Patent Publication Number: US-2003232111-A1

Title: Drinking straw with flavoring bag

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] The present invention relates to the flavoring of a fluid which may be consumed by use of a drinking straw. More particularly, the present invention relates to the flavoring of water to be consumed by use of a drinking straw by a substance contained in a flavoring bag. Most particularly, the present invention relates to the flavoring of bottled water, to be consumed by use of a drinking straw, by substances which may be contained in flavoring bags, for example, tea leaves.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Bottled drinks of many sorts are readily available from many retail sources and have long been known in the prior art. In recent times, the popularity of bottled waters, both carbonated and noncarbonated, has been on the increase. This may be due to, not only the poor real and/or perceived quality of tap water in many locations, but also the lack of alternatives to the very sweet and sometimes heavy nature of many soda and juice style drinks sold at retail. Many sports-style hydration drinks are also unpleasantly very sweet to the taste. Further, all of these drinks must be made in such a manner and with such ingredients as to provide a sufficiently long shelf life to permit practical distribution in the contemporary retail marketing environment. While a retail customer may desire a liquid refreshment with a more interesting taste than that of bottled water, the alternatives on the shelf or in the refrigeration cabinet are not more appealing.  
       [0003] Various flavoring elements for flavoring water and other liquids have long been known in the art. These range from pieces of natural leaves and roots, which may be allowed to steep in liquids to flavor them, to contemporary tablets and powders, which may be added to water to make “instant” drinks ranging from coffee and tea to milk-based and sweet fruit-juice like drinks. “Tea bags” have long been known in the art. Made of water permeable material and containing tea leaves or other herbal elements, these bags are placed or hung in water filled containers to steep their contents and flavor the water.  
       [0004] Recently, tea manufacturers have introduced canned teas, some sweetened, with and without lemon and other added flavors. Anyone who has tasted these products knows that they do not taste the same as, and in many cases taste very different from, freshly brewed tea products.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient means of flavoring a liquid in a container, most particularly, bottled waters.  
       [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient means of freshly flavoring a liquid in a container, most particularly, bottled waters, with a flavoring element just prior to consumption of the liquid.  
       [0007] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a convenient means of utilizing a flavoring bag to freshly flavor bottled water just prior to its consumption.  
       [0008] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a convenient means of utilizing a conventional tea bag to freshly flavor bottled water just prior to its consumption.  
       [0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient means of utilizing a flavoring bag to freshly flavor bottled water just prior to consumption of the water by use of a drinking straw.  
       [0010] In keeping with the above objectives, a drinking straw assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention includes a drinking straw with a fluid conduit running from an emersion end to an sipping end. A flavoring bag fabricated of water permeable material and containing a water flavoring substance is attached to an exterior surface of the conduit proximate to its emersion end.  
       [0011] An alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a drinking straw having a fluid conduit running from an emersion end to an sipping end. The straw further includes a means for attaching a flavoring element, such as a tea bag, to an exterior surface of the straw proximate to its emersion end. The means of attaching the flavoring element may include a clip, elastic band, adhesive strip, or straw engaging ring or tube.  
       [0012] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a flavoring bag attachment device which may be attached to a flavoring bag and, in turn, attached to a drinking straw to retain the bag and straw in proximity to one another. One flavoring bag attachment device includes a straw receiving tube into which a drinking straw may be inserted and a clip for clipping a flavoring bag to an exterior wall of the receiving tube. Another flavoring bag attachment device includes two receiving tube sections linked together by an elongate band. An emersion end portion of a drinking straw is inserted through each of the two tube sections such that a flavoring bag is retained under the elongate band against an outside wall of the immersion end portion of the drinking straw.  
       [0013] Yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a flavoring bag for use with a drinking straw having a fluid conduit running from an emersion end to an sipping end. The bag includes a bag body formed of water permeable material and containing a fluid flavoring substance. The flavoring bag includes a means for attaching the bag body to an exterior surface of an emersion end portion of the straw. The means for attaching the bag may include a clip, elastic band, an adhesive strip, a straw engaging ring, or a straw engaging tube.  
       [0014] Other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following detailed description and claims and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1A is a top view of a drinking straw of the prior art, FIG. 1B is a front view of the drinking straw of FIG. 1A.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is an isometric pictorial view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 3A is a top view of a drinking straw of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 3B is a side view of the drinking straw of FIG. 3A.  
     [0019]FIG. 3C is a side view of the straw of FIGS. 3A and 3B in an alternative configuration.  
     [0020]FIG. 3D is a front view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention and including the drinking straw of FIGS. 3A, 3B and  3 C.  
     [0021]FIG. 4A is a top view of a bottle with a cap for use with the present invention.  
     [0022]FIG. 4B is a front view of the bottle and cap of FIG. 4A.  
     [0023]FIG. 4C is a front view of the bottle and cap of FIGS. 4A and 4B with the assembly of FIG. 3D placed in the bottle.  
     [0024]FIG. 5A is a side view of a drinking straw of an assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0025]FIG. 5B is a side view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention and including the drinking straw of FIG. 5A.  
     [0026]FIG. 6A is an isometric pictorial view of a flavoring bag attachment device of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention placed on the emersion end of a drinking straw.  
     [0027]FIG. 6B is a side sectional view of the flavoring bag attachment device of FIG. 6A.  
     [0028]FIG. 6C is a front view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention and including the flavoring bag attachment device of FIGS. 6A and 6B.  
     [0029]FIG. 7A is a top view of a flavoring bag attachment device of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0030]FIG. 7B is a side view of the flavoring bag attachment device of FIG. 7A.  
     [0031]FIG. 8A is a top view of a flavoring bag attachment device of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0032]FIG. 8B is a side view of the attachment device of FIG. 8A.  
     [0033]FIG. 8C is a front view of a drinking strav and flavoring bag assembly comprising an embodiment of the present invention and including the attachment device of FIGS. 8A and 8B  
     [0034]FIG. 9A is a front view of an attachment device of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment the present invention.  
     [0035]FIG. 9B is a front view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention and including the attachment device of FIG. 9A.  
     [0036]FIG. 10 is an isometric pictorial view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0037]FIG. 11A is an isometric pictorial view of a flavoring bag of an assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0038]FIG. 11B is an isometric pictorial view an assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention and including the flavoring bag of FIG. 11A.  
     [0039]FIG. 12A is an end view of a straw and flavoring bag of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention before assembly.  
     [0040]FIG. 12B is an end view of a drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention and including the straw and flavoring bag of FIG. 12A.  
     [0041]FIG. 13 is an isometric pictorial view of another drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0042]FIG. 14 is an isometric pictorial view of a straw and flavoring bag assembly comprising yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0043] Drinking straw  10  of the prior art is shown in FIGS. 1A and 11B. Drinking straw  10  of the prior art includes conduit  2  with interior wall  3  defining interior fluid conducting passage  4  extending from sipping end  6  to emersion end  8 . As those familiar with the art are well aware, when emersion end  8  of drinking straw  10  is emersed in a liquid to be imbibed and an embider places their lips about sipping end  6  and applies sufficient suction to sipping end  6 , the liquid may be caused to rise through fluid passage  4  to be sipped from sipping end  6  and be imbibed.  
     [0044] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  150  comprising an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the isometric pictorial view of FIG. 2. Drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  150  comprises drinking straw  110  with conduit  102  enclosing fluid conducting passage  104  which extends from sipping end  106  to emersion end  108 . Flavoring bag  130  includes flavoring bag body  132  which is made of a liquid permeable material and contains a liquid flavoring substance. Liquid flavoring substances may include tea leaves, coffee, herbs, and flavoring tablets or powders. Flavoring bag body  132  is attached to exterior wall  109  of an emersion end portion of drinking straw  110  adjacent to emersion end  108  of drinking straw  110 . Flavoring bag body  132  may be attached to exterior wall  109  of the emersion end portion of drinking straw  110  by means of heat activated (or otherwise not liquid soluble) glue, adhesive tape, staples, or any other convenient and practical means.  
     [0045] Drinking straw  210  of drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  250  of FIG. 3D, is shown in the top view in FIG. 3A, and the side views of FIGS. 3B and 3C. Drinking straw  210  includes conduit  202  enclosing fluid conducting passage  204  defined by internal wall  203  and extending from sipping end  206  to emersion end  208 . Drinking straw  210  has clip  240  including elastic clip member  242  extending outward from exterior surface  209  of an emersion end portion of drinking straw  210  adjacent emersion end  208 . Hook  244  is affixed to exterior surface  209  of the emersion end portion of drinking straw  210  adjacent emersion end  209  and is positioned such that clip member  242  may be pressed into close proximity of exterior wall  209  of drinking straw  210  and placed under hook  244  to retain elastic clip member  242  in proximity to exterior surface  209 .  
     [0046] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  250  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention and including drinking straw  210  of FIGS. 3A, 3B and  3 C, is shown in the front view of FIG. 3D. Flavoring bag  230 , for example, a tea bag, has been placed between clip member  242  and exterior wall  209  of the emersion end portion of conduit  202  and clip member  242  pressed into the close proximity of wall  209  and under hook  244  to retain flavoring bag  230  between clip member  242  and exterior surface  209  of drinking straw  210 .  
     [0047] Water bottle and cap assembly  260  for use with drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  250  is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Cap  264  has punch-out hole  268  located in its center. Hole  268  is sized such that, once punched out, a sipping end portion of drinking straw  210  adjacent sipping end  206  may be passed therethrough. Throat  266  of water bottle  262  is sized such that flavoring bag  230  may be passed therethrough while mounted upon the emersion end portion of drinking straw  210 .  
     [0048] When it is wished to flavor and imbibe water in water bottle  260 , flavoring bag  230  is clipped to the emersion portion of straw  210  by means of clip  242  and hook  244  as described above. Cap  264  is then removed from bottle  262  and straw hole  268  punched out. The sipping end portion of drinking straw  210  adjacent to sipping end  206  is then passed through hole  268 . The emersion end portion of drinking straw  210 , with flavoring bag  230  attached, is then passed through throat  266  and emersed into the water in the bottle, and cap  264  is replaced on bottle  262  as shown in FIG. 4C. Straw  210  may then be pumped up and down, twirled, and/or otherwise moved about in bottle  262  to assist in flavoring the water in bottle  262  with the flavoring substance contained in flavoring bag  230 . Once the water in bottle  262  is flavored, it may be imbibed by sipping upon sipping end  206  of drinking straw  210 .  
     [0049] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  350  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention, including drinking straw  310  of FIG. 5A, is shown in the side view of FIG. 5B. Drinking straw  310  of that embodiment comprises adhesive strip  380 , provided with protective cover strip  381 , on exterior surface  309  of the emersion end portion of straw  310  adjacent to emersion end  308 . When straw  310  is to be used to flavor and imbibe a liquid, protective cover strip  381  is removed from adhesive strip  380  and flavoring bag  330  is pressed onto adhesive strip  380  to be retained against outer surface  309  of the end portion of straw  310  adjacent emersion end  308  as shown in the side view of FIG. 5B.  
     [0050] Flavoring bag attachment device  420  of drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  450  of FIG. 6C, is shown in the isometric pictorial view in FIG. 6A, and the sectional side view of FIG. 6B. Flavoring bag attachment device  420  includes receiver tube  422  and flavor bag clip  440 . Receiver tube  422  has interior passage  424  sized to receive the emersion end portion of drinking straw  410  adjacent drinking straw  410  emersion end  408 . Flavoring bag clip  440  is mounted upon exterior wall  426  of receiver tube  422  and includes elastic clip member  442  extending outward from exterior surface  426  of receiver tube  422 . Clip member retention hook  444  is affixed to exterior surface  426  of receiver tube  422  and is positioned such that clip member  442  may be pressed into close proximity of exterior wall  426  of receiver tube  422  and placed under hook  444  to retain elastic clip member  442  in close proximity to exterior wall  426 . Flavoring bag attachment device  420  is shown in section in the side view of FIG. 6B. The preferred embodiment of FIG. 6B is molded of a resilient elastic material, such as a suitable plastic, and includes retention spring  428  formed in receiver tube wall  427 . Retention spring  428  assures the provision of sufficient friction, regardless of minor variances in diameter of drinking straws  410  with which flavoring bag attachment device  420  may be used, to maintain the longitudinal position of flavoring bag attachment device  420  along drinking straw  410 .  
     [0051] To create drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  450  of FIG. 6C, the emersion end of drinking straw  410  is inserted through interior passage  424  of receiving tube  422  of flavoring bag attachment device  420  and flavoring bag attachment device  420  is positioned as desired in proximity to emersion end  408  of drinking straw  410 . Flavoring bag  430  is then placed under clip member  442  and clip member  442  is pressed into proximity to outer wall  426  of receiver tube  422  and under retention hook  444  to secure flavoring bag  430  against outer wall  426  of receiver tube  420  of flavor bag attachment device  422 .  
     [0052] An alternative flavoring bag attachment device  520  for facilitating attachment of a flavoring bag to an emersion end of a drinking straw is shown in the top view of FIG. 7A and the side view of FIG. 7B. Flavoring bag attachment device  520  includes first and second receiver tube sections  522  connected by longitudinal connecting strip  538 . The preferred embodiment of alternative flavoring bag attachment device  520  is molded of a flexible, elastic, resilient material, such as a suitable plastic. Connecting strip  638  has an arcuate shape as shown in the side view of FIG. 7B. Thus, when an emersion end portion of a drinking straw is inserted through both of receiver tube sections  522 , the central portion of arcuate connecting member  538  will resiliently press against an outside wall of the drinking straw and the opposing interior surfaces of passages  524  of receiver tube sections  522  will be drawn against the outside wall of the straw to assure provision of sufficient friction, regardless of minor variances in diameter of drinking straws, to maintain the longitudinal position of flavoring bag attachment device  520  along the drinking straw. Once flavoring bag attachment device  520  is placed on a straw, a flavoring bag may be placed under clip member  542  and clip member  542  pressed under retention hook  544  to secure the bag to the straw.  
     [0053] Flavoring bag attachment device  620  of drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  650  of FIG. 8C, is shown in the end view of FIG. 8A and side view of FIG. 8B. Flavoring bag attachment device  620  includes first and second receiver tube sections  622  connected by longitudinal connecting strip  638 . The preferred embodiment of flavoring bag attachment device  620  is made of a supple, resilient material, such as a suitable plastic material. To assemble drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  650 , the emersion end of drinking straw  610  is first inserted through internal passage  624  of one of receiving tube sections  622 . Flavoring bag  630  is then placed against the exterior surface of the emersion end portion of drinking straw  610  adjacent to emersion end  608 , and under connecting strip  638 . Emersion end  608  of drinking straw  610  is then inserted through the second receiver tube section  622 . Flavoring bag  630  will then be retained against exterior surface  609  of drinking straw  610  by connecting strip  638 .  
     [0054] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  750  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention, including flexible, elastic retention band  790  of FIG. 9A, is shown in the front view of FIG. 9B. To assemble drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  750 , emersion end  708  and an emersion end portion of drinking straw  710  adjacent to emersion end  708  are first passed through one of holes  791  in flexible retention band  790 . Flavoring bag  730  is then placed under flexible retention band body  788  and emersion end  708  and an emersion end portion of straw  710  are passed though the second hole  791  of flexible retention band  790 .  
     [0055] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  850  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the isometric pictorial view of FIG. 10. Flavoring bag  830  of assembly  850  includes flavoring bag body  832  and drinking straw clip  892  mounted upon an edge of bag body  832 . Drinking straw clip  892  is formed of a suitably flexible, elastic resilient material, for example, a suitable plastic material. To form assembly  850 , an emersion portion of drinking straw  810  adjacent emersion end  808  is pressed between opposing jaws  893  of clip  892  to retain flavoring bag  830  along the emersion end portion of straw  810  adjacent to emersion end  808 .  
     [0056] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  950  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention, including flavoring bag  930  of FIG. 11A, is shown in the isometric pictorial view of FIG. 11B. Flavoring bag  930  includes flavoring bag body  932  and butterfly strips  984  and  986  running along one edge of flavoring bag body  932 . Butterfly strips  984  and  986  have adhesive coated, opposing surfaces  994  and  996 , respectively, covered by protective cover strips  995  and  997  respectively. To assemble drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  950 , protective cover strips  995  and  997  are first peeled from adhesive surfaces  994  and  996  respectively. An emersion end portion of drinking straw  910  adjacent to emersion end  908  is then placed along seam  985  between butterfly strips  984  and  986 . Butterfly strips  984  and  986  are then pressed around the emersion end portion of straw  910  and pressed together where they join on the far side of the immersion end portion of straw  910  to retain the emersion end portion of straw  910  adjacent immersion end  908  between them and along the edge of flavoring bag body  932   
     [0057] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  1050  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention, including flavoring bag  1030  of FIG. 12A, is shown in the end view of FIG. 12B. Flavoring bag  1030  is formed of a pair of flavoring sacks  1072  and  1074  joined at two generally parallel seams  1076 . Internal opposing surfaces  1073  and  1075  of sacks  1072  and  1074 , respectively, are provided with an adhesive coating. To assemble drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  1050 , an emersion end portion of drinking straw  1010  is placed between opposing sack surfaces  1073  and  1075  as shown in FIG. 11A. Surfaces  1073  and  1074  are then squeezed together about drinking straw  1010  to bind opposing surfaces  1073  and  1075  about straw  1010  and to form drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  1050  of FIG. 12B.  
     [0058] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  1150  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the isometric pictorial view of FIG. 13. Flavoring bag  1130  includes bag body  1132  and straw mounting tube  1178  running along one edge of sack body  1132 . The assembly is assembled by sliding emersion end  1108  and an adjacent emersion end portion of drinking straw  1110  into straw mounting tube  1178  to mount flavoring bag  1130  upon the emersion end portion of straw  1110  proximate to emersion end  1108 . Straw mounting tube  1178  may be made of a material similar to or identical to that of which bag body  1132  is formed, or an elastic material may be utilized to provide a compressive grip upon the emersion end portion of straw  1110 .  
     [0059] Exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  1250  comprising an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the isometric pictorial view of FIG. 14. Flavoring bag  1230  includes bag body  1232  and elastic straw mounting ring  1282  attached to sack body  1232  by means of string  1283 . The assembly is assembled by sliding mounting ring  1282  over emersion end  1208  and an adjacent emersion end portion of drinking straw  1210 .  
     [0060] While exemplary drinking straw and flavoring bag assemblies comprising embodiments of the present invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to those embodiments. Modification may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, straw mounting ring  1282  may be sewn directly to a corner of bag body  1232 , and string  1283  eliminated from the embodiment of drinking straw and flavoring bag assembly  1250 . It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modification which incorporates the essential features of this invention or which encompasses the spirit and scope of the invention.