Improvements in Paper Tubes for the Administration of Medicines, Beverages, and the like, and Apparatus for Manufacturing the same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Paper Tubes for the Administration of Medicines,
Beverages, and the like, and Apparatus for Manufacturing the
same.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The aim of this invention is to provide a cheap, durable and unobjectionable
substitute for the natural straws commonly used for the administration of medicines,
beverages, etcetera, and to this end it consists essentially in a straw formed by winding
a paper strip into tubular form and securing the final or outer edge by an adhesive
material, the whole being coated with paraffin or other water-proof material, and
preferably colored in imitation of the natural straw.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of this new product in its preferred form.
Figure 2 is a face view of the blank from which it is produced.
Figure 3 is a spindle adapted for its formation.
Figure 4 is a view showing the manner of winding the blank upon the spindle.
The blank A is cut from manilla or other suitable paper, preferably fashioned in
the form shown in Figure 2, with parallel sides, and beveled ends a and b. The
two ends are beveled at different angles, as shown, in order that the tube may be
produced with square ends; and in order to facilitate the application of the blank
to the spindle, it is recessed or indented in one edge, as shown at c.
The blank may be rolled into form by hand or by mechanism of any appropriate
character, but it is preferable to employ a cylindrical or slightly tapered spindle, B,

page_text: connected with suitable mechanism for imparting a rapid rotation thereto, and
provided at one end with slits or notches d, receive the end of the blank.
In operating the device, the corner of the blank is introduced into one of the slits,
and a rapid rotation is imparted to the spindle, at the same time guiding the blank
obliquely through the spindle as represented in Figure 4, whereby it is caused to wind
spirally or helically thereon into the form of a cylindrical tube.
One corner of the blank is provided with paste or other adhesive material, as
shown at e, whereby this, the outer corner, is fastened securely in place, and the
unwinding of the tube prevented.
After the formation of the tube, the same is dipped into a vat of molten paraffine
or other equivalent material, and after shaking or otherwise draining the surplus,
it is permitted to dry and harden. The material thus applied serves not only to
render the paper non-absorbent, but also to fill completely the joints between the
coils and convolutions of the paper, sealing the two hermetically from one end to the
other, and at the same time, giving thereto a superficial finish closely resembling
that of the natural straw.
It is proposed to produce the blank from paper which has been suitably colored in
imitation of the natural straw, or to color the tube after its formation, and before the
application of the water-proof material.
The product resulting from the operation is an imitation straw requiring close
examination in order to distinguish it from the natural straw, having the advantages
of greater strength, and freedom from liability to crack or split.
The blank may be made in forms other than those herein shown, and rolled in any
manner which will give it a tubular form. The peculiar formation herein shown is
recommended for the reason of its simplicity, its great strength, and the fact that it
requires the application of the adhesive material to but a small portion of the
surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, the artificial straw, consisting of a wound paper
strip, colored in imitation of the natural straw, and treated with water-proof material.
2. The artificial straw consisting of the narrow paper strip helically wound into a
cylindrical tube secured at one end by adhesive material, and treated with water proof
material, substantially as described.
3. The herein described blank for an artificial straw consisting of the paper strip
with parallel or substantially parallel sides, and the two ends beveled, substantially as
described.
4. As a new article of manufacture, an artificial straw consisting of paper wound
into cylindrical form and treated with water proof material.
5. As a new article of manufacture, a paper tube formed in imitation of a straw,
and treated with paraffine, whereby it is rendered water proof and adapted for use in
the human mouth without injury.
Dated this 7th day of July 1887