GB2198622A - Drinking straw - Google Patents

Abstract

A drinking straw (10) is provided, adjacent at least one end (12) thereof, with one or more lateral apertures (14) in its wall to enable liquid to be sucked out of the side of the straw rather than through the end. The end of the straw is preferably closed off, though it may have a small aperture to complement the lateral apertures. The lateral apertures cause the straw to fill the mouth more effectively, allowing the flavour to be appreciated and enabling any carbon dioxide in the drink to be more effectively dispersed rather than swallowed. <IMAGE>

Description

DRINKING STRAW This invention relates to straws for drinking long drinks such as squashes and other soft drinks.

The use of drinking straws have greatly increased in recent years, particularly with the increase in the number of drinks sold for consumption straight out of a bottle, can or carton, or example in fast food outlets. Such straws are generally -dc from extruded plastics or wax paper,and can come in a variety of decorative colours and shapes.

It is however - disadvantage of conventional straws that they end to project the liquid straight to the back of the mouth so that it disappears down the throat, without its flavour being fully appreciated. In the case of carbonated drinks this can cause a lot of gas to be swallowed, with subsequent discomfort.

The present invention consists in a drinking straw having, adjacent at least one end thereof, at least one lateral aperture in its wall to enable liquid to be sucked out of the side of t straw rather than through said end.

It is possible by means 5 of t',e present -;nvent ion to provide a drink ng straw which fills the mouth more effectively, allowing the favour to'be appreciated and enabling any carbon dioxide in the drink to be more effectively dispersed rather han swallowed.

The end 0 the straw which is to be sucked is preferably closed off, trough it may have a small aperture to complement the lateral apertures Various patterns of apertures may be adopted, g-v-fng different effects in the youth. They may for example be designed to project the drink towards taste buds on --.e tongue more recptive to swecet or acid flavours, depending on the type of drink.

The straws of the invention may be made of any suitable material plastics being generally preferred Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows in slide elevation one end of a drinking straw in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional rIow of a straw in accordance with a second embodiment:: Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a fourth embodiment, and Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the steges of manufacture of a fifth ambodiment referring first to Figure 1, a s'raw generally indicated by 10 has a flat closed end 12 and four elongate apertures 14 in the wall of the straw arranged symmetrically round the straw adjacent the close end The effect of sucking through this straw will be o fill the front of the such with the drink rather than projecting it to the back of the mouth or straight down the throat.

The straw 11 shown in Figure 2 has a convex closed end 13. In this case the lateral holes 15 are smaller than those of Figure 1 and, instead of extendima straight outwards radially are inclined in a direction away from the closed end. Sucking through this straw will tend to project the liquid towards the front of the mouth and in particular to the taste buds near the tip of the gue.

The straw 16 shown in Figure 3 has a concave closed end 20 and lateral apertures 17 inclined in the opposite axial direction to those of Figure 2. The effect of this straw will be to project the liquid down the sides of the mouth and tongue. This straw is shown as a short attachn-erit for fitting to an ordinary straw 25, as will be described in more detail below.

Numerous other variations are contemplated within the scope of the invention. For example, the end of the straw which is to be sucked may have an enlarged portion 22 as shown in the straw 21 of Figure 4, with openings in different exial and radial directions, for example an opening 24 in the axial end and a number of radial openings 23 spaced around the en]arged end.

Stras according to the invention may also have apertures spaced longitudinally. Preferably however such apertures should not be positioned more than about 2cm away from the end of the straw, since if any apertures are not wholly within the mouth when the straw is sucked air may be sucked in through them or liquid may tend to dribble out.

The straws of the invention may be made of any material conventionally used in making such items, particularly extruded plastics or waxed paper In a simplified version, the end of the straw could be closed simply by clamping, then sealed by a heat weld o'r an ultrasonic weld.

The size and number of the apertures in the wall wy be varied according to the type of drink for which the straw is to be used. For example, thick milk shakes or fresh fruit juice with bits of pulp in it would require relatively large holes such as Smm x l.Srrm, as would carbonate drinks, whereas still drinks could be drunk with straws having a larger number of small holes of for example 1-2mm diameter.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the stages of manufacture of a drinking straw in accordance with a fifth er3odiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a continuously extruded tube 30 of thin plastics material which, prior to cutting into straws, is heat softened at positions such as 32, spaced from one another by a distance corresponding to the desired length of the straw, the heat softened portions then being stretched.

The stretched portions of the straw are then re-compressed to form flexible corrugated portions 34. The continuous tube is then cut transversely as shown by the line a to separate it into individual straws each having corrugated portion 34 at one end. A longitudinal cut b is then made as shown in Figure 6, along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the straw and continuing almost to the end of the corrugated portion where the cut turns outs so as to remove a longitudinal portion of the corrugated end of the straw.

The remaining part of the corrugated portion is then perforated with a number of holes 36, as shown in Figure 7.

At this stage, a small amount of adhesive 35 may be applied to the end of the corrugated portion.

Fina3ly, as shorn in Figure 8, the remaining.corrugated portion, which is in the form of a tongue, isfoldedover and its free end is inserted into the end of the straw. The free end can he secured In position either by means of adhesive 35, or by ultrasonic welding.

The straw thus produced has not only holes 36 through which the liquid can flo out, but also openings 40 on each size of the straw defined by the edges of the tongue which has been folded over. It. has been found that this type of straw is particularly effective in distributing the liquid within the mouth.

In a further embodiment, the corrugated configuration of the portion 34 can-be imparted to the whole straw, which can then be supplied in its compressed form and stretched to full lenght by the user.

Straws such as those shown in Figures 1 to 4 can, provided they are of relatively short length, be made by injection moulding. To facilitate such moulding, they could be made in the form of attachments for existing ordinary straws.

ch attachments having a length of say 3 to 8 cm, or to any minimum length approved by health and safety authorities, can oe injection moulded and supplied with straws having the correct diameter, for fitting at the point of use.

Straws according to the invention, including the attachments described above, could be rade of relatively thick plastics material so as to be re-usable.

Claims (13)

1. A drinking straw having, adjacent at least one end thereof, at least one lateral aperture in its wall to enable liquid to be sucked out of the side of the straw rather than through said end.

2. A drinking stra-.-: as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture is located adjacent a closed end of said straw.

3. A drinking straw as claimed in claim 2, having a plurality of lateral apertures which are elongate in the longitudinal direction of the straw, adjacent said closed end.

4. A drinking straw as claimed in claim 2, where in said closed end has a convex surface aid wherein a plurality of lateral apertures are provided which are inclined in a direction away form said closed end.

5. A drinking straw as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closed end has a concave surface and wherein a plurality of lateral apertures adjacent said closed end are inclined in a direction towards said closed end.

6. A straw as claired in any preceding claim, which is in the form of a shcrt attachment for an existing ordinary straw.

7. A straw s claired in any preceding claim, which is made by injection moulding.

8. A straw as claired in any one of claims 1 to 5, which is stretched by heat softening during manufacture and recc pressed to impart a corrugated shape to the whole straw whereby said straw Is flexible and stretchable to an increased length.

9. A method of making a drinking straw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises the steps of: a) extruding a tube of plastics material having the diameter and wall thickness corresponding to those desired for said straw; b) heat softening a portion of said tube and longitudinally stretching said heat softened portion; c) axially re-compressing said heat softened portion to form a flexible corrugated portion; d) cutting said tube transversely to give a straw having said corrugated portion at one end thereof; e) removing part of said corrugated portion by means of a longitudinal cut extending to its free end; f) folding over the remaining corrugated portion and tucking said free end into the end of said tube.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of: g) perforating said corrugated portion ror to step f).

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein an adhesive is applied to said free end of raid corrugated portion to secure it within the end of said tube.

12. A drinking straw substantially as herein n described, with reference to any one of Figures 1 to A or Figure 8 of the acconpanying drawings.

13. A method of making a drinking straw, -substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.