CA2621747A1 - Food-filled drinking straw - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a drinking straw which is sealed and/or re-sealable at the ends and which can serve as a supply container for a dry food product or which can comprise multiple parts, and to its use.

Description

Title: FOOD-FILLED DRINKING STRAW
Inventor: Jozsef Felfoldi BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention [00041 The present invention relates to a drinking straw which can be filled with a food product, a procedure for its production and ways of its use.

2. Description of the Related Art [0005j The prior art presents us with straws in a great variety of forms and uses. DE 20 2005010735 U1 concerns a straw which encases a second straw that is coated with ice. EP
963327 B I describes a plastic coritainer for liquids which contains a fully floating straw in the inside. It coneerns a sealed plastic pouch for liquids where a straw-like object is held inside the container and is floating freely in the liquid contained in the bag. For such plastie containers, straws of a sufficient grade of rigidity are supplied in order to be able to pierce the rotich without having tapered the end of the straw and without any further devices attached to the straw to facilitate its handling and its movement in the container, since such additional measures have otber disadvantages in the process of automated production of such containers atttl their contents. Furthermore, such containcrs for liquids must bc highly hygienic and must be manufactured of a sort of plastic which does not lend any aftertaste (e.g.
a sour taste) to the liquid contained therein, especially when the liquid is stored in the container for a tong period of time. In addition, the plastic hag is equipped with a sealing arourtd the straw when the latter is inserted and this admission sealing must resist mechanical impact during dispatch and handling.

[0006( A disadvantage of this method is that great attention must be paid to the sort of plastic used in order to ensure hygiene and taste neutrality. Additionally, this straw is retained inside the container and so the straw is moistened by the liquid upon piercing the bag.

100071 Patent no. CH 496 428 describes a drinking straw consisting of transparent tubular sections with coils. Patent no. .DE 203 09 272 UI concerns an adjustable straw equipped with an alterable admission opening.

(00081 Patent no. DE 199 61 725 Al describes a straw which, at a suitable distance from the bottom end has an expanded area with circular or oval radial cross-section. Upon piercing the bag with the straw at the aecording admission opening this expanded section otz the straw causes the opening to widen to a degree that a gap is created tretween the wall of tite container and the straw, which enables pressure balance to be reached.

(00091 Patent no. t7E 19503 104 A.I describes a straw with an area so expanded that it thus provides a container to take in an additional product.

(0010) DE Io2 28 559 AI conc.erns a drinking straw with a sealable bellows range.

100111 Patent no. DE 101 50 039 Al relates to a straw clip which enables attaching the straw to any container.

100121 1:JE 1{)045 712 C2 describes an add-on device which can be inserted through the sealed admission opening of t,he container. Conical in shape, upon insertion into the container this device creates a sealing between the edges of the opening on the container atid the straw, and thus rrrakes the ttsc of an additional sealing material superfluous.

(0013j G 88 11 410.4 concems a straw containing air-filled floating particles.

tiBS',4N1![N~'t4tS( Ai24i11~i 2 (0014) Patent no. (3 7529 324.2 describes a straw equipped wit'h a pair c>f mouthpieces at one end, allowing two persons to drink from the same glass.

[0015] Disadvantages in the prior art are that straws are either attached to the outside of the respective liquid-filled containers and are likely to get lost or daniaged, or that clothing may be contaminated with the liquids by spilling through the straw.
Additionally, straws stored in the liquids may release ingredients from the straw material into the liquids.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

100161 '~lhe aim of the present invention was to create a straw which caii serve as a supply container f6r food products enabli.ng k>ng stot-agc and ensuringgreat storage stability.

100171 The above task is solved by the invention of a straw which, as appropriate, can be a one-piece design manufactured of one material, is sealed and/or re-scalable at the ends and which can serve as a supply container for dry food products. The straw is made out of its own rnateri.al (iio moti=ing parts) in one piece by welding, punching (making the holes on it) and folding/iterating.

140181 In a possible variation on the present invention it is a one-piece design and is equipped with a mouthpiece at each end which is conical and tapering towards the straw.
Below this range the straw is defortned by 90 so that a cross-shaped opening is created. 'I"his opening is sufficiently large to ensure the flow of liquid inside the straw without exhibiting too much suction resistance. An advantage of this embodiinent of the invention is that grartules of irregular grain size can be filled in the straw in a greater particle distribution without allowing the sniatler granules to fall out.

