Drinking Straw Holder For A Bottle BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a straw holder for vertically supporting and orienting a drinking straw in the mouth of a bottle.

2. Description of the Related Art Consumers of beverages under some circumstances may prefer to drink directly from a bottle through a straw. While driving a car, for example, bottled liquid is less subject to spillage, but tipping up the bottle for a drink interrupts a driver's view of the road. Use of a straw with a bottle addresses both the spillage and safety issues, but presents a problem when a too-short straw falls into a too-long bottle. In addition, carbon dioxide bubbles from a carbonated beverage may accumulate on the straw and cause it to rise out of the bottle. It would, therefore, be desirable to support the straw vertically in the bottle so that it cannot fall in or rise out. At the same time, it would be desirable to stabilize the angular position of the straw so that it cannot rotate within the mouth of the bottle. A device addressing this problem could also be used by invalids who may not have full use of their hands.

The problem of stabilizing a straw with respect to the lip of a cup is addressed by U. S. Patent No. 5, 823, 493, which discloses a straw holder cut from a sheet material such as paper. The holder includes a retaining portion having an aperture which receives a

standard drinking straw therethrough, and a pair of wings having ends which are clipped together and fitted against the outside of the cup.

The problem of stabilizing the position of a straw in a bottle by means of a simple fabricated device does not appear to have been solved. U. S. Patent No.

3,606, 156 discloses a drinking straw formed with an intake portion received in a bottle, a helical portion fitted around the neck of the bottle, and an outlet to which suction is applied by a consumer. The object is to stabilize the position of a straw for use by small children, but the circuitous path of the straw requires considerable effort to draw liquid. Further, the specially formed straw is a three dimensional object which is relatively expensive to manufacture and inconvenient to store and transport in any quantity. As such it is not suitable for use as a"give-away"item with a bottled beverage.

Other prior art describes straw holders for positioning a straw with respect to the lip of a cup.

See, e. g. , U. S. Patent Nos. 2,070, 495 and 5,823, 493.

The latter discloses a straw holder which can be cut from a sheet material and relies on the straw itself to position the holder on the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a simple and economically manufactured device for stabilizing the position of a straw received in the mouth of a bottle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a straw holder including a straw support portion having a central aperture dimensioned to receive

a straw in an interference fit, and a bottle retaining portion having at least one turn extending around the retaining portion. Preferably there are several turns, which may have a spiral configuration in order to be fitted around the neck of a bottle in a range of sizes.

In use, the straw support portion is received against the mouth of a bottle and a straw is inserted in the aperture, which may be configured with a tab or other resilient receiving means to provide a radial force on the straw. One or more of the turns is received under a flange or screw ramp near the mouth of the bottle to retain the straw holder on the bottle.

The straw holder according to the invention can be simply fabricated from a sheet material such as paper, cardboard, or plastic such as polyurethane. The sheet material is preferably die-cut to form slits which define the central aperture and the turns of the finished device. The straw holder itself is preferably two dimensional when not in use, and may therefore be stacked to provide considerable economy of space. Since the straw holder according to the invention may be manufactured even more cheaply than lids for disposable cups, it is suitable for use as a"give-away", optionally provided with a straw at the point of sale for a bottled beverage. As such, straw manufacturers might wish to provide the straw holder as a"value added"item.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a straw holder is provided including a straw support portion having a central aperture dimensioned to receive a straw in an interference fit, and a bottle retaining portion surrounding the support portion and

having at least two edge portions facing the straw support portion and spaced for engaging the thread ramps or flange of a bottle adjacent to its mouth, the support portion being attached to the bottle retaining portion by at least one connection located between the edge portions. The edge portions are preferably formed by respective slits which separate the straw support portion from the bottle retaining portion. The slits are preferably curved so that they conform to the profile of a bottle neck and have greater surface area for engaging a flange or the thread ramps of a bottle having a screw-on cap. The bottle retaining ramp may also be provided with turns lying radially outside of the slits, for additional retention around the bottle.

