Liquid holding system with integral straw

Abstract

An integrated straw and container. The container includes an interior bottom surface and defines an opening near an upper portion of the container. A cap can be placed onto the container to close the container, and then removed to open the container. The straw includes a shape that operates as a spring operates to create two states: a resting or expanded state and a compressed state. In the resting state of the straw, the overall distance from the first end to the second end is greater than the distance from the interior bottom surface of the container to the opening of the container. The straw is placed into the container and the container is sealed forcing the straw into a compressed state. Upon removal of the cap, the straw returns to a resting state in which the upper end protrudes from the container opening.

1 . An integrated straw and container comprising:
 a container defining an interior portion suitable for containing a liquid, the container including an interior bottom surface and defining an opening near an upper portion of the container, the opening defining a cap receptacle;   a cap that mates with the cap receptacle of the container for sealing the container; and   a tube having a first end and a second end and being formed in the shape of a helical coil over at least a portion of the length between the first end and the second end, the tube being constructed such that in a resting state, the overall distance from the first end to the second end is greater than the distance from the interior bottom surface of the container to the opening of the container and, when the tube is compressed in the interior of the container between a lower surface of the cap and the interior bottom surface, the helical coil retains a force in a compressed state that is released when the cap is removed and the tube can return to a resting state.   
     
     
         2 . An integrated straw and container comprising:
 a container that defines an interior portion suitable for containing a liquid; and   a tube that resides in the interior portion of the container in a sealed state and, which can be partially extracted from the container for dispensing of the liquid when the container is opened.   
     
     
         3 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 2 , wherein the tube includes an upper end and a lower end and a structure that resides over at least a portion of the tube between the upper end and the lower end such that when a force is applied on one end towards the other end, that the structure compresses and when the force is removed, the structure decompresses. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 3 , wherein the structure is an S bend. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 3 , wherein the structure is a helical coil. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 5 , wherein the container further defines a cap receptacle for receiving a cap, wherein when the cap is placed onto the container the tube is forced into a compressed state. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 5 , wherein the container further defines a cap receptacle for receiving a cap, wherein when the cap is positioned on the container, the tube is held in a compressed state and when the cap is removed from the container the tube expands to an at rest state. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 5 , wherein the container further defines an opening for receiving a seal, wherein when the seal is placed over the opening of the container the tube is forced into a compressed state. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 6 , wherein the seal is a screw on cap. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 5 , wherein the container further defines an opening for receiving a seal, wherein when the seal is positioned on the container, the tube is held in a compressed state and when the seal is removed from the container the tube expands to an at rest state. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated straw and container of  claim 6 , wherein the seal is a screw on cap.