EP1057747A2

EP1057747A2 - Straw holding tool and storage case for it

Info

Publication number: EP1057747A2
Application number: EP00304605A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shinji Seto; Takafumi Katsumasa
Original assignee: NAP Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: NAP Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-06-01
Filing date: 2000-05-31
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Also published as: KR20010007121A; EP1057747A3

Abstract

A straw holding tool (1) holds a straw (8) inserted into a vessel (10) so that an upper section of the straw projects from an opening of the vessel before a cap (16) is set on the opening of the vessel and the straw is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap and accommodated in the vessel when the cap is set thereon. The straw holding tool has a body (2) having an engagement section (6) for engaging in the opening of the vessel and a hole for insertion of a straw, a straw holding section (3) with a holding hole (12) for holding therein an inserted straw, and an elastic expandable connector (4) which connects the straw holding section to the body. The straw can be packaged together with the straw holding tool within a packing log. A storage case (30) for storing the straw and the straw holding tool is also described.

Description

The present invention relates to a tool for holding a straw (a thin and hollow pipe-shaped tool for drinking made from resin and opened at two edges) which is inserted from an opening section of a bottle made from synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). More specifically, this invention relates to a straw holding tool, a combination of the straw holding tool and a straw, and a case for storing the straw holding tool and straws therein.
Various types of drinks such as cool drinks are supplied in vessels made from synthetic resin such as PET and sold in the market. Especially, vessels with a capacity of 500 ml are relatively often used because of their convenience in carrying. When the drink bottled in the vessel as described above is drunk in a vehicle such as a car or a train, a straw is often used to prevent the drink from being spilt, and in that case, at first a cap set on an opening of the vessel is removed, and then a straw is inserted into the opening. When drinking is over, the straw is removed from the vessel, and the cap is again set on the opening.
It is troublesome, however, to insert and then remove a straw from a vessel each time the drink is drunk, and what to do with the used straw is especially troublesome. As there is no convenient case for storing a used straw, the straw is discarded, which is a waste of resources and makes it difficult to recycle the used straws.
It is an object of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a straw holding tool which can solve the problems as described above and does not require a user to insert or remove a straw from a vessel each time drink is drunk, and which also makes it possible for a user to carry a used straw, and which is also well suited for use in places where there is vibration, like a passenger seat in a train. It is also an object of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a combination of the straw holding tool and a straw, and a storage case in which a used straw holding tool and a used straw can efficiently be stored to enable recycling and resource saving.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a straw holding tool for holding a straw inserted into a vessel, so that an upper section of the straw projects from the opening before a cap is set on the opening of the vessel, and is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap and completely accommodated within the vessel when the cap is set on the opening section, wherein said straw holding tool comprises a basic body having an engagement section of a size such that it is adapted to engage in the opening of the vessel and a hole for insertion of a straw, a straw holding section having a holding hole for holding the inserted straw, and an elastic and expandable connector which connects the straw holding section to the basic body so that the straw holding section can move towards or away from the basic body.
In one embodiment of this invention, the connector comprises two thin and slender pieces, the upper ends of the pieces being connected to a bottom surface of the engagement section of the basic body of its inner peripheral side, and the lower ends thereof being connected to a top surface of the straw holding section at its outer peripheral side. In another embodiment of the present invention, the straw holding tool has a stopper section which is integrated to the basic body and has a larger diameter than that of the engagement section, and when the engagement section is engaged in an opening section of a vessel, the stopper section is set over the opening of the vessel. The entire straw holding tool may be made from an elastic rubber material.
Because of the configuration of the preferred embodiments as described above, it is not necessary to insert a straw into or remove one from a vessel each time the straw is used, as in the conventional technology. When the straw is used, the cap is removed so that an upper section of the straw projects from an opening of the vessel because of the elasticity of the connector, and when the straw is not used, the straw can be accommodated inside the vessel. Thus, the straw can effectively be held and is never lost.
The invention also extends to a combination of a straw holding tool as described above and a straw suitable to be held by the straw holding tool, said combination being packed with a packing body as a set.
Further, the packing body may comprise a transparent packing bag made of resin and a board sheet for patterning, with the straw holding tool being held by the board sheet.
Because of the configuration as described above, it is possible to provide a straw holding tool and a straw in a form suited to selling in the market.
