Patent Description:
The present invention also relates to a package having a package main body filled with a pourable food product and a drinking straw.

As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.

There are known packages comprising a package main body formed from the multilayer packaging material and a drinking straw. Those packages are in particular used for the consumption on-the-go.

The main package body comprises a main opening configured to allow the insertion of the drinking straw into the main package body. The package main body also comprises
a separation membrane covering the main opening for separating the inner space of the package main body from an outer environment and which is configured to be pierced by the drinking straw so as to allow the introduction of the drinking straw through the main opening and into the package and the subsequent extraction of the pourable food product through the drinking straw.

Each drinking straw is typically attached to the respective package main body within a closed plastic envelope. Prior to its use a consumer extracts the respective drinking straw from the envelope and introduces the drinking straw into the package by piercing the separation membrane.

A drawback of these packages is that the drinking straws may be littered independently and voluntarily or involuntarily from the package main body after the complete or partial consumption of the pourable food product.

The document <CIT> of the Applicant discloses a solution to such a problem by providing a drinking straw according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

According to the teaching of <CIT>, the abutment portion can be realized as a thickening or by means of a palm-tree like structure. Drinking straws are also disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>.

A drawback of such described drinking straws is that the production of these find limits when desiring to further accelerate the production of such drinking straws.

Therefore, a desire is felt in the sector to improve the known drinking straws so that their production can be realized in an easier and faster manner than the ones known in the art.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved drinking straw solving the above-mentioned drawback.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved package solving the above-mentioned drawback.

According to the present invention, there is provided a drinking straw according to the independent claim.

Further advantageous embodiments of the drinking straw are specified in the claims being dependent on the independent claim.

Furthermore, there is provided a packaging according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

Reference numeral <NUM> indicates as a whole a package having a package main body <NUM>, in particular a package main body formed from a multilayer packaging material, and a drinking straw <NUM>. In particular, package <NUM> is adapted for the consumption on-the-go.

Package <NUM> may also comprise an envelope or a pocket for housing the drinking straw <NUM> prior to its use. Preferentially, the envelope or the pocket may be provided on and/or fixed to package main body <NUM>.

Furthermore, package main body <NUM> may be filled with a pourable food product, such as water, milk, milk-based drinks, yoghurt drinks, coffee-based drinks, fruit juice, beverages with pulp or other beverages.

Package main body <NUM> may be obtained from a multilayer packaging material. In particular, the multilayer packaging material may comprise at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. paper or cardboard, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.

Moreover, the multilayer packaging material may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferentially, the multilayer packaging material may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

With particular reference to <FIG>, package main body <NUM> may extend along a central (longitudinal) axis A.

In particular, package <NUM> may comprise a first wall <NUM>, in particular being transversal, even more particular perpendicular, to central axis A, from which package main body <NUM> extends along axis A. Preferentially, first wall <NUM> may define a support surface of package <NUM>, which, in use, can be put in contact with a support, such as e.g. a shelf, when, in use, being e.g. exposed within a sales point, placed within a storage chamber, placed within a refrigerator or similar. In particular, when being arranged on a support and/or, in use, during consumption of the pourable food product by a consumer from package main body <NUM>, first wall <NUM> may define a bottom wall.

Moreover, package main body <NUM> may also comprise a side wall <NUM> being (fixedly) connected to first wall <NUM> and extending, in particular substantially parallel to central axis A, from first wall <NUM>.

Additionally, package main body <NUM> may also comprise a second wall <NUM> opposite to first wall <NUM> and being (fixedly) connected to side wall <NUM>. In other words, side wall <NUM> may be interposed between first wall <NUM> and second wall <NUM>. In particular, when being arranged on a support and/or, in use, during consumption of the pourable food product by a consumer from package main body <NUM>, second wall <NUM> may define a top wall.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, first wall <NUM> and second wall <NUM> may be parallel to one another.

Alternatively, first wall <NUM> and second wall <NUM> could be inclined with respect to one another. second wall <NUM> may define a slanted-top or a gable-top.

Moreover, package main body <NUM> may comprise an inner space <NUM>, in particular delimited by first wall <NUM>, side wall <NUM> and second wall <NUM>, containing the pourable product.

With particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, package main body <NUM> may comprise a main opening allowing for the insertion and/or introduction of drinking straw <NUM> into package main body <NUM>.

