Container straw, beverage kit, method for preparing the beverage kit, method of using the beverage kit, and container straw integrated with sports bottle

Abstract

A container straw includes a tube whose first and second ends are sealed with first and second end caps, respectively, and a plurality of swellable food items sealed within the tube. The second end of the tube is angled to complementarily fit against an angled end face of the second end cap. The container straw can also be integrated into the threaded screw cap of a sports bottle having a container portion, and can include pre-loaded swellable food items in the container portion, enabling consumption of a larger quantity of s and swellable food items than with a double-ended capped container straw embodiment, as well as providing the ability to close the container as desired, to save a portion for later.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage kit for storing and consuming beverages containing swellable food items having an average diameter when swollen, comprising:
 a bottle having a container portion having a threaded male end;   a threaded screw top sealably screwable onto the threaded male end of the container portion, the screw top having an interior opening therein; and   an internal straw having a first end and a second end, the first end of the straw being inserted into the interior opening of the screw top and sealably attached thereto, the straw having an internal diameter larger than the average diameter of the swellable food items when swollen and wherein the container portion is pre-loaded with a plurality of the swellable food items.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage kit of  claim 1  further comprising an additional plurality of swellable food items disposed within an interior of the container straw. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage kit of  claim 1  further comprising liquid pre-loaded in the container portion and wherein the swellable food items are swollen when in contact with the liquid in the container portion. 
     
     
         4 . A combination container straw and threaded screw top for a bottle having a container portion for containing swellable food items having an average diameter when swollen, comprising:
 a transparent or translucent tube having an axis and being made of a food grade material that extends along an axis between first and second ends, the first end terminating at a first end face that is disposed in a first plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the tube, the second end either i) being beveled and terminating at a second end face that is disposed in a second plane that is not perpendicular to the axis of the tube, wherein an angle, α, formed by the axis and the second plane of the second end face of the second end is within a range of 15-75° or ii) terminating at the second end face that is disposed in a third plane generally perpendicular to the axis;   a threaded screw top having a female threaded end adapted to being threadably and sealingly attached to a threaded male end of a container portion of the bottle, the container portion further having sides and a bottom;   the threaded screw top having an interior opening therein sized to sealingly receive the first end of the tube, and wherein the first end of the tube is sealingly integrated with the interior opening of the threaded screw to; and   wherein the second end of the tube has a length such that, when the threaded screw top is fully screwed onto the threaded male end of the container portion, the second end of the tube extends into the interior of the container portion and near the bottom, but with sufficient clearance that, if the second end is beveled, the beveled second end is adjacent to but not touching the bottom of container portion but if the second end is disposed in the third plane, the second end is spaced away from the bottom of the container portion by at least an amount larger than the largest average diameter of the swollen food items when swollen to permit the swollen swellable foot items to enter the second end upon sucking of the straw at the other end by a user.   
     
     
         5 . The combination container straw and threaded screw top of  claim 4 , wherein the inner opening of the threaded screw cap has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first end of the tube so as to create a substantially liquid-tight interference fit therebetween when the first end is inserted into the interior opening in the threaded screw top. 
     
     
         6 . The combination container straw and a threaded screw top of  claim 4 , wherein the tube is removably fitted into the interior opening. 
     
     
         7 . The combination container straw and a threaded screw top of  claim 4 , wherein the tube is permanently fitted into the interior opening. 
     
     
         8 . The combination container straw and threaded screw top of  claim 4 , wherein the interior opening has a beveled opening having a mouth for receiving the tube, the mouth portion having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first end of the tube to facilitate receiving the first end of the tube into the interior opening of the threaded screw top. 
     
     
         9 . The combination container straw and threaded screw top of  claim 4 , wherein the second end of the tube has a second end face that is disposed in a second plane that is not perpendicular to the axis of the tube, wherein an angle, α, formed by the axis and the second plane of the second end face of the second end is within a range of 15-75°, and such that the second end has an beveled opening larger than the largest average diameter of the swellable food items when swollen. 
     
     
         10 . A beverage container having a self-contained straw adapted for facilitating the storage and consumption of a beverage containing swellable food items having an average diameter when swollen, comprising:
 a container portion having a bottom, sides and a threaded male upper end;   a transparent or translucent tube made of a food grade material that extends along an axis between first and second ends, the first end terminating at a first end face that is disposed in a first plane generally perpendicular to the axis, the second end either i) being beveled and terminating at a second end face that is disposed in a second plane that is not perpendicular to the axis, wherein an angle, α, formed by the axis and the second plane of the second end face of the second end is within a range of 15-75° or ii) terminating at the second end face that is disposed in a third plane generally perpendicular to the axis;   a threadable screw top having an interior female threaded end adapted to screw onto the threaded male upper end;   the threaded screw top having an interior opening therein sized to sealingly receive the first end of the tube, and wherein the first end of the tube is sealingly integrated with the interior opening of the threaded cap; and   wherein the second end of the tube has a length such that, when the threaded cap is fully screwed onto the threaded male end of the container portion, the second end of the tube extends into the interior of the container portion and near the bottom, but with sufficient clearance that, if the second end is beveled, the beveled second end is adjacent to but not touching the bottom of container portion or, if the second in is disposed in the third plane, the second end is space away from the bottom of the container portion by at least an amount larger than the largest average diameter of the swollen food items when swollen.   
     
     
         11 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein the inner opening of the threaded screw top has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first end of the tube so as to create a substantially liquid-tight interference fit therebetween when the first end is inserted into the interior opening in the threaded screw top. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein the tube is removably fitted into the interior opening. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein the interior opening has a beveled opening having a mouth for receiving the tube, the mouth portion having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first end of the tube to facilitate receiving the first end into the interior opening of the threaded screw top. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein the second end of the tube has a second end face that is disposed in a second plane that is not perpendicular to the axis, wherein an angle, α, formed by the axis and the second plane of the second end face of the second end is within a range of 15-75°, and such that the second end has a beveled opening larger than the largest average diameter of the swellable food items when swollen. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein the threaded screw top further includes a push-in and pull-out nozzle at an exterior side thereof, the nozzle having an opening in an end thereof that is closable by axially pushing the nozzle in and openable by axially pulling out the nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein the threaded screw top includes a nozzle having an axial opening therein and an exterior cap, the exterior cap being connected to the threaded screw top by a living hinge and an interior closure element adapted to sealably fit against the nozzle to seal the axial opening in the nozzle, the exterior cap being swingably closeable by means of the living hinge and held in the closed position by a resilient snap-closure element on the threaded screw top.