Bendable Safety Straw

Abstract

A hot liquid straw is disclosed which features a flexible, elongated, hollow body having a continuous noncircular cross section and a length suited for drinking from a beverage container. The straw is dimensioned to regulate flow and remove heat from a hot liquid as it passes through, thereby delivering a volume of the liquid to a user's mouth at a temperature which is safe for consumption. The straw is flexible to allow for safe drinking on the go and for use in various heights of beverage containers. A system for drinking from a beverage container with a lid that accepts a snap-on container is also disclosed, in which the straw is inserted through a hole in the lid.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to drinking straws.

BACKGROUND

The increased popularity of fast-food establishments, coupled with the popularity of consumption of food and beverages on-the-go, have led to the need for more convenient and safer takeout packaging.

Currently, a consumer wishing to drink from a takeout beverage container has two standard options: sipping the beverage through a sip hole in the lid of the beverage container, as is common for hot drinks such as coffee; or sucking the beverage through a straw placed into the beverage container, as is common for drinks consumed cold, such as sodas. Sip holes, typically used for hot beverages, require the consumer to take small sips to avoid scalding. While many consumers would prefer a controlled or regulated delivery of their hot beverage, standard straws do not allow for the liquid to cool to a comfortable temperature before reaching the consumer's mouth and thus have the potential to cause burns. Both straws and sip holes can be hazardous when the consumer is engaged in an activity, such as driving or walking, that requires maintaining eyes forward to watch the path ahead, and which may involve sudden stops. The consumer may have to look down and away from the road while drinking from a straw or may have forward vision obstructed by the beverage container while tipping it back to drink via a sip hole. Straws are also potentially dangerous if the consumer's head decelerates quickly while drinking, for example when braking unexpectedly during a drive. In that case, the straw may stab the consumer in the roof of her or his mouth. While some straws incorporate a flexible portion to allow the consumer to keep eyes forward, they do not eliminate this risk of stabbing, and further must be sized particularly for each height of beverage container.

Existing takeout beverage and food containers are also inconvenient, requiring the consumer to set aside a sandwich to take a drink, for example; or, in the case of a beverage container with a lid that accepts a snap-on food container, the food container must be decoupled in order for the consumer to sip a hot drink through a sip hole.

What is therefore needed is a straw that overcomes these drawbacks and fosters convenient on-the-go drinking.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an elegant solution to the needs described above and provides numerous additional benefits and advantages as will be apparent to persons of skill in the art.

One aspect provides a bendable hot liquid straw with a continuous noncircular cross section that is dimensioned to regulate and cool a hot liquid as it passes through, thereby delivering a controlled volume of the liquid to a consumer's mouth at a safe and pleasing temperature that will not cause scalding. The cross section of the straw may be substantially a rectangle with rounded corners.

Another aspect of the straw, which may be straight and made of plastic, polypropylene for example, or other suitable materials, is that it is elastically deformable to at least 180 degrees without collapsing the cross section. This flexibility allows it to bend if the consumer's head moves forward due to a force, e.g. hard braking, such that the straw does not stab the consumer's mouth. Further, one size of the straw can be used in a variety of heights of beverage containers.

In one embodiment, the straw is pre-formed into an arc shape. This allows for even safe drinking on the go, because the arc shape places the tip of the straw horizontally so that a consumer can use it to drink from a beverage container without removing eyes from the road.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not meant to be exhaustive. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components within the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on clearly illustrating example aspects of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views and/or embodiments. It will be understood that certain components and details may not appear in the figures to assist in more clearly describing the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a consumer using a novel straw, without diverting the consumer's gaze.

FIG. 2 illustrates a consumer using a conventional straw with the consumer's gaze diverted.

FIG. 3A shows the straw of FIG. 1 used with a short beverage container.

FIG. 3B shows the straw of FIG. 1 used with a beverage container that is taller than the beverage container of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C shows the straw of FIG. 1 used with a beverage container that is taller than the beverage container of FIG. 3B.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the straw of FIG. 1 used with a beverage container that has a food compartment on top.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the straw of FIG. 1 used with a beverage container that has a food compartment on top.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the straw with a large opening.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the straw with a narrow opening.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the straw of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the straw of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates the straw of FIG. 1 deforming into the beverage container.

FIG. 11 illustrates how a conventional straw can stab the inside of a consumer's mouth.

FIG. 12A depicts the general parameters for flow analysis of a novel straw.

FIG. 12B depicts the flow analysis of four straw configurations.

FIG. 12C is an isometric view of the straws of FIG. 12B.

FIG. 12D is a side illustration of any of the straws of FIG. 12B in bending.

FIG. 12E is a front illustration of any of the straws of FIG. 12B in bending.

FIG. 12F is an isometric illustration of any of the straws of FIG. 12B in bending.

FIG. 13A is an isometric view of a beverage container with a lid that has a food container snapped or coupled to the lid, with the straw of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13B is a side view of the beverage container/lid complex of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13D is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of FIG. 13A, with the food container detached from the lid of the beverage container.

FIG. 13E is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of FIG. 13A, with the food container detached from the lid beverage container and rotated to show the mating surfaces.

FIG. 13F is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of FIG. 13A, with the food container detached from the lid of the beverage container.

FIG. 13G is an isometric view of the beverage container lid of FIG. 13A, with the food container removed and without the beverage container and straw, showing detail of the straw hole.

FIG. 13H is a top view of the lid of FIG. 13G.

FIG. 13I is a side view of the lid of FIG. 13G.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following is a non-limiting written description of example embodiments illustrating various aspects of the invention. These examples are provided to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the full scope of the invention without having to engage in an undue amount of experimentation. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, further modifications and adaptations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Particular example embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without some or all of these features or specific details. In other instances, components well known to persons of skill in the art have not been described in detail in order not to obscure unnecessarily the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the straw 10 used in a beverage container 20. The straw is similar to the one disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/500266 entitled “BENDABLE DRINKING STRAW” filed on Aug. 22, 2014, which is by the same inventor of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference. The straw 10 may optionally be pre-shaped with an arc shape, and is flexible as described in more detail with reference to FIG. 10. The straw 10 may also be semi-rigid such that it returns to its original shape when it is not under a bending force. The straw 10 may be made of a compliant material such as plastic or composite, to allow it to reversibly deflect as described in more detail with reference to FIG. 10. Because the straw 10 may be pre-formed with an arc shape, the consumer can drink from the straw from a natural horizontal position, keeping her or his gaze 30 forward. This is important when the consumer's gaze cannot be diverted, for example when the consumer is driving a vehicle and would like to take a sip through the straw without looking away from the road ahead. As shown in FIG. 2, with a conventional straw 40, the consumer's gaze 50 is diverted when drinking

Previous straw designs addressed this problem with a short section of the straw that was bendable with an accordion-like structure. The portion of the straw on either end of the accordion-like structure was straight, and bending the accordion-like structure could create a 90-degree turn such that the user would access the end of the straw in the horizontal position. But as discussed below, when these accordion-like bendable straws are used with a top-mounted snap-on food container that may be larger than the beverage container lid, the straw must be sized in relation to the height of each particular type of beverage container thereby, reducing their utility.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the same straw 10 placed into three beverage containers of different depths 20A, 20B, 20C. The straw 10 exits the beverage container with about the same amount of vertical clearance. This takes on more importance when the beverage container only has limited vertical clearance. For example, in FIG. 4, the beverage container 20D has a food container 60 placed on top it. Such a food container is disclosed in the applications listed at the beginning of this application, the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. But as shown at position 70, the food container 60 restricts the amount of vertical clearance of a straw 10. A conventional accordion-like bendable straw would need to be specifically manufactured for the precise depth of the container 20D. If the food container 60 were placed on a shorter beverage container (for example container 20A of FIG. 3A), yet another straw would need to be manufactured that was shorter. Because of the bendable characteristics of the straw 10, which may optionally be arc-shaped, (shown in more detail in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C), a single straw can be used with various heights of beverage containers.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate two cross sectional shapes of the straw 10, with FIG. 6 having a larger opening 80 for thicker beverages such as milk shakes and FIG. 7 having a narrower opening 90 for hot beverages such as coffee. It would be apparent that other cross sectional shapes are possible.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the straw 10 intended to show the arc-shape. FIG. 9 is a side view showing the arc-shape. In the embodiments shown, the straw has more than a 20-degree arc and is approximately 12 inches long. It would be apparent that other arc angles and lengths are possible.