100191 In a further variant of the invention, the straw is a one-piece design and it is seale.d at both ends. C?ne of thc ends is welded and, after 6lling the container with the dry food product, the ottier end used for filling up is also welded. The welded cnds of the straw are rounded off, preventing in.juries to the ntouth or lips.

[00201 In a furt.her preferred enrboditncnt, the straw is marlufac.tured with a single opening, and so one end is already rounded off in the manufacturing process.
()penings, holes, or slots are located at the cnd of the straw, ensuring the flow of licluid throug,h the 685l9'~3.tN)W-1KYti 1 6 i 24172v 1 3 straw. Additionat advantage this embodiment is that granules of irregular grain size can be filled in the container in a grcater particle distribution without allowing the smaller granules to fall out.

100211 In another embodiment of the prescnt invention the inner surface of the straw is coated with an antimicrobial agent in order to prolong the shelf life of the dry food product.
10022J Among antitnicrobial agetits are preservatives such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester, imidazolidinyl urea, forrnaldehyde, sorbic acid, bronopol, dchydroacetic acid, benzoic acid and salicylic acid.

100231 By the term dry food product we understand substances or mixtures consisting of powders, granules, beads etc. which contain nutritives, vitamins, f'ruit aromas, natural sugars, thicketiers, emulsifers etc. In the broadest sense of the present invention dry fruit extracts, sherbets, water-soluble vitamins and dietaiy suppletnents arc all grouped under the term dry food product. Also freczc-dried soups of a specific grain size are detined as dry food product.
100241 The straw, as so far defined in ttic invention, can be produced of a tubular shape in the shape of other polyhedrons (e.g. octagonal, decahedron, dodecahedron,icosahedron or other greater polyhedrons).

100251 In yet another emboditnent the straw according to the invention is equipped and brought into alignment with a shaft that holds a connection piece which is connected to a cover cap which fits the end of the straw precisely.

100261 In a further embodiment, the straw a.s defined in the invention comprises, at at least one location of dae upper or lower section, a flexible range, a crease range, an accordion-folded range or a bellows range.

100271 In another emboditnent, the straw consists of at least one sealalsle end, the middle section which encases a dry food product and a f7exible range eventually located between the middlc section and the sealable range.

100281 In yet another embodiment, the straw according to the invention is attached to a re-nseable device tnade out of a flexible material from the group of flexible range, crease 6!:<148.(1(N)2 WEST 612317"2 0 4 range, accordion-fold range and bellows range and this add-on device is further equipped with a naoutlipiece and a re-sealable end-piec:e.

100291 In yet another variant tlac straw as described is equipped with at least one section which is tlexible.

100301 A ftirther object of the present invention is the procedure for filling the straw described above, whereby the straw, already scaled at one end, is filled with a dry food product under the exclusion of oxygen or unde.r an oxygen content of utrder 0.9",4, and the straw is then finally sealed under inert atntosphere. i4lenlbranes that dissolve when conUicted with liquid are recomniended to ensure that the liquid conies into contact with the dry food mixture.

1003I1 Yet another object of the present invention is the use of the above described straw for storing supplies of dry food products, especially powders which, when contacted with aqueous nledia, result in a readily drinkable liquid.

F3RIEF DF,SCRIF'TIC)N OF TI-IE SEVERAL VIEWS OF TI-fE DRAWINGS

[00321 A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. I a is an embodiment of the straw in accordance with the present invention with a flattenecl grooving in plan view.

FIG. 1 b is the straw according to the irivention in a I<>nf;itudinal view rotated by 90 in relation to Figure Ia.

FIG. 2a is a variation on the straw according to the irivention in perspective view.
FIC:i. 2b is the straw from Figure 2a rc7tated 90 .

FIG. 3a is an end-piece according, to the invention in plaxi view.

FIG. 3b is c.ross-section from Figure 3a of the end-piece according to the invention.
FIG. 3c is a further etnbodinient in accordance with the invention in views U
and V.
1,.k519ri.0(N).'W'P\T hi24172c1 5 F1G. 4 is an open. resealable end-piece in perspective.
FIG. 5 is a flexible end-piece in perspective.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end-piece as seen front below.

FIG. 7 is a further variant of the straw according to the invention in a sectional view takert along the linc c-c.

FIG. 7a is an ernbodiment of the straw cnd range of the straw in Figure 7 in view W.
FIG. 7b is an enlarged view of and end range from Figure 7 with circular openings, sectional view taken along the line c-c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00331 Figure ia shows the straw according to the present invention I in plan view and as a sectional view taken along the lines h-b. At the rniddle section 12 of the straw are located the two straw end ranges 7 and the aligned end-pieces 2. The end-piece 2 within the framed range consists of a cone area 11 tapering outwards which functions as a swirl naixing area and continues in a$rooving 3. Beyond the grooving the straw material expands again and leads to the mouthpiece 4. The straw ntiddle sectietn 12 serves as a supply container for dry contents 6.

