Patent Publication Number: US-11045028-B1

Title: Drinking straw with agitator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/617,402 filed Jan. 15, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to accessory straws. More specifically, this disclosure relates to accessory straws with an agitator for use with containers of consumable beverages. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Beverages of many types are consumed by persons at an increasing rate. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are consumed at breakfast, lunch, dinner and at various times throughout the day. Beverages are consumed for many reasons, such as nourishment, thirst, societal, replacement of minerals and/or vitamins, etc. 
     Many beverages primarily consist of a single liquid phase, such as wine, beer, milk, etc. However, other beverages may contain more than one liquid phase, such as mixed drinks, coffee with cream and sugar, etc. In either case, the beverage should be mixed (i.e., stirred) at least occasionally for purposes of taste and enjoyment. This objective to mix is most evident after a multi-phase beverage is placed or poured into a container, such as a glass or a cup, to prevent or at least minimize the separation of the beverage into component phases (or layers). 
     While accessories for beverage containers are currently available, such as straws, stirrers and swizzle sticks, the beverage-consuming public continues to look for new accessories which will enhance their enjoyment and consumption of beverages, especially multi-phase beverages. 
     Therefore, there is a need for new and effective accessory straws with an agitator that allows for thorough mixing of the beverage for enhanced enjoyment. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for drinking and mixing a beverage in a container is provided. The drinking apparatus comprises of an elongated hollow tubular member for drinking the beverage, an agitator for mixing the beverage, and a linear to rotary mechanism combining the elongated hollow tubular member and the agitator for converting linear motion of the elongated hollow tubular member to rotary motion of the agitator for mixing the beverage. 
     In one implementation, the linear to rotary mechanism comprises of a raised spiral around the elongated hollow tubular member, a driver combined to the raised spiral and combined to the agitator. An orifice and a pair of indentations can be positioned on opposite sides of the orifice. The driver fits around the elongated hollow tubular member with the pair of indentations fitted on the raised spiral around the elongated hollow tubular member in a threaded bolt and screw relationship. 
     The driver can further comprise of downwardly projecting teeth, and the agitator comprises of an upper crown with an orifice that fits around the elongated hollow tubular member with the pair of indentations on opposite sides of the orifice to position the upper crown on the elongated hollow tubular member with the indentations fitted on the raised spiral around the elongated hollow tubular member. The upwardly projecting teeth mate with the downwardly projecting teeth of the driver to create a positive connection between the driver and the agitator. 
     The agitator can comprise of a lower crown positioned apart from the upper crown by at least two members. Each of the at least two members can comprise of a fin for increasing a surface area of the agitator. 
     The drinking apparatus can be combined with the container by a clip comprising a body. An orifice can be provided through the body for fitting the clip around the elongated hollow tubular member of the straw. A pair of downwardly extending arms can be positioned on opposite sides of the body for attaching the apparatus to the container. For other types of containers, a flexible sleeve that adapted to fit on the body of the clip between an upper collar on top of the body and a lower collar on the body of the body can be provided. The sleeve increases the diameter of the clip for attaching the apparatus to the container by friction fit in the mouth of the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drinking straw with agitator according to this disclosure combined to a container. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drinking straw with agitator of  FIG. 1  with the straw in the extended position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the drinking straw with agitator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partially exploded view of the drinking straw with agitator of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the agitator of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the driver of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a drinking apparatus  100  according to this disclosure is shown in relation to a container  200 . Drinking apparatus  100  is a portable and removable straw  102  combined with an agitator  104  that fits inside container  200 . The user, by way of up and down linear motion of straw  102 , causes rotary motion of the agitator  104  for mixing the beverage in container  200 . Drinking apparatus is shown more specifically in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3-5 , drinking apparatus  100  according to this disclosure is show in detail. Drinking apparatus  100  comprises generally of straw  102  comprising an elongated hollow tubular member  103  for drinking the beverage, agitator  104  for mixing the beverage, and a linear to rotary mechanism  106  combining the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102  and agitator  104  for converting linear motion of the elongated hollow tubular member of straw  102  to rotary motion of agitator  104  for mixing the beverage. 
     More specifically, linear to rotary mechanism  106  comprises of a raised spiral  108  around the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102 , a driver  110  combined to raised spiral  108  and combined to agitator  104 . Raised spiral  108  can be integrally formed on straw  102  as a raised thread that spirally wraps around the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102 . Driver  110  has a corresponding mating thread that mates with raised spiral  108  to convert linear motion of straw  102  to rotary motion of agitator  104 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a close up view of driver  110 . Driver  110  comprises of an orifice  112  and a pair of indentations  114   a ,  114   b  on opposite sides of orifice  112 . Returning to  FIGS. 3-5 , shown is driver  110  fitted on elongated tubular member of straw  102  with pair of indentations  114   a ,  114   b  fitted on raised spiral  108  of straw  102 . Driver  110  also comprises of downwardly projecting teeth  116  to mate with corresponding upwardly projecting teeth  118  of agitator  104 . 
