DRINKING STRAW

Abstract

A drinking straw that can be easily inserted through a lid or into a beverage pouch or box but that cannot be easily removed, for example, by a child, once the straw is in place. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a drinking straw apparatus with a mechanism that makes it difficult to remove a straw once inserted through a lid or opening into a beverage container. One or more retaining extensions extending from a sleeve attached to the straw provide force against the underside of the lid of a container, preventing the straw from being pulled out of the container. One or more retaining extensions can also be formed integrally with the straw. Preferred embodiments are also inexpensive to manufacture so that the products are suitable for use as single-use, disposable straws.

Description

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/124,244, filed Apr. 15, 2008, and from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/156,523, filed Mar. 1, 2009, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to drinking straws, more particularly to a drinking straw with a safety feature to prevent easy removal from a beverage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is commonly known, a drinking straw is a cylindrical tube having two open ends. One end is placed in a beverage and the other end is placed in a person's mouth. By applying suction through the straw, a small amount of the beverage is drawn up through the straw and into the person's mouth. Because a straw allows a person to drink without having to lift a full cup, straws are often provided to children who would have difficulty drinking from a cup or glass without spilling the contents.

For the same reason, drinking cups for children are often provided with removable lids to help prevent large spills. These lids typically have an opening through which a drinking straw can be inserted.

It is also common for children to drink beverages from liquid-containing cartons or pouches that provide single servings of noncarbonated beverages such as juice or milk. These containers are commonly referred to as juice boxes or juice pouches. (Hereinafter, the phrase “juice box” will be used to refer to any type of single serving drink container designed to be consumed with an attached straw.) Juice boxes typically come packaged with a straw for consuming the beverage. The straw is typically attached to and removable from the juice box. The attached straw typically has an angle-cut piercing end, while the other rigid section ends in a straight-cut drinking end. The piercing end is designed to pierce the beverage container, for example through a small foil-sealed opening located near the top of the juice box.

While the drinking lids and the construction of the juice boxes help prevent large spills, parents often struggle with preventing young children from pulling drinking straws out of drink containers at inopportune times and either spilling the drink liquid or throwing the straw down onto a table or floor. The result is often a mess to be cleaned up and/or a straw that is dirtied and soiled and no longer re-usable for its intended purposes. Further, the child is then left without a straw and may be unable to drink any more of the beverage. Beyond that, it is also environmentally unfriendly as the straw is no longer usable and a new, clean one has to be obtained and used.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,013 to Manganiello for “Straw for Drinking Cup” teaches a reusable straw and lid assembly where the straw is inserted through an opening in the lid from underneath and a retaining shoulder allows only a predetermined length of the straw to extend above the lid. The apparatus taught by Manganiello is not designed to be disposable. The apparatus is too complicated and difficult to manufacture to be suitable for a one time use. Further, the straw and lid are a complete assembly designed to work together. The straw would not be suitable for use with another lid, such as the typical disposable lids placed on drinks in fast-food restaurants. Finally, the Manganiello straw must be inserted from underneath the lid, making more difficult to use for drinking lids and making it impossible to use with juice boxes and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,074 to Frauenthal et al. for “Retraction Resistant Straw” describes a straw with a flexible retaining tab secured to the outside of the straw and extending radially. However, to insert the straw into an opening, the tab must first be wrapped around the straw to allow it to pass through the opening in the lid or juice box. Frauenthal also describes an alternate embodiment where the straw is formed with a truncated cone midway up the length of the straw so that the base of the cone (which is significantly larger in diameter than the straw) is toward the top of the straw. Both of these embodiments, however, would be difficult to use and to manufacture. The tab embodiment requires the user to wrap the tab around the straw before inserting. This would obviously be difficult for an adult and nearly impossible for a small child. The cone embodiment as shown in Frauenthal would make a larger hole in the lid or juice container, requiring more effort to insert the straw and making it more likely that there would be leakage or spilling around the straw. The same would be true for the tab embodiment, especially for foil on beverage boxes or pouches because the tab would tend to slice through the foil unless pre-folded against the straw. Finally, both embodiments would be difficult and expensive to manufacture and could not be produced using the typical extrusion molders currently used in drinking straw manufacture.

Accordingly, there is a need for a straw designed to prevent easy removal from a beverage container. Finally, there is a need for such a drinking straw which is inexpensive and easy enough to manufacture so that it may be used as a free, disposable item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a drinking straw assembly that can be easily inserted through a lid or into a beverage pouch or box but that cannot be easily removed by a child once the straw is in place. Preferred embodiments are also inexpensive to manufacture so that the products are suitable for use as single-use, disposable straws.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more thorough understanding of the present invention, and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show preferred embodiments of drinking straws according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a straw sleeve mounted onto a straw according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a straw sleeve according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of a straw sleeve according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4-7 show the insertion of a drinking straw according to the present invention through a typical drink lid;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a straw of a preferred embodiment fully inserted through a lid;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fully inserted through a lid with the finger-like mechanisms fully extended;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a straw assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention where the extensions are integral with the straw; and

FIG. 9 shows a straw assembly that includes a straw and a cone shaped straw retainer formed as a single piece.

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a drinking straw that can be easily inserted through a lid or into a beverage pouch or box but that cannot be easily removed, for example, by a child, once the straw is in place. By “easily inserted,” it is meant that the force required will be relatively small but not zero. A drinking straw according to the present invention should be able to be inserted through a lid or into a beverage pouch or box using substantially the same force required by a prior-art straw. Once inserted, as described below, a straw according to the present invention cannot be easily removed. By this, it is meant that the force required to remove a straw according to the present invention will be substantially greater than the force required to remove a prior-art straw. Due to the relatively weak materials typically used in the construction of beverage lids and the preferred materials used for preferred embodiments of the present invention, an adult would certainly be able to remove a drinking straw according to the present invention; for example by pulling hard enough to tear the beverage lid material or the drinking straw. However, in normal use, a drinking straw according to the present invention should be difficult to remove, especially for a child, once inserted through a lid or opening in a beverage container.

This is accomplished by way of various types of retaining extensions attached to or integral with the straw that will press flat against the straw when passed through a hole in a lid or juice box in one direction, but will catch against the beverage container lid, juice box, or other beverage container when the straw is pulled in the opposite direction. As used herein, the term “integral” is used to mean that the straw and the extensions are formed as one piece, rather than having extensions glued or otherwise attached to the straw. In the embodiments described herein, these extensions can be considered as a type of “straw retainer” that will hold the straw in place. Preferred embodiments are also inexpensive to manufacture so that the products are suitable for use as single-use, disposable straws.

A preferred method or apparatus of the present invention has many novel aspects, and because the invention can be embodied in different methods or apparatuses for different purposes, not every aspect need be present in every embodiment. Moreover, many of the aspects of the described embodiments may be separately patentable. Although much of this description is directed at a drinking straw for use by children, preferred embodiments would also be suitable for use by the elderly or disabled. Also, drinking straws according to the present invention could be used at zoos or parks where discarded straws may be dangerous to animals or wildlife. Still further, drinking straws according to the present invention may be used ubiquitously as an aid in preventing littering in general. Preferred embodiments of the present invention could also be used simply to prevent straws from accidentally being removed or dropped.

A preferred embodiment of a drinking straw assembly 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Straw 11 can be manufactured according to any suitable known methods, including extrusion type molders which are commonly used in drinking straw manufacture. Straws of various sizes can be used, including straws of a diameter commonly used, for example, in fast-food restaurants (typically 15 mm in diameter and smaller) and straws of a diameter suitable for use in commercially available juice boxes (typically from 3 to 6 mm in diameter). Straw 11 can be formed from any suitable material, as is known in the prior art, including, for example, polypropylene resin. In some embodiments, the straw can have an angle-cut piercing lower end for penetrating the foil-sealed opening of some beverage containers, while the top section ends in a straight cut drinking end.

