Drinking straw for mixing and drinking beverages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drinking straws with radially expandable vane members for mixing beverages require manual manipulation to retract, necessitating removal from the liquid, which is inconvenient for continuous use.

Innovation Solution

A drinking straw design featuring a movable outer straw member with radially expandable and retractable vane members, allowing for one-handed operation between deployed and retracted positions without removing the straw from the beverage, utilizing stop portions and hinges for seamless engagement and retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual manipulation is used to retract vane members, then the mixing apparatus can return to undeployed state, but the straw must be removed from the liquid which is inconvenient for continuous use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of retraction operationVSAvoidtime for removal and reinsertion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The vane members automatically retract when the outer tube is pulled back, eliminating the need for manual manipulation. The retraction is achieved through the mechanical linkage between the outer tube movement and the vane member positioning, allowing the system to serve itself without user intervention for the return stroke

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The vane members transition from a static manual-retraction system to a dynamic automatic-retraction system. The movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube automatically drives the vane members between deployed and retracted states, creating a dynamic response to user action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If vane members are radially expanded for mixing, then mixing function is activated, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing functionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vane members are nested within the outer tube when retracted, and expand outward when deployed. This nesting arrangement allows the mixing apparatus to be compact during drinking mode while providing full mixing functionality when needed, without requiring separate storage mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing apparatus is divided into discrete vane member segments that can independently deploy and retract. Each vane member is a separate element that can be individually positioned, allowing for simplified manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the overall mixing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11510514B2Drinking straw for mixing and drinking beverages

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 MYSTICAL INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A drinking straw has an outer straw member having a lower portion, an upper portion having a top, and a mixing element, the mixing element having radially expandable and retractable vane members defined by two longitudinal slits, an upper hinge attached to the upper portion and a lower hinge attached to the lower portion and an inner straw member located internal to said outer straw member, the inner straw member having a bottom and a top, wherein the lower portion of the outer straw member is attached to the inner straw member, the outer straw member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position where stop portions of both straw members engage with each other so that the mixing element vane members radially extend away from the inner straw member and wherein the vane members retract when the outer straw member is in its retracted position.