Patent Publication Number: US-10779667-B2

Title: Drinking straw

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed generally to drinking straws. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Environmental concerns have caused many jurisdictions to ban the use of disposable drinking straws. Unfortunately, reusing currently available drinking straws is impractical because their long internal channels are difficult to clean. For example, currently available drinking straws may be cleaned by either soaking them or using a pipe cleaner to scrub their internal channels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first end of a first embodiment of a drinking straw. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second end of the drinking straw of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the first end of the drinking straw of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial top view of the exploded view of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drinking straw taken through a line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded first lateral cross-sectional view of the drinking straw taken through a line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded second lateral cross-sectional view of the drinking straw taken through a line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of first and second straw portions of the drinking straw of  FIG. 1  being pressed together. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second straw portion being slid along the first straw portion of the drinking straw of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembled drinking straw of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a first end of a second embodiment of a drinking straw. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the first end of the drinking straw of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the drinking straw taken through a line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the lateral cross-sectional view of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals have been used in the figures to identify like components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a first embodiment of a drinking straw  100 . In the embodiment illustrated, the drinking straw  100  extends along a longitudinal axis  110 . The drinking straw  100  includes a first straw portion  120  configured to mate with a second straw portion  122 . While the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  have been illustrated as being linear, this is not a requirement and other non-linear shapes may be used to construct the first and second straw portions  120  and  122 . In such embodiments, the drinking straw  100  may not necessarily extend along the longitudinal axis  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  are configured to be assembled to form the drinking straw  100  and disassembled, as shown in  FIG. 8 , for cleaning. When assembled as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  define an open-ended internal channel  130  that extends along the longitudinal axis  110  from a first opening  132  to a second opening  134 . In the embodiment illustrated, the internal channel  130  has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. However, this is not a requirement. Referring to  FIG. 3 , when disassembled, interior portions  124  and  126  of the first and second straw portions  120  and  122 , respectively, may be cleaned completely by hand (e.g., without tools or brushes) or using dishwasher. Thus, the drinking straw  100  may be reusable. 
     The first straw portion  120  includes a generally cylindrical mouth portion  140  connected to a body portion  160 . The mouth portion  140  is configured to be placed in a user&#39;s mouth when the user is drinking from the drinking straw  100 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , a laterally extending seam  106  is defined between the mouth portion  140  and the second straw portion  122  and longitudinally extending seams  102  and  104  are defined between the body portion  160  and the second straw portion  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a first end portion  136  of the internal channel  130  (see  FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 ) extends longitudinally from the first opening  132  and is defined entirely within the mouth portion  140 . Because many users chew or bite the end of a straw, the mouth portion  140  helps prevent the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  from being inadvertently disengaged from one another by users who chew or bite on the assembled drinking straw  100 . The continuous mouth portion  140  also prevents the lip(s) of the user from being pinched or otherwise injured by one or both of the seams  102  and  104  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first opening  132  is formed in an outwardly facing first end  142  of the mouth portion  140  that is spaced apart from an inwardly facing end surface  146 . The inwardly facing end surface  146  extends laterally along a portion of the mouth portion  140  and defines a portion of the laterally extending seam  106 . A first portion of the second opening  134  (see  FIGS. 1  and  2 ) is formed in an outwardly facing second end  144  of the first straw portion  120 . The outwardly facing first and second ends  142  and  144  are opposite one another. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a recess  150  extends longitudinally into the mouth portion  140  from the inwardly facing end surface  146  toward the first end  142 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the recess  150  may extend laterally and have a generally curved or annular internal lateral shape. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the body portion  160  extends from the mouth portion  140  to the outwardly facing second end  144  (see  FIG. 3 ) along a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The inwardly facing end surface  146  may be characterized as marking a division between the mouth portion  140  and the body portion  160 . However, as shown, the body portion  160  may be formed with the mouth portion  140  as a single unit. The body portion  160  may have a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape that opens up toward the second straw portion  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a second end portion  138  of the internal channel  130  is defined between the body portion  160  and the second straw portion  122  when the drinking straw  100  is assembled. Thus, a first portion  152  of the second end portion  138  is defined by the body portion  160  and a second portion  154  of the second end portion  138  is defined by the second straw portion  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the body portion  160  has a curved sidewall  162  that extends from a longitudinally extending first edge  164  to a longitudinally extending second edge  166 . First and second recesses  174  and  176  are formed in an outer surface  178  of the body portion  160  and extend along the longitudinal axis  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The first and second recesses  174  and  176  extend laterally away from the first and second edges  164  and  166 , respectively, and terminate at stop walls  180  and  182 , respectively. Thus, first and second relieved portions  184  and  186  of the curved sidewall  162  extend laterally away from the stop walls  180  and  182 , respectively, and terminate at the first and second edges  164  and  166 , respectively. The body portion  160  has an inner surface  188  that defines the first portion  152  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the second end portion  138  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the internal channel  130  (see  FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 ). In the embodiment illustrated, the inner surface  188  has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second straw portion  122  includes a body portion  200  configured to be positioned adjacent the body portion  160  of the first straw portion  120 . The body portion  200  has a first end portion  202  opposite a second end portion  204 . A second portion of the second opening  134  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is formed in the second end portion  204  of the second straw portion  122 . 
     A projection  206  extends outwardly from the first end portion  202  in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , the projection  206  may extend laterally and have a generally curved or annular outer lateral shape. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the projection  206  is configured to be received inside the recess  150  when the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  are assembled to form the drinking straw  100 . The first end portion  202  has an outwardly facing surface  214  configured to abut the inwardly facing end surface  146  when the drinking straw  100  is assembled. 
     Optionally, the body portion  200  may have an outer recess  220  formed therein that may be configured to receive a user&#39;s finger  222  (see  FIG. 9 ). The outer recess  220  may extend from a first stop wall  224  to a second stop wall  226 . The first stop wall  224  is nearer the first end portion  202  than the second stop wall  226 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the body portion  200  has a curved sidewall  230  that extends from a longitudinally extending first edge  234  to a longitudinally extending second edge  236 . First and second recesses  244  and  246  are formed in an inner surface  248  of the body portion  200  and extend along the longitudinal axis  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The first and second recesses  244  and  246  extend laterally away from the first and second edges  234  and  236 , respectively, and terminate at stop walls  250  and  252 , respectively. Thus, first and second relieved portions  254  and  256  of the curved sidewall  230  extend laterally away from the stop walls  250  and  252 , respectively, and terminate at the first and second edges  234  and  236 , respectively. The inner surface  248  defines the second portion  154  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the second end portion  138  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the internal channel  130  (see  FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 ). In the embodiment illustrated, the inner surface  248  has a generally curved or U-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
     The first and second recesses  244  and  246  of the second straw portion  122  are configured to receive the first and second relieved portions  184  and  186  of the first straw portion  120 . At the same time, the first and second recesses  174  and  176  of the first straw portion  120  are configured to receive the first and second relieved portions  254  and  256  of the second straw portion  122 . Thus, referring to  FIG. 2 , the seam  102  is defined between the first relieved portions  184  and  254  and the seam  104  is defined between the second relieved portions  186  and  256 . Additionally, referring to  FIG. 10 , as mentioned above, the recess  150  is configured to receive the projection  206 . In this manner, the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  are coupled together in a sealed manner and a fluid passing through the internal channel  130  will not leak out through the seams  102  and  104  (see  FIG. 2 ). Referring to  FIG. 6 , when so assembled, the first and second edges  164  and  166  may be positioned immediately adjacent the stop walls  250  and  252 , respectively, and the first and second edges  234  and  236  may be positioned immediately adjacent the stop walls  180  and  182 , respectively. 
