DRINKING STRAW AND PACKAGE

Abstract

There is described a drinking straw for a package being filled with a pourable food product. The drinking straw being configured to be at least partially inserted into a package main body of the package. The drinking straw comprises a tubular main body including a coupling portion extending along a central axis; and a sleeve fitted on and surrounding at least the coupling portion of the tubular main body. The sleeve comprises an abutment portion configured to abut onto an inner surface of the package main body after a partial insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body and during a movement of the drinking straw out of the package main body for impeding and/or hindering and/or blocking a removal and a separation of the drinking straw out of and from the package main body. The abutment portion has a frustoconical shape.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a drinking straw for a package filled with a pourable food product.

The present invention also relates to a package having a package main body filled with a pourable food product and a drinking straw.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.

A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a carton and/or paper base layer, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.

There are known packages comprising a package main body formed from the multilayer packaging material and a drinking straw. Those packages are in particular used for the consumption on-the-go.

The main package body comprises a main opening configured to allow the insertion of the drinking straw into the main package body. The package main body also comprises a separation membrane covering the main opening for separating the inner space of the package main body from an outer environment and which is configured to be pierced by the drinking straw so as to allow the introduction of the drinking straw through the main opening and into the package and the subsequent extraction of the pourable food product through the drinking straw.

Each drinking straw is typically attached to the respective package main body within a closed plastic envelope. Prior to its use a consumer extracts the respective drinking straw from the envelope and introduces the drinking straw into the package by piercing the separation membrane. A drawback of these packages is that the drinking straws may be littered and voluntarily or independently involuntarily from the package main body after the complete or partial consumption of the pourable food product.

The document EP-A-3692866 of the Applicant discloses a solution to such a problem by providing a drinking straw having a main tubular main body and a sleeve fitted on the main tubular main body. The drinking straw comprises a tip configured to pierce the separation membrane. The tip is formed by both the main tubular main body and the sleeve.

Furthermore, the sleeve is provided with an abutment portion, which is configured to allow for the insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body, but which guarantees to abut against an inner surface of the package main body during an attempt to remove the drinking straw and thereby to hinder the removal of the drinking straw.

According to the teaching of EP-A-3692866, the abutment portion can be realized as a thickening or by means of a palm-tree like structure.

A drawback of such described drinking straws is that the production of these find limits when desiring to further accelerate the production of such drinking straws.

Therefore, a desire is felt in the sector to improve the known drinking straws so that their production can be realized in an easier and faster manner than the ones known in the art.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved drinking straw solving the above-mentioned drawback.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved package solving the above-mentioned drawback.

According to the present invention, there is provided a drinking straw according to the independent claim.

Further advantageous embodiments of the drinking straw are specified in the claims being dependent on the independent claim.

Furthermore, there is provided a packaging according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package having a package main body and a drinking straw according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of details of the package of FIG. 1 prior to a partial insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of details of the package assembly of FIG. 1 after insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body, with parts removed for clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective and partial sectioned view of a detail of the drinking straw of FIG. 1, with parts removed for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a package having a package main body 2, in particular a package main body formed from a multilayer packaging material, and a drinking straw 3. In particular, package 1 is adapted for the consumption on-the-go.

Package 1 may also comprise an envelope or a pocket for housing the drinking straw 3 prior to its use. Preferentially, the envelope or the pocket may be provided on and/or fixed to package main body 2.

Furthermore, package main body 2 may be filled with a pourable food product, such as water, milk, milk-based drinks, yoghurt drinks, coffee-based drinks, fruit juice, beverages with pulp or other beverages.

Package main body 2 may be obtained from a multilayer packaging material. In particular, the multilayer packaging material may comprise at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. paper or cardboard, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.

Moreover, the multilayer packaging material may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferentially, the multilayer packaging material may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, package main body 2 may extend along a central (longitudinal) axis A.

In particular, package 2 may comprise a first wall 4, in particular being transversal, even more particular perpendicular, to central axis A, from which package main body 2 extends along axis A. Preferentially, first wall 4 may define a support surface of package 2, which, in use, can be put in contact with a support, such as e.g. a shelf, when, in use, being e.g. exposed within a sales point, placed within a storage chamber, placed within a refrigerator or similar. In particular, when being arranged on a support and/or, in use, during consumption of the pourable food product by a consumer from package main body 2, first wall 4 may define a bottom wall.

Moreover, package main body 2 may also comprise a side wall 5 being (fixedly) connected to first wall 4 and extending, in particular substantially parallel to central axis A, from first wall 4.

