# US 12,178,341 B2 · Beverage can straw holder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,341 B2 - Document ID: US12178341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/357,003 - Filed: 2021-06-24 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-25 - Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Applicants: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Inventors: Alexandra Marie Delazio; David M. Brienza; Patricia Karg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178341B2 ## CPC - A47G 21/18: Drinking straws or the like ({as integral parts of drinking containers A47G19/2266;} for therapeutic purposes A61J15/00 {; adapted to emerge from drinking containers when opened B65D77/283}) - A47G 19/2222: {Straw holders therefor} - B65D 77/28: Cards, coupons, or drinking straws {(B65D5/4212, B65D23/14, B65D25/205, B65D33/004, B65D51/245, B65D75/54 take precedence)} - B65D 2231/022: for permitting the insertion of a tubular contents-removing device, e.g. a drinking straw - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A device for use with a beverage can to secure a straw thereto includes a base configured to cooperate with an opening of the beverage can to secure the device to the beverage can and a passage formed through the base which aligns with the opening of the beverage can when the device is secured to the beverage can. The passage is configured to pass a straw therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for use with a beverage can to secure a straw within the beverage can, comprising: a base cooperating with an opening of the beverage can to secure the device to the beverage can, and a passage formed through the base which aligns with the opening of the beverage can when the device is secured to the beverage can, the passage being configured to pass a straw therethrough. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one flange extending from a first surface of the device to cooperate with the opening of the beverage can. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the base is further configured to cooperate with a tab of the beverage can. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 further comprising at least one seating formed in the base to cooperate with an end of the tab of the beverage can. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the at least one seating comprises a slot formed in the base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 further comprising an extending member extending from a second surface of the base, opposite the first surface, wherein the passage is formed through the extending member and the base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6 wherein the passage forms a friction fit with the straw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5 further comprising an extending member extending from a second surface of the base, opposite the first surface, wherein the passage is formed through the extending member and the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8 wherein the passage forms a friction fit with the straw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 further comprising a cap to seal the passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10 wherein the cap is tethered to the device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one flange forms a snap fit or a friction fit with the opening of the beverage can. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the passage is formed to abut and retain the straw or the device further includes an abutment member in operative connection with the passage to abut and retain the straw. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the passage includes a taper over at least a portion of a surface thereof so that the passage narrows to abut and retain the straw. ### Claim 15 A method of securing a straw within a beverage can, comprising: securing a device to the beverage can which comprises a base cooperating with an opening of the beverage can to secure the device to the beverage can and a passage formed through the base which aligns with the opening of the beverage can; and inserting a straw into the passage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the device further comprises at least one flange extending from a first surface of the device to cooperate with the opening of the beverage can. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the base is further configured to cooperate with a tab of the beverage can. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the device further comprises at least one seating formed in the base to cooperate with an end of the tab of the beverage can. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one seating comprises a slot formed in the base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the device further comprises an extending member extending from a second surface of the base, opposite the first surface, wherein the passage is formed through the extending member and the base. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the passage forms a friction fit with the straw. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the device further comprises an extending member extending from a second surface of the base, opposite the first surface, wherein the passage is formed through the extending member and the base. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein the passage forms a friction fit with the straw. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising placing a cap in connection with the device to seal the passage. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein the cap is tethered to the device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one flange forms a snap fit or a friction fit with the opening of the beverage can. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the passage of the device is formed to abut and retain the straw, or the device further includes an abutment member in operative connection with the passage to abut and retain the straw. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the passage includes a taper over at least a portion of a surface thereof so that the passage narrows to abut and retain the straw. ### Claim 29 A device for use with a beverage can, comprising: a base cooperating with an opening of the beverage can to secure the device to the beverage can, an extending member extending from an upper surface of the base, and a passage formed through the extending member and through the base, the passage aligning with the opening of the beverage can when the device is secured to the beverage can. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29 further comprising at least one flange extending from a lower surface of the base to cooperate with the opening of the beverage can. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The device of claim 30 wherein an upper end of the passage is configured to be placed in the mouth of a user. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31 further comprising a conduit in fluid connection with the passage and extending from the lower surface of the base.