JP2010064781A - Container-cum-straw, and beverage in container provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container-cum-straw which can conveniently and surely move and add a proper amount of an additive to a beverage side when a beverage is drunk, and prevent only the additive from being drunk. <P>SOLUTION: In the container-cum-straw 100, in an outside tube 1 with a length of L1 and an inner diameter of ϕ1, an inside tube 2 to be the straw with a length of L2 (L2>L1) and an outer diameter of ϕ2 (ϕ1>ϕ2) is inserted. On the outer surface on the front end side of the straw of the inside tube 1, at least two seal members 4a and 4b are fixed by an interval equal to L1 or shorter than L1, and the seal members 4a and 4b close a space 5 placed between the inner surface of the outside tube 1 and the outer surface of the inside tube 2 from both sides, and the space 5 constitutes a small container to be filled with the additive 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a small container that also serves as a straw that can add an additive filled in a small container to a beverage as needed when drinking a beverage in a container.

  For example, in the case of coffee or tea, an additive may be added just before drinking, like adding milk when drinking. However, in beverages in containers, additives are often added during production. Therefore, it is convenient if an additive can be added even when drinking in a container.

  Moreover, there are the following merits of adding an additive at the time of drinking. In other words, beverages in containers are often aseptically filled in recent years, but depending on the type of product, the inner solution is sterilized by heating and packed in containers, or sterilized by retort after being packed in containers. When heat is applied to such products, ingredients such as fragrances, pigments, and vitamins may be deteriorated and decomposed by heat.

  Furthermore, the beverage in a container may cause an interaction between a beverage component and an additive during storage. When a flavoring agent such as a fragrance is added, flavor deterioration gradually progresses, and a pigment is added. In some cases, discoloration / discoloration progresses, and when a nutritional component such as vitamin C is added, decomposition may proceed. In particular, when a container-containing beverage is warmed and stored, the speed of deterioration and decomposition of components becomes faster. Therefore, it is possible to solve these problems by attaching components that are easily deteriorated and decomposed separately from the beverage in a container, and adding and mixing them directly at the time of drinking.

  However, new attachment of individual bags containing ingredients necessary for beverages leads to increased costs, and it takes time and effort to unpack and add / dissolve individual bags, making it difficult for consumers to accept. There is a problem.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the addition of the additive, or in order to suppress the deterioration of the additive, use a straw during drinking, attach the additive to this straw, or give the straw the function of a small container. There exists a technique which can add an additive to a drink by putting an additive in the small container (for example, refer patent documents 1-4).

JP 2006-225044 A Special table 2003-508309 JP-T-2001-502173 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-1425

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a technique in which a probiotic microorganism is attached to the inside of a distribution tube and mixed when drinking a beverage. However, this method has a problem that it is difficult to increase the amount of probiotic microorganisms adhered to the inner surface of the distribution tube, and only a very small amount can be added.

  Patent Document 3 describes a technology in which a flavor additive is placed in a straw, end caps are held at both ends, the flavor additive is retained, and the flavor additive is mixed with the beverage at the time of drinking. However, this method does not have a mechanism for inserting the flavor additive in the straw into the beverage, and depending on the physical properties of the flavor additive, the flavor additive may not be transferred into the beverage. There was a risk that the flavor additive would spill outside when the cap was removed or destroyed. In addition, if there is a mistake in the method of use and a straw is attached to a container and then sucked in the mouth in the same manner as a normal straw, there is also a risk that the flavor additive will be put in the mouth as it is.

  In patent document 4, although the solid extraction drink is put in the straw, it is not equipped with the mechanism which inserts the solid extraction drink in a straw into a drink like patent document 3, and depending on the physical property of solid extraction drink, In some cases, the solid-extracted beverage could not be successfully transferred into the beverage. In addition, if the method of use is wrong and the straw is sucked into the container and then sucked in the mouth in the same manner as a normal straw, there is also a risk that the solid extracted beverage is put in the mouth as it is.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a straw and container that can easily and reliably move and add an appropriate amount of additive to the beverage side when drinking a beverage, and that does not accidentally drink only the additive. is there. Another object is to provide a beverage in a container attached thereto, and to allow additives to be added at the time of drinking.

  The present inventors can solve the above problems by arranging a tube so as to be a double tube outside the straw and forming a small container for filling the additive between the tubes. The present invention was completed. That is, the straw combined container according to the present invention is a straw having a length L2 (where L2> L1) and an outer diameter φ2 (where φ1> φ2) in the outer tube having a length L1 and an inner diameter φ1. An inner tube is inserted, and at least two seal members are fixed to the outer surface of the inner tube at the tip end side of the straw at intervals equal to or shorter than L1, and the seal members are arranged inside the outer tube. A space sandwiched between the surface and the outer surface of the inner tube is sealed from both sides, and the space becomes a small container for filling with an additive.

