Abstract
A lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw providing a tube body defining an enclosed conduit for a flow of liquid. The tube body and enclosed conduit have a substantially round sectional profile at a distal end meant to be placed into a container of liquid, and a substantially oblong sectional profile at a proximal end meant to be placed between lips of a user and to be accommodated by the lips of the user without requiring puckering or pursing of the lips. The sectional profile of the enclosed conduit changes from a round profile at the distal end and through approximately 90 percent of the tube body to an oblong profile at the proximal end, with the change of profile occurring at a transition segment near the proximal end. An optional bending segment can be provided to provide a bend in the tube body or allow the user to make such a bend. The sectional area or circumference of the enclosed conduit at the proximal end is not less than the sectional area at the distal end.
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. A method of drinking liquids without lip puckering, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a drinking straw comprising an elongated tubular body having a cylindrical distal portion, a proximal portion, and a bending segment formed between the distal portion and the proximal portion, said cylindrical portion being defined by an outer cylindrical wall and being formed with a central opening extending through the distal portion, said central opening having a circular cross-section, said proximal portion having a flat-oval cross-section and a flat oval proximal end opening, the proximal end opening being defined by a continuous-curve inner tube wall having a pre-determined distance between opposing long sides, the distance between the long sides defining height of the tubular body at the proximal end, said height being smaller than diameter of the central opening in the distal portion; (ii) engaging, by user's lips, the proximal end of the tubular body; (iii) positioning the distal end of the tubular body in a container with a liquid; and (iv) sipping the liquid through said drinking straw without puckering of the user's lips.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three instances of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw of the invention in bent and unbent embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw of the invention in use;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an axial view of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw of the invention showing a projection of internal dimensions; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw having an enclosed conduit larger at the proximal end than at the distal end.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw 10 provides a tube body 1 defining an enclosed conduit 2 for a flow of liquid. The tube body 1 has a distal end 3 meant to be placed into a container of liquid, and a proximal end 4 meant to be placed between lips of a user. The sectional profile of the enclosed conduit 2 changes from one profile at the distal end 3 to another profile at the proximal