CA2394919A1 - Flexible drinking straw - Google Patents
Flexible drinking straw Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2394919A1 CA2394919A1 CA002394919A CA2394919A CA2394919A1 CA 2394919 A1 CA2394919 A1 CA 2394919A1 CA 002394919 A CA002394919 A CA 002394919A CA 2394919 A CA2394919 A CA 2394919A CA 2394919 A1 CA2394919 A1 CA 2394919A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rings
- straw
- bending
- bent
- flexible
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G21/00—Table-ware
- A47G21/18—Drinking straws or the like
- A47G21/186—Details of bendable straws
Landscapes
- Table Equipment (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to flexible straws [with one (or more) flexible zone consisting of folding rings] which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space. The invention, by increasing the number of rings and keeping certain of the rings folded (1, 3, 4) succeeds in straightening the straw up again almost without any damage and in bending the straw to all directions. Further it increases the effective length of the straw. The advantage of the invention is that it attains complete straightening up and functionality of the straw without a significant increase in the production cost and without major changes in the current production line.
Description
FLEXIBLE DRINKING STRAW
The invention relates to flexible straws [with one (or more) flexible zone (corrugated zone) consisting of folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds)]
which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space.
The straws used to date for this purpose have one flexible zone (corrugated zone) consisting of 8-10 folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds).
[The first (or the last) ring, being firm, is not counted as folding ring]. To bend to obtuse angles (e.g. 180°) due to the restricted number of rings, continuous external pressure has to be exercised. This pressure keeps being exercised by the packaging material afterwards as well. As a result the rings ~5 are permanently deformed and straightening of the straw is not possible. Also a problem is posed by the fact that all rings are expanded (unfolded) after bending of the straw.
(e.g. The U-shaped straws.) 2o The present invention, by increasing the number of rings and keeping certain of the rings folded (contracted), succeeds in straightening the straw up again almost without any damage and in bending the straw to all directions.
Further, it increases the effective length of the straw.
Till now no one has thought to leave certain of the rings folded or simply to increase the number of rings so that they are not deformed by force during bending of the straw.
The Letter Patents, GB-A-1 219 595 (UNION CARBIDE
CORP. - 20 January 1971 ) and US-A-3 641 884 (JIVOIN -February 1972) refer to properties of the common, straight, flexible drinking straws of general use.
No mention is made to straws which are attached to the 1o packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are permanently bent until their use. Besides, approximately 28 years have lapsed since then but no one has thought of some of the recommended innovations.
~ 5 The advantage of the present invention is that it attains complete straightening up and functionality of the straw without a significant increase in the production cost and without major changes in the current production line.
2o FIG. 1 shows indicatively a straw in bent position, with one flexible zone having certain rings folded.
To assist straightening up of the straw, when all its rings are expanded after bending (like the case is until today), the straw must have sufficient rings (more than ten), so that when it bends, the rings are not deformed by force.
Further, the straw should not be under any form of external pressure. Therefore the straw, after bending, is let 3o free to remain bent at the desired angle without external pressure. Following this it can be packed in its final form.
If, in any way, more rings are expanded, than those needed to bent the straw to the desired angle, then the extra expanded rings lose their flexibility as the time passes and do not bend to any direction.
To achieve the best possible straightening up and 1 o functionality of the straw, even if stored for an extensive period, there have to be sufficient rings so that after bending of the straw, certain rings remain folded without, of course, deformation of the expanded rings in a forceful way.
We aim at keeping the first rings (1 ) folded (e.g. 2-4 first rings) so that after straightening, the straw may bend to all directions thanks to the folded rings.
Straightening of the straw is considerably assisted by the 2o existence of interspersed folded rings among the expanded ones, as well as around the middle of the arch formed by bending of the straw, so that not many consecutive expanded rings exist without interference of one (3) or more (4) folded ones, particularly at the middle of the arch, where the biggest amount of pressure is exercised [e.g. an expanded ring (2) is followed by a folded ring (3)].
In order definite rings remain folded, apart from their number certain other factors are of importance as well, like 3o the material, point (or points) at which pressure is exerted to bend the straw, the shape and the position of fulcrum (or fulcrums) etc. (e.g. The pressure is applied on a fixed point and the position of the fulcrum changes as the straw bends).
As there exist extra rings, it is difficult for them to be deformed by force. For full scale application of the recommended changes there have to be sufficient rings (many more than ten folding rings).
In order the straw is not under any form of external pressure after bending, it is let free to remain bent at the desired angle without external pressure. Following this, it can be packed in its final form.
If something goes wrong in bending and some consecutive rings unfold (5) or some of the first rings unfolds this is not a serious problem and the straw straightens again (usually without any particular effort), because:
1. The rings are not deformed by force.
2. There will always be enough folded rings to support straightening of the expanded ones.
With the presence of folded rings, after bending of the straw, we can increase its effective length as well, because when it straightens and all rings are unfolded, it can bend, if we wish, at the first rings and the remaining section stays 3o straight and larger than respective section of the usual straws.