       FIGS. 8-10  illustrate how the drinking straw  100  may be assembled. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the second straw portion  122  is positioned alongside the first straw portion  120  with the projection  206  spaced apart longitudinally from the inwardly facing end surface  146 . Then, referring to  FIG. 6 , the first and second straw portions  120  and  122  are pressed together until the first and second relieved portions  254  and  256  of the second straw portion  122  snap into the first and second recesses  174  and  176 , respectively, of the first straw portion  120 , and the first and second relieved portions  184  and  186  of the first straw portion  120  snap into the first and second recesses  244  and  246 , respectively, of the second straw portion  122 . Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 3 , the first end portion  202  of the second straw portion  122  may be positioned alongside the second end  144  of the first straw portion  120 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the first and second relieved portions  254  and  256  of the second straw portion  122  are aligned with the first and second recesses  174  and  176 , respectively, of the first straw portion  120 , and the first and second relieved portions  184  and  186  of the first straw portion  120  are aligned with the first and second recesses  244  and  246 , respectively, of the second straw portion  122 . Then, referring to  FIG. 3 , the first end portion  202  of the second straw portion  122  is slid onto the second end  144  of the first straw portion  120 . In other words, the first and second relieved portions  254  and  256  are slid into the first and second recesses  174  and  176 , respectively, and the first and second relieved portions  184  and  186  are slid into the first and second recesses  244  and  246 , respectively. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 9 , the second straw portion  122  is slid along the body portion  160  of the first straw portion  120  toward the mouth portion  140  (in a direction identified by an arrow  260 ) until the projection  206  is received inside the recess  150  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Thus, the recess  150  and the projection  206  may be characterized as forming a tongue and groove style connection. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the second straw portion  122  may be slid by a user who presses against the first stop wall  224  defined by the outer recess  220 . For example, the user may place the user&#39;s finger  222  in the outer recess  220  and press therewith against the first stop wall  224 . Pressing against the first stop wall  224  slides the second straw portion  122  toward the mouth portion  140 . 
     The drinking straw  100  may be disassembled by sliding the second straw portion  122  along the body portion  160  of the first straw portion  120  in a direction opposite the direction identified by the arrow  260 . The second straw portion  122  may be slid until it disengages from the body portion  160  of the first straw portion  120 . Alternatively, the second straw portion  122  may be slid until the projection  206  disengages from the recess  150 . Then, the second straw portion  122  and the body portion  160  of the first straw portion  120  may be pulled apart laterally. The second straw portion  122  may be slid by the user pressing against the second stop wall  226  (see  FIGS. 4, 5, and 10 ) defined by the outer recess  220 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a drinking straw  300 . In the embodiment illustrated, the drinking straw  300  extends along a longitudinal axis  310 . The drinking straw  300  includes interlocking first and second straw portions  320  and  322 . While the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  have been illustrated as being linear, this is not a requirement and other non-linear shapes may be used to construct the first and second straw portions  320  and  322 . In such embodiments, the drinking straw  300  may not necessarily extend along the longitudinal axis  310 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the first straw portion  320  has a first end  312  opposite a second end  314 . The second straw portion  322  has a first end  316  opposite a second end  318 . When the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  are assembled together (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ), the first end  312  of the first straw portion  320  is adjacent to the first end  316  of the second straw portion  322  and the second end  314  of the first straw portion  320  is adjacent to the second end  318  of the second straw portion  322 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  are assembled together, the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  define an open-ended internal channel  330  that extends from a first opening  332  to a second opening  334 . While in the embodiment illustrated, the internal channel  330  has a generally circular cross-sectional shape, this is not a requirement. In the embodiment illustrated, the internal channel  330  extends along the longitudinal axis  310 . However, as explained above, this is not a requirement. Referring to  FIG. 12 , the first opening  332  (see  FIG. 11 ) is defined by the first ends  312  and  316  of the first and second straw portions  320  and  322 , respectively. Similarly, the second opening  334  (see  FIG. 11 ) is defined by the second ends  314  and  318  of the first and second straw portions  320  and  322 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , longitudinally extending seams  302  and  304  are defined between the first and second straw portions  320  and  322 . In the embodiment illustrated, the seams  302  and  304  extend the entire length of the drinking straw  300 . 
