Abstract:
An illuminated drinking straw includes a drinking straw portion having open upper and lower ends and a light member secured to the drinking straw. The light member is sealed at respective ends to contain a lighting element such that liquid flowing though the drinking straw portion is isolated from contact with the light member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/482,436, filed May 4, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure pertains to an illuminated straw. More particularly, the disclosure pertains to an illuminatable drinking straw. 
         [0003]    Drinking straws provide a way in which a liquid can be consumed from a cup, can, bottle or the like. They have, in some forms, also become novelty items that are used to entertain as well as provide a means to imbibe from a container. For example, straws are available that have different shapes, colors and the like. 
         [0004]    Straws are also available that have chemiluminescent ampoules that are contained within the straw that move up and down with the drink being consumed. In such an arrangement, the ampoule is contained within the straw by pinched ends or other elements that prevent the ampoule from being drawn out of the straw and possibly ingested by the user. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for an illuminated drinking straw that isolates the light member from the drinking portion of the straw. Desirably, such a straw can permit the light member from being separated from the drinking portion of the straw. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An illuminated drinking straw includes a drinking straw portion having open upper and lower ends and a light member secured to the drinking straw portion. The light member is sealed at respective ends to contain a lighting element such that liquid flowing though the drinking straw portion is isolated from contact with the lighting element. 
         [0007]    The lighting element can be a chemiluminescent element, one or more LEDs, a strings of lights, an electro-luminescent wire or the like. The drinking straw portion can be formed from a non-light-transmissive material. 
         [0008]    The drinking straw portion and the light member can be formed integral with one another, they can be secured to one another by a weld or by one or more bands or a sleeve encircling the drinking straw portion and the light member. Alternately, an adhesive can be used to secure the drinking straw portion and the light member to one another. 
         [0009]    The drinking straw portion and the light member can be affixed to one another so that the drinking straw portion can be separated from the light member without impairing the function or use of the drinking straw portion or the light member. 
         [0010]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an illuminated novelty drinking straw; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the straw of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is cross-sectional view of an alternate straw showing a separable connecting portion; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an alternate embodiment of the straw showing a shortened light member; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is another alternate embodiment of the straw with a sleeve affixing the drinking straw portion and the light member; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is still another alternate embodiment of the straw with bands affixing the drinking straw portion and the light member; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is yet another alternate embodiment of the straw showing a light string for providing illumination for the light member; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are side and cross-sectional views of yet another embodiment of the illuminated drinking straw. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    While the present device is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the device and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiment or embodiments illustrated. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an embodiment of a novelty illuminated drinking straw  10 . The straw includes a drinking straw portion  12  which is of a conventional straw design and includes a tubular body  14 . In one embodiment, light member  13  is mounted to the straw (drinking portion  12 ) and includes a lighting element  16 , such as the illustrated chemiluminescent lighting element. The light member  13  includes a body  18  having sealed ends  20 . The chemiluminescent lighting element  16  includes a first chemical  22  present in the body  18  and a frangible vial  24  disposed within sealed body  18 . The vial includes a second chemical  26 , and is maintained separate from the first chemical  22  by virtue of being within the frangible vial. 
         [0022]    The chemicals that, when combined result in the chemiluminescent lighting effect, are well known in the art. For example, they can be of a phthalate-free formulation, such as that disclosed and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/952,008 to Jeffrey D. Schrimmer, which application is commonly assigned with the present application and is incorporated herein by reference. Alternately, the formulation can be of the conventional, phthalate-containing type, also recognized by those skilled in the art. 
         [0023]    One exemplary phthalate-free chemiluminescent formulation includes a chemiluminescent component and an activator component. The chemiluminescent component includes an oxalate and a phthalate-free solvent. The activator component includes hydrogen peroxide and a phthalate-free solvent. The phthalate-free chemiluminescent formulation can also include a fluorescer compound. The chemiluminescent component and the activator component are mixed together to produce the chemiluminescent lighting effect. 
         [0024]    The oxalate can be, for example, bis(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl-6-carbopentoxyphenyl)oxalate. In such a phthalate-free chemiluminescent formulation, the phthalate-free solvent for the chemiluminescent component and the phthalate-free solvent for the activator component can be the same solvent or different solvents. Alternately, as an example, at least one of the phthalate-free solvent for the chemiluminescent component and the phthalate-free solvent for the activator component is a triethyl citrate. Alternately still, at least one of the phthalate-free solvent for the chemiluminescent component and the phthalate-free solvent for the activator component can be an acetyl tributyl citrate. In still another example, the phthalate-free solvent for the chemiluminescent component can be an acetyl tributyl citrate or the phthalate-free solvent for the activator component can be pure triethyl citrate formed without using an organic titanate. 
         [0025]    In any of the above described exemplary phthalate-free chemiluminescent formulations, the fluorescer compound can be included in the chemiluminescent component or the activator component, or both. 
         [0026]    Returning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the chemical  22 ,  26  components are maintained in the light member body  18 , separate and apart from the drinking straw portion  12 . It will be appreciated that the ends of the body  18  are sealed (as at  20 ) to prevent leakage of the chemicals from the body  18 . The frangible vial  24  can be formed as a thin-walled glass element that is positioned within the body  18 . 
         [0027]    In one example, a bridging or connecting portion  28  between the body  18  and the drinking straw portion  12  is formed. The connecting portion  28  can be formed to permit separation of the body  18  from the straw portion  12 . In this manner, after a user is finished with the straw portion  12 , the light member  13  can be separated from the drinking straw portion  12  and used as a pure novelty device. Likewise, if light member  13  is no longer functioning, the drinking straw portion  12  can be reused as a conventional straw. The separation can be effected by a weakened region, such as a perforated region  30  extending along the connecting portion  28 . Alternately, an adhesive (see A, in  FIG. 3 ), such as a food-safe adhesive can be used secure the light member body  18  to the drinking straw portion  12 . Of course, the straw  10  can be formed such that the two portions (the drinking straw portion  12  and the light member  13 ) are integral and not separable from one another. 
         [0028]    The two portions, that is the light member body  18  and the drinking straw portion  12  can have about the same length L 12,18 . Alternately, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the light member body  18  can have a shorter (or a longer) length L 118  than the length L 112  of the drinking straw portion. In this embodiment, the drinking straw portion  112  and the light member body  118  can be inseparable or separable as desired. 
         [0029]    Optionally, the lighting element  16 ,  116  can be formed to have more than one color. For example, as seen in  FIG. 3 , one or more beads or separators  132  can be positioned within the body  118  to separate two or more colors to produce a more interesting or diverse color effect. 
         [0030]    In any of the embodiments, the drinking straw portion can be formed from a non-transparent material. For example, plastics (polymers) that do not permit the transmission of light are known. Some of these materials are, by their nature (e.g., inherently) non-light—transmissive or opaque. Other materials are colored with a dye, colorant or the like to prevent the transmission of light. In this manner the liquid traversing through the straw portion cannot be seen even when subjected to light—that is when a light is directed toward the straw. 
         [0031]    It will also be appreciated that there are numerous other ways in which the light member body  18  can be affixed or adhered to the drinking straw portion  12 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 5 , bands  42  or as seen in  FIG. 4 , a sleeve  44  can be positioned over both the drinking straw portion  12  and the light member body  18 . Again, the two portions  12 ,  18  can be formed as a unitary member (molding), or the two portions can be sealed to one another as by an adhesive (see A, in  FIG. 3 ), welding or the like. Optionally, as seen in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the drinking straw portion  212  can be formed as a tube within the body  218  of the light member  213  that carries the lighting element  216 . 
         [0032]    It will also be appreciated that the illuminated portion can be illuminated by other than chemically activated means. For example, as seen in  FIG. 6 , LEDs, strings of lights, electro-luminescent wires, as indicated at  316 , and the like can be positioned within a sealed chamber of the illuminated portion that is affixed to the drinking portion of the straw. 
         [0033]    Although a tubular straw and illuminated member are shown, it will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that the structure and function of the present straw can be readily adapted to other shapes and the like and that such other shapes are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0034]    All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
         [0035]    In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
         [0036]    From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.