100341 Figure I b illustrates an einbodiment in accordance with the invention as shown in Figure Ia in a longitudinal view and rotated 90 . In this figure the end-piece is presented with a tapering cone area II and an expanding mouthpiece 4. The closure 5 is located between end-piece 2 of the straw end 7 and the, straw middle section 12. The closure 5 is intended to prevent the contents from falling out, as well as to c:nsure storage stability of the clry food product. By the term dry food praduct we understand substances or rnixtures consisting of powders, granules, heads etc. which contain nutritives, vitamins, fruit arontas, natural sugarr, thickene.rs, emulsifiers etc. In the broadest sense of the prusertt invention dry fruit extracts, sherbets, watex-soluble vitamins and dietary supplements are all grottped under t}ie terni dry food product. Also freeze-dried soups of a specific grain size are defined as dry food product.

68'.19R.l,NK12 N'fiS'r 6124 172 v 1 6 100351 Figure 2a shows a further embodiment of the straw according to the present invention I with the end-pieces 2 and mouthpieces 4 in perspective.

100361 Figure 2b shows a further variant of the straw in accordance with the invention 1 in perspective. Hcre the contents 6 are indicated inside the middle section 12 of the straw 1.
100371 Figure 3a illustrates the end-piece 2 of a straw <ta;cording to the inverition I in ari enlarged sectional view. Material thickness 9 lies widiin a range between 0.01 nun and 0.2 mn1. Thc straw middle section 12, here not represented, continues in the straw end range 7, to which a swirl mixing area 10 is connected. This swirl mixing 10 arca stretches from the straw end range 7 to the openiaig 8 of the mouthpiece 4. This area serves to produce a turbulence of the liquids (water, ntilk, spirits and the like) in order to ensure a speedy mixing with the contents in the form of granules, powders, beads or similar subst.ances and to speed up the dissolution of the dry contents. The groove 3 divides the end-piece 2 into mouthpiece 4 and cone area 11.

100381 Figure 3b shows the end-piece 2 in plan view. Around the grooving 3 the flow of fluids (of' water, milk, spirits or simi:lar) is at its strongest and the flow is lead directly to the dry content,s of the straw. With this embodiment, the closure 5 is located between straw end 7 and end-piece 2. The closure 5 is then opened by way of mechanical impact such as rubbing or syueefin.g or by way of contact with the liquids.

100391 Figure 3c shows a further variant of the present invention. In this embodiment the straw I is a one-piece design. it consists of a middle section 12 and is equipped with a mouthpiece 4 at each end which is conical, tapering towards the straw. Below this conical range the straw is deformed by 90"creating a cross-shaped opening 30. The opening 30 has two braces 25 and 26 and is sufficiently large to ensure the flow of liquid inside the strav4r without requiring too much suction. 'I'his variant of the invention is also of advatitage in that granules 6 of irregular grain size can be filled in a greater particle distribution while prevcnting the smaller granules from f;tlling out.

100401 Figure 4 illustrates an open, re-sealable end-piece 13 which can be connected to an embodinient of the mouthpiece 4d 1 K of the straw according to the invention. In this variant form, the re-sea(able end-piece 13 is constituted by the re-sealable end range which rarrge fi~ri1t9$.CXtD_' Wrs~il' 01?41 72 ,.! 7 consists of the cover cap 19 with the mouthpiece admission 21, of the upper mouthpiece range 16 of the re-sealable end-piece 13, over which the shaft 15 is located, which shaft is linked to the cortnectiota piece 14 that holds the cover cap 19 and is aligned with the ilcxible range 20. T'he mouthpiece is designed so that it is lead ttirough the flexible range 20 and in its upper range 16 it is equipped with a cover cap 19 for re-sealing and in its lower range 17 it serves as an admission for the rriouthpicce 4/18 of' the straw according to the irtvention 1.
I-lereby the lower range 17 is produced in a way that labyrinth seals 24 serve as adniission for the mouthpiece 19 of the straw in accordance with the invention.

100411 Figure 5 shows the flexible end-piece 13 iri perspective. At the top is the moutltpiece 16 of thc flexible ertd-piece 13. This niouthpiece 16 continues in thc 5haft 15 which is precisely aligned to the niouthpiece 16 of the flexible range 20. The con.nection picce 14 provided with a cover cap 19, located at t.he shaft, i:, not shown here.

(00421 F'igure 6 illustrates a perspective view of arr end-piece 13 according to the invention from below. An embodiinent of the straw is shown with an adnrission point 24 to take up the mouthpiece 4 of the straw. This admission point 24 is a drilled hole located at the lower end of the flexible area 23. Hereby it is granted that by sucking at the straw when the end-piece 2 is inserted into the straw according to the invention an area as large as possible is sealed and no air enters the straw around the adinission point 24.
Additionally this device ensures that no liquids escape through this connc.ction point, due to the large number of sealing elements located at the admission area.

100431 Figure 7 shows a fun:her embodiment in accordanec with the present:
invention where the straw 1 is a one-piece design and is sca.led at the end ranges 7.
First one of the end ranges 7 is welded tuid, after filling the container with the dry food product 6 the other end used for filling up is also welded. The welded end ranges 7 of the straw are rounded off, preventing injuries to the mouth or lips of the c.ustonier. In another.
prei:erred variation the straw is manufactured with a single opening at just onc of the end ranges 7, and so oric end-range 7 is already rounded oft' in the nranufacturing process.

100441 At both end-ranges 7 of the straw orifices 27 in the shape of holes, slots, oblong holes or similar are located, ensuring the flow of liquid through the straw.
ThiS design has the r:gtij94?.iN10->l4'(dsT sl]~I',?.1 O

advantage that even granules of' irregular grain size can he filled in the container in a great particle distribution without allowing the smaller granttles to fall out through the orifices 27.
100451 The openings are arranged around the perimeter of the straw I at the straw end range 7. There is a minimum of 3 and a inaaimuni of 12 opcnings provided at this section.
Ideally there are 4 to 8 openings.

[00461 Addit.ionally, Figure 7 also displays a c-c sectional view of the straw according to invention. Hereby the above described orifices 27 arc arrangcd around the perimeter of the straw at a distance of 90" from each other. "I'he openings are formed in a way that even in the case of a dry food product 6 in the shape of granules with considerable particle distribution the snzaller particles are prevented frotn falling out through the orifices 27.

(0047) In Figure 7a the straw according to the invenfion as described iti Figure 7 is displayed in an enlarged view W. There are three orifices 27 in the shape of't>blong slots.
100481 Figure 7b illustrates a strongly enlarged view of a straw end range 7 in cut c-c with circular orifices 27. The orifices are located at a distance of 90 from each other, distributed around the perimeter of the straw.

685148I0)2WEST Gl241'77~t ~~

Claims (16)

1. A straw with two ends, wherein each end is scaled and/or scalable and said straw can serve as a supply container for dry food products.

2. The straw as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ends is re-sealable and the re-sealable end comprises a cover cap which, by way of a connection piece, is linked with a shaft that is mounted on the end of the straw.

3. The straw as defined in claim 1, wherein said straw is manufactured as a one-piece design of one material and comprises a middle section and two ends and two eventually mounted end-pieces.

4. The straw as defined in claim 1, further comprising a shaft mounted at said ends, wherein said shaft presents a connection piece linked to a cap which can be flush-mounted onto the ends of the straw.

5. The straw as defined in claim 1, further comprising an inner surface and an anti-microbial coating on said inner surface of the straw.

6. The straw as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bendable range, a crease range, an accordion-fold range or a bellows range at at least one position at either end of the straw.

7. The straw as defined in claim 1, further comprising an end-piece and a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a swirl mixing area, reaching from one of the straw ends to a tapering grooving of said mouthpiece.

8. The straw as defined in claim 7, further comprising braces.

9. The straw as defined in Claim 8, wherein said braces are in the shape of welding spots of the straw material, of ligaments, rods or similar.

10. Straw as defined by claim-1 further characterized by the fact that is a one-piece design and is sealable at one of the ends.

11. Straw as defined by claim further characterized by the fact that is a one-piece design made of one single material.

12. Straw as defined by claim 1 further characterized by the fact that is a one-piece design and closed at the ends and comprises circular or oblong openings at the straw ends.

13. Straw as defined by claim 12, wherein the one-piece design straw comprises a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 12 openings at each end.

14. Straw as defined by claim 12 wherein the one-piece design straw comprises to 8 openings at each straw end.

15. Straw as defined by claim 1 wherein said straw contains dry food product.

16. Straw as defined by claim 15 wherein said dry food product is candy.