ENHANCED DRINKING STRAWS
Certain drinking straw device embodiments comprise an inner tube having a hole along its length and an actuator for actively introducing a gas or fluid through the hole into a liquid flowing through the inner tube. In an embodiment, the actuator stores and releases a pressurized gas. In some embodiments, the actuator stores and releases a second liquid or gel. In some embodiments, a device comprises a non-pressurized gas or fluid substance introduction mechanism, which, when activated, allows the gas or fluid substance to enter and be mixed with a liquid flowing through the inner tube.
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to drinking straws and in particular to drinking straws which enable introduction of a substance in the form of air, liquid, soluble solid, gas or gel into a liquid flowing therethrough.
BACKGROUNDDrinking straw devices having holes (orifices) which allow introduction of a gas or flavoring into a liquid passing through the straw are disclosed for example in UK Patent GB2032756(B) and UK Patent Application GB2401527(A). If, as in GB2032756(B), the holes role is to allow air to be sipped (sucked) into the straw to produce air bubbles which mix with the beverage, the holes need to be above the liquid level. This requires the top level of the liquid to be below the holes. This also reduces the “mixing length” of the straw in which the air is mixed with the liquid. A solution which increases this length by adding a spherical or helical portion, as done in GB2032756(B), is cumbersome and wasteful in terms of materials.
Drinking straw devices are not known to introduce a pressurized gas into a liquid stream. Also not knows are devices which introduce actively a fluid or a combination of two or more different fluids into a liquid stream. As used hereinafter, “fluid” may refer to liquids, gels or gases.
There is therefore a need for and it would be advantageous to have drinking straws with holes as far as possible from the end where sipping is performed, to increase the mixing length. It would also be advantageous to have drinking straw devices which introduce a pressurized gas or at least one fluid into a liquid stream
SUMMARYEmbodiments disclosed herein provide enhanced drinking straw devices in which a substance in the form of gas (e.g. Air, Oxygen, CO2), liquid, solvated solid or gel is introduced actively or passively into a liquid (“drink”) flowing through the straw. The substance may be flavored or flavorless. It may include additions such as vitamins, medicine, pain killers or fragrances. Various embodiments may be referred to as “air-liquid”, “pressurized gas-liquid”, “liquid-liquid” or “solvated solid-liquid”) straw device embodiments. In an embodiment, there is provided a drinking straw device comprising an inner tube having a hole in its wall and an actuator for actively introducing a gas or fluid through the hole into a liquid flowing through the inner tube. The actuator may include a chamber for storing a gas source and a gas introduction mechanism for allowing gas from the gas source to enter and be mixed with the liquid. The chamber may be formed by a sealed outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The gas introduction mechanism may include a flexible membrane coupled to a plunger, or a needle operative to penetrate into and retract from the hole in the inner tube. In an embodiment, the actuator may include a chamber for storing a fluid substance source and a fluid introduction mechanism for allowing the fluid substance to enter and be mixed with the liquid. The fluid introduction mechanism may include two one way valves.
In an embodiment, there is provided a drinking straw device comprising an inner tube having a septum, an outer tube surrounding and sealing the inner tube with the septum to form a closed chamber, a pressurized gas filling at least part of the chamber, and an actuator for actively introducing the pressurized gas through the slit wall section into a liquid flowing through the inner tube. The actuator may include a pierced needle, which, when inserted through the septum, provides an open path for the pressurized gas to enter the liquid. The actuator may further include a retracting mechanism for retracting the needle from the septum to close the path. In an embodiment, the actuator includes two pierced needles positioned diametrically opposite a symmetry axis of the inner tube and a retracting mechanism for retracting each needle from the slit wall section to close the path.
In some embodiments, the inner tube includes a section filled with a water-soluble substance.
Aspects, embodiments and features disclosed herein will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like components are denoted by like reference numerals. In the drawings:
The inner and outer tubes may be made by any material useful for drinking straws, for example plastics, glasses or metals. The materials may be flexible, to enable bending.
Optionally, as shown in
In summary, straw device embodiments disclosed herein provide a number of advantageous features:
a) elegant and easy introduction of another substance into a consumed liquid stream;
b) mixing of atmospheric air with the consumed liquid to create a “sipping straw” for a drinking experience similar to the sipping of tea or other beverages;
c) mixing of an external liquid or gel with a consumed liquid, enabling the seamless introduction of alcohol, vitamins, painkillers, flavors etc into a consumed liquid;
d) introduction of solubles including salts, vitamins, flavors, nutritional supplements, etc. into the consumed stream;
e) enabling a user to introduce any easily stored gas, as bubbles, into a consumed liquid;
f) ensuring the mixing of air with a consumed liquid, thus minimizing the chance of consuming air alone. An external peripheral straw ensures an always open airway which cannot be blocked by holding the straw in a wrong way.
While this disclosure describes a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of such embodiments may be made. The disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to this disclosure.
Claims
1. A drinking straw device comprising:
- a) an inner tube having a hole along its length; and
- b) an actuator for actively introducing a gas or fluid through the hole into a liquid flowing through the inner tube.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a chamber for storing a gas source and a gas introduction mechanism for allowing gas from the gas source to enter and be mixed with the liquid.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the gas introduction mechanism includes a flexible area coupled to a plunger.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the chamber is formed by a sealed outer tube surrounding the inner tube.
5. The device of claim 2, wherein the gas introduction mechanism includes a needle operative to penetrate into and retract from the hole.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a chamber for storing a fluid substance source, the chamber formed by a sealed outer tube surrounding the inner tube, and a fluid introduction mechanism for allowing the fluid substance to enter and be mixed with the liquid.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the fluid introduction mechanism includes two one way valves.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas includes oxygen.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas includes CO2.
10. The device of claim 6, wherein the fluid substance is selected from the group consisting of a liquid and a gel.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner tube includes a section filled with a water-soluble substance.
12. A drinking straw device comprising:
- a) an inner tube having a septum wall section;
- b) an outer tube surrounding and sealing the inner tube with the septum to form a closed chamber;
- c) a pressurized gas filling at least part of the chamber; and
- d) an actuator for actively introducing the pressurized gas through the slit wall section into a liquid flowing through the inner tube.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the actuator includes a pierced needle, which, when inserted through septum, provides an open path for the pressurized gas to enter the liquid.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a retracting mechanism for retracting the needle from the septum to close the path.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the actuator includes two pierced needles positioned diametrically opposite a symmetry axis of the inner tube, wherein each needle, when inserted through the septum, provides an open path for the pressurized gas to enter the liquid.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the actuator includes a retracting mechanism for retracting each needle from the septum to close the path.
17. The device of claim 12, wherein the inner tube includes a section filled with a soluble substance.
18. The device of claim 12, wherein the gas includes oxygen.
19. A drinking straw device comprising:
- a) an inner tube having a wall with a length extending between a top end and a bottom end;
- b) an outer tube which surrounds the inner tube in a generally concentric way for part of its length to form a chamber, the outer tube having a top end open to the atmosphere and a bottom end which blocks a liquid from entering the chamber, wherein the inner tube has at least one lower hole positioned between the bottom inner tube and bottom outer tube ends and at least one upper hole positioned between the outer tube top and bottom ends.
20. The device of claim 19, further comprising an additional tube slideably inserted inside the inner tube, the additional tube used as a fluid flow control mechanism.
International Classification: A47G 21/18 (20060101);