Abstract:
A device for drinking and adding a substance to a beverage has a tubular section having a first open end and a second open end. An additive is placed in an interior of the tubular section. A device is used for sealing the first open end and the second open end.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present patent application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/427,304, filed Dec. 27, 2010, in the name of the same inventor, and entitled, “The Healthy Straw”. The present patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to a drinking straw, and more particularly, to a drinking straw having an additive stored within the drinking straw which may be added to a drink. 
         [0003]    Drinking straws are commonly used to consume beverages. Drinking straws generally comprise an elongate cylindrical sleeve through which a liquid/semi-liquid beverage may be consumed. In general, one end of the straw is submerged within the beverage to be consumed, the other end may be placed in a user&#39;s mouth to draw the beverage through the straw into the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0004]    It is desirable for some people to add different additives to their beverage. Some of these additives may include, but is not limited to: favoring, vitamins, protein enhancers, medication, and the like. Presently, in order to do this, the additive need to be bought in bulk and placed in the beverage. A spoon or other mixing device may then be used to mix the additive into the beverage. 
         [0005]    However, it is desirable to provide a device that permits the additive, the mixing mechanism and the drinking mechanism to be incorporated into a single device. It is further desirable to provide a device that permits the uniform mixing and dissolving of the additive into the beverage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A device for drinking and adding a substance to a beverage has a tubular section having a first open end and a second open end. An additive is placed in an interior of the tubular section. A device is used for sealing the first open end and the second open end. 
         [0007]    A device for drinking and adding a substance to a beverage has a tubular section having a first open end and a second open. A spoon section extends down from the second open end, wherein the spoon section is folded upward closing the second open end. An additive is placed in an interior of the tubular section. 
         [0008]    A device for drinking and adding a substance to a beverage has a tubular section having a first open end and a second open end. An additive is placed in an interior of the tubular section. A pair of end caps is used for sealing the first open end and the second open end. 
         [0009]    The features, functions, and advantages may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective of the drinking straw of the present invention with the stirring section in the extend position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective of the drinking straw of the present invention with the stirring section in the closed position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective of the drinking straw of the present invention with the stirring section in the closed position and sealed in a container; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is elevated perspective of another embodiment of the drinking straw of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Turning to  FIGS. 1-3 , one embodiment of a drinking straw  10  of the present invention is shown. The drinking straw  10  may be formed of a tubular section  12 . The tubular section  12  may have an open first end  12 A and an open second end  12 B. The tubular section  12  may be formed of a flexible plastic material such as polypropylene and polystyrene or the like. The listing of materials is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. 
         [0016]    The tubular section  12  may be configured to house a predetermined amount of an additive  14 . Thus, the length of the tubular section  12  and the diameter of the tubular section  12  may be configures to house a desired amount of additive  14  to be mixed with a predetermined amount of a beverage/liquid. 
         [0017]    The additive  14  may be any type of additive such as, but not limited to: favoring, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, juices, carbonated drink mixes, special mixtures of ingredients designed to be very suitable for diabetics and people suffering from obesity or other medical issues, protein enhancers, medication, and the like. The additive  14  may be a liquid, a powder, or the like. In accordance with one embodiment, the additive may be an all natural, sugar free, preservative free and stabilizer free ingredients that is in powder form. 
         [0018]    Extending down from the open second end  12 B of the tubular section  12  is a spoon member  16 . The spoon member  16  may be formed of the same and or similar material as the tubular section  12 , i.e., flexible plastic material such as polypropylene and polystyrene. The spoon member  16  may be oval in shape and have a slight curve and or bend. 
         [0019]    Once the additive  14  is placed in an interior of the tubular section  12 , the open first end  12 A and an open second end  12 B may be sealed. In accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the spoon member  16  may be folded upward to close the open second end  12 B. A removable seal  18  may be placed over the folded spoon member  16  to keep the spoon member folded upward and to ensure that the additive  14  does not leak out. 
         [0020]    A removable seal  18  may also be placed over the open first end  12 A. The removable seal  18  may be used to ensure that the additive  14  does not leak out of the tubular section  12 . 
         [0021]    The drinking straw  10  may be placed in a container  18 . The container  20  may be a sealed type container  20  to prevent tampering. In accordance with one embodiment, the container  20  may be a vacuumed sealed container  18 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the drinking straw  10 ′ is shown. In this embodiment, the drinking straw  10 ′ may be formed of a tubular section  12 . The tubular section  12  may have an open first end  12 A and an open second end  12 B. The tubular section  12  may be formed of a flexible plastic material such as polypropylene and polystyrene or the like. The listing of materials is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. 
         [0023]    The tubular section  12  may be configured to house a predetermined amount of an additive  14 . Thus, the length of the tubular section  12  and the diameter of the tubular section  12  may be configures to house a desired amount of additive  14  to be mixed with a predetermined amount of a beverage/liquid. 
         [0024]    The additive  14  may be any type of additive such as, but not limited to: favoring, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, juices, carbonated drink mixes, special mixtures of ingredients designed to be very suitable for diabetics and people suffering from obesity or other medical issues, protein enhancers, medication, and the like. The additive  14  may be a liquid, a powder, or the like. In accordance with one embodiment, the additive may be an all natural, sugar free, preservative free and stabilizer free ingredients that is in powder form. 
         [0025]    In this embodiment, end caps  22  may be placed over the open first end  12 A and an open second end  12 B. The end caps  22  may be used to ensure that the additive  14  does not leak out. A removable seal  18  may be placed over the end caps  20 . The removable seal  18  may be used to ensure that the end caps  20  remain on the tubular section  12 . 
         [0026]    The drinking straw  10 ′ may be placed in a container  20 . The container  20  may be a sealed type container  20  to prevent tampering. In accordance with one embodiment, the container  20  may be a vacuumed sealed container  20 . 
         [0027]    In use, the drinking straw  10  or  10 ′ may be removed from the container  20 . The removable seal  18  may be removed from the spoon member  16  which has been folded upward or the end cap  22  placed over the open second end  12 B. The additive  14  may then be poured into the beverage. The user may then stir the beverage to mix the additive  14  into the beverage. If the drinking straw  10  is used, the spoon member  16  in combination with the tubular section  12  may be used to stir the beverage to mix the additive  14  into the beverage. If the drinking straw  10  is used, the tubular section  12  alone may be used to stir the beverage to mix the additive  14  into the beverage. The removable seal  18  may be removed from the open end  12 A for drinking straw  10  or from the end caps  22  covering the open end  12 A in drinking straw  10 ′. The user may then consume the beverage through the drinking straw  10  or the drinking straw  10 ′. 
         [0028]    While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.