U.S. patent number 3,780,944 [Application Number 05/225,951] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-25 for drinking straws.
Invention is credited to Stanley G. Zubalik.
United States Patent |
3,780,944 |
Zubalik |
December 25, 1973 |
DRINKING STRAWS
Abstract
A drinking straw is compacted for storage, transport and
especially for direct attachment to beverage containers designed
for individual use and normally serving one person, such as those
dispensed by vending machines. Also drinking straws are compacted
for direct attachment in a group on other larger beverage
containers such as family size, which are designed to contain
multiple normal servings, thereby providing straws for more than
one person. The availability of multiple straws, for example, is
especially desirable when ice cream floats are served to a
group.
Inventors: |
Zubalik; Stanley G. (Tacoma,
WA) |
Family
ID: |
26266040 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/225,951 |
Filed: |
February 14, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/33; D7/300.2;
428/188; 229/103.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C
67/0014 (20130101); A47G 21/18 (20130101); A47G
21/182 (20130101); B29C 59/04 (20130101); B29C
53/16 (20130101); B65D 77/28 (20130101); Y10T
428/24744 (20150115); B29L 2031/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B29C
53/00 (20060101); B29C 53/16 (20060101); B29C
59/04 (20060101); B29C 67/00 (20060101); A47G
21/00 (20060101); A47G 21/18 (20060101); B65D
77/28 (20060101); B65D 77/24 (20060101); A47g
019/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/33,24 ;206/37
;229/7,87,7S ;220/90.2 ;215/1A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Mar; Michael Y.
Claims
I claim:
1. A straw to pass liquids, which is essentially preflattened to be
shipped, stored, and handled with beverage containers, wherein the
preflattened body thereof has continuously embossed portions
compressed for packaging as the embossed portions overlie one
another.
2. A straw, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the embossments are
formed as indicia to indicate information regarding the beverage or
to convey a message.
3. A straw, to pass liquids, which is essentially pre-flattened to
be shipped, stored and handled with beverage containers and which
is wrapped completely and sealed under hygienic conditions, and
which after breaking the seal and either before or after removing
the wrapping is then compressed with finger forces applied at its
edges to first open the straw and then to compress it again to form
opposite folded edges, and then upon release to form a square cross
section, thereby providing the straw with adequate internal
clearance for the passage of the beverage from the container to the
consumer.
4. A plastic straw, to pass liquids, which is essentially
preflattened to be secured to a beverage container and to be
suitable as an overall beverage product for vending machine
marketing, and which has embossed portions which are slightly
spaced apart into four elongated groups and the embossed portions
thereof overlie and closely fit one another.
5. A plastic straw, as claimed in claim 4 which is individually
wrapped and sealed.
6. A plastic straw, as claimed in claim 5, while within or after
removal of the seal wrapper is compressible by a consumer applying
finger forces at its folded edges to open the straw, then go beyond
to close it again creating new folded edges, and then upon release,
creating an opened cross sectional straw, thereby providing
adequate internal clearance for the passage of the beverage.
7. A plastic straw, as claimed in claim 6, which, when first
compressed by a consumer, is arranged so the embossed portions are
positioned in opposing patterns to thereby subsequently insure
adequate access for the passage of the beverage.
8. A plastic straw, as claimed in claim 5, when wrapped and sealed,
has excess wrapping extending at each end which is adaptable to be
secured together when the wrapped, sealed, flattened straw is
positioned on a beverage container.
9. A plastic straw, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the embossed
portions have incomplete embossments to create a bubble structure
where reopening operations are commenced.
Description
A straw originally produced by conventional means is compacted in a
machine, by being passed between spur gears or specially designed
embossed face gears, to produce four specific spaced apart full
length patterns and initially two full length folds. The spaces
serve to determine where the initial two folds and two subsequent
full length folds are formed, and the embossments serve to increase
the strength of the four patterned sectional areas. Eventually,
during subsequent folding, the embossments assure the straw will
always be easily opened and remain open to allow beverages to be
drawn through the straw.
When the straw originally produced by conventional means is made of
certain plastic materials that strongly compact together making it
difficult to separate them, then the gears used in making the
compacted straw must be especially formed to create a short
non-compacted length referred to as a pinch pocket. It subsequently
serves as the starting place in reopening the straw.
After the compaction of the straw in the machine, it is preferably
placed within a sealed sanitary cover or wrapping. When so
protected, it is then often endwise folded, curved, and/or bent and
thereafter secured to the beverage container. The securement of the
wrapped compacted straw is undertaken in ways best governed by the
size and shape of the respective container and/or the operations of
vending machines.
