Background Art Water bottles, plastic soda bottles, disposable drink boxes and disposable juice bottles have become popular ways to conveniently package and sell drinks. Some of these containers, such as plastic bottles, include a cap with a rigid spout that opens and closes to let a user take a drink. Other containers, such as disposable drink boxes, include a straw that a user inserts into the container through a hole covered by thin layers of foil and plastic. These spouts and straws have the disadvantage that they are not retractable; rather, they extend from the drink container, making the container more difficult to store, display and package.

These drink containers also have the drawback of allowing liquid to spill. For example, when the spout on a plastic drink bottle is open, liquid will spill if the bottle tips over. Drink boxes will also spill when tipped. Additionally, drink boxes often spill when the straw is inserted because the user is holding the box in one hand while trying to insert the straw into the straw hole through the foil and plastic. The pressure of holding the box and pressing the straw against the foil and plastic often causes the liquid to spray out of the hole or out of the straw as soon as the foil and plastic are pierced.

This invention addresses these issues by providing a retractable drink spout which may include a valve to prevent liquid from spilling.

Summary of the Invention This invention provides a retractable spout for use on various drink containers.

The spout includes a straw-like structure and a flexible and/or moveable support joined to the straw-like structure. The support allows the straw-like structure to be extended for use, and to be retracted when not in use. The retractability of the spout allows the drink container to present a surface without projections, which makes it easier to package and display the container. This is particularly useful with drink

boxes. The retractability of the spout allows the top surface of the drink box to remain substantially flat, thereby facilitating the box being packaged, shrink-wrapped, stacked, and displayed with other drink boxes. The retractable spout also permits the spout to be easily covered or sealed.

In some embodiments, the retractable spout is part of a drink valve that regulates the flow of liquid. Any type of applicable valve may be used. One such valve includes a gate structure or plug adjacent one end of the straw-like structure. The gate structure or plug is typically closed, and is opened upon movement of the straw-like structure. For example, a user may open the gate structure by tilting the straw-like structure to one side or by moving it down. When the straw-like structure is released, it returns to its normal position and the gate structure or plug is closed. This valve allows a user easily to open the gate-like structure or plug to take a drink, but prevents liquid from spilling if the drink container is tipped or if the user has not opened the valve by moving the straw-like structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows the invented drink spout on an aseptic drink box.

Figure 2 shows the drink spout on a drink bottle.

Figure 3 shows the drink spout on an aseptic drink box with the spout retracted.

Figure 4 shows a cover for the retractable drink spout.

Figure 5 shows the retractable drink spout separate from other structure.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the drink spout.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a drink spout mounted to a drink box.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the invented drink spout in an extended position.

Figure 9 shows how a drink spout may be mounted to a drink box.

Figure 10 is another embodiment of the invented drink spout.

Figure 11 shows the embodiment of Figure 10 mounted to a drink box.

Figures 12 and 13 show an embodiment of the drink spout on a container with a straw extending into the container.

Figure 14 shows a combined spout and valve embodiment.

Detailed Description and Best Mode for Canving Out the Invention Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invented drink spout 10 mounted in an aseptic drink box 12. Drink boxes are popular for fruit juices, fruit punch, chocolate- flavored drinks and other beverages. The spout includes a straw structure 14, which is tubular so that it includes an internal passageway 16 through which liquid may flow.

The straw structure includes an opening or exit port 18 at the top end of the passageway through which liquid exits the drink box. The spout further includes a flexible support 20 joined to the straw structure to support the straw structure while allowing the straw structure to move, as will be described below. A flange 22 extends from the bottom of the support and allows the spout to be mounted over an aperture in an upper surface of the drink box in any acceptable manner, such as by an adhesive or heat seal. The spout may also include a cover or lid 24 to cover the straw structure when the straw structure is retracted.

Figure 2 shows the invented spout mounted in a lid 26 of a plastic or glass bottle 28. For example, bottle 28 may be a plastic soda bottle, a plastic water bottle, a glass juice bottle, an athletic bottle, or any one of a number of drink containers. Flange 22 is mounted to lid 26 by any acceptable means, such as by an adhesive or by pressure. Bottle 28 acts as an enclosure defining a region for the storage of liquid. The liquid may exit the bottle through spout 10.

