JP2001186974A - Drinking straw and container equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drinking straw allowing capping with the straw inserted in a beverage container, allowing easy drinking next time. SOLUTION: This linear pipe-shaped straw is partially formed with an autonomously elongating spiral elastic part. By pressing the straw by a cap 42 and the bottom 43 of the PET bottle 40 to compress the elastic part, the cap 42 can be screwed with the straw inserted in the PET bottle 40. When the cap 42 is unscrewed again, the straw is restored to an original state by resilience of the elastic part, and a sucking tip comes out of an opening part 41 of the PET bottle 40 to newly allow suction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage straw used for a beverage container having a lid and a container provided with the beverage straw.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As life becomes richer, lifestyles are diversified, and even in eating habits, in addition to eating at homes and restaurants, simple eating modes such as snacks and fast foods are becoming widespread. ing. In addition, a mode in which a drink such as juice is obtained and eaten simply at a store such as a supermarket or a vending machine for drinks is also becoming established. Above all, the demand for portable beverage products with lids is increasing.

There are several means for ingesting beverages in a beverage container with a lid. For example, a drink or the like can be prepared by preparing a cup or the like, pouring a drink into the cup, or inserting a straw made of resin or the like from the opening of the drink container, and sucking and drinking the drink. It is also possible to ingest by directly including the opening of the beverage container in the mouth.

[0004]

However, when ingesting using a cup or the like, it is necessary to prepare a separate container for pouring the beverage every time the ingestion is made, or to always keep such a thing. The advantage of being able to carry a beverage with a lid is lost.

[0005] When a straw shorter than or the same length as the beverage container is used, if the lid is closed with the straw inserted into the beverage container, the straw is buried in the beverage container, so that the straw is sucked again. Difficult to take out when drinking. In addition, when a straw longer than the beverage container is used, the lid cannot be closed while the straw is inserted into the beverage container, so that the beverage product with the lid cannot be carried with the straw inserted.

For this reason, when ingesting a beverage in a beverage container with a lid using a straw, a new straw is prepared each time the beverage is ingested, or a used straw is taken out of the beverage container, Containers and straws must be carried separately. If you carry your straws separately, you must consider hygienic storage methods.

[0007] In addition, there is also a sanitary problem when the ingestion is performed by directly including the opening of the beverage container in the mouth.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow a lid to be closed while a straw is inserted into a beverage container, and to be able to drink and drink when next ingesting. It is to provide a drinking straw that is easy to use.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a beverage straw according to a first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a part or a plurality of pipes has an elastic portion.

According to the above configuration, the elastic portion is contracted by applying an external force to the straw, so that the straw can be stored in the beverage container. Furthermore, when the external force is removed, the elastic part is restored in the beverage container,
The drink inside can be consumed again.

Therefore, the lid can be closed while the straw is inserted in the beverage container, and it is easy to suck in the next intake.

The elastic portion is formed, for example, in a helical shape or by bending at least two places.
It is configured to extend autonomously by releasing the press.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a drinking straw according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it has a buoyancy portion in a part of a pipe shape.

By providing a buoyancy part in a part of the straw, the straw floats on the water surface in the beverage container by the buoyancy of the buoyancy part. By applying an external force to the floating straw, the buoyancy portion can be submerged in the beverage, so that the straw can be stored in the beverage container. Furthermore, when the external force is removed, the straw
It floats by the buoyancy of the buoyancy part, and can again take in the beverage inside.

[0015] The buoyancy part is composed of, for example, a float and a flexible tube using a flexible material. The float has buoyancy by the float, and the flexible tube extends to the bottom of the container.

[0016] By storing the drinking straw in a container and closing the cap of the drinking spout of the container, the straw is stored in the container, and when the cap is opened, the action of the elastic portion or the buoyancy portion causes You may comprise so that the suction opening of the said straw may protrude from the said drinking opening.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, a description will be given using a standardized small plastic bottle as a beverage container.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1A shows a drinking straw 10 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 1B shows a state where the straw 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows the straw 1 shown in FIG.
0 shows a state in which it is inserted into a standardized PET bottle 40, and FIG. 2B shows a straw 1 shown in FIG.
0 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40 and the lid is closed.