Sleeve 12 is placed around the exterior of straw 11. The sleeve can also be formed using extrusion type molders to create the cylindrically shaped sleeve with an internal diameter large enough so that the sleeve will fit tightly around the exterior of the straw. Sleeve 12 is preferably formed from the same material as straw 11. A plurality of finger-like extensions 14 will press flat against the straw when passed through a hole in a lid or juice box in one direction, but will catch against the lid or juice box when the straw is pulled in the opposite direction. As shown in FIG. 1A to 3B, the distal or upper ends of the extensions will preferably tend to spread out away from the straw so that the overall top diameter 16 of the extensions (including the spaces between the extensions) will be larger and wider at the upper end than the bottom diameter 17 where the extensions attach to or join the sleeve base.

The extensions are preferably integral with the sleeve. In other words, the sleeve and the extensions are preferably formed from one solid piece of material. Extensions 14 can be easily formed by making a plurality of longitudinal slits in a cylindrical sleeve 12 as shown in FIG. 2. In some preferred embodiments, the extensions can be curled outward away from the straw exterior as shown in FIG. 1A. The curled extensions can be formed, for example, by holding the extensions in the desired curled shape and applying heat. The degree to which the upper portions of the extensions are spread away from the straw can be varied as long as they spread enough to “catch” on the underside of the beverage container foil or lid when the straw and sleeve are pulled back up through an opening. In addition to the finger-like form shown, the extensions could be formed in any desired shape, for example as tabs with a greater width than height or as triangle shaped extensions.

Sleeve 12 can be placed around straw and held in place, for example by friction, heating the assembled sleeve and straw, an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, etc. The slits should be long enough to produce extensions that are large enough to prevent the drinking straw from being easily removed from a beverage container once inserted, but should not extend so far as to weaken the sleeve or significantly reduce the force holding the sleeve in place. The sleeve itself can also be of any desired overall length, for example from ¾ to 1½ inches in overall length (including the length of the extensions). The sleeve should be held in place at a longitudinal position on the straw so that the sleeve will pass completely through the lid or container opening when the straw is fully inserted into a beverage container (in other words, when the straw is inserted to a depth allowing it to be used to draw the beverage out of the container). For a typical drinking straw suitable for use with a variety of containers, the lower edge of the sleeve could be positioned, for example, 3 inches or less from the lower end of the straw. More preferably, the lower edge of the sleeve is positioned from 1 to 2 inches from the lower end of the straw; most preferably the lower edge of the sleeve is positioned about 1½ inches from the bottom of the straw. This would allow the straw to be used with short containers (such as yogurt cups). For taller containers (such as typical disposable drink cups) the straw could be pulled up from the bottom of the cup for several inches before the sleeve extensions would catch against the lid or container.

Extensions 14 are preferably attached to the sleeve 12, rather than straw 11—although, as described below, in some preferred embodiments the extensions can be attached directly to or integrally formed with the straw. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the extensions 14 are preferably attached to or continuous with the sleeve only at the base of each extension (the proximal ends of the extensions). The attachment or transition between sleeve and extension, shown by dashed line 32, will preferably be located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the long axis 19 of the drinking straw (and thus parallel to the typical drink container lid when the straw is inserted) so that, when pressed up against a drink container lid as shown in FIG. 7, the extensions will press flat against the underside of the lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the purely longitudinal force of pushing the drinking straw through an opening will push each extension flat against the straw. In other words, the straw and sleeve of the present invention can be inserted straight into a typical beverage container or lid just like a prior art straw, with no twisting or specialized motion required.

Alternatively, the extensions could be attached to or continuous with the sleeve at the bottom of each extension and also attached together at the top of the extensions, but unattached and spread away from the straw toward the middle portions of the extensions. In this preferred embodiment, the sleeve and extensions would function more like a standard wall anchor.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate the stages of inserting the drinking straw into a standard drink lid 42. The bottom end 44 of the drinking straw (the end opposite the extensions 14) is first passed down through the opening 46 from the top surface 48 of the lid. As the drinking straw 10 passes through opening 46 the downward force will cause the extensions 14 to press flat against the straw 11 and so pass through the opening 46. Once the distal ends of the extensions (the free ends opposite or away from the sleeve) have passed through the opening, however, they will tend to widen away from the straw body, as shown in FIG. 6. Any attempt to pull the straw back out of the opening will cause the ends of the extensions to contact the straw lid or the portion of the juice box surrounding the opening. The extensions will then be pushed out wide, as shown in FIG. 7, which will prevent the drinking straw from being easily pulled back through the opening. In preferred embodiments, the extensions themselves will be wide enough to provide sufficient resistance when the straw is pulled in an outward direction. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 7, the total widths of the extensions pressed against the underside of the lid (not including the spaces between the extensions) will be approximately equal to the diameter of the straw.

