A drinking straw, a device for forming a drinking straw, a method for forming a drinking straw and a liquid food package
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paper-based drinking straws often struggle to penetrate the membrane of liquid food packages without damaging the straw, especially when the membrane is made of materials like polymer or paper-based materials.
Innovation Solution
A drinking straw design featuring an elongated tubular main body with a pinched end portion, where the pinched end is cut at an oblique angle to form a sharp, stiff cut tip that coincides with one of the compressed edges, enhancing the straw's ability to penetrate membranes without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional paper-based drinking straw is used, then the straw is environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, but the straw cannot penetrate the membrane of packaging material without damaging the straw
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a pinched end portion at one specific location of the straw, concentrating structural modifications only where penetration is needed. This localized pinching creates compressed edges with enhanced properties at the tip while leaving the rest of the straw body unchanged, allowing the straw to penetrate membranes without compromising overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the straw tip by pinching it to create compressed edges with altered geometric parameters. The pinched end portion has different cross-sectional dimensions and stiffness characteristics compared to the unpinched portion, creating a sharper, more rigid tip that can effectively penetrate packaging membranes while maintaining the straw's flexibility elsewhere
2Reliability
If the drinking straw tip is made sharper to penetrate the membrane, then the penetration capability is improved, but the risk of damaging the straw increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pinched end portion creates localized structural enhancement only at the penetration point, forming compressed edges that are sharper and stiffer where needed. This localized modification allows the tip to penetrate membranes effectively while the rest of the straw maintains its original strength and flexibility, reducing overall damage risk
Solution Approach 2:
The pinched end portion is pre-formed during manufacturing to create compressed edges with enhanced penetration properties before the straw is used. This preliminary structural preparation ensures the tip is ready to penetrate membranes without requiring excessive force during use, thereby preventing damage to the straw
Data Source
AI summary
A drinking straw is disclosed. The drinking straw comprising at least one elongated tubular main body portion; the elongated tubular main body portion comprising a pinched end portion, wherein the pinched end portion defines opposite compressed edges of the elongated tubular main body portion, and wherein the pinched end portion is cut with an oblique angle in relation to an longitudinal extension of the at least one elongated tubular main body portion and extending between the opposite compressed edges, thereby defining a cut tip, wherein an outermost tip of the cut tip coincides with one of the compressed edges.