Beverage straw 10 according to the first embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1A, has a spiral portion 11 and has a straight pipe shape with the spiral portion 11 interposed therebetween. The spiral portion 11 has an elastic force, and its outer diameter has an opening (drink) of the plastic bottle 40 shown in FIG.
41 is formed slightly larger than the diameter.

The helical portion 11 has elasticity and the straw 10
When a force is applied in the direction of the spiral portion 11 from both ends of FIG.
As shown in FIG. Further, when the force is removed, the spiral portion 11 is formed so as to return to the state of FIG.

The overall length of the straw 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, when no force is applied, the straw 1
The length of the spiral portion 11 is longer than that of the PET bottle 40 that is scheduled to be used, and as shown in FIG.

The straw 10 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polystyrene. The material is formed into a pipe shape by extrusion and formed into a straight straw having a predetermined length. Then, the spiral portion 11 is formed at a position separated from the one end of the straight straw by a predetermined distance by thermal processing.

When the straw 10 thus formed is inserted into the plastic bottle 40, the outer diameter of the spiral portion 11 is formed slightly larger than the opening portion 41, but is inserted as shown in FIG. It is possible.

After the straw 10 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40, since the drinking mouth 12 of the straw 10 is outside the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40, the drinking water in the PET bottle 40 is passed through the drinking mouth 12 of the straw 10. You can drink and drink.

When the lid 42 is closed in the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40 to store the remaining beverage after drinking, one end of the straw 10 receives a force toward the spiral portion 11 by the lid 42 and the other end. Receives pressure from the bottom 43 of the plastic bottle 40 toward the spiral portion 11. As described above, the pressure is applied from both ends of the straw 10 toward the spiral portion 11, and the straw 10 is turned into the spiral portion 1 as shown in FIG.
1, the straw 10 can be inserted into the plastic bottle 40, and the lid 42 can be closed.

Next, when the lid 42 is opened in order to consume the remaining beverage in the plastic bottle 40, the spiral portion 11
Autonomously restore to the state of (a). At this time, the spiral part 1
Since the outer diameter of 1 is larger than the diameter of the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40, the spiral portion 11 is located below the opening (the contact portion 44).
Contact Therefore, the contact part 44 serves as a stopper, and when the lid 42 is opened, the straw 10 does not fly out due to the restoring force of the spiral part 11.

Thus, the remaining beverage can be sucked and drunk using the same straw as the straw that has been drunk first.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the straw 10 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40 by providing the spiral part 11 having elasticity and resilience in the drinking straw. The lid 42 can be closed as it is. Furthermore, even after the lid 42 is opened, the remaining beverage in the plastic bottle 40 can be sucked and drunk using the straw 10. Therefore, since the straw 10 is not taken out to the outside, it is sanitary, and the advantage that the PET bottle 40 can be carried is not impaired.

Note that the length of the straight portion of the straw 10 is X
1, if the length of the spiral portion 11 when not pressed is X2, the length when pressed is X3, and the distance between the bottom 43 of the plastic bottle and the opening 41 is Y, the drinking mouth 12 of the straw 10 is Since it is desirable to protrude from the mouthpiece 41 of the bottle 40 by about 1.5 to 3 cm, for example, the length of the straight portion, the size and the elasticity of the spiral portion 11 are determined so as to satisfy Expression 1.

[0030]

X1 + X2 = Y + 1.5-3 X1 + X3 <Y

In addition to providing the straw 10 alone, the straw 10 may be provided by being stored in a plastic bottle 40 in advance. In this case, a part of the tip of the straw 10 may be fixed to the bottom 43 of the plastic bottle 40. Furthermore, a cut, a groove, and a hole may be formed at the tip of the straw 10 to facilitate drinking and drinking.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows a drinking straw 20 according to the second embodiment, and FIG.
4 shows a state when a force is applied to the drinking straw 20 shown in FIG. In addition, a PET bottle 40 shown in FIG. 2 is used as a beverage container using the straw 20.

Beverage straw 20 of the second embodiment
As shown in FIG. 3 (a), is composed of a bent portion 21 having two bent portions and straight portions 22 and 23 sandwiching the bent portion 21.

The bending portion 21 bends as shown in FIG. 3 (b) when a force is applied from both ends of the straw 20 in the direction of the bending portion 21. When the force is removed, the bending portion 21 autonomously changes to the state of FIG. 3 (a). To restore.

The length of the straw 20 in the state of FIG. 3 (a) is longer than that of the standardized PET bottle 40, and the length of the straw 20 when bent as shown in FIG. 3 (b). Is formed in a length that can be stored in the plastic bottle 40.

As the material of the straw 20, resin materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene are used. These materials are extruded and processed into a pipe shape to form a straight straw having a predetermined length. After that, a bent portion 21 having two bent portions is formed by thermal processing as shown in FIG.

First, the straw 20 thus formed is inserted through the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40 with the bent portion 21 bent as shown in FIG. The inserted straw 21 is restored in the plastic bottle 40,
The state shown in FIG.

The straw 21 is formed longer than the plastic bottle 40 in the state of FIG.
0 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40, the straw 20
Of the PET bottle 40 comes out of the opening 41 of the PET bottle 40. Therefore, the drink in the plastic bottle 40 can be sucked and drunk.

When the lid 42 is closed at the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40 to store the remaining beverage after drinking, the straight portion 22 of the straw 20 receives pressure in the direction of the bent portion 21 by the lid 42 and The part 23 is the bottom part 4 of the plastic bottle 40
3 receives a pressure in the direction of the bent portion 21. When such pressure is applied to the straw 20, the bent portion 21 bends, and the straw 20 can be inserted into the plastic bottle 40. Therefore, the lid 42 can be closed at the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40 with the straw 20 inserted.

Next, when the lid 42 is opened to consume the remaining beverage in the plastic bottle 40, the bent portion 21
The state is restored to the state of (a), and the beverage in the plastic bottle 40 can be sucked and drunk again.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the drinking straw is provided with the bent portion 21 having a restoring force, so that the straw 20 can be inserted into the plastic bottle 40.
The lid 42 can be closed with the inserted. further,
Even after the lid 42 is opened, the remaining beverage in the plastic bottle 40 can be sucked and drunk using the straw 20. Therefore, since the straw 20 is not taken out to the outside, it is sanitary, and the advantage that the PET bottle 40 can be carried is not impaired.

Also in this embodiment, it is desirable that the lengths of the straight portions 22 and 23 and the bent portion 21 of the straw 20 be set so as to satisfy Equation (1).

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a drinking straw 30 according to the third embodiment, and FIG.
Can be used to replace the drinking straw 30 shown in FIG.
5 (b) shows a state in which the straw 30 shown in FIG. 4 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40 and the lid is closed.

Beverage straw 30 of the third embodiment
As shown in FIG. 4, from a spherical float 31, a straight pipe-shaped hard part 32 and a flexible pipe-shaped soft part 33 connected with the float 31 interposed therebetween, And a petal-shaped stopper 35 attached at a position separated by a predetermined distance.

The float 31 is disposed at the joint between the hard portion 32 and the soft portion 33, and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40. In addition, the float 31 has a certain buoyancy,
Can float on the water surface by the buoyancy of the float 31, as shown in FIG.

The length of the straw 30 is longer than that of the plastic bottle 40, and the length of the hard portion 32 including the float 31 is slightly shorter than that of the plastic bottle 40. As shown in FIG. The length is such that it can be stored in the plastic bottle 40 when submerged in water. The soft portion 33 has an appropriate length due to the balance with the hard portion 32.

The hard part 32 and the soft part 33 of the straw 30 include:
Resin materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene are used. Using these materials, the hard part 32
Is formed by processing into a straight pipe shape, and the soft portion 33 is formed by processing into a flexible pipe shape. Drinking mouth 3
The stopper 35 attached to the vicinity of 4 is made of the same material as the hard portion 32 and has appropriate hardness. Further, the float 31 is formed into a spherical shape using plastic, styrene foam, or the like.

The straw 30 shown in FIG.
To insert the float 31 into the drinking water, the float 31 is inserted into the opening of the plastic bottle 40 from the soft part 33 and a predetermined force is applied. Although the float 31 tends to float by buoyancy, a stopper 35 attached near the mouthpiece 34 is provided.
However, the float 31 is caught on the inner wall of the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40 and prevents the float 31 from trying to float on the water surface. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the intake port 34 of the straw 30 is
There is no more outside. At this time, the liquid suction port 3
6 reaches the bottom 43 of the plastic bottle 40, the beverage can be sucked while the straw 30 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40, and the mouthpiece 34 is appropriately extended from the opening of the plastic bottle 40. Because it is easy to drink.

