Straw holder

Abstract

To provide a straw holder which can be attached to containers of various sizes to hold a straw, and also to provide a straw holder capable of reducing the amount of leftover beverage without lifting and tilting the container.SOLUTION: A straw holder 1 includes: a bridge 2 formed with a through-hole 4 for inserting a straw S; and a clip 3 provided on the bridge 2. In the straw holder 1, the bridge 2 is arranged across a first position P1 of an opening edge R of a container C and a second position P2 of the opening edge R separated from the first position P1, and a clip 3 holds the opening edge R at the first position P1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a straw holder.

Background Art

[0002] People with disabilities such as tremors in their hands, infants and the elderly who cannot easily lift a container by hand, etc., need a straw when drinking a beverage poured into a container such as a cup. When trying to hold the drinking mouth of the straw without using the hand, the straw may roll left and right along the opening edge of the container, making it difficult to hold the drinking mouth. Patent Documents 1 to 4 disclose techniques for holding a straw with respect to a container so that the straw does not roll.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are composed of a combination of a container and a lid dedicated to the container, and the straw is held by the lid. Therefore, the straw cannot be held with a general-purpose container to which the lid cannot be attached. The techniques described in Patent Documents 3 and 4 sandwich the opening edge of the container with a clip and hold the straw by the clip. Since the tip of the straw is fixed directly below the clip and cannot be moved, beverage remains at the bottom of the container unless the container is lifted and tilted.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a straw holder that can be attached to containers of various sizes to hold a straw. It also aims to provide a straw holder that can reduce leftover beverages without having to lift and tilt the container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A straw holder according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bridge having a through hole for inserting a straw, and a clip provided on the bridge. The straw holder is characterized in that the bridge is positioned across a first position on the opening edge of a container and a second position on the opening edge spaced apart from the first position, and the clip clamps the opening edge at the first position.

[0007] According to this embodiment, since a bridge is provided that spans the first and second positions, the position of the through hole can be freely positioned between the first and second positions. Because the tip of the straw is not limited to being directly below the clip, leftover beverage can be reduced. Also, since the bridge does not need to be fitted to the opening edge and sealed like a dedicated lid, the size of the opening edge and the size of the bridge do not have to be a perfect match. Because it is fixed to the container by a clip provided on the bridge, the bridge will not fall off the opening edge even if the sizes do not match. If the bridge is larger than the distance from the first position to the second position, the bridge can be positioned to span the first and second positions, so the straw holder can be attached to containers of various sizes.

[0008] In the above embodiment, the through hole may be formed to be larger in the front-to-back direction parallel to the straight line passing through the center of the opening edge and the first position than in the left-to-right direction which is perpendicular to both the front-to-back direction and the up-and-down direction with respect to gravity.

[0009] In this embodiment, when a straw is inserted into the through-hole, the gap between the inner wall surface of the through-hole and the straw becomes larger in the front-to-back direction. Because the drinking spout can be held in the mouth and the straw can be swung back and forth, it is possible to reduce leftover beverage without having to lift and tilt the container.

[0010] In the above embodiment, the distance from the through hole to the first position may be shorter than the distance from the through hole to the second position.

[0011] When the user or caregiver attaches the clip to the opening edge, the clip is positioned on the front side for easy visibility. In this configuration, the through-hole for inserting the straw is positioned closer to the first position on the bridge, so that it is not too far from the user, making it easy to put the mouthpiece of the straw in the mouth.

[0012] In the above embodiment, the bridge further comprises at least one protrusion provided on the lower surface of the bridge in the vertical direction with respect to gravity, and the at least one protrusion may include a protrusion facing the outer or inner surface of the container at the second position.

[0013] In this embodiment, when the bridge attempts to move from the second position, the protrusion contacts the outer or inner surface of the container, thereby restricting the bridge's movement. Since the bridge's movement is restricted at two locations, the first and second positions, the straw holder can be attached to the container more stably.

