U.S. patent application number 13/786752 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for drinking straw that prevents the suction of objects.
The applicant listed for this patent is Christopher Ray Toepfert. Invention is credited to Christopher Ray Toepfert.
Application Number | 20140252115 13/786752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51486628 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140252115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Toepfert; Christopher Ray |
September 11, 2014 |
Drinking Straw That Prevents the Suction of Objects
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a
flexible drinking straw. The straw allows a user to easily suction
liquid while preventing foreign bodies in the liquid from entering
the mouth of a user. The straw comprises a tube defining a
substantially constant cross-sectional inner channel, The tube has
a multitude of fins extending from an inner wall of the tube to a
distance from the inner wall. The fins create either a single or
multiple liquid-way(s) that allow the liquid to flow freely while
blocking foreign bodies that may be in the liquid. The straw
comprises a tube with a cut and crimped end creating either single
or multiple liquid-way(s) that allow liquid to flow freely while
blocking foreign bodies.
Inventors: |
Toepfert; Christopher Ray;
(Park Hills, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Toepfert; Christopher Ray |
Park Hills |
KY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51486628 |
Appl. No.: |
13/786752 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/33 ;
264/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/188
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/33 ;
264/150 |
International
Class: |
A47G 21/18 20060101
A47G021/18 |
Claims
1. A method of forming a straw for suctioning liquid while blocking
solid objects, the method including extruding a flexible,
thermoplastic material into a tube having a substantially constant
single channel cross-section with fins projecting from an inner
wall of the tube around a diameter of the tube into the channel,
wherein the fins extend from the inner well to create a single or
multiple liquid pathway(s) having a smaller diameter than a
diameter of the solid object.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tube is cut into lengths equal
to that of a conventional straw.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the tube is crimped at every other
cut.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the tube is
of sufficient width to fit over an end of a conventional straw.
5. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the
pathways extend co axially within the tube.
6. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the
pathways extend a partial length of the tube.
7. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the
fins extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths
around a diameter of the tube.
8. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein two
fins extend from the it wall at equally spaced arc lengths around a
diameter of the tube.
9. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the
fins are arc-shaped.
10. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the
fins are wider at the wall than at the end of the fin that extends
into the channel.
11. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein an
alternating fin has a length longer than an intervening fin.
12. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the
fins include a structure at the end of the fin opposite the
wall.
13. A flexible straw formed wherein the tube made of thermoplastic
material is extruded and an additional structure, which is an
extension of one side of the tube wall, is created by cutting or
extruding. The additional thermoplastic extension is then folded
back toward the opposite side wall of the tube, and attached at a
point by heat-sealing, heat-welding, crimping, or other means of
attachment to the opposite tube wall.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to fountain or
drinking tubes and straws and more particularly to a straw having
internal fin(s), internal filtering structure(s), and/or external
filtering structure(s) to prevent suction of an object through the
straw. The present invention solves the need to prevent suction of
foreign objects through drinking straws while being efficient,
practical, cost-effective, and conservative of raw material in
production.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Straws for sucking a beverage from a glass or container are
well known. A problem exists when a diameter of the straw is larger
than foreign objects in a beverage--causing the object to be sucked
into the mouth of a user. Typical objects found in drinks are
insects, seeds and other parts of fruits and vegetables, pieces of
ice, shards of glass, foreign objects and the like. For restaurants
that offer lemon with water or tea, seeds in the beverage are
typically sucked into the straw to clog the straw so that a new one
is required. Seeds sucked through straws may even choke a patron.
Mixed drinks made from pureed or trapped fruits and vegetable often
contain seeds and parts of the stem, peel, or casing. When a user
sucks a foreign object into his/her mouth, he/she is usually
uncomfortable, and removing the object in public can be
embarrassing. If the person is injured, the restaurant maybe
involved in a lawsuit.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,320 to Schwartz (Safety straw) attempts
to address the problem of sucking foreign objects through straws.
Schwartz describes a drinking straw with a) a cord extending across
the interior of the delivery tube substantially at the tube first
end, or b) with a tube partition or c) with tandem tubes. Schwartz
does not adequately address the problem because, while Schwartz may
prevent a given-sized foreign object, such as a whole seed, it does
not prevent smaller debris from entering the tube. The flow of
fluid through the straw described in Schwartz would also create
four independent channels, so the amount of suction a user would
have to exert would be higher than that required for a single tube.
Additionally, if foreign objects are the diameter of the channels,
the channels will be blocked and a new straw will be required.
