Patent Application
20130231026
None.
The subject disclosure relates to amusement devices, and more particularly, to a straw system.
Amusement devices serve as an outlet for entertainment from otherwise uninteresting activities. For example, drinking beverages may be in of itself a mundane activity. Previous attempts at livening up drinking have included using ice cubes with items sealed within the cube or drinking straws with a non-linear shaft. These devices, while amusing, can be static involving nominal interaction from the user. In addition, they're visual appeal can be limiting.
As can be seen, there is a need for an amusement device that allows the user to interact with the device while performing routine activities such as drinking
In one aspect of the disclosure, a straw comprises a straw shaft and an impeller positioned inside the straw shaft. The impeller may be disposed to rotate with fluid flow through the straw shaft. The straw may also include an axle coupled to the impeller through an opening in the straw shaft and a free end of the axle, outside the straw shaft. the free end may be disposed to rotate with rotation of the impeller. the straw may also include a gasket coupled to the axle.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a straw insert for a straw comprises a housing, a shaft extending through the housing, the shaft adapted to couple to the straw, an impeller supported in the shaft disposed to rotate within a fluid flow, an axle coupled to the impeller, projecting out of the shaft and housing, and a gasket coupled between the axle and the housing.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a straw comprises straw comprises a hollow shaft body, an inwardly tapering surface on an interior wall of the shaft body, an impeller inside the shaft body positioned proximate the inwardly tapering surface, and an axle coupled to the impeller and projecting outside of the shaft body.
It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details. Like or similar components are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of understanding.
In general, exemplary embodiments of the subject technology provide an amusement device, for example, a drinking straw, that may move a novelty object attached to the straw during use.
Referring to
Referring now to
The straw insert system 150 includes an impeller 22 supported within an interior of the straw shaft 30; 34. The impeller 22 may be, for example, a paddle wheel. A housing 28 may surround the shaft 30; 34 housing the impeller 22. The housing 28 may include a hub 39 on which the impeller 22 may sit. The housing 28 may include an arched interior wall proximate its lower extremity defining a passage 29 leading toward an interior wall 28a of the interior of the housing 28.
The impeller 22 may include a step 38 on its front surface and a central bore 23 through its center axis. The impeller 22 may include teeth 25 whose distal edge may extend radially from the central bore 23. The distal edge of teeth 25 may extend outward from the central bore 23 so that the impeller 22 occupies most of the interior of the housing 28; for example approximately 95% of the housing volume interior. For example, the distance between the interior wall 28a and one of the teeth 25 may be approximately 1/16th of an inch. A gap between adjacent teeth 25 may be approximately 4/16th of an inch. The teeth 25 may be positioned so that a trailing edge 19 is disposed substantially orthogonal to the interior wall 28a to catch fluid flow coming from the passage 29. A leading edge 21 of the teeth 25 may be disposed swept back so as to rotate aerodynamically through the housing interior.
An axle 14 maybe coupled to the impeller 22 through the central bore 23. The axle 14 may include a boss end 16 press fit into a groove wall 17. The axle 14 may include a groove surface 12 disposed to catch the central bore 23. The axle 14 may also project axially from the impeller 22 through the shaft 30; 34 and through a threaded opening 36 of the housing 28 so that a free end 15 is outside the straw shaft 30; 34. A gasket 20 may be attached to and surround the axle 14. The gasket 20 may be positioned against the threaded opening 36, over the step 38, and held in place by a cap 18 screwed onto the threaded opening 36. The gasket 20 may provide a vacuum seal preventing fluid from escaping the housing 28 interior as fluid is drawn through the shaft 30. The step 38 may reduce friction between the impeller 22 and the gasket 20 as the axle 14 rotates. A rotor 10 may be attached to the free end 15. The rotor 10 may be, for example a gear. The rotor 10 may be configured to rotate as the axle 14 is rotated within the shaft 30; 34. The rotor 10 may be configured to receive an assortment of objects disclosed below.
In one aspect, fluid flow through the straw shaft 30; 34 may be guided toward the impeller 22 and flow rate enhanced. The straw shaft 30; 34 may include on an interior wall 27, an inwardly tapering surface 26, disposed to project inward into the shaft 30; 34 interior, deflecting fluid from the shaft interior wall 27 in toward the impeller 22. The surface 26 may define a tapering inner diameter of the shaft 30; 34 that may be smaller than the inner diameter of the remainder of the shaft 30.
In an exemplary use, as a user (not shown) draws fluid (not shown) up the lower shaft portion 30B, the fluid may encounter the surface 26, experiencing a venturi effect flowing faster through the shaft 34. The direction of the surface 26 may guide the fluid into the passage 29 toward the impeller 22. Fluid flowing through the passage 29 may impinge against the interior wall 28a and the trailing edge of a tooth 25 that is adjacent the interior wall 28a. As fluid encounters the trailing edge 19, the impeller 22 may rotate causing the axle 14 to rotate and likewise, the rotor 10 to also rotate outside the shaft 30; 34. The rate of rotation of the rotor 10 may thus, be controlled by the suction effected by the user. Additionally, it may be appreciated that the projection of teeth 25 in tight proximity to the interior wall 28a captures a majority of the fluid entering the housing 28 without the fluid simply circumventing the impeller 22, yet the impeller 22 remains free to rotate around.
Referring now to
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The disc 58 may include a centralized bore 62 and a pin 56 projecting out from the disc 58. The disc 58 may be positioned over the cap 18 and onto the axle 14 (projecting through the bore 62), so that the pin 56 may rotate axially about the axle 14.
The guide plate 52 may be a base configured to receive and detain the novelty object 44c. The guide plate 52 may include a bore 50 and a guide slot 54. The bore 50 may be positioned to receive the pivot pin 60 while the pin 56 is received within the guide slot 54.
In an exemplary use, as a user draws fluid up the shaft 30, the fluid may encounter the surface 26 rotating the impeller (not shown) causing the axle 14 to rotate. As the axle 14 rotates, the disc 58 turns so that the pin 56 rotates and moves within the guide slot 54. Movement of the pin 56 within the guide slot 54 may cause an oscillating pivoting action about the pivot pin 60. The rate of fluid drawn up the shaft 30 may thus, allow a user to make the novelty object 44c, (in this example, the grass skirt) appear to either sway at low flow rates or shake vigorously at higher flow rates.
Those of skill in the art would appreciate that various components and blocks may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, or partitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scope of the subject technology.
The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The previous description provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.
Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. Similarly, an item disposed above another item may be located above or below the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction; and an item disposed below another item may be located below or above the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction.
A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. A phrase such a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
