Straw holder for a beverage container

Abstract

A straw holder for supporting a drinking straw in the mouth of a can having a pull tab and made of a flexible sheet material includes a straw support portion dimensioned for placement above the mouth of a can and comprising an aperture designed to receive a straw therethrough and to vertically support the straw with respect to the support portion and a retaining portion proximate the straw support portion comprising a first edge engageable with the pull tab of the can for retaining the straw holder in an installed position on the can. The straw support portion is attached to the retaining portion by at least one connection.

1 . A straw holder for supporting a drinking straw in the mouth of a can having a pull tab, the straw holder being formed of a flexible sheet material and comprising: 
 a straw support portion dimensioned for placement above the mouth of a can and comprising an aperture designed to receive a straw therethrough and to vertically support said straw with respect to said support portion; and    a retaining portion proximate said straw support portion comprising a first edge engageable with the pull tab of the can for retaining the straw holder in an installed position on the can, said straw support portion being attached to said retaining portion by at least one connection.    
   
   
       2 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , wherein said straw support portion and retaining portion are formed as one piece.  
   
   
       3 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first edge portion is formed by a first slit in said sheet of flexible material, said first slit separating said straw support portion from said bottle retaining portion.  
   
   
       4 . The straw holder of  claim 3 , wherein said slit is rectilinear.  
   
   
       5 . The straw holder of  claim 3 , wherein said edge portion is curved and faces said straw support portion concavely.  
   
   
       6 . The straw holder of  claim 3 , wherein one end of said slit extends through a side of the flexible sheet material.  
   
   
       7 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a second edge portion, wherein said first and second edge portions are spaced apart for engaging a mouth of a bottle.  
   
   
       8 . The straw holder of  claim 7 , wherein each of said first and second edge portions is individually engageable with the pull tab of the can for retaining the straw holder in an installed position on the can.  
   
   
       9 . The straw holder of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second edge portions are formed by parallel substantially rectilinear slits.  
   
   
       10 . The straw holder of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second edge portions are curved edge portions which face each other concavely.  
   
   
       11 . The straw holder of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second edge portions are formed by slits, each of said slits having one end extending through a side of the flexible sheet material.  
   
   
       12 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , wherein said straw holder substantially covers a top of the can.  
   
   
       13 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , wherein said edge portion is formed by a cutout in said flexible sheet.  
   
   
       14 . The straw holder of  claim 13 , said cutout being open to one side of said flexible sheet so that the pull tab is insertable through the one side of the flexible sheet into the region of the cutout.  
   
   
       15 . The straw holder of  claim 13 , said cutout being circular.  
   
   
       16 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , a distance between said aperture and said first edge is dimensioned such that when a straw inserted through said aperture abuts one of the pull tab and a side of the can opening facing the pull tab, the first edge remains engaged with the pull tab.  
   
   
       17 . The straw holder of  claim 1 , said straw holder further comprising a plurality of removable tabs for indicating ownership of a straw holder.  
   
   
       18 . A straw holder for supporting a drinking straw in the mouth of a can or bottle, the straw holder being formed of a flexible sheet material and comprising: 
 a straw support portion dimensioned for placement above the mouth of a can and comprising an aperture designed to receive a straw therethrough and to vertically support said straw with respect to said support portion, whereby a straw that is too short is prevented from falling into the can or bottle by said straw support portion; and    a retaining portion comprising an adhesive for adhereing to the can or bottle.    
   
   
       19 . A straw holder for supporting a drinking straw in the mouth of a can or bottle, the straw holder being formed of a flexible sheet material and comprising: 
 a first straw support portion dimensioned for placement above the mouth of a can and comprising a first aperture designed to receive a straw therethrough and to vertically support said straw with respect to said first support portion; and    a second straw support portion dimensioned for placement above the mouth of a can and comprising a second aperture designed to receive a straw therethrough and to vertically support said straw with respect to said second support portion,    said flexible sheet material being bendable or foldable to an install position so that a single straw is receivable through said first and second apertures, whereby a straw that is too short is prevented from falling into the can or bottle.    
   
   
       20 . The straw holder of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible sheet material includes a first holding element and a second holding element engageable with said first holding element for holding said flexible sheet material in the install position.  
   
   
       21 . The straw holder of  claim 19 , further comprising an adhesive arranged on said flexible sheet proximate said first aperture such that said straw holder adheres to said can or bottle in the install position.  
   
   
       22 . The straw holder of  claim 19 , further comprising a retaining portion proximate said straw support portion comprising a first edge engageable with the pull tab of the can for retaining the straw holder in an installed position on the can, said straw support portion being attached to said retaining portion by at least one connection.  
   
   
       23 . The straw holder of  claim 22 , wherein said first edge portion is formed by a first slit in said sheet of flexible material, said first slit separating said straw support portion from said bottle retaining portion.  
   
   
       24 . The straw holder of  claim 22 , further comprising a second edge portion, wherein said first and second edge portions are spaced apart for engaging a mouth of a bottle.  
   
   
       25 . The straw holder of  claim 24 , wherein each of said first and second edge portions is individually engageable with the pull tab of the can for retaining the straw holder in an installed position on the can.  
   
   
       26 . The straw holder of  claim 24 , wherein said first and second edge portions are formed by slits.  
   
   
       27 . The straw holder of  claim 19 , further comprising flaps for receiving edges of a promotional item.  
   
   
       28 . The straw holder of  claim 27 , wherein the promotional item is one of a CD and DVD.  
   
   
       29 . The straw holder of  claim 19 , wherein said straw holder is arranged and dimensioned for receiving a promotional item in the install position.  
   
   
       30 . The straw holder of  claim 29 , wherein the promotional item is one of a CD and DVD.