Irreversibly Attachable Drinking Straws and Methods of Use Thereof

Abstract

Provided is an assembly that includes a container with an opening for holding a volume of a liquid, a lid, and a connector attaching the container and the lid. Such an assembly can be used as a beverage container with an attached lid. Provided are methods of using such an assembly, such as by placing a liquid into the container and moving the lid so that it covers the opening. Provided are methods of making the assembly, such as by forming it as a single piece. The assemblies can be dimensioned such that can be placed adjacent to one another in a packaging while also occupying a minimum amount of space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly, comprising:
 a container with an opening for holding a volume of a liquid;   a lid; and   a connector attaching the container and the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a living hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the living hinge is a single hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the living hinge is a double hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the living hinge is a triple hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of any one of  claims 2 - 5 , wherein the living hinge is a butterfly hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the butterfly hinge will, in the absence of an external force, bend until the angle between the opening, hinge, and lid ranges from 170° to 190°. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the connector is a pin hinge connector. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the container comprises a closure element that prevents the lid from opening. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the closure element is a tab. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the container, lid, and connector are formed as a single piece. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the container, lid, and connector are formed as different pieces. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 12 , wherein the assembly is dimensioned to be stackable. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the assembly is dimensioned such that two assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and occupy 150% or less of the volume of a single assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13  or  14 , wherein the container has a larger cross-sectional area at an end with the opening than at a closed end such that the closed end of a second container can be inserted into the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 15 , wherein the container is configured to hold 200 ml to 800 ml of liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 16 , wherein the opening is circular in shape and the lid has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 17 , wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area ranging from 10 cm 2  to 50 cm 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 18 , wherein the opening is 80% or more of the cross-sectional area of the container at the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 19 , wherein the container comprises a wall section with a thickness ranging from 0.01 cm to 0.10 cm. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 20 , wherein the assembly comprises plastic. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plastic is a recyclable plastic. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the plastic is polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 23 , further comprising a marking. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the marking indicates that the assembly is recyclable. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the marking indicates that the assembly is biodegradable. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 26 , wherein the lid is configured to receive and irreversibly attach a drinking straw inserted through an orifice in the lid. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the lid comprises a fastener configured to interlock with a fastener on the drinking straw. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 27  or  28 , wherein walls of the orifice are configured to irreversibly attach to the drinking straw. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of any one of  claims 1 - 29 , wherein the container is transparent to visible light. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 placing a liquid into a container of an assembly according  claim 1 ; and   moving the lid so that it covers the opening.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the connector is a living hinge. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the living hinge is a flat hinge. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the living hinge is a double hinge. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the living hinge is a butterfly hinge. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the living hinge is a bi-stable hinge. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  or  36 , wherein the butterfly hinge or bi-stable hinge will, in the absence of an external force, bend until the angle between the opening, hinge, and lid ranges from 170° to 190°. 
     
     
         38 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 37 , wherein the connector comprises a pin and the container and the lid each comprise one or more sections that surround the pin. 
     
     
         39 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 38 , wherein the container comprises closure element that prevents the lid from opening. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the closure element is a tab. 
     
     
         41 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 40 , wherein the container, lid, and connector are formed as a single piece. 
     
     
         42 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 40 , wherein the container, lid, and connector are different pieces. 
     
     
         43 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 42 , wherein the assembly is dimensioned to be stackable. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the assembly is dimensioned such that two assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and occupy 150% or less of the volume of a single assembly. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43  or  44 , wherein the container has a larger cross-sectional area at an end with the opening than at a closed end such that the closed end of a second container can be inserted into the opening. 
     
     
         46 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 45 , wherein the container is configured to hold 200 ml to 800 ml of liquid. 
     
     
         47 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 46 , wherein the opening is circular in shape and the lid has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         48 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 47 , wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area ranging from 10 cm 2  to 50 cm 2 . 
     
     
         49 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 48 , wherein the opening is 80% or more of the cross-sectional area of the container at the opening. 
     
     
         50 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 49 , wherein the container comprises a wall section with a thickness ranging from 0.01 cm to 0.10 cm. 
     