Additionally, package main body 2 may also comprise a second wall 6 opposite to first wall 4 and being (fixedly) connected to side wall 5. In other words, side wall 5 may be interposed between first wall 4 and second wall 5. In particular, when being arranged on a support and/or, in use, during consumption of the pourable food product by a consumer from package main body 2, second wall 6 may define a top wall.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, first wall 4 and second wall 6 may be parallel to one another.

Alternatively, first wall 4 and second wall 6 could be inclined with respect to one another. E.g. second wall 6 may define a slanted-top or a gable-top.

Moreover, package main body 2 may comprise an inner space 7, in particular delimited by first wall 4, side wall 5 and second wall 6, containing the pourable product.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2a, package main body 2 may comprise a main opening allowing for the insertion and/or introduction of drinking straw 3 into package main body 2.

Furthermore, package main body 2 may also comprise a separation membrane 8 covering the main opening and being configured to be pierced (equivalently ruptured and/or opened and/or cut), in particular by drinking straw 3, so as to allow the insertion of drinking straw 3 (through the main opening) into inner space 7. In particular, separation membrane 8 may separate, prior to losing its integrity, inner space 7 containing the pourable food product from an outer environment. In this manner, the pourable food product is protected from the outer environment. Preferably, separation membrane 8 may comprise a gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or a film comprising ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, separation membrane 8 may be defined by a portion of the multilayer packaging material, in particular a portion of the layers of the multilayer packaging material being different from the layer of fibrous material.

The main opening may be defined by a respective hole within the layer of fibrous material of the multilayer packaging material.

The main opening and consequently separation membrane 8 may have circular shapes.

Preferentially, the main opening and consequently separation membrane 8 may be provided on second wall 6.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the extension of the main opening is delimited by a rim of the main opening itself. In particular, the rim has a circular shape.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the main opening may have a transversal (cross-sectional) extension d1. In particular, transversal extension d1 is determined with respect to central axis A. Even more particular, extension d1 may be determined and/or measured considering the rim delimiting the main opening. According to the non-limiting embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 2b, transversal extension d1 corresponds to a diameter of the main opening.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, drinking straw 3 comprises at least:

• • an inner flow channel 12 for the pourable food product;
  • an inlet opening 13 allowing for the inlet of the pourable food product into drinking straw 3 and inner flow
  • channel 12; and
  • an outlet opening 14 allowing for the outflow of the pourable food product from drinking straw 3 and inner flow channel 12.

In particular, inner flow channel 12 may extend between inlet opening 13 and outlet opening 14.

Furthermore, inlet opening 13 and outlet opening 14 may be arranged at opposite ends of drinking straw 3.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, inlet opening 13 is configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable food product into drinking straw 3 and in particular, outlet opening 14 is configured to allow for the outflow of the pourable food product from drinking straw 3 (i.e., in use, a consumer receives the pourable food product through outlet opening 14).

Preferentially, drinking straw 3 comprises or consists or is formed from a polymer and/or a fibrous material.

More specifically, drinking straw 3 comprises:

• • a tubular main body 15 including a coupling portion 16 extending along a central axis B; and
  • a sleeve 17, in particular extending along a central axis C (parallel, in particular coaxial, to central axis B) fitted on and surrounding at least coupling portion 16.

Preferably, the tubular main body 15 and the sleeve 17 are made of plastic or fiber-based material.

More specifically, tubular main body 15 and sleeve 17 may delimit inner flow channel 12.

In more detail, tubular main body 15 may comprise:

• • a mouthpiece 18 having and/or carrying outlet opening 14; and
  • a tubular main portion 19 connected to coupling portion 16 and being interposed between coupling portion 16 and mouthpiece 18.

In particular, mouthpiece 18 may define a first end of tubular main body 15, and in particular also of drinking straw 3. The first end may have outlet opening 14.

Mouthpiece 18 may present a hollow cylindrical shape.

Moreover, tubular main body 15 may also comprise a second end (fluidically) opposite to the first end. In particular, coupling portion 16 may comprise the second end of tubular main body 15.

Moreover, tubular main body 15 may also comprise a bellow 20 interposed between, in particular also connected to, mouthpiece 18 and tubular main portion 19.

Preferentially, bellow 20 may be configured to allow for a relative movement between mouthpiece 18 and tubular main portion 19. In particular, bellow 20 may allow a consumer to arrange mouthpiece 18 according to the consumer's needs and/or preferences. In other words, bellow 20 may allow inclining mouthpiece 18 with respect to tubular main portion 19.

