FR2843007A1 - Novelty drinking straw has light emitting diode built into straw and connected to battery by beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

The drinking straw has a hollow tube (1) with one end to be placed in a liquid and the other placed in the users mouth. The tube has a central volume (2) which contains a battery (3) connected to a lamp (4) fed by two wires via connectors. The lamp can be a light emitting diode. The electrical connection can be formed by the liquid.

Description

The subject of the present invention is an article making it possible to aspirate a

drink,

  which is commonly called "a straw".

  The straw according to the present invention consists of a hollow tube, one end of which is intended to be immersed in a liquid, such as a drink, and the other end of which is intended to be placed in the mouth in order to be able to suck said liquid, characterized by the fact that it is associated, in its middle part with a volume which comprises: a source of electrical energy, a light source; two conductors supplying said light source with electric current; and means of

electrical connection.

  The present invention may also include the following characteristics:

  at. The light source is a light emitting diode.

  b. The light source is a filament bulb.

  vs. The source of electrical energy is a flat battery.

  d. The energy source is a battery which can be a flat battery of the type

  "button" or a usual cylindrical battery.

  e. The electrical connection means are implemented by the liquid

when sucked into the tube.

  f. The electrical connection means are actuated by displacement of the volume containing the light source and the source of electrical energy along the

tube.

  g. The electrical connection means are actuated by rotation around the

  volume tube containing the light source and the source of electrical energy.

  h. The electrical connection means consist of a switch

placed on the volume.

  The volume containing the various functional elements is decorative.

  By way of example and to facilitate understanding of the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings:

  - Figure 1, a perspective view of a first embodiment.

  - Figure 2, a partial view of Figure 1 in longitudinal section.

  - Figure 3, a partial view of Figure 1 in cross section.

  - Figure 4, a perspective view of a second embodiment.

  - Figure 5, a partial view with cutaway of Figure 4.

  - Figure 6, a sectional view along A-A of Figure 5.

  - Figure 7, a perspective view of a third example of implementation

of the invention.

  - Figure 8, a longitudinal sectional view of Figure 7.

  - Figure 9, a perspective view of a fourth example of implementation

of the invention.

  - Figure 10, a longitudinal sectional view of Figure 9.

  - Figure 11, a perspective view of a fifth embodiment

of the invention.

  - Figure 12, a longitudinal sectional view of Figure 11.

  - Figure 13, a longitudinal sectional view of a sixth embodiment.

  Figures 1 to 3 show a first example of implementation of the invention. The object is constituted by a hollow tube 1, which constitutes what is usually called "straw" which is dipped in a container to suck the liquid it contains. As is known, the tube 1 which may or may not be slightly bent. he

  is generally made of plastic and is transparent or not.

  On this tube 1 is disposed a volume 2, which in the example shown is a

  circular case imitating for example the shape of a cocacola capsule.

  This volume 2 is divided into two parts 2a and 2b.

  In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the tube 1 passes through the interior volume of the

housing 2.

  In one of the parts 2b of the housing 2 are arranged: - an energy source 3, which can be a flat battery of the "button cell" type, - electrical connection means 5 and conductive wires going from the battery 3 to the light device 4, which in the example shown is an electro-diode

  luminescent when passing through the connection means 5.

  Diode 4 is arranged in part 2a.

  When the connection means 5 are actuated, the electroluminescent device 4 is supplied with electric current, supplied by the battery 3 and lights up. As at least one of the walls of the case 2 is translucent, the face of the case 2 is illuminated, which makes the design appear, which imitates a

coca-cola capsule.

  The connection means 5 can be of different kinds.

  Either, they are constituted by a pressure switch on the rear face 2b of the

  housing with a flexible zone for exerting pressure.

  Either one of the diode supply conductor wires being interrupted and comprising two studs which protrude inside the tube 1: when the liquid sucked

  drowns the two studs, it establishes an electrical connection between them and the diode lights up.

  Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a second example of implementation of

  the invention, the same elements bearing the same references.

  In this example, volume 2 is a sphere of translucent material, on

  which include the elements of the earth.

  The tube 1 diametrically crosses the terrestrial globe 2 from one pole to the other.

  The volume 2 is divided into two parts by a diametrical partition 6. On one side of the partition 6 are arranged: the battery 3, the switch 6 and the supply wires; of

  the other side of the partition is arranged with the light device 4.

  In this example, the implementation of the switch 5 is done by making

  rotate the globe 2 around the tube 1.

  Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment in which

  the same elements have the same references.

  In this example, volume 2 is made up of Mickey's head.

  As before, the internal volume of the head 2 is separated into two parts by a partition 6. In one part are arranged: the battery 3, the switch 5 and the supply wires; in the other part, the electro-luminescent device 4, which can

  advantageously be placed in the mouse truffle.

  In this case, the electrical connection can be made by pressure or by the

liquid sucked up.

  As in the case of FIGS. 1 to 3, the volume 2 is held in place by

a curve of the tube 1.

  Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a fourth example of implementation of

  the invention, in which the same elements have the same references.

  In this case, volume 2 is made up of a cartoon character

such as a ninja turtle.

  Tube 1 crosses the character right through; on one side is the electro-luminescent device 4 and on the other the electrical means such as: battery 3,

  connection means 5 and supply wires.

  In this example, the tube 1 has two spirals 10 which constitute a

  sort of seat for character 2, which can thus rotate around tube 1.

  The connection means can be a rotary contactor as in the case of

  Figures 4 to 6 or a pressure switch.

  Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a fifth embodiment in

  which the same elements have the same references.

  In this example, volume 2 is a can of coca-cola, but that

  could be a can of fruit juice, beer or whatever.

  As in the previous examples, the volume 2 is separated into two parts: one containing the functional elements and the other, the outer wall of which is

  preferably translucent, comprising the electro-luminescent device 4.

  In the example of Figure 13, the can 2 is replaced by a bottle.

  Similarly to Figures 9 and 10, the tube 1 has a loop 10 for

support volume 2.

  In all the examples described, the source of electricity is a flat battery 3 and the light source an electro-luminescent device; but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular case. If the volume 2 is of sufficient dimensions, the cell 3 can be a usual cylindrical cell and the light source a filament bulb.

  Likewise volume 2 can be of any shape.

Claims (9)

  1. Drinking straw constituted by a hollow tube (1) one end of which is intended to be immersed in a liquid, such as a drink, the other end being placed in the mouth so as to be able to suck said liquid, characterized by the fact that the tube (1) is associated with a volume (2) which contains: a source of electrical energy (3); a light source (4); two conductors supplying the light source (4), an electric current coming from the energy source (3); and means of electrical connection.   2. The straw of claim 1, wherein the source of electrical energy is a battery (3).   3. Straw according to claim 1, in which the light source (4) is an electroluminescent diode.   4. Straw according to claim 1, wherein the light source (4) is a filament bulb.   5. Straw according to any one of the preceding claims, in which   the electrical connection means (5) are implemented by the liquid.   6. Straw according to claim 5, wherein one of the electrical conductors is interrupted and has two studs which protrude inside the tube (1) so that the liquid sucked into said tube (1) establishes the electrical connection   between the two studs and causes the light source (4) to ignite.   7. Straw according to claim 5, wherein the connection means   electric (5) are actuated by displacement of the volume (2) relative to the tube (1).   8. Straw according to claim 5, wherein the connection means   electrical (5) are constituted by a switch placed on the volume (2).   9. Straw according to any one of the preceding claims wherein   the tube (1) passes through the volume (2) which can be any decorative object such as: can of   drink, bottle, capsule, cartoon figurine, or sphere.