DRINKING STRAWS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drinking straw composed of two grooves which can be used multiple times.

[0002] Multiple use requires that the drinking straw can also be cleaned inside.

[0003] From US 2017 / 02 168 90 A1 and US 6 039 490 C, it is known to pierce drinking straws with small brushes to clean them. This technique for cleaning drinking straws is complex and, given the cost of drinking straws, highly unprofitable.

[0004] In order to obtain drinking straws that are dishwasher-safe, drinking straws were developed that consist of two grooves that can be connected to form a tube for drinking and separated from each other for cleaning.

[0005] Thus, KR 10 2018 000 133 1 A describes a drinking straw according to the preamble of claim 1, in which the two grooves in the edge area each have separately arranged guides, e.g. dovetail guides, which can be pushed into one another so that a closed tube is created.

[0006] The cylindrical drinking straws described in US 2019 / 003 80 58 A1 are technologically easier to manufacture, as the edge areas of the two grooves overlap and lie on top of each other when pushed together. This requires that at least one groove has a cross-section of more than 180°.

[0007] The object of the invention is to ensure a closed cross-section for a drinking straw when connecting two grooves in a safe and cost-effective manner.

[0008] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] For a drinking tube consisting of two grooves which, when connected to one another, form a closed cross-section in which the edge regions overlap and lie on one another in a sealing manner and / or interlock, wherein one groove of the two grooves is an inner or internal groove and the other groove of the two grooves is an outer or external groove, wherein the grooves are each designed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry, it is provided according to the invention that a) the height (h) of the drinking tube consisting of the grooves is smaller than the width (b) with respect to the axis of symmetry and b) the cross-section of the inner groove is designed to be the same as or slightly larger than the cross-section of the outer groove, so that there is tension between the grooves lying one inside the other and wherein no additional guides are arranged on the grooves, but these result from the geometry of the grooves alone.

[0010] The channel cross-sections can be elliptical, curved, polygonal, circular, and / or trapezoidal. In special cases, a channel can also be designed as a ledge. The axis of symmetry is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the drinking straw.

[0011] The above-mentioned object is further achieved by a method for producing a drinking straw according to the invention. The two grooves are connected by sliding or inserting them into one another.

[0012] Telescoping means that one end of one channel is inserted into the end of the other, and then a force is applied along the length of the drinking straw to move the channels toward each other. This technique is used for solid channel materials such as steel, stainless steel, or rigid plastic.

[0013] When nesting, the grooves are placed on top of each other with their open sides and pressed together by a force applied perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the drinking straw. For this to work, at least one groove must be made of a highly flexible material, such as silicone, which expands after nesting and at least creates a positive connection with the other groove.

[0014] It is also advantageous that both channels are made of a highly flexible material.

[0015] Advantageously, the thickness of the grooves allows for elastic deformation of at least the inner groove when pushed or plugged into one another under the force of the human hand.

[0016] The human force to be applied should be between 1 and 50 N, preferably between 8 and 20 N.

[0017] The non-circular cross-section creates parallel guide edges or guide curves along the length of the gutter, which advantageously prevent the gutters from twisting relative to each other. This ensures that the width of the overlapping edge areas remains constant over the entire length of the gutter, ensuring the cross-section remains closed and sealed on both sides.

[0018] In a first embodiment, at least the outer channel has its edge regions bent inwards into the channel so that these edge regions encompass the edge regions of the inner channel.

[0019] In another design, the edge areas of both gutters are bent inwards so that the edge areas of the outer gutter encompass the edge areas of the inner gutter and the edge areas of the inner gutter rest against the outer gutter up to the non-bent area of the outer gutter.

[0020] As a special case of these two designs, the inner gutter is designed as a strip with or without offsets. A strip is defined as one with flat or slightly curved surfaces.

[0021] "Crimping," as used here, means that an outer longitudinal section of the edge of the gutters is bent by a specific amount. This can be done at an angle with a small bending radius or in the form of a curve.

[0022] Instead of offsets, the grooves can also have an elliptical shape in cross-section.

[0023] Crucially, no additional guides are installed on the troughs; instead, they are created automatically from the geometry of the troughs. This significantly reduces costs, simplifies handling, prevents wear, and is more hygienic than, for example, the cited KR 10 2018 000 133 1 A, where residues of beverage components can still collect in the dovetail guides.

[0024] To ensure a pleasant drinking experience when using the drinking straw, the edges of the groove should be rounded, at least on the outer groove.

[0025] To ensure the tightness of the connected gutters, it is advisable if there is a force connection and / or friction connection between the pushed or inserted gutters, which can be overcome by human force in order to separate the gutters.

