Environmentally Friendly Drinking Straw and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

An environmentally friendly system for delivering a potable liquid to a user, comprising a delivery tube having a cylindrical wall that defines a cylindrical annulus through which a potable liquid can flow. The cylindrical wall consists essentially of a solid potable material that is liquid at room temperature, wherein the wall is formed at a temperature below the freezing point of the potable material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to potable liquid delivery systems.

Description of the Related Art

The use of a tubular member to deliver a potable liquid into a person's mouth has achieved wide popularity. Such members, commonly referred to as drinking straws, offer a sanitary, clean and easy-to-use alternative to the act of bringing a liquid container to the user's lips, and additionally present a novelty dimension to nutrition, particularly for younger children.

Many drinking straws are made of a plastic material, often with the intention that they are to be discarded after a single use. Single-use discard accords with the goal of having a sanitary delivery system, since it may be difficult to clean thoroughly the interior annulus of the delivery system through which the potable liquid passes. However, the deleterious aspects of discarded plastic drinking straws are becoming increasingly recognized. Plastics are relatively immune to the decay process associated with natural plant matter, and thus can remain in the environment for years. They therefore present a long-term waste problem and moreover a health problem for animals that may attempt to ingest them. Plastic straws therefore can be considered to have adverse societal cost-benefits, particularly when it is realized that the use of the straw is for but a few moments, whereas the adverse environmental impact lasts for years.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a potable liquid delivery system that overcomes the problems described above. It is characterized by being evanescent; i.e., unlike plastic drinking straws, the delivery system of the present invention retains the structural shape that provides its utility for a relatively short period of time, after which it is transformed (typically without need for user intervention) to a state exhibiting no adverse environmental consequences.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an environmentally friendly system for delivering a potable liquid to a user, comprising a delivery tube having a cylindrical wall that defines a cylindrical annulus through which a potable liquid can flow, wherein the cylindrical wall consists essentially of a solid potable material that is liquid at room temperature and the cylindrical wall is formed at a temperature below the freezing point of the potable material

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an assembly for the manufacture of a potable liquid delivery system, comprising a cooling tube having a first end, a second end and an annular bore for retention of a potable material that is liquid at room temperature and solid when cooled to or below the freezing point of the potable material; a base affixed to a first end of the cooling tube for sealing the first end of the cooling tube; a removable draw rod approximately concentrically positioned within the annular bore of the cooling tube; and a removable draw rod positioner secured to the draw rod and the second end of the cooling tube that positions an end of the draw rod approximately concentrically within the annular bore of the cooling tube.

These and other aspects of the present invention are described in the drawings annexed hereto, and in the description of the preferred embodiments and claims set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a delivery tube in accordance with the present invention, whose lower end is immersed in a liquid.

FIG. 2A depicts the assembly utilized in the manufacture of the delivery tube of present invention.

FIG. 2B depicts the component parts that when assembled are utilized in the manufacture of the delivery tube of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1, there is provided a delivery tube 1 for drinking. The tube 1 has a cylindrical wall 2 that defines a cylindrical annulus 3 through which potable liquid can flow. Cylindrical wall 2 consists essentially of wall material 6. The wall material 6 is characterized by being (a) liquid, when at room temperature (50-100 degrees Fahrenheit), and (b) solid, when at a select range of temperatures lower than room temperature, with the freezing point of the wall material 6 defining the upper bound of the range, and (c) non-toxic and potable in both solid and liquid states.

The delivery tube 1 is formed at a temperature at which wall material 6 is in a solid state. After manufacture, delivery tube 1 is delivered to the user. In use, the lower end 4 of delivery tube 1 is placed below the surface 11 of the liquid 10 which the user wishes to draw into his or her mouth, and the user's lips 7 are placed around the upper end 5 of delivery tube 1 to sealingly engage the delivery tube and draw the liquid into the mouth by appropriate breath control.

In one embodiment, wall material 6 of delivery tube 1 is frozen water (with a freezing point of approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit). In an alternative embodiment for use where liquid 10 is not water, wall material 6 of delivery tube 1 is made of the liquid 10, but in a frozen state. Examples of specific potable liquids suitable for wall material 6 include frozen fruit juices such as orange juice and apple juice, frozen caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea, etc. This alternative embodiment is of particular utility to avoid dilution of liquid 10 by wall material 6 melting as liquid 10 (which likely is warmer than wall 2) is drawn through annulus 3. In the foregoing embodiments, the wall 2 is given sufficient thickness such that it will retain its structural integrity for a sufficient period of time to allow all or substantial portions of liquid 10 to be drawn into the user's mouth, yet will completely melt following the relatively short period of use, and given its material characteristics generate no long-term waste or animal health problems.

FIG. 2A depicts an assembly 100 for the manufacture of delivery tube 1, and FIG. 2B depicts the separate component parts comprising assembly 100. As shown in FIG. 2B, the component parts of assembly 100 comprise a cooling tube 20, a base 30, a draw rod 40 and a draw rod positioner 50. Cooling tube 20 is a cylindrical hollow member (i.e., it has an annular bore) and is the mold in which delivery tube 1 is formed. Tube 20 is made of a material that can withstand temperatures low enough to freeze the wall material 6 from which cylindrical wall 2 will be made, and is preferably a reusable material, such as durable plastic, or metal such as aluminum, steel or the like.

Base 30 shown in FIG. 2B is configured to provide a liquid-tight seal with the lower end 24 of cooling tube 20, such as by having a plug 36 that yields an interference fit with lower end 24 when inserted therein. Alternatively, base 30 can be threaded to mate with corresponding threads in the lower end 24 of cooling tube 20. Base 30 optionally can be provided with a pedestal 37 that more easily permits base 30 to hold cooling tube 20 in a vertical position during manufacture of delivery tube 1. Base 30 can be made of a variety of materials or material combinations in accordance with design choice, such as rubber or other resilient materials, or aluminum, steel or the like.