[0014] In the above embodiment, the protrusion facing the outer or inner surface of the container at the second position may be a ridge extending along the opening edge.

[0015] In this embodiment, since the protrusions are limited to ridges, the contact area when the bridge moves and the protrusions come into contact with the outer or inner surface of the container is larger compared to protrusions other than ridges. The movement of the bridge can be restricted more reliably. Examples of protrusions other than ridges include circular and polygonal projections.

[0016] In the above embodiment, the lower surface of the bridge is further provided with at least one groove in the vertical direction with respect to gravity, and the at least one groove may include a groove that extends along the opening edge at the second position.

[0017] According to this embodiment, bridge movement can be restricted even with concave ridges instead of convex ones. Design flexibility is increased. A variety of designs can be selected.

[0018] In the above embodiment, the bridge may branch between the first and second positions and extend to a third position on the opening edge that is different from both the first and second positions.

[0019] When a bridge is supported at two points on its opening edge, the most stable support is achieved when the second position is 180° opposite to the first position. The further the second position is from the 180° opposite position, the more unstable the bridge becomes. With this configuration, since the bridge is supported at three or more points, the bridge can be stably supported even if the second and third positions are positioned far from the opposite side of the first position. This increases design flexibility. For example, designs of animals or other living creatures, or vehicles such as airplanes, can be chosen to attract the interest of children.

[0020] In the above embodiment, the straw holder is made of a resin material, and the clip has a pair of outer clamping portions and inner clamping portions that face each other on either side of the opening edge, and further has at least one of an outer pressing portion protruding from the outer clamping portion toward the inner clamping portion and an inner pressing portion protruding from the inner clamping portion toward the outer clamping portion, and at least one of the outer pressing portion and the inner pressing portion may press against the outer or inner surface of the container by the restoring force of a resin spring that is spread apart in a direction that separates the outer clamping portion and the inner clamping portion.

[0021] According to this embodiment, a clip capable of securely gripping the opening edge can be constructed using an inexpensive and easily manufactured resin material. However, the material of the straw holder is not limited to resin; it may be made of wood, paper, or metal.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a straw holder that can be attached to containers of various sizes and hold a straw. Further, it is possible to provide a straw holder that can reduce the remaining amount of beverage without lifting or tilting the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where the straw holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a container. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the straw holder shown in FIG. 1 in a transparent manner. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the straw holder shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the straw holder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the straw holder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the straw holder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the straw holder according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, those denoted by the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations. Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0025] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a straw holder 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention attached to a container C. As shown in Figure 1, the straw holder 1 is attached to the opening edge R of a container C such as a cup to hold a straw S. In the illustrated example, the opening edge R is circular. The shape of the opening edge R is not limited to the illustrated example and may be elliptical or polygonal.

[0026] The straw holder 1 comprises a bridge 2 having a through hole 4 into which a straw S is inserted, and a clip 3 provided on the bridge 2. When the straw holder 1 is attached to the container C, the bridge 2 is positioned to straddle a first position P1 and a second position P2 of the opening edge R.

[0027] At the opening edge R, the first position P1 and the second position P2 are spaced apart from each other. In the illustrated example, the first position P1 and the second position P2 are located 180° opposite each other. In Figure 1, the vertical direction relative to gravity is shown as the Z-axis. In the following explanation, the direction X parallel to the line passing through the center O of the opening edge R (shown in Figure 4) and the first position P1 is called the front-back direction or first direction, and the direction Y perpendicular to both the front-back direction X and the up-down direction Z is called the left-right direction or second direction.

[0028] In the illustrated example, the bridge 2 is formed in a strip shape extending from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The straw holder 1 is provided on the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2 and may further include a restricting part 5 that restricts the movement of the bridge 2 at the second position P2. The restricting part 5 will be described in detail later with reference to Figures 2 to 6. The restricting part 5 is not an essential component and may be omitted as shown in Figure 7, which will be described later.