Preferentially, both tubular main portion 19 and coupling portion 16 may extend along central axis B.

In more detail, tubular main portion 19 and coupling portion 16 may present respective hollow cylindrical shapes, in particular having respective circular cross-sectional profiles with respect to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to central axis B. In particular, the respective circular cross-sectional profiles equal one another.

Preferentially, tubular main body 15, in particular coupling portion 16, tubular main portion 19, mouthpiece 18 and bellow 20, may be formed in a single piece.

Furthermore, drinking straw 3 may comprise a tip section 21 configured to pierce, in use, separation membrane 8, in particular by means of a consumer arranging tip section 21 on separation membrane 8 (see FIG. 2a) and exerting a force on drinking straw 3 for directing drinking straw 3 partially through separation membrane 8 and into inner space 7 (see FIG. 2b), in particular towards first wall 4.

Tip section 20 may be wedge-shaped.

Preferentially, sleeve 17 may comprise an end portion having inlet opening 13. In particular, the end portion may have and/or define tip section 21.

More specifically, coupling portion 16 does not comprise inlet opening 13 (and tip section 21). In other words, coupling portion 16 is spaced apart from inlet opening 13 (and tip section 21).

In even other words, coupling portion 16 does not extend through all of sleeve 17.

Preferentially, the end portion (and/or tip section 21) may delimit a first portion 22 of inner flow channel 12, coupling portion 16 may delimit a second portion 23 of inner flow channel 12 and tubular main portion 19 may delimit a third portion 24 of inner flow channel 12. In particular first portion 22, second portion 23 and third portion 24 are distinct from one another.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, sleeve 17 comprises an abutment portion 25 configured to allow the partial insertion of drinking straw 3 (by passing through the main opening) into package main body 2 and/or inner space 7, and to impede and/or hinder and/or block the removal and/or separation of drinking straw 3 from package main body 2 after the partial insertion of drinking straw 3 into package main body 2.

In particular, during a partial insertion of drinking straw 3 at least sleeve 17 and coupling portion 16 enter package main body 2 and inner space 7. Furthermore, also at least a section of tubular main portion 19 may enter package main body 2 and inner space 7. In particular, the extension of the section of tubular main portion 19 being present within inner space 7 may vary.

In more detail, sleeve 17 together with coupling portion 16 is configured to be inserted into package main body 2 through the main opening, thereby piercing separation membrane 8.

In particular, sleeve 17 may be configured to form, in use, during partial insertion of drinking straw 3 into package main body 2, a hole within package main body 2 and/or separation membrane 8 having a size (substantially) corresponding to the transversal extension d1 of the main opening.

In more detail, abutment portion 25 is configured to abut onto an inner surface of package main body 2, in particular second wall 6 during a movement of the partially inserted drinking straw 3, in particular of at least sleeve 17 and coupling portion 16, out of package main body 2 for impeding and/or hindering and/or blocking separation and/or removal of drinking straw 3 from package main body 2.

In particular, sleeve 17 as a whole and abutment portion 25 are configured to pass through the main opening during the insertion of drinking straw 3 into package main body 2 and abutment portion 25 is furthermore configured to impede and/or hinder and/or block the extraction of sleeve 17 and therewith of drinking straw 3 out of package main body 2.

More specifically, abutment portion 25 may be configured to abut against the inner surface of package main body 2 in the area of, in particular at, the main opening, in particular the rim delimiting the main opening.

In further detail, in use, during insertion of drinking straw 3 into package main body 2, sleeve 17 is moved along a first direction D1 transversal to separation membrane 8 and/or the main opening and/or first wall 4 and/or second wall 6. In the ideal case, after the complete or partial consumption of the pourable food product present within package main body 2, the consumer would dispose of package main body 2 together with drinking straw 3 without the attempt to remove drinking straw 3 from package main body 2. In the non-ideal case that a consumer would try to remove and/or separate drinking straw 3 from package main body 2 by moving drinking straw 3 along a second direction D2 opposed to first direction D1 and out of package main body 2, abutment portion 25 would limit the possible extraction as abutment portion 25, abuts, at some degree of the extraction of drinking straw 3 against the inner surface of package main body 2.

It should be noted that sleeve 17 is fitted onto coupling portion 16 in a non-removable manner. In this way, it is guaranteed that tubular main body 15 cannot be separated from sleeve 17.

Preferentially, sleeve 17 may be non-removably fitted onto coupling portion by means of mechanical friction, gluing, (solvent) bonding, welding (e.g. ultrasonic, hot plate or laser welding), mechanical deformation (e.g. cold forming or hot forming (infrared heating, induction heating, flow of heated gas)).

