The present invention refers to a beverage packaging according to claim 1.
STATE OF THE ART
EP 1 431 209 B1 discloses a removing device for liquid in a flexible packaging comprising a straw member comprising a mouth end and a pouch end and a latching member formed by a truncated cone tapered towards the pouch end. A ring is arranged between the mouth end and the latching member, the annular surface of which facing the pouch end forms a stop. The distance between the stop and an annular surface of the latching member facing the mouth end is dimensioned in such a way that a casing of an unrepresented beverage pouch can be accommodated between the stop and the annular surface.
Alternatively, on a sleeve in which the removing device is accommodated, a plurality of separate locking webs can be distributed, at the end of which the latching members are located. The distance between the annular surface of the latching member facing the mouth end and the stop is selected in such a way that when the removing device is pushed back and forth between these two surfaces, the inner foil resting sealingly against the straw member is not displaced relative to the straw member. After emptying the beverage pouch, the removal device can be pulled out of the pouch.
Alternatively, the removing device may comprise a sleeve having two locking webs at its end facing the pouch end, wherein a ring is formed adjacent the locking webs and above the locking webs, and handle webs extending in the axial direction are distributed circumferentially above the ring.
OBJECT
The invention is thus based on the object of providing a drinking straw and a beverage packaging that enables the drinking straw to remain in a beverage packaging.
Solution
This object is solved by the beverage packaging according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments and further developments are disclosed in the subclaims.
The beverage packaging for receiving liquid product comprises an insertion area for inserting a drinking straw and the drinking straw. The drinking straw comprises a tubular straw member comprising a straw wall, an inlet to be placed into the beverage packaging and an outlet to be placed outside the beverage packaging. At an outer surface of the straw wall, at least one locking catch is provided which is connected to the outer surface of the straw wall towards the inlet and which is spaced from the outer surface of the straw wall towards the outlet. The at least one locking catch has a distance from the inlet along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw of a maximum of 30% of a length of the drinking straw.
Providing at least one locking catch in the lower part of a drinking straw can prevent the drinking straw from being lost after it has been placed in the beverage packaging, but the drinking straw can still be moved up and down to a considerable extent, facilitating the removal of the liquid.
An acute angle can be included between the locking catch and the longitudinal axis.
The at least one locking catch may be provided in such a way that it can be reversibly pressed against the straw wall, i.e. the straw member, when the drinking straw is inserted through the insertion area into the beverage packaging as it passes through the insertion area. When passing through the insertion area, there can be no or hardly any distance between the at least one locking catch and the outer surface of the straw wall.
After the at least one locking catch has passed the insertion area, i.e. is completely inside the beverage packaging, the at least one locking catch can return to its original position relative to the outer surface of the straw wall.
If an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw out of the beverage packaging after inserting the at least one locking catch into the beverage packaging, the at least one locking catch may interact with the inner surface of the beverage packaging in an area around the insertion area in such a way that it can be pressed against the inner surface by pulling the drinking straw. For example, its distance from the outer surface of the straw wall can be partly increased or remain the same. The at least one locking catch can function like a barb and prevent the drinking straw from being pulled out of the beverage packaging again.
The at least one locking catch can be a spread-off part of the straw wall. The locking catch can be produced by a three-sided cut-out in the straw wall, so that the straw wall can have an opening which can correspond in its dimensions to the locking catch; for example, if a surface of the locking catch is spread out as a flat surface, it can be rectangular or trapezoidal in shape. Alternatively, the locking catch can be produced by a two-sided cut in the straw wall, for example by placing a cutting device at an angle to the straw wall, e.g. at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis, and making a cut in the straw wall in the direction of the inlet. Then e.g. a surface of this locking catch, if spread out as flat surface, could be triangle-shaped. If an attempt is made to pull a drinking straw out of the beverage packaging after insertion of the locking catch produced by a two-sided cut in the straw wall into the beverage package, the locking catch may interact with the inner surface of the beverage packaging in an area around an insertion area such that the locking catch is pressed against the inner surface of the beverage packaging by the pulling of the drinking straw, whereby an area of the drinking straw below, i.e. towards the inlet, kinks. The drinking straw that protrudes from the beverage packaging, the kinked part and the locking catch form a T-shape that effectively prevents the drinking straw from being pulled out.
Preferably, the opening and thus also the locking catch in the various embodiments are dimensioned in such a way that the liquid outlet from the inside of the straw member through the opening does not negatively influence the functionality of the drinking straw. In the above mentioned embodiments, the locking catch can be connected to the straw wall on one side of the opening (the fourth side of the rectangle or trapeze or the third side of the triangle). For example, an end portion of the locking catch pointing towards the outlet may additionally include a bend away from the longitudinal axis, e.g. claw-like, while the remaining portion of the locking catch, for example, does not include such a bend.
The at least one locking catch can be an element inserted and fastened into a cut of the straw wall. An acute angle can be included between the locking catch and the longitudinal axis. The cut in the straw wall can run transversely, for example perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction of the drinking straw, i.e. extend along a circumferential area of the straw wall, for example.
The element may comprise a first part extending into an interior region of the straw member and a second part extending outside the straw member, for example the first part may comprise a cut-out adapted to permit liquid passage in the interior region of the straw member. An acute angle can be included between the locking catch and the longitudinal axis. The fact that the locking catch extends into the inside of the straw member improves the stability of the locking catch in terms of bending when an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw out of the beverage packaging again.
The at least one locking catch may comprise a first part which may be fastened to the outer surface of the straw wall and from which a second part of the locking catch may extend which may be spaced from the outer surface of the straw wall towards the outlet. An acute angle can be included between the locking catch and the longitudinal axis. The locking catch can be fixed to the outer surface in a simple way.
The first part can begin at the inlet and extend from the inlet towards the outlet. For example, the first part can begin at an insertion tip of the inlet.
The inlet may include an insertion tip.
The at least one locking catch can be produced using an injection molding method, for example separately from the straw member. The locking catch can then be fastened to the straw member in a suitable manner or inserted into it and then fastened, for example using a liquid-resistant adhesive, for example by clipping, welding or sealing. Clipping can also be carried out without using a liquid-resistant adhesive.
The drinking straw or straw member can be produced by injection molding. Thus, the straw member and the locking catch or locking catches can be manufactured in one piece. The straw member and the locking catch or locking catches can also be manufactured separately. In the case of separate production, the locking catch or the locking catches can be at least partially connected to the straw member by clipping, welding or sealing.
A cross-section of the straw member can be round, oval, triangular or square.
A cross-sectional area of the insertion area and a cross-sectional area of the straw member, taking into account a wall thickness of the straw wall, may be similar, the cross-sectional area of the insertion area being 1% to 100%, (or even 30% to 70%) larger than the cross-sectional area of the straw member, taking into account the wall thickness of the straw wall. The consideration of the wall thickness can mean that the wall cross-section is added to the internal cross-section of the straw member. In the case of a round internal cross-section of the straw member, the wall cross-section of a circular ring may have a ring width corresponding to the wall thickness.
The insertion area may be surrounded by a reinforced portion. Thus, entry into the insertion area can be protected against tearing when an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw out of the beverage packaging again.
The beverage packaging can be designed as a beverage carton, foil pouch or stand-up pouch.
