WO2014200638A1

WO2014200638A1 - Color striped noodles

Info

Publication number: WO2014200638A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/037451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Kessler
Original assignee: Maui Toys, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-05-10
Filing date: 2014-06-11
Publication date: 2014-12-18

Abstract

An elongated closed cellular foam plastic noodle has a plurality of stripes adhered on the exterior surface thereof, the stripes extending parallel to the axis of the noodle, the stripes having a texture and color different from the texture and color of the noodle.

Description

COLOR STRIPED NOODLES

Field of Invention

[0001 ] The present invention relates to so-called "noodles" used in part for support and play in water.

Background

[0002] Such noodles in general are elongated flexible tubes formed of closed-cellular foam plastic. Because of the closed-cellular foam construction, these "noodles" float and can be used for support in water particularly of children, in addition to play in water or out of water. In general, these "noodles" are extruded of closed-cellular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene with a hollow bore, and are commonly used in swimming pools and for types of water-oriented play. The closed cellular foam nature enables such "noodles" to float, and to even support a substantial weight, easily supporting a child in the water.

[0003] Such noodles can be extruded in various shapes, for example such noodles may have a circular cross section, a star-shaped cross section, or a flower- shaped cross section. Generally, the foam noodle extrudates have an axial opening, i.e. a bore, extending the length thereof.

Summary of Invention

[0004] It is an object of present invention to provide such noodles with an additional decorative appearance, and thus to provide noodles which are more attractive and thus aesthetically enhance the enjoyment of the user. These and other objectives are achieved by providing stripes in any single noodle of optionally different colors and optionally different materials and optionally at different locations along the exterior of the noodle, which stripes preferably extend parallel to the axis of the noodle, but which also or alternatively extend partially or totally radially/transversely . In addition to the aesthetic properties provided by the stripes, the noodles of the present invention have different and enhanced tactile and structural advantages over previously known noodles, and can also enhance the strength of the noodles.

Brief Description of the Drawing

[0005] Figs. 1 and 2 show noodles in accordance with the present invention having a flower-shaped cross section.

[0006] Fig. 3 shows conventional noodles including one having a star-shaped cross section.

[0007] Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of other noodle embodiments in

accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0008] Noodles 10, either with or without an axial bore in accordance with the

present invention, may be provided in various colors, such as yellow, pink, blue, green, etc. In accordance with the present invention, axially extending stripes 12 are coextruded with the noodle, or the stripes can be adhesively adhered to the exterior of the noodle 10, or hot coated preferably on the still hot noodle extrudate, the stripes 12 being desirably of a different color than the color of the noodle 10.

[0009] The stripes 12, unlike the cellular nature of the noodle 10 itself, are of solid plastic or of a higher density foam, thus giving noodles in accordance with the present invention a different tactile feel from conventional noodles. Stripes of different colors, different widths, different thickness and/or different materials may be provided on a given noodle.

[0010] Figs. 1 and 2 show noodles 10 with a flower petal cross section. In the

embodiment of Fig. 1 , stripes 12 are provided in the grooves between each adjacent petals, but stripes on a particular noodle may be located at different locations. In Fig. 2, for example only two stripes 12 are provided, each in short linear sections which may vary one from another in length and/or location. The stripes may be formed of any plastic, such as PET, PVC, polyurethane or silicone.

[001 1 ] The stripes 12 preferably extend in a direction parallel to the axis of the

noodle, but as illustrated in Fig. 2 need not extend the entire length of the noodle; in other words, the stripes 12 can be provided in linear sections with spaces therebetween.

[0012] Although the stripes in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown in the grooves between

adjacent sections of the flower petal cross section, it will be understood that the stripes may be provided at any location along the radial periphery of the noodle. Although not illustrated, such stripes 12 can be provided on noodles having no exterior grooves, namely noodles having circular, egg-shaped, elliptical or flattened cross sections. Fig. 3 shows some shapes of noodles to which stripes in accordance with the present invention may be applied, e.g. one or more spiral stripes can be applied to provide a barber pole appearance.

[0013] There is no limit to the variation in colors which may be provided for the

stripes 12. Indeed, for any particular single noodle, the stripes may be all the same color, or the stripes 12 may be of different colors, or even of different textures, shapes or materials.

[0014] Fig. 4 shows a noodle 14 of a different cross-sectional shape having four linear projections 16 with four grooves 18 therebetween i.e. each linear projection 16 is separate from an adjacent linear projection 16 by a linearly extending groove 18. In the variation shown in Fig. 4, laterally extending stripes 20 are provided on the tops of the linearly extending projections or ribs, such stripes in this embodiment being short and spaced apart. Such stripes may instead be continuous.

[0015] Fig. 5 shows another arrangement particularly suitable for noodles such as the noodle 14 as shown in Fig. 4 or other noodles having ribs or projections 16 which extend longitudinally of the noodle 14. In this variation,

longitudinally extending stripes 22 are provided along the tops of the ribs or projections. As in the other variations described above, the ribs may be of different colors, different materials, different thicknesses, different lengths and/or different configurations, e.g. noodles may be provided utilizing different combinations of stripes 20 such as shown in Fig. 4 and stripes 22 such as shown in Fig. 5.

[0016] The stripes may be applied to the noodles in a variety of different ways. For example, the noodles and stripes can each be preformed, and the stripes subsequently applied by using appropriate adhesives. Alternatively, and preferably, the stripes can be applied by a coating procedure after preforming of the noodle, or the stripes can be applied by coextrusion when forming the noodle itself. Most preferred, however, is a technique which is in the nature of a hybrid of coextrusion and lamination in which the stripes are extruded and applied after the foam noodle has been extruded, but while the foam is still hot from extrusion , the stripes being applied almost immediately downstream of the noodle extrusion head.

[0017] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

Thus the expressions "means to..." and "means for...", or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . An elongated closed cellular foam plastic noodle having at least one stripe adhered on an exterior surface of the noodle, said stripe having a texture and color different from the color and texture of the noodle.

2. The noodle of claim 1 having a plurality of said stripes.

3. The noodle of claim 2 wherein said noodle has at least one longitudinal exterior groove, and said stripe or stripes is located in said at least one groove between adjacent longitudinal enlargements of said noodle.

4. The noodle of claim 1 wherein said stripe is formed of plastic having a density which is different from the density of the noodle.

5. The noodle of claim 1 wherein the noodle and the stripe are formed of different plastics.

6. The noodle of claim 1 wherein said stripe extends parallel to the noodle axis.

7. The noodle of claim 2 wherein said stripes are formed of plastic having a density which is different from the density of the noodle.

8. The noodle of claim 2 wherein the noodle and the stripes are formed of different plastics.

9. The noodle of claim 2 wherein the cross-section of the noodle has a plurality of longitudinal enlargements, each enlargement being separated by a pair of depressions, and wherein said stripes extend on and along the length of said enlargements.

10. The noodle of claim 1 wherein said stripe extends at an angle different from the axis of said noodle.

1 1 . The noodle of claim 2 wherein said noodle has a plurality of exterior grooves, and said stripes extend longitudinally of said noodle.

12. The noodle of claim 2 wherein said noodle has a plurality of exterior grooves, and said stripes extend transversally or laterally with respect to the axis of the noodle.