The straw holder according to the invention may also include advertising media and may have a promotional item such as a CD attached. To this end, the bottle retaining portion may be provided with circumferentially spaced slits for engaging the circumferential edge of a CD.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings : Figure 1 is a partial elevation view of a conventional glass beverage bottle; Figure 2 is a partial elevation view of a modern plastic beverage bottle; Figure 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a straw holder according to the invention; Figure 4 is a partial elevation view of the straw holder fitted to a conventional beverage bottle while supporting a straw; Figure 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of straw holder according to the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of a straw holder according to the invention, having parallel retention slits; Figure 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of a straw holder having retention slits with curved portions; Figure 8 is an elevation view of the straw holder of Figure 7 fitted to a bottle; Figure 9 is a plan view of still another embodiment of a straw holder having overlapping retaining slits and an outer spiral portion ; Figure 10A is a plan view of a blank for making a skirt-type straw holder; Figure 10B is a perspective view of the skirt-type straw holder made using the blank of Figure 10A ; Figure 11A is a perspective view of a straw holder having a post for retaining a CD; and Figure 11B is a side view of the straw holder of Figure 11A with a CD in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiments described herein, the straw holder is preferably made of a flexible sheet material such as cardboard or plastic, wherein slits and other defining features are preferably formed by die-cutting.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional bottle 2 has a mouth 4 surrounded by a lip or first flange 13 which is used to retain a crimped on metal cap (not shown), followed by a second flange 15 which imparts strength to the neck 17 of the bottle and also facilitates automated handling. The body 18 of the bottle extends to a bottom (not shown) which may be up to 10 inches from the mouth.

Figure 2 shows a modern plastic bottle 2 having a mouth 4 surrounded by a first flange 113 spaced some distance from the mouth 111, and a plurality (typically three) of ramps 6 which serve to retain a screw-on cap (not shown). The first flange 113 is separated from a second flange 115 by a channel 114 which serves to retain a collar formed integrally with a plastic cap and connected thereto by frangible tabs.

When the cap is initially screwed off, the tabs break as the collar abuts the first flange 113. Many variations of the above examples of bottles are known, including bottles with only ramps for retaining a screw-on cap.

The straw holder according to the invention only requires that the bottle have some sort of radially outward extending protrusion near the mouth of the bottle in order to retain the straw holder. Even bottles which do not take caps, such as wine bottles, typically have some type of flange near the mouth of the

bottle in order to facilitate automated corking and provide additional thickness for resistance to breakage.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the straw holder 20, which includes a straw support portion 23 having a central aperture 24 dimensioned to receive a straw in an interference fit. In the present example the aperture 24 is formed by a pair of crossed slits which form four bendable tabs as is common in lids on cups. The aperture may also be profiled by a circular hole having one or more bendable tabs extending radially inward to exert a radial force on the straw, thereby preventing vertical movement of the straw with respect to the straw holder. Alternatively, or in addition, an adhesive material may be present on the bendable tabs, which adhesive may be exposed by removing a masking film (not shown) or the like for further securing the straw in the aperture 24. The straw support portion 23 has an outer edge 26 of continuously increasing radius, forming the profile of a nautilus. A bottle retaining portion 30 connected to the straw support portion 23 comprises a plurality of turns connected to form a spiral. More particularly, the retaining portion 30 comprises a first turn 31 having a first end 32 connected to the straw support portion 23, and a second turn 36 connected to the first turn 31 to form a spiral having two turns. The first turn has an inner edge 33 and an outer edge 34, and the second turn has an inner edge 37 and an outer edge 38. The inner edge 33 of the first turn follows the outer edge 26 of the straw support portion 22, while the inner edge 38 of the second turn 36 follows the outer edge 34 of the first turn 31. This configuration results from the

cutting of the straw holder from a sheet material with a single slit between turns, which not only economizes use of material, but spaces the turns as closely as possible in order to optimize retention of the holder 20 on a bottle. A third turn 39 is constructed similarly to the first two turns. The turns need not have edges with continuously increasing radii, but may have irregular or undulating edges for decorative effect.

Figure 4 shows a straw holder 20 of the type depicted in Figure 3 fitted to a bottle 2 of the type depicted in Figure 1. The straw support portion 23 is positioned across, and rests on, the mouth of the bottle, and a straw 9 is fitted in the aperture 24 in an interference fit, which prevents the straw from dropping into the bottle. The first turn 31 is fitted around the first flange 13, which provides a downward facing shoulder which retains the turn 31 axially. The second turn 36 is fitted around the second flange 15, which provides a downward facing shoulder which retains the second turn 36 axially. The third turn 39, shown positioned loosely around the neck of the bottle, does not serve any retaining function with a bottle of this size. However, if the straw holder 20 were fitted to a bottle with a wider mouth, the first and possibly the second turns might serve no retaining function while the third turn 39 would be retained axially by a ramp or flange formed on the bottle. Of course the bottle retaining portion 30 may be provided with any number of turns, which makes it useful with a wide range of bottle sizes. A small number of turns or a single turn, on the other hand, would be dedicated to use with a more limited range of bottle sizes. The retaining portion 30

may also be provided with slits 35 for retaining a CD, in particular a three inch diameter CD included with the straw holder for promotional purposes as a value added item.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a straw holder 40 which includes a straw support portion 42 having an aperture 44 and an outer edge 46 having a substantially circular profile. The bottle retaining portion 50 includes a first turn 52, a second turn 59, a third turn 65, and a fourth turn 66. The first turn 52 has a first end 51, a second end 56, an inner edge 54, and an outer edge 55. The first end 51 is connected to the straw support portion 42 by a radial connecting portion 57, and the inner and outer edges 54,55 each have a substantially constant radius, the inner edge 54 following the outer edge 46 of the straw support 42.

The second turn 59 has a first end 60, a second end 63, an inner edge 61, and an outer edge 62. The first end 60 is connected to the second end 56 of the first turn 52 by a radial connecting portion 64, and the inner and outer edges 61,62 each have a substantially constant radius, the inner edge 61 following the outer edge 55 of the first turn 52. The third and fourth turns 65,66 are similarly constructed, the number of turns once again depending on the degree of universality which is desired. The substantially constant inner radii of the turns offers the advantage of a secure fit when one of the inner radii is closely matched to the radius of a surface under a flange or a set of ramps as depicted in Figure 2. It is also possible to choose the inner radii of the turns to correspond to standard radii used with standard cap sizes. This may result in turns having

non-uniform width, i. e. different distances between the inner and outer radii of the respective turns.

When in use, the present invention provides a straw holder 20 for positioning about the neck of a bottle with the straw support portion 42 disposed on the mouth of the bottle. Once so-positioned, a straw can be inserted into aperture 44 whereupon the straw can be used to consume the beverage from the bottle. In the case where the straw length is shorter than the bottle depth, the end of the straw that is disposed in the bottle is positioned above the inside bottom surface of the bottle. Once a majority of the beverage has been consumed and the remaining amount cannot be accessed by the straw (as a result of the straw length and position), the bottle can then be tilted so that the straw will have access to the remaining beverage amount.

When the straw holder according to the invention is cut from a sheet material, it may be provided with an adhesive backing and a peel-off layer which can be removed prior to use. The straw support portion may thereby be firmly adhered to the mouth of the bottle and the turns may be adhered to the neck of the bottle. In this regard it would only be necessary to provide the adhesive on the straw support and the tail end of the outer turn. Where the material of the straw holder or at least a portion of the straw holder, preferably a part adhered to the bottle, is made of a material whose color is temperature-dependent, it can provide an indication of the temperature of the bottle and its contents. In lieu of a peel-off layer, the adhesive-backed straw holder could be applied to a

plastic wrapper for a bottle or a blister pack for bottles and thereby serve as a label.