Spout 10 may also be mounted in a cup or other drink container for a child or toddler, or it may be mounted on other liquid containers.

Figure 3 shows spout 10 in a retracted state on drink box 12. The spout is mounted to the box by flange 22, and support 20 is joined to the flange. However, support 20 has been inverted so that it no longer extends upwardly away from the drink box; instead, the support is retracted down into the box. Support 20 is flexible to allow movement between extended and retracted positions, as is explained in more detail below. Straw structure 14 is joined to support 20, so that as the support is retracted, the straw structure is also retracted, as shown.

When the spout is retracted, cover or lid 24 may be placed over the straw structure, as shown in Figure 4. The cover closes the drink container and prevents liquid from being spilled. The cover includes a tab 30 which a user may grip to open and close the cover. The tab, of course, may take many different forms, including, for example, a pull ring. The cover may be opened by gripping the tab and moving the cover in the direction of arrow 32. The straw structure may then be gripped and pulled to extend the spout for use. Alternatively, cover 24 may include a plug 34, shown in Figure 3, designed to extend into opening 18 in straw structure 14 when the cover is closed. This projection helps prevent spillage by blocking opening 18. The projection also may be sized to create a friction fit between itself and opening 18 so that when cover 24 is opened, plug 34 pulls straw structure 14 to its extended position. In this manner, opening cover 24 automatically extends the drinking spout.

When the spout is extended, a user may drink from the drink box by placing the spout in the user's mouth and tilting the drink box up to allow liquid to flow out of the spout. The spout is retracted simply by pushing down on the straw structure and support.

The spout is typically made from a single piece of an elastomeric material such as silicon, Kraton, urethane or another thermoplastic elastomer. The elastomeric material makes the straw structure and support flexible so that they may move between extended and retracted positions. The spout moves between extended and retracted positions by folding in on itself. If the spout is in the retracted position, it moves to the extended position when a force is applied to move the support and straw structure out. Most often this is done by a user gripping and pulling straw structure 14, or by a cap pulling straw structure 14 out when a user opens the cap, as explained. As the straw structure is pulled out, support 20 folds in on itself and moves through what may be thought of as an"S"shaped curve. Support 20 is made from a flexible material to facilitate this movement. Typically the support is made from an elastomeric material because elastomers are flexible and they have a high degree of what may be thought of as shape memory. In other words, elastomeric structures that have specified shapes may quickly move or return to those shapes when flexed. As the spout is being

extended, at some point the elastomeric support snaps to the extended position because of the support's shape memory.

If the spout is in an extended position, it moves to the retracted position by being pushed down or in on itself. During this movement, the support again moves through the"S"shaped curve and, at some point, the support snaps to the retracted position because of the support's shape memory.

Alternatively, the spout may be made from other flexible materials, such as low density polyethylene. Other materials such as polyethylene may be desirable from a manufacturing or cost point of view. These materials provide sufficient flexibility for the spout to be extended and retracted, but may provide less shape-memory.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the invented drink spout, and Figure 6 shows a side view of the spout, both of which help illustrate how the spout functions.

The spout is shown in Figures 5 and 6 in a retracted position because the spout is typically manufactured or molded in the retracted position.

Figures 5 and 6 show straw structure 14 having two ends, a first end 36 and a second end 38. Opening or exit port 18 is in the first end of the straw structure, and a second opening or entrance port 19 is in the second end of the straw structure.

Passageway 16 extends within the straw structure between openings 18 and 19.

Passageway 16 and straw structure 14 are typically circular in cross-section, but may take different shapes or cross-sections. Straw structure 14 includes an enlargement 40, which may be thought of as a gripping structure to help a user grip, pull, push or move the straw structure. Of course, various types of gripping structure may be used, such as a plurality of bumps, steps or grooves in straw structure 14. Alternatively, straw structure 14 may be made without any gripping structure.

Support 20 is joined to the straw structure to support the straw structure.

