Abstract:
A onetime and disposable use straw guide container that holds dry ice. The container uses a locking mechanism that uses a locking mechanism that uses a double lock to ensure that once the locking mechanism is locked it will not be unlocked or inadvertently opened, thereby ensuring that the straw guide container is a onetime use and disposable item that is safe for human use.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The present invention is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/891,315, filed on May 10, 2013 entitled A Straw Guide Container that Holds Dry Ice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a straw guide container that holds dry ice. 
         [0003]    The invention is an improved straw guide container that holds dry ice. The improvement being that the locking mechanism of the present invention cannot be opened once it is closed. 
         [0004]    The improvement came about when the inventor read a story of a container that held a smoke emitting substance that inadvertently opened while in a drink. The substance caused the drinker of the substance to suffer injuries that could have been avoided if the container was permanently closed once the smoke emitting substance was placed within the container. 
         [0005]    The inventor realized that his prior invention had to be modified to prevent inadvertent accidents that could happen due to improper use of his invention. 
         [0006]    The inventor realized that the safest way to use his invention would be to create a onetime use straw guide holder. That his straw guide holder, once loaded with a dry ice pellet, could not be reopened. 
         [0007]    He researched locking mechanisms and realized that the best locking mechanism for his invention had to be similar to a tie-wrap locking mechanism. His mechanism had to have a gear that could be pushed past a ratchet that would lock his invention once a dry ice pellet was placed within his straw guide holder. 
         [0008]    Yet unlike the standard tie-wrap locking mechanism, his mechanism would have two gears that had to be diametrically opposed to each other and two ratchets that would catch the gears (shaped like an arrowhead) once passed through the ratchets (pawls). The reason, he realized that his invention had to be designed to prevent failures with the locking mechanism and that the most secure method of preventing the reopening of the straw guide holder was two provide two locks within the mechanism. 
         [0009]    The placement of the two gears and two ratchets prevents any user from using a pin two unlock the locking mechanism. A pin may be used to unlock a normal tie-wrap locking mechanism, yet would not be effective in opening the locking mechanism of the present invention. The use of force against one of ratchets to release one of the gears to open the lock would only create a greater force on the other ratchet that would prevent the release of the other gear. 
         [0010]    The design of the locking mechanism of the present invention ensures that the straw guide holder is a onetime use novelty item that can be used in the beverage industry to generate a smoke/mist like effect when placed in a drink in a safe and hygienic manner. The invention can be prepackaged in the same manner that straws are prepackaged so that the invention is sterile and safe for human use. 
         [0011]    Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. Its low temperature and direct sublimation to a gas makes dry ice an effective coolant. When dry ice changes to a gas it leaves no residue. Dry ice transforms into a gas by the process of direct sublimation. 
         [0012]    The present invention uses dry ice pellets to cool drinks in which the container is immersed while simultaneously producing a mist from the drink 
         [0013]    The container of the present invention is a device that may eliminate the use of ice cubes in some drinks. It is known in the food industry that some ice cube holding devices are not hygienic and that the ice that is used from the ice cube holding devices might be contaminated. 
         [0014]    The container of the present invention can be used on hot or cold beverages. When used on hot beverages, the mist effect is maximized. 
         [0015]    A benefit of the present invention is that beverages in which the container is immersed in become carbonated. The beverages flavor and aroma are enhanced when the beverages are carbonated. 
         [0016]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a straw guide container that holds dry ice that cannot be opened once dry ice pellets are inserted within the container. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0017]    The present invention is directed to a straw guide container that holds dry ice that cannot be opened once dry ice pellets are inserted within the container. The straw guide container is ergonomically designed, it is disposable, it is inexpensive to manufacture, and it is lightweight. 
         [0018]    The straw guide container of the present invention comprises of a housing, the housing has a top, a bottom, a first and a second side, the first and the second side have four walls that form an approximately octagonal shape when closed, the first and second side are fixedly attached to each other along the length of one of the walls, the walls of the first and second side that are not fixedly attached define a one way locking mechanism, the one way locking mechanism comprises of at least one L-shaped arrow head that extends from one of the walls that is not fixedly attached and at least one arrow head receiver from the other wall that is not fixedly attached, each receiver defines a cavity in which each L-shaped arrow head is inserted through, each cavity defines a pair diametrically opposed pawls that allow each arrow head to enter into the cavity permanently, the top and the bottom sides define walls that merge toward a center point of the housing, the first and the second side wall define a plurality of vertical slits that run along the length of the first and second side wall, the top and bottom sides define a plurality of apertures; and a straw guide, the straw guide is fixedly attached to one of the walls of the second side of the housing and runs vertically to the second side wall. 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, the housing further comprises of a stem that is attached to the exterior of the housing. The Stem defines a handle. The handle is used to easily position the container within a beverage. 
         [0020]    An object of the present invention is to provide a straw guide container that cools a drink in which it is immersed when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0021]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a straw guide container that creates a mist when it is immersed in a liquid when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0022]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a onetime use straw guide container that can safely house carbon dioxide pellets within it, for the container cannot be reopened once the container is locked. 
         [0023]    Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a straw guide container that can enhance the flavors and aroma of a beverage when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0024]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomically designed straw guide container that can be loaded with dry ice pellets in a safe manner. 
         [0025]    Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a straw guide container that can eliminate the use of ice cubes to cool a beverage. 
         [0026]    Yet still a further object of the present invention is to provide a straw guide container that can help carbonate a beverage in which it is immersed in when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the present invention in an open position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the container of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the present invention showing how the straw guide is attached to the container; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows another side view of the present invention in the closed position; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of the present invention showing the locking mechanism of present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    As seen in  FIGS. 1- 4 , the present invention is a straw guide container  100  that holds dry ice. The container  100  comprises of a housing  10 , the housing has a top  10   a,  a bottom  10   b,  a first  10   c  and a second side  10   d,  the first  10   c  and the second side  10   d  have four walls that form an approximately octagonal shape when closed, the first  10   c  and second side  10   d  are fixedly attached to each other along the length of one of the walls  11 , the walls of the first  10   c  and second side  10   d  that are not fixedly attached define a one way locking mechanism  200 , the one way locking mechanism  200  comprises of at least one L-shaped anew head  210  that extends from one of the walls that is not fixedly attached and at least one anew head receiver  220  firm the other wall that is not fixedly attached, each receiver  220  defines a cavity  230  in which each L-shaped anew head  210  is inserted through, each cavity  230  defines a pair diametrically opposed pawls  240  that allow each anew head  210  to enter into each cavity  230  permanently, the top  10   b  and the bottom sides  10   a  define walls that merge toward a center point  15  of the housing  10 , the first  10   c  and the second side  10   d  walls define a plurality of vertical slits  14  that run along the length of the first  10   c  and second sides  10   d,  the top  10   b  and bottom sides  10   a  define a plurality of apertures  12 . The straw guide container  100  further comprises of a straw guide  80 , the straw guide  80  is fixedly attached to one of the walls of the second side  10   d  of the housing  10  and runs vertically to the second side  10   d.    
         [0034]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the straw guide container&#39;s  100  measurements are as follows: the length of the side walls are approximately 2.625 inches from the top to the bottom side; the diameter between the opposing side walls of the housing  10  are approximately 0.850 of an inch; and the length of the straw guide  80  is approximately 2.625 inches. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the straw guide container  100  further comprises of a stem  50 . The stem  50  has an upper  50   b  and a bottom side  50   a,  the bottom side of the stem  50   a  attaches top side  10   b  of the first side  10   c  of the housing  10  and the top side  50   b  of the stem  50  defines a substantially circular handle  60 . In some embodiments, the length of the stem  50  is approximately 3.625 inches. 
         [0036]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, the straw guide container comprises of a straw  300 . 
         [0037]    In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the straw guide container  100  may be made of plastic, polymers, or stainless steel. 
         [0038]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a straw guide container that cools a drink in which it is immersed in when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0039]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a straw guide container that creates a mist when it is immersed in a liquid when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0040]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a onetime use straw guide container that safely houses carbon dioxide pellets within it, for the container cannot be reopened once the container is locked. 
         [0041]    Yet still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a straw guide container that enhances the flavors and aroma of a beverage when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0042]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides an ergonomically designed straw guide container that can be loaded with dry ice pellets in a safe manner. 
         [0043]    Still a further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a straw guide container that eliminates the use of ice cubes to cool a beverage. 
         [0044]    Yet still a further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a straw guide container that carbonates a beverage in which it is immersed in when it is loaded with carbon dioxide pellets. 
         [0045]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail in reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.