Effervescent Drinking Straw Structure for Stable Fizzy Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking straws fail to consistently deliver a fizzy effect over time due to instability of effervescent tablets, which either dissolve too quickly or cause inconvenient foaming when floating, and existing solutions are complicated or expensive.
Innovation Solution
A drinking straw design featuring a thermoplastic wall with an elongate container portion, liquid-permeable closures, and hygroscopic filler that retains effervescent tablets, preventing premature dissolution and foaming, while allowing gradual effervescence and flavor delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If effervescent tablets are placed in the drinking straw, then a fizzy effect is produced, but the tablets dissolve too quickly or cause inconvenient foaming
Solution Approach 1:
The straw is divided into multiple compartments: an upper compartment for the effervescent tablet and a lower compartment for the liquid. This segmentation prevents the tablet from直接接触 the liquid until desired, allowing controlled effervescence when the compartments are connected during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The effervescent tablet is pre-loaded into the upper compartment and prepared in advance. The liquid is separately stored in the lower compartment. The effervescence action is triggered only when the user connects the compartments, ensuring the tablet remains stable during storage and transport.
2Productivity
If the effervescent tablet floats in the liquid, then it rises to the top and causes foaming near the user's mouth, but if it sinks, it dissolves too fast
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the tablet and liquid into different compartments, the unwanted foaming near the user's mouth is prevented. The tablet remains in the upper compartment away from the liquid until use, eliminating the harmful foaming effect during storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
A connecting mechanism serves as an intermediary between the upper and lower compartments. This intermediary controls the interaction between the tablet and liquid, allowing effervescence to occur only when and where desired, rather than continuously or in inconvenient locations.
3Productivity
If flavoring agent is applied on the inner wall of the drinking straw, then flavoring effect is achieved, but dissolution is unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to make the wall-applied flavoring dissolve effectively, the invention uses a disposable effervescent tablet that is replaced after each use. This ensures consistent flavoring quality without the dissolution problems of wall-applied agents.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures a stable and prolonged fizzy effect without excessive foaming, allowing for the consumption of a fizzy beverage over time with consistent flavor and active ingredient delivery.
Implementation Method 1
hygroscopic filler disposed at both sides of the at least one tablet within the container portion
Implementation Method 2
Effervescent tablets are tablets that are designed to break down rapidly when they are placed into water or another liquid, releasing carbon dioxide in the process
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drinking straw comprising:a thermoplastic wall having an elongate container portion;liquid permeable closures closing off the container portion;at least one effervescent tablet disposed within the container portion such that a clearance is left between the inner side of the wall and the at least one tablet;a hygroscopic filler disposed at both sides of the at least one tablet within the container portion.