Abstract:
A hot liquid straw is disclosed which features a flexible, elongated, hollow body having a continuous noncircular cross section and a length suited for drinking from a beverage container. The straw is dimensioned to regulate flow and remove heat from a hot liquid as it passes through, thereby delivering a volume of the liquid to a user&#39;s mouth at a temperature which is safe for consumption. The straw is flexible to allow for safe drinking on the go and for use in various heights of beverage containers. A system for drinking from a beverage container with a lid that accepts a snap-on container is also disclosed, in which the straw is inserted through a hole in the lid.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,491 entitled “CUP LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” issued on Dec. 3, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,845 entitled “TOP MOUNTING CAN CONTAINER” issued on Apr, 15, 2014; U.S. Pat. No. 8,381,935 entitled “CUP LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” issued on Feb. 26, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,393 entitled “CUP LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” issued on May 6, 2014; U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,730 entitled “TOP MOUNTING CAN CONTAINER” issued on Nov. 26, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,708,181 entitled “LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” issued on Apr. 29, 2014; U.S. Pat. No. 8,701,914 entitled “TWO-PART RECYCLABLE CUP” issued on Apr. 22, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,602 entitled “TOP MOUNTING BOTTLE CONTAINER” filed on Mar. 5, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/680,011 entitled “CUP LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” filed on Nov. 17, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/680,049 entitled “CUP LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” filed on Nov. 17, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/733,153 entitled “CUP LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” filed on Jan. 3, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/263,993 entitled “LID WITH INTEGRATED CONTAINER” filed on Apr. 28, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/269,016 entitled “A CONTAINER LID WITH ONE OR MORE CAVITIES” filed on May 2, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/274,576 entitled “A CONTAINER LID WITH A FOOD COMPARTMENT AND A SIP-HOLE” filed on May 9, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/313,907 entitled “A CONTAINER LID SYSTEM WITH A LID PORTION AND FOOD CONTAINER PORTION” filed on Jun. 24, 2014; U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/005,862 entitled “A CONTAINER LID SYSTEM WITH A LID PORTION AND FOOD CONTAINER PORTION” filed on May 30, 2014; and U.S. Patent Application 62/038,199 entitled “A CONTAINER LID SYSTEM WITH TAMPER INDICATOR” filed on Aug. 15, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/500,266 entitled “BENDABLE DRINKING STRAW” filed on Aug. 22, 2014; all of which are by the same inventor of the present application. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to drinking straws. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The increased popularity of fast-food establishments, coupled with the popularity of consumption of food and beverages on-the-go, have led to the need for more convenient and safer takeout packaging. 
         [0004]    Currently, a consumer wishing to drink from a takeout beverage container has two standard options: sipping the beverage through a sip hole in the lid of the beverage container, as is common for hot drinks such as coffee; or sucking the beverage through a straw placed into the beverage container, as is common for drinks consumed cold, such as sodas. Sip holes, typically used for hot beverages, require the consumer to take small sips to avoid scalding. While many consumers would prefer a controlled or regulated delivery of their hot beverage, standard straws do not allow for the liquid to cool to a comfortable temperature before reaching the consumer&#39;s mouth and thus have the potential to cause burns. Both straws and sip holes can be hazardous when the consumer is engaged in an activity, such as driving or walking, that requires maintaining eyes forward to watch the path ahead, and which may involve sudden stops. The consumer may have to look down and away from the road while drinking from a straw or may have forward vision obstructed by the beverage container while tipping it back to drink via a sip hole. Straws are also potentially dangerous if the consumer&#39;s head decelerates quickly while drinking, for example when braking unexpectedly during a drive. In that case, the straw may stab the consumer in the roof of her or his mouth. While some straws incorporate a flexible portion to allow the consumer to keep eyes forward, they do not eliminate this risk of stabbing, and further must be sized particularly for each height of beverage container. 
         [0005]    Existing takeout beverage and food containers are also inconvenient, requiring the consumer to set aside a sandwich to take a drink, for example; or, in the case of a beverage container with a lid that accepts a snap-on food container, the food container must be decoupled in order for the consumer to sip a hot drink through a sip hole. 
         [0006]    What is therefore needed is a straw that overcomes these drawbacks and fosters convenient on-the-go drinking. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention provides an elegant solution to the needs described above and provides numerous additional benefits and advantages as will be apparent to persons of skill in the art. 
         [0008]    One aspect provides a bendable hot liquid straw with a continuous noncircular cross section that is dimensioned to regulate and cool a hot liquid as it passes through, thereby delivering a controlled volume of the liquid to a consumer&#39;s mouth at a safe and pleasing temperature that will not cause scalding. The cross section of the straw may be substantially a rectangle with rounded corners. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the straw, which may be straight and made of plastic, polypropylene for example, or other suitable materials, is that it is elastically deformable to at least 180 degrees without collapsing the cross section. This flexibility allows it to bend if the consumer&#39;s head moves forward due to a force, e.g. hard braking, such that the straw does not stab the consumer&#39;s mouth. Further, one size of the straw can be used in a variety of heights of beverage containers. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the straw is pre-formed into an arc shape. This allows for even safe drinking on the go, because the arc shape places the tip of the straw horizontally so that a consumer can use it to drink from a beverage container without removing eyes from the road. 
         [0011]    The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not meant to be exhaustive. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components within the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on clearly illustrating example aspects of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views and/or embodiments. It will be understood that certain components and details may not appear in the figures to assist in more clearly describing the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a consumer using a novel straw, without diverting the consumer&#39;s gaze. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a consumer using a conventional straw with the consumer&#39;s gaze diverted. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  shows the straw of  FIG. 1  used with a short beverage container. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  shows the straw of  FIG. 1  used with a beverage container that is taller than the beverage container of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  shows the straw of  FIG. 1  used with a beverage container that is taller than the beverage container of  FIG. 3B . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the straw of  FIG. 1  used with a beverage container that has a food compartment on top. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the straw of  FIG. 1  used with a beverage container that has a food compartment on top. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment of the straw with a large opening. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the straw with a narrow opening. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the straw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the straw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates the straw of  FIG. 1  deforming into the beverage container. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  illustrates how a conventional straw can stab the inside of a consumer&#39;s mouth. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12A  depicts the general parameters for flow analysis of a novel straw. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12B  depicts the flow analysis of four straw configurations. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12C  is an isometric view of the straws of  FIG. 12B . 
           [0029]      FIG. 12D  is a side illustration of any of the straws of  FIG. 12B  in bending. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12E  is a front illustration of any of the straws of  FIG. 12B  in bending. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12F  is an isometric illustration of any of the straws of  FIG. 12B  in bending. 
           [0032]      FIG. 13A  is an isometric view of a beverage container with a lid that has a food container snapped or coupled to the lid, with the straw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 13B  is a side view of the beverage container/lid complex of  FIG. 13A . 
           [0034]      FIG. 13C  is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of  FIG. 13A . 
           [0035]      FIG. 13D  is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of  FIG. 13A , with the food container detached from the lid of the beverage container. 
           [0036]      FIG. 13E  is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of  FIG. 13A , with the food container detached from the lid beverage container and rotated to show the mating surfaces. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13F  is an isometric view of the beverage container/lid complex of  FIG. 13A , with the food container detached from the lid of the beverage container. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13G  is an isometric view of the beverage container lid of  FIG. 13A , with the food container removed and without the beverage container and straw, showing detail of the straw hole. 
           [0039]      FIG. 13H  is a top view of the lid of  FIG. 13G . 
           [0040]      FIG. 13I  is a side view of the lid of  FIG. 13G . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    Following is a non-limiting written description of example embodiments illustrating various aspects of the invention. These examples are provided to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the full scope of the invention without having to engage in an undue amount of experimentation. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, further modifications and adaptations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Particular example embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without some or all of these features or specific details. In other instances, components well known to persons of skill in the art have not been described in detail in order not to obscure unnecessarily the present invention. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  illustrates the straw  10  used in a beverage container  20 . The straw is similar to the one disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/500266 entitled “BENDABLE DRINKING STRAW” filed on Aug. 22, 2014, which is by the same inventor of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference. The straw  10  may optionally be pre-shaped with an arc shape, and is flexible as described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 10 . The straw  10  may also be semi-rigid such that it returns to its original shape when it is not under a bending force. The straw  10  may be made of a compliant material such as plastic or composite, to allow it to reversibly deflect as described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 10 . Because the straw  10  may be pre-formed with an arc shape, the consumer can drink from the straw from a natural horizontal position, keeping her or his gaze  30  forward. This is important when the consumer&#39;s gaze cannot be diverted, for example when the consumer is driving a vehicle and would like to take a sip through the straw without looking away from the road ahead. As shown in  FIG. 2 , with a conventional straw  40 , the consumer&#39;s gaze  50  is diverted when drinking 
         [0043]    Previous straw designs addressed this problem with a short section of the straw that was bendable with an accordion-like structure. The portion of the straw on either end of the accordion-like structure was straight, and bending the accordion-like structure could create a 90-degree turn such that the user would access the end of the straw in the horizontal position. But as discussed below, when these accordion-like bendable straws are used with a top-mounted snap-on food container that may be larger than the beverage container lid, the straw must be sized in relation to the height of each particular type of beverage container thereby, reducing their utility. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C illustrate the same straw  10  placed into three beverage containers of different depths  20 A,  20 B,  20 C. The straw  10  exits the beverage container with about the same amount of vertical clearance. This takes on more importance when the beverage container only has limited vertical clearance. For example, in  FIG. 4 , the beverage container  20 D has a food container  60  placed on top it. Such a food container is disclosed in the applications listed at the beginning of this application, the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. But as shown at position  70 , the food container  60  restricts the amount of vertical clearance of a straw  10 . A conventional accordion-like bendable straw would need to be specifically manufactured for the precise depth of the container  20 D. If the food container  60  were placed on a shorter beverage container (for example container  20 A of  FIG. 3A ), yet another straw would need to be manufactured that was shorter. Because of the bendable characteristics of the straw  10 , which may optionally be arc-shaped, (shown in more detail in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C), a single straw can be used with various heights of beverage containers. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate two cross sectional shapes of the straw  10 , with  FIG. 6  having a larger opening  80  for thicker beverages such as milk shakes and  FIG. 7  having a narrower opening  90  for hot beverages such as coffee. It would be apparent that other cross sectional shapes are possible. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the straw  10  intended to show the arc-shape.  FIG. 9  is a side view showing the arc-shape. In the embodiments shown, the straw has more than a 20-degree arc and is approximately 12 inches long. It would be apparent that other arc angles and lengths are possible. 
         [0047]    In addition to the safety feature of allowing a consumer to drink in a natural horizontal position without diverting her or his gaze, the straw also is compliant so as to minimize stabbing that is common with a conventional straw.  FIG. 10  illustrates a consumer drinking from the straw  10  even when experiencing a force that propels the consumer&#39;s head forward in the direction of arrow  100 . The straw  10  bendably deforms to position  110  from position  120 . A convention straw  40 , shown in in  FIG. 11 , would stab the consumer in the same situation. If, for example, a consumer was driving and held the beverage container in an orientation to maintain a forward gaze as in  FIG. 11 , and that consumer experienced a force such as hard braking that propelled the consumer&#39;s head forward in the direction of arrow  130 , the straw  40  would not bend and would stab the inner portion of the consumer&#39;s mouth  140 . Also when the straw  40  bends, the cross-section area of the straw does not collapse or crimp. The straw  10  is constructed such that the amount of force necessary to bend the straw does not cause discomfort to the user&#39;s mouth. In one embodiment, the amount of bending force necessary is between 0.02 N and 0.2 N. The straw  10  may be made more rigid, but the bending force would then also increase, possibly causing discomfort to the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0048]    A further feature of the straw concerns its ability to regulate or cool hot liquids during use to prevent burns.  FIGS. 12A-12F  illustrate a straight and bendable straw  10  used in a beverage container. The bendable drinking straw is designed such that it can bend at least 180 degrees as shown in  FIGS. 12D and 12F . The straw may also be optionally pre-formed in an arc-shape. 
         [0049]    Currently, hot liquids are delivered from a beverage container to the consumer via a sip hole that allows a user to tip the container and sip the hot liquid. It is the sipping that allows the liquid to cool, preventing scalding. Because the bendable straw can be used for hot beverages, it is helpful that the length and internal surface are of the straw allows the liquid to cool when it travels from the beverage container to the consumer&#39;s mouth. Conventional circular straws (by circular, it is meant the cross section) do not allow for safely bending or deflecting off a top mounted food container, nor do they sufficiently regulate or cool a hot liquid. For this reason, consumers do not use a conventional circular straw for consuming hot beverages. Rather, the bendable straw disclosed herein may be used to have a properly sized cross sectional area and length such that the amount of liquid entering the consumer&#39;s mouth is properly regulated or cooled, and therefore will not scald the user. This is especially helpful when the user is performing some other task while consuming the beverage. For example, a user who is driving would prefer to use a straw to consume the hot beverage such that his or her gaze is not diverted or obstructed by having to tilt the beverage container to access the liquid from the sip hole. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  depict the flow analysis of four bendable straw configurations shown in  FIG. 12C . The OH parameter (or the system rating number) is a qualitative measure of the amount of head caused by the straw and is calculated by the following equation: 
         [0000]      OH=(Friction Factor×(L/Hydraulic Diameter))×((Velocitŷ2)/(2*Gravimetric Acceleration))
 
         [0051]    Each of these parameters is calculated and presented in  FIG. 12B . The higher OH parameter (i.e., the head) the more able the straw is able to dissipate heat so as to reduce scalding. Another factor shown in  FIG. 12B  is the cross sectional area and the velocity, the product of which is the volume of liquid delivered to the user. System  1  has a low OH, meaning that the straw allows less heat to escape from the liquid and the volume of liquid delivered to the user is about 0.0473 in̂3/s. So while the straw allows less heat to escape from the liquid, the amount of liquid actually delivered is very small and non-scalding. A user may not prefer such low volume delivery. System  4  has a higher OH, meaning that the straw will allow more cooling, and the volume of liquid delivered to the user is much higher (10×) at about 0.537 in̂3/s. While the user would like the additional volume, the OH value suggests that the liquid delivered may be too hot. The combination of high volume and high temperature runs the risk of scaling. Systems  2  and  3  have OH values of 0.23 and 0.19 inches respectively, with a volume delivery of 0.297 in̂3/s. This combination of OH value and volume is the “sweet spot” where a user is delivered a pleasant amount of warm beverage without scalding. The optimal straw design is therefore shown by system  2  and  3 , with the dimensions provided in  FIGS. 12A-12C . It would be apparent that the various parameters could be varied to reach an optimal volume/temperature profile for the straw without departing from the spirit of this invention. Those parameters may include but are not limited to the physical dimensions of the straw, the straw material, and the roughness of the straw. (A straw that has more internal roughness would increase the OH and reduce the temperature). Further, the dimensions may be chosen such that the straw can easily bend without causing the straw to collapse and thereby unreasonably restrict flow. The bending of the straws (systems  1 - 4 ) is shown in  FIGS. 12D-12F . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 13A-13I  illustrate a lid  200  for a beverage container  215 , than can be detachably connected to a food container  205 . A bendable straw as discussed with reference to  FIGS. 12A-12F  may be inserted into a punch-out straw hole  225 . A lid  200  has a continuous outer coupling trough  210  for attachment to the open top of the beverage container  215 . The lid  200  also has a straw-hole planar surface  220  that is adjacent to the outer coupling trough  210 . A hole  225  for drinking the liquid in the container extends through the straw-hole planar surface  220 . Riser wall  230  extends away from the straw-hole planar surface  220  and defines a first planar surface  235  above the straw-hole planar surface  220 . A sip hole  240  for drinking the liquid also extends through the first planar surface  235 . To connect the lid  200  to the food container  205 , the lid  200  may have a food container coupling wall  245  connected to the first planar surface  235  that extends down from the first planar surface  235  to a position lower than the first planar surface  235 . The food container coupling wall  245  may also include a pressure structure  270  that places pressure against the food container  205  when a food container  205  is coupled to the lid  200 . The pressure exerted by the pressure structure  270  is selected so as to allow the secure coupling of the food container  205  to the lid  200 , and allow the decoupling of the food container  205  from the lid  200 . The lid  200  may also have a vent hole  275  to relive pressure buildup caused by hot beverages. 
         [0053]    A food container coupling bottom  250  is connected to the food container coupling wall. The straw hole planar surface  220  may also have a straw hole cover  255  and a hinge  260 , wherein the straw hole cover rotates about the hinge and exposes the hole  225  when a straw is punched through the hole  225 . To prevent the straw hole cover  255  from inadvertently opening, it may have a tick  265  that connects it to the straw hole planar surface  220 . The straw hole  220  may have a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners  280 , which would accommodate the straw  10  disclosed above. 
         [0054]    One benefit of having the straw hole cover  255  is that a user may prefer to use the sip hole  240 . If the straw hole  225  does not have a cover  255 , rather it is an open hole, the user may inadvertently spill the hot beverage while tilting the beverage cup during sipping from the sip hole  240 . The straw hole cover  255  prevents this spillage. It further allows a retailer to use a single hot beverage lid for multiple users. Likewise as shown in  FIG. 13B , when the food container  205  is coupled to the lid  200 , the sip hole  240  is substantially covered by the food container  205 , while the straw hole  225  is not covered by the food container  205 . Thus if the user prefers to use a straw and consume the food from the food container  205 , the beverage will not spill from the sip  240  when the food container  205  is coupled. 
         [0055]    The straw may be constructed out of plastics, composites and other suitable materials. The straw may also be semi-rigid such that it returns to its original shape when it is not under a bending force. 
         [0056]    The invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments that illustrate examples of the invention but do not limit its scope. Various example systems have been shown and described having various aspects and elements. Unless indicated otherwise, any feature, aspect or element of any of these systems may be removed from, added to, combined with or modified by any other feature, aspect or element of any of the systems. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, modifications and adaptations to the above-described systems and methods can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined only by the following claims. Moreover, the applicant expressly does not intend the following claims “and the embodiments in the specification to be strictly coextensive.” Phillips v. AHW Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc).