US20070158454A1

US20070158454A1 - Floater for a straw

Info

Publication number: US20070158454A1
Application number: US11/329,147
Authority: US
Inventors: Chi Ching-Chong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-11
Filing date: 2006-01-11
Publication date: 2007-07-12

Abstract

A floater for a straw includes a main body, a central hole and an airtight space. The central hole is located in the intermediate portion of the main body. The airtight space filled with air is positioned around the central hole. A straw is to be fitted in the central hole. The combination of the straw and the main body has a specific gravity less than water, enabling it to float up while put in a bottle with a liquid, convenient for drinking.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to a floater, particularly to one that is to be fitted with a straw, so as to keep the straw raised up in a bottle to offer a convenient drinking.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bottles, being convenient for carrying and having a good sealing and uneasy breakdown property, are a popular container for beverages. When one wants to drink, he has to prepare a cup or drink directly from the bottle mouth. Or, for the sake of convenience or sanitation, a straw is. commonly used. When the content in the bottle is still rather full, the straw is convenient for drinking. But, if the content is gradually drunk and left not much or the straw is not long enough, a user even has to extend a finger into the bottle to pull up the straw or keep the bottle inclined so as to keep on drinking.
Therefore, a common conventional straw has the following defects as can be seen from the foresaid description.
1. If the content in a bottle is left not much or the straw is not long enough, a user even has to extend a finger into the bottle to pull up the straw or keep the bottle inclined so as to keep on drinking.
2. When a straw is repeatedly pulled out by a finger through a bottle mouth, the mouth is to be contaminated by bacteria on a finger, causing an unsanitary drinking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The prime object of this invention is to offer a floater for a straw.
The main characteristics of the invention are a main body of a float, a central hole and an airtight space formed in the main body. The central hole is located in the intermediate portion of the main body. The airtight space filled with air is positioned around the central hole. A straw is to be fitted in the central hole. The combination of the straw and the main body has a specific gravity less than water, enabling it to float up while being put in a- bottle with a liquid, convenient for drinking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention is better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention, showing it being provided with plural little airtight spaces without contacting one another;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention, showing it being used;
FIG. 6 is partial magnified view of a second preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention; and,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a floater for a straw in the present invention, showing it being stored in a closed bottle .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a first preferred embodiment of a float 1 for a straw in the present invention is provided with a main body 10, a central hole 11 and an airtight space 12.
The main body 10 made of plastics is shaped as a semi-sphere.
The central hole 11 set at the intermediate portion of the main body 10 is formed as a hole able to be fitted with a straw 110 or the like. The straw 110 can be an independent component, separated from the main body 10, or fixed in the central hole 11 with its lower end to combine together integral with the main body 10.
The airtight space 12 is positioned around the central hole 11. The airtight space 12 has its interior filled with air 121, possible to be a single space or divided into plural independent spaces by separating ribs 120 with an equal or different intervals. Or, the airtight space 12 can be composed of plural little airtight spaces 12 that are not adjacent to one another, in order to save material and cost.
In using, as shown in FIG. 1, the straw 110 is first fitted in the central hole 11 of the main body 10. Next, put the combination of the straw 110 and the main body 10 in a bottle 2, which is made of plastics or glass with any shape. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, because the main body 10 is made of plastics and the airtight space(s) 12 is (are) full of air, having an average specific gravity less than water, the main body 10 is to float up when a cap 22 is opened, enabling the straw 110 to rise and expose out of a bottle mouth 21 to make it ready for drinking.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is to add a filter 3 at the lower portion of the central hole 11 in the first preferred embodiment. The filter 3 provided with air holes 31 at the top and the bottom respectively can separate impurities from passing through it, offering a healthier drink. The filtering materials in the filter 3 can be filtering gravels 32 or active carbon 33.
The invention has the following advantages as can be seen from the foresaid description.
1. The straw 110 is easily floated up to a bottle mouth, because the combination of the straw 110, fitted in the central hole 11 of the main body 10, and the airtight space 12 has a specific gravity less than that of water, keeping the content in the bottle 2 ready for drinking.
2. As the cap 22 is opened, the straw 110 is to be always floated up to extend out of the bottle mouth 21 without necessity of pulling out the straw 110 by a finger repeatedly, able to prevent any contamination from a hand.
3. It is very convenient for a user to suck because the straw 110 is always extended out of the bottle mouth 21.
4. The filter 3 can block the impurities in a liquid in the bottle 2, providing a healthier and better quality of drink.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A floater for a straw comprising:

a main body;

a central hole located in an intermediate portion of said main body; and,

an airtight space positioned around said central hole and filled with air.

2. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of a straw can be combined together integral with said main body in said central hole.

3. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airtight space is divided into plural smaller airtight spaces by separating ribs with an equal interval.

4. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airtight space is divided into plural smaller airtight spaces by said separating ribs with a different intervals.

5. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airtight space is composed of plural little airtight spaces that are not adjacent to one another.

6. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein a filter is placed near the bottom of said central hole.

7. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 6, wherein said filter is provided with active carbon.

8. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 6, wherein said filter is provided with filtering gravels.

9. A floater for a straw as claimed in claim 6, wherein said filter is provided with plural air holes.