Support 20 is typically circular in cross-section, with an overall shape like the frustrum of a cone. However, the support may take different shapes. The support includes a perimeter wall 42 and a shoulder section 44 which is joined to second end 38 of the straw structure. The perimeter wall and shoulder section may have various thicknesses to make them more or less flexible. Shoulder section 44 surrounds the

straw structure and extends between one end of perimeter wall 42 and second end 38 of the straw structure. Flange 22 extends from the other end of perimeter wall 42.

Flange 22 may take different forms, sizes and thicknesses. As stated above, flange 22 is used to mount the spout to a drink container. Often this is done by an adhesive or by a heat seal, and flange 22 includes an annular bead 46 to facilitate the mounting.

If the spout is made from a thermoplastic such as low density polyethylene, then wall 42 may be thinner than if the spout were made from an elastomer. A thinner wall helps the support be more flexible. Additionally or alternatively, the support may join shoulder 44 by an annular live hinge 48, which is simply a thin section of material, and wall 42 may join flange 22 by annular live hinge 50. The live hinges further help the support be more flexible. Live hinges may also be used if the spout is made from an elastomer.

Cover 24 is joined to flange 22 by live hinge 52. Cover 24 includes tab 30 and plug 34, as explained.

Figure 7 shows the spout installed on a drink box 12 with cover 24 closing the spout. Straw structure 14 and support 20 are both retracted into the drink box. Plug 34 is shown plugging the passageway and exit port of straw structure 14. Liquid from the drink box may enter the passageway, but plug 34 prevents the liquid from passing beyond opening 18.

Cover 24 includes a perimeter portion 56, shown in Figures 5,6 and 7.

Perimeter portion 56 is glued or sealed to the upper surface of flange 22, as shown in Figure 7, to hold the cover in a closed position. An annular bead may be included in perimeter portion 56 to help seal the perimeter portion to the upper surface of flange 22.

An annular tear groove 60 is positioned in cover 24 immediately interior of perimeter portion 56, as shown in Figures 5,6 and 7. The tear groove allows a central portion 62 of cover 24 to tear or peel away from perimeter portion 56 when a user pulls on tab 30, while the perimeter portion 56 remains glued to the upper surface of flange 22, as shown in Figure 8. Annular groove 60 extends around cover 24, but terminates prior to extending entirely around the cover. The section in which annular

groove does not extend forms a hinge or joint between central portion 62 and perimeter portion 24. This hinge is shown at 64 in Figure 5. Thus, annular groove 60 extends around cover 24 until it terminates at hinge 64. Hinge 64 allows central portion 62 of the cover to remain attached to the spout and to be opened and closed when desired.

Figure 8 shows spout 10 mounted to a drink box 12 with straw structure 14 in an extended position, ready for use. Central portion 62 of the cover has been peeled back to open the spout, as explained. Liquid within the drink box may enter into an area 66 defined by support 20, and from there enter into passageway 16 and out opening or exit port 18.

One benefit of the invented spout is that it may be mounted to a drink box with a minimal number of steps. First, the spout is molded in the shape shown in Figures 5 and 6. The cover is then folded over the straw structure so that the spout is closed, as shown in Figure 7. The closed spout is then placed over an aperture 67 in a drink box, as shown in Figure 9. An annular ring then applies pressure and heat to the perimeter of the spout. The pressure and heat causes perimeter portion 56 of cover 24 to seal to the upper surface of flange 22, and simultaneously causes the lower surface of flange 22 to seal to the drink box. Aseptic drink boxes are typically covered with a plastic coating, so heat and pressure cause the flange to seal with the plastic coating of the drink box. The seals between the cover and flange and the flange and drink box are from the materials melting together as a result of the pressure and heat. Annular beads of material may be included to facilitate the sealing, as shown by beads 46 and 58 in Figure 6. Alternatively, ultrasonics, glue or some other means may be used to seal the cover to the upper surface of the flange and the flange to the drink box.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of the invented drink spout. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 9, except it does not include a cover. Additionally, the spout is mounted to the underside of a surface of a drink container. Figure 11 shows the embodiment of Figure 10 mounted to a drink box, with a peel back seal 82 which includes a plug 84 similar to plug 34 discussed previously.