When the lid 42 is closed at the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40 to store the remaining beverage after drinking, the lid 42 is used to apply a force to the drinking port 34 of the straw 30, and the lid 42 is closed. By pushing the float 31 into the water until it closes, the float 31 can be inserted as shown in FIG. At this time, since the soft portion 33 has flexibility, it does not prevent the float 31 from being sunk by an external force. Therefore, the lid 42 can be closed while the straw 30 is inserted into the plastic bottle 40.

Next, when the lid 42 is opened in order to consume the remaining beverage in the plastic bottle 40, the float 31 floats by buoyancy and returns to the state shown in FIG.
The beverage in the plastic bottle 40 can be sucked and drunk again.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the float 31 is provided on a part of the drinking straw,
By providing flexibility at one end, the lid 42 can be closed with the straw 30 inserted. In addition, lid 4
Even after opening 2, the remaining beverage in the plastic bottle 40 can be sucked and drunk using the straw 30. Therefore, since the straw 30 is not taken out to the outside, it is sanitary, and the advantage that the PET bottle 40 can be carried is not impaired.

In the first embodiment, the outer diameter of the spiral portion 11 is formed larger than the opening 41 of the plastic bottle 40.
It may be formed smaller than the opening 41.

In the first and second embodiments, the spiral portion 11 or the bent portion 21 is provided as an elastic body. However, the present invention can be applied to an elastic body having another shape. The position where the elastic body is provided is arbitrary, and the number thereof may be plural.

In the second embodiment, two bent portions 21 are provided, but three or more bent portions may be provided.

In the third embodiment, the float 31
Can be configured to be slidable. Further, the shape of the float 31 is not limited to a spherical shape, and may be various shapes.

In the third embodiment, the case where the stopper 35 is formed has been described. However, the shape of the stopper may be formed in a shape other than the petals, and the stopper may not be formed. .

In this embodiment, the straw for sucking and drinking the beverage in the small plastic bottle has been described. However, the straw of the present invention can be used for a beverage container with a lid other than the small plastic bottle.

It is also possible to integrate the straw and the beverage container by fixing one end of the straw of the present invention to the bottom or other place of the beverage container.

As for the material of the straw (including the float 31 and the stopper 35), various materials can be used as long as the same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained.

[0060]

As described above, the straw of the present invention can be closed while being inserted in the beverage container,
The next time you take it, it is easy to drink.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A shows the drinking straw of the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B shows the drinking straw of the first embodiment when reduced.

FIG. 2 (a) is a view showing a first plastic bottle inserted into a small plastic bottle.
1 shows a drinking straw according to the embodiment of FIG.
1 shows a small plastic bottle in which a drinking straw according to the embodiment is stored and a lid is closed.

FIG. 3 (a) shows the drinking straw of the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 (b) shows the drinking straw of the second embodiment when bent.

FIG. 4 shows a drinking straw according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 (a) is a view showing a state in which a third plastic bottle is inserted into a small plastic bottle.
The drinking straw according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
1 shows a small plastic bottle in which a drinking straw according to the embodiment is stored and a lid is closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 20, 30 Straw 11 Spiral part 12, 24, 34 Drinking mouth 21 Bend part 22, 23 Linear part 31 Float 32 Hard part 33 Soft part 35 Stopper 36 Liquid suction port 40 Plastic bottle 41 Opening 42 Cover 43 Bottom

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A beverage straw having an elastic portion in a part or a plurality of portions of a pipe shape. 2. The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion contracts by pressing, and expands autonomously by releasing the pressing.
The drinking straw according to item 1. 3. The elastic part according to claim 1, wherein the elastic part is spiral or at least two elastic parts.
The drinking straw according to claim 1, wherein the drinking straw is bent at more than two places. 4. A drinking straw having a buoyancy portion in a part of a pipe shape. 5. The drinking straw according to claim 4, wherein the buoyancy portion is constituted by a float and a flexible tube having flexibility. 6. The drinking straw according to claim 5, wherein the float is provided at a part of the pipe shape, and the flexible tube is connected to one end of the pipe shape. 7. A container storing the drinking straw according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drinking straw is stored inside the container by closing a cap of a drinking mouth of the container. The container wherein the opening of the straw protrudes from the drinking opening by the action of the elastic portion or the buoyancy portion when the cap is opened.