Drinking Straw

Abstract

The invention relates to a drinking straw which is sealed and / or re-sealable at the ends and which can serve as a supply container for a dry food product or which can comprise multiple parts, and to its use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE10200700867 filed Feb. 2, 2007.STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]N / AREFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]N / ABACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates to a drinking straw which can be filled with a food product, a procedure for its production and ways of its use.[0006]2. Description of the Related Art[0007]The prior art presents us with straws in a great variety of forms and uses. DE 20 2005010735 U1 concerns a straw which encases a second straw that is coated with ice. EP 963327 B1 describes a plastic container for liquids which contains a fully floating straw in the inside. It concerns a sealed plastic pouch for liquids where a straw-like object is held inside the container and is floating freely in the liquid contained in the bag. For such plastic containers, straws of a su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The aim of the present invention was to create a straw which can serve as a supply container for food products enabling long storage and ensuring great storage stability.

[0020]In a possible variation on the present invention it is a one-piece design and is equipped with a mouthpiece at each end which is conical and tapering towards the straw. Below this range the straw is deformed by 90° so that a cross-shaped opening is created. This opening is sufficiently large to ensure the flow of liquid inside the straw without exhibiting too much suction resistance. An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that granules of irregular grain size can be filled in the straw in a greater particle distribution without allowing the smaller granules to fall out.

[0021]In a further variant of the invention, the straw is a one-piece design and it is sealed at both ends. One of the ends is welded and, after filling the container with the dry food product, the other end used for filling up is also welded. The welded ends of the straw are rounded off, preventing injuries to the mouth or lips.

[0022]In a further preferred embodiment, the straw is manufactured with a single opening, and so one end is already rounded off in the manufacturing process. Openings, holes, or slots are located at the end of the straw, ensuring the flow of liquid through the straw. Additional advantage this embodiment is that granules of irregular grain size can be filled in the container in a greater particle distribution without allowing the smaller granules to fall out.

[0023]In another embodiment of the present invention the inner surface of the straw is coated with an antimicrobial agent in order to prolong the shelf-life of the dry food product.

[0033]Yet another object of the present invention is the use of the above described straw for storing supplies of dry food products, especially powders which, when contacted with aqueous media, result in a readily drinkable liquid.

Problems solved by technology

For such plastic containers, straws of a sufficient grade of rigidity are supplied in order to be able to pierce the pouch without having tapered the end of the straw and without any further devices attached to the straw to facilitate its handling and its movement in the container, since such additional measures have other disadvantages in the process of automated production of such containers and their contents.

Furthermore, such containers for liquids must be highly hygienic and must be manufactured of a sort of plastic which does not lend any aftertaste (e.g. a sour taste) to the liquid contained therein, especially when the liquid is stored in the container for a long period of time.

A disadvantage of this method is that great attention must be paid to the sort of plastic used in order to ensure hygiene and taste neutrality.

Disadvantages in the prior art are that straws are either attached to the outside of the respective liquid-filled containers and are likely to get lost or damaged, or that clothing may be contaminated with the liquids by spilling through the straw.

Images