Container for retaining liquids and valve for use in the same

Abstract

A container for retaining liquids includes a straw assembly that permanently lies partially within an interior cavity of the container and partially outside the container. The straw assembly includes an elongated tubular member which is slidably received in a valve. A first end of the tubular member lies outside the container and is covered by a tear-away strip to protect it from contamination and damage. A second end of the tubular member lies within the cavity and is selectively engeagable with the valve to either prevent liquid from being withdrawn from the container or allow liquid to be withdrawn from the container through the tubular member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 519,983, filed Nov. 14, 2003 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 598,557, filed Aug. 3, 2004, the entire specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] This invention generally relates to containers for retaining liquids. More particularly, the invention relates to containers for retaining liquids, the contents of which are accessed by piercing the outer surface of the container with a straw. Specifically, the invention relates to a flexible pouch that includes a straw which extends through the wall of the pouch and is partially retained within the cavity of the pouch from the manufacturing stage through to the point the consumer wishes to access the contents of the pouch. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] A variety of containers have been utiliz...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The liquid container of the present invention is a container having a straw which extends through an aperture in the outer wall thereof. The straw is retained so that it lies partially within the cavity and partially out of the container. A selectively removable tear-away strip protects the free end of the straw from damage and contamination from the time of manufacture until consumption of the contents of the pouch. Preferably, the end of the straw lying within the cavity is connected to a valve which is set in a first position where the straw is blocked and the valve and straw are movable relative to each other to a second position where the straw is open and liquid is able to flow through the straw. If the consumer decides that they wish to consume only a portion of the liquid in the pouch, the valve can be engaged and reset to the first position so that liquid is again prevented from flowing through the straw. The valve preferably includes a base with a centrally located plug extending outwardly therefrom. The base includes a mechanism for preventing the straw from being entirely withdrawn therefrom and for limiting the range of movement of the straw within the valve.

Problems solved by technology

One of the problems with these previously provided containers is that the plastic sleeves holding the straws may become detached from the box or pouch.

The loss of the straw makes it difficult for the consumer to access the contents of the container.

Additionally, the boxes previously provided are reasonably expensive to manufacture and take up a lot of room during shipping and on displays in the stores.

One of the problems experienced with the presently known pouches is that when the consumer comes to insert the straw into the container, the flexibility of the pouch and the fluid nature of the contents make it difficult to puncture the outer wall of the pouch with the straw.

In order to successfully puncture the pouch, the consumer may apply too much force and push the straw completely through the pouch, thereby causing the contents to spill out of the pouch in two directions or juice may squirt out of the straw as soon as the pouch is punctured.

A further problem with the pouch-type drink containers of the prior art is that once they have been opened, the entire contents of the container have to be consumed.

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