Multi-receptacle drinking cup and straws

Abstract

A cup ( 10 ) is disclosed which enables a user to draw beverages from two or more receptacles ( 14, 16 ) within the cup ( 10 ) through straws ( 20, 22 ) extending through a lid ( 18 ) into the respective receptacles ( 14, 16 ). The size of the straws ( 20, 22 ) may differ so that beverages of different viscosities can be drawn at the same rate from the respective receptacles ( 14, 16 ). The separate receptacles ( 14, 16 ) may be formed by a divider ( 12 ) in a single cup; alternatively, or separate receptacles may be molded and secured together by integrally molded components on the respective receptacles or by an additional element such as an elastic band. The lid ( 18 ) and cup ( 10 ) may also include complementary means to ensure that the lid ( 18 ) can only be placed on the cup with the straws extending into the proper receptacles.

1 . A cup for holding two or more beverages, comprising two receptacles having mating faces, 
 means for holding the two receptacles together,    a lid adapted to engage the open ends of the joined receptacles, and    two straws extending through said lid into the respective receptacles, the straws being joined together so that the ends of the straws extending from the cup are accessible to a single user.    
   
   
       2 . A cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for holding includes elastic ring.  
   
   
       3 . A cup according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper edges of said mating faces are joined together by a living hinge.  
   
   
       4 . A cup according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the receptacles is placed within the other.  
   
   
       5 . A cup according to  claim 1 , where the diameters of the straws are different.  
   
   
       6 . A cup according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shapes of the straws are different.  
   
   
       7 . A cup according to  claim 1 , including means for insulating each receptacle from the other.  
   
   
       8 . A cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes a downwardly facing unshaped channel for engaging the upper edges of said mating faces.  
   
   
       9 . A cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid and cup include complementary means for ensuring a predetermined orientation of the lid with respect to the cup whereby the diameters of the straws can be matched to the viscosities of the beverages within said receptacles.  
   
   
       10 . A cup having at least two separate receptacles for containing liquids of different viscosities, 
 a lid for covering the top of the cup, and    two straws passing through holes in the lid and into the respective receptacles, said straws being of different diameters whereby beverages of different viscosities can be drawn through the two straws at approximately the same rate, said two straws being joined together so that the ends of the straws extending from the cup are accessible to a single user.    
   
   
       11 . A cup according  claim 8 , wherein the two receptacles are formed by a divider in a single cup.  
   
   
       12 . A cup according to  claim 8 , wherein the receptacles are separable and include mating faces, and further including means for holding the two receptacles together.  
   
   
       13 . A cup according to  claim 12 , wherein said means for holding includes elastic ring.  
   
   
       14 . A cup according to  claim 12 , wherein the upper edges of said receptacles are joined together by a living hinge.  
   
   
       15 . An cup according to  claim 12 , wherein one of the receptacles is placed within the other.  
   
   
       16 . A cup according to  claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional shapes of the straws are different.  
   
   
       17 . A cup according to  claim 12 , including means for insulating each receptacle from the other.  
   
   
       18 . A cup according to  claim 12 , wherein said lid includes a downwardly facing unshaped channel for engaging the upper edges of said receptacles.  
   
   
       19 . A cup according to  claim 12 , wherein said lid and cup include complementary means for ensuring a predetermined orientation of the lid with respect to the cup whereby the diameters of the straws can be matched to the viscosities of the beverages within said receptacles.  
   
   
       20 . A cup according to  claim 10 , wherein the straws are joined at their upper ends.  
   
   
       21 . A cup according to  claim 20 , wherein the straws are joined by twisting them together.