Furthermore, package main body <NUM> may also comprise a separation membrane <NUM> covering the main opening and being configured to be pierced (equivalently ruptured and/or opened and/or cut), in particular by drinking straw <NUM>, so as to allow the insertion of drinking straw <NUM> (through the main opening) into inner space <NUM>. In particular, separation membrane <NUM> may separate, prior to losing its integrity, inner space <NUM> containing the pourable food product from an outer environment. In this manner, the pourable food product is protected from the outer environment. Preferably, separation membrane <NUM> may comprise a gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or a film comprising ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, separation membrane <NUM> may be defined by a portion of the multilayer packaging material, in particular a portion of the layers of the multilayer packaging material being different from the layer of fibrous material.

The main opening may be defined by a respective hole within the layer of fibrous material of the multilayer packaging material.

The main opening and consequently separation membrane <NUM> may have circular shapes.

Preferentially, the main opening and consequently separation membrane <NUM> may be provided on second wall <NUM>.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the extension of the main opening is delimited by a rim of the main opening itself. In particular, the rim has a circular shape.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the main opening may have a transversal (cross-sectional) extension d1. In particular, transversal extension d1 is determined with respect to central axis A. Even more particular, transversal extension d1 may be determined and/or measured considering the rim delimiting the main opening. According to the non-limiting embodiment disclosed in <FIG>, transversal extension d1 corresponds to a diameter of the main opening.

With particular reference to <FIG>, drinking straw <NUM> comprises at least:.

In particular, inner flow channel <NUM> may extend between inlet opening <NUM> and outlet opening <NUM>.

Furthermore, inlet opening <NUM> and outlet opening <NUM> may be arranged at opposite ends of drinking straw <NUM>.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, inlet opening <NUM> is configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable food product into drinking straw <NUM> and in particular, outlet opening <NUM> is configured to allow for the outflow of the pourable food product from drinking straw <NUM> (i.e., in use, a consumer receives the pourable food product through outlet opening <NUM>).

Preferentially, drinking straw <NUM> comprises or consists or is formed from a polymer and/or a fibrous material.

More specifically, drinking straw <NUM> comprises:.

Preferably, the tubular main body <NUM> and the sleeve <NUM> are made of plastic or fiber-based material.

More specifically, tubular main body <NUM> and sleeve <NUM> may delimit inner flow channel <NUM>.

In more detail, tubular main body <NUM> may comprise:.

In particular, mouthpiece <NUM> may define a first end of tubular main body <NUM>, and in particular also of drinking straw <NUM>. The first end may have outlet opening <NUM>.

Mouthpiece <NUM> may present a hollow cylindrical shape.

Moreover, tubular main body <NUM> may also comprise a second end (fluidically) opposite to the first end. In particular, coupling portion <NUM> may comprise the second end of tubular main body <NUM>.

Moreover, tubular main body <NUM> may also comprise a bellow <NUM> interposed between, in particular also connected to, mouthpiece <NUM> and tubular main portion <NUM>.

Preferentially, bellow <NUM> may be configured to allow for a relative movement between mouthpiece <NUM> and tubular main portion <NUM>. In particular, bellow <NUM> may allow a consumer to arrange mouthpiece <NUM> according to the consumer's needs and/or preferences. In other words, bellow <NUM> may allow inclining mouthpiece <NUM> with respect to tubular main portion <NUM>.

Preferentially, both tubular main portion <NUM> and coupling portion <NUM> may extend along central axis B.

In more detail, tubular main portion <NUM> and coupling portion <NUM> may present respective hollow cylindrical shapes, in particular having respective circular cross-sectional profiles with respect to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to central axis B. In particular, the respective circular cross-sectional profiles equal one another.

Preferentially, tubular main body <NUM>, in particular coupling portion <NUM>, tubular main portion <NUM>, mouthpiece <NUM> and bellow <NUM>, may be formed in a single piece.

Furthermore, drinking straw <NUM> may comprise a tip section <NUM> configured to pierce, in use, separation membrane <NUM>, in particular by means of a consumer arranging tip section <NUM> on separation membrane <NUM> (see <FIG>) and exerting a force on drinking straw <NUM> for directing drinking straw <NUM> partially through separation membrane <NUM> and into inner space <NUM> (see <FIG>), in particular towards first wall <NUM>.