The individual purchaser of the filled container having the straw
affixed, completes the preparation of the straw to receive the
liquid. After removing the straw from the beverage container, the
wrapped straw is extended to its full length. Then a slight opening
in the wrapping is made to break the seal, and thereafter the straw
is passed through a restricted space determined by the position of
the customer's thumb and forefinger, which are used to momentarily
press the originally folded edges toward one another to effectively
first open and then compact the straw again. This time upon
compaction or closing of the straw adjacent pairs of embossed
patterns are placed in contact with one another. During this
customer forming operation, the wrapper may be removed at anytime.
After these forming operations have been quickly performed by the
customer, the straw, because of its acquired resiliency enhanced by
the strengthening embossments, remains open and ready for use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The advent of vending machines and popularization of individually
packaged consumable liquids has placed in the hands of the consumer
containers which in most cases are awkward to drink from and are
not always sanitary. Also, some containers have been known to cause
abrasions to the upper lip and tongue, especially when used by
children. A convenient adequate supply of cups, glasses or straws
is not always available and those that are may not be sanitary due
to mishandling.
In contrast, this compacted, prestressed, flexible drinking straw
eliminates all such problems. Sealed within a sanitary wrapping,
and when wrapped, attached directly to each individual container or
placed within or attached to a multiple container package, it is
always readily available on a one to one basis for all customers.
Flexibility of attachment to a container is an obvious advantage to
bottling and packaging companies, dairies, breweries, etc.
Moreover, the simplicity of readying this immediately available
straw for use is an obvious advantage to children and adults alike.
The use of this invention eliminates the prior need of completely
removing the flip top tab from the lid on cans, which if not
discarded in appropriate containers, becomes litter and dangerous
to persons with bare feet on beaches and in other recreational
areas.
Prior inventions are found to be limited in application as follows.
The compact drinking straw illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,171
cannot be flattened and wrapped around the periphery of a can. The
dispensing straw associated with the bottle cap as shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 1,680,341, has a sharp crease, and consequently, it is
usually hard to bring back to a form that will not readily collapse
when suction is applied. The self elevating drinking straw depicted
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,565; the self rising straw shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,211,379; and the drinking straw illustrated in U.S. Pat.
No. 2,997,195 are limited to use with bottles having narrow necks,
in order to make retrieval of the straw relatively easy. The
combined container and straw Patent set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
2,547,362 is limited to use with one type of carton.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a preformed, initially compacted and
flexible drinking straw made of plastic or other suitable resilient
material, often wrapped and preferably attached to each bottle, can
or carton, sold in normal retail outlets or dispensed by a vending
machine. However, the straw is not necessarily limited to such
marketing directed to one for each consumer expected to drink from
a particular container, for the straws may be sold in bulk.
A flexible plastic drinking straw, first available in conventional
form and eventually to be twice folded lengthwise to form four
equal sides, is first flattened, preferably using machines, to form
two identical sides, and thereafter sealed in a sanitary wrapper.
This wrapped straw is then attached to the exterior of individual
consumable liquid containers, or wrapped straws, in a group, are
attached to the exterior of family sized containers, available for
immediate use, one to each consumer, when the container is opened.
Because the straw is fabricated from plastic or other suitable
resilient material, and during the folding and embossing operation
it is prestressed, it may be further manipulated during packaging
without interfering with its end use. Each wrapped and compacted
straw may be placed around the periphery of a can or neck of a
bottle. Other compacted and wrapped straws may be end folded a
convenient number of times and fixed to cartons, cans or bottles.
Moreover, other compacted and wrapped straws may be packaged within
or attached outside of a six-pack or other multiple container
carton. Yet when each compacted and wrapped straw is removed for
use, it is readily formed into its intended square shape upon
breaking the seal of the wrapper and thereafter simply pressing it
along the folded edges as it is drawn between a thumb and a
forefinger of the consumer. The versatility and ease of manufacture
of this compacted, flexible, longitudinally folded prestressed
plastic drinking straw, preferably individually wrapped, to be
distributed on a one to one consumer basis with each beverage
container and/or package, distinguish it from other straws
previously available for use.
DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1, shows in perspective, the straw just removed from the
container and manipulated into its open square cross sectional
shape, often remaining conveniently bowed, to obtain liquid from
this particular beverage container, without requiring the complete
removal of its pull top tab;
FIG. 2, shows in perspective, on a larger scale, the embossed straw
unwrapped and formed, by a consumer, into its square cross
sectional shape ready for use;
FIG. 3, is an enlarged end view of the straw shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, which was initially compacted and embossed in a machine, and
then just before use, passed between the thumb and forefinger to
press the originally folded edges together, after which it
recovers, to assume the illustrated square cross sectional
shape;
FIG. 4 is an end view of an originally round cross sectional straw
after it has been passed through a compacting and embossing machine
to indicate how it regains some of its cross sectional area because
of its resiliency;
FIG. 5, is a partial perspective view, with portions removed for
clarity, of a conventional round plastic straw being compacted and
embossed between gears or their equivalent;
FIG. 6, shows the partial longitudinal cross section of a straw
taken through an embossment of one selected pattern;
FIG. 7, is a partial top view of a compacted straw having an
embossment using advertising indicia in lieu of a regular
embossment as indicated in FIGS. 1 through 6.