The attached Figures are exemplary for a better understanding and illustration of aspects and embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 1A shows a schematic view of a beverage packaging with a drinking straw inserted,
FIG. 1B shows a schematic view of a foil pouch with a drinking straw inserted,
FIG. 1C shows a schematic diagonal view of the first embodiment of the drinking straw with a locking catch,
FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagonal view from the front of an area of the insertion tip of the drinking straw,
FIG. 1E shows a schematic view from behind of the area of the insertion tip of the drinking straw,
FIG. 1F schematically shows how the locking catch deforms when an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw from the beverage packaging in FIG. 1A,
FIG. 1G schematically shows how the locking catch deforms when trying to remove the drinking straw from the foil pouch of FIG. 1B,
FIG. 2 shows the area on a drinking straw in which locking catches can be arranged,
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagonal view of a second embodiment of a drinking straw with two locking catches,
FIG. 4A shows a schematic view from the front of an area of an insertion tip of a third embodiment of a drinking straw with a locking catch,
FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagonal view of the insertion tip area of the drinking straw of FIG. 4A,
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagonal view of a fourth embodiment of a drinking straw with two locking catches and
FIG. 6A shows a schematic diagonal view of a fifth embodiment of a drinking straw with two locking catches,
FIG. 6B schematically shows how the two locking catches deform in an attempt to remove the drinking straw of FIG. 6A from a beverage packaging,
FIG. 6C schematically shows how the two locking catches deform when trying to remove the drinking straw of FIG. 6A from a foil pouch,
FIG. 7A shows a schematic diagonal view of a sixth embodiment of a drinking straw with a locking catch,
FIG. 7B schematically shows how the locking catch deforms when an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw of FIG. 7A from a beverage packaging,
FIG. 7C schematically shows how the locking catch deforms in an attempt to remove the drinking straw of FIG. 7A from a foil pouch,
FIG. 8A schematically shows a tubular straw member on which a locking catch can be arranged,
FIG. 8B schematically shows the first embodiment of a locking catch produced by injection molding,
FIG. 8C shows the locking catch from FIG. 8B arranged on the straw member from FIG. 8A,
FIG. 8D schematically shows a second embodiment of a locking catch produced by injection molding,
FIG. 8E shows the locking catch from FIG. 8D arranged on the straw member from FIG. 8A.
FIG. 1A shows a diagonal view from above onto a beverage container 51, which for reasons of clarity is shown with the front removed, so that the inserted drinking straw 1 of a first embodiment (see also FIG. 1C) is visible. An insertion device 53 with a first cross-sectional area 54 is provided on an upper side 52 of the beverage container 51, into which the drinking straw 1 with a second cross-sectional area 7, also referred to briefly as cross-section 7, is inserted. The first cross-sectional area 54 is similar (in a mathematical sense) to the second cross-sectional area 7, i.e. the two cross-sectional areas 7, 54 have the same shape, but the first cross-sectional area 54 is larger than the second cross-sectional area 7. However, the first and second cross-sectional areas can also have the same size.
In the first embodiment, the drinking straw 1 comprises a locking catch 2 and a tubular straw member 3 comprising a straw wall 4, an inlet 5 to be placed into the beverage packaging and an outlet 6 to be placed outside the beverage packaging. In the illustration, the straw member 3 has a round cross-section 7.
The insertion area 53 is surrounded by a reinforced portion 55, which is designed as an annular ring here and extends from the insertion area over an annular width.
FIG. 1B shows a schematic view of a foil pouch 64 with an inserted drinking straw 1 of the first embodiment (see also FIG. 1C). On one side of the pouch 65 there is an insertion device 66 with a first cross-sectional area 67, into which the drinking straw 1 with a second cross-sectional area 7, also referred to briefly as cross-section 7, is inserted. The first cross-sectional area 67 is similar (in a mathematical sense) to the second cross-sectional area 7, i.e. the two cross-sectional areas 7, 67 have the same shape, wherein the first cross-sectional area 67 is larger than the second cross-sectional area 7. The insertion area 66 is surrounded by a reinforced portion 68, which is formed here as a circular ring and extends from the insertion area over an annular width. However, the first and second cross-sectional areas can also be of the same size.
FIG. 1C shows a schematic diagonal view of the first embodiment of the drinking straw 1 with a locking catch 2. The locking catch 2 was created by a three-sided cut-out in the straw wall 4, so that the straw wall 4 has an opening 9 which corresponds in its dimensions to the locking catch 2. On one side 10 of the opening 9, the locking catch 2 is still connected to the straw wall 4. The locking catch 2 can be regarded as a spread-off part of the straw wall 4.
The locking catch 2 is provided on the outer surface of the straw wall 4. In the direction of the inlet 5, the locking catch 2 is connected to the outer surface of the straw wall 4, and in the direction of outlet 6, there is an increasing distance between the locking catch 2 and the outer surface of the straw wall 4.
The locking catch 2 has a distance d from the inlet 5 along a longitudinal axis 8 of the drinking straw 1 of a maximum of 30% of a length l of the drinking straw 1. The drinking straw 1 shown comprises an insertion tip 11.
FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagonal view from the front of a part of the insertion tip 11 of the drinking straw 1 and FIG. 1E shows a schematic view from the rear of the part of the insertion tip 11 of the drinking straw 1.
FIG. 1F shows how the locking catch 2 of the drinking straw 1 can deform if an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw 1 from the beverage packaging 51. If an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw 1 out of the beverage packaging 51 after insertion of the locking catch 2 into the beverage packaging 51, the locking catch 2 interacts with the inner surface 56 of the beverage packaging 51 in an area around the insertion area 53 in such a way that the locking catch 2 is pressed against the inner surface 56 by pulling the drinking straw 1, whereby its distance from the outer surface of the straw wall 4 is partially increased. This partial enlargement of the distance takes place where the locking catch 2 is not connected to the outer surface of the straw wall 4. The locking catch 2 can therefore spread away from the outer surface of the straw wall 4 and function like a barb and can prevent the drinking straw 1 from being pulled out of the beverage packaging 51 again.
FIG. 1G shows how the locking catch 2 of drinking straw 1 can deform when an attempt is made to remove drinking straw 1 from the foil pouch 64. If an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw 1 out of the foil pouch 64 after the locking catch 2 has been inserted into the foil pouch 64, the locking catch 2 interacts with the inner surface 69 of the foil pouch 64 in an area around the insertion area 66 in such a way that the locking catch 2 is pressed against the inner surface 69 by the pulling of the drinking straw 1, whereby its distance from the outer surface of the straw wall 4 is partially increased. This partial enlargement of the distance takes place where the locking catch 2 is not connected to the outer surface of the straw wall 4. The locking catch 2 can thus spread from the outer surface of the straw wall 4 and function like a barb and can prevent the drinking straw 1 from being pulled out of the foil pouch 64 again. In general, the at least one locking catch of the different drinking straw embodiments shall have a distance from the inlet along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw of a maximum of 30% of a length of the drinking straw.
FIG. 2 shows this schematically for a drinking straw 57, the inlet 58 of which has an insertion tip 59. From the insertion tip 59 to an outlet 60, the drinking straw 57 has a length 11. The area on a straw wall 61 is hatched and extends on a lateral surface with a height of 0% of length 11 up to 30% of length 11. For example, it may be provided that a plane passing through an area (e.g. an edge of the locking catch or a tip of the locking catch) of the locking catch which is furthest from the inlet and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 62, cuts the drinking straw at a height h from the insertion tip 59 which is less than or equal to 30% of the length 11. Alternatively, it may be provided that a plane passing through an area where the locking catch 63 begins to project from the outer surface of the straw wall 61 and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 62 intersects the drinking straw at a height h1 from the insertion tip 59 which is less than or equal to 30% of the length 11.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagonal view of a second embodiment of a drinking straw 12 with two locking catches 13. The drinking straw 12 is provided for a beverage packaging and comprises a tubular straw member 14 comprising a straw wall 15, an inlet 16 to be placed in a beverage packaging and an outlet (not shown) to be placed outside the beverage packaging. In the illustration, the straw member 14 exemplarily has a round cross-section of 95.
The two locking catches 13 are arranged opposite each other and each comprise a first part 17 which is fixed to the outer surface of the straw wall 15 and from which extends a second part 18 of the locking catch 13 which has an increasing distance from the outer surface of the straw wall 15 towards the outlet. The first part 17 extends from inlet 16 towards the outlet and the second part 18 extends from one end of the first part 17 furthest from inlet 16 towards the outlet. The locking catches 13 can thus be regarded as separate elements of the straw member 14, which are glued to the straw wall 15 with the first parts 17, for example, or fastened in another liquid-resistant manner, for example by welding or sealing.
FIG. 4A shows a schematic view from the front of an area of an insertion tip 20 of a third embodiment of a drinking straw 19 with a locking catch 21. The drinking straw 19 is provided for a beverage packaging and comprises a tubular straw member 22 comprising a straw wall 23, an inlet 24 to be placed in a beverage packaging and an outlet (not shown) to be placed outside the beverage packaging. In the illustration, the straw member 22 exemplarily has a round cross-section 25.
The locking catch 21 comprises a first part 26 attached to the outer surface of the straw wall 23 and from which extends a second part 27 of the locking catch 21 which has an increasing distance from the outer surface of the straw wall 23 towards the outlet. The first part 26 extends from the insertion tip 20 towards the outlet and the second part 27 extends from one end of the first part 26 furthest from the insertion tip 20 towards the outlet. The locking catch 21 can thus be regarded as a separate element of the straw member 22, which is glued to the straw wall 23 with the first part 26, for example, or fastened in another liquid-resistant manner, for example by welding or sealing.
FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagonal view of the area of the insertion tip 20 of the drinking straw 19 of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagonal view of a fourth embodiment of a drinking straw 28 with two locking catches 29. The drinking straw 28 is provided for a beverage packaging and comprises a tubular straw member 30 comprising a straw wall 31, an inlet 32 to be placed in a beverage packaging and an outlet (not shown) to be placed outside the beverage packaging. In the illustration, the straw member 30 has an exemplary round cross-section of 33 and an insertion tip 34.
The two locking catches 29 are arranged opposite each other and each comprise a first part 35 arranged inside the straw member 30 and extending substantially to the longitudinal axis 39, and a second part 36 arranged outside the straw member 30. The locking catch 29 is inserted into the inside of the straw member 30 by a cut 38 in the straw wall 31, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 39 of the drinking straw 28, with the first part 35 in such a way that the first part 35 points towards the inlet 32 and the second part 36 towards the outlet. An acute angle is enclosed between the locking catch 29 and the longitudinal axis 39. In the area around the cut 38, an adhesive can be applied to connect the locking catch 29 with the straw member 30.
The first part 35 has a recess 37 at the end facing the inlet 32 which is formed in such a way, e.g. semicircularly, that despite the two locking catches 29 inserted into the straw member 30, liquid can be transported through the interior of the straw member 30.
FIG. 6A shows a schematic diagonal view of a fifth embodiment of a drinking straw 40 with two locking catches 41. The drinking straw 40 is provided for a beverage packaging and comprises a tubular straw member 42 comprising a straw wall 43, an inlet 44 to be placed in a beverage packaging and an outlet (not shown) to be placed outside the beverage packaging. In the illustration, the straw member 42 exemplarily has a round cross-section of 45 and an insertion tip of 46.
The two locking catches 41 are arranged opposite each other and each comprise a first part 47, which is arranged inside the straw member 42 and does not extend to the longitudinal axis 48, but, for example, has a minimum distance to the longitudinal axis corresponding to half the radius of the drinking straw 40, and a second part 49, which is arranged outside the straw member 43. The locking catch 41 is inserted into the inside of the straw member 42 by a cut 50 in the straw wall 43, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 45 of the drinking straw 40, with the first part 47 inserted into the interior of the straw member 42 in such a way that the first part 47 points towards the inlet 44 and the second part 49 towards the outlet. An acute angle is included between the locking catch 41 and the longitudinal axis 45. In the area around the cut 50, an adhesive may be applied to connect the locking catch 41 to the straw member 42.
Since the first two parts 47 are separated from the longitudinal axis 45, liquid can be transported through the inside of the straw member 42.
FIG. 6B shows how the two locking catches 41 of the drinking straw 40 of the fifth embodiment can deform if an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw 40 from a beverage packaging 51. When an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw 40 out of the beverage packaging 51 after insertion of the locking catches 41 into the beverage packaging 51, the locking catches 41 each interact with the inner surface 56 of the beverage packaging 51 in an area around the insertion area 53 such that the locking catches 41 are pressed against the inner surface 56 by the pulling of the drinking straw 40, whereby the distance of the second parts 49 of the locking catches 41 from the outer surface of the straw wall 43 is partially increased. This partial increase of the distance takes place where the second part 49 of the locking catches 41 is not connected to the outer surface of the straw wall 43. The locking catches 41 can therefore spread away from the outer surface of the straw wall 43 and function like barbs and can prevent the drinking straw 40 from being pulled out of the beverage packaging 51 again. The first parts 47 of the locking catches 41, which are arranged inside the straw member 42, can retain their shape, i.e. their shape is not influenced by the interaction of the second parts 49 with the inner surface 56 of the beverage packaging 51.
FIG. 6C shows how the two locking catches 41 of the drinking straw 40 of the fifth embodiment can deform if an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw 40 from a foil pouch 64. If an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw 40 out of the foil pouch 64 after insertion of the locking catches 41 into the foil pouch 64, the locking catches 41 each interact with the inner surface 69 of the foil pouch 64 in an area around the insertion area 66 such that the locking catches 41 are pressed against the inner surface 69 by the pulling of the drinking straw 40, whereby the distance of the second parts 49 of the locking catches 41 from the outer surface of the straw wall 43 is partially increased. This partial increase of the distance takes place where the second part 49 of the locking catches 41 is not connected to the outer surface of the straw wall 43. Thus, the locking catches 41 can spread away from the outer surface of the straw wall 43 and thereby function like barbs and can prevent the drinking straw 40 from being pulled out of the foil pouch 64 again. The first parts 47 of the locking catches 41, which are arranged inside the straw member 42, can retain their shape, i.e. their shape is not influenced by the interaction of the second parts 49 with the inner surface 69 of the foil pouch 64.
FIG. 7A shows a schematic diagonal view of a sixth embodiment of a drinking straw 70 with a locking catch 76. The locking catch 76 was produced by a two-sided cut-out in the straw wall 72, so that the straw wall 72 has an opening 77 which corresponds in its dimensions to the locking catch 76. The cut on both sides of the locking catch 76 can be made by a cutting process in which a knife or blade or other cutting tool cuts diagonally to a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw 70 into the drinking straw 70, cutting through the straw wall 72 on both sides of the locking catch. On one side of the opening 77 the locking catch 76 is still connected to the straw wall 72. The locking catch 76 can be regarded as a spread-off part of the straw wall 72. The locking catch 76 comprises a tip 78 which may, for example, additionally include a bend away from a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw, while, for example, the remainder of the locking catch 76 does not include such a bend.
The locking catch 76 is provided on the outer surface of the straw wall 72. Towards the inlet 73, the locking catch 76 is connected to the outer surface of straw wall 72, and towards the outlet 75, an increasing distance of locking catch 76 from the outer surface of straw wall 72 is visible.
The advantage of such a locking catch 76, as shown in FIG. 7A, is that when the drinking straw is inserted into the beverage packaging, it can deform elastically inwards in the direction of the center of the drinking straw, so that the insertion process is not impeded. This is due in particular to the fact that the opening 77 corresponds in its shape to the locking catch 76, so that the locking catch can be pressed completely elastically into the opening. As soon as the locking catch 76 is completely inside the beverage packaging, the locking catch can deform elastically outwards again.
The locking catch 76 has a distance from the inlet 73 along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw 70 of a maximum of 30% of a length of the drinking straw 70. The drinking straw 70 shown includes an insertion tip 79.
FIG. 7B shows schematically how the locking catch 76 can deform when an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw 70 from a beverage packaging 51. If an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw 70 from the beverage packaging 51 after insertion of the locking catch 76 into the beverage packaging 51, the locking catch 76 interacts with the inner surface 56 of the beverage packaging 51 in an area around the insertion area 53 such that the locking catch 76 is pressed against the inner surface 56 by the pulling of the drinking straw 70, whereby an area of the drinking straw 70 kinks below, i.e. towards the inlet 73. The locking catch 76 can therefore spread from the outer surface of the straw wall 72 and function like a barb and can prevent the drinking straw 70 from being pulled out of the beverage packaging 51 again. The drinking straw 70 takes on a T-shaped shape which effectively prevents the drinking straw from being pulled out, as the bent part of the drinking straw and the locking catch come to rest on the inner surface of the beverage packaging on different sides of the insertion area, while the rest of the drinking straw protrudes from the insertion area and thus from the beverage packaging.
FIG. 7C shows how the locking catch 76 of the drinking straw 70 can deform when an attempt is made to remove the drinking straw 70 from the foil pouch 64. If an attempt is made to pull the drinking straw 70 out of the foil pouch 64 after insertion of the locking catch 76 into the foil pouch 64, the locking catch 76 interacts with the inner surface 69 of the foil pouch 64 in an area around the insertion area 66 in such a way that the locking catch 76 is pressed against the inner surface 69 by the pulling of the drinking straw 70, whereby an area of the drinking straw 70 bends below, i.e. towards the inlet 73. Thus, the locking catch 76 can spread away from the outer surface of the straw wall 72 and function like a barb and can prevent the straw 70 from being pulled out of the foil pouch 64 again. FIG. 8A schematically shows a tubular straw member 80 on which a locking catch can be arranged. The straw member 80 comprises a straw wall 85, an inlet 83 to be placed in a beverage packaging with an inlet tip 84 and an outlet 81 to be placed outside the beverage packaging. The straw member 80 shown has a round cross-section 82 with a diameter and a longitudinal axis 86. This longitudinal axis 86 is also referred to in FIGS. 8B and 8D in order to describe the locking catches which can be arranged on the straw member 80.
FIG. 8B schematically shows a first embodiment of an injection-molded locking catch 87. The locking catch 87 comprises a first part 88 formed here as an example of an open annular surface, an inner diameter of the annular surface being equal to or up to 10% smaller than an outer diameter of the straw member 80, and a second part 89 extending from the first part 88 away from the longitudinal axis 86. Due to the difference in diameter, the locking catch can be elastically clamped to the surface of the straw member 80. The inner diameter of the annular surface can also be up to 1% or 5% larger than the outer diameter of the straw member, whereby the locking catch must then be connected to the drinking straw with additional measures such as welding, sealing or gluing. The first part 88 is designed in such a way that it surrounds the circumference of the straw member 80 by more than half; in this way it is possible to clip the locking catch 87 onto the straw member 80. The second part 89, for example, is wing-shaped, but can also have other forms of a locking catch, such as any form of a barb. The wing-like design has the advantage that the drinking straw is placed against the wall of the drinking straw when the drinking straw is inserted into the beverage packaging, making it easy to insert the drinking straw into the beverage packaging.
FIG. 8C shows a drinking straw 90, with the locking catch 87 from FIG. 8B arranged on the straw member 80 from FIG. 8A. The locking catch 87 can be clipped onto the straw member using the first part 88. It is also possible to use a liquid-resistant adhesive. Then the locking catch 87 can alternatively be welded or sealed to the straw member 80. In other embodiments, more than one locking catch 87 can also be arranged on the straw member 80.
FIG. 8D shows schematically a second embodiment of an injection-molded locking catch 91. The locking catch 91 comprises a first part 92 provided to be welded or sealed to the outer surface of the straw wall 85 using, for example, a liquid-resistant adhesive. In the illustration, the first part 92 is designed in such a way that it surrounds the circumference of the straw member 80 by less than half; therefore, it is not possible to clip this first part 92 onto the straw member 80. The locking catch 91 comprises a second part 93, which extends from the first part 92 away from the longitudinal axis 86. The second part 93 is wing-shaped.
FIG. 8E shows a drinking straw 94, with the locking catch 91 from FIG. 8D being arranged on the straw member 80 from FIG. 8A. The first part 92 of the locking catch 91 can be connected to an outer surface of the straw wall 85 by welding or sealing.
In other embodiments, more than one locking catch 91 can also be arranged on the straw member 80. It is also possible to arrange one or more locking catches 87 of the first embodiment and one or more locking catches 91 of the second embodiment on a straw member 80.
It also applies to the locking catches produced by an injection molding method that they have a distance from the inlet 83 along the longitudinal axis 86 of the straw member 80 of a maximum of 30% of a length of the straw member 80. The length of the straw member 80 and the length of a drinking straw comprising the straw member 80 and one or more locking catches correspond to each other, i.e. they are of equal size.
Patent Application
20220087457
