Closure with detachable flip straw

Abstract

A closure for a bottle has a straw portion with a ball coupling, a sipper extending from the ball coupling, a rod extending from opposite sides of the ball coupling, and a handle arranged on opposite ends of the rod. The sipper is in fluid communication with the ball coupling. A cap portion is attachable to the bottle and has a reception area with a channel and a straw area. The channel is configured to detachably receive the rod such that the rod is rotatable within the channel. The straw area has a third aperture and is configured to receive the ball coupling. The ball coupling is rotatable within the straw area between an aligned position in which the ball coupling second aperture is aligned with straw area third aperture and a misaligned position in which the ball coupling second aperture is misaligned with straw area third aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for a bottle, the closure comprising:
 a straw portion including a ball coupling and a sipper extending from the ball coupling, the ball coupling having a rod extending from opposite sides of the ball coupling generally perpendicular to the sipper, the rod having opposite ends and a handle arranged on the rod opposite ends, the sipper including a first internal region and a first aperture, the first internal region and the first aperture in fluid communication with the ball coupling, the ball coupling including a second aperture and a second internal region in fluid communication with the sipper; and   a cap portion adapted and configured to be attachable to the bottle, the cap portion having a top surface and including a reception area in the top surface, the reception area including collectively a channel, a straw area, and a closing area, the channel being adapted and configured to receive the rod such that the rod is rotatable within the channel and removable therefrom, the straw area having a third aperture and being adapted and configured to receive the ball coupling, the ball coupling being rotatable with the rod within the straw area between an aligned position in which the ball coupling second aperture is aligned with straw area third aperture and a misaligned position in which the ball coupling second aperture is misaligned with straw area third aperture.   
     
     
         2 . A closure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the ball coupling is journaled with the straw area. 
     
     
         3 . A closure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sipper first internal region and the ball coupling second internal region extend away from a center of the ball coupling at different angles. 
     
     
         4 . A closure in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a fourth aperture in the cap closing area and a stop formed on a bottom side of the sipper. 
     
     
         5 . A closure in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the stop seals the fourth aperture when the ball coupling second aperture is misaligned with the straw area third aperture, and the stop unseals the fourth aperture when the ball coupling second aperture is aligned with the straw area third aperture. 
     
     
         6 . A closure in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a gasket positioned about the third aperture and adapted and configured to remain in place between the straw area and the ball coupling as the ball coupling rotates. 
     
     
         7 . A closure for a bottle, the closure comprising:
 a straw portion including a sipper, a handle, a ball coupling, and a rod, the sipper including a first internal region and a first aperture and extending from the ball coupling, the sipper first internal region and the first aperture being in fluid communication with the ball coupling, the rod extending from opposite sides of the ball coupling in a direction generally perpendicular to the sipper, the rod having a substantially oval cross-section with opposite ends, the handle extending from the opposite ends of the rod, the ball coupling including a second aperture and a second internal region in fluid communication with the sipper first internal region; and   a cap portion adapted and configured to be attachable to the bottle, the cap portion having a top surface and including a reception area in the top surface, the reception area including collectively a channel, a straw area, and a closing area, the channel being adapted and configured to receive the rod such that the rod is rotatable within the channel and removable therefrom, the channel being substantially circular in cross-section and having an upper opening running the length of the channel, the upper opening having a width less than the diameter of the substantially circular cross-section of the channel, the straw area having a third aperture, the straw area being adapted and configured to receive the ball coupling in a manner such that the ball coupling is rotatable within the straw area to align and misalign the ball coupling second aperture with the straw area third aperture.   
     
     
         8 . A closure in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the oval cross-section of the rod includes two squared off sides opposite each other, the dimension between the squared off sides is less than a dimension of a major axis of the oval cross-section of the rod. 
     
     
         9 . A closure in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the straw portion is rotatable between a closed position, an assembly position, and an open position, wherein in the closed position the ball coupling second aperture is misaligned with the straw area third aperture and seals the straw area third aperture, and wherein in the open position the ball coupling second aperture is aligned with the straw area third aperture, and wherein in the assembly position the rod is oriented such that a minor axis of the oval cross section of the rod is substantially parallel with the upper opening in the channel thereby allowing the rod to be removed from the channel. 
     
     
         10 . A closure in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein with the straw portion in the closed position the rod is oriented with respect to the upper opening such that the rod is retained within the channel, and wherein with the straw portion in the open position the rod is oriented with respect to the upper opening such that the rod is retained within the channel. 
     
     
         11 . A closure in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein with the straw portion in the closed position, the sipper is at least partially in the closing area. 
     
     
         12 . A closure in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein with the straw portion in the closed position, the handle is oriented substantially over the cap portion. 
     
     
         13 . A closure in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein with the straw portion in the assembly position, the rod is rotated to a position intermediate of positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of the straw portion. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 providing a closure for a bottle wherein the closure comprises a straw portion including a sipper, a handle, a ball coupling, and a rod, the sipper including a first internal region and a first aperture, the sipper first internal region and the first aperture in fluid extending from the ball coupling and in communication with the ball coupling, the rod extending from opposite sides of the ball coupling and having a substantially oval cross-section with a minor axis and a major axis, the handle extending from opposite ends of the rod, the ball coupling including a second aperture and a second internal region in fluid communication with the sipper, the closure further comprising a cap portion having a top surface and including a reception area in the top surface, the reception area including collectively a channel, a straw area, and a closing area, the straw area having a third aperture and being adapted and configured to receive the ball coupling such that the ball coupling is rotatable within the straw area and moveable between an aligned position in which the ball coupling second aperture is aligned with the straw area third aperture and a misaligned position in which the ball coupling second aperture is misaligned with the straw area third aperture, the channel being adapted and configured such that the rod is rotatable within the channel, and the channel being substantially circular in cross-section and having an upper opening running the length of the channel, the upper opening having a width less than the diameter of the substantially circular cross-section;   with the handle, rotating the rod to an assembly position where the rod is oriented such that the minor axis of the oval cross section of the rod is substantially parallel with the upper opening in the channel; and   removing the rod from the channel through the upper opening such that the straw portion is uncoupled from the cap portion.   
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising cleaning the straw portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising positioning the rod such that the minor axis is substantially parallel with the upper opening in the channel and inserting the rod into the channel through the upper opening. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising coupling the cap portion to the bottle. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising with the handle rotating the straw portion to a closed positon where the ball coupling second aperture is misaligned with the straw area third aperture and the ball coupling seals the third aperture. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising with the handle rotating the straw portion to an open position where the ball coupling second aperture is aligned with the third aperture. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19  further comprising applying a suction to the first aperture of the sipper and extracting a fluid through the third aperture of the straw area, the second aperture of the ball coupling, the second internal region of the ball coupling, the first internal region of the sipper, and the first aperture of the sipper.