The invention also extends to a storage case for storing therein a straw holding section and a straw, said storage case storing a straw therein so that an upper section of the straw projects from the opening section of the case before a cap is set on the opening and the straw is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap and accommodated in the case when the cap is set on the opening, said storage case comprising a hollow and cylindrical body having one end opened and the other end closed and having a basic body made from synthetic resin for completely accommodating a straw inserted from one end thereof, wherein an inner diameter of the opening at one end of the basic body of the storage case has a size suited to engage with the straw holding tool, the straw holding tool being stored in the storage case so that the straw holding section and connector are located in the storage case's basic body and the engagement section is engaged in the opening at the one end thereof, said case also having a male screw thread, onto which a cap of a vessel can be screwed, formed on an external surface of the opening section provided at the one end thereof.
With the embodiment of the present invention described above, the opening section at one edge of the case's basic body has a larger diameter as compared to that in other sections, and a plurality of lacked grooves are formed along a periphery of the opening section having a larger diameter described above.
Because of the configuration described above, a used straw holding tool and a used straw can efficiently be stored with repeated use thereof enabled, which in turn enables resource saving, and further the straw holding tool and a used straw can be used even when a diameter of a vessel's cap is slightly different from the rated one.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1A is a plan view showing a straw holding tool according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 1B is a front view showing the same with the right half section broken off;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state where a straw inserted into a vessel made from synthetic resin such as PET is held by the straw holding tool so that an upper section of the straw projects from an opening section of the vessel before a cap is set on the opening (in this figure, a portion of length of a body of the vessel is not shown) ;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the state where a straw inserted into the vessel is held by the straw holding tool so that the upper section of the straw is accommodated in the vessel when a cap is set on the opening section of the vessel;
Figs. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are explanatory views showing actions of the straw holding tool;
Fig. 5 is a front view, partially broken away, showing a combination of the straw holding tool and a straw as a set packed with a packing body;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a storage case for the straw holding tool and a straw and a portion of a cap set in the case; and
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in Fig. 6, showing the storage case and other parts.
In Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, the reference numeral 1 indicates a straw holding tool made from an elastic rubber material, which comprises a basic body 2, a straw holding section 3, and a connector 4. The basic body 2 comprises a stopper section 5 having a large diameter and an engagement section 6 integrated to the stopper section 5 and having a smaller diameter as compared to that of the stopper 5, and a hole vertically penetrating the engagement section 6 for insertion of a straw is formed at the centre thereof. An inner diameter D of the hole 7 is larger than an outer diameter d of a straw 8 (see Fig. 2), so that the straw 8 can be smoothly inserted into the hole 7 with some degree of freedom. The principal reason why an inner diameter D of the hole 7 is designed as described above is to prevent overflow of contents due to the capillary phenomenon when a carbonated drink is filled in the vessel.
In use, the straw holding tool 1 is engaged in the opening section 11. In particular, the engagement section 6 is engaged in an opening section 11 of a vessel 10 (for e.g. 500 ml of drink) as shown in Fig. 2 and the stopper section 5 is placed over and engaged on the opening section 11. Because of the engagement of the stopper section 5, the straw holding tool 1 is prevented from dropping into the vessel 10.
Sometimes the straw 8 is also called a sucker, and it is a hollow and pipe formed tool for sucking drink, made from resin and having the top and bottom edges opened, and has a prespecified length as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The vessel 10 is made from synthetic resin such as PET as a whole, so that the weight is small, and further the body is transparent excluding a portion where the trade mark, the distributor's name or others are printed or a cap described below, so that a quantity of the contents can visually be checked from the outside.
A holding hole 12 for holding the straw inserted therein is formed at the central portion of the straw holding section 3 and penetrates the straw holding section 3 in the vertical direction. An inner diameter da of the holding hole 12 is the same as or slightly smaller than an outer diameter d of the straw 8, and when the straw 8 is inserted into the hole, the straw 8 is held therein because of the frictional resistance on the inner surface. The connector 4 is formed with two thin and slender elastic and expandable rubber pieces 4a, 4b made from silicone rubber. The upper ends of the rubber pieces 4a, 4b are provided opposing to each other on a bottom surface of the engagement section 6 of the basic body 2 in its inner peripheral side, while the lower ends thereof are provided opposing to each other on a top surface of the straw holding section 3 in its outer peripheral side. The straw holding section 3 can move towards or away from the basic body 2 to form an integrated body by keeping even the spaces between the two components in the upper and lower sections in the horizontal direction. The reference numeral 13 in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B is a circular concave groove for reducing the weight formed on a top surface of the stopper section 5.
