Abstract:
The invention relates to a drinking straw which is sealed and/or re-sealable at the ends and which can serve as a supply container for a dry food product or which can comprise multiple parts, and to its use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE10200700867 filed Feb. 2, 2007. 
       STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    N/A 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to a drinking straw which can be filled with a food product, a procedure for its production and ways of its use. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    The prior art presents us with straws in a great variety of forms and uses. DE 20 2005010735 U1 concerns a straw which encases a second straw that is coated with ice. EP 963327 B1 describes a plastic container for liquids which contains a fully floating straw in the inside. It concerns a sealed plastic pouch for liquids where a straw-like object is held inside the container and is floating freely in the liquid contained in the bag. For such plastic containers, straws of a sufficient grade of rigidity are supplied in order to be able to pierce the pouch without having tapered the end of the straw and without any further devices attached to the straw to facilitate its handling and its movement in the container, since such additional measures have other disadvantages in the process of automated production of such containers and their contents. Furthermore, such containers for liquids must be highly hygienic and must be manufactured of a sort of plastic which does not lend any aftertaste (e.g. a sour taste) to the liquid contained therein, especially when the liquid is stored in the container for a long period of time. In addition, the plastic bag is equipped with a sealing around the straw when the latter is inserted and this admission sealing must resist mechanical impact during dispatch and handling. 
         [0008]    A disadvantage of this method is that great attention must be paid to the sort of plastic used in order to ensure hygiene and taste neutrality. Additionally, this straw is retained inside the container and so the straw is moistened by the liquid upon piercing the bag. 
         [0009]    Patent no. CH 496 428 describes a drinking straw consisting of transparent tubular sections with coils. Patent no. DE 203 09 272 UI concerns an adjustable straw equipped with an alterable admission opening. 
         [0010]    Patent no. DE 199 61 725 AI describes a straw which, at a suitable distance from the bottom end has an expanded area with circular or oval radial cross-section. Upon piercing the bag with the straw at the according admission opening this expanded section on the straw causes the opening to widen to a degree that a gap is created between the wall of the container and the straw, which enables pressure balance to be reached. 
         [0011]    Patent no. DE 19503 104 AI describes a straw with an area so expanded that it thus provides a container to take in an additional product. 
         [0012]    DE 102 28 559 AI concerns a drinking straw with a sealable bellows range. 
         [0013]    Patent no. DE 101 50 039 AI relates to a straw clip which enables attaching the straw to any container. 
         [0014]    DE 10045 712 C2 describes an add-on device which can be inserted through the sealed admission opening of the container. Conical in shape, upon insertion into the container this device creates a sealing between the edges of the opening on the container and the straw, and thus makes the use of an additional sealing material superfluous. 
         [0015]    G 88 11 410.4 concerns a straw containing air-filled floating particles. 
         [0016]    Patent no. G 7529 324.2 describes a straw equipped with a pair of mouthpieces at one end, allowing two persons to drink from the same glass. 
         [0017]    Disadvantages in the prior art are that straws are either attached to the outside of the respective liquid-filled containers and are likely to get lost or damaged, or that clothing may be contaminated with the liquids by spilling through the straw. Additionally, straws stored in the liquids may release ingredients from the straw material into the liquids. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The aim of the present invention was to create a straw which can serve as a supply container for food products enabling long storage and ensuring great storage stability. 
         [0019]    The above task is solved by the invention of a straw which, as appropriate, can be a one-piece design manufactured of one material, is sealed and/or re-sealable at the ends and which can serve as a supply container for dry food products. The straw is made out of its own material (no moving parts) in one piece by welding, punching (making the holes on it) and folding/iterating. 
         [0020]    In a possible variation on the present invention it is a one-piece design and is equipped with a mouthpiece at each end which is conical and tapering towards the straw. Below this range the straw is deformed by 90° so that a cross-shaped opening is created. This opening is sufficiently large to ensure the flow of liquid inside the straw without exhibiting too much suction resistance. An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that granules of irregular grain size can be filled in the straw in a greater particle distribution without allowing the smaller granules to fall out. 
         [0021]    In a further variant of the invention, the straw is a one-piece design and it is sealed at both ends. One of the ends is welded and, after filling the container with the dry food product, the other end used for filling up is also welded. The welded ends of the straw are rounded off, preventing injuries to the mouth or lips. 
         [0022]    In a further preferred embodiment, the straw is manufactured with a single opening, and so one end is already rounded off in the manufacturing process. Openings, holes, or slots are located at the end of the straw, ensuring the flow of liquid through the straw. Additional advantage this embodiment is that granules of irregular grain size can be filled in the container in a greater particle distribution without allowing the smaller granules to fall out. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment of the present invention the inner surface of the straw is coated with an antimicrobial agent in order to prolong the shelf-life of the dry food product. 