In addition to the safety feature of allowing a consumer to drink in a natural horizontal position without diverting her or his gaze, the straw also is compliant so as to minimize stabbing that is common with a conventional straw. FIG. 10 illustrates a consumer drinking from the straw 10 even when experiencing a force that propels the consumer's head forward in the direction of arrow 100. The straw 10 bendably deforms to position 110 from position 120. A convention straw 40, shown in in FIG. 11, would stab the consumer in the same situation. If, for example, a consumer was driving and held the beverage container in an orientation to maintain a forward gaze as in FIG. 11, and that consumer experienced a force such as hard braking that propelled the consumer's head forward in the direction of arrow 130, the straw 40 would not bend and would stab the inner portion of the consumer's mouth 140. Also when the straw 40 bends, the cross-section area of the straw does not collapse or crimp. The straw 10 is constructed such that the amount of force necessary to bend the straw does not cause discomfort to the user's mouth. In one embodiment, the amount of bending force necessary is between 0.02 N and 0.2 N. The straw 10 may be made more rigid, but the bending force would then also increase, possibly causing discomfort to the user's mouth.

A further feature of the straw concerns its ability to regulate or cool hot liquids during use to prevent burns. FIGS. 12A-12F illustrate a straight and bendable straw 10 used in a beverage container. The bendable drinking straw is designed such that it can bend at least 180 degrees as shown in FIGS. 12D and 12F. The straw may also be optionally pre-formed in an arc-shape.

Currently, hot liquids are delivered from a beverage container to the consumer via a sip hole that allows a user to tip the container and sip the hot liquid. It is the sipping that allows the liquid to cool, preventing scalding. Because the bendable straw can be used for hot beverages, it is helpful that the length and internal surface are of the straw allows the liquid to cool when it travels from the beverage container to the consumer's mouth. Conventional circular straws (by circular, it is meant the cross section) do not allow for safely bending or deflecting off a top mounted food container, nor do they sufficiently regulate or cool a hot liquid. For this reason, consumers do not use a conventional circular straw for consuming hot beverages. Rather, the bendable straw disclosed herein may be used to have a properly sized cross sectional area and length such that the amount of liquid entering the consumer's mouth is properly regulated or cooled, and therefore will not scald the user. This is especially helpful when the user is performing some other task while consuming the beverage. For example, a user who is driving would prefer to use a straw to consume the hot beverage such that his or her gaze is not diverted or obstructed by having to tilt the beverage container to access the liquid from the sip hole.

FIGS. 12A and 12B depict the flow analysis of four bendable straw configurations shown in FIG. 12C. The OH parameter (or the system rating number) is a qualitative measure of the amount of head caused by the straw and is calculated by the following equation:

OH=(Friction Factor×(L/Hydraulic Diameter))×((Velocitŷ2)/(2*Gravimetric Acceleration))

Each of these parameters is calculated and presented in FIG. 12B. The higher OH parameter (i.e., the head) the more able the straw is able to dissipate heat so as to reduce scalding. Another factor shown in FIG. 12B is the cross sectional area and the velocity, the product of which is the volume of liquid delivered to the user. System 1 has a low OH, meaning that the straw allows less heat to escape from the liquid and the volume of liquid delivered to the user is about 0.0473 in̂3/s. So while the straw allows less heat to escape from the liquid, the amount of liquid actually delivered is very small and non-scalding. A user may not prefer such low volume delivery. System 4 has a higher OH, meaning that the straw will allow more cooling, and the volume of liquid delivered to the user is much higher (10×) at about 0.537 in̂3/s. While the user would like the additional volume, the OH value suggests that the liquid delivered may be too hot. The combination of high volume and high temperature runs the risk of scaling. Systems 2 and 3 have OH values of 0.23 and 0.19 inches respectively, with a volume delivery of 0.297 in̂3/s. This combination of OH value and volume is the “sweet spot” where a user is delivered a pleasant amount of warm beverage without scalding. The optimal straw design is therefore shown by system 2 and 3, with the dimensions provided in FIGS. 12A-12C. It would be apparent that the various parameters could be varied to reach an optimal volume/temperature profile for the straw without departing from the spirit of this invention. Those parameters may include but are not limited to the physical dimensions of the straw, the straw material, and the roughness of the straw. (A straw that has more internal roughness would increase the OH and reduce the temperature). Further, the dimensions may be chosen such that the straw can easily bend without causing the straw to collapse and thereby unreasonably restrict flow. The bending of the straws (systems 1-4) is shown in FIGS. 12D-12F.