Preferred embodiments of the invention can be applied to any size straw and can be used with any commercially available juice box or pouch. Embodiments of the present invention can be used with openings in beverage containers that are only slightly larger than the diameter of the drinking straw and sleeve. Because the extensions will tend to spread out from the straw when no force is being applied and because the extensions will spread out to a much larger diameter when an attempt is made to remove the straw, embodiments of the present invention can also be used with openings that are substantially larger than the diameter of the drinking straw and sleeve. Thus, the present invention is not limited to beverage containers with standard insertion holes.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention can be used with any typical beverage containers, and can be used with any beverage or liquid such as Hi-C®, Yoplait® yogurt, Coca-Cola® Products, Dr. Pepper® products and any other soft drink. Preferred embodiments of the present invention can be used with drink containers purchased at a restaurant with a lid, or drink containers used in the home with lids or lid-like devices. Drinking straws according to the present invention can be single use, disposable items or can be reusable. A drinking straw according to the present invention can be provided with a drink container, such as the straws typically packaged with juice boxes and pouches, or can be provided separately, for example in a box or package of individual drinking straws that can be used with any desired beverage container.

In another preferred embodiment, a sleeve according to the present invention can be reusable and nondisposable. For example, an assortment of reusable sleeves can be provided so that the interior diameters of the sleeves will firmly fit over the exterior of various standard straw sizes. The interior diameters of the sleeves will preferably fit tightly over the exterior of the standard straws so that the sleeve will be held in place by friction. Even though the reusable sleeves will slide over the exterior of the straws when sufficient force is applied, the friction between the straw and the sleeve will preferably be sufficient to provide adequate resistance to prevent easy removal of the straw, for example when a child pulls on the straw or attempts to remove the straw from a beverage.

In some embodiments, the straw can be formed with one or more indentations or one or more thicker areas to facilitate location and attachment of the sleeve. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the straw and at least one extension can be formed as a single unit, preferably during the extrusion process, For example, FIGS. 8A and 8B show a straw assembly 20 where a plurality of extensions 14 are integral with the straw 11. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view showing that the extensions 14 and the straw 11 are formed as one piece. Skilled persons will recognize that different numbers of extensions and different shaped extensions can be formed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Instead of the finger-like extension described above, one or more generally cone-shaped extensions could also be formed. For example, FIG. 9 shows a straw that includes a straw shaft 60 and a straw retainer 62 that are also formed as a single piece (like the embodiment shown in FIG. 8). Straw retainer 62 is essentially a thin, cone-shaped material that extends from straw shaft 60. Straw retainer 62 can be formed, for example, as the straw is being extruded by forcing material over a cone-shaped mold. Straw retainer 62 is sufficiently flexible so that it can be compressed against straw shaft 60 to be inserted into a beverage container. The cone portion may have one or more slits substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of straw shaft 60 so as to facilitate compressing the cone when it is inserted into a beverage container.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, in some systems, the sample may be fixed and the tools may rotate on a platform. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

1. A drinking straw assembly, comprising:

a straw formed from a cylindrical tube, the straw having a top portion adapted for being placed in a person's mouth in order to draw liquid through the straw and a lower end adapted for inserting through an opening in a beverage container; and

a sleeve fitted around the exterior of the tube and fixed in place on the straw, the sleeve having a plurality of retaining extensions extending away from the sleeve up toward the top portion of the straw.

2. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 wherein the sleeve and retaining extensions when inserted with the straw through an opening in a beverage container will prevent the easy removal of the straw.

3. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 wherein the straw with sleeve and retaining extensions can be inserted through an opening in a beverage container using substantially the same force required to insert a straw without the sleeve and retaining extensions.

4. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the sleeve fitted around the exterior of the tube comprises a cylindrical sleeve fitting around the exterior of the straw, said sleeve having an upper portion oriented toward the top portion of the straw and a lower portion oriented toward the lower end of the straw and said sleeve fixed in place on the straw so that when the straw is fully inserted through an opening in a beverage container the sleeve passes completely through the opening.

5. The drinking straw assembly of claim 4 in which the plurality of retaining extensions extend from the upper portion of the sleeve, said retaining extensions continuous with the sleeve only at the base of each retaining extension so that the transition between the sleeve and the base of each retaining extension is located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the drinking straw.

6. The drinking straw assembly of claim 5 in which the retaining extensions have an upper portion distal to the upper portion of the sleeve and in which the upper portions of the extensions are spread out away from the straw so that the retaining extensions have a wider overall diameter at said upper portion than at the base of the extensions.

7. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the plurality of retaining extensions are formed so that the purely longitudinal force of pushing the straw and sleeve down through the opening will push each retaining extension flat against the straw and allow the sleeve to easily pass through the opening, but when the straw is then pulled back up, the retaining extensions will contact the beverage container and spread out away from the straw preventing the straw and sleeve from being easily pulled through the opening.

8. The drinking straw assembly of claim 5 wherein the sleeve and retaining extensions comprise a cylindrical tube of material having one or more longitudinal slits through the cylinder material, the slits running from a first end of the cylinder and extending longitudinally only partially along the length of the cylinder.

9. The drinking straw assembly of claim 2 in which the beverage container comprises a beverage container and lid and in which the opening in the beverage container is an opening in the lid.

10. The drinking straw assembly of claim 2 in which the beverage container opening is covered by foil or flexible plastic that is punctured when the straw and sleeve are inserted through the opening.

11. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the straw has a diameter of less than 15 mm.

12. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the straw has a diameter of 3 mm to 6 mm.

13. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the straw and the sleeve comprise a polypropylene resin.

14. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the sleeve is held in place around the exterior of the straw by friction, adhesive, or by heating.

15. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the sleeve is fixed in place on the straw so that the lower edge of the sleeve is 3 inches or less from the lower end of the straw.

16. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the sleeve and extensions is ¾ to 1½ inches in length.

17. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1 in which the straw is formed with one or more indentions to facilitate placement and attachment of the sleeve.

18. A drinking straw comprising:

a straw formed from a cylindrical tube, the straw having an upper end, a lower end, and a longitudinal axis, the lower end adapted for inserting through an opening in a beverage container;

one or more extensions extending from the straw, said one or more extensions: (i) positioned on the straw so that the extensions will pass completely through said opening when the straw is inserted into a beverage container; (ii) formed so that the purely longitudinal force of pushing the straw and sleeve down through the opening will push the extensions against the straw and allow the extensions to easily pass through the opening, but when the straw is then pulled back up, the extensions will contact the beverage container and prevent the straw from being easily removed from the beverage container.

19. The drinking straw of claim 18 in which at least one extension is cone-shaped with the base of the cone extending toward the upper end of the straw and in which said cone-shaped extension is formed with one or more longitudinal slits completely through the extension, said slits serving to allow the cone-shaped extension to be easily compressed as the straw and sleeve are inserted into a beverage container.

20. The drinking straw of claim 18 having a plurality of extensions extending from the straw.

21. The drinking straw of claim 20 where at least one extension is integrally formed with the straw.

22. The drinking straw of claim 18 in which the one or more extensions have a proximal portion with respect to the main straw body and a distal portion opposite the straw body and formed so that the distal portion that tends to spread out away from the straw so that the distal portion of the one or more extensions has a wider overall diameter than the proximal portion.

23. A cylindrical sleeve which can be fitted around the exterior of a standard drinking straw, said sleeve having an upper portion which can be oriented toward the upper end of the straw and a lower portion which can be oriented toward the lower end of the straw so that the sleeve passes completely through said opening when the straw is inserted into a beverage container;

said sleeve further having a plurality of retaining extensions extending from the upper portion of the sleeve, said extensions:

(i) continuous with the sleeve only at the base of each extension so that the transition between the sleeve and each extension is located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the drinking straw;

(ii) having an upper portion that tends to spread out so that the extensions have a wider overall diameter at the top than at the base.