Also, and most notably, Schwartz drinking straw contains
substantially more raw material as compared to a traditional
(unfiltered) drinking straw such that manufacturer of such straw is
impractical, inefficient, and cost-prohibitive.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,316 to Leone (Multiple sucking-channel
straw for sucking beverages) describes a fiat straw having a
plurality of adjoining beverage sucking channels. Similar to
Schwartz, Leone only prevents debris of a certain diameter from
being sucked. The amount of suction required for Leone's four
chambers would also be higher than a single tube. The channels can
become blocked and require a new straw. As with Schwartz, Leone
also contains substantially more raw material in production and is
therefore impractical, inefficient, and cost-prohibitive.
[0005] A need exists for a straw that prevents bits of debris as
well as larger debris from being sucked through a straw when
enjoying a beverage. A need exists for an inexpensive straw that
prevents a user from sucking all sizes of debris into his/her
mouth. A need exists for a straw that prevents the suction of
objects which requires little extra raw material for manufacture
and is efficient to produce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to a flexible straw for
suctioning liquid from a container containing a foreign body. The
straw comprises a tube defining a substantially constant outer
cross-section. The tube has a proximal end and a distal end, and
has a multitude of fins extending from an inner wall of the tube to
a distance from the inner wall. The fins maintain either a single
liquid-way or may create multiple liquid-ways the result of the
liquid-ways having cross-sectional dimensions that are smaller than
a diameter of the foreign body. The fins may be placed at a single
proximal or distal end of the tube or at both ends of the tube. The
fins may be continuous within the interior wails of the tube
extending entirely from the proximal end to the distal end of the
tube. Alternately, the fins may be spaced intermittently within the
interior walls of the tube.
[0007] In an embodiment, fins extend from the inner wall at equally
spaced arc lengths around a diameter of the tube. Alternatively,
two fins extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths
around a diameter of the tube. The fins may be straight, arched,
bent or wavy, in an embodiment, the fins are all the same length
from the wall of the straw, in an embodiment, the length of every
other fin is longer than the intervening fin.
[0008] In an embodiment, the single or multiple liquid-way(s)
extends co-axially within the tube from the proximal end to the
distal end. Alternately, the single or multiple liquid-way(s)
extends co-axially within the tube at a partial length of the
tube.
[0009] The straw is extruded from a thermoplastic material.
[0010] In one embodiment, during production one end of the straw is
heated to deform the tube to create an obstruction that prevents
the foreign body from entering the straw.
[0011] The straw of the present invention is formed with additional
elements, such as fins running coaxially within the length of the
tube, fins running coaxially at intermittent lengths and within the
tube, a thermoplastic strainer-type attachment heat-welded at
either end of the tube, or a basket-type structure formed through
cutting and heat-sealing the edges to form the debris-preventing
structure.
[0012] The present invention is a straw having fins that prevents
various sizes of debris from being sucked through the straw while
not restricting the flow of fluid through the straw or requiring
the user to suck harder on the straw. According to the present
invention, a debris-restriction straw can be produced at a
reasonable cost using less raw materials in manufacture than other
prior art.
[0013] As used herein, "approximately" means within plus or minus
25% of the term it qualifies. The terms approximately and "about"
means between 1/2 and 2 times the term it qualifies.
[0014] The compositions and methods of the present invention can
comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential
elements and imitations of the invention described herein, as well
as any additional or optional ingredients, components, or
limitations described herein or otherwise useful in compositions
and methods of the general type as described herein.
[0015] Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include
every number and subset of numbers contained within that range,
whether specifically disclosed or not. Further, these numerical
ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim
directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range or to be
limited to the exact conversion to a different measuring system,
such, but not limited to, as between inches and millimeters.
[0016] All references to singular characteristics or limitations of
the present invention shall include the corresponding plural
characteristic or limitation, and vice versa, unless otherwise
specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in
which the reference is made.
[0017] All combinations of method or process steps as used herein
can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or
clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the
referenced combination is made.
[0018] Terms such as "top," "bottom," "right," "above" "under",
"side" "front" and "back" and the like, are words of convenience
and are not to be construed as limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
straw,
[0020] FIG. 2 is a cross section of an embodiment of the straw.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross section of an alternate embodiment of the
straw.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the
straw.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the
straw.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the
straw.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the
straw.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of
the straw.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. In accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention, a straw that allows a user to easily suction
liquid while preventing foreign bodies in the liquid from entering
the mouth of a user is described.
[0028] As shown in an embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the straw
comprises a tube 10. The cross-section of the to 10 is
substantially constant. The tube has a multitude of fins 13
extending from an inner wall of the tube to a distance from the
inner wall into the tube. The fins 13 create areas in the tube
having cross-sectional dimensions that are smaller than a diameter
of a foreign body that may be in the liquid. By creating either a
single or multiple liquid pathways rather than separate channels, a
user does not have to suck harder on the straw of the present
invention than that of a conventional straw.
[0029] In an embodiment, fins 13 extend from the inner wall at
equally spaced arc lengths around an inside diameter of the tube.
Alternatively, two fins extend from the inner wall at equally
spaced arc lengths around the inside diameter of the tube. The fins
may be straight, arched, bent or wavy. In an embodiment, the fins
are all the same length from the inside wall of the straw. In an
embodiment, the length of every other fin spaced along the inside
diameter of the wall is longer than the intervening fin.
[0030] In an embodiment, the liquid-ways created by the fins extend
co-axially within the tube the entire length of the straw.
Alternately, the liquid-ways extend co-axially within the tube at a
partial length of the tube.
[0031] In an embodiment, each fin 13 extends from the inside wall
approximately 1/4 to approximately 49/100 of the diameter of the
tube. Fins range from about 1 mm to about 3 mm wide. In an
embodiment each fin is approximately 2 mm wide. The width of the
fin is limited only to widths that deter the fin from tearing or
breaking during use.
[0032] As depicted in FIG. 2, the fins may be wider at the inside
wall and narrow to a point as they extend into the lumen. In an
embodiment, all of the fins are of equally widths. Alternately,
wide and narrow fins may be mixed to block debris and allow the
flow of liquid. As depicted in FIG. 3, a set of two fins are spaced
at equal arc lengths around the inside diameter of the tube.
[0033] In an embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the fins are curved.
Alternately, the fins can be wavy or angled In the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 5, each alternating fin is longer than the
intervening fin. Alternating fins are approximately two times the
length of intervening fins.
[0034] As depicted in FIG. 6, a fin may extend farther than 50% of
the lumen, but is not connected to another fin, thereby preserving
the single channel. As depicted in FIG. 7, each fin may comprise a
structure 15 at the end of the fin opposite the wall. The structure
may be a bulb, a square, a widened part of the fin, and the like.
The liquid passages of the straw are approximately 1 mm to
approximately 3 mm wide.
[0035] As depicted in FIG. 8, an embodiment of the straw is created
by extruding the tube made of thermoplastic material and cutting
the end of the straw creating an additional structure piece 17
which is an extension of one side of the tube wall. The additional
thermoplastic extension 17 is then folded back toward the opposite
side wail of the tube, and attached at a point 18 by heat sealing,
heat-welding, crimping, or other means of attachment to the
opposite tube wall.
[0036] One skilled in the art would understand that any in
combination could be used without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Thus, the width, length and placement of
each fin need not be equal and the number of fins within the tube
can be varied, so long as debris is blocked and a single channel is
provided. While a circular tube is preferred, any shape that
supports the fins can be employed
[0037] The straw is formed from a thermoplastic or polymeric
material and melt-extruded into the shape of a continuous tube
having fins that extend from the inside walls of the tube to form a
barrier to debris. The straw of the invention is created in a one
step extrusion process. The fins create obstructions in the
diameter of the straw to prevent solids from flowing but avow
liquids to flow around the obstructions.
[0038] The manufacture of the straw is in a continuous-feed die
shaped to extrude the tube and the fins from a thermoplastic
material. individual straws are straight cut or angle cut. When
cut, the tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The straws may
be cut while the material is still at a sufficient temperature to
crimp and heat seal at least one end of the straw. By extruding the
straw in a single step, rather than attaching the fins or some
other barrier at a later time, the fins are part of the straw and
do not easily break off. The manufacturing process includes a
constant extrusion of the fins of the same (thermoplastic material)
as the tube. The extrusion design of the fins is defined by the die
tool used to extrude the material. The extrusion of the fins may be
continuous or intermittent throughout the interior of the tube.
[0039] In an embodiment, the filtering mechanism is a short straw
and is a separate piece that is added to an existing traditional
straw. Here, the filtering mechanism is a short piece and used
similar to a filter on a cigarette.
[0040] The method of the present invention is advantageous because
it can be carried out economically and does not require more
manufacturing steps or complicated tools.
[0041] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments and
examples of the present invention have been presented for purposes
of illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. It will be understood
that the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications
and equivalents. The embodiments were chosen and described in order
to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *