Reusable Bi Stable Drinking Straw

Abstract

The present invention discloses a bi-stable and reusable drinking straw that is able to obtain multiple physical positions. The device is comprised of magnets enclosed in the body of the flexible material of the present invention. Said device is used as a drinking straw when set in a closed coiled position. The linear position allows for the user to conveniently clean the present invention after each use.

Description

BACKGROUND

Copyright Notice

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method of making a drinking straw and especially to a method of making a drinking straw that is able to obtain two physical positions using magnets, opened and coiled, creating a more convenient drinking implement.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

[0004] Plastic and paper straws having a tubular body open at opposite remote ends are in common use for ingesting a liquid. One open end of the straw is inserted in the liquid housed within a container or drinking glass and the other end is inserted in the mouth of the user. Suction is applied to the tube end in the user's mouth to draw the liquid in the container through the opposite end of the tubular body into the mouth.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,527 to Gamblin, Jr. proposes a solution to the problem of liquid spillage through a straw seated in a container. According to the disclosure of this patent, a drinking straw is provided with a one-way, one-piece flow valve to normally prevent flow of liquid into the straw. The application of suction interiorly of the straw is said to collapse an elastic member permitting fluid to flow. Termination of the suction is said to permit the elastic member to re-expand and seal the straw. The elastic member is attached to the straw at the entrance end of the straw or is disposed within and completely across the interior of the straw.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,814 to Conn discloses a beverage container that includes a built-in straw. According to the proposal of this patent, a container is provided with an internal vertical tube and an external tube or straw that connects to the internal vertical tube. The straw can be used to seal the container by turning, which results in disalignment of portholes in the external and internal tubes. Further turning of the external tube aligns the portholes allowing the tube to be used as a drinking straw.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,173 to Ruiz proposes a leak proof closure for containers such as plastic or paper cups used primarily in fast food restaurants. A special container lid is provided with an orifice through which a straw can be inserted and the lid also includes an anchorage for engaging the drinking end of the straw. After the straw has been inserted through the orifice, it is bent at a location above the orifice and the drinking end of the straw is engaged with the anchorage member, thereby securing the straw in a bent position and preventing leakage through the straw in the event that the container is knocked over.

[0008] None of the prior art methods have been found to be completely suitable to meet these needs and are cumbersome. The present invention provides such a method and the overall combination of these features is nowhere disclosed in the prior art cited above which appears to be representative of the general art in this area although it is not intended to be an all-inclusive listing of pertinent prior art patents.

SUMMARY

[0009] In light of the disadvantages of the prior art, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, and abstract as a whole.

[0010] The present invention is a drinkable straw that is reusable and easy to clean and is able to obtain two physical positions, opened and coiled, creating a more convenient solution for drinking.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to improve upon the construction of such straws, whereby an end of the straw is reinforced to prevent collapse during use.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, a novelty drinking straw includes a straw for receiving a liquid, where the straw is formed as a hollow tubular member having a length and a circumference by providing a drinkable straw that is reusable and easy to clean. A reusable bi-stable drinking straw that is able to obtain two physical positions, opened and coiled, creating a more convenient drinking implement.

[0013] It is principal object of the invention to provide a re-usable drinking straw which can be opened to a flat position by un-attaching the magnetic seals from the coiled device, causing the device to open and un-coil, remaining in a stable open configuration. Said position is ideal to clean the device after each use without the need of an extra cleaning implement.

[0014] Another significant embodiment of the present invention is a drinking straw that may be constructed from at least one of paper, metal, and plastic, and may include an anti-bacterial material. A logo or other design may be printed on the cover for aesthetic look.

[0015] A further object of this invention is to provide a drinking straw which is inexpensive to manufacture, is of rugged construction, and provides maximum utility to its user.

[0016] This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 1 is an environmental view.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a bi-stable and reusable view of drinking straw.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a view of open linear position.

[0021] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described herein as "exemplary" or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are therefore not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0025] In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating possible combination in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specifications and claim/s should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claim/s.

[0026] The method of the present invention is that it relates to a reusable bi-stable drinking straw that is able to obtain two physical positions, opened and coiled, creating a more convenient drinking implement.

[0027] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a device that will curve and coil in the transverse direction to form a hollow tubular body with a top opening and a bottom opening. The hollow tube opening, created longitudinally through the device, allows users to use the present invention as a drinking straw to consume any drinkable liquid from a cup, glass, bottle, can, or the like. Relatively thin, elongated permanent magnets placed within each distal side edge of the present invention will create a magnetic seal to secure the device in a stable coiled position

[0028] When the main body of the present invention extends and is opened, the device will remain in a stable flat position for better cleaning of the straw to make it re-usable. This is achieved by un-attaching the magnetic seals from the coiled device, causing the device to open and un-coil, remaining in a stable open configuration.

[0029] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2, 3 illustrate the straws and its various embodiments.

[0030] Being manufactured all with a material to be used for hot or cold beverages or foods, which is completely inert and non-reactive when heated or cooled. The straw can be used at home or brought to a retail store to be used in lieu of the disposable plastic beverage straws that are commonly used.

[0031] From the foregoing it can be realized that the described device of the present invention may be easily and conveniently utilized as a drinking straw. It is to be understood that any dimensions given herein are illustrative, and are not meant to be limiting.

[0032] It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

[0033] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

1) The invention is a drinkable straw with ability to achieve two positions, opened and coiled.

2) A straw for receiving a liquid, the straw comprising a hollow tubular member having a length and a circumference.

3) Converting the straw to a flat position by un-attaching the magnetic seals from the coiled device, causing the device to open and un-coil, remaining in a stable open configuration.