RU2253601C2 - Flexible drinking straw (variants) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packing equipment, particularly drinking straws to be connected to packages containing fruit juices, milk, coffee and so on.

SUBSTANCE: flexible straw comprises one or more corrugated zones including overlapped corrugations inserted one into another. Flexible straws are held in folded position for a long time up to straw usage. Corrugated straw zone consists of flattened overlapped corrugations inserted one into another and compressed overlapped corrugations also inserted one into another and alternately disposed between flattened ones. Some of the first overlapped corrugations inserted one into another are compressed. The straw comprises at least 10 corrugations.

EFFECT: increased effective length, possibility of full straw unbending, maintaining of functional capabilities without considerable cost increase and without modification of existent technological line.

8 cl, 1 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a flexible soloninkan for drinking with one corrugated (flexible) zone (or a large number of these zones) containing overlapping folds (ring folds in the form of an accordion) that enter into each other, and these flexible straws are attached to the packaging for fruit juices, milk, coffee, etc. and a long time, until they are used, are held in a bent position to take up less space.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Currently known straws for this purpose have one corrugated (flexible) zone containing 8-10 overlapping folds (circular folds in the form of an accordion) that enter into each other. [The first (or last) fold is solid and does not apply to overlapping folds entering one another]. Since the number of folds is limited, constant bending of external pressure is required for bending to obtuse angles (e.g., up to 180 °). This pressure is then maintained by the packaging material. As a result, the folds undergo permanent deformation and straightening the straw becomes impossible. There is also a problem associated with the fact that after bending the straws, all folds are straightened (open) (for example, in U-shaped straws).

The corrugated zone (flexible zone) of a straw made according to the invention contains straightened (opened) overlapping folds entering into each other (circular folds in the form of an accordion) and compressed (folded) overlapping folds entering each other (circular folds in the form of an accordion), which are between the straightened folds, interspersed with them. The first few folds are compressed, so that after straightening the straw can be bent in any direction.

The following documents are known from the prior art that are related by topic to the invention:

1. DE-A-3242257 (Hertel Reinhard - May 17, 1984).

The straw described in this document is different from the proposed straw and has a different function.

This straw has an area of straightened folds, located between two areas of compressed folds at an angle of 90 ° to these zones, so before using the straws you need to stretch two identical "legs" in length.

In addition, in two zones formed by compressed folds, these folds are different.

2. GB-A-1219595 (Union Carbide Corp. - January 20, 1971) and US-A-3642884 (Jivoin - February 15, 1972).

These documents describe the properties of common plastic straws used for drinking, general purpose.

However, nothing is said about the straws that are attached to the packaging for fruit juices, milk, coffee, etc. and until their use are constantly in a bent position. About 28 years have passed since then, but no recommended improvements have been proposed during this time.

The present invention describes how to solve the problems associated with the fact that the straws that are attached to the packaged fruit juices, milk, coffee, etc., are in a bent position for a long time, and to provide their best possible straightening and functionality.

An advantage of the present invention is that the effective length of the straw is increased, its full straightening is achieved, and its functionality is ensured without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost and without major changes to the existing production line.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawing shows a straw in a bent position with one corrugated zone, in which some overlapping folds that enter into each other (ring folds in the form of an accordion) are compressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To facilitate the straightening of the straw, when, after bending, all its overlapping folds entering each other are straightened (as it was until now), it should have a sufficient number of folds (more than ten) so that when it is bent, the folds are not deformed by force.

In addition, the straw should not experience any external pressure. Therefore, after bending, it is released, remaining curved at a given angle in the absence of external pressure. Then it can be packaged in its final form.

If in any way more folds are straightened out than is necessary for bending the straw to a given angle, then excessive straightened folds lose their flexibility over time and cannot bend in any direction.

In order to ensure the best possible straightening of the straw and its functionality, even after prolonged storage, it must have enough folds so that after folding it, some folds remain compressed, of course, without severe deformation of the expanded folds.

It is desirable that several first folds 1 remain compressed (for example, 2-4 first folds) so that after straightening, the straw can be bent in all directions due to these folds.

Straightening the straw is greatly facilitated by the presence of compressed folds located between the folded folds and alternating with them, and also located near the middle of the arc formed by bending the straw, so that a small number of folded folds located one after another alternates with one 3 or several 4 compressed folds, especially in the middle of the arc, where the straw experiences the greatest pressure [for example, the folded fold 2 is followed by a compressed fold 3].

Obviously, the number of squeezed folds can vary depending on the purpose of the package (for example, in some juice packages where the straightening of the straw is not particularly important, the first 5-6 folds and only 2-3 alternating folds can be squeezed to ensure that the straightened folds will not be deformed by force).

In order for certain folds to remain compressed, in addition to the number of folds, other factors are also important, such as the material, the point (or points) of pressure application for bending the straw, etc. A person skilled in the art can easily suggest more than one technical solution to this problem. For example, you can place several supports of a suitable shape in appropriate places and apply pressure at the corresponding point or points of the straw to bend it.

Since there are excessive folds, it is difficult to deform them by force. In order for the recommended changes to be fully implemented, the straw must have a sufficient number of folds (much more than ten).

So that after bending, the straw does not experience any external pressure, it is released so that it remains bent to a predetermined angle in the absence of external pressure. Then it can be packaged in its final form.

If something does not work during bending and some folds 5, one after the other, straighten out or some of the first folds straighten out, this does not pose a serious problem and the straw is straightened again (as a rule, without much effort), since:

1. Folds are not deformed by force.

2. Always there is a sufficient number of compressed folds to ensure straightening of the straightened folds.

If there are compressed folds after bending the straw, then its effective length can be increased, since when it is straightened and all the folds are straightened, it can be bent in the area of the first folds if desired, and the rest remains straight and longer than the corresponding part of the known straws.

If a straw has several corrugated zones (flexible zones) containing overlapping folds entering each other (accordion-shaped circular folds), [for example, S-shaped straws - EP-A-0327244 (ELOPAK SYSTEMS AG)], then all of the above applies to all zones.

Claims (8)

1. A flexible drinking straw that comes with fruit juices, milk, coffee, etc. and for a long time until it is used, it is held in a bent position to occupy less space having a corrugated zone containing more than ten overlapping folds entering into each other, said corrugated zone containing straightened overlapping folds entering each other and compressed overlapping overlapping folds that are between the straightened folds, interspersed with them. 2. The flexible drinking straw according to claim 1, in which the compressed overlapping folds entering each other are interleaved so that behind a small number of folded folds arranged one after another there is one compressed fold or more compressed folds. 3. The flexible drinking straw according to claim 1 or 2, in which the expanded overlapping overlapping folds are not deformed by force. 4. Flexible drinking straw that comes with fruit juices, milk, coffee, etc. and for a long time until it is used, it is held in a bent position to occupy less space having a corrugated zone containing more than ten overlapping folds that enter into each other, the first few overlapping folds of the said corrugated zone entering into each other are compressed, and all the others are straightened as a result of which the specified straw after its straightening can bend in all directions. 5. A flexible drinking straw according to claim 4, in which the expanded overlapping overlapping folds are not deformed by force. 6. Flexible drinking straw that comes with fruit juices, milk, coffee, etc. and for a long time until it is used, it is held in a bent position to occupy less space having a corrugated zone containing more than ten overlapping folds entering into each other, said corrugated zone containing straightened overlapping folds entering each other and compressed overlapping overlapping the folds that are between the straightened folds, interspersed with them, and the first few overlapping folds of the specified corrugated zone i are compressed. 7. The flexible drinking straw according to claim 6, in which the compressed overlapping folds that enter into each other are interleaved so that behind a small number of expanded folds located one after another there is one compressed fold or more compressed folds. 8. A flexible drinking straw according to claim 6 or 7, in which the expanded overlapping overlapping folds are not deformed by force.