In case the straw has more than one flexible zones 5 (corrugated zones) consisting of folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds) [e.g. the S-shaped straws - EP-A-0 327 244 (ELOPAK SYSTEMS AG)] the above are applied on all zones.
The invention relates to flexible straws [with one (or more) flexible zone (corrugated zone) consisting of folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds)]
which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space.
The straws used to date for this purpose have one flexible zone (corrugated zone) consisting of 8-10 folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds).
[The first (or the last) ring, being firm, is not counted as folding ring]. To bend to obtuse angles (e.g. 180°) due to the restricted number of rings, continuous external pressure has to be exercised. This pressure keeps being exercised by the packaging material afterwards as well. As a result the rings ~5 are permanently deformed and straightening of the straw is not possible. Also a problem is posed by the fact that all rings are expanded (unfolded) after bending of the straw.
(e.g. The U-shaped straws.) 2o The present invention, by increasing the number of rings and keeping certain of the rings folded (contracted), succeeds in straightening the straw up again almost without any damage and in bending the straw to all directions.
Further, it increases the effective length of the straw.
Till now no one has thought to leave certain of the rings folded or simply to increase the number of rings so that they are not deformed by force during bending of the straw.
The Letter Patents, GB-A-1 219 595 (UNION CARBIDE
CORP. - 20 January 1971 ) and US-A-3 641 884 (JIVOIN -February 1972) refer to properties of the common, straight, flexible drinking straws of general use.
No mention is made to straws which are attached to the 1o packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are permanently bent until their use. Besides, approximately 28 years have lapsed since then but no one has thought of some of the recommended innovations.
~ 5 The advantage of the present invention is that it attains complete straightening up and functionality of the straw without a significant increase in the production cost and without major changes in the current production line.
2o FIG. 1 shows indicatively a straw in bent position, with one flexible zone having certain rings folded.
To assist straightening up of the straw, when all its rings are expanded after bending (like the case is until today), the straw must have sufficient rings (more than ten), so that when it bends, the rings are not deformed by force.
Further, the straw should not be under any form of external pressure. Therefore the straw, after bending, is let 3o free to remain bent at the desired angle without external pressure. Following this it can be packed in its final form.
If, in any way, more rings are expanded, than those needed to bent the straw to the desired angle, then the extra expanded rings lose their flexibility as the time passes and do not bend to any direction.
To achieve the best possible straightening up and 1 o functionality of the straw, even if stored for an extensive period, there have to be sufficient rings so that after bending of the straw, certain rings remain folded without, of course, deformation of the expanded rings in a forceful way.
We aim at keeping the first rings (1 ) folded (e.g. 2-4 first rings) so that after straightening, the straw may bend to all directions thanks to the folded rings.
Straightening of the straw is considerably assisted by the 2o existence of interspersed folded rings among the expanded ones, as well as around the middle of the arch formed by bending of the straw, so that not many consecutive expanded rings exist without interference of one (3) or more (4) folded ones, particularly at the middle of the arch, where the biggest amount of pressure is exercised [e.g. an expanded ring (2) is followed by a folded ring (3)].
In order definite rings remain folded, apart from their number certain other factors are of importance as well, like 3o the material, point (or points) at which pressure is exerted to bend the straw, the shape and the position of fulcrum (or fulcrums) etc. (e.g. The pressure is applied on a fixed point and the position of the fulcrum changes as the straw bends).
As there exist extra rings, it is difficult for them to be deformed by force. For full scale application of the recommended changes there have to be sufficient rings (many more than ten folding rings).
In order the straw is not under any form of external pressure after bending, it is let free to remain bent at the desired angle without external pressure. Following this, it can be packed in its final form.
If something goes wrong in bending and some consecutive rings unfold (5) or some of the first rings unfolds this is not a serious problem and the straw straightens again (usually without any particular effort), because:
1. The rings are not deformed by force.
2. There will always be enough folded rings to support straightening of the expanded ones.
With the presence of folded rings, after bending of the straw, we can increase its effective length as well, because when it straightens and all rings are unfolded, it can bend, if we wish, at the first rings and the remaining section stays 3o straight and larger than respective section of the usual straws.
In case the straw has more than one flexible zones 5 (corrugated zones) consisting of folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds) [e.g. the S-shaped straws - EP-A-0 327 244 (ELOPAK SYSTEMS AG)] the above are applied on all zones.
Claims (5)
1. The flexible drinking straws [with one (or more) flexible zone (corrugated zone) consisting of folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds)] which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space, are characterized in that, the flexible zone (corrugated zone) consists of sufficient folding rings (annular bellows folds, reentrant overlapping folds) so that, after bending of the straw certain rings remain folded without deformation of the expanded rings in a forceful way.
