GB2595483A

GB2595483A - Environmentally friendly flat straw

Info

Publication number: GB2595483A
Application number: GB2007967.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Te-Hsin
Original assignee: Te Hsin Lee
Current assignee: Te Hsin Lee
Priority date: 2020-05-28
Filing date: 2020-05-28
Publication date: 2021-12-01
Also published as: GB202007967D0

Abstract

A straw including a flat flexible film 10 that is rollable to form a tube. The rollable film is provided with ten reinforcement ribs (support vanes/spines) 17, 18, 32, 33, 141, 142, 143, 151, 152, 161 which assist in maintaining the tubular structure of the straw once formed. A defining fringe 19, or tie string, is used to prevent the straw from unrolling during operation. Stacked faces 20 of the rolled flexible film create an airtight seal, thereby enabling suction throughout the length of the straw. Preferably, the film is provided with multi-directional winding markings 16 to guide a user in winding the straw to a desired length and diameter 20. Additionally, ridges and rims are included on the flexible film to increase an engaging force between the stacked surface and enhance airtight seal. Preferably, the straw may be rolled along its width and stowed within a cylindrical storage box 50 which has a blade 53 for cutting, or perforating, the top a sealed drink. It is intended that the inside of the straw is easier to clean than a standard straw.

Description

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FLAT STRAW

FiELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flat straw which contains 5 a flexible film having high and low temperature resistance, nontoxicity, environmental protection, and using safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional bamboo straws, straw straws, sugar cane fiber straws, paper straws, edible seaweed straws, stainless steel straws, and glass straws have been developed. These conventional straws achieve environmental protection, but there are still many problems to be overcome. For example, straws made of plant materials spend a lot of energy in cleaning, stmilizing, and removing odors. The edible seaweed straws are expensive due to the manufacturing limitations and materials, and it is difficult to widely market it. The interiors of the stainless steel and glass straws are cleaned difficultly, and it needs to be cleaned with special brushing tools.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a 25 flat straw which contains a flexible film having high and low temperature resistance, nontoxicity, environmental protection, and using safety.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flat straw which is airtight when drawing the fluid and is cleaned easily after unrolling the flexible film.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flat straw which contains a flexible film rolled to produce the flat straw with different lengths and diameters by way of the multiple multi-directional winding markings.

To obtain the above-mentioned objects, a flat straw provided by the present invention contains: a flexible film, a first face formed on a first surface of the flexible film, a second face Formed on a second surface of the flexible film opposite to the first surface of the flexible film, a first fringe defined by a length of the first face, a second fringe defined by a length of the second face, a rolling fringe defined by a width of the first face and connected with the first fringe, and a drawing fringe defined by a width of the second fringe and connected with a top of the second fringe.

The rolling fringe of the first face preferably has a first 20 reinforcement rib, the second fringe of the first face has a third reinforcement rib, and a fourth reinforcement rib is defined on a peripheral side of the third reinforcement rib. The drawing fringe of the first face preferably has a fifth reinforcement rib.

A defining fringe may be defined between the fifth 25 reinforcement rib and the third reinforcement rib, the defining fringe having multiple locating bosses arranged thereon, and the rolling fringe of the second face preferably has a seventh reinforcement rib fotnied thereon, an eighth reinforcement rib parallelly extending on the seventh reinforcement rib, a ninth 5 reinforcement rib formed on the first fringe of the second face, a tenth reinforcement rib parallelly arranged on a peripheral side of the ninth reinforcement rib, and a first locating ridge formed on the drawing fringe of the second face. A distal end of the tenth reinforcement rib may be connected with the seventh reinforcement 10 rib, and a front end of the tenth reinforcement rib may extend to an intermediate section of the first locating ridge.

Preferably, the first reinforcement rib has multiple multi-directional winding markings and multiple second reinforcement ribs.

Preferably, multiple sixth reinforcement ribs are arranged on a first end and a second end of the fifth reinforcement rib. Preferably, when the flexible film is rolled to produce the flat straw, a stacked face is defined between the first face and the second face, the third reinforcement rib and the fourth 20 reinforcement rib reinforce the second face and the first face, the ninth reinforcement rib and the tenth reinforcement rib of the second face support the second face, such that the flat straw draws fluids strongly by ways of the third reinforcement rib, the fourth reinforcement rib, the ninth reinforcement rib, the tenth 25 reinforcement rib, and the stacked thee.

Preferably, the defining fringe has multiple locating bosses arranged thereon, a reinforced boss and a support sheet which are foi wed on a front end of the defining fringe, wherein the defining fringe is formed on a bottom of the drawing fringe after rolling the flexible film to produce the flat straw, and the multiple locating bosses is configured to avoid a removal of the defining fringe from the first face and to fix the flat straw.

