Patent ID: 7731101

Claim:
An expandable drinking and mixing straw apparatus comprising: a outer first straw member having a first diameter, a first length, an upper end, a lower end, a plurality of radially expandable vein members orientated generally parallel to each other along its longitudinal axis wherein each of said vein members is: (a) defined by two longitudinal slits; (b) has an upper hinge attachment means providing buckling rotatable about a fixed axis between the upper end of the longitudinal slits; (c) has a lower hinge attachment means providing buckling rotatable about a fixed axis between the lower end of said longitudinal slits (d) is connected to said outer first straw by said upper and lower hinge attachment means; and (e) has at least one means providing buckling between said upper and lower hinge attachment means; and a inner second straw member located internal to said outer first straw member having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said outer first straw member and, having a second length different from said first length of said outer first straw member, having an upper end, and a lower end and; at least one bonding means between said outer first straw member and said inner second straw member and a means for stopping deployment of said radially expandable vein members at a predetermined position.