Preferentially, sleeve <NUM> may comprise an end portion having inlet opening <NUM>. In particular, the end portion may have and/or define tip section <NUM>.

More specifically, coupling portion <NUM> does not comprise inlet opening <NUM> (and tip section <NUM>). In other words, coupling portion <NUM> is spaced apart from inlet opening <NUM> (and tip section <NUM>).

In even other words, coupling portion <NUM> does not extend through all of sleeve <NUM>.

Preferentially, the end portion (and/or tip section <NUM>) may delimit a first portion <NUM> of inner flow channel <NUM>, coupling portion <NUM> may delimit a second portion <NUM> of inner flow channel <NUM> and tubular main portion <NUM> may delimit a third portion <NUM> of inner flow channel <NUM>. In particular first portion <NUM>, second portion <NUM> and third portion <NUM> are distinct from one another.

With reference to <FIG>, sleeve <NUM> comprises an abutment portion <NUM> configured to allow the partial insertion of drinking straw <NUM> (by passing through the main opening) into package main body <NUM> and/or inner space <NUM>, and to impede and/or hinder and/or block the removal and/or separation of drinking straw <NUM> from package main body <NUM> after the partial insertion of drinking straw <NUM> into package main body <NUM>.

In particular, during a partial insertion of drinking straw <NUM> at least sleeve <NUM> and coupling portion <NUM> enter package main body <NUM> and inner space <NUM>. Furthermore, also at least a section of tubular main portion <NUM> may enter package main body <NUM> and inner space <NUM>. In particular, the extension of the section of tubular main portion <NUM> being present within inner space <NUM> may vary.

In more detail, sleeve <NUM> together with coupling portion <NUM> is configured to be inserted into package main body <NUM> through the main opening, thereby piercing separation membrane <NUM>.

In particular, sleeve <NUM> may be configured to form, in use, during partial insertion of drinking straw <NUM> into package main body <NUM>, a hole within package main body <NUM> and/or separation membrane <NUM> having a size (substantially) corresponding to the transversal extension d1 of the main opening.

In more detail, abutment portion <NUM> is configured to abut onto an inner surface of package main body <NUM>, in particular second wall <NUM> during a movement of the partially inserted drinking straw <NUM>, in particular of at least sleeve <NUM> and coupling portion <NUM>, out of package main body <NUM> for impeding and/or hindering and/or blocking separation and/or removal of drinking straw <NUM> from package main body <NUM>.

In particular, sleeve <NUM> as a whole and abutment portion <NUM> are configured to pass through the main opening during the insertion of drinking straw <NUM> into package main body <NUM> and abutment portion <NUM> is furthermore configured to impede and/or hinder and/or block the extraction of sleeve <NUM> and therewith of drinking straw <NUM> out of package main body <NUM>.

More specifically, abutment portion <NUM> may be configured to abut against the inner surface of package main body <NUM> in the area of, in particular at, the main opening, in particular the rim delimiting the main opening.

In further detail, in use, during insertion of drinking straw <NUM> into package main body <NUM>, sleeve <NUM> is moved along a first direction D1 transversal to separation membrane <NUM> and/or the main opening and/or first wall <NUM> and/or second wall <NUM>. In the ideal case, after the complete or partial consumption of the pourable food product present within package main body <NUM>, the consumer would dispose of package main body <NUM> together with drinking straw <NUM> without the attempt to remove drinking straw <NUM> from package main body <NUM>. In the non-ideal case that a consumer would try to remove and/or separate drinking straw <NUM> from package main body <NUM> by moving drinking straw <NUM> along a second direction D2 opposed to first direction D1 and out of package main body <NUM>, abutment portion <NUM> would limit the possible extraction as abutment portion <NUM>, abuts, at some degree of the extraction of drinking straw <NUM> against the inner surface of package main body <NUM>.

It should be noted that sleeve <NUM> is fitted onto coupling portion <NUM> in a non-removable manner. In this way, it is guaranteed that tubular main body <NUM> cannot be separated from sleeve <NUM>.

Preferentially, sleeve <NUM> may be non-removably fitted onto coupling portion by means of mechanical friction, gluing, (solvent) bonding, welding (e.g. ultrasonic, hot plate or laser welding), mechanical deformation (e.g. cold forming or hot forming (infrared heating, induction heating, flow of heated gas)).