[0029] Figure 2 is a transparent perspective view showing the structure of the straw holder 1 shown in Figure 1. In the illustrated example, the bridge 2 is formed in a strip shape extending along the front-rear direction X. The clip 3 is provided at the first end 21 of the bridge 2, including one end and its vicinity, in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the front-rear direction X. The restricting portion 5 is provided at the second end 22 of the bridge 2, including the other end opposite to the first end and its vicinity, in the longitudinal direction.

[0030] The through-hole 4 penetrates the bridge 2 vertically. In the illustrated example, a flange 41 surrounding the through-hole 4 is provided on the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2. The flange 41 protrudes downward in a cylindrical shape from the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2. Preferably, the inner wall surface of the flange 41 is formed so that the diameter decreases towards the bottom, and the opening for inserting the straw S is larger than the exit. If the opening is larger than the exit, it becomes easier to insert the straw S into the through-hole 4 even if there is a hand tremor or other impairment. The inner wall surface of the flange 41 may be a substantially conical surface, or it may be a curved surface having a cross-section that is curved inwardly convex.

[0031] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the clip 3 has a pair of outer clamping portions 31 and inner clamping portions 32 facing each other with respect to the opening edge R, an outer pressing portion 33 protruding from the outer clamping portion 31 toward the inner clamping portion 32, and an inner pressing portion 34 protruding from the inner clamping portion 32 toward the outer clamping portion 31. Either the outer pressing portion 33 or the inner pressing portion 34 may be omitted.

[0032] The straw holder 1 is molded from a resin material such as polyamide resin or polypropylene resin. When the clip 3 is attached to the opening edge R, the outer clamping portion 31 and the inner clamping portion 32 are spread apart. At least one of the outer pressing portion 33 and the inner pressing portion 34 presses against the outer surface A or inner surface B of the container C by the restoring force of the resin spring that has been spread apart in the direction that separates the outer clamping portion 31 and the inner clamping portion 32. The material of the straw holder 1 is not limited to resin, but may be wood, paper, or metal. It can be selected from a variety of flexible materials.

[0033] In the illustrated example, the regulating portion 5 is composed of protrusions 51A, 51B, and 51C that project downward from the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2 at the second end 22. The number of protrusions is not limited to the illustrated example; there may be one, two, or four or more. At least one of the protrusions 51A, 51B, 51C, ... faces the outer circumferential surface A or the inner circumferential surface B of the container C at the second position P2. In the illustrated example, protrusion 51B faces the outer circumferential surface A, and protrusion 51C faces the inner circumferential surface B.

[0034] Figure 4 is a plan view of the straw holder 1 shown in Figure 1, viewed from above. As shown in Figure 4, the protrusion 51B is formed in an arc shape extending along the outer surface A of the container C at the second position P2. The protrusions 51A and 51C are formed in an arc shape concentric with the protrusion 51B. The inner diameters of the protrusions 51A, 51B, and 51C are appropriately selected according to the outer diameter of the container C, and the outer diameters of the protrusions 51A, 51B, and 51C are appropriately selected according to the inner diameter of the container C.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the protrusion 51A is formed in the shape of an arc with an inner diameter of 90 mm, the protrusion 51B is formed in the shape of an arc with an inner diameter of 76 mm, and the protrusion 51C is formed in the shape of an arc with an inner diameter of 62 mm. The interior angles α and β of the arcs are, for example, 90° or less, and preferably between 15° and 45°. In the illustrated example, the interior angle α is formed at 25° and the interior angle β is formed at 35°.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, it is preferable that the shape of the through-hole 4 in a plan view is larger in the front-to-back direction X than in the left-to-right direction Y. In the illustrated example, the through-hole 4 is formed as an ellipse with a major axis along the front-to-back direction X and a minor axis along the left-to-right direction Y.

[0037] The shape of the through-hole 4 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be an elongated hole formed by dividing a circle into two and connecting them with a rectangle of the same width as the diameter of the circle, as shown in Figure 5 later. As shown in Figure 4, it is preferable that the distance from the center of the through-hole 4 to the first position P1 is shorter than the distance from the center of the through-hole 4 to the second position P2.