         [0024]    Among antimicrobial agents are preservatives such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester, imidazolidinyl urea, formaldehyde, sorbic acid, bronopol, dehydroacetic acid, benzoic acid and salicylic acid. 
         [0025]    By the term dry food product we understand substances or mixtures consisting of powders, granules, beads etc. which contain nutritives, vitamins, fruit aromas, natural sugars, thickeners, emulsifiers etc. In the broadest sense of the present invention dry fruit extracts, sherbets, water-soluble vitamins and dietary supplements are all grouped under the term dry food product. Also freeze-dried soups of a specific grain size are defined as dry food product. 
         [0026]    The straw, as so far defined in the invention, can be produced of a tubular shape in the shape of other polyhedrons (e.g. octagonal, decahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron or other greater polyhedrons). 
         [0027]    In yet another embodiment the straw according to the invention is equipped and brought into alignment with a shaft that holds a connection piece which is connected to a cover cap which fits the end of the straw precisely. 
         [0028]    In a further embodiment, the straw as defined in the invention comprises, at at least one location of the upper or lower section, a flexible range, a crease range, an accordion-folded range or a bellows range. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, the straw consists of at least one sealable end, the middle section which encases a dry food product and a flexible range eventually located between the middle section and the sealable range. 
         [0030]    In yet another embodiment, the straw according to the invention is attached to a re-useable device made out of a flexible material from the group of flexible range, crease range, accordion-fold range and bellows range and this add-on device is further equipped with a mouthpiece and a re-sealable end-piece. 
         [0031]    In yet another variant the straw as described is equipped with at least one section which is flexible. 
         [0032]    A further object of the present invention is the procedure for filling the straw described above, whereby the straw, already sealed at one end, is filled with a dry food product under the exclusion of oxygen or under an oxygen content of under 0.9% and the straw is then finally sealed under inert atmosphere. Membranes that dissolve when contacted with liquid are recommended to ensure that the liquid comes into contact with the dry food mixture. 
         [0033]    Yet another object of the present invention is the use of the above described straw for storing supplies of dry food products, especially powders which, when contacted with aqueous media, result in a readily drinkable liquid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1   a  is an embodiment of the straw in accordance with the present invention with a flattened grooving in plan view. 
           [0036]      FIG. 1   b  is the straw according to the invention in a longitudinal view rotated by 90° in relation to  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0037]      FIG. 2   a  is a variation on the straw according to the invention in perspective view. 
           [0038]      FIG. 2   b  is the straw from  FIG. 2   a  rotated 90°. 
           [0039]      FIG. 3   a  is an end-piece according to the invention in plan view. 
           [0040]      FIG. 3   b  is cross-section from  FIG. 3   a  of the end-piece according to the invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 3   c  is a further embodiment in accordance with the invention in views U and V. 
           [0042]      FIG. 4  is an open, resealable end-piece in perspective. 
           [0043]      FIG. 5  is a flexible end-piece in perspective. 
           [0044]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an end-piece as seen from below. 
           [0045]      FIG. 7  is a further variant of the straw according to the invention in a sectional view taken along the line c-c. 
           [0046]      FIG. 7   a  is an embodiment of the straw end range of the straw in  FIG. 7  in view W. 
           [0047]      FIG. 7   b  is an enlarged view of and end range from  FIG. 7  with circular openings, sectional view taken along the line c-c. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0048]      FIG. 1   a  shows the straw according to the present invention  1  in plan view and as a sectional view taken along the lines b-b. At the middle section  12  of the straw are located the two straw end ranges  7  and the aligned end-pieces  2 . The end-piece  2  within the framed range consists of a cone area  11  tapering outwards which functions as a swirl mixing area and continues in a grooving  3 . Beyond the grooving the straw material expands again and leads to the mouthpiece  4 . The straw middle section  12  serves as a supply container for dry contents  6 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates an embodiment in accordance with the invention as shown in  FIG. 1   a  in a longitudinal view and rotated 90°. In this figure the end-piece is presented with a tapering cone area  11  and an expanding mouthpiece  4 . The closure  5  is located between end-piece  2  of the straw end  7  and the straw middle section  12 . The closure  5  is intended to prevent the contents from falling out, as well as to ensure storage stability of the dry food product. By the term dry food product we understand substances or mixtures consisting of powders, granules, beads etc. which contain nutritives, vitamins, fruit aromas, natural sugars, thickeners, emulsifiers etc. In the broadest sense of the present invention dry fruit extracts, sherbets, water-soluble vitamins and dietary supplements are all grouped under the term dry food product. Also freeze-dried soups of a specific grain size are defined as dry food product. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2   a  shows a further embodiment of the straw according to the present invention  1  with the end-pieces  2  and mouthpieces  4  in perspective. 
         [0051]      FIG. 2   b  shows a further variant of the straw in accordance with the invention  1  in perspective. Here the contents  6  are indicated inside the middle section  12  of the straw  1 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates the end-piece  2  of a straw according to the invention  1  in an enlarged sectional view. Material thickness  9  lies within a range between 0.01 mm and 0.2 mm. The straw middle section  12 , here not represented, continues in the straw end range  7 , to which a swirl mixing area  10  is connected. This swirl mixing  10  area stretches from the straw end range  7  to the opening  8  of the mouthpiece  4 . This area serves to produce a turbulence of the liquids (water, milk, spirits and the like) in order to ensure a speedy mixing with the contents in the form of granules, powders, beads or similar substances and to speed up the dissolution of the dry contents. The groove  3  divides the end-piece  2  into mouthpiece  4  and cone area  11 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 3   b  shows the end-piece  2  in plan view. Around the grooving  3  the flow of fluids (of water, milk, spirits or similar) is at its strongest and the flow is lead directly to the dry contents of the straw. With this embodiment, the closure  5  is located between straw end  7  and end-piece  2 . The closure  5  is then opened by way of mechanical impact such as rubbing or squeezing or by way of contact with the liquids. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3   c  shows a further variant of the present invention. In this embodiment the straw  1  is a one-piece design. It consists of a middle section  12  and is equipped with a mouthpiece  4  at each end which is conical, tapering towards the straw. Below this conical range the straw is deformed by 90° creating a cross-shaped opening  30 . The opening  30  has two braces  25  and  26  and is sufficiently large to ensure the flow of liquid inside the straw without requiring too much suction. This variant of the invention is also of advantage in that granules  6  of irregular grain size can be filled in a greater particle distribution while preventing the smaller granules from falling out. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  illustrates an open, re-sealable end-piece  13  which can be connected to an embodiment of the mouthpiece  4 / 18  of the straw according to the invention. In this variant form, the re-sealable end-piece  13  is constituted by the re-sealable end range which range consists of the cover cap  19  with the mouthpiece admission  21 , of the upper mouthpiece range  16  of the re-sealable end-piece  13 , over which the shaft  15  is located, which shaft is linked to the connection piece  14  that holds the cover cap  19  and is aligned with the flexible range  20 . The mouthpiece is designed so that it is lead through the flexible range  20  and in its upper range  16  it is equipped with a cover cap  19  for re-sealing and in its lower range  17  it serves as an admission for the mouthpiece  4 / 18  of the straw according to the invention  1 . Hereby the lower range  17  is produced in a way that labyrinth seals  24  serve as admission for the mouthpiece  18  of the straw in accordance with the invention. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  shows the flexible end-piece  13  in perspective. At the top is the mouthpiece  16  of the flexible end-piece  13 . This mouthpiece  16  continues in the shaft  15  which is precisely aligned to the mouthpiece  16  of the flexible range  20 . The connection piece  14  provided with a cover cap  19 , located at the shaft, is not shown here. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of an end-piece  13  according to the invention from below. An embodiment of the straw is shown with an admission point  24  to take up the mouthpiece  4  of the straw. This admission point  24  is a drilled hole located at the lower end of the flexible area  23 . Hereby it is granted that by sucking at the straw when the end-piece  2  is inserted into the straw according to the invention an area as large as possible is sealed and no air enters the straw around the admission point  24 . Additionally this device ensures that no liquids escape through this connection point, due to the large number of sealing elements located at the admission area. 
         [0058]      FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention where the straw  1  is a one-piece design and is sealed at the end ranges  7 . First one of the end ranges  7  is welded and, after filling the container with the dry food product  6  the other end used for filling up is also welded. The welded end ranges  7  of the straw are rounded off, preventing injuries to the mouth or lips of the customer. In another, preferred variation the straw is manufactured with a single opening at just one of the end ranges  7 , and so one end-range  7  is already rounded off in the manufacturing process. 
         [0059]    At both end-ranges  7  of the straw orifices  27  in the shape of holes, slots, oblong holes or similar are located, ensuring the flow of liquid through the straw. This design has the advantage that even granules of irregular grain size can be filled in the container in a great particle distribution without allowing the smaller granules to fall out through the orifices  27 . 
         [0060]    The openings are arranged around the perimeter of the straw  1  at the straw end range  7 . There is a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 12 openings provided at this section. Ideally there are 4 to 8 openings. 
         [0061]    Additionally,  FIG. 7  also displays a c-c sectional view of the straw according to invention. Hereby the above described orifices  27  are arranged around the perimeter of the straw at a distance of 90° from each other. The openings are formed in a way that even in the case of a dry food product  6  in the shape of granules with considerable particle distribution the smaller particles are prevented from falling out through the orifices  27 . 
         [0062]    In  FIG. 7   a  the straw according to the invention as described in  FIG. 7  is displayed in an enlarged view W. There are three orifices  27  in the shape of oblong slots. 
         [0063]      FIG. 7   b  illustrates a strongly enlarged view of a straw end range  7  in cut c-c with circular orifices  27 . The orifices are located at a distance of 90° from each other, distributed around the perimeter of the straw.