In more detail, sleeve <NUM> may comprise an engagement portion <NUM> fitted to and surrounding coupling portion <NUM>. In particular, an inner surface of engagement portion <NUM> is fitted and fixed onto an outer surface of coupling portion <NUM>. In particular, engagement portion <NUM> may have a hollow cylindrical shape.

Preferentially, abutment portion <NUM> may be connected to, and in particular extends from a first terminal section of, engagement portion <NUM>.

Additionally, also the end portion of sleeve <NUM>, in particular tip section <NUM>, may be connected to engagement portion <NUM>, and in particular may extend from a second terminal section of engagement portion <NUM> opposed to the first terminal section.

In other words, engagement portion <NUM> may be interposed between abutment portion <NUM> and the end portion of sleeve <NUM>.

Preferentially, the end portion, in particular tip section <NUM>, is not in contact and/or is not fitted onto coupling portion <NUM>.

In other words, coupling portion <NUM> may be surrounded by only engagement portion <NUM>, but not the end portion of sleeve <NUM>.

Moreover, the second end of tubular main body <NUM>, in particular of coupling portion <NUM>, may be interposed between abutment portion <NUM> and inlet opening <NUM>.

In further detail, abutment portion <NUM> may comprise an abutment profile <NUM> configured to abut onto the inner surface of package main body <NUM>. In particular, abutment profile <NUM> faces away from engagement portion <NUM>. Abutment profile <NUM> may have a substantially circular shape.

More specifically, abutment portion <NUM> may also comprise an interface section <NUM> connected to engagement portion <NUM> and being opposite to abutment profile <NUM>. Interface section <NUM> may also have a substantially circular shape, with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the abutment profile <NUM>.

In particular, abutment profile <NUM> is axially more distant from inlet opening <NUM> than interface section <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, abutment portion <NUM> has a frustoconical shape, in particular a tapered frustoconical shape. In the following of the present disclosure, for the sake of brevity, we indicate as "cone-shape" a frustoconical (namely, truncated conical) shape. This shape is advantageous, as on the one side it allows to partially insert drinking straw <NUM> together with sleeve <NUM> into package main body <NUM>, to block drinking straw <NUM> in an inseparable manner within package main body <NUM> and on the other side sleeve <NUM> having such a cone-shaped abutment portion <NUM> can be easily and quickly produced.

In particular, it is possible to form such a sleeve <NUM> from a tubular precursor (such as a cylindrical (plastic and/or fiber-based) tube), in particular such a tubular precursor having a hollow cylindrical shape. Then it is possible to shape at least one end of the tubular precursor so as to obtain the cone shape at this end.

Afterwards, it is possible to insert coupling portion <NUM> into the formed sleeve <NUM> and sleeve <NUM> can be fitted onto coupling portion <NUM>.

Preferentially, at least some portions different from the cone-shaped/frustoconical-shaped end of the tubular precursor may also be widened so as to facilitate the insertion of the coupling portion <NUM>. Afterwards the formed and widened tubular precursor (sleeve <NUM>) can be fitted on coupling portion <NUM>, e.g. by means of heat-shrinking, bonding, welding and other.

Advantageously, the tubular precursor and tubular main body <NUM> may be obtained from cutting a main tube thereby separating the tubular main body <NUM> from the tubular precursor, which then is formed into sleeve <NUM>.

More specifically, it is possible to obtain the cone-shaped abutment portion <NUM> by inserting a coning tool having a heated cone-shaped portion/frustoconical-shaped portion into the tubular precursor. It is the cone-shaped portion, which defines the shape of abutment portion <NUM>.

in this manner one avoids the need to provide for a thickening or to provide for single palm-leaves (e.g. obtained by incision).

With abutment portion <NUM> having a frustoconical shape one guarantees that abutment portion <NUM> deflects in a controlled manner during insertion of drinking straw <NUM> into main package body <NUM>.

Preferentially, abutment portion <NUM> may be detached from and may surround a section of tubular main portion <NUM>, in particular the section being connected to coupling portion <NUM>.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, abutment portion <NUM> may taper from abutment profile <NUM> towards and to engagement portion <NUM> and/or interface section <NUM>.