Draw rod 40 in FIG. 2B is dimensioned to be inserted into cooling tube 20, and has a diameter that approximates the desired inside diameter of annulus 3. Draw rod 40 preferably is made of a thermally conductive material, such as steel or the like. In one embodiment, draw rod 40 is a metallic cooking skewer. The portion of base 30 exposed to the interior of cooling tube 20 optionally includes a recess 38 for fixing the lower end 44 of draw rod 40 approximately concentrically within cooling tube 20, and for better insuring that annulus 3 passes completely through tube 1.

Draw rod positioner 50 shown in FIG. 2B is utilized for fixing approximately concentrically within cooling tube 20 the upper end 45 of draw rod 40 to better insure that, when manufactured, annulus 3 is approximately concentrically positioned in delivery tube 1. Draw rod positioner 50 can be a long-lasting or temporary component; as one embodiment of a suitable temporary component, draw rod positioner 50 comprises crumpled aluminum foil, which is crimped around draw rod 40 and wedged to an extent into cooling tube 20 as shown in FIG. 2A, and which permits ready adjustment of the upper end 45 of draw rod 40 within cooling tube 20.

To manufacture delivery tube 1, cooling tube 20 is secured to base 30 as shown in FIG. 2A, and wall material 6 in liquid form, such as water, is poured into cooling tube 20 in a room temperature environment. Draw rod 40 is then inserted into cooling tube 20, with lower end 44 positioned in recess 38, and upper end 45 fixed in its proper position by draw rod positioner 50. Alternatively, wall material 6 in liquid form can be poured into cooling tube 20 after inserting draw rod 40, following which draw rod positioner 50 can be affixed to complete the assembly 100. Positioned vertically (with base 30 at the bottom) so that liquid does not spill out, the assembly 100 is then exposed to a cold environment, to suitably cool it to a temperature that freezes the wall material 6 contained within cooling tube 20, such as by placing the assembly in a freezer.

After wall material 6 freezes, the assembly can be removed from the cold environment to a room temperature environment. Delivery tube 1 is then released from cooling tube 20 by pulling on draw rod 40. Following release of delivery tube 1, draw rod 40 and draw rod positioner 50 is removed from delivery tube 1, which results in the creation of annulus 3, and delivery tube 1 is ready for use. If the user is in a room temperature environment, tube 1 should be delivered to the user and used before the occurrence of substantial melting of wall material 6. After use, the user simply places or retains delivery tube 1 in a room temperature environment until tube 1 melts away, at which point the melt can be either left to evaporate (in the case where wall material 6 was water) or ingested (in the case where wall material 6 was a potable material other than water, such as juice). Alternatively, the user can ingest tube 1 in its solid state, and allow it to melt in the mouth. Since the melt (the wall material 6 in its liquid state) is both non-solid and environmentally benign (being non-toxic and potable), it presents no long-term waste problem nor any substantial animal health concern.

The foregoing detailed description is for illustration only and is not to be deemed as limiting the inventions, which are defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An assembly for the manufacture of an environmentally friendly potable liquid delivery system, comprising: a cooling tube having a first end, a second end and an annular bore for retention of a potable material that is liquid at room temperature and solid when cooled to or below the freezing point of the potable material;a base affixed to a first end of the cooling tube for sealing the first end of the cooling tube; anda removable draw rod approximately concentrically positioned within the annular bore of the cooling tube.

2. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a removable draw rod positioner secured to the draw rod and the second end of the cooling tube that positions an end of the draw rod approximately concentrically within the annular bore of the cooling tube.

3. A method for the manufacture of an environmentally friendly potable liquid delivery system, comprising: providing a cooling tube having a first end, a second end and an annular bore for retention of a potable material that is liquid at room temperature and is solid when cooled to or below the freezing point of the potable material, wherein a base is affixed to a first end of the cooling tube for sealing the first end of the cooling tube;positioning a removable draw rod approximately concentrically within the annular bore of the cooling tube;inserting into the annular bore of the cooling tube in a room temperature environment a potable material that is liquid in the room temperature environment and is solid when cooled to or below the freezing point of the potable material;exposing the assembly to a cold environment that freezes the potable material;removing the assembly from the cold environment to the room temperature environment;removing the frozen potable material from the cooling tube by pulling on the draw rod; andremoving the draw rod from the frozen potable material to form a potable liquid delivery system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, before or after the inserting step, positioning a removable draw rod positioner proximate to the second end of the cooling tube and securing the removable draw rod positioner to the draw rod and the second end of the cooling tube to position an end of the draw rod approximately concentrically within the annular bore of the cooling tube.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the potable material inserted into the annular bore of the cooling tube in the inserting step is water.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the potable material inserted into the annular bore of the cooling tube in the inserting step is selected from the group consisting of fruit juice, tea and coffee.

7. An environmentally friendly system for delivering a potable liquid to a user, comprising: a delivery tube having a cylindrical wall that defines a cylindrical annulus through which a potable liquid can flow; andthe cylindrical wall consisting essentially of a solid potable material that is liquid at room temperature, wherein the wall is formed at a temperature below the freezing point of the potable material.

8. The system for delivering a potable liquid to a user of claim 7, wherein the solid potable material is frozen water.

9. The system for delivering a potable liquid to a user of claim 7, wherein the solid potable material is selected from the group consisting of frozen juice, frozen coffee and frozen tea.