When one of the spouts discussed above is mounted on a drink container, without any further structure, a user would have to tilt the drink container up to allow liquid to leave the container. Having to tilt the drink container up may be avoided by using the spout with a straw that extends into the container, as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

In those Figures, spout 10 is mounted on a bottle 28. A straw 400 extends into the bottle. The upper end of straw 400 is attached to spout 10 by snapping into place in a friction fit behind an annular rib or barb 404. Alternatively or additionally, the straw may snap into a groove or be glued into place. In this manner, a user may draw liquid out of the container through straw 400. Straw 400 includes a flexible portion 402 that allows the straw to bend or collapse into the container when the spout is retracted.

The invented spout may also be part of a drink valve used to prevent liquid from being spilled. Such a spout/valve combination is especially applicable for the drink containers discussed above, but it is also applicable for other containers, such as cups with lids used for hot drinks like coffee, or cups used for fountain drinks.

In the combined spout and valve embodiment, a valve or gate structure is associated with the straw structure. Figure 14 shows a combined spout and valve embodiment with a gate structure 69 configured to open and to close passageway 16 to regulate the flow of liquid into the passageway. Any type of valve or gate structure may be used. One type of gate structure includes a plurality of members which extend across the passageway at the second end 38 of the straw structure to block the passageway, and which spread apart to open the passageway. Such members may be thought of as cusps, and the gate structure may be thought as acting like a multi- cuspid-like valve, where the cusps or members spread apart to open and then come together again to close. The members are angled down and joined together in a point as shown in Fig. 14. In this manner, when pressure within a drink container increases and pushes against the members, the angling of the members helps prevent the valve or gate structure from opening, and the pressure within the drink container pushes the members together to further close the gate structure. The members together define a

section extending over the end of passageway 16. A plurality of slits in the section define the members. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, a gate structure 69 has a substantially circular cross section, and slits extend diametrically relative to that cross section to define substantially pie-piece-shaped members. The slits which define the members also extend up into a portion of the bottom of the straw structure to allow the members to spread apart. Alternatively, the members could extend perpendicularly across the passageway.

The valve or gate structure operates when the straw structure moves, such as moving down or to the side. When that happens, the members spread apart creating spaces between the members. The spaces allow fluid to flow into the passageway from the sides, as well as from below the passageway, thereby opening an area through which liquid may flow into the passageway. That open area is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the passageway adjacent the gate structure. Therefore, the rate of liquid flow into the passageway when the gate structure is open is limited by the cross-sectional area of the passageway adjacent the gate structure and not by the gate structure itself. The straw structure would be moved by a user, most often by the user gripping the straw structure with the teeth or lips and tilting the straw structure to the side or pushing it down. The valve closes automatically when the user releases the straw structure because the material from which the valve is made automatically returns to its original position.

Various gate structures are possible, and the members that define the gate structures may take shapes other than pie-pieced-shapes. Several gate structures which may be used with the invented spout are disclosed in our co-pending U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/159,310, titled"Drink Valve,"which application is incorporated into this disclosure by reference.

The invented spout and/or the spout and valve combination may be used with a vent to allow air to enter into a drink container when the pressure outside of the drink container is greater than the pressure inside the drink container, but the vent does not allow liquid to exit the drink container. Such a vent functions as a one-way valve so that air may enter the container to replace liquid that has been removed from the

container. Such a vent is disclosed in our co-pending U. S. Patent Application titled "Drink Valve"identified earlier and incorporated by reference into this disclosure.

Such a vent is shown at 71 in Figure 14.

Industrial Applicabilitv The invented retractable drink spout is applicable in the drink packaging industry, and is specifically applicable to drink containers such as plastic and glass bottles and aseptic drink boxes. The invented drink spout also may be used on other liquid containers, with or without a valve and with or without a vent. For example, the spout may be used on large containers of water, juice or wine to dispense the liquid for drinking. The spout may also be used on milk boxes to provide a spout to pour the milk. The spout may also be used on other liquid containers, such as containers for sauces, salad dressings, syrups and oils.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Applicants regard the subject matter of their invention to include all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations which are regarded as novel and non-obvious. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of applicants'invention.