Preferably, the flexible film is rolled in a desired length and is stored.

Preferably, the flexible film is rolled and is accommodated in a storage box which is cylindrical, and the storage box has a cut sheet configured to cut a sealed top of a drink cup.

Preferably, the first fringe of the first face has a fixing ridge, and the fixing ridge, the second face, and the ninth reinforcement rib are connected in a water drop shape, wherein a first tilted rim of the fixing ridge contacts with the second face so as enhance air tightness of the stacked face.

Preferably, the second fringe of the second face has a second locating ridge connected with the third reinforcement rib of the first face in a water drop shape, wherein a second tilted rim of the second locating ridge contacts with the first face so as to enhance an air tightness of the stacked face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the assembly of a flat straw according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another schematic view showing the assembly of the flat straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the assembly of a part of the flat straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another schematic view showing the assembly of a part of the flat straw according to the first embodiment of the 10 present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of the flat straw.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of the flat straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the operation of the flat straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the operation of the flat straw according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the operation of the flat straw 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B of the flat straw.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line C-C of the flat straw.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the operation of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the operation of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a flat straw according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a flexible film 10, a first face 11 formed on a first surface of the flexible film 10, a second face 31 formed on a second surface of the flexible film 10 opposite to the first surface of the flexible film 10, a first fringe 12 defined by a length of the first face 11, a second fringe 13 defined by a length of the second face 31, a rolling fringe 14 defined by a width of the first face 11 and connected with the first fringe 12, and a drawing fringe 15 defined by a width of the second fringe 13 and connected with a top of the second fringe 13.

The rolling fringe 14 of the first face 11 has a first reinforcement rib 141 on which multiple multi-directional winding markings 16 and multiple second reinforcement ribs 161 are fanned, the second fringe 13 of the first face 11 has a third reinforcement rib 17, and a fourth reinforcement rib 18 is defined on a peripheral side of the third reinforcement rib 17. Thc drawing fringe 15 of the first face 11 has a fifth reinforcement rib 151, and multiple sixth reinforcement ribs 152 are arranged on a first end and a second end of the fifth reinforcement rib 151, wherein the multiple sixth reinforcement ribs 152 are intersected with one another, and a defining fringe 19 is defined between the fifth reinforcement rib 151 and the third reinforcement rib 17, wherein the defining fringe 19 has multiple locating bosses 191 arranged thereon, a reinforced boss 19 and a support sheet 193 which are formed on a front end of the defining fringe 19.

The rolling fringe 14 of the second face 31 has a seventh reinforcement rib 142 formed thereon, an eighth reinforcement rib 143 parallelly extending on the seventh reinforcement rib 142, a ninth reinforcement rib 32 formed on the first fringe 12 of the second face 31, a tenth reinforcement rib 33 parallelly al-ranged on a peripheral side of the ninth reinforcement rib 32, and a first locating ridge 153 formed on the drawing fringe 15 of the second face 31, wherein a distal end of the tenth reinforcement rib 33 is connected with the seventh reinforcement rib 142, and a front end of the tenth reinforcement rib 33 extends to an intermediate section of the first locating ridge 153.

The multiple multi-directional winding markings 16 are fol rued on the first reinforcement rib 141 so as to roll the flat straw with different lengths and diameters based on using requirements.

The defining fringe 19 is founed on a bottom of the drawing fringe after rolling the flexible film 10 to produce the flat straw, wherein the multiple locating bosses 191 is configured to avoid a removal of the defining fringe 19 from the first face 11 and to fix the flat straw.

Refen-ing further to FIGS. 5-6, when the flexible film 10 is rolled to produce the flat straw, a stacked face 20 is defined between the first face 11 and the second face 31, the third reinforcement rib 17 and the fourth reinforcement rib 18 reinforce the second face 31 and the first face 11, the ninth reinforcement rib 32 and the tenth reinforcement rib 33 of the second face 31 support the second face 31, such that the flat straw draws fluids strongly by ways of the third reinforcement rib 17, the fourth reinforcement rib 18, the ninth reinforcement rib 32, the tenth reinforcement rib 33, and the stacked face 20.

When the flexible film 10 is rolled to produce the flat straw, the fifth reinforcement rib 151, the multiple sixth reinforcement ribs 152, and the first locating ridge 153 (as shown in FIG 2) reinforce a top of the flat straw, and a bottom of the flat straw is reinforced by the first reinforcement rib 141 of the rolling fringe 14, the multiple second reinforcement ribs 161, the seventh reinforcement rib 142, and the eighth reinforcement rib 143, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flexible film 10 is rolled and stored.