FIG. 8, is a partial top view of a compacted straw having small
dome embossments;
FIG. 9, is a partial side view of a compacted straw near one end
where the compaction is not completed for a short distance to
intentionally leave a so called bubble where a consumer commences
the reopening operations, such a bubble being necessary when
certain types of tougher plastic materials are initially used in
making some conventional straws, which are subsequently compacted
during a selected embossment process;
FIG. 10, shows in perspective, a compacted, wrapped, and sealed,
straw affixed around the periphery of a can and having joined tab
ends to be twisted to get the wrapped straw off the can and then to
remove the enclosed straw;
FIG. 11, shows, in a partial perspective view, a compacted,
wrapped, sealed, prefolded, straw held in place on the top of a
beverage can by slipping this straw under its metal pull tab;
FIG. 12, is a perspective view of a compacted wrapped, sealed,
prefolded, straw affixed with an adhesive tape to the recessed side
of a beverage carton;
FIG. 13, shows, in a partial perspective view, how a compacted,
wrapped, sealed, and rolled straw is dropped over the neck of a
beverage bottle and then the bottle is capped; and
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a family size beverage bottle
having a group of compacted, wrapped, sealed, and rolled, straws
arranged around the bottle for use by customers on a one to one
basis.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Each embodiment provides a compacted, preferably individually
wrapped, and sealed straw, having preferably embossed portions, to
be made available, on a one to one basis, to each consumer of a
beverage to be taken from container. These straws are preferably
attached to each container before distribution to customers, often
by utilizing vending machines which deliver the beverage container
with the compacted, wrapped, and sealed straw securely affixed
thereto.
As the subsequent description is read and the figures are viewed,
it will be realized that presently available conventional round
straws are first obtained and thereafter they are modified.
However, the modifications would be applicable to square straws,
which, for example, might be extruded. In addition, the practice of
this invention includes the production of compacted straws from any
initial materials which would be formed to bring about the desired
results of this invention. Presently, plastic drinking straws made
preferably from polyethylene and polypropylene materials are used
in creating the compacted wrapped and sealed straws positioned on
beverage containers on a one to one consumer basis.
One preferred embodiment is straw 21, shown in use in FIG. 1, and
ready for use in FIG. 2, and having a cross section as illustrated
in FIG. 3. It is particularly suited to fabrication from a standard
commercially available round drinking straw 22, of polypropylene,
polyethylene or equivalent material. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the
initially round straw 22 is passed between rotating embossing gears
23 of a compacting machine, not shown, which during operations
compacts the round straw 22 into a flattened straw form 24 with
corners 25 generously rounded. Following compaction, straw 24,
partially opens, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The resulting straw
embossments 26 serve to increase the strength and resiliency of
four patterned sectional areas 27, formed by the gear action. The
embossment gears 23 may be designed to form either corrugations,
product advertising indicia, or other forms such as the domes 32,
as shown respectively in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.
In reference to some plastic materials from which straws are made,
when the embossment process is undertaken, the compaction is very
effective and remains so to a high degree. Therefore, at selective
times different embossment gears, not shown, are used which are
intentionally formed so the resulting straw will not be compacted
during a portion of its length, leaving a so called bubble length
portion 35, as illustrated in FIG. 9.
Subsequently, finger or hand forming of the straw is undertaken by
the consumer commencing at this bubble length portion. Also the
lateral spacing of the four embossment patterns serves to determine
where full length folds 28 will be later hand formed by the
consumer, when the originally folded edges or round corners 25 are
pressed toward one another to first open and then close straw 21 to
prepare the straw 21 for its intended use. After its hand closure,
it reopens for use as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. If no embossments
were made and the movement of forming rollers or other machinery
components were used to only fold the straw, the resulting straw
would be usable to a customer. However, the embossments improve the
resulting straw in so many ways, that the operation of embossing
gears is preferred over the operation of forming rollers.
However, preferably, after compaction of the straw 24, upon driving
embossing gears 23, it is preferably placed in its flattened form
24 in a sanitary wrapping or cover 29. Thereafter, the compacted,
wrapped, and sealed straw is affixed to an individual container
which may then be conveniently dispensed with the straw 24 upon
operation of a vending machine or by providing other distribution
means. In FIG. 10 the wrapped and sealed straw 40 is affixed around
the periphery of a beverage can 30. The tabs 31, formed when
sealing the ends of the protective or sanitary wrapping 29,
together subtend away from the surface of the can 30 where they are
adhered together, and thereafter folded back forming a convenient
appendage to be later unfolded by a consumer. Subsequently, upon
twisting and pulling the unfolded extending tabs 31, the wrapped,
flattened straw 40 is easily removed from the can. Preferably the
straw is then manipulated by the customer into its open straw form
21 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 before the wrapper is completely
removed.