     The first and second straw portions  320  and  322  have first and second outer surfaces  324  and  326 , respectively. The drinking straw  300  has a longitudinally extending first planar outer surface  340  opposite a longitudinally extending second planar outer surface  342 . The first and second planar outer surfaces  340  and  342  are substantially parallel with one another. The first planar outer surface  340  has a first end  344  opposite a second end  346 . The second planar outer surface  342  has a first end  354  opposite a second end  356 . The first outer surface  324  includes a first curved outer surface  360  that extends from the first end  344  to the first end  354 . The second outer surface  326  includes a second curved outer surface  362  that extends from the second end  346  to the second end  356 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated, all or a majority of the second planar outer surface  342  is formed in the first outer surface  324  and all or a majority of the first planar outer surface  340  is formed in the second outer surface  326 . An outer end  302 -O of the seam  302  is positioned at or near the first end  344  of the first planar outer surface  340 . An inner end  302 -I of the seam  302  is positioned in the internal channel  330 . An outer end  304 -O of the seam  304  is positioned at or near the second end  356  of the second planar outer surface  342 . An inner end  304 -I of the seam  304  is positioned in the internal channel  330 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the seams  302  and  304  may each have a generally S-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded end view of the first and second straw portions  320  and  322 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  may be identical to one another. For example, the first straw portion  320  is identical to the second straw portion  322  rotated 180 degrees. Similarly, the second straw portion  322  is identical to the first straw portion  320  rotated 180 degrees. Therefore, a single tool (e.g., a die, a mold, etc.) may be used to form both the first and second straw portions  320  and  322 . For example, the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  may be formed by extruding them through the same die or identical dies. Similarly, the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  may be formed by molding them using the same mold or identical molds. 
     The first straw portion  320  may be substantially U-shaped having spaced apart first and second legs  370 A and  372 A that extend outwardly from a base  374 A. The first straw portion  320  has an interior surface  376 A that defines a portion of the internal channel  330  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ). An outwardly facing first surface  380 A extends along the first leg  370 A from the first outer surface  324  to the interior surface  376 A. The first surface  380 A defines a portion of the seam  302  (see  FIG. 13 ) and extends between the outer and inner ends  302 -O and  302 -I (see  FIG. 13 ). An inwardly facing second surface  382 A extends along the second leg  372 A from the first outer surface  324  to the interior surface  376 A. The second surface  382 A defines a portion of the seam  304  (see  FIG. 13 ) and extends between the outer and inner ends  304 -O and  304 -I (see  FIG. 13 ). 
     Similarly, the second straw portion  322  may be substantially U-shaped having spaced apart first and second legs  370 B and  372 B that extend outwardly from a base  374 B. The second straw portion  322  has an interior surface  376 B that defines a portion of the internal channel  330  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ). An outwardly facing first surface  380 B extends along the first leg  370 B from the second outer surface  326  to the interior surface  376 B. The first surface  380 B is configured to mate with the second surface  382 A and define the seam  304  (see  FIG. 13 ) therebetween. Thus, the first surface  380 B defines a portion of the seam  304  (see  FIG. 13 ) and extends between the outer and inner ends  304 -O and  304 -I (see  FIG. 13 ). An inwardly facing second surface  382 B extends along the second leg  372 B from the second outer surface  326  to the interior surface  376 B. The second surface  382 B is configured to mate with the first surface  380 A and define the seam  302  (see  FIG. 13 ) therebetween. Thus, the second surface  382 B defines a portion of the seam  302  (see  FIG. 13 ) and extends between the outer and inner ends  302 -O and  3024 -I (see  FIG. 13 ). 
     The first leg  370 A of the first straw portion  320  includes a longitudinally extending rail or projection  390 A and a longitudinally extending recess  392 A. The projection  390 A is offset laterally toward the internal channel  330  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ) from the recess  392 A. Thus, the projection  390 A is nearer to the interior surface  376 A than the recess  392 A. The first surface  380 A includes an inner stop portion  384 A that extends laterally between the projection  390 A and the interior surface  376 A. The first surface  380 A includes an outer stop portion  386 A that extends laterally between the recess  392 A and the first outer surface  324 . The projection  390 A extends toward the second leg  372 B along a first direction substantially parallel with the first planar outer surface  340  and the recess  392 A extends away from the second leg  372 B along a second direction substantially parallel with the first planar outer surface  340 . Thus, the projection  390 A and the recess  392 A extend in opposite directions. In the embodiment illustrated, the first leg  370 A terminates with the projection  390 A. 
     The first surface  380 A is contoured to define a key  394 A and an optional keyway  396 A. In the embodiment illustrated, the key  394 A is nearer to the projection  390 A than the recess  392 A and the optional keyway  396 A is nearer to the recess  392 A than the projection  390 A. The key  394 A may extend outwardly toward the first planar outer surface  340  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first planar outer surface  340 . The optional keyway  396 A may extend inwardly away from the first planar outer surface  340  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first planar outer surface  340 . Thus, the key  394 A and the optional keyway  396 A extend in opposite directions. 
     The second leg  372 A of the first straw portion  320  includes a longitudinally extending rail or projection  400 A and a longitudinally extending recess  402 A. The recess  402 A is offset laterally toward the internal channel  330  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ) from the projection  400 A. Thus, the recess  402 A is nearer to the interior surface  376 A than the projection  400 A. The second surface  382 A includes an inner stop portion  385 A that extends laterally between the recess  402 A and the interior surface  376 A. The second surface  382 A includes an outer stop portion  387 A that extends laterally between the projection  400 A and the first outer surface  324 . The projection  400 A extends toward the first leg  370 B along a third direction substantially parallel with the second planar outer surface  342  and the recess  402 A extends away from the first leg  370 B along a fourth direction substantially parallel with the second planar outer surface  342 . Thus, the projection  400 A and the recess  402 A extend in opposite directions. In the embodiment illustrated, the second leg  372 A terminates with the projection  400 A. 
     The second surface  382 A is contoured to define an optional key  404 A and a keyway  406 A. In the embodiment illustrated, the optional key  404 A is nearer the projection  400 A than the recess  402 A and the keyway  406 A is nearer the recess  402 A than the projection  400 A. The keyway  406 A may extend outwardly toward the second planar outer surface  342  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second planar outer surface  342 . The optional key  404 A may extend inwardly away from the second planar outer surface  342  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second planar outer surface  342 . Thus, the keyway  406 A and the optional key  404 A extend in opposite directions. 
     The first leg  370 B of the second straw portion  322  includes a longitudinally extending rail or projection  390 B and a longitudinally extending recess  392 B. The projection  390 B is offset laterally toward the internal channel  330  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ) from the recess  392 B. Thus, the projection  390 B is nearer to the interior surface  376 B than the recess  392 B. The first surface  380 B includes an inner stop portion  384 B that extends laterally between the projection  390 B and the interior surface  376 B. The first surface  380 B includes an outer stop portion  386 B that extends laterally between the recess  392 B and the second outer surface  326 . The projection  390 B extends toward the second leg  372 A along a first direction substantially parallel with the second planar outer surface  342  and the recess  392 B extends away from the second leg  372 A along a second direction substantially parallel with the second planar outer surface  342 . Thus, the projection  390 B and the recess  392 B extend in opposite directions. In the embodiment illustrated, the first leg  370 B terminates with the projection  390 B. 
     The first surface  380 B is contoured to define a key  394 B and an optional keyway  396 B. In the embodiment illustrated, the key  394 B is nearer to the projection  390 B than the recess  392 B and the optional keyway  396 B is nearer to the recess  392 B than the projection  390 B. The key  394 B may extend outwardly toward the second planar outer surface  342  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second planar outer surface  342 . The optional keyway  396 B may extend inwardly away from the second planar outer surface  342  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second planar outer surface  342 . Thus, the key  394 B and the optional keyway  396 B extend in opposite directions. 
     The second leg  372 B of the second straw portion  322  includes a longitudinally extending rail or projection  400 B and a longitudinally extending recess  402 B. The recess  402 B is offset laterally toward the internal channel  330  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ) from the projection  400 B. Thus, the recess  402 B is nearer to the interior surface  376 B than the projection  400 B. The second surface  382 B includes an inner stop portion  385 B that extends laterally between the recess  402 B and the interior surface  376 B. The second surface  382 B includes an outer stop portion  387 B that extends laterally between the projection  400 B and the second outer surface  326 . The projection  400 B extends toward the first leg  370 A along a third direction substantially parallel with the first planar outer surface  340  and the recess  402 B extends away from the first leg  370 A along a fourth direction substantially parallel with the first planar outer surface  340 . Thus, the projection  400 B and the recess  402 B extend in opposite directions. In the embodiment illustrated, the second leg  372 B terminates with the projection  400 B. 
     The second surface  382 B is contoured to define an optional key  404 B and a keyway  406 B. In the embodiment illustrated, the optional key  404 B is nearer the projection  400 B than the recess  402 B and the keyway  406 B is nearer the recess  402 B than the projection  400 B. The keyway  406 B may extend outwardly toward the first planar outer surface  340  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first planar outer surface  340 . The optional key  404 B may extend inwardly away from the first planar outer surface  340  in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first planar outer surface  340 . Thus, the keyway  406 B and the optional key  404 B extend in opposite directions. 
     The key  394 A may be larger than the optional key  4046 . In such embodiments, the keyway  406 B is larger than the optional keyway  396 A. The key  394 B may be larger than the optional key  404 A. In such embodiments, the keyway  406 A is larger than the optional keyway  3966 . 
     The drinking straw  300  may be assembled by positioning the first straw portion  320  alongside the second straw portion  322  with the first leg  370 A aligned with the second leg  372 B and the second leg  372 A aligned with the first leg  370 B. Then, the first and second straw portions  320  and  322  are pressed together which causes the key  394 A to slide passed the optional key  404 B and enter the keyway  406 B. At the same time, the optional key  404 B slides passed the key  394 A and may optionally enter the optional keyway  396 A. The first leg  370 A may deflect into the internal channel  330  and/or the second leg  372 B may deflect outwardly to allow the key  394 A to slide passed the optional key  404 B and the optional key  404 B to slide passed the key  394 A. Simultaneously, the key  394 B slides passed the optional key  404 A and enters the keyway  406 A. The optional key  404 A slides passed the key  394 B and may optionally enter the optional keyway  3966 . The second leg  372 A may deflect outwardly and/or the first leg  370 B may deflect into the internal channel  330  to allow the optional key  404 A to slide passed the key  394 B and the key  394 B to slide passed the optional key  404 A. The first and second straw portions  320  and  322  are pressed together until the projection  390 A is positioned inside the recess  402 B, the projection  400 B is positioned inside the recess  392 A, the projection  400 A is positioned inside the recess  392 B, and the projection  390 B is positioned inside the recess  402 A. 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 12 , the drinking straw  300  may be assembled by positioning the first end  312  of the first straw portion  320  alongside the second end  318  of the second straw portion  322  with the first leg  370 A aligned with the second leg  372 B and the second leg  372 A aligned with the first leg  370 B. Then, the first straw portion  320  is slid into engagement with the second straw portion  322 . Specifically, the key  394 A is slid into the keyway  406 B and the key  394 B is slid into the keyway  406 A. At the same time, the projections  390 A and  400 A slide into the recesses  402 B and  392 B, respectively, and the projections  390 B and  400 B slide into the recesses  402 A and  392 A, respectively. The first straw portion  320  is slid along the second straw portion  322  until the first end  312  of the first straw portion  320  is aligned with the first end  316  of the second straw portion  322 . 
     The drinking straw  300  may be disassembled by sliding the first straw portion  320  along the second straw portion  322  until the first end  312  of the first straw portion  320  clears the second end  318  of the second straw portion  322  and the first straw portion  320  is completely disengaged from the second straw portion  322 . 
     Each of the drinking straws  100  and  300  splits into two separate straw portions (or pieces), which exposes the interior of the drinking straw. This allows the user to wash the inside of the drinking straws  100  and  300  by hand or using a dishwasher. Slide or snap features securely hold the two separate straw portions together and allow the drinking straws  100  and  300  to be disassembled. 
     The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). 
     Conjunctive language, such as phrases of the form “at least one of A, B, and C,” or “at least one of A, B and C,” (i.e., the same phrase with or without the Oxford comma) unless specifically stated otherwise or otherwise clearly contradicted by context, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either A or B or C, any nonempty subset of the set of A and B and C, or any set not contradicted by context or otherwise excluded that contains at least one A, at least one B, or at least one C. For instance, in the illustrative example of a set having three members, the conjunctive phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” and “at least one of A, B and C” refer to any of the following sets: {A}, {B}, {C}, {A, B}, {A, C}, {B, C}, {A, B, C}, and, if not contradicted explicitly or by context, any set having {A}, {B}, and/or {C} as a subset (e.g., sets with multiple “A”). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C each to be present. Similarly, phrases such as “at least one of A, B, or C” and “at least one of A, B or C” refer to the same as “at least one of A, B, and C” and “at least one of A, B and C” refer to any of the following sets: {A}, {B}, {C}, {A, B}, {A, C}, {B, C}, {A, B, C}, unless differing meaning is explicitly stated or clear from context. 
     Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.