portion disposed within said cavity and along said cavity axis.
6. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said cavity extends from a first end to a second end to define a cavity length and said straw portion extends from said nipple portion to an outlet end to define a straw length being less than said cavity length.
7. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 5 , further including a plurality of ribs disposed within said cavity for securing said removable straw in said stored position.
8. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said straw portion being cylindrical to define a straw diameter and said cavity including an open portion disposed about said first end and having an open portion width sized larger than said straw diameter for providing access to said outlet end of said flexible straw in said stored position.
9. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further including;
said wall of said cup extending upwardly from said base to a lip,
said lid including a top surface, and
said locking mechanism including a flange extending downwardly from said top surface to a flange end for receiving said lip within said flange in said assembled position.
10. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said cup includes a recess disposed below said lip and said flange includes a projection extending inwardly from said flange end and disposed within said recess for establishing mechanical interlocking relationship between said lip and said cup in said assembled position.
11. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said cup includes an alignment tab disposed in aligned relationship with said integral straw and said lid defines a notch disposed in aligned relationship with said orifice for receiving said alignment tab in said assembled position to establish said aligned relationship between said orifice and said integral straw.