     
         51 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 50 , wherein the assembly comprises plastic. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the plastic is a recyclable plastic. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the plastic is polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     
     
         54 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 53 , further comprising a marking. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the marking indicates that the assembly is recyclable. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the marking indicates that the assembly is biodegradable. 
     
     
         57 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 56 , wherein the lid is configured to receive and irreversibly attach a drinking straw inserted through an orifice in the lid. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the lid comprises a fastener configured to interlock with a fastener on the drinking straw. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  or  58 , wherein walls of the orifice are configured to irreversibly attach to the drinking straw. 
     
     
         60 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 59 , wherein the container is transparent to visible light. 
     
     
         61 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is coffee. 
     
     
         62 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is tea. 
     
     
         63 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is bubble tea. 
     
     
         64 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is a smoothie. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the smoothie comprises vegetable. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64  or  65 , wherein the smoothie comprises fruit. 
     
     
         67 . The method of any one of  claims 64 - 66 , wherein the smoothie comprises ice cream. 
     
     
         68 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 67 , wherein the liquid comprises fruit juice. 
     
     
         69 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 68 , wherein the liquid comprises artificial fruit flavoring. 
     
     
         70 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is a soft drink. 
     
     
         71 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 70 , wherein the liquid is carbonated. 
     
     
         72 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is an alcoholic beverage. 
     
     
         73 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 72 , wherein the liquid comprises chocolate. 
     
     
         74 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is milk. 
     
     
         75 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 74 , wherein the liquid comprises caffeine. 
     
     
         76 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 60 , wherein the liquid is tap water. 
     
     
         77 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 76 , wherein the liquid is 10° F. or more below room temperature. 
     
     
         78 . The method of any one of  claims 31 - 76 , wherein the liquid is 10° F. or more above room temperature. 
     
     
         79 . A method of making an assembly, the method comprising:
 generating an assembly comprising a container with an opening for holding a volume of a liquid, a lid, and a connector attaching the container and the lid.   
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the generating comprises forming the assembly as a single piece. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the generating comprises:
 forming the container, lid, and connector as separate pieces; and   connecting the container to the lid by attaching each to the connector.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80  or  81 , wherein one or more of the forming steps comprise injection molding of plastic. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein all the forming steps comprise injection molding of plastic. 
     
     
         84 . The method of any one of  claims 79 - 83 , wherein one or more of the forming steps comprise computer numerical control (CNC) machining. 
     
     
         85 . The method of any one of  claims 81 - 84 , wherein forming the connector comprises plastic extrusion. 
     
     
         86 . The method of any one of  claims 81 - 85 , wherein the connecting comprises applying an adhesive. 
     
     
         87 . The method of any one of  claims 81 - 86 , wherein the connecting comprises inserting a pin. 
     
     
         88 . A method of packaging two or more assemblies according to any one of  claims 1 - 30 , the method comprising:
 placing the two or more assemblies in a packaging such that the two assemblies occupy 150% or less of the volume of a single assembly.   
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the 150% or less is 120% or less. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88  or  89 , wherein the two or more assemblies is ten or more assemblies. 
     
     
         91 . The method of any one of  claims 88 - 90 , wherein the packaging comprises paper, cardboard, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         92 . The method of any one of  claims 88 - 91 , wherein the packaging comprises an indication that the assemblies can be used for beverages. 
     
     
         93 . A package, comprising:
 two or more assemblies according to any one of  claims 1  to  30 ; and   packaging enclosing the two or more assemblies.   
     
     
         94 . The package of  claim 93 , wherein the two or more assemblies occupy 150% or less of the volume of a single assembly. 
     
     
         95 . The package of  claim 94 , wherein the 150% or less is 120% or less. 
     
     
         96 . The package of any one of  claims 93 - 95 , wherein the two or more assemblies is ten or more assemblies. 
     
     
         97 . The package of any one of  claims 93 - 96 , wherein the packaging comprises paper, cardboard, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         98 . The package of any one of  claims 93 - 97 , wherein the packaging comprises an indication that the assemblies can be used for beverages.