When used, at first straw 8 is inserted into the hole 7 formed on the basic body 2 of the straw holding tool 1 so that an upper section of the straw 8 is held in the holding hole 12 on the straw holding section 3. Then, as shown in Fig. 4A, the straw holding tool 1 is set so that the engagement section 5 of the basic tool 2 is engaged in the opening section 11 of the vessel 10 and also the stopper section 6 is engaged on a top surface of the opening section 11. When the straw holding tool 1 is set as described above, the straw holding tool can not easily be removed from the opening section 11 of the vessel 10 because the engagement section 5 is engaged therein. As shown also in Fig. 2, the straw holding section 3 is located at a position close to a border between the opening 11 and a shoulder section 15 of the vessel 10, and at this position, an upper section of the straw 8 projects from the opening section 11. When a top edge face of this projecting straw is pressed with a finger as shown in Fig. 4B, the straw can move up and down because of elasticity of the rubber pieces 4a, 4b. In the state in which an upper section of the straw 8 is projecting from the opening section 11, a user holds the straw in his or her mouth and drinks the drink in the vessel 10 by sucking.
When not used, the cap 16 of the vessel is set so that a male screw 18 of the opening section 11 is inserted into a female screw 17 thereof as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. When the cap 16 is set as described above, a top edge face of the straw 8 is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap 16 and the straw 8 moves downward and is completely accommodated inside the vessel 10. When the straw 8 moves downward, the rubber pieces 4a, 4b extend and the straw holding section 3 is moved to a middle of the shoulder section 15, but the straw holding section 3 continues to hold the straw 8. When the cap 16 is completely set, a rib 19 provided on an internal bottom surface of the cap 16 contacts a top surface of the engagement section 5 of the basic body 2 at the outer side from the circular concave groove 13 as shown in Fig. 3, and holds the latter.
When used again, the cap 16 is removed by unscrewing it as described above. When the cap 16 is removed, the straw 8 is again set in the state where an upper section thereof projects from the opening section because of a force of the rubber pieces 4a, 4b of the connector 4 for restoring the original state as shown in Fig. 4D. As described above, the straw 8 can be projected from the opening section 11 of the vessel 10, or can completely be accommodated in the vessel 10 by setting or removing the cap 16, so that the straw 8 can easily be used and is never lost.
Fig. 5 shows a combination of the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 packed as a set with a packing body 21 for selling the straw holding tool 1 in the market. The packing body 21 comprises a transparent packing bag 22 made from resin and a board sheet 23 for patterning. The engagement section 6 of the basic body 2 of the straw holding tool 1 is engaged in a hole (not shown in the figure) provided on the board sheet 23, and the straw holding section 3 is positioned and held by the rubber pieces 4a, 4b which are bent on a rear surface (also not shown in the figure). The straw 8 is located and accommodated in one side of the packing bag 22. The reference numeral 24 indicates a hole used for hanging when the straw holding tools 1 are shown in a shop. Although not shown, instructions on use of the straw holding tool 1 are printed on the board sheet 23. In this way, the straw holding tool 1 can be sold in combination with the straw 8 as described above.
Fig. 6 shows a storage case 30 for the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8. This storage case 30 has a basic body 31 thereof made from synthetic resin. The storage case's basic body 31 comprises a hollow and cylindrical body with one end thereof opened and the other end closed, and has substantially the same length as that of the straw 8. The straw 8 can be inserted into the open end of the storage case's basic body 31, and also can completely be accommodated therein. The open end section of the storage case's basic body 31 has a larger diameter as compared to that of other section 33 (having a smaller diameter), and the straw holding tool 1 can be accommodated within a section 32 having a larger diameter.
The open end section of the storage case's basic body 31 has an inner bore suited for engagement with the engagement section 6 of the straw holding tool 1, and the engagement section 6 is engaged in the open end section of the storage case's basic body 31 and the stopper section 5 is placed on a periphery of the open end section of the storage case's basic body 31 so that the straw holding tool 1 is accommodated. In this step, the straw holding section 3 and connector 4 are located within the section 32 having a larger diameter in the storage case's basic body 31. The straw holding tool 1 is prevented from dropping into the vessel 10 because of engagement with the stopper 5. The straw 8 is accommodated in the section 32 having a larger diameter or in other section 33 by making use of the hole 7 for insertion of a straw. In the opening section at one end of the storage case's basic body 31, a screw 36 on which a cap 16 of the vessel 10 can be set by screwing is formed on an external surface thereof. A plurality of short longitudinal grooves 38 circumferentially spaced from each other at a prespecified gap are formed in the periphery of the opening section. The notched grooves 38 allow the peripheral wall divided by the grooves provided around the opening section to bend somewhat in the inner direction so that, even when a diameter of the cap 16 for the vessel 10 is a little different from (smaller than) the rated one, the cap 16 can be set there.
In Fig. 6, the reference numeral 40 indicates mounting ring sections projecting in opposite directions from external surfaces of the section 33 adjoining the large diameter section 32 of the storage case's basic body 31. When the storage case 30 can not be accommodated in a bag, or when it is desired to carry the storage case 30 by hanging it on an external surface of a bag, the storage case 30 can be hung on an external surface of the bag by passing a string through this hole and making use of this string. To prevent this mounting ring section 40 from being bulky, an outer diameter r between the outermost outer sides of the two ring sections 40 is set to a value not larger than an outer diameter R of the large diameter section 32. In the example shown in the figure above, two mounting ring sections 40 are provided, but the number may be only one.
The storage case 30 as described above stores the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 in the case's basic body 31 in the state where the cap 16 has not been set yet as shown in Fig. 6, and the case's basic body is placed on a board sheet with illustrations or explanation of the goods printed thereon (not shown in the figure) and packed with a packing bag, and then is sent to the market. When put into practical use, the storage case 30 is taken out from the packing bag together with the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8. Then the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 are removed from the case's storage body 31, and further the straw 8 is removed from the hole 7. The straw 8 is then inserted into the holding hole 12 of the straw holding section 3 from the lower side of the straw holding tool 1 and then into the hole 7 above the hole 12 so that an upper section of the straw 8 projects from the top surface of the stopper section 5 by a prespecified length. A lower section of the straw 8 is then put in the vessel 10 from its opening section 11 with the engagement section 6 of the straw holding tool 1 engaged in the opening section 11 of the vessel 10, and in addition the stopper section 5 is set on the opening section 11. Fig. 2 shows the state where the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 have been set on the vessel 10, and the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 are used in this state.
When drink in the vessel 10 has been drunk, the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 are removed from the opening section 11 of the vessel 10. The used straw holding tool 1 and used straw 8 are put as they are in the basic body 31 of the storage case 30 from its opening section, and then the engagement section 6 of the straw holding section 1 is engaged in an opening section at one edge of the storage case's basic body 31, and the stopper 5 is placed on a periphery of the opening section at the one edge of the storage case's basic body 31. In this step preferably the straw 8 is removed from the holding hole 12 of the straw holding section 3 as shown in Fig. 6, and is stored in the state where it is put in only the hole 7 for insertion of a straw. The straw 8 is accommodated therein as described above, because unnecessary elastic and expanding/ shrinking actions of the connector 4 of the straw holding tool 1 can be prevented and in addition the cap 16 can be set more easily in this state. The cap 16 of the vessel 10 to be discarded is then screwed and set over the screw 36 in the opening section at one end of the storage case's basic body 31. In this state, the upper end of the straw 8 is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap 16 and is moved downward, thus being completely accommodated in the storage case's basic body 31. This operation for storage is carried out by holding the straw holding tool 1, and it is not necessary to touch a part of the used straw 8 which may be wet with drink, so that fouling on a hand or fingers does not occur.
The used straw holding tool 1 and used straw 8 are kept in the state where they are accommodated in the basic body 31 of the storage case 30 as described above, and preferably the storage case 30 is kept in the vertical posture, when carried, so that drink left in the straw 8 will not be spilt. When the cap is completely set, to render the case watertight, leakage of the drink does not occur, and in that case the storage case may be kept, when carried, in the horizontal posture. When it is necessary to use the straw again, at first the cap 16 is unscrewed and removed from the storage case's basic body 31, and then the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 are removed from the storage case's basic body 31, and are set in an opening section of a new vessel from which the cap has been removed. The operating sequence for setting the straw holding tool 1 on the new vessel is as described above. Because of the features as described above, it is possible to use the straw holding tool 1 and straw 8 repeatedly, and further a cap of a vessel can be recycled, which enables resource saving and efficient use. The storage case 30 once used is packed, for instance, in a packing bag not shown in the figure as it is, or after it is washed. The storage case 30 can easily be washed because the general configuration is simple so that the storage case 30 can always be kept clean.
As the basic body 31 of the storage case 30 is made from synthetic resin, the weight is small and the shape is well adapted to being gripped even by a small child, so that it is possible to easily set on a vessel for drink which is purchased from place to place. Further, as the storage case's basic body 31 has the appropriate solidness, it is not crushed or deformed during transportation. In addition, the straw 8 accommodated in the storage case is not bent nor broken, and it does not occur that the straw 8 can hardly be washed due to breakage or for any other reason. Because of the features described above, the straw is always kept clean and its linear form can always be preserved.
The embodiment described is a presently preferred one. However, the present invention is not limited to this one embodiment, and embodiments other than the embodiment shown in the figures are included within the scope of the present invention. Configuration of the connector according to the embodiment may be replaced with another one within the scope of the invention. The vessel may be made from any material other than synthetic resin such as PET, and the straw holding tool 1 can be used together with, for instance, a glass bottle. The storage case 30 according to the embodiment is also only a presently preferred embodiment, and needless to say the form and structure are not limited to those described above.