In other words, a cross-sectional external extension d2 (with respect to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to central axis C) of abutment portion <NUM> at a first end of abutment portion <NUM> having abutment profile <NUM> is larger than a second transversal external extension (with respect to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to central axis C) of abutment portion <NUM> at a second end of abutment portion <NUM> opposed to the first end of abutment portion <NUM> and having interface section <NUM>.

Preferentially, the second cross-sectional external extension (substantially) equals a (maximum) external transversal extension d3 of engagement portion <NUM>. In particular, external transversal extension d3 being determined with respect to a cross-sectional plane being perpendicular to central axis C.

In other words, cross-sectional external extension d2 is larger than external transversal extension d3.

Preferentially, cross-sectional extension d2 may define a maximum cross-section extension d2 of abutment portion <NUM>.

In particular, cross-sectional extension d2 may be larger than (maximum) transversal extension d1 of the main opening.

Furthermore, abutment portion <NUM> may extend from engagement portion <NUM> such that interface section <NUM> may be radially closer to longitudinal axis C than abutment profile <NUM>.

In particular, abutment portion <NUM> may contact coupling portion <NUM> only at interface section <NUM>.

Preferentially, a wall thickness of engagement portion <NUM> may be (substantially) equal to (or (slightly) larger than) a wall thickness of abutment portion <NUM>.

Additionally, also a wall thickness of the end portion of sleeve <NUM> and/or tip section <NUM> may be (substantially) equal to (or (slightly) larger than) the wall thickness of abutment portion <NUM>. In other words, sleeve <NUM> may have a single wall thickness.

In use, during insertion and/or introduction of drinking straw <NUM>, in particular of at least sleeve <NUM> and coupling portion <NUM> into package main body <NUM> and through the main opening (i.e. movement of drinking straw <NUM> along direction D1), the consumer must exert a force sufficient to overcome the resistance due to abutment portion <NUM> needing to pass through the main opening. In particular, the passing through of sleeve <NUM> as a whole is facilitated by abutment portion <NUM> being frustoconically shaped.

Then upon movement of drinking straw <NUM>, in particular sleeve <NUM> out of package main body <NUM> (i.e. along direction D2) at some point abutment portion <NUM> abuts against the inner surface of package main body <NUM>. In particular, abutment portion <NUM> cannot be directed out of package main body <NUM> through the main opening.

The advantages of drinking straw <NUM> and/or package <NUM> according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, drinking straw <NUM> by having sleeve <NUM> cannot be littered independently from package main body <NUM> after use.

Furthermore, drinking straw <NUM> can be easily and fastly produced. This is as abutment portion <NUM> of sleeve <NUM> can be easily and quickly formed and shaped.

Claim 1:
Drinking straw (<NUM>) for a package (<NUM>) being filled with a pourable food product;
the drinking straw (<NUM>) being configured to be at least partially inserted into a package main body (<NUM>) of the package (<NUM>);
the drinking straw (<NUM>) comprises:
- a tubular main body (<NUM>) including a coupling portion (<NUM>) extending along a central axis (B);
the drinking straw further comprises a sleeve (<NUM>) fitted on and surrounding at least the coupling portion (<NUM>) of the tubular main body (<NUM>);wherein the sleeve (<NUM>) comprises an engagement portion (<NUM>) fitted to and surrounding the coupling portion (<NUM>), wherein the engagement portion (<NUM>) has a hollow cylindrical shape,
wherein the sleeve (<NUM>) comprises an abutment portion (<NUM>) configured to abut onto an inner surface of the package main body (<NUM>) after a partial insertion of the drinking straw (<NUM>) into the package main body (<NUM>) and during a movement of the drinking straw (<NUM>) out of the package main body (<NUM>) for impeding and/or hindering and/or blocking a removal and a separation of the drinking straw (<NUM>) out of and from the package main body (<NUM>);
wherein the sleeve (<NUM>) comprises an end portion (<NUM>) having an inlet opening (<NUM>) configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable food product into the drinking straw (<NUM>), wherein the tubular main body (<NUM>) comprises a first end (<NUM>) having an outlet opening (<NUM>) configured to allow for the outflow of the pourable food product from the drinking straw (<NUM>) and a second end opposite to the first end;
characterised in that the abutment portion (<NUM>) has a frustoconical shape, and
wherein the second end is interposed between the abutment portion (<NUM>) and the inlet opening (<NUM>).