US20080237080A1

US20080237080A1 - Sugar Cane Accessory Item

Info

Publication number: US20080237080A1
Application number: US11/692,177
Authority: US
Inventors: Kevin R Andrews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-27
Filing date: 2007-03-27
Publication date: 2008-10-02

Abstract

The invention pertains to the field of sugar cane. More particularly, the invention pertains to efficiently utilizing a sugar cane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass, drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.). The sugar cane accessory item includes a stalk of sugar cane that is billeted and utilized as a food accessory item, wherein the sugar cane stalk may include at least one opening extending within the billeted section of sugar cane if utilized as a shot glass, drinking glass and/or straw. The stalk may also be billeted and comprised of a solid structure to be utilized as a pair of chopsticks, a stirrer, a shish kabob utensil or various other food accessory items. A method of manufacturing the sugar cane accessory item is also disclosed.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

ACKNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of sugar cane stalks. More particularly, the invention pertains to efficiently utilizing a sugar cane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass, drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.).
2. Description of Related Art
Sugar cane has been utilized for years in the manufacturing of sugar related products. Sugar cane generally consists of a grass including stout and fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar and generally measure between 2 and 6 meters tall. Sugar cane is generally grown in warm climate areas of the planet and for that reason is generally associated with a tropical or warm feeling around individuals utilizing or being around sugar cane.
many people travel to and live in warm climate areas (i.e. tropics, Caribbean, etc.) year round. It is generally appreciated that each of these climatic areas have their own or shares a unique culture which is generally displayed through living arrangements, food arrangements, specialty meals, decorative themes and many other fashions. The stalk of the sugar cane has not however been integrated into many of these areas even though the stalk of the sugar cane has not however been integrated into many of these areas even though the stalk of the sugar cane is generally associated with warm and tropical climates that would otherwise provide the utilization of sugar cane to attract tourist and locals. Because of the general lack of efficiency in the prior art, there is a need for a new and improved sugar cane accessory item for efficiently utilizing a sugar cane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass, drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention described herein, a sugar cane accessory item, the present invention comprises a stalk of sugar cane that is utilized as a food accessory item, wherein the sugar cane stalk may be billeted and include at least one opening extending within the billeted section of sugar cane if utilized as a shot glass, drinking glass and/or straw. The stalk may also be billeted and comprised of a solid structure to be utilized as a pair of chopsticks, a stirrer, a shish kabob utensil or various other food accessory items.
A first object of the present invention is for efficiently utilizing a sugar cane product for multiple accessory items (i.e. shot glass, drinking glass, straw, stirrer, decorative element, etc.).
Another object of the present invention is for illustrating a process in which to manufacture the multiple accessory items.
Yet, another object of the present invention is for personalizing a sugar cane product that may be subsequently utilized as an accessory item.
A further object of the present invention is for economically manufacturing and utilizing a sugar cane product for various accessory items.
A further object of the present invention is for utilizing an environmentally friendly food and drink accessory item.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and corresponding drawings.
It is appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the construction and configuration listed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention comprised of a straw.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the present invention comprised of a shot glass.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the present invention comprised as a straw and a drinking glass, wherein the straw is being utilized with the drinking glass.

FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the present invention billeted with 2 of the longitudinal sides squared.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the present invention utilized as a decorative element upon a plate.

FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of the present invention cut in a triangular configuration and including personalized indicia.

FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the present invention cut to a rectangular configuration.

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the process of billeting the stalks of sugar cane.

FIG. 11 is a top view illustrating the process of billeting the stalks of sugar cane with the blades adjusted to produce various length billets.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the process of boring the openings with the billets of sugar cane with a drill.

FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating the process of squaring the billets upon a second conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A. Overview

In accordance with the present invention, the sugar cane accessory item 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 13, generally includes a stalk 20 of sugar cane that is utilized as a food accessory item, wherein the cut stalk 20 may include at least one opening if utilized as a shot glass, drinking straw and/or straw. The stalk may also be comprised of a solid structure to be utilized as a pair of chopsticks, a stirrer, a shish kabob utensil and/or various other food accessory items. A method of producing the sugar cane accessory item 10 is also disclosed.

B. Sugar Cane

The sugar cane is preferably comprised of sugar cane that is in the raw form or uncooked form. The billet 30, wherein the cut stalk 20 is herein and previously referred to as the billet 30, is preferably comprised of a length of at least 1 inch and no more than 16 inches. It is appreciated however that in certain circumstances the billet 30 may be comprised of various lengths greater than 16 inches and/or less than 1 inch. The billet 30 and present invention are preferably comprised of a product comprised completely of sugar cane and does not utilize any foreign materials (i.e. plastic, metal, etc.). it is appreciated however that the present invention may be adorned by various decorative products that are comprised of materials other than sugar cane.
i. Shot Glass, Drinking Glass, Straw, etc.
The billet 30 may be comprised of various shapes and configurations depending on the current utilization of the present invention. In a first category of the present invention, the billet 30 is preferably comprised of a shot glass or drinking glass as illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5. The billet 30 preferably includes an outer covering 35 and an inner portion 36.
The outer covering 35 is preferably comprised of the natural outer covering 35 of the stalk 20 of the sugar cane. The inner portion 36 is preferably comprised of the natural inner portion 36 of the stalk 20 of the sugar cane. The outer covering 35 and the inner portion 36 are generally comprised of different substances; however it is appreciated that the outer covering 35 and the inner portion 36 may be integrally formed to be a single substance. The billet 30 may also include various indicia 39 upon the outer covering 35 or inner portion 36 as illustrated in FIG. 8 so as to personalize the present invention and/or include a company logo/trademark upon the present invention.
The first category of the present invention includes the first opening 32 extending within the inner portion 36 of the billet 30. The first opening 32 preferably extends within the billet 30 and along a longitudinal axis of the billet 30. The first opening 32 is also preferably concentric with the billet 30. It is appreciated however that the first opening 32 may extend within the billet 30 at a transverse orientation and may also extend within the billet 30 at an offset orientation. When utilizing the billet 30 as a drinking glass or shot glass, the billet includes a base portion 37 opposite the first opening 32 as illustrated in FIG. 4.
When utilizing the billet 30 as a straw or in a tubular manner, the billet 30 also preferably includes a second opening 33 positioned opposite the first opening 32 upon the billet 30. The second opening 33 preferably extends within an opposing end of the billet 30 as the first opening 32 and also interconnects with the first opening 32. It is appreciated that when utilizing the billet 30 as a shot glass, drinking glass and/or straw the first opening 32 and/or the second opening 33 may completely extend and fill out the inner portion 36 thus resulting with only the outer covering 35 of the billet 30. The second opening 33 is also preferably concentric with the billet 30.
It is also appreciated that the outer covering 35 may be removed from the billet 30 prior to the usage of the shot glass, drinking glass and/or straw, wherein the outer portion of the billet 30 does not include the normal outer covering 35. It is further appreciated that the billet 30 may be comprised of various other food and drink accessory items such as but not limited to a martini shaker.
ii. Chop Sticks, Stirrers, etc.
In a second category of the billet 30′, the billet 30′ is preferably comprised of a substantially solid structure. The billet 30′ preferably includes the outer covering 35 and the inner portion 36 as described in the first category of the billet 30′. The billet 30′ may be comprised of various solid shaped structures and may be utilized as various food and drink accessory item, such as but not limited to a stirrer, a shish kabob utensil, a shrimp kabob utensil, a pair of chopsticks, a decorative plate 16 element as illustrated in FIG. 7 to adorn a food substance 14 or simply a food item to eat.
The billet 30′ is preferably comprised of an elongated configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9. The billet 30′ may also be comprised of various shaped configurations, such as but not limited to triangular as illustrated in FIG. 8, square as illustrated in FIG. 9, pie-shaped, circular or semi circular. The squared configuration of the billet 30′ may be comprised of various cross-sectional areas, such as but not limited to ⅛″, ¼″, ½″, ¾″, and 1″. The pie-shaped configuration of the billet 30′ may be sliced to various triangular shaped configurations. In various other configurations, the billet may be further cut to substantially flat rectangular configurations.
It is appreciated that the present invention may be utilized as various other food and drink accessory items, wherein the above description simply illustrates a few configurations of the present invention and wherein it is the object of the present invention to utilize a sugar cane billet 30′ as an accessory item. It is also appreciated that the billet 30′ may be utilized as various other accessory items, rather than solely a food and drink accessory item, such as but not limited to a clothing accessory item or a piece of jewelry.

C. Method of Producing the Present Invention

It is appreciated that the present invention may be manufactured utilizing various methods or processes. Below is described one such method of manufacturing the present invention; however it is appreciated that the present invention should not be limited to utilizing the described method.
The first conveyor unit 40 is first preferably fed fresh stalks 20 of sugar cane to convey the stalks 20 toward a plurality of first blades 41 as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. It is appreciated that the present invention may also include a plurality of abrasive cleaning blades, wherein the abrasive cleaning blades include an abrasive member (i.e. file, stiff brushes, etc.) to substantially remove the rind from the stalks 20, via grinding, as the stalks 20 are fed into the abrasive cleaning blades by the first conveyor unit 40. The stalks 20 are preferably fed at a substantially fast rate towards the plurality of first blades 41 by the first conveyor unit 40 (i.e. 60 lbs per minute, 5 stalks 20 a second, etc.). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first conveyor unit 40 preferably includes 4 first blades 41 positioned upon 2 shafts 42, wherein the 2 shafts are preferably rotated by a motor 43.
The first blades 41 are also preferably comprised of circular blades and may further be independently adjusted upon the corresponding shaft 42 to cut a desired length billet 30 of the stalks 20 of sugar cane as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The first blades 41 may cut the stalk into various length billets 30, wherein the billets 30 preferably range between 4 and 16 inches in length. The first blades 41 may also be independently removed from the respective shaft 42 to achieve a longer billet 30.
The first conveyor unit 40 may also include a boring mechanism 60 to punch or drill an opening 32, 33 within the billet 30. The boring mechanism 60 may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to a drill as illustrated in FIG. 12, a laser, high-pressure water or a punch. It is appreciated that the boring mechanism 60 may also be operated by an individual rather than being mounted upon the first conveyor unit 40. The boring mechanism 60 may further be utilized at various other stages in the process of manufacturing the present invention, such as after washing the billets 30 or after the billets 30 have been processed through the second conveyor unit 45.
It is also appreciated that the billets 30 may also be quartered or halved after the stalks 20 have been cut into the desired length billets 30. The stalks 20 may also be bored prior to billeting the stalks 20. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening 32, 33 formed by the boring mechanism 60 is preferably between ⅛″ and 2″; however it is appreciated that the opening 32, 33 may be various sizes rather than the preferred embodiment.
The billets 30 are next preferably fed within a washing device. The washing device may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to a rotary drum washer. The washing device may also be inclined in such a way as to allow the billets 30 to travel through the washing device as the washing device rotates. The washing device also preferably includes an abrasive material lining the interior surface of the washing device to engage the billets 30. The abrasive material may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to green scrub pads, pieces of carpet, granular materials, walnut shells and macadamia nut shells.
As the washing device rotates, the washing device preferably dips within a hot cleaning fluid bath. The cleaning fluid may be comprised of various fluids, such as but not limited to water. The billet 30 travels through the washing device and subsequently cleans the outer covering 35 of the billet 30 of any debris, nodes, wax and dirt.
Preferably after the billets 30 travel through the washing device, the billets 30 engage a second conveyor unit 45. The second conveyor unit preferably aligns the billets 30 into a single file configuration as illustrated in FIG. 13. The second conveyor unit also preferably includes a plurality of second blades 46, wherein the plurality of second blades 46 may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to circular blades or knives.
The second blades 46 are preferably spaced slightly apart so as to splice the billets 30. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second blades 46 are spaced ¼″ apart. It is appreciated that the second blades 46 may include various spacers to maintain a desired distance between the second blades 46. As the billets 30 pass through the second blades 46 the billets 30 are preferably cut into flat and substantially rectangular billets 30′ as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. It is appreciated that the billets 30 may not pass through the second blades 46 if it is desired that the billets 30 are to be maintained in a cylindrical shaped configuration (i.e. in the use of the shot glass, drinking glass, straw etc.).
The billets 30′ may subsequently enter a third conveyor unit or reenter the second conveyor unit 45 to further cut the billet 30′ into a more preferred rectangular configuration as illustrated in FIG. 9. It is appreciated that the billets 30′ may also be bored with the boring mechanism 60 after the second conveyor unit 45 and/or the third conveyor unit. The billets 30′ may be subsequently sorted, weighed, and counted, wherein the billets 30′ may be packaged within a vacuum sealed container to be shipped or delivered to a consumer/distributor. It is appreciated that the billets 30′ may also be branded with various indicia 39 at this time. The containers including the billets 30, 30′ may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to plastic pouches, glass bottles or cans.
The containers may also be sterilized, wherein the billets 30 are ensured to be clean when being utilized as a food and/or drink accessory item. The sterilization process may be achieved in various methods, such as but not limited to boiling the containers within water. The containers may also be labeled with any desired markings, such as paper labels, plastic labels, control numbers, control codes, RFID tags, and various other markings.
It is appreciated that the first conveyor unit 40, the second conveyor unit 45 and the third conveyor unit may be comprised of various conveying mechanisms. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the conveying units 40, 45 are preferably comprised of a sponge type material with spikes driven through the sponge type material to better grasp the stalks 20 and billets 30 of the sugar cane.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

1. A sugar cane accessory item, comprising:

a billet including at least one opening, wherein said opening extends within said billet and wherein said at least one opening extends along a longitudinal axis of said billet;

wherein said billet includes an inner portion, wherein said at least one opening extends within said inner portion;

wherein said billet is comprised of a cut stalk of sugar cane.

2. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening extends a substantial longitudinal length within said billet.

3. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening does not extend through said billet.

4. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening is substantially concentric with said billet.

5. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet is between 1 inch and 16 inches in length.

6. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, wherein said first opening and said second opening extend within opposing ends of said billet.

7. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 6, wherein said first opening and said second opening are concentric with each other.

8. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 6, wherein said first opening and said second opening interconnect within said billet.

9. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet includes an outer covering comprised of a first substance, wherein said inner portion is comprised of a second substance and wherein said first substance is different than said second substance.

10. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 9, wherein said outer covering circumscribes said at least one opening.

11. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet is comprised of a shot glass configuration.

12. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet is comprised of a drinking glass configuration.

13. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 1, wherein said billet is comprised of a straw configuration.

14. A sugar cane accessory item, comprising:

a billet including an outer covering and an inner portion, wherein said outer covering is comprised of a first substance and wherein said inner portion is comprised of a second substance;

wherein said first substance is different than said second substance;

wherein said billet includes at least one side, wherein said at least one side is comprised of a substantially flat configuration;

wherein said billet is comprised of a cut stalk of sugar cane.

15. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14, wherein said at least one side follows a longitudinal axis of said billet.

16. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14, wherein said billet is between 1 inch and 16 inches in length.

17. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14, wherein said billet is comprised of a triangular shaped configuration.

18. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 14, wherein said billet is comprised of a rectangular shaped configuration.

19. A sugar cane accessory item, comprising:

wherein said billet is comprised of a cut stalk of sugar cane;

wherein said at least one opening extends a substantial longitudinal length within said billet and wherein said at least one opening is substantially concentric with said billet;

wherein said billet is between 1 inch and 16 inches in length;

wherein said billet includes an outer covering comprised of a first substance, wherein said inner portion is comprised of a second substance and wherein said first substance is different than said second substance;

wherein said outer covering circumscribes said at least one opening.

20. A sugar cane accessory item of claim 19, wherein said at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, wherein said first opening and said second opening extends within opposing ends of said billet, wherein said first opening and said second opening are concentric with each other and wherein said first opening and said second opening interconnect within said billet.