JP2020054592A - Dropper function application device to straw - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device that makes a straw hold a dropper function by being used in the straw.SOLUTION: A device 101 is provided for applying a dropper function to a straw. The device is characterized in that 2-sheets of rectangular shape plate materials 11a, 11b are faced and kept in parallel so as to maintain an approximately equal interval with an outer diameter of the straw, and the interval between the facing plate materials 11a, 11b is connected with an elastic member so as to be compressed and pressed in 4-corners or both side edges of the 2-sheets of plate materials 11a, 11b. A fixed length portion L is compressed while one opening end of the straw is sealed, and thereby the device functions as a dropper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a dropper with a straw function. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device which can be used as a dropper for use in a tubular straw.

A dropper is known in which a rubber tube is attached to a glass tube as an ink supply device for a fountain pen or as a device for collecting or dropping a chemical solution during a chemical experiment. However, in recent years, it has not been practically used in daily life.
In everyday life, especially at a dining table, when dropping a small amount of seasonings into food or when dressing salad vegetables, there are occasions where a simple dropper is required, but no suitable appliance is found. The conventional glass dropper is liable to be damaged, and is not preferably used for food. In addition, each time it is used, the trouble of cleaning is complicated.

On the other hand, straws are used in large quantities for beverages.
Straw was used for these straws in the old days, but at present, most of them are made of plastic materials or paper materials and manufactured for disposable use.
Since plastic straws have a resilience that returns to the original circular cross section even when compressed flat, the upper end of the straw is pressed (sealed) with a finger, and the lower part is compressed with another finger to remove the air inside the straw. It is known that the liquid can be sucked into the straw if it is drained and then the tip is put into the liquid and the compression of the finger is relaxed. Release the top finger to pour the liquid. It is a kind of use as a straw dropper, but difficult to handle and not common.
Paper straws remain resilient to liquids.

Moreover, in the above method, only a small amount of liquid can be sucked, and a large amount of liquid cannot be sucked. When dressing salad vegetables, if the dressing contains a sedimentable material, if the container is tilted directly, only the liquid portion will be applied to the vegetable, and a delicious spicy spicy material cannot be poured into the vegetable in many cases. Of course, it is common sense to shake the container well and to mix and stir before applying, but even in this case, the precipitation of the material does not immediately come to your mind. In such a case, if there is a long dropper that reaches the bottom by being inserted into the dressing container, it can be conveniently drawn up from near the bottom of the container.
Even if the dressing container becomes large, it is considered that it is not good to tilt the container and directly pour it into the salad.

Also, when adding soy sauce to sushi, it is common practice to invert the sushi ingredients, hold the sushi rice part with chopsticks, and attach a small plate of soy sauce to the ingredients. .
However, this method is unnatural in nature, and often only the ingredients fall into the soy sauce. In particular, it is inherently impossible to invert a warship wound with a granular tool on it, and it is preferable to drop soy sauce in a natural upward state.
Even in such a case, it is preferable to have an appropriate dropper that can drip a small amount of soy sauce. The present invention seeks to solve such a problem.

Consider the prior literature relevant to the present application.
Patent Literature 1 relates to a “dropper” and describes a dropper including a thin tube portion and a heat seal portion. Since one end of the thin tube portion is heat-sealed, it does not originally have a straw function but is a dropper itself. The function of the straw is obtained by removing the heat seal portion, but the straw itself is not used. The purpose of the present application is to provide a tool for adding a dropper function to a general-purpose straw, and is different from the prior art.
Patent Literature 2 is a device related to a cap with a dropper. Since the cap has a dropper function, it can be suitably used for a dressing container or the like, but has a problem of a complicated structure. The purpose of the invention is also different from the present application.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-57145 JP-A-53-131950

An object of the present invention is to provide an instrument which can be easily used as a food dropper at a dining table or the like by using a commercially available inexpensive straw. Since commercially available straws are inexpensive, made of plastic, and are not damaged, they are safe for food use and can be disposed of each time they are used.

A first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a device for providing a dropper function for a straw, in which two elongated rectangular plate members face each other so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw. Characterized in that the straws are connected by an elastic member so that they can be pressed in parallel at the four corners of the two plate materials and press the attached straws at the four corners of the two plate materials. Utensils.

A second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an instrument for imparting a dropper function to a straw, in which two elongated rectangular plate members face each other so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw. A dropper function for a straw, wherein the two straws are connected in parallel by an elastic member so that the facing straws can be pressed on both long sides of the two stretches so that the attached straws can be pressed. Applicator.

In the first and second aspects of the present invention, the elastic member may be any one of a plastic material, a wound coil spring, a leaf spring, and a sponge-like material, and may be any one of a rectangular plate material. A sealing member for sealing the opening end of the straw may be attached to the short side of the straw via a holding rod.

According to the dropper function-imparting tool for a straw of the first and second aspects of the gist of the present invention (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "applying tool"), an inexpensive commercially available straw can be used as a dropper. This makes it possible to suitably collect seasoning from a container and drop it on food at a dining table or a store.
The use of a commercially available straw as a dropper does not break, like a glass dropper, is safe and sanitary for foods, can be used repeatedly a certain number of times, and can be discarded after use, so there is no need for cleaning .

It is a figure explaining the giving tool of a 1st form. It is a figure explaining the state where the straw was attached to the applicator of the 1st form. It is a figure explaining the state which attaches and uses a straw to the giving tool of a 1st form. It is a figure explaining the giving tool of a 2nd form. It is a figure explaining the giving tool of a 3rd form. It is a figure explaining the giving tool of a 4th form. It is a figure explaining a sealing plug as a sealing member. It is a figure explaining a leaf spring clip as a sealing member. It is a figure explaining the hinge clip as a sealing member.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a tool for dropping a straw according to the present invention will be described.
1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of an applicator. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an applicator 101, FIG. 1B is a top view, and FIG. () Is a cross-sectional view at the center of the plate member of the applicator.

As shown in FIG. 1A, in the application tool 101 of the first embodiment, two plate members 11a and 11b face each other and are kept parallel to each other so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw to be used. I have.
The term “substantially equal” means that it is not necessary to make them exactly coincide with each other, so that it works effectively even if the outer diameter of the straw is smaller than the interval. The purpose is not to make the interval too large.
The plate members 11a and 11b are rectangular, flat and elongated. Usually they are of equal size. The reason why the width is made slender is that the width is not excessively large with respect to the outer diameter of the straw.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the width H1 of the plate is about 10 to 14 mm for a straw having an outer diameter of 6 mm, and about 8 to 12 mm for a straw having an outer diameter of 4 mm. The width H1 is larger than the outer diameter of the straw because the elastic members 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d are located at four corners.
The compression length (length of the plate material) L is variable depending on the amount of liquid to be sucked. Usually, it is about 30 to 100 mm. The thickness of the plate materials 11a and 11b varies depending on the material, but is usually about 0.5 to 2.0 mm. A metal plate may be thinner.
The dimensions such as the width, length, thickness, and spacing of the plate material are the same in the application tools of the second to fourth embodiments described later.

The two plate members 11a and 11b are connected by an elastic member so that the facing plate members can be compressed. In the case of FIG. 1, the members 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d correspond to elastic members.
1, it is assumed that the plate members 11a and 11b and the elastic members 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d are made of the same plastic material, and the plate members 11a and 11b are thick. The elastic members 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d at the four corners are made thin to have elasticity.

A sealing member 12 for sealing the opening end of the straw can be attached to one of the short sides of the plate members 11a and 11b of the applicator 101. In the case of FIG. 1, the sealing member 12 is attached to the tip of the holding rod 12h.
The sealing member 12 is assumed to be a rubber stopper, a wooden stopper, a cork stopper, a plastic stopper, or the like, but may be a leaf spring clip or a hinge clip. Rubber stoppers and the like are limited to straws having the same inner diameter, but spring clips have the advantage that they are not limited to the thickness of the straw.

2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a state in which a straw is attached to the applicator of the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a side view, FIG. 2B is a top view, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in the plate material center part of an applicator.
As shown in FIG. 2, the opening end s1 of the straw S is inserted and sealed in the sealing member 12, and the position is fixed. The straw S passes between the elastic members 13a and 13c and between 13b and 13d and is sandwiched between the plate members 11a and 11b.
Since the straw S passes between the elastic members, the straw S does not come off the plate members 11a and 11b. The other open end s2 of the straw S serves as a liquid suction port.

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a state in which a straw is attached to the applicator according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3A is a side view, FIG. 3B is a top view, and FIG. (C) is a cross-sectional view at the center of the plate material of the applicator.
When the plate materials 11a and 11b are compressed with fingers as shown in FIG. 3A, the air in the straw S is discharged, and the straw S is pressed and flattened as shown in FIG. 3C.
Thereafter, if the opening end s2 of the straw S is put into a liquid such as a seasoning and the compression is loosened, the seasoning is sucked into the straw S. When pouring seasonings into food, the plate portion is compressed again. After use, if the compression of the finger is released, the straw S returns to almost the original circular cross section.

The holding bar 12h is not an essential member of the applicator 101. This is because a sealing member may be separately prepared, the straw S may be sealed, and then attached to the applicator 101. The sealing member may be held by a string or a wire instead of the holding rod 12h.
These are the same in the following second to fourth embodiments.

Next, an application tool according to another embodiment will be described.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are views for explaining the application tool of the second embodiment. FIG. 4A is a top view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in a part.
As shown in FIG. 4, the applicator 102 of the second embodiment faces the first applicator 101 such that the two plate members 11 a and 11 b maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw, similarly to the applicator 101 of the first embodiment. They are placed in parallel. Similarly, the plate members 11a and 11b have a rectangular shape and are flat and elongated. However, it is different from the application tool 101 of the first embodiment. Both edges along the long sides of the plate members 11a and 11b are thinner than the central portion. That is, the central portions 11ad and 11bd of the plate members 11a and 11b have the same thickness as in the first embodiment, but are characterized in that both edge portions are made thinner.

Further, in the application tool 102 of the second embodiment, a spring material is used as an elastic member. The spring member maintains the plate member 11a and the plate member 1b at a constant interval, and is capable of pressing the straw S between the plate members 11a and 11b.
In the case of FIG. 4, winding coil springs 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d are used at four corners of the plate members 11a and 11b. Since the wound coil spring has a constant thickness even when compressed, both edges of the plate members 11a and 11b are thinned.
Although not shown, a leaf spring having a horizontal "V" shape at the corresponding position and becoming flat at the time of compression may be used in place of the winding coil springs 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d.

5: is a figure explaining the provision tool of 3rd form, FIG.5 (A) is a top view, FIG.5 (B) is a side view, FIG.5 (C) is the board | plate material center of a provision tool. It is sectional drawing in a part.
As shown in FIG. 5, the applicator 103 of the third mode faces the two applicators 101 a and 11 b so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw, similarly to the applicator 101 of the first embodiment. They are placed in parallel. Similarly, the plate members 11a and 11b have a rectangular shape and are flat and elongated. However, it is different from the application tool 101 of the first embodiment. Both edges along the long sides of the plate members 11a and 11b are thinner than the central portion. That is, the central portions 11ad and 11bd of the plate members 11a and 11b have the same thickness as in the first embodiment, but are characterized in that both edge portions are made thinner.

Further, in the application tool 103 of the third embodiment, the leaf springs 15a and 15b are used as elastic members, so that a constant interval is maintained between the plate materials 11a and 1b, and a straw between the plate materials 11a and 11b is provided. There is a feature that S can be pressed.
In the case of FIG. 5, leaf springs 15a and 15b are fixed to two left and right sides of the plate material 11a with screws 17 or the like. Stoppers 18a and 18b are provided on the plate member 11b so that even when the applicator 103 is compressed, the distal ends of the plate springs 15a and 15b slide so as not to come off from the plate member 11b. The stoppers 18a and 18b are metal bars or the like.
When the leaf springs 15a and 15b are compressed, a certain thickness remains, so that both edges of the plate members 11a and 11b are thinned.

6: is a figure explaining the provision tool of 4th form, FIG. 6 (A) is a top view, FIG. 6 (B) is a side view, FIG. 6 (C) is the plate material center of a provision tool. It is sectional drawing in a part.
As shown in FIG. 6, the applicator 104 of the fourth embodiment faces the two applicators 101 a and 11b so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw, similarly to the applicator 101 of the first embodiment. They are placed in parallel. Similarly, the plate members 11a and 11b have a rectangular shape and are flat and elongated.
However, both edges along the long sides of the plate members 11a and 11b are thinner than the center. That is, the central portions 11ad and 11bd of the plate members 11a and 11b have the same thickness as in the first embodiment, but are characterized in that both edge portions are made thinner.

In addition, in the applicator 104 of the fourth embodiment, a cushion material is used as an elastic member, whereby the space between the plate materials 11a and 1b is maintained at a constant interval, and the straw S between the plate materials 11a and 11b is removed. There is a feature that can be pressed.
In the case of FIG. 6, sponge-like cushioning materials 16a and 16b are used on the two left and right sides of the plate materials 11a and 11b. The cushion members 16a and 16b are attached to the plate members 11a and 11b with an adhesive or the like.
Since the cushion material has a constant thickness even when compressed, both edges of the plate materials 11a and 11b are thinned.

In the various embodiments of the application tool described above, in the present application, the first embodiment uses four elastic members at four corners of the plate, and the second embodiment uses two elastic members on both sides of the plate.
The method of using the applicator of the second to fourth modes is the same as that of the applicator of the first embodiment, and can be easily analogized.