Claims

A straw holding tool (1) for holding a straw (8) inserted into a vessel (10), so that an upper section of the straw projects from the opening before a cap (16) is set on the opening of the vessel, and is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap and completely accommodated within the vessel when the cap is set on the opening section, wherein said straw holding tool comprises a basic body (2) having an engagement section (6) of a size such that it is adapted to engage in the opening of the vessel and a hole (7) for insertion of a straw, a straw holding section (3) having a holding hole (12) for holding the inserted straw, and an elastic and expandable connector (14) which connects the straw holding section (3) to the basic body (2) so that the straw holding section (4) can move towards or away from the basic body (2).
A straw holding tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said connector (14) comprises two thin and slender pieces (4a, 4b), the upper ends of the pieces being connected to a bottom surface of the engagement section (6) of the basic body (2) of its inner peripheral side, and the lower ends thereof being connected to a top surface of the straw holding section (4) at its outer peripheral side.
A straw holding tool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said basic body (2) has a stopper section (5) having a larger diameter than that of said engagement section (6) and being integrated to the basic body (2), said stopper section (5) being engaged on a top surface of an opening section of the vessel when the engagement section (6) is set in the opening of the vessel (10).
A straw holding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said straw holding tool (1) is made from an elastic rubber material as a whole.
A combination of a straw holding tool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim and a straw (8) suitable to be held by the straw holding tool, said combination being packed with a packing body (21) as a set.
A combination of a straw holding tool (1) and a straw as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said packing body (21) comprises a transparent packing bag (22) made from resin and a board sheet (23) for patterning, and the straw holding tool (1) is held by said board sheet (23).
A combination of a straw holding tool as claimed in claim 2 and a straw to be held by the straw holding tool.
A combination of a straw holding tool and a straw as claimed in Claim 7, also comprising a transparent packing body (22) made from resin and a board sheet (23) for patterning, the straw holding tool (1) being held by said board sheet.
A storage case (30) for storing therein a straw holding tool (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and a straw (8), said storage case (36) storing a straw therein so that an upper section of the straw projects from the opening section of the case before a cap is set on the opening and the straw is pressed by an internal bottom surface of the cap and accommodated in the case when the cap is set on the opening, said storage case comprising a hollow and cylindrical body having one end opened and the other end closed and having a basic body (31) made from synthetic resin for completely accommodating a straw inserted from one end thereof, wherein an inner diameter of the opening at one end of the basic body of the storage case has a size suited to engage with the straw holding tool, the straw holding tool being stored in the storage case so that the straw holding section and connector are located in the storage case's basic body and the engagement section is engaged in the opening at the one end thereof, said case also having a male screw thread, onto which a cap of a vessel can be screwed, formed on an external surface of the opening section provided at the one end thereof.
A storage case (30) for a straw holding tool and a straw as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the opening section formed at one end of the storage case's basic body has a larger diameter as compared to the other section, and wherein a plurality of longitudinal grooves (38) circumferentially spaced at a specified space from each other are formed around the periphery of the larger diameter opening section.