  In the straw combined container according to the present invention, when the small container is filled with an additive, and the inner tube is inserted into a containerd beverage and used for drinking, the outer tube is a drinking mouth of the inner tube. This includes a case where the small container is opened by being moved relatively in the end direction, and the additive filled in the small container is added to the beverage. The straw combined container according to the present invention can be used as a simple straw if it is used without moving the outer tube, but the additive can be added to the beverage by moving the outer tube relatively toward the mouth end of the inner tube. Can be added without spilling.

  In the straw combined container according to the present invention, it is preferable that a stopper is mounted on the outer surface of the outer tube. When the container-containing beverage is inserted into the container, the stopper is caught by the straw insertion port of the container, and the additive can be easily added only by, for example, inserting the straw with one hand.

  In the container for straws according to the present invention, the additive includes a case in which at least one of a fragrance, a pigment, an extract, a nutritional component, or a functional component is contained as a component.

  The beverage in a container according to the present invention is characterized in that the container for straws according to the present invention is attached or pasted on the outer surface of the beverage container.

  When drinking a beverage, the straw-combined container of the present invention can easily and reliably move and add an appropriate amount of additive to the beverage side, and does not accidentally drink only the additive. Moreover, the drink in a container which attaches this can add an additive at the time of drinking anywhere.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of the configuration of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. Various modifications may be made as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container for straws according to the present embodiment, wherein (a) is a view showing a state before the outer tube is attached to the inner tube, and (b) is a state after being attached and filled with additives. It is a figure which shows the state of. As shown in FIG. 1, the straw container 100 has a length L2 (where L2> L1) and an outer diameter φ2 (where φ1> φ2) in the outer tube 1 having a length L1 and an inner diameter φ1. The inner tube 2 serving as a straw is inserted, and at least two seal members 4 are fixed to the outer surface of the inner tube 2 on the side of the straw tip 3 with a distance L3 that is the same as or shorter than L1. Is a small container for sealing the space 5 sandwiched between the inner surface of the outer tube 1 and the outer surface of the inner tube 2 from both sides, and the space 5 is filled with the additive 6 ( Container)).

  The inner tube 2 is a member that becomes a straw, and is inserted into the beverage contained in the container from its tip 3, and the mouth end 7 that is the other end serves as a mouthpiece, and the beverage flows from the tip 3 toward the mouth end 7. The distal end 3 of the inner tube 2 is cut vertically, but may be cut obliquely to facilitate insertion.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the inner tube, in which (a) is a telescopic straw and (b) is a bellows straw. In addition to the standard straw type shown in FIG. 1, the inner tube 2 is a multistage straw telescopic straw comprising an outer cylinder 2a and an inner cylinder 2b that can slide in the outer cylinder 2a as shown in FIG. 2 (a). 2 or a bellows straw type having a bellows portion 2c as shown in FIG. 2B, or a combined type of a telescopic straw type and a bellows straw type (not shown).

  The distal end 9 (straw insertion portion) of the outer tube 1 is first inserted into the straw opening of the beverage container. Therefore, the distal end 9 of the outer tube 1 may be cut vertically, but it is preferable to cut it obliquely so that it can be pierced easily as shown in FIG.

  The inner tube 2 is inserted into the tube of the outer tube 1. For this reason, the inner diameter φ1 of the outer tube 1 must be larger than the outer diameter φ2 of the inner tube 2. Further, when φ1−φ2 is increased, the volume of the space 5 that contains the additive can be increased, and conversely, when φ1−φ2 is decreased, the volume of the space 5 that stores the additive can be reduced. After satisfying these conditions, for example, φ1 is 3 to 12 mm, φ2 is 2 to 7 mm, and φ1 to φ2 is 1 to 10 mm.

  The length L2 of the inner tube 2 corresponds to the length of the straw. Since the outer tube 1 is moved relatively in the axial direction of the inner tube 2, the length L1 must be shorter than the length L2. Preferably, length L1 / length L2 is set to 1/3 to 1/2. If the length L1 / the length L2 is smaller than 1/3, the movable range of the outer tube 1 is expanded and can be inserted deeper. On the other hand, the volume of the space 5 containing the additive is small. Become. On the contrary, if the length L1 / length L2 is made larger than 1/2, the volume of the space 5 containing the additive is increased, but the movable range of the outer tube 1 is narrowed and cannot be inserted deeply. Length L1 / length L2 is appropriately adjusted according to the liquid level depth of the beverage container.

  The material of the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2 is not particularly limited, and any material can be used as long as it can be used for the straw. For example, thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene, polyethylene mainly composed of ethylene and propylene, polypropylene, copolymers thereof, blend resins based on them, and ethylene-propylene-block copolymers are used. can do.

  The seal member 4 is fixed to the outer surface of the inner tube 2 on the straw tip 3 side. There is no particular limitation on the fixing method, but there is fixing by welding or adhesion, for example. At this time, it is preferable that the sealing member 4 is fixed so that there is no gap between the sealing member 4 and the outer surface of the inner tube 2 in order to improve sealing performance. Moreover, it is preferable that the shape of the sealing member 4 is an annular shape so as to go around the outer surface of the inner tube 2 in order to ensure sealing performance. At least two seal members 4 are necessary. In FIG. 1, the seal members 4a and 4b are fixed with an interval of L3. The distance L3 between the seal members 4a and 4b is L1 at the longest. If it is longer than this, sealing becomes impossible. Usually, L3 is set to an interval of 20 to 80% with respect to the length of L1. When L3 is increased, the volume of the space 5 for containing the additive is increased, and when L3 is decreased, the volume of the space 5 for storing the additive is decreased. Therefore, L3 is prepared to adjust the volume of the additive. The Further, the height of the seal member 4 (height based on the outer surface of the inner tube 2) is preferably (φ1−φ2) / 2 or slightly higher. By setting the height of the seal member 4 as described on the left, the space sandwiched between the inner surface of the outer tube 1 and the outer surface of the inner tube 2 can be sealed from both sides. The material of the sealing member 4 is not particularly limited as long as it has a sealing performance such as elasticity and can be used for food and drink. For example, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), silicon Organic materials such as fluoroelastomer (FKM), perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) can be used. The width of the seal member 4 in the inner tube main axis direction is not particularly limited as long as the sealing property can be secured, but is, for example, 1 to 5 mm.

  The space 5 is a space sandwiched between the inner surface of the outer tube 1, the outer surface of the inner tube 2, and the seal members 4 disposed at both ends thereof. An additive 6 is filled into the space 5. The volume of the space 5 is, for example, 0.1 to 7 ml. As a filling method of the additive 6, for example, if both the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2 are put in the additive and the outer tube 1 is inserted into the inner tube 2, a space 5 is formed and the space 5 Is filled with additive 6. Thereafter, the additive adhering to the exposed outer surfaces of the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2 and the inner surface of the inner tube 2 may be washed away.

  The additive 6 contains at least one of a fragrance, a pigment, an extract, a nutritional component, or a functional component as a component. The physical properties of the components may be liquid or solid. Extracts are not particularly limited, but include tea extract and coffee extract. Although it does not specifically limit as a nutrient component, There exist vitamins, minerals, etc. Although it will not specifically limit if a functional component has a certain function, The component etc. which have various physiological functions are contained.

  In the straw container 100, as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that a stopper 10 is mounted on the outer surface of the outer tube 1. It is more preferable that a stopper 10 is mounted on the outer surface of the outer tube 1 on the other end 8 side opposite to the tip 9 of the outer tube. When the container-containing beverage is inserted into the container, the stopper 10 is caught on the edge of the straw insertion port of the container, and for example, the additive can be easily added only by the operation of inserting the straw with one hand.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state when the container for straws is inserted into a beverage containing a container, (a) shows before insertion, (b) shows during insertion, and (c) shows completion of insertion. . The straw container 100 is filled with an additive 6 in a space 5 of a small container. And at the time of drinking, the front-end | tip 9 of an outer tube is orient | assigned to the straw insertion opening 22 of the lid | cover of the container 20 containing the drink 21 (FIG. 3 (a)). Next, the distal end 9 of the outer tube is inserted into and inserted into the straw insertion port 22, and at the same time, the inner tube is also pointed into the straw insertion port 22 together (FIG. 3 (b)). When the insertion is continued, the stopper 10 is caught by the edge portion of the straw insertion port 22 of the lid, and the outer tube 1 is relatively moved in the direction of the drinking mouth end 7 of the inner tube 2 so that the space 5 of the small container is obtained. And the additive 6 filled in the small container is added to the beverage 21 (FIG. 3C). At this time, since the stopper 10 is provided, for example, the additive can be easily added only by an operation of inserting a straw with one hand. Of course, when there is no stopper 10 or when the stopper cannot be fixed, the additive 6 can be similarly added to the beverage 21 by pressing the outer surface on the other end 8 side opposite to the tip 9 of the outer tube with a finger. be able to. In any case, the additive 6 can be reliably added to the beverage 21 without spilling by moving the outer tube 1 relatively toward the end of the inner tube 2. In addition, if the container 100 for straws is used without moving an outer tube, it can be used as a mere straw.

  Although FIG. 3 shows a form in which a beverage is contained in a bottle and a straw insertion port 22 is provided on the lid, the straw insertion port provided in various paper containers such as brick packs is also used as a straw. Even if the container 100 is inserted, the same effect of the present invention can be obtained. Here, the straw insertion port is not only the straw port of various paper containers such as brick packs, but also the aluminum lid of plastic cups, the drinking port of cans and bowls, the drinking port of containers without lids such as paper cups, plastic cups, etc. This drinking container can be used as long as it is a beverage container that includes an opening that is not a dedicated insertion opening for the straw and that can insert a straw through the opening of the container. If the opening of the container is clearly larger than the outer diameter of the outer tube 1, as described above, if the outer surface on the other end 8 side opposite to the tip 9 of the outer tube is pressed with a finger, the additive is similarly applied. 6 can be added to the beverage 21.

  The straw container 100 does not store the components in the inner tube 2. Therefore, there is no risk of accidentally swallowing only the ingredients or spilling the ingredients by mistake before adding the ingredients to the beverage.

  The straw combined container may be placed in the outer bag from the viewpoint of hygiene and the provision of the straw applicator for directly attaching it to the container. In particular, when affixed to a paper beverage container such as a brick pack, it is generally placed in an outer bag.

  Adding an additive at the time of drinking using a drinking container for straws may be aimed at preventing deterioration of the additive itself and preventing a decrease in freshness. You may do it for the purpose of satisfying playfulness and curiosity.

  The straw combined container of the present embodiment may be modified in form, for example, another intermediate seal member may be disposed between the seal members 4a and 4b in FIG. At this time, since there are two spaces formed in the straw container, it is possible to leave the two types of additives in an unmixed state and add the two types of additives to the beverage at about the same time when drinking. Become.

  As another modification of the container for straws of this embodiment, for example, a stopper for preventing erroneous opening may be provided on the outer surface of the inner tube. The stopper for preventing accidental opening should be removed during use. If a stopper for erroneous opening prevention is provided so as to hit the other end 8 on the side opposite to the tip 9 of the outer tube, it is possible to prevent the outer tube from moving in the direction of the drinking mouth 7 when it is not drinking. In addition, if a stopper for preventing accidental opening is provided so as to hit the distal end 9 of the outer tube (in this case, the distal end of the inner tube will first pierce the straw insertion port during use), the outer tube It is possible to prevent the tip 9 from being accidentally dropped in a direction other than drinking.

It is the schematic of the container for straws which concerns on this embodiment, (a) is a figure which shows the state before an outer tube is mounted | worn with an inner tube, (b) shows the state after mounting | wearing and the additive filling completion | finish. FIG. It is the schematic which shows the other form of an inner side tube, (a) is a telescopic straw, (b) is a bellows straw. It is explanatory drawing of a state when inserting a straw combined container into a drink with a container, (a) is before insertion, (b) is in the middle of insertion, (c) shows insertion completion.

Explanation of symbols

1 outer tube 2 inner tube 2a outer cylinder 2b inner cylinder 2c bellows part 3 inner tube straw end 4, 4a, 4b seal member 5 space (small container space)
6 Additive 7 Drinking end 9 Outer tube tip 10 Stopper 20 Beverage container 21 Beverage 22 Straw insertion port 100 Straw container

Claims (5)

  Inside the tube of the outer tube having a length L1 and an inner diameter of φ1, an inner tube serving as a straw with a length of L2 (where L2> L1), an outer diameter of φ2 (where φ1> φ2) is inserted, At least two sealing members are fixed to the outer surface of the inner tube at the leading end of the straw with an interval equal to or shorter than L1, and the sealing member is sandwiched between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube. A straw-combined container characterized in that a space to be sealed is sealed from both sides, and the space becomes a small container for filling with an additive.   When the small container is filled with an additive and the inner tube is inserted into a beverage in a container and used for drinking, the outer tube is moved relatively to the end of the inner tube. 2. The straw-use container according to claim 1, wherein the small container is opened and an additive filled in the small container is added to the beverage.   The straw combined container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a stopper is attached to an outer surface of the outer tube.   The said additive contains at least any 1 type among a fragrance | flavor, a pigment | dye, extracts, a nutrient component, or a functional component as a component, The straw combined container of Claim 1, 2, or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   A container-containing beverage, wherein the container for straws according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 4 is attached to or attached to an outer surface of the beverage container.

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