Paper Drinking Straw

Abstract

A paper drinking straw is provided with an elongated member of paper having two short sides and two long sides wherein one long side includes a first joining strip and the other long side includes a second joining strip; a piercing segment at a position of the first joining strip superimposed on the second joining strip; and a cutting segment at one short side and including a first cutting edge connected to one long side, a second cutting edge connected to the first cutting edge and inward inclined relative to the first cutting edge, a third cutting edge connected to the second cutting edge and outward inclined relative to the first cutting edge, and a fourth cutting edge interconnected to the third cutting edge and the other long side. The first joining strip is superimposed on the second joining strip and secured thereto to form the paper drinking straw.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to drinking straws and more particularly to a paper drinking straw which is bio-degradable and eco-friendly as well as has many applications.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Drinkware is made eco-friendly as the technologies advance. For example, a drinking straw is tube made of plastic and used to consume a beverage. In use, a container or cup is not required to bring close to the mouth, i.e., no contact of the mouth and the container or cup. One end of a drinking straw is placed in the mouth and the other end thereof is placed in the beverage contained in the container or cup. A combination of muscular action of the tongue and cheeks reduces air pressure in the mouth and above the liquid in the drinking straw, whereupon atmospheric pressure forces the beverage through the drinking straw. There is no contact of the mouth and the edge of the container or cup. This is a convenient, safe and hygienic way of consuming a beverage.

[0003] However, conventional drinking straws are made of plastic and are intended for single use. After use, they are discarded and disposed by incineration. Plastic straws can take a very long time (e.g., up to 1000 years) to decompose. Plastic straws discarded on the road are not aesthetic. Plastic straws thrown into ocean can be photo-degraded to break down into smaller toxic parts which can be consumed by fishes. As an end, the toxic parts are consumed by people eating the fish.

[0004] In the case of incinerating the plastic straws in an incinerator, dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are generated and in turn it may pollute air. To the worse, it may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans.

[0005] Thus, it is desirable of providing drinking straws made of paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems of the conventional drinking straw including single use, non bio-degradable, long time to decompose, being capable of photo-degrading to break down into smaller toxic parts which can be consumed by fishes, generating dioxins by incinerating, and air pollution by providing a paper drinking straw.

[0007] To achieve above and other objects of the invention, the invention provides a paper drinking straw, comprising an elongated member of paper having two short sides and two long sides wherein one long side includes a first joining strip and the other long side includes a second joining strip; a piercing segment formed at one short side of the member of paper and disposed at a position of the first joining strip superimposed on the second joining strip; and a cutting segment formed at one short side of the member of paper and including a first cutting edge connected to one long side of the member of paper, a second cutting edge connected to the first cutting edge and inward inclined relative to the first cutting edge, a third cutting edge connected to the second cutting edge and outward inclined relative to the first cutting edge, and a fourth cutting edge interconnected to the third cutting edge and the other long side of the member of paper wherein the cutting segment is shaped an "M", the second cutting edge extends at a first angle relative to one short side, the third cutting edge extends at the first angle relative to one short side, the first cutting edge is offset at a second angle from the second cutting edge, the fourth cutting edge is offset at the second angle from the third cutting edge, a value of the second angle is two times of that of the first angle, the first cutting edge is superimposed on the third cutting edge, and the fourth cutting edge is superimposed on the second cutting edge; and wherein the first joining strip is superimposed on the second joining strip and secured thereto to form a thin, cylindrical paper drinking straw.

[0008] Preferably, there is further comprised of a bellows segment including a plurality of parallel annular valleys and a plurality of parallel annular ridges each alternating with the valley, and wherein the bellows segment is located at a position about one third of the length of the long side proximate the other short side.

[0009] Preferably, one surface of the member of paper is coated with a first waterproof membrane, an inner surface of the paper drinking straw is coated with the first waterproof membrane, the other surface of the member of paper opposing one surface thereof is coated with a second waterproof membrane, and the second waterproof membrane is coated on an outer surface of the paper drinking straw.

[0010] Preferably, there is further comprised of a printing layer formed between the second waterproof membrane and the outer surface of the paper drinking straw, and wherein the printing layer includes a pattern, a color, a label or a combination thereof.

[0011] Preferably, the first angle is 15 degrees to 75 degrees and the second angle is 30 degrees to 150 degrees.

[0012] Preferably, both the first and second joining strips have the same width, and the width of either the first joining strip or the second joining strip is one sixth to one third of the width of the short side.

[0013] The invention has the following advantageous effects in comparison with the prior art:

[0014] 1. The paper drinking straw is biodegradable and can be reused.

[0015] 2. No dioxins are generated by incinerating the paper drinking straws.

[0016] 3. The piercing segment can pierce a paper package filled with a beverage for easy consumption.

[0017] 4. The angle-adjustable bellows segment allows a person to easily adjust an angle of the paper drinking straw with respect to the mouth prior to consuming the beverage contained in the paper package.

[0018] 5. The printing layer is color so as to serve as a mark for identification.

[0019] 6. The paper drinking straws are environmentally friendly.

[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper drinking straw according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a rolling step for forming the paper drinking straw;

[0023] FIG. 2B is a plan view showing the paper drinking straw formed after the rolling step;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper drinking straw according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a rolling step for forming the paper drinking straw of FIG. 3;

[0026] FIG. 4B is a plan view showing the paper drinking straw of FIG. 3 formed after the rolling step;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4B; and

[0028] FIG. 5A is a detailed view of the area in circle A of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5A, a paper drinking straw 100 in accordance with the invention comprises a elongated member of paper 10 made of eatable paper or bio-degradable paper. The member of paper 10 has a thickness of 0.05-0.15 mm and two short sides 101 and two long sides 102. One long side 102 includes a first joining strip 11 and the other opposite long side 102 includes a second joining strip 12. One surface of the member of paper 10 is coated with a first waterproof membrane (e.g., one made of eatable membrane or eatable wax) 60. Either the first joining strip 11 or the second joining strip 12 has a width W which is one sixth to one third of the width of the short side 101. The first joining strip 11 is superimposed on the second joining strip 12 and they are secured together by applying adhesive or heat sealing. As a result, the paper drinking straw 100 of thin tube is formed. An inner surface of the paper drinking straw 100 is coated with the first waterproof membrane 60.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2B specifically, a first embodiment of the paper drinking straw 100 of the invention is shown. One short side 101 of the member of paper 10 is cut into a cutting segment 21 including a first cutting edge 211 connected to one long side 102, a second cutting edge 212 connected to the first cutting edge 211 and inward inclined relative to the first cutting edge 211, a third cutting edge 213 connected to the second cutting edge 212 and outward inclined relative to the first cutting edge 211, and a fourth cutting edge 214 interconnected to the third cutting edge 213 and the other long side 102. The cutting segment 21 is shaped an "M". The second cutting edge 212 extends at a first angle 81 relative to one short side 101. The third cutting edge 213 extends at the first angle 81 relative to one short side 101. The first cutting edge 211 is offset at a second angle 82 from the second cutting edge 212. The fourth cutting edge 214 is offset at the second angle 82 from the third cutting edge 213.

[0031] The member of paper 10 is rolled to superimpose the first cutting edge 211 on the third cutting edge 213, and superimpose the fourth cutting edge 214 on the second cutting edge 212 respectively. As an end, a piercing segment 20 is formed at one short side 101. In a first example, the first angle 81 is 15 degrees and the second angle 82 is 30 degrees. In a second example, the first angle 81 is 30 degrees and the second angle 82 is 60 degrees. In a third example, the first angle 81 is 45 degrees and the second angle 82 is 90 degrees. In a fourth example, the first angle 81 is 60 degrees and the second angle 82 is 120 degrees. In a fifth example, the first angle 81 is 75 degrees and the second angle 82 is 150 degrees. In view of above, it is understood that value of the second angle 82 is two times of that of the first angle 81.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4B specifically, a second embodiment of the paper drinking straw 100 of the invention is shown. The paper drinking straw 100 comprises a bellows segment 30 including a plurality of parallel annular valleys 31 and a plurality of parallel annular ridges 32 each alternating with the valley 31. A person may fold the paper drinking straw 100 at the bellows segment 30. The bellows segment 30 is proximate the other short side 101 distal the piercing segment 20. For example, the bellows segment 30 is located at a position about one third of the length of the long side 102 proximate the other short side 101.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A specifically, the other surface of the member of paper 10 opposing one surface coated with the first waterproof membrane 60 is coated with a second waterproof membrane (e.g., one made of eatable membrane or eatable wax) 80. The second waterproof membrane 80 is coated on an outer surface of the paper drinking straw 100. A printing layer 70 is formed between the second waterproof membrane 80 and the outer surface of the paper drinking straw 100. The printing layer 70 includes a pattern, a color, a label or a combination thereof.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3 specifically, the paper drinking straw 100 has the piercing segment 20 for piercing a paper package filled with a beverage. Alternatively, the angle-adjustable bellows segment 30 is provided for allowing a person to easily adjust an angle of the paper drinking straw 100 with respect to the mouth prior to consuming the beverage contained in the paper package. The paper drinking straw 100 of the invention is bio-degradable and eco-friendly. It is envisaged by the invention that the paper drinking straw 100 has many applications.

[0035] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A paper drinking straw, comprising: an elongated member of paper having two short sides and two long sides wherein one long side includes a first joining strip and the other long side includes a second joining strip; a piercing segment formed at one short side of the member of paper and disposed at a position of the first joining strip superimposed on the second joining strip; and a cutting segment formed at one short side of the member of paper and including a first cutting edge connected to one long side of the member of paper, a second cutting edge connected to the first cutting edge and inward inclined relative to the first cutting edge, a third cutting edge connected to the second cutting edge and outward inclined relative to the first cutting edge, and a fourth cutting edge interconnected to the third cutting edge and the other long side of the member of paper wherein the cutting segment is shaped an "M", the second cutting edge extends at a first angle relative to one short side, the third cutting edge extends at the first angle relative to one short side, the first cutting edge is offset at a second angle from the second cutting edge, the fourth cutting edge is offset at the second angle from the third cutting edge, a value of the second angle is two times of that of the first angle, the first cutting edge is superimposed on the third cutting edge, and the fourth cutting edge is superimposed on the second cutting edge; and wherein the first joining strip is superimposed on the second joining strip and secured thereto to form a thin, cylindrical paper drinking straw.

2. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, further comprising a bellows segment including a plurality of parallel annular valleys and a plurality of parallel annular ridges each alternating with the valley, and wherein the bellows segment is located at a position about one third of the length of the long side proximate the other short side.

3. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, wherein one surface of the member of paper is coated with a first waterproof membrane, an inner surface of the paper drinking straw is coated with the first waterproof membrane, the other surface of the member of paper opposing one surface thereof is coated with a second waterproof membrane, and the second waterproof membrane is coated on an outer surface of the paper drinking straw.

4. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, further comprising a printing layer formed between the second waterproof membrane and the outer surface of the paper drinking straw, and wherein the printing layer includes a pattern, a color, a label or a combination thereof.

5. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, wherein the first angle is 15 degrees to 75 degrees and the second angle is 30 degrees to 150 degrees.

6. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, wherein both the first and second joining strips have the same width, and the width of either the first joining strip or the second joining strip is one sixth to one third of the width of the short side.

7. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, wherein the member of paper is made of eatable paper or bio-degradable paper.

8. The paper drinking straw of claim 1, wherein the member of paper has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm.