GB2430488A - Drinks accessory for detecting a contaminant - Google Patents
Drinks accessory for detecting a contaminant Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2430488A GB2430488A GB0519230A GB0519230A GB2430488A GB 2430488 A GB2430488 A GB 2430488A GB 0519230 A GB0519230 A GB 0519230A GB 0519230 A GB0519230 A GB 0519230A GB 2430488 A GB2430488 A GB 2430488A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- accessory
- drink
- contaminant
- drinks
- stirrer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 238000003556 assay Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000010902 straw Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000813 microbial effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000008177 pharmaceutical agent Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003237 recreational drug Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010998 test method Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- PPTYJKAXVCCBDU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Rohypnol Chemical compound N=1CC(=O)N(C)C2=CC=C([N+]([O-])=O)C=C2C=1C1=CC=CC=C1F PPTYJKAXVCCBDU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019520 non-alcoholic beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000012421 spiking Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G21/00—Table-ware
- A47G21/18—Drinking straws or the like
- A47G21/182—Drinking straws or the like with means for amusing or giving information to the user
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G21/00—Table-ware
- A47G21/18—Drinking straws or the like
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/02—Food
- G01N33/14—Beverages
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G2400/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A47G19/00-A47G23/16
- A47G2400/12—Safety aspects
- A47G2400/123—Anti-spiking
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to a drinks accessory for insertion into a drink, comprising one or more assay areas 20 disposed thereon which are capable of testing a drink for the presence of a contaminant and conveying results to the user. The invention also relates to a method of testing for the presence of a contaminant by using the accessory. The device may be a stirrer 10 or straw (30) and may indicate the presence of a contaminant by means of a colour change.
Description
DESCRIPTION
DRINKS ACCESSORY
The present invention relates to a drinks accessory for testing a drink for the presence of a contaminant and conveying the results to the user.
In recent years, there has been an increasing problem relating to "spiking" of drinks with harmful substances such as Rohypnol or unwanted substances such as alcohol.
This is a particular problem for drinks that are served in a glass, as the substances can be easily introduced into the drink and mixed easily without the knowledge of the intended consumer of the drink.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which can be easily and unobtrusively inserted into a drink to allow the contents to be assessed for the presence and/or absence of a contaminant prior to consumption of the drink. It would also be advantageous if the testing device was incorporated into an existing drink-related accessory which may also provide an additional function.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a drinks accessory for insertion into a drink, comprising one or more assay areas disposed thereon which are capable of testing a drink for the presence of a contaminant and conveying results to the user.
The present invention not only provides a device for testing as to whether or not a drink has indeed been contaminated with a potentially harmful substance, such as Rohypnol, but also provides a functional drink accessory which are commonplace in the drinks industry. Indeed, the very fact that the invention is incorporated into a drinks accessory, such as a drink stirrer, which is used in order to test the drink for the presence of a contaminant, allows the test to be performed in an unobtrusive manner which may otherwise discourage some people from performing the test.
Preferably, the accessory comprises an elongate member having one or more assay areas disposed at one end. Alternatively, the or each assay area may be incorporated into an appropriate area or part of the drinks accessory. The one or more assay areas may also be detachably connected to the accessory so that the assay area can be detached from the accessory after the test has been performed and the accessory can then perform its usual function. Alternatively, the accessory and the assay area can be manufactured in such a manner as to allow assembly on-site or indeed retro fitted to an existing accessory.
In one embodiment, the drinks accessory comprises a drink stirrer.
The stirrer may be formed as a single unit and the one or more assay areas can simply be broken off after the testing has been completed.
In another embodiment, the accessory comprises a drinking straw.
The presence or absence of a contaminant in a drink may preferably be conveyed to the user by means of a visual signal, such as a color change on an assay area. For example, there may be a number of assay areas labeled with the appropriate contaminant and a green color signal for all assay areas would indicate that the drink is free of contaminants, whereas a red signal in any one of the assay areas would indicate the presence of that particular contaminant.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many different contaminants may be selected for testing including one or more from the following group: alcohol, pharmaceutical agents, recreational drugs and microbial agents. Therefore, a non- alcoholic drink can be tested for whether or not alcohol has been introduced into the drink. Furthermore, a pharmaceutical agent may be any agent such as Rohypnol which can be used in order to "drug" an individual in addition to recreational drugs such as amphetamines and the like. Additionally, the drink can be tested for the presence of a microbial agent which may be present, for example if the drink is past its "consume- by" date.
It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that if the drinks accessory comprises a stirrer, then it may further comprise a holding portion for an individual to actuate the stirring motion and it may also comprise an advertising portion for having advertising material disposed thereon and the advertising portion may be disposed actually on the holding portion or adjacent thereto.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting the presence of a contaminant in a drink, comprising inserting a drinks accessory in accordance with the present invention into a drink.
Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a general view of an embodiment of drinks stirrer in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of drinking straw in accordance with the present invention.
With reference to Figure 1, drinks stirrer 10 is in the form of a thin elongate plastic rod 12 having a planar contaminant testing area 14 at one end and a planar holding or gripping area 16 disposed at the opposite end. The holding or gripping area 16 has advertising or information material 18 disposed thereon and facilitates holding the drink stirrer. The contaminant testing area 14 is shown with three individual test areas 20 and is connected to the rod 12 at a line of weakness 22.
In use, the drink stirrer 10 is inserted into a drink which requires analysis and depending upon whether or not a contaminant is present in the drink, one of the individual test areas 20 will show a positive result by a visual signal, e.g. by a change of color. If required, the individual test areas 20 may have no color prior to the insertion into the drink, but will provide a green signal if the drink is free of a particular contaminant, or a red signal if contaminants are detected. As there are a number of individual test areas 20, multiple contaminants can be analyzed at any given time, for example presence of Rohypnol and alcohol in a drink can be assessed simultaneously and a result provided to the individual prior to consumption of the drink. After the test has been completed, the contaminant testing area 14 can, if desired, be detached easily from the elongated arm 12 by simply snapping the testing area 14 away from the rod 12 at the line of weakness 22 and the drink stirrer can then be used in the usual fashion.
A number of alternatives are also contemplated, such as the testing area 14 being adapted to retro fit existing drinks stirrers. Furthermore, the drinks stirrer may be assembled on site, such that a barman may decide whether or not to include a contaminant testing area or such an area may be sold as an additional product.
A second embodiment is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a conventional straight, elongate, hollow plastics drinking straw 30 having a plurality of separate contaminant testing areas 32 located on the outer surface of the straw at its lower end. As for the first embodiment, the contaminant testing areas 32 are arranged to test for different types of contaminant and to provide a visual signal (e.g. by means of a color change, as for the first embodiment) of contamination. The straw 30 is also provided with a line of weakness 34 (e.g. a row of small perforations) around its periphery a short distance above the testing areas 32, to allow easy removal of the portion of the straw carrying the testing areas after testing has taken place.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments.
0 \CLJENT\4 1 O-420\SAQ6\4 1 4479\GB\MASTER WPD
Claims (15)
1. A drinks accessory for insertion into a drink, comprising one or more assay areas disposed thereon which are capable of testing a drink for the presence of a contaminant and conveying results to the user.
2. An accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises an elongate member having one or more assay areas disposed at one end.
3. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising one or more assay areas detachably connected to the accessory.
4. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the presence or absence of a contaminant in a drink is conveyed to the user by : * means of a visual signal. ****
5. An accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein the visual signal is S.,.
is indicated by a change of colour. S... * . .
:.
6. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a contaminant is selected from one or more of the following group: S..... S *
* . alcohol, pharmaceutical agents, recreational drugs and microbial agents.
7. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the accessory comprises a drinks stirrer.
8. An accessory as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stirrer is formed as a single unit and the one or more assay areas can be broken off.
9. An accessory as claimed in either claim 7 or 8, wherein the stirrer further comprises a holding portion for an individual to actuate a stirring motion.
10. An accessory as claimed in any one or claims 7 to 9, wherein the stirrer further comprises an advertising portion for having advertising material disposed thereon.
11. An accessory as claimed in claim 10, wherein the advertising portion is disposed on the holding portion or adjacent thereto.
12. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the accessory comprises a drinking straw.
13. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein an assay area is adapted to be attached to an existing drinks stirrer or a straw.
: *
14. An accessory substantially as herein described with reference to and as S...
* . .* illustrated in the accompanying drawings. * .*.
15. A method of detecting the presence of a contaminant in a drink, *0*S * S S * :*: comprising inserting a drinks accessory as claimed in any preceding claim into a drink.
*5**SS * S *5 S
S S I
S II
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0519230A GB2430488A (en) | 2005-09-21 | 2005-09-21 | Drinks accessory for detecting a contaminant |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0519230A GB2430488A (en) | 2005-09-21 | 2005-09-21 | Drinks accessory for detecting a contaminant |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0519230D0 GB0519230D0 (en) | 2005-10-26 |
| GB2430488A true GB2430488A (en) | 2007-03-28 |
Family
ID=35249139
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0519230A Withdrawn GB2430488A (en) | 2005-09-21 | 2005-09-21 | Drinks accessory for detecting a contaminant |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2430488A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH702985A1 (en) * | 2010-04-15 | 2011-10-31 | Roman Amstutz | Apparatus for checking contaminated drinks. |
| GB2486472A (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2012-06-20 | David John Farrell | Apparatus and method for testing beverages for the presence of date rape drugs |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20010046710A1 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2001-11-29 | Cutler Charlyne E. | Narcotics detector test strips for a beverage |
| GB2416349A (en) * | 2004-07-19 | 2006-01-25 | Sarah Elisabeth Noakes | A device for preventing illicit contamination of potable liquids |
| WO2006018619A1 (en) * | 2004-08-19 | 2006-02-23 | Checkmate Organisation Limited | Diagnostic testing device for potable liquids |
| GB2418248A (en) * | 2004-09-17 | 2006-03-22 | Adam Brown | Testing device for a spiked drink |
-
2005
- 2005-09-21 GB GB0519230A patent/GB2430488A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20010046710A1 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2001-11-29 | Cutler Charlyne E. | Narcotics detector test strips for a beverage |
| GB2416349A (en) * | 2004-07-19 | 2006-01-25 | Sarah Elisabeth Noakes | A device for preventing illicit contamination of potable liquids |
| WO2006018619A1 (en) * | 2004-08-19 | 2006-02-23 | Checkmate Organisation Limited | Diagnostic testing device for potable liquids |
| GB2418248A (en) * | 2004-09-17 | 2006-03-22 | Adam Brown | Testing device for a spiked drink |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH702985A1 (en) * | 2010-04-15 | 2011-10-31 | Roman Amstutz | Apparatus for checking contaminated drinks. |
| GB2486472A (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2012-06-20 | David John Farrell | Apparatus and method for testing beverages for the presence of date rape drugs |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0519230D0 (en) | 2005-10-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |