Container fitting

Abstract

A fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container comprises a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface. A partition is integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end. The partition divides the body into an open top region and an open bottom region. The inner surface of the open top region has a top threading and the inner surface of the open bottom region has a bottom threading. The partition further includes an aperture therein adapted to permit passage of a standard size, disposable straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region.

1 . A fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container, and for receiving a standard size drinking straw, the fitting comprising:
 a) a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   b) a partition integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end, the partition dividing the body into an open top region and an open bottom region, the inner surface of the open top region having a first diameter and the inner surface of the open bottom region having a second diameter wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and wherein the partition further includes an aperture therein configured to permit passage of said standard size drinking straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region.   
     
     
         2 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein one of said first diameter or said second diameter includes a top threading or a bottom threading, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the side wall has a planar surface substantially normal to the open top and bottom ends and wherein the side wall defining the open top region has a thickness greater than a thickness of the side wall defining the open bottom region. 
     
     
         4 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the side wall has a stepped profile so that the thickness of the side wall defining the open top region is substantially the same thickness as the side wall defining the open bottom region. 
     
     
         5 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the partition is rigid yet flexible and the aperture is substantially leak-resistant. 
     
     
         6 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the open top end accommodates a container mouth having a diameter of one of approximately 25 mm or approximately 35 mm wherein the open bottom end accommodates a container mouth having an external diameter of one of approximately 25 mm or approximately 35 mm other than the one accommodated by the open top end. 
     
     
         7 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the outer surface is knurled. 
     
     
         8 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the fitting is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, a copolyester and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the top threading has a different pitch or number of threads per inch or both than the bottom threading. 
     
     
         10 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the fitting is selectively colorized to identify the particular pitch or number of threads per inch of the fitting's threading. 
     
     
         11 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said aperture is sized to close fittedly receive said standard size drinking straw. 
     
     
         12 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 11  wherein a diameter of said standard size drinking straw is approximately 6 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container, and for receiving a drinking straw, the fitting comprising:
 a) a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   b) a partition integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end, the partition dividing the body into an open top region and an open bottom region, the inner surface of the open top region having a first threading size and the inner surface of the open bottom region having a second threading size wherein said first threading size is different than said second threading size and wherein the partition further includes an aperture therein configured to permit passage of said drinking straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region.   
     
     
         14 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said first threading size and said second threading size is a thread pitch. 
     
     
         15 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said first threading size and said second threading size is a number of threads per inch. 
     
     
         16 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said first threading size is a thread pitch and said second threading size is a number of threads per inch. 
     
     
         17 . The fitting in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said drinking straw is a standard size drinking straw.