[0038] As described above, with the straw holder 1 of this embodiment, the straw S is held in the through hole 4 and does not roll, making it easy to put the mouthpiece of the straw S in one's mouth and providing a sense of security to the user and caregiver. The bridge 2, which is positioned across the first position P1 and the second position P2, does not need to be fitted to the opening edge and sealed like a dedicated lid, so as shown in Figure 1, the size of the opening edge R and the size of the bridge 2 do not have to be perfectly matched. The straw holder 1 can be attached to containers C of various sizes. The opening edge R is not completely closed all the way around, and there is an opening where the bridge 2 is not positioned, so a caregiver can visually check the amount of beverage in the container or pour in more beverage through the opening.

[0039] In this embodiment, the straw holder 1 has a bridge 2 positioned across a first position P1 and a second position P2, allowing the position of the through-hole 4 to be freely selected between the first position P1 and the second position P2. Unlike the conventional technology, the tip of the straw S is not limited to being directly below the clip 3, thus reducing leftover beverages. The through-hole 4 is formed to be larger in the front-to-back direction X than in the left-to-right direction Y, allowing the straw S to be swung back and forth while the mouthpiece is in the mouth. This reduces leftover beverages without having to lift and tilt the container C. The distance from the through-hole 4 to the first position P1 is shorter than the distance from the through-hole 4 to the second position P2, so the straw S is positioned on the front side, which is easier to see and easier to put the mouthpiece in.

[0040] Next, the straw holder 1 according to the second to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the second to fifth embodiments, descriptions of matters common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences will be described. In addition, even in the second to fifth embodiments, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to attach it to a container C of various sizes to hold a straw S. This reduces the amount of leftover beverage without having to lift and tilt the container C.

[0041] [Second Embodiment] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a straw holder 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the restricting portion 5 that restricts the movement of the bridge 2 at the second position P2 is formed as a hemispherical projection 52 rather than a convex ridge. The shape of the projection 52 is not limited to the illustrated example and may be polygonal or of other shapes. The number of projections 52 may be more than the illustrated example, fewer than the illustrated example, or just one.

[0042] The projection 52 includes projections 52 that face the outer circumferential surface A or inner circumferential surface B of the container C at the second position P2. It may further include projections 52 that do not face the outer circumferential surface A or inner circumferential surface B. In the second embodiment, when the bridge 2 attempts to move from the second position P2, the projections 52 come into contact with the outer circumferential surface A or inner circumferential surface B of the container C, thereby restricting the movement of the bridge 2 at the second position P2.

[0043] [Third Embodiment] Figure 6 is a side view showing a straw holder 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that recessed ridges 53A, 53B, 53C, ... are provided on the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2, rather than convex ridges 51A, 51B, 51C, .... One of the recessed ridges 53A, 53B, 53C, ... extends along the upper end T (shown in Figure 5) of the opening edge R at the second position P2.

[0044] In the third embodiment, when the bridge 2 attempts to move from the second position P2, the opening edge R comes into contact with one of the inner wall surfaces of the grooves 53A, 53B, 53C, ..., thereby restricting the movement of the bridge 2 at the second position P2. Although not shown, the restricting portion 5 may be an elastomer with a high coefficient of friction, rather than a convex or concave portion. In that case, the restricting portion 5 may be provided on the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2 by two-color molding or bonding.

[0045] [Fourth Embodiment] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a straw holder 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the restricting portion 5 is omitted, as shown in Figure 7. When the gripping force of the clip 3 is sufficiently large, the bridge 2 is less likely to fall from the opening edge R even without the restricting portion 5.