FIGS. 13A-13I illustrate a lid 200 for a beverage container 215, than can be detachably connected to a food container 205. A bendable straw as discussed with reference to FIGS. 12A-12F may be inserted into a punch-out straw hole 225. A lid 200 has a continuous outer coupling trough 210 for attachment to the open top of the beverage container 215. The lid 200 also has a straw-hole planar surface 220 that is adjacent to the outer coupling trough 210. A hole 225 for drinking the liquid in the container extends through the straw-hole planar surface 220. Riser wall 230 extends away from the straw-hole planar surface 220 and defines a first planar surface 235 above the straw-hole planar surface 220. A sip hole 240 for drinking the liquid also extends through the first planar surface 235. To connect the lid 200 to the food container 205, the lid 200 may have a food container coupling wall 245 connected to the first planar surface 235 that extends down from the first planar surface 235 to a position lower than the first planar surface 235. The food container coupling wall 245 may also include a pressure structure 270 that places pressure against the food container 205 when a food container 205 is coupled to the lid 200. The pressure exerted by the pressure structure 270 is selected so as to allow the secure coupling of the food container 205 to the lid 200, and allow the decoupling of the food container 205 from the lid 200. The lid 200 may also have a vent hole 275 to relive pressure buildup caused by hot beverages.

A food container coupling bottom 250 is connected to the food container coupling wall. The straw hole planar surface 220 may also have a straw hole cover 255 and a hinge 260, wherein the straw hole cover rotates about the hinge and exposes the hole 225 when a straw is punched through the hole 225. To prevent the straw hole cover 255 from inadvertently opening, it may have a tick 265 that connects it to the straw hole planar surface 220. The straw hole 220 may have a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners 280, which would accommodate the straw 10 disclosed above.

One benefit of having the straw hole cover 255 is that a user may prefer to use the sip hole 240. If the straw hole 225 does not have a cover 255, rather it is an open hole, the user may inadvertently spill the hot beverage while tilting the beverage cup during sipping from the sip hole 240. The straw hole cover 255 prevents this spillage. It further allows a retailer to use a single hot beverage lid for multiple users. Likewise as shown in FIG. 13B, when the food container 205 is coupled to the lid 200, the sip hole 240 is substantially covered by the food container 205, while the straw hole 225 is not covered by the food container 205. Thus if the user prefers to use a straw and consume the food from the food container 205, the beverage will not spill from the sip 240 when the food container 205 is coupled.

The straw may be constructed out of plastics, composites and other suitable materials. The straw may also be semi-rigid such that it returns to its original shape when it is not under a bending force.

The invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments that illustrate examples of the invention but do not limit its scope. Various example systems have been shown and described having various aspects and elements. Unless indicated otherwise, any feature, aspect or element of any of these systems may be removed from, added to, combined with or modified by any other feature, aspect or element of any of the systems. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, modifications and adaptations to the above-described systems and methods can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined only by the following claims. Moreover, the applicant expressly does not intend the following claims “and the embodiments in the specification to be strictly coextensive.” Phillips v. AHW Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc).

Claims

1. A liquid straw comprising: a flexible, elongated, hollow body having a continuous noncircular cross section and a length suited for drinking from a beverage container;the body is constructed to bend at least 90 degrees without collapsing the cross-section under a bending force but return to its original shape when the bending force is removed; andthe bending force is such that a user can bend the straw by applying the bending force on the tip of the straw with the user's mouth, and the required bending force does not cause discomfort to the user.

2. The straw of claim 1, wherein the bending force is between 0.02 and 0.2 N.

3. The straw of claim 1, wherein the body is dimensioned to remove heat from a hot liquid as it passes therethrough to deliver a volume of the liquid to the user's mouth at a temperature which is safe for consumption.

4. The straw of claim 1, wherein the cross section is substantially a rectangle with rounded corners having a width and an interior thickness.

5. The straw of claim 4, wherein the width is in a range from 0.250 to 0.440 inches, and the interior thickness is in a range from 0.020 to 0.050 inches.

6. The straw of claim 4, wherein the body has an OH value between 0.18 and 0.23 inches and a volume delivery of greater than 0.200 in̂3/s.

7. The straw of claim 1, wherein the body is elastically deformable to at least 180 degrees without collapsing the cross section.

8. The straw of claim 1, wherein the body is pre-formed along the length into an arc shape of constant radius.

9. The straw of claim 8, wherein the arc shape has a measure of greater than 20 degrees.

10. The straw of claim 1, wherein the flexibility of the body is sufficient to allow it to be used with a plurality of beverage containers of various heights.

11. The straw of claim 1, wherein the body is constructed of plastic.

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