In more detail, sleeve 17 may comprise an engagement portion 26 fitted to and surrounding coupling portion 16. In particular, an inner surface of engagement portion 26 is fitted and fixed onto an outer surface of coupling portion 16. In particular, engagement portion 26 may have a hollow cylindrical shape.

Preferentially, abutment portion 25 may be connected to, and in particular extends from a first terminal section of, engagement portion 26.

Additionally, also the end portion of sleeve 17, in particular tip section 21, may be connected to engagement portion 26, and in particular may extend from a second terminal section of engagement portion 26 opposed to the first terminal section.

In other words, engagement portion 26 may be interposed between abutment portion 25 and the end portion of sleeve 17.

Preferentially, the end portion, in particular tip section 21, is not in contact and/or is not fitted onto coupling portion 16.

In other words, coupling portion 16 may be surrounded by only engagement portion 26, but not the end portion of sleeve 17.

Moreover, the second end of tubular main body 15, in particular of coupling portion 16, may be interposed between abutment portion 25 and inlet opening 13.

In further detail, abutment portion 25 may comprise an abutment profile 27 configured to abut onto the inner surface of package main body 2. In particular, abutment profile 27 faces away from engagement portion 26. Abutment profile 27 may have a substantially circular shape.

More specifically, abutment portion 25 may also comprise an interface section 28 connected to engagement portion 26 and being opposite to abutment profile 27. Interface section 28 may also have a substantially circular shape, with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the abutment profile 27.

In particular, abutment profile 27 is axially more distant from inlet opening 13 than interface section 28.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, abutment portion 25 has a frustoconical shape, in particular a tapered frustoconical shape. In the following of the present disclosure, for the sake of brevity, we indicate as “cone-shape” a frustoconical (namely, truncated conical) shape. This shape is advantageous, as on the one side it allows to partially insert drinking straw 3 together with sleeve 17 into package main body 2, to block drinking straw 3 in an inseparable manner within package main body 2 and on the other side sleeve 17 having such a cone-shaped abutment portion 25 can be easily and quickly produced.

In particular, it is possible to form such a sleeve 17 from a tubular precursor (such as a cylindrical (plastic and/or fiber-based) tube), in particular such a tubular precursor having a hollow cylindrical shape. Then it is possible to shape at least one end of the tubular precursor so as to obtain the cone shape at this end.

Afterwards, it is possible to insert coupling portion 16 into the formed sleeve 17 and sleeve 17 can be fitted onto coupling portion 16.

Preferentially, at least some portions different from the cone-shaped/frustoconical-shaped end of the tubular precursor may also be widened so as to facilitate the insertion of the coupling portion 16. Afterwards the formed and widened tubular precursor (sleeve 17) can be fitted on coupling portion 16, e.g. by means of heat-shrinking, bonding, welding and other.

Advantageously, the tubular precursor and tubular main body 15 may be obtained from cutting a main tube thereby separating the tubular main body 15 from the tubular precursor, which then is formed into sleeve 17.

More specifically, it is possible to obtain the cone-shaped abutment portion 25 by inserting a coning tool having a heated cone-shaped portion/frustoconical-shaped portion into the tubular precursor. It is the cone-shaped portion, which defines the shape of abutment portion 25.

E.g. in this manner one avoids the need to provide for a thickening or to provide for single palm-leaves (e.g. obtained by incision).

With abutment portion 25 having a frustoconical shape one guarantees that abutment portion 25 deflects in a controlled manner during insertion of drinking straw 3 into main package body 2.

Preferentially, abutment portion 25 may be detached from and may surround a section of tubular main portion 19, in particular the section being connected to coupling portion 16.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, abutment portion 25 may taper from abutment profile 27 towards and to engagement portion 26 and/or interface section 28.

In other words, a cross-sectional external extension d2 (with respect to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to central axis C) of abutment portion 25 at a first end of abutment portion 25 having abutment profile 27 is larger than a second transversal external extension (with respect to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to central axis C) of abutment portion 25 at a second end of abutment portion 25 opposed to the first end of abutment portion 25 and having interface section 28.

Preferentially, the second cross-sectional external extension (substantially) equals a (maximum) external transversal extension d3 of engagement portion 26. In particular, external transversal extension d3 being determined with respect to a cross-sectional plane being perpendicular to central axis C.

In other words, cross-sectional external extension d2 is larger than external transversal extension d3.

Preferentially, cross-sectional extension d2 may define a maximum cross-section extension d2 of abutment portion 25.

In particular, cross-sectional extension d2 may be larger than (maximum) transversal extension d1 of the main opening.

Furthermore, abutment portion 25 may extend from engagement portion 26 such that interface section 28 may be radially closer to longitudinal axis C than abutment profile 27.

In particular, abutment portion 25 may contact coupling portion 16 only at interface section 28.

Preferentially, a wall thickness of engagement portion 26 may be (substantially) equal to (or (slightly) larger than) a wall thickness of abutment portion 25.

Additionally, also a wall thickness of the end portion of sleeve 17 and/or tip section 21 may be (substantially) equal to (or (slightly) larger than) the wall thickness of abutment portion 25. In other words, sleeve 17 may have a single wall thickness.

In use, during insertion and/or introduction of drinking straw 3, in particular of at least sleeve 17 and coupling portion 16 into package main body 2 and through the main opening (i.e. movement of drinking straw 3 along direction D1), the consumer must exert a force sufficient to overcome the resistance due to abutment portion 25 needing to pass through the main opening. In particular, the passing through of sleeve 17 as a whole is facilitated by abutment portion 25 being frustoconically shaped.

Then upon movement of drinking straw 3, in particular sleeve 17 out of package main body 2 (i.e. along direction D2) at some point abutment portion 25 abuts against the inner surface of package main body 2. In particular, abutment portion 25 cannot be directed out of package main body 2 through the main opening.

The advantages of drinking straw 3 and/or package 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, drinking straw 3 by having sleeve 17 cannot be littered independently from package main body 2 after use.

Furthermore, drinking straw 3 can be easily and fastly produced. This is as abutment portion 25 of sleeve 17 can be easily and quickly formed and shaped.

Clearly, changes may be made to drinking straw 3 and/or package 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Drinking straw for a package being filled with a pourable food product; the drinking straw being configured to be at least partially inserted into a package main body of the package;the drinking straw comprises: a tubular main body including a coupling portion extending along a central axis (B); anda sleeve fitted on and surrounding at least the coupling portion of the tubular main body;wherein the sleeve comprises an abutment portion configured to abut onto an inner surface of the package main body after a partial insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body and during a movement of the drinking straw out of the package main body for impeding and/or hindering and/or blocking a removal and a separation of the drinking straw out of and from the package main body;wherein the abutment portion has a frustoconical shape.

2. Drinking straw according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an end portion having an inlet opening configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable food product into the drinking straw.

3. Drinking straw according to claim 2, wherein the tubular main body comprises a first end having an outlet opening configured to allow for the outflow of the pourable food product from the drinking straw and a second end opposite to the first end; wherein the second end is interposed between the abutment portion and the inlet opening.

4. Drinking straw according to claim 2, wherein the coupling portion is spaced apart from the inlet opening.

5. Drinking straw according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an engagement portion fitted to and surrounding the coupling portion.

6. Drinking straw according to claim 5, wherein the abutment portion comprises an abutment profile configured to abut onto the inner surface of the package main body; wherein the abutment portion is connected to the engagement portion;wherein the abutment portion tapers from the abutment profile towards the engagement portion.

7. Drinking straw according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve comprises an end portion having an inlet opening configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable food product into the drinking straw; wherein the engagement portion is interposed between the abutment portion and the end portion.

8. Drinking straw according to claim 5, wherein the end portion extends from the engagement portion and is not in contact and/or is not fitted onto the coupling portion.

9. Drinking straw according to claim 5, wherein the engagement portion has an external transversal extension (d3) being smaller than an external cross-sectional extension (d2) of the abutment portion.

10. Drinking straw according to claim 5, wherein a wall thickness of the engagement portion is substantially equal to a wall thickness of the abutment portion.

11. Drinking straw according to claim 1, wherein the abutment portion is obtained from an insertion of a coning tool having a heated cone-shaped portion into a tubular precursor; wherein the cone-shaped portion is configured to form and define the abutment portion.

12. Package comprising a package main body filled with a pourable food product and a drinking straw according to claim 1.

13. Package according to claim 12, wherein the package main body comprises a main opening allowing for the introduction of the drinking straw into the package main body; wherein the abutment portion is configured to abut against a section of the inner surface positioned at a rim delimiting the main opening.

14. Package according to claim 13, wherein a maximum cross-sectional extension of the abutment portion is larger than a maximum transversal extension of the main opening.

15. Package according to claim 13, wherein the package main body comprises a piercable separation membrane covering the main opening; wherein the sleeve comprises an end portion having an inlet opening configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable food product into the drinking straw and being configured to pierce the separation membrane during an insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body.