WO2019123300A1

WO2019123300A1 - Drinking straw

Info

Publication number: WO2019123300A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/060318
Authority: WO
Inventors: Teng-Feng Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-12-22
Filing date: 2018-12-19
Publication date: 2019-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-22
Also published as: TWI645816B; TW201927220A; CN109953599A

Abstract

A drinking straw includes a main body (1) configured as an elastic two-layered structure. The main body (1) has a passage-defining portion (13) that defines a drinking passage (15), and an overlapping portion (14) that extends spirally from the passage-defining portion (13), and that is disposed at an outer side of and clings separably to the passage-defining portion (13).

Description

DRINKING STRAW

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a drinking straw, and more particularly to a drinking straw adapted for beverage consumption .

BACKGROUND

A conventional drinking straw is integrally formed of a plastic material, that is, the plastic material is formed into a tube that defines a drinking passage. Mass consumption of drinking straws nowadays has become a burden to our environment, as conventional drinking straws easily become unsanitary after repeated uses, and are therefore usually discarded after a single use.

In order to resolve this sustainability issue, reusable drinking straw, usually made of metal or glass, has emerged in the market. Given that the caliber of a drinking straw is relatively small and an inner wall of the drinking straw is usually inaccessible to regular cleaning tools, cleaning of the reusable drinking straw usually involves a specific kind of cleaning tool such as a brush with a long handle. In other words, a special cleaning tool needs to be purchased and carried along with the reusable drinking straw for proper cleaning, which can be too inconvenient and troublesome for many to upkeep with. SUMMARY

Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a drinking straw that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

A drinking straw according to the disclosure includes a main body configured as an elastic two-layered structure. The main body has a passage-defining portion that defines a drinking passage, and an overlapping portion that extends spirally from the passage-defining portion, and that is disposed at an outer side of and clinging separably to the passage-defining portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first embodiment of a drinking straw according to the disclosure ;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the first embodiment, illustrating a main body of the drinking straw in a ready- for-use state;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first embodiment, illustrating the main body of the drinking straw in an unrolled state;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second embodiment of the drinking straw according to the disclosure ;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third embodiment of the drinking straw according to the disclosure ;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the drinking straw according to the disclosure ;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth embodiment ;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a fifth embodiment of the drinking straw according to the disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a sixth embodiment of the drinking straw according to the disclosure.

DE TAI LED DE SCRI PT ION

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics .

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a first embodiment of a drinking straw according to the disclosure includes a main body 1 and a securing unit 3. The main body 1 is configured as an elastic two-layered structure which includes a first layer 11 and a second layer 12 fixedly laminated together. However, in other embodiments of the disclosure, the quantity of the layer in the main body 1 is not limited to two and may vary as needed. In the present embodiment, the first layer 11 is made of elastic plastic, and the second layer 12 is made of adhesive food-grade silicone.

The main body 1 can be unrolled and flattened by external forces, and has elastic potential energy to roll itself into a tube. The main body 1 extends in a longitudinal direction 10, and has a passage-defining portion 13 and an overlapping portion 14. The passage-defining portion 13 defines a drinking passage 15 extending in the longitudinal direction 10. The overlapping portion 14 extends spirally from the passage-defining portion 13, and is disposed at an outer side of and clings separably to the passage-defining portion 13. In the present embodiment, the drinking passage 15 is substantially cylindrical, and a circumferential length of the overlapping parts of the overlapping portion 14 and the passage-defining portion 13 is smaller than a circumference of the passage-defining portion 13, yet is greater than half the circumference of the passage-defining portion 13. However, in other embodiments of the disclosure, there are no specific limitations to the circumferential length of the overlapping parts of the overlapping portion 14 and the passage-defining portion 13.

The first layer 11 of the main body 1 has a contact section 111 and an outer section 112, and the second layer 12 of the main body 1 has a passage-facing section 121 and a connecting section 122.

The passage-facing section 121 of the second layer 12 faces the drinking passage 15. The contact section 111 of the first layer 11 is in direct contact with the passage-facing section 121 of the second layer 12 and cooperates with the passage-facing section 121 of the second layer 12 to serve as the passage-defining portion 13 of the main body 1. The connecting section 122 of the second layer 12 extends spirally from the passage-facing section 121, is in direct contact with the contact section 111 of the first layer 11, and is disposed at an outer side of the contact section 111 of the first layer 11. The outer section 112 of the first layer 11 extends spirally from the contact section 111, is in direct contact with the connecting section 122 of the second layer 12, is disposed at an outer side of the connecting section 122 of the second layer 12, and cooperates with the connecting section 122 of the second layer 12 to serve as the overlapping portion 14 of the main body 1.

The securing unit 3 includes a first magnetic plate 31 and a second magnetic plate 32 that both extend in the longitudinal direction 10. The first magnetic plate

31 is connected to the passage-defining portion 13 of the main body 1. The second magnetic plate 32 is connected to the overlapping portion 14 of the main body 1, and is detachably attached to the first magnetic plate 31. At least one of the first and second magnetic plates 31, 32 is a magnet, while the other one can be either another magnet or a material that is attracted to the magnet. In this embodiment, the first magnetic plate 31 is clamped between the contact section 111 of the first layer 11 and the passage-facing section 121 of the second layer 12, and the second magnetic plate

32 is clamped between the outer section 112 of the first layer 11 and the connecting section 122 of the second layer 12.

In the present embodiment, in virtue of the elastic potential energy of the first layer 11 of the main body 1, the main body 1 may be rolled up from an unrolled state (see FIG. 3) to a ready- for-use state as shown in FIG. 2, without any external force exerted thereon. In the ready- for-use state, the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic plates 31, 32 of the securing unit 3 facilitates the abutment of the contact section 111 of the first layer 11 and the connecting section 122 of the second layer 12 for maintaining dimensions of the drinking passage 15 of the main body 1. Thus, fluid substance may be drawn through the drinking passage 15 without leaking from between the contact section 111 of the first layer 11 and the connecting section 122 of the second layer 12. When the drinking straw is to be cleaned, the main body 1 may be unrolled by exerting force against the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic plates 31, 32 to separate the first and second magnetic plates 31, 32, and then the main body 1 may be flattened to the unrolled state so that it may be easily and thoroughly cleaned on both sides.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the drinking straw is similar to the first embodiment, and the difference therebetween resides in that, the securing unit 3 in the second embodiment is coupled separably to one of opposite ends of the main body 1 in the longitudinal direction 10, and has an inner segment 33, an outer segment 34, and a linking segment 35. The inner segment 33 abuts separably against an inner surface of the passage-defining portion 13 of the main body 1, the outer segment 34 abuts separably against an outer surface of the overlapping portion 14 of the main body 1, and the linking segment 35 interconnects the inner segment 33 and the outer segment 34. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, two securing units 3 may be employed to be coupled respectively and separably to the opposite ends of the main body 1 in the longitudinal direction 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of the drinking straw is also similar to the first embodiment, and the difference therebetween resides in that, the securing unit 3 in the third embodiment includes two securing segments 36 that protrude respectively from two ends of the overlapping portion 14 of the main body 1 which are opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction 10. Each of the securing segments 36 is bent to abut tightly and separably against the passage-defining portion 13 of the main body 1.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a fourth embodiment of the drinking straw is also similar to the first embodiment, and the difference therebetween resides in that, the securing unit 3 in the fourth embodiment includes an insertion slot 37 and an insertion part 38. The insertion slot 37 is formed in the passage-defining portion 13 of the main body 1. The insertion part 38 protrudes from the overlapping portion 14 and is removably inserted into the insertion slot 37, thereby maintaining the dimensions of the drinking passage 15 of the main body 1.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a fifth embodiment and a sixth embodiment of the drinking straw are similar to the first embodiment. The differences among these embodiments reside in that, in the fifth embodiment, the main body 1 is substantially a hollow triangular prism, and in the sixth embodiment, the main body 1 is substantially a hollow rectangular prism.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A drinking straw comprising a main body that is configured as an elastic two-layered structure, and that has a passage-defining portion defining a drinking passage, and an overlapping portion extending spirally from said passage-defining portion, and disposed at an outer side of and clinging separably to said passage-defining portion.

2. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said main body includes a first layer and a second layer fixedly laminated together;

said second layer has a passage-facing section that faces said drinking passage;

said first layer has a contact section that is in direct contact with said passage-facing section of said second layer and that cooperates with said passage-facing section of said second layer to serve as said passage-defining portion of said main body; said second layer further has a connecting section that is in direct contact with said contact section of said first layer and that is disposed at an outer side of said contact section of said first layer; and said first layer further has an outer section that is in direct contact with said connecting section of said second layer, that is disposed at an outer side of said connecting section of said second layer, and that cooperates with said connecting section of said second layer to serve as said overlapping portion of said main body.

3. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a securing unit for maintaining dimensions of said drinking passage.

4. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said main body extends in a longitudinal direction; and

said securing unit includes a first magnetic plate that extends in the longitudinal direction and that is connected to said passage-defining portion of said main body, and a second magnetic plate that extends in the longitudinal direction, that is connected to said overlapping portion of said main body, and that is detachably attached to said first magnetic plate.

5. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said first magnetic plate is clamped between said contact section of said first layer and said pas sage- facing section of said second layer; and said second magnetic plate is clamped between said outer section of said first layer and said connecting section of said second layer.

6. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 3, wherein said securing unit is coupled separably to said main body, and has an inner segment that abuts separably against an inner surface of said passage-defining portion of said main body, an outer segment that abuts separably against an outer surface of said overlapping portion of said main body, and a linking segment that interconnects said inner segment and said outer segment .

7. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 3, wherein said securing unit includes at least one securing segment (36) that protrudes from said overlapping portion of said main body, and that abuts tightly and separably against said passage-defining portion of said main body.

8. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said main body extends in a longitudinal direction; and

said securing unit includes two securing segments that protrude respectively from two ends of said overlapping portion of said main body which are opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, and that abut tightly and separably against said passage-defining portion of said main body.

9. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 3, wherein said securing unit includes:

an insertion slot formed in said passage-defining portion of said main body; and

an insertion part protruding from said overlapping portion and removably inserted into said insertion slot.

10. The drinking straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said main body includes a first layer and a second layer fixedly laminated together; and

said first layer of said main body is made of plastic, and said second layer of said main body is made of silicone .