[0046] [Fifth Embodiment] Figure 8 is a plan view showing a straw holder 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the bridge 2 branches between a first position P1 and a second position P2 and extends to a third position P3 on an opening edge different from both the first position P1 and the second position P2. The shape of the bridge 2 is not limited to the illustrated example and may further branch and extend to a fourth position, a fifth position on the opening edge R. In the illustrated example, a restricting portion 6 is provided on the lower surface 2B of the bridge 2 at the third end 23 located at the third position P3. The restricting portion 6 is, for example, a protrusion similar to the protrusions 51A, 51B, 51C, ... and restricts the movement of the bridge 2 at the third position P3.

[0047] According to the fifth embodiment, the bridge 2 can be stably supported even if the second position P2 and the third position P3 are positioned at a location significantly offset from the first position P1, which can most stably support the bridge 2. This increases the design flexibility, allowing for the selection of designs such as animals or vehicles like airplanes to attract the interest of children. In the illustrated example, the bridge 2 is formed in the shape of a crocodile.

[0048] The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its interpretation. The elements, arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, and sizes of the embodiments are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, it is possible to partially substitute or combine the configurations shown in different embodiments.

[0049] For example, in each embodiment, the number of through holes 4 may be two or more. By forming multiple through holes 4 in the bridge 2 at different distances from the user, the position of the drinking spout of the straw S can be adjusted more precisely. For example, in each embodiment, the clip 3 may be a metal leaf spring or torsion coil spring instead of a resin spring. In that case, the clip 3 may be provided in the bridge 2 by insert molding to embed the leaf spring or the like into the bridge 2, or a slit may be formed in the bridge 2 and the leaf spring or the like fitted into it. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1...Straw holder, 2...Bridge, 2A...Top surface, 2B...Bottom surface, 3...Clip, 4...Through hole, 41...Flange, 5,6...Restricting part, 21...First end, 22...Second end, 23...Third end, 31...Outer clamping part, 32...Inner clamping part, 33...Outer pressing part, 34...Inner pressing part, 51A,51B,51C...Convex ridge (an example of a convex part), 52...Projection (another example of a convex part), 53A,53B,53C...Concave ridge, A...Outer surface of the container, B...Inner surface of the container, C...Container, O...Center of the opening edge, P1...First position, P2...Second position, P3...Third position, R...Opening edge, S...Straw, T...Upper end of the opening edge, X...Front-back direction, Y...Left-right direction, Z...Up-down direction, α,β...Inner angle.

Claims

1. The device comprises a bridge with a through-hole for inserting a straw, a clip provided on the first end of the bridge, and a restricting portion or flat portion provided on the lower surface of the second end of the bridge. The bridge is positioned to span a first position on the opening edge of the container and a second position on the opening edge spaced apart from the first position. The clip is characterized in that it clamps the first position of the opening edge, while the restricting portion or the flat portion is placed on the second position of the opening edge. Straw holder.

2. The regulating part is, At least one protrusion facing the outer or inner surface of the container, At least one or more protrusions extending along the aforementioned opening edge, At least one groove extending along the opening edge, It is an elastomer with no bumps or irregularities. The straw holder according to claim 1.

3. The through-hole is formed to be larger in the front-to-back direction, which is parallel to the straight line passing through the center of the opening edge and the first position, than in the left-to-right direction, which is perpendicular to both the front-to-back direction and the up-and-down direction with respect to gravity. The straw holder according to claim 1.

4. The distance from the through hole to the first position is shorter than the distance from the through hole to the second position. The straw holder according to claim 1.

5. The bridge branches between the first position and the second position and extends to a third position of the opening edge that is different from both the first position and the second position. The straw holder according to claim 1.

6. The straw holder is made of a resin material, The clip has a pair of outer clamping portions and inner clamping portions that face each other across the opening edge, and further has at least one of an outer pressing portion that protrudes from the outer clamping portion toward the inner clamping portion and an inner pressing portion that protrudes from the inner clamping portion toward the outer clamping portion, At least one of the outer pressing portion and the inner pressing portion presses the outer or inner surface of the container by the restoring force of a resin spring that is spread apart in a direction that separates the outer clamping portion and the inner clamping portion. A straw holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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