Shown in FIG. 11 is another method of packaging, whereby the
compacted, wrapped, and sealed, straw 41 is prefolded over itself
to fit within the confines of the beverage can lid 33, where it is
secured by trapping it under the pull top tab 34. If pull top tabs
34 are not used, the same compacted, wrapped, sealed, and folded
straw 41 may be affixed to the can lid 33 by using a small gummed
label, not shown, or by gluing the back of the folded straw
wrapping 29 directly to the beverage can lid 33. In FIG. 12, the
compacted, wrapped, sealed, and folded straw 43 is shown affixed to
the sloping recessed top portion 38 of a plastic coated carton 36,
such as are used for dispensing individual milk and juice
beverages. The method of retention of this folded and wrapped straw
43 is undertaken by using a gummed label 37 or by direct gluing of
the back of wrapper 29 of folded straw 43 onto the carton 36.
An alternate location, not shown, to affix a compacted, wrapped and
sealed straw 43 to the carton 36, is a side of the top upper
vertical extremities 39, where machine placement is undertaken.
In FIG. 13, one of many ways, is shown to affix a compacted,
wrapped, and sealed straw 45 to a beverage bottle 42. The
compacted, wrapped, and sealed, straw 45 is rolled, preferably by
machine, not shown, into a doughnut shape with the inner diameter
just large enough to be slipped over the head rim 44 of the
beverage bottle 42, after filling the bottle 42, but prior to
closing it with a cap 48. Then after the bottle 42 is capped, the
rolled and sealed straw 45 remains in place until removed by the
consumer. In FIG. 14, a group 46 of individually compacted,
wrapped, and sealed straws 47 are shown arranged tightly around a
family sized bottle, and are ready for use, on a one to one basis,
by those persons who are to drink the beverage.
The foregoing attachment methods are a sampling of methods employed
to affix compacted, wrapped, and sealed, flattened straws of the
various configurations 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47 to various containers
of many types produced by many companies. At all times the method
of preparing the straw 21 for use, undertaken by the consumer, is
somewhat similar. After removal of the wrapped and sealed flattened
straw in one of its configurations from its respective container,
it is extended to its full length and the seal is broken to expose
an end of the compacted straw 24. Then the compacted straw 24 is
passed through a restricted space determined, preferably, by the
position of the customer's thumb and forefinger. This action
presses the originally folded opposite edges 25 toward one another
to effectively first open and then recompact the straw 24 again,
but in the opposite direction. This second folding operation
creates two new opposite edges or rounded corners 28, which upon
release of the pressure and in conjunction with the two originally
folded edges or rounded corners 25 and supplemented by the four
embossed patterned sectional areas 27, allows a second inherent
resiliency recovery resulting in a lasting formation of a
substantially square straw 21 ready for reliable non-collapsible
usage while the consumer is drinking.
SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES
An ultimate straw 21 of substantially square cross section is
derived initially from a conventional plastic straw 22 of round
and/or a possibly square cross-sectional shape. It is reduced in
cross-sectional open area by operating an embossing machine to
thereby provide a compacted straw 24 capable of quick resilient
recovery for use by a consumer. Therefore, before use, and while
compacted, it is conveniently wrapped and sealed. Thereafter, while
packaged in its sanitary wrapper, it is attached, on a one to one
consumer basis directly to a beverage container. When so packaged,
it and the beverage container, as a marketing unit, is often
distributed by utilizing a coin operated vending machine
manipulated by the customer. The consumer is then completely
serviced having the compacted, wrapped, sealed, and sanitary straw
at the moment he or she needs it. The plastic material used for the
straw 21 is enhanced in strength and formed during the embossing
process so there is always an internal opening recovery capability.
It is always possible for the consumer to draw liquids up through
the straw 21, after making convenient and quick manipulations using
his or her fingers to open its cross-sectional area. The straws
soon after compaction are continuously wrapped end to end with
spaces left between, where the wrapping material is sealed and then
severed. The severance may often occur subsequently, at the
opportune time, for example, just before or during attachment of
the compacted, wrapped, sealed, straw to the beverage container.
Often, the wrapped straws are machine applied to the
containers.
The embossments are of many designs, including advertisements. All
of the embossed designs result in the straws being compressed and
compacted at the outset, and later on being refolded by the
consumer to place the embossments in directly resulting, opposing
abutment, positions to insure that liquids will always soon pass
through the straw and never be blocked during the use of the straw
21. The customer will always have, delivered with the beverage, on
a one to one basis in reference to each consumer, a reliable
sanitary straw to use almost immediately in drinking his or her
selected beverage.
* * * * *