2. The flexible drinking straws, which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space, according to claim 1 are characterized in that, after bending of the straw, certain rings remain folded, interspersed among the expanded ones, as well as around the middle of the arch formed by the bending of the straw so that not many consecutive expanded rings exist without interference of one (3) or more (4) folded rings.
3. The flexible drinking straws, which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space, according to claims 1, 2 are characterized in that, after bending of the straw, the first rings (1 ) remain folded, so that after straightening, the straw may bend to all directions.
4. The flexible drinking straws, which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space, according to claim 1, when all the rings of the straw are expanded after bending, are characterized in that, the straw has sufficient rings (more than ten), so that when it bends the rings are not deformed by force.
5. The flexible drinking straws, which are attached to the packaging of fruit juices, milks, coffees etc. and are bent to take up less space, according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 are characterized in that, the straw, after bending, is let free to remain bent at the desired angle without external pressure, then it can be packed in its final form.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GR99100138 | 1999-04-22 | ||
GR990100138 | 1999-04-22 | ||
PCT/GR2000/000018 WO2000064316A1 (en) | 1999-04-22 | 2000-04-21 | Flexible drinking straw |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2394919A1 true CA2394919A1 (en) | 2000-11-02 |
Family
ID=10943803
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002394919A Abandoned CA2394919A1 (en) | 1999-04-22 | 2000-04-21 | Flexible drinking straw |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1176894A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1356879A (en) |
AU (1) | AU3830800A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2394919A1 (en) |
GR (1) | GR990100138A (en) |
RU (1) | RU2253601C2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000064316A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200109461B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10314155B2 (en) | 2012-08-06 | 2019-06-04 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Asymmetric consumables for a plasma arc torch |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2009036586A1 (en) * | 2007-09-17 | 2009-03-26 | Ziyi Chuang | Three-dimensional mosaic and foldable mosaic pieces thereof |
CN101991359B (en) * | 2009-08-21 | 2012-08-08 | 伟嘉电业有限公司 | Coffee machine |
CN102302312A (en) * | 2011-08-22 | 2012-01-04 | 楼仲平 | Portable straw and method for packing same to pop-top can |
CN102697359A (en) * | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-03 | 李红彪 | Suction tube structure |
ES2916802T3 (en) * | 2019-03-06 | 2022-07-06 | Ima Spa | paper straw |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1219595A (en) | 1968-11-01 | 1971-01-20 | Union Carbide Corp | Flexible drinking tube |
US3641884A (en) | 1969-07-07 | 1972-02-15 | Anton Jivoin | Manufacturing flexible drinking straws |
US4036392A (en) * | 1976-11-01 | 1977-07-19 | Martin Marvin C | Disposable beverage container cover element carrying folded drinking straw |
DE3242257A1 (en) * | 1982-11-15 | 1984-05-17 | Reinhard 2864 Hambergen Hertel | Pack for foodstuffs |
GB8802476D0 (en) | 1988-02-04 | 1988-03-02 | Elopak Systems | Improvements in/relating to drinking straws |
IE903860A1 (en) * | 1990-10-26 | 1992-05-22 | Internat Product Developments | A Straw |
NL9201975A (en) * | 1992-11-11 | 1994-06-01 | Ver Coop Melkind | Method and device for perforating the wall of a reed. |
JPH0856802A (en) * | 1994-08-22 | 1996-03-05 | Toyo Cap Kk | Straw structure |
JPH09276113A (en) * | 1996-04-16 | 1997-10-28 | Nishigami:Kk | Straw and container with straw |
-
1999
- 1999-04-22 GR GR990100138A patent/GR990100138A/en active IP Right Revival
-
2000
- 2000-04-21 WO PCT/GR2000/000018 patent/WO2000064316A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2000-04-21 RU RU2001131563/12A patent/RU2253601C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-04-21 CA CA002394919A patent/CA2394919A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-04-21 EP EP00917217A patent/EP1176894A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2000-04-21 CN CN 00809198 patent/CN1356879A/en active Pending
- 2000-04-21 AU AU38308/00A patent/AU3830800A/en not_active Abandoned
-
2001
- 2001-11-16 ZA ZA200109461A patent/ZA200109461B/en unknown
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10314155B2 (en) | 2012-08-06 | 2019-06-04 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Asymmetric consumables for a plasma arc torch |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GR990100138A (en) | 2000-12-29 |
EP1176894A1 (en) | 2002-02-06 |
WO2000064316A1 (en) | 2000-11-02 |
AU3830800A (en) | 2000-11-10 |
RU2253601C2 (en) | 2005-06-10 |
ZA200109461B (en) | 2002-10-30 |
CN1356879A (en) | 2002-07-03 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
FZDE | Discontinued |