Abstract
Disclosed is a drinking straw that may be separated along its longitudinal axis into two halves so that the internal walls of the straw may be easily cleaned. The halves may then be rejoined together to again form a straw so that the straw may be easily reused.
Claims
1. A drinking straw comprising two halves along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw the first half being an arch along the longitudinal length of said drinking straw having a first end and a second end along its longitudinal axis, a proximal edge at one end of the arc of the arch and a distal edge at the opposing end of the arc of the arch, an outer surface, an inner surface, and a constant radius with the proximal edge and the distal edge of the arch forming a flat planar surface bounded by the first end, second end, outer surface, and inner surface of the arch; the second half being an arch along the longitudinal length of said drinking straw having a first end and a second end along its longitudinal axis, a proximal edge at one end of the arc of the arch and a distal edge at the opposing end of the arc of the arch, an outer surface, an inner surface, a constant radius a first flange affixed to the arch's inner surface extending along the arch's proximal edge to engage said first half's inner surface and a second flange affixed to the arch's inner surface extending along the arch's distal edge to engage said first half's inner surface with the proximal edge and the distal edge of the arch forming a flat planar surface bounded by the first end, second end, outer surface, and inner surface of the arch; and the arch of said first half and the arch of said second half forming a right circular hollow cylinder when said first half is joined with said second half.
2. The drinking straw of claim 1 wherein the radius of said outer surface of said first half and the radius of said outer surface of said second half are equal.
3. The drinking straw of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal length of said first half and the longitudinal length of said second half are equal.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing in separate hatchings the two halves of the straw.
(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the two halves indicated by separate hatchings.
(4) FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing in separate hatchings the two halves of the straw with one of the halves being slightly apart from the other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(5) The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
(6) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the straw the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The straw is comprised of two halves:12 and 14. For naming conventions half 12 will be referred to as “left half” and half 14 will be referred to as “right half”. The outermost circumference of left half 12 and right half 14 is in the shape of an arc with the radius of the arc being the same between the two halves and when the halves are combined a complete circle is formed. The length of left half 12 and right half 14 are identical and when joined together form a cylindrical object of a constant diameter with a proximal and distal end cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and the interior being void, in short a straw. Right half 14 is a simply an arc of a certain thickness, with an outer and inner surface, arc length, and longitudinal length. The arc length of right half 14 is generally shown in the figures as occupying more than 180° but it may vary and occupy less than 180° as long as when combined with left half 12 a complete circle is formed. Left half 12 is a more complex geometric structure than right half 14 but likewise comprises an arc with a certain thickness, with an outer and inner surface, arc length, and longitudinal length. The arc length of left half 12 is generally shown in the figures as occupying less than 180° but it may vary and occupy more than 180° as long as when combined with right half 14 a complete circle is formed. In addition to the arc, left half 12 contains two flanges that mate with the inner surface of right half 14. The flanges will be discussed in detail when discussing FIG. 2.
(7) FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of straw 10 with left half 12 and right half 14 indicated by separate hatchings. As disclosed earlier right half 14 is a simply an arc of a certain thickness, with an outer and inner surface, arc length, and longitudinal length. The arc length of right half 14 is generally shown in the figures as occupying more than 180° but it may vary and occupy less than 180° as long as when combined with left half 12 complete circle is formed. Left half 12 is a more complex geometric structure than right half 14 but likewise comprises arc 16 with a certain thickness, with an outer and inner surface, arc length, and longitudinal length. The arc length of arc 16 is generally shown in the figures as occupying less than 180° but it may vary and occupy more than 180° as long as when combined with right half 14 a complete circle is formed. In addition to arc 16, left half 12 contains two flanges indicated as upper flange 18 and lower flange 20. The outer surface of the flanges mate with the inner surface of right half 14 so as to secure right half 14 to left half 12 by friction. The length of the flanges may be increased or decreased to change the amount of friction holding the halves together with longer flanges increasing the amount of friction while shorter flanges decreasing the amount of friction holding the halves together. The length of the flanges also contribute to how well outside air is sealed from void 22 formed when the two halves are joined together with longer flanges increasing the seal and shorter flanges decreasing the seal. When fabricating straw 10 with tight manufacturing tolerances the flanges may be shortened and still provide sufficient friction to hold the halves together and seal outside air from void 22. When fabricating straw 10 with loose manufacturing tolerances the flanges will need to be lengthened to provide sufficient friction to hold the halves together and seal outside air from void 22. The flanges overlap and are attached to the inner surface of arc 16.
(8) FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 in that it shows an isometric view of straw 10 but with the two halves being slightly offset from each other to better show how left half 12 engages with right half 14 by using upper flange 18 and lower flange 20.
(9) Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, upper flange 18 and lower flange 20 may meet to totally fill in the space adjoining arc 16. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to a particular composition of matter. Accordingly, the claims are intended to include within their scope such variations and compositions of matter.