The straw holder according to the invention can also be incorporated in a cardboard package provided with perforations so that the straw holder can be torn out of the package and manipulated to separate the turns. In any event the straw holder can be provided with printed matter to serve as advertising. The tail end of the outer turn can be provided with a notch for fitting onto the beginning of the turn for better retention.

Figure 6 depicts another embodiment of the straw holder 100 according to the invention, which includes a central straw support portion 120 having an aperture 130 dimensioned to receive a straw in an interference fit, and a bottle retaining portion 140 separated from the straw support portion 120 by a pair of parallel rectilinear slits 150 having respective mutually facing edge portions 160 which are spaced to engage a bottle adjacent to its mouth. Each of the slits 150 terminates at a pair of holes 170 which relieve strain so that a tear will not readily propagate through the portion 140 from the slit 150. An additional pair of slits may be provided parallel to and outside of the slits 150, in order to engage a bottle having a wider mouth.

Figure 7 depicts a second embodiment of the straw holder 200 according to the invention, which includes a central straw support portion 220 having an aperture 230 dimensioned, to receive a straw in an interference fit, and a bottle retaining portion 240 separated from the straw support portion 220 by a pair

of slits 250 having respective curved edge portions 260 which face each other concavely and are spaced to engage a bottle adjacent to its mouth. An additional pair of slits 280 having curved edge portions 290 is provided for engaging a bottle having a wider mouth.

Figure 8 shows the straw holder 200 fitted to a bottle 2 having a mouth 4, ramps 6 which serve to retain a screw-on cap (not shown) and a flange 8. The straw holder 200 is fitted to the bottle with the straw support portion 220 against the mouth for supporting a straw 9 received in the aperture 230 (Figure 7), and the bottle retaining portion 240 is flexed out of the plane of the straw support portion 220 so that the curved edge portions 260 engage the ramps 6 to retain the straw holder on the bottle. The straw holder 100 of Figure 6 would be fitted in much the same way. The straw retaining portion may also engage the flange of a conventional bottle which does not have ramps, e. g. a beverage bottle with a crimped-on cap.

Figure 9 depicts a fourth embodiment of a straw holder 400 having a straw support portion 420 with a straw receiving aperture 430 and a bottle retaining portion 440 separated from the portion 420 by slits 450.

Each slit 450 has a first curved edge portion 460 and a second curved edge portion 470. The slits 450 overlap each other so that the first curved edge portion 460 of each slit lies radially inside of the second curved edge portion 470 of another slit. This permits the straw holder 500 to be fitted to a wider range of bottle sizes, because either the first edge portions 460 or the second edge portions 470 can engage the flange or ramps of a bottle. The bottle retaining portion 440 may

further include spiral turns 480 for additional bottle retention, as described in conjunction with Figure 3.

Figure 10A shows a die-cut blank 510 for a straw holder 500 as depicted in Figure 10B. The blank 510 includes a straw support portion 520 having an aperture 530, and a bottle retaining portion 540 having a circular top edge 560. The bottle retaining portion 540 is substantially semi-circular and has opposed ends 580 which are overlapped and glued together to form the frustoconical skirt 550 of the straw holder 500. As shown in Figure 10B, the edge portions 570 are formed by the top edge 560, which can be slipped around the neck of a bottle. The blank 510 may also be provided with a slit 590 for retaining a bottle cap.

Figure 11A shows a straw holder 600 having a straw support portion 620 and a bottle retaining portion 640 separated from the portion 620 by slits 650. The straw support portion 620 is molded with a central post 660 having a top flange 680, the straw retaining aperture 630 being cut in a top surface of the post 660.

As shown in Figure 11B, the, flange 680 is dimensioned to be received through the central aperture of a CD 690 in an interference fit. The straw holder 600 may therefore be provided with a promotional CD at the point of sale.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly

intended that all combinations of those elements which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.