GB2447932A

GB2447932A - Beverage can with integral drinking straw

Info

Publication number: GB2447932A
Application number: GB0705976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ziad Naim Dibsi; Suzanah Dibsi; Lameece Dibsi; Nadia Dibsi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-28
Filing date: 2007-03-28
Publication date: 2008-10-01
Also published as: GB0705976D0

Abstract

A beverage can is provided with telescopic plastic straw assembly A, part of the assembly may be corrugated B to aid bending of the straw. A stop member D locates against a narrowed portion E of the straw neck to prevent the inner straw from being withdrawn from the outer. Further corrugations H are provided to allow flexing of the straw hence the inner end of the straw may reach the extremities of the can thereby withdrawing all the contents. A pair of buoyant floating locators G act to bias the assembly against the bottom of the ring pull tab. As the pull tab on the top of the can C is removed the straw rises up through the orifice created in the top of the can. A magnet J may be fitted to the base of the straw to hold it against the base of the can using a magnetized sticker J.

Description

Sterile Pop Up Straw

Background:

It had been recognized that consuming content of a Soft Drink Can by placing lips directly on the Can may be harmful as this may expose the consumer to possible health hazard due to the fact that the lid of the Can is unprotected against harmful substances that may accumulate on the lid during storage andlor refrigeration, furthermore, dental health professionals recommend the use of straw to sip the content of the Can to minimize direct contact of soft drink with teeth to reduce the rate of tooth decay.

i'hc Sterile Pop Up Straw would provide the consumer with two options: I-Either sip the content of the Can using the Sterile Pop Up Straw or 2-Directly placing his/her lips directly on the lid of the Can.

The consumer has the full freedom of choice as to how to consume the content of the Can.

The Sterile Pop Up Straw must meet the following criteria: 1-Automatically Pop Up or stay retracted inside the Can as the consumer wishes.

2-Made of light, flexible, non-porous and sterile material.

3-Does not introduce extra waste material.

Description:

The Sterile Pop Up Straw is a telescopic straw with two floaters I Locators (Fig.IG) installed inside the Can during manufacturing. The two Floaters / Locators are molded to the outer body of the straw. The SPUS is automatically deployed once the pull ring is pulled open but not totally removed.

Detailed 1)escription: l'he Sterile Pop Up Straw is a telescopic plastic straw made from plastic material.

The inner and extending part of the straw ( Fig.] A) has a length of corrugation added to its body (Fig. I B) to facilitate bending of the straw once it is pulled and extended, the inner part of the SPUS has a stop ( Fig. 1 D) to prevent this part from being pulled out completely due to narrow neck at the top of the outer part of the SPUS ( Fig.] E) The external body of the SPUS (Fig.l C) has a stop to prevent the SPUS from being pulled too far (Fig.] F) Outer straw has corrugations at the bottom and beneath the bottom Floater/Locator (Fig.] H) to facilitate bending of the outer straw as shown so that almost all the amount of the soft drink is consumed. Distance between the inlet opening of outer straw and Can wall (Fig.2A) shall be about 2 mm.

The floaters /locators ( Fig.! G) have centrally located holes that provide tight fit with the tubular body of the straw. The positioning of the floaters I locators along the straw tubular body shall be done in such a way as to provide enough length of the straw to pop up upon pulling the "Pull Ring" so that the consumer can easily pull out and extend the straw in order to sip the content of the Can.

The Pull Ring central hole (Fig.2B) on the Can lid ( Fig.2E) shall be about 5 mm. and the diameter of the inner extending part of the SPUS (Fig. 1 A) shall be about 3.5 mm.

The Floaters! Locators ( Fig. 1 G) can be made of nonporous material about 1 mm thin (sealed polystyrene) and flexible whose outer diameter is less than that of the inner diameter of the Can ( Fig.2 C) to provide enough clearance to facilitate free movement of the whole SPUS assembly up and down the inside of the Can and to keep the SPUS centrally located and inline with the Pull Ring hole (Fig.2 B) The outer part of the SP(JS (Fig.l C) has a base molded to it (Fig.1 I). This base has a permanent magnet molded inside the bottom of the base (Fig] J). This magnet will keep the SPUS retracted inside the can at all times during cleaning and filling process at the filling plant.

This is achieved by introducing a magnetized rubber sticker ( Fig.2 D) during the process of installing the SPUS to the can.

This magnetized rubber sticker could be labeled ( Remove To Use Straw) would keep the body of the SPUS retracted inside the Can and the SPUS can only be used when the magnetized sticker is removed.

Claims

Claims: 1. Soft Drink Cans shall be fitted with integral straw to

prevent the consumer from sipping the content of the Can by touching the body of the Can with his/her lips.
2. The straw shall automatically pop up once the the pull ring is pulled just enough to make room for the straw to pop out.
3. This invention shall be flexible in that, the consumer has the option to either use the integral straw or keep it retracted and consume the content by pouring it into a glass or by directly placing his/her lips on the can body.
4. The invention helps in reduce littering as the pull ring need not be completely pulled out to be able to use the Sterile Pop Up Straw.
5. The Sterile Pop Up Straw can not be removed from the Can thereby reducing littering the public roads.