     Agitator  104 , which is shown in close-up in  FIG. 6 , comprises of an upper crown  120  with an orifice with a smooth bore that fits around the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102  to position upper crown  120  on the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102 . Upwardly projecting teeth on crown  120  of agitator  104  mates with the downwardly projecting teeth  116  of driver  110  to create a positive connection between driver  110  and agitator  104 . 
     Agitator  104  further comprises of a lower crown  122  positioned apart from upper crown  120  by at least two members  124 . Each of at least two members  124  further comprises of a fin  126  for increasing a surface area of agitator  104 . This increased surface area allows for thorough mixing of the beverage of any liquid and particulate elements. Lower crown  122  of agitator  104  can comprise an orifice for positioning agitator  104  on a raised inner portion of container  200 . For containers with such a raised inner portion, such as plastic soda bottles, this would allow agitator  104  to be centrally maintained for a more sturdy balanced rotation. 
     Drinking apparatus  100  can further comprise of a clip  130  comprising a body  132  comprising an orifice  134  therethrough for fitting body  132  of clip  130  around the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102 . Body  132  of clip  130  can further comprise of at least two downwardly extending arms  136  positioned on opposite sides of body  132  for attaching drinking apparatus  100  to container  200 . Clip  130  can further comprise of an upper collar  138  on top of body  132  from which at least two downwardly extending arms  136  extend. 
     In some situations, for example, with glass bottles, body  132  of clip  130  may require a wider diameter. In such situations, clip  130  can comprise a lower collar  140  on the bottom of body  132  to retain a flexible sleeve  142  that adapted to fit on body  132  of clip  130  between upper collar  138  and lower collar  140  of body  132  of clip  130 . Flexible sleeve  142  increases the diameter of body  132  of clip  130  for frictionally fitting clip  130  in the mouth of container  200 . 
     Straw  102  of drinking apparatus  100  can also comprise ergonomic and aesthetic features. At the mouth end of elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102 , a tapered mouthpiece  150  for receiving the mouth of a user can be provided. Mouthpiece  150  can be made of a flexible material that includes a sealing valve that is opened by the external pressure of the user&#39;s lips. Straw  102  can also comprise an ergonomic gripping portion  152  for gripping by the user while the user imparts the up and down linear motion of straw  102  to mix the beverage. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , straw  102  can further comprise of a latch  154  to fix straw  102  in the downward position to clip  130 . Beneath gripping portion  154  is latch  154  that fits to a corresponding protuberance on upper collar  138  on top of body  132  of clip  130 . To lock straw  102  to clip  130 , move straw to the down position and give it a slight ninety degree turn to position latch  154  under the protuberance on upper collar  138  of clip  130 . To unlock, merely reverse the turning of straw  102 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that other fastening mechanisms can be used to hold down straw  102 , such as a friction fit between a portion of elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102  and orifice  134  of clip  130  or a physical latch between straw  102  and clip  130 . 
     Returning back to  FIGS. 1-2 , the operation of drinking apparatus  100  will be described with reference to the preceding detailed description. The user inserts agitator  104  into container  200 . Straw  102  is inserted into container  200  and combined with agitator  104  by linear to rotary mechanism  106 . More specifically, driver  110  is fitted on raised spiral  108  around the elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102 . The elongated tubular member of straw  102  is inserted through upper crown  120  of agitator  104  so that downwardly projecting teeth  116  of driver  110  mates with corresponding upwardly projecting teeth  118  of agitator  104 . Clip  130  is inserted into and temporarily fixed into the opening of container  200  to attach drinking apparatus  100  to container  200 . 
     To stir the beverage, the user merely clasps straw  102  and moves it up and down. The driver is moved up against lower collar  142  of body  132  of clip  130 . In a screw and nut type fashion, linear movement of straw  102  via raised spiral  108  on elongated hollow tubular member  103  of straw  102  causes rotation of driver  110 . The positive connection between driver  110  and agitator  104  causes a corresponding rotation of agitator  104 . As straw  102  is moved linearly upward, agitator  104  rotates in one direction. As straw  102  is moved linearly downward, agitator  104  rotates in the opposite direction. Drinking apparatus  100  provides the user with a convenient and portable mechanism for drinking a beverage and keeping the contents thoroughly mixed. 
     Those skilled in the art would understand that the foregoing drinking apparatus  100  can be modified to fit any size or shape of container  200  without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The components making of drinking apparatus  100  can be made of any one or more of plastic, metal, rubber, silicon, hardened paper, paper mache, etc. A combination of silicon or rubber grommets can be used to increase sealing. Agitator  104  can be formed with members  124  and fins  126  of various shapes, styles, and configurations to adapt to containers  200  of various sizes and various blending/mixing applications. Driver  110  can come in various height and diameter dimensions to allow for customization for the particular application. Clip  130  can also be made in various manners to fit containers of different sizes. 
     In alternative implementations, linear to rotary mechanism  106  to translate linear motion of straw  102  to rotary motion of agitator  104  are contemplated. For example, a slider-crank mechanism, an alternative threaded relationship between straw  102  and agitator  104 , a slider crank, etc. 
     While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.