Curly stress-tight structure for forming a hollow tube

Abstract

A stress-tight structure for forming a hollow tube includes a thin slice body having a first side edge and a second side edge. A deformation segment is formed on the second side edge and a tight engagement segment is extended outward from the deformation segment by a length. A first sharp projection is formed on an inside surface of the first side edge, and a second sharp projection formed on an outside surface of the second side edge and located between the deformation segment and the tight engagement segment. The second side edge is curled in a curling direction toward the first side edge to have the outside surface located at the second sharp projection of the second side edge correspond to the inside surface of the first side edge, and the first sharp projection is set in hooking engagement with the second sharp projection, thereby forming the hollow tube.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a hollow tube, and more particularly to a curly stress-tight structure for forming a drinking straw, in which a curly stress of a thin slice body makes opposite surfaces of first and second side edges tightly contact with each other to form a usable drinking straw.2. The Related Arts

[0002] Most of the straws currently available on the market are made into a tubular structure. Although this known type of structure has the advantage of being easy to use, it is a design for one-time use only and cannot be reused. Moreover, most of these straw products are made of plastic materials, so that the straws must be discarded after being used once. This causes serious environmental pollution problems. Although the manufacturers proposed straw products that are claimed to be environmentally friendly, in fact they still cause environmental and safety problems. For example, brushes and detergents are needed for cleaning, otherwise bacteria will easily breed; and there is a risk of injuring of the human body if accidental or intentional stabbing occurs.

[0003] Further, for the manufacturers, being limited by the design of traditional straw products, straw products must maintain a fixed tubular structure during storage, packaging, and transportation, so that a larger space is required. This has caused troubles for the manufactures with respect to storing, packaging, and transporting of the straw products.

[0004] Although the manufacturers have also proposed new environmentally friendly straws that can be used through opening and closing in order to overcome the above-mentioned various problems, when the user sucks such a new environmentally friendly straw, the stress exerted by the lips on the end of the straw can easily deform the end of the straw, resulting insufficiency of tightness and thus reducing the suction efficiency and affecting the suction function.

[0005] It is desired to have a design of straw that preserves the function of a general straw during use, and can be opened / closed in a curling direction, cleaned, stored, carried, and reused after uses and also overcomes the problem that straw products require a large space for storage, packaging, and transportation, in order to meet the needs of users, manufacturers, and environmental protection.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a curly stress-tight structure for forming a hollow tube, in order to provide a hollow tube product that is easy to stow, carry, and use.

[0007] The technical solution that the present invention adopts provides a stress-tight structure, which comprises a thin slice body in the form of a plate, and the thin slice body comprises a first side edge and a second side edge corresponding thereto. A deformation segment is formed on the second side edge. A tight engagement segment is extended outward from the deformation segment by a length. A first sharp projection is formed on an inside surface of the first side edge. A second sharp projection is formed on an outside surface of the second side edge and is located between the deformation segment and the tight engagement segment. To use, the second side edge is curled in a curling direction toward the first side edge to have the outside surface located at the second sharp projection of the second side edge correspond to the inside surface of the first side edge, and the first sharp projection is set in hooking engagement with the second sharp projection, wherein an outward-directed stress is induced and accumulated in the thin slice body through the curling so as to make the outside surface of the tight engagement segment of the second side edge in tight contact with the inside surface of the first side edge, thereby forming a hollow tube.

[0008] Preferably, the thin slice body is made of one of a degradable material, silicone rubber, plastics, and Teflon.

[0009] Preferably, the first sharp projection comprises a barb structure, and the barb structure comprises a locking surface protruding from the inside surface of the first side edge by a height, and a slope surface connects the locking surface and an outer end portion of the first side edge, and the locking surface and the slope surface define therebetween an acute angle.

[0010] Preferably, the deformation segment comprises an increased thickness greater than an intrinsic thickness of the thin slice body.

[0011] Preferably, the deformation segment is gradually decreasing with respect to a thickness thereof at a portion adjacent to the tight engagement segment to connect to the tight engagement segment, so as to define the second sharp projection.

[0012] In efficacy, the thin slice body of the present invention can be expanded for cleaning, storing, and carrying, and it is curled into a structure of a drinking hollow tube only when it is to be used. As such, the user may repeatedly use the drinking hollow tube and the problem of discarding straws after only one time of use can be reduced to thereby achieve the purpose of environmental protection

[0013] Through the design of the present invention, the hollow tube product according to the present invention is repeatedly usable, openable, and cleanable, and is to stow and carry. For the manufacturers, the requirement for a large r space for storing, packaging, and transporting hollow tube products can be greatly reduced.

[0014] In brief, the design of the present invention can greatly enhance the convenience of use, storage, easiness of carrying, hygiene, and repeated usability of the straws to eventually achieve reduction of the number of discarded straws and the pollution caused thereby, showing a substantive efficacy for protecting the earth.

[0015] The specific technology adopted in the present invention will be further described with reference to embodiments provided below and the attached drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hollow tube according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a thin slice body shown in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a circled region A of FIG. 2;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hollow tube according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a state of being used; and

[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circled region B of FIG. 4.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a thin slice body 100 in the form of a plate and having a first side edge 11 and a second side edge 21 opposite to the first side edge 11. The thin slice body 100 is made of a curveable material with an appropriate outward-directed stress in curled state and can be made of a proper material, such as degradable materials, silicone rubbers, plastics, or Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene). The second side edge 21 of the thin slice body 100 is curveable or windable in a curling direction M1 toward the first side edge 11. The thin slice body 100 includes a suitable extension length in an axial direction M2 in order to allow the thin slice body 100 to be conveniently used by a user.

[0022] Further referring to FIG. 2, which is a top plan view of the thin slice body 100 shown in FIG. 1, an inside surface 12 of the thin slice body 100 is provided with a first sharp projection 13 formed at a location corresponding to the first side edge 11, and the first sharp projection 13 protrudes from the inside surface 12 by a suitable height.

[0023] The second side edge 21 of the thin slice body 100 comprises a deformation segment S1 and a tight engagement segment S2. The tight engagement segment S2 is extended outward from the deformation segment S1 by a suitable length and forms a free end at an outer end portion of the second side edge 21. A second sharp projection 23 is formed on an outside surface 22 of the second side edge 21 and is located on the deformation segment S1.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, which shows an enlarged view of a circled region A of FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first sharp projection 13 comprises a barb structure, and the barb structure has a locking surface 131 protruding from the inside surface 12 of the first side edge 11 by a height, and a slope surface 132 connects, at an angle, the locking surface 131 and an outer end portion of the first side edge 11. The locking surface 131 and the slope surface 132 define therebetween an acute angle.

[0025] Regarding the second side edge 21 of the thin slice body 100, the deformation segment S1 has an increased thickness d1, meaning the increased thickness d1 of the deformation segment S1 is larger than an intrinsic thickness d2 of the thin slice body 100 and is gradually decreasing, with respect to the increased thickness d1, at a portion adjacent to the tight engagement segment S2 to connect to the tight engagement segment S2 in order to form a second sharp projection 23. In other words, the second sharp projection 23 is located between the deformation segment S1 and the tight engagement segment S2.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, to use, a user curls the second side edge 21 in the curling direction M1 toward the first side edge 11 to set the outside surface 22 of the second side edge 21 corresponding to the inside surface 12 at the first side edge 11 so as to allow the first sharp projection 13 to get engagement with the second sharp projection 23 for hooking with each other. Under this condition, the curling operation induces an accumulated outward-directed stress in the thin slice body 100, thereby making the outside surface 22 of the tight engagement segment S2 of the second side edge 21 in tight contact engagement with the inside surface 12 of the first side edge 11, thereby forming a hollow tube. As such, the user may use the hollow tube to smoothly suck and drink beverage.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, which shows an enlarged view of a circled region B of FIG. 4, as the second side edge 21 of the thin slice body 100 comprises a deformation segment S1, and the deformation segment S1 comprises an increased thickness d1, the outward-directed stress that is accumulated in the thin slice body 100 through curling is increased, making the contact engagement between the outside surface 22 of the tight engagement segment S2 of the second side edge 21 of the thin slice body 100 and the inside surface 12 of the first side edge 11 tighter.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the deformation segment S1 is constructed to have an increased thickness d1, and the purpose is to provide the thin slice body 100 with an outward-directed stress accumulated therein through curling. Structures of equivalent modifications or substitutes (such as changing the curvature of the deformation segment S1) are obviously falling in the spirit of creation of the present invention and the scope of the claims.

[0029] The above-described embodiments are provided only for describing the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent modifications and substitutes that are achieved without departing from the disclosed spirit of the present invention are embraced is the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stress-tight structure for forming a hollow tube, comprising:a thin slice body, having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to the first side edge;a deformation segment formed on the second side edge;a tight engagement segment extended outward from the deformation segment by a length;a first sharp projection formed on an inside surface of the first side edge; anda second sharp projection formed on an outside surface of the second side edge and located between the deformation segment and the tight engagement segment;wherein the second side edge is curled in a curling direction toward the first side edge to have the outside surface located at the second sharp projection of the second side edge correspond to the inside surface of the first side edge, and the first sharp projection is set in hooking engagement with the second sharp projection, so that an outward-directed stress is induced and accumulated in the thin slice body through the curling to make the outside surface of the tight engagement segment of the second side edge in tight contact with the inside surface of the first side edge, thereby forming the hollow tube.

2. The stress-tight hollow tube according to claim 1, wherein the thin slice body is made of one of a degradable material, silicone rubber, plastics, and Teflon.

3. The stress-tight hollow tube according to claim 1, wherein the first sharp projection comprises a barb structure including a locking surface protruding from the inside surface of the first side edge by a height, and a slope surface connecting the locking surface and an outer end portion of the first side edge, and the locking surface and the slope surface define therebetween an acute angle.

4. The stress-tight hollow tube according to claim 1, wherein the deformation segment comprises an increased thickness greater than an intrinsic thickness of the thin slice body.

5. The stress-tight hollow tube according to claim 4, wherein the deformation segment is gradually decreasing with respect to the increased thickness at a portion adjacent to the tight engagement segment to connect to the tight engagement segment, so as to define the second sharp projection.

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