Drinking/dispensing device for beverage containers

Claim 1

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; and including means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice by the actuating member.

Claim 2

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; and including means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice by the actuating member.

Claim 17

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means freely disposed within the body and resting on the closed end for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; and means operatively cooperating with said supporting means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member.

Claim 18

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means freely disposed within the body and resting on the closed end for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; and means operatively cooperating with said supporting means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member.

Claim 19

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member; and wherein said support means comprises a rod extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, and means disposed about said rod and extending radially outwardly and disposed about said conduit for maintaining alignment of said conduit with the longitudinal axis.

Claim 20

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member; and wherein said support means comprises a rod extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, and means disposed about said rod and extending radially outwardly and disposed about said conduit for maintaining alignment of said conduit with the longitudinal axis.

Claim 22

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member; said support means comprising a base mount adapted to engage an interior longitudinal wall of the body, a rod supported by said base mount and extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, and means disposed about said rod and extending radially outwardly and disposed about said conduit for maintaining alignment of said conduit with the longitudinal axis; said rotating means comprises a moveable device disc having an aperture and disposed about said rod, said rod having at least one raised flight, said drive disc having a groove about the circumference of said aperture for matingly engaging said raised flight; wherein said rod is fixed relative to said base mount; and wherein said drive disc includes a flange extending radially outwardly and having a positioning aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, said conduit extending through said positioning aperture.

Claim 23

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member; said support means comprising a base mount adapted to engage an interior longitudinal wall of the body, a rod supported by said base mount and extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, and means disposed about said rod and extending radially outwardly and disposed about said conduit for maintaining alignment of said conduit with the longitudinal axis; said rotating means comprises a moveable device disc having an aperture and disposed about said rod, said rod having at least one raised flight, said drive disc having a groove about the circumference of said aperture for matingly engaging said raised flight; wherein said rod is fixed relative to said base mount; and wherein said drive disc includes a flange extending radially outwardly and having a positioning aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, said conduit extending through said positioning aperture.

Claim 24

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member; said support means comprising a base mount adapted to engage an interior longitudinal wall of the body, a rod supported by said base mount and extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, and means disposed about said rod and extending radially outwardly and disposed about said conduit for maintaining alignment of said conduit with the longitudinal axis; said rotating means comprising a moveable device disc having an aperture and disposed about said rod, said rod having at least one raised flight, said drive disc having a groove about the circumference of said aperture for matingly engaging said raised flight; wherein said rod is rotatable relative to said base mount; a swing arm having one end connected to said rod and extending radially outwardly to a second end having a positioning aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, said conduit extending through said positioning aperture; and a stabilizing member fixed relative to either one of said rod and said base mount to resist rotational movement of said drive disc while allowing longitudinal movement of said drive disc relative to said stabilizing member.

Claim 25

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; means for rotating said conduit to align said conduit with the orifice of the lid when the closure tab is deflected into the body to open the orifice by the actuating member; said support means comprising a base mount adapted to engage an interior longitudinal wall of the body, a rod supported by said base mount and extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, and means disposed about said rod and extending radially outwardly and disposed about said conduit for maintaining alignment of said conduit with the longitudinal axis; said rotating means comprising a moveable device disc having an aperture and disposed about said rod, said rod having at least one raised flight, said drive disc having a groove about the circumference of said aperture for matingly engaging said raised flight; wherein said rod is rotatable relative to said base mount; a swing arm having one end connected to said rod and extending radially outwardly to a second end having a positioning aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, said conduit extending through said positioning aperture; and a stabilizing member fixed relative to either one of said rod and said base mount to resist rotational movement of said drive disc while allowing longitudinal movement of said drive disc relative to said stabilizing member.

Claim 26

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; said support means comprising a deflectable band adapted to engage an interior longitudinal wall of the body and a positioning arm extending inwardly from said band and having an aperture extending therethrough, said conduit extending through said aperture and aligned with the orifice of the lid; and wherein said float is secured about said conduit below said positioning arm and being made of a material having a density less than the density of a liquid present in the container.

Claim 27

A device for a container including a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis, a lid secured to the open end and having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and temporarily closing the orifice, an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the body to open the orifice, said device comprising: a conduit disposed within the body; means disposed within the body and adapted to engage the body for supporting said conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; means forming a float for elevating said conduit through the orifice in the lid when liquid is present within the body and the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the body to open the orifice; said support means comprising a deflectable band adapted to engage an interior longitudinal wall of the body and a positioning arm extending inwardly from said band and having an aperture extending therethrough, said conduit extending through said aperture and aligned with the orifice of the lid; and wherein said float is secured about said conduit below said positioning arm and being made of a material having a density less than the density of a liquid present in the container.