With reference to FIGS. 10-12, the first fringe 12 of the first face 11 has a fixing ridge 36, and the fixing ridge 36, the second face 31, and the ninth reinforcement rib 32 are connected in a water drop shape, wherein a first tilted rim 361 of the fixing ridge 36 contacts with the second face 31 so as to reinforce a connection of the second face 31 and the first face 11 and to enhance air tightness of the stacked face 20. The second ft inge 13 of the second face 31 has a second locating ridge 37 connected with the third reinforcement rib 17 of the first face 11 in the water drop shape, wherein a second tilted rim 371 of the second locating ridge 37 5 contacts with the first face 11 so as to enhance a connection of the first face 11 and to enhance the air tightness of the stacked face 20. Referring to FIG. 13, the flexible film 10 is rolled and is accommodated in a storage box 50 which is cylindrical, and the storage box 50 has a receiving room 51, a cover 52, and a cut sheet 10 53 made of plastic and received in the receiving room 51, wherein the cut sheet 53 is configured to cut a sealed top of a drink cup.

The flexible film 10 is made of flexible material (such as silicone or eco-friendly material), and a thickness and a hardness of the flexible film 10 is determined based on the using requirements.

Thereby, the flexible film 10 has high and low temperature resistance, nontoxicity, environmental protection, and using safety. Also, the flat straw is airtight when drawing the fluid and is cleaned easily after unrolling the flexible film 10. The flexible film 10 is rolled to produce the flat straw with different lengths and diameters by ways of the multiple multi-directional winding markings 16. Preferably, the flat straw is accommodated in the storage box and is portable. In addition, the cut sheet 52 is configured to cut a sealed top of the drink cup conveniently.

While the first embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the first embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the

description as a whole.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A flat straw comprising: a flexible film, a first face formed on a first surface of the flexible film, a second face foinied on a second surface of the flexible film opposite to the first surface of the flexible film, a first fringe defined by a length of the first face, a second fringe defined by a length of the second face, a rolling fringe defined by a width of the first face and connected with the first fringe, and a drawing fringe defined by a width of the second fringe and connected with a top of the second fringe; wherein the rolling fringe of the first face has a first reinforcement rib, the second fringe of the first face has a third reinforcement rib, and a fourth reinforcement rib is defined on a peripheral side of the third reinforcement rib, the drawing fringe of the first face has a fifth reinforcement rib; wherein a defining fringe is defined between the fifth reinforcement rib and the third reinforcement rib, the defining fringe has multiple locating bosses arranged thereon, and the rolling fringe of the second face has a seventh reinforcement rib formed thereon, an eighth reinforcement rib parallelly extending on the seventh reinforcement rib, a ninth reinforcement rib formed on the first fringe of the second face, a tenth reinforcement rib parallelly arranged on a peripheral side of the ninth reinforcement rib, and a first locating ridge formed on the drawing hinge of the second face, wherein a distal end of the tenth reinforcement rib is connected with the seventh reinforcement rib, and a front end of the tenth reinforcement rib extends to an intermediate section of the first locating ridge.
2. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first 5 reinforcement rib has multiple multi-directional winding markings and multiple second reinforcement ribs.
3. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple sixth reinforcement ribs are arranged on a first end and a second end of the fifth reinforcement rib.
4. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the flexible film is rolled to produce the flat straw, a stacked face is defined between the first face and the second face, the third reinforcement rib and the fourth reinforcement rib reinforce the second face and the first face, the ninth reinforcement rib and the tenth reinforcement rib of the second face support the second face, such that the flat straw draws fluids strongly by ways of the third reinforcement rib, the fourth reinforcement rib, the ninth reinforcement rib, the tenth reinforcement rib, and the stacked face.
5. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defining fringe has multiple locating bosses arranged thereon, a reinforced boss and a support sheet which are formed on a front end of the defining fringe, wherein the defining fringe is foinied on a bottom of the drawing fringe after rolling the flexible film to produce the flat straw, and the multiple locating bosses is configured to avoid a removal of the defining fringe from the first face and to fix the flat straw.
6. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible film is rolled in a desired length and is stored.
7. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible 5 film is rolled and is accommodated in a storage box which is cylindrical, and the storage box has a cut sheet configured to cut a sealed top of a drink cup.
8. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fringe of the first face has a fixing ridge, and the fixing ridge, the second face, and the ninth reinforcement rib are connected in a water drop shape, wherein a first tilted rim of the fixing ridge contacts with the second face so as enhance air tightness of the stacked face.
9. The flat straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fringe of the second face has a second locating ridge connected with the third reinforcement rib of the first face in a water drop shape, wherein a second tilted rim of the second locating ridge contacts with the first face so as to enhance an air tightness of the stacked face.