[0026] The human force required to pull the nested gutters apart should be between 1 and 50 N, preferably between 8 and 20 N.

[0027] When using highly flexible materials, the two grooves can be pulled apart from each other in a similar way to removing a banana peel.

[0028] A further embodiment provides that combinations of a fixed groove with a groove made of a highly flexible material or a combination of grooves made of highly flexible material are provided as curved drinking tubes.

[0029] "Curved" means that the joined troughs have a curve along their entire length or only in a specific section, preferably in the last third before the drinking opening. The trough made of the rigid material or one made of a highly flexible material is pre-bent, while the second trough adapts to the shape when inserted into the other.

[0030] This adaptable gutter is preferably designed as a strip, as this has the lowest section modulus and thus the connection remains tight over the entire length of the gutter.

[0031] In addition to the advantages already mentioned, the drinking straws according to the invention with a smaller height (h) than width (b) have further advantages: the groove opening is larger than with cylindrical grooves, which makes cleaning easier, the surface area of the human hand when pushing them apart is larger, which makes this process easier and makes the use of additional handles as in US 2019 / 003 80 58 A1 unnecessary, the outer surface of the outer groove is larger so that corresponding advertising can be applied more effectively, both grooves are made of a highly flexible material, the drinking straws can also be bent without becoming leaky.

[0032] The invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 Drinking straws with a circular cross-section, Fig. 2 Drinking straws with elliptical cross-section, Fig. 3 Drinking straw with cranked outer groove, Fig. 4 Drinking straws with cranked grooves, Fig. 5 a special case according to Fig. 3 or 4 with a gutter as a strip with curved outer gutter Fig. 6 with trapezoidal outer groove, Fig. 7 a combination of stainless steel and highly flexible material, Fig. 8 a curved drinking straw and Fig. 9 further advantageous cross-sections of joined gutters.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a drinking tube with two grooves 2, 3, which are pushed into each other to form a drinking tube 1 with a circular cross-section.

[0034] The cross-section of the inner channel 3 is the same as or slightly larger than the cross-section of the outer channel 2, so that there is tension between the channels 2, 3 lying one inside the other.

[0035] The challenge with this design is achieving the ideal condition depicted, namely that the overlap areas are as constant as possible relative to the length of the drinking straw 1. Markings indicating the correct positioning can be helpful in this regard.

[0036] This problem does not exist with the other solutions presented, as their geometry guarantees the exact positioning of the grooves 2, 3 relative to one another. In this drinking straw 1, consisting of two grooves 2, 3, which, when pushed into one another, form a closed cross-section in which the edge regions 4 overlap and lie on one another in a sealed manner or interlock, the grooves 2, 3 are each formed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry 5, wherein the height (h) of the grooves 2, 3 relative to the axis of symmetry 5 is smaller than the width (b).

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a design with an elliptical shape in four views, including one in cross-section. This design has also proven itself extremely well with highly flexible gutter materials.

[0038] In both channels 2, 3, the channel edges 7 are rounded.

[0039] When executed according to Fig. 3 In the outer channel 2, the edge regions 4 are bent inwards into the channel 2, so that these edge regions 4 encompass the edge regions 4 of the inner channel 3.

[0040] At the Fig. 4 In the embodiment shown, the edge regions 4 of both channels 2, 3 are designed to be cranked inwards, so that the edge regions 4 of the outer channel 2 encompass the edge regions 4 of the inner channel 3 and the edge regions 4 of the inner channel 3 rest against the outer channel 1 up to the non-cranked region of the latter.

[0041] During crimping, as shown in the illustrations, an outer longitudinal section of the edge area 4 of the grooves 2, 3 is bent by a specific amount. This can be done at an angle with a small bending radius, as shown. If the bending radius is larger and in the shape of an arc, the cross-section approximates an elliptical shape.

[0042] A special case of the Fig. 3 and 4 The drinking straw shown in the drawing provides that the inner groove 3 is designed as a strip with or without bends. Fig. 5 with curved outer channel 2 and Fig. 6 with trapezoidal outer gutter 2.

[0043] Fig. 7 shows a drinking straw 1 in which the outer groove 2 is made of stainless steel and the inner groove 3 is made of a highly flexible material such as silicone. The grooves 2 and 3 are joined by inserting them into each other, and separated by pulling off the inner groove 3, as shown.

[0044] In Fig. 8 A curved drinking tube 1 is shown in two views. Here, too, the outer groove 2 is made of stainless steel. It is pre-bent in the upper third, in front of the drinking opening. The inner groove is a strip made of a highly flexible material.

