A drinking straw includes an elongated tube formed of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) resin, the elongated tube including an inclined surface at a first end, the inclined surface having a curved member wherein a sidewall of the elongated tube is at a first predetermined angle with respect to the inclined surface. The first predetermined angle is between 45-degree and 60-degree.

A combination spoon and straw utensil that is used for the consumption of food and drink. A combination spoon and straw utensil comprising of a single piece of flexible or nonflexible material. A combination spoon and straw utensil comprising of a solid spoon bowl, a hollow handle, a plurality of holes, and a digit support for stabilizing the utensil during use. The spoon and straw utensil having a textured surface for sensory stimulation. The spoon and straw utensil being brightly colored for making the utensil easy to recognize and more visible for users with cognitive decline and visual impairment.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

A lid device for a beverage cup. The lid is a multi-component annular structure with an outer ring of rigid material that attaches to the cup. Inside the outer ring is an inner flexible material, often with a rigid or flexible central structure with an opening for a drinking straw. In an absence of applied force, this opening (and the straw) will be held substantially perpendicular to the top of the central structure and lid. The inner flexible material is selected to deform easily under mild hand pressure (e.g. 5 Newtons or less), and thus when the user applies force to the straw, the inner flexible material distorts and bends allowing the user to more easily move the straw around and mix the contents of the drink.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil-and marine-biodegradable, as well as home-and industrial-compostable.

A lid device for a beverage cup. The lid is a multi-component annular structure with an outer ring of rigid material that attaches to the cup. Inside the outer ring is an inner flexible material, often with a rigid or flexible central structure with an opening for a drinking straw. In an absence of applied force, this opening (and the straw) will be held substantially perpendicular to the top of the central structure and lid. The inner flexible material is selected to deform easily under mild hand pressure (e.g. 5 Newtons or less), and thus when the user applies force to the straw, the inner flexible material distorts and bends allowing the user to more easily move the straw around and mix the contents of the drink.

A drinking straw diaphragm is provided. The drinking straw diaphragm may provide a body circumscribing a flow opening fluidly communicative to straw portions on opposing end of the body. The flow opening is defined by opposing first and second edges cut through the body, wherein the first and second edges are biased in an open condition, but selectively movable between the open condition and the closed condition wherein the first and second edges engage, substantially reducing the flow opening in a controllable manner.

Eating utensils, namely forks which have the function of liquid dispensing fluid, via fluidic passages inside of the utensils which attach to a container of a liquid affixed at a point within a cage part of the handle of the utensil. The attachment coupled with the action of the user of the utensil actuates the flow of the liquid from the container to a point on or near the eating surface of the utensil.

A portable drinking device capable of fitting over a typical pressurized beverage can to direct the flow of fluid from the can into a user's mouth. The portable drinking device may be positioned over the open top of a can. The portable drinking device and can are then slightly tilted sideways. A piercing device, which is stored in a storage area formed in a funnel-like cap of the portable drinking device, is used to puncture a whole in the side of the can after the drinking device and can are tilted sideways. Either just before or immediately after the can is pierced, the entire assembly is positioned so that the portable drinking device directs a rapid stream of fluid from the punctured can through the tube of the portable drinking device into a user's mouth.