Next, the sealing member will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a sealing plug as a sealing member.
The sealing member is a rubber stopper, a wooden stopper, a cork stopper, a plastic stopper, or the like.
In the case of these sealing plugs 12s, the tip is about 0.9φ which is thinner than the inner diameter φ of the straw to make it easier to insert the straw, and has a portion of about 1.1φ below the middle so as to adhere to the inner diameter. Preferably, it is easier to do so.
On the back surface of the sealing plug 12s, there is an insertion portion 12sk, which can be used by being inserted into the holding rod 12h of the applicator.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a leaf spring clip as a sealing member.
If the opening end s1 of the straw S is sandwiched and fixed between the slits 12bs of the leaf spring clip 12b, the opening end s1 of the straw S is sealed.
The leaf spring clip 12b has an insertion portion 12bk on the back surface, and can be used by being inserted into the holding rod 12h.
The sealing stopper has an advantage that the inner diameter φ of the straw is limited, but the leaf spring clip 12b is not limited to the inner diameter or the outer diameter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a hinge clip as a sealing member.
The hinge clip 12t is configured such that two metal plates 12t1 and 12t2 that rotate around a common axis 12tj are urged by an axis coil 12tc so that an object is sandwiched between slits 12ts. s1 is sandwiched between two metal plates and sealed.
The hinge clip 12t has an insertion portion 12tk on the back surface, and can be used by being inserted into the holding rod 12h.

Next, the materials and dimensions of other elements not described will be described.
(1) Many straws are made of polypropylene or polyethylene and are commercially available. There are various types such as those having an outer diameter of 6.0 mm, a length of 250 mm, an outer diameter of 5.0 mm, a length of 190 mm, an outer diameter of 4.0 mm, and a length of 160 mm. The thickness of the straw is about 20 to 100 μm.
Due to its characteristics, the straw has a resilience that returns to the original circular cross section even if it is compressed flat. Repeated compression reduces the resilience, but can be used about 10 times.
There is a movement to abolish plastic straws due to environmental issues. However, even in the case of using a paper material, it is unlikely to lose the restorability after compression because of the purpose of sucking the liquid.

(2) Board Material For the board material, bamboo, wood, cardboard, plastic, stainless steel, and other metal materials can be used. When compressed by a finger, rigidity that can uniformly press the straw without deformation is required.
As the plastic material, a plate material (thickness of about 0.5 to 5.0 mm) such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, and nylon can be suitably used. The compressed portion length L of the plate material may be about 30 to 100 mm.
Even paper can be used for short compressed lengths as long as it is hard cardboard such as fiberboard.

《Method of manufacturing the applicator》
The applicator of the first embodiment can be integrally molded of the same plastic material using a mold. In addition, since the elastic members 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d have a common shape, the elastic members 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d can be separately molded and bonded to the plate 11a and the plate 11b.
In the application tool of the second to third embodiments, a winding coil spring, a leaf spring, and a cushion material are attached or adhered between the plate material 11a and the plate material 11b and assembled.

Table 1 shows the sampling amount (g) of the liquid (room temperature water) when the compression part length L is 50 mm. The same straw was tested 1 to 5 times for straws having the same outer diameter of 6.0 mm and 4.0 mm.
A sample having an outer diameter of 6.0 mm can collect about four times as much liquid as a sample having a diameter of 4.0 mm. Compared to the first and second times, the sampling amount tends to decrease after the third time. It is considered that the restoring force of the straw to its original circular cross section is slightly reduced.

11a, 11b Plate 12 Sealing member 12h Holding rod 12b Plate spring clip 12t Hinge clip
13a, 13b, 13c, 13d Elastic members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d Winding coil springs 15a, 15b Leaf springs 16a, 16b Cushion material 17 Screws 18a, 18b Stopper 101 First form applicator, second applicator 102 Second form Of the third form, the applicator 104 of the fourth form, the applicator S Straws s1 and s2 Open end of the straw L Compressed portion length (length of plate material)
φ Inner diameter of straw H1 Width of plate

Claims (4)

An instrument for providing a dropper function for a straw,
The two elongated rectangular plate members are opposed to each other so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw, and are kept parallel to each other. At four corners of the two plate members, the facing plate members are compressed and mounted. A dropper for a straw, wherein the straw is connected by an elastic member so that the straw can be pressed. An instrument for providing a dropper function for a straw,
The two elongated rectangular plate members face each other so as to maintain an interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the straw and are kept parallel, and at both long sides of the two plate members, the space between the facing plate members is compressed, A dropper for a straw, wherein the straw is attached by an elastic member so that the straw can be pressed. The dropper function imparting device for straws according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic member is any one of a plastic material, a wound coil spring, a leaf spring, and a sponge-like body. 3. A dropper function for a straw according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a sealing member for sealing the opening end of the straw is attached to any one of the short sides of the rectangular plate via a holding rod. Utensils.

Images