[0045] The joining of the channels 2, 3 is carried out by inserting them into one another and the separation is carried out by pulling off the inner channel 3. The use of a strip as the inner channel 3 has the advantage that the strip, which follows the outer channel 2 when inserted into one another and which seals against its cranked areas 6, has the lowest section modulus.

[0046] Fig. 9 shows further advantageous cross-sections of joined gutters: square, hexagonal and triangular, each cranked.

[0047] Due to the selected geometry of height (h) and width (b), the bends or curves become guides for the outer channel 2 when the channels 2, 3 are pushed together. This guarantees a constant overlap area over the length of the drinking straw 1. The selected geometry and the materials used also allow curved

[0048] Drinking tubes 1 are closed or the drinking tubes 1 can be bent while drinking.

[0049] Finally, we would like to point out an advantageous design in which a groove at the end is shaped like a spoon. This gives the drinking straw a spoon-like function. The spoon-like design is preferably applied to a groove made of a solid material. List of reference symbols

[0050] 1 drinking tube 2 outer groove 3 inner groove 4 edge areas of the grooves 5 axis of symmetry 6 cranked edge area of the grooves 7 groove edges

Claims

1. A drinking tube (1) consisting of two channels (2, 3) which, when connected to one another, form a closed cross-section in which the edge regions (4) overlap and lie on one another sealingly or interlock, wherein one channel of the two channels (2, 3) is an inner or internal channel (3) and the other channel of the two channels (2, 3) is an outer or external channel (2), wherein the channels (2, 3) are each formed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry (5), characterized in that a) the height (h) of the drinking tube consisting of the channels (2, 3) with respect to the axis of symmetry (5) is smaller than the width (b) and b) the cross-section of the internal channel (3) is equal to or slightly larger than the cross-section of the external channel (2), so that there is a tension between the channels (2, 3) lying one inside the other, and wherein no additional guides are arranged on the channels (2, 3), but these result from the geometry of the channels (2, 3) alone.

2. A method for producing a drinking tube (1) according to claim 1, comprising connecting the two channels (2, 3) by pushing or inserting them into one another.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that when pushed into one another, the end of the inner channel (3) is inserted into the end of the outer channel (2) and then the channels (2, 3) are moved towards each other by a force in the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that when inserted into one another, the channels (2, 3) are placed on top of one another with the open sides and pressed into one another by a force acting transversely to the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube.

5. The method according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the thickness of the channels (2, 3) allows elastic deformation of at least the internal channel (3) when pushed or inserted into one another under a force of between 1 and 50 N, preferably between 8 and 20 N.

6. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the case of the overlapping edge regions (4), at least in the case of the outer channel (2), the edge regions (4) are bent inwards into the channel (2), so that these edge regions (4) encompass the edge regions (4) of the inner channel (3).

7. The drinking tube according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the edge regions (4) of both channels (2, 3) are designed to be bent inwards, so that the edge regions (4) of the outer channel (2) encompass the edge regions (4) of the inner channel (3) and the edge regions (4) of the inner channel (3) bear against the outer channel (2) up to the non-bent region of the latter.

8. The drinking tube according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the inner channel (3) is designed as a strip with or without bends.

9. The drinking tube according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the bending of the edge regions (4) of the channels (2, 3) is carried out at an angle with a small bending radius or in the form of an arc.

10. The drinking tube according to any of claims 1, 6 to 9, characterized in that the joined channels (2, 3) follow an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape or a circular shape in cross-section.

11. The drinking tube according to any of claims 1, 6 to 10, characterized in that the drinking tubes (1) are curved, wherein a combination of a fixed channel (2 or 3) with a channel (3 or 2) made of a highly flexible material or a combination of channels (2, 3) made of highly flexible material are provided as curved drinking tubes and wherein the channel (2 or 3) made of the fixed material or a channel (2 or 3) made of a highly flexible material is pre-bent, while the respective other channel (3 or 2) adapts at least form-fittingly when the channels are inserted into one another.

12. The drinking tube according to claim 11, characterized in that the adaptable inner channel (3) is designed as a strip, since it has the lowest section modulus.

13. The drinking tube according to any of claims 1, 6 to 12, characterized in that at least in the outer channel (2) the channel edges (7) are rounded.

14. The drinking tube according to any of claims 1, 6 to 13, characterized in that between the connected channels (2, 3) there is a frictionally engaged connection and / or friction connection which can be overcome for separation by a force of between 1 and 50 N, preferably between 8 and 20 N.

15. The drinking tube according to any of claims 1, 6 to 14, characterized in that the separation of the channels (2, 3), at least one of which consists of a highly flexible material, can be carried out by pulling one channel (2, 3) off from the other.