FR2698773A3 - Bottle straw for better hygiene - passes through bottle plug into liquid and is connected at top to individual conduits containing non return valves - Google Patents

Abstract

The straw body (2a) is engaged in the container (3) with its lower end submerged in the bottle liquid. Several individual conduits (2b) are each joined at the upper part of the straw body (2a). These individual conduits (2b) have non return valves of the ball type. There is a plug (5), through which the straw passes, which is supported in the bottle neck. The plug (5) is shaped to take at its lower end one of the straw body and at its upper end the different individual conduits (2b). The individual conduits are joined to the straw body by connectors (11) containing the valves (4). USE - Provides hygienic drinking from a container.

Description

A STRAW
The present invention relates to a drinking straw.

 Existing straws, which include a tubular body having one end immersed in the liquid and one end through which the consumer drinks, are not very hygienic in the case where several people wish to drink at the same time.

 The present invention aims to remedy this drawback.

 To this end, the straw to which it relates comprises a body, engaged in the container, the lower end of which dips into the drinking liquid, and a plurality of individual conduits each connected to the upper part of said body, the individual conduits comprising non-return valves, in particular of the ball type.

 Thanks to this straw, each individual duct can be assigned to a single consumer, which solves the hygiene problem indicated above. The valves close the unused conduits, so that aspiration by only one of the conduits is possible. They also contribute to perfect hygiene of the drink.

 In addition, the invention has the advantage of constituting a device for drinking, original and attractive to consumers.

 Advantageously, the straw is equipped with a plug, which it passes through and which can bear on the neck or the free edge of the container.

 The straw can thus be easily positioned on the container.

 Preferably, the plug is shaped to receive, at its lower end, one of the ends of the body of the straw engaged in the container and, at its upper end, the various individual conduits.

This plug makes it possible to easily connect said body and said conduits, even when the latter have different diameters. In addition, it makes it possible to easily arrange the connection chamber of the body of the straw to the various individual conduits, which in practice facilitates the manufacture of this straw.

 Various alternative embodiments of this straw can be envisaged.

 Thus, the body can be constituted by a bundle of contiguous straws which deviate from each other in the upper part, or be unique, having a suitable section, and be subdivided into a plurality of individual conduits.

 The straw can be in one piece or else made up of a body and separate conduits, connected to it, possibly in a removable manner.

 Anyway, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, a preferred embodiment of the drinking straw that it relates to .

Figure 1 is a perspective view, placed on a container; and
Figure 2 is an axial sectional view.

 The figures represent from different angles a drinking straw 2 positioned on the container 3 containing the drink.

 The straw 2 essentially comprises a body 2a, engaged in the container 3, the lower end of which dips into the drinking liquid, and a plurality of individual conduits 2b each connected to the upper part of the body 2a by means of a non-return valve 4.

 Thanks to the straw 2, each individual conduit 2b can be assigned to a single consumer, which allows several people to drink, simultaneously or not, with any guarantee of hygiene, in the same container. The valves 4 make it possible to close the unused individual conduits, so that aspiration by only one of its conduits 2b is possible. They also contribute to perfect hygiene of the drink.

 In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the straw 2 is fitted with a plug 5 which can bear on the neck of the container 3.

 As shown in Figure 2, the plug 5 comprises an axial duct 6, opening into its lower face and connected, via a chamber 7, to a plurality of conduits 8 opening into its upper part.

 The movable member of each valve 4 is constituted by a ball 9, freely movable in a chamber 10 arranged in a connector 11, and the seat of this valve 4 is constituted by a conical section of the wall of the connector 11 delimiting the chamber 10. Each connector 11 has, on the side opposite to that where the valve 4 is located, a plurality of radial projections 12, delimiting between them flow channels for the drink and constituting a stop for movement of the ball 9 .

 Furthermore, each connector 11 has a tubular projection llb allowing its engagement in one of the conduits 8, an O-ring 13 ensuring the seal.

 As shown in the figures, the plug 5 receives, at its lower end, the upper end of the body 2a of the straw 2 engaged in the container 3 and, at its upper end, the different individual conduits 2b, through the through fittings 11.

 The plug 5 makes it easy to position the straw 2 on the container 3. In addition, it allows the body 2a of the straw 2 and the conduits 2b to be easily connected, even when the latter have different diameters. In addition, it makes it possible to easily arrange the connection chamber 7 of the body 2a to the various individual conduits 2b, which in practice facilitates the manufacture of straw 2.

 Furthermore, when the cap 5 remains on the container, it makes it possible, with the valves 4, to close the container 3.

Claims (4)

 1 - Straw for drinking, characterized in that it comprises a body (2a), engaged in the container (3), the lower end of which dips into the liquid to be drunk, and a plurality of individual conduits (2b) each connected at the upper part of said body (2a), the individual conduits (2b) comprising non-return valves (4), in particular of the ball type.  2 - Straw according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a plug (5), which it passes through and which can bear on the neck or the free edge of the container (3).  3 - Straw according to claim 2, characterized in that the plug (5) is shaped to receive, at its lower end, one of the ends of the body (2a) of the straw (2) and, at its upper end, the different individual conduits (2b).  4 - Straw according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conduits (2b) are connected to the body (2a) via fittings (11) containing the valves (4).