DE202018004195U1 - Drinking straw with multi-stage filter - Google Patents

Abstract

Drinking straw with multi-stage filter, whereby the filters consist of a plastic lattice and a reticulated hard foam piece.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cocktails and herbal drinks, such as mate tea, often contain ingredients that leave unpleasant residue on the consumer's tongue. This can hardly be avoided, especially if the ingredients have been ground in situ to fix the beverage.

STATE OF THE ART

There are some attempts to solve this problem. In principle, it would be possible to go through a filter, possibly a tea strainer. Not to mention here is the effort for the cleaning of the screen and the fact that some particles are deposited in the medium only after some time. The necessary decanting could also lead to temperature changes and unwanted color mixtures of beverage parts, for example in cocktails. Not to forget are components such as ice cubes, individual fruits and decorative elements whose arrangement would be disturbed.

But there are some patents that try to solve these problems:

US 2004 112 826 should be a filter for a drinking straw. However, it relates to the filtration of contaminated water and therefore uses predominantly hollow fibers or other superfine filter media. Even ignoring the problem of delayed and perpetuated flow due to capillary effects, this solution would be too expensive for single use in regular drinks.

at US 2006 175 248 , which is functionally similar to the invention presented here, was found to be dysfunctional in tests: as long as the pear is submerged in the beverage along with the suction tube or straw, the filtering concentrates on a narrow ring around the tube Entrance of the straw, whereby the filter mesh is clogged very quickly.

DE202008008835U suggests a drinking straw with a filter plate at the suction opening. However, this clogs quickly when shooting and would therefore be feasible only for drinks that inherit very few particles.

The same applies to the DE102011111443 that has a second opening on one side of the inlet that clogs even faster. In addition, the device generates in certain places funny sounds that probably not every drinker feels funny.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION / PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

It is an object of the invention disclosed herein to find a means for filtering particles from drinks with a straw. This is especially true at high levels of particles within the beverage without them clogging the filter. In addition, it must be disposable, therefore inexpensive and without unwanted side effects.

SOLUTION

The solution was found in a combination of a reticulated coarse filter in spherical form comprising a fine filter consisting of a crosslinked filter foam. The fine filter is made of plastic (preferably rigid PVC) and has a foam structure, the bubbles were crushed in an autoclave under high pressure. This creates an open network with a high surface area and a high capacity for solid particles, but without retaining any aqueous liquids. In addition, the material absorbs suction-like noises.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a drinking straw with a spherical grid at its inlet and a filter hard foam filling this.

It is important that this filter foam is reticulated and consists of a fairly coarse structure (more than 1.5 millimeters in diameter of the original bubbles) so that liquid drips easily when pulled from an aqueous medium.

The foam material is preferably hard PVC, but almost all hard plastic materials are possible without contamination.

The spherical grid consists of 2 hemispheres made of plastic, which can be deep drawn with a snap mechanism, so that the filter foam can be introduced and the ball can be closed manually or by a simple robot.

Both halves of the net must be fitted with a semi-cylindrical fitting into which the straw can be inserted so that the spherical mesh can be closed and secured.

list of figures

• 1 shows the multi-stage filter, consisting of two lattice-shaped hemispheres 1 and 2 that are locked, glued or welded together. They form with the reticulated foam piece located therein 4 a multi-level filter in spherical form.

The drinking straw 5 is in the two semi-cylindrical fitting parts 6a and 6b plugged in with the fitting 6 closed and either directly or in a prepared hole 5 in the foam part 4 are inserted.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2004112826 [0004]
• US 2006175248 [0005]
• DE 202008008835 U [0006]
• DE 102011111443 [0007]

Claims (9)

Drinking straw with multi-stage filter, whereby the filters consist of a plastic lattice and a reticulated hard foam piece. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 1 , wherein the plastic grid is formed as a ball of two equal hemispheres. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 2 wherein each hemisphere has a semi-cylindrical fitting into which straw can be inserted. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 2 , wherein the two hemispheres are glued or welded together. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 2 wherein each left hemisphere has a circumferential groove for receiving a spring of a mating right ball. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 2 Each other (right) hemisphere having a spring for clamping in the groove as in Claim 5 having. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 1 , wherein the net-like insert consists of a foam structure with bubbles with a diameter of more than 1.5 mm. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 1 wherein the foam structure is reticulate, d. H. Broken in a chamber with high air pressure. Drinking straw with multi-stage filter after Claim 2 and 3 , wherein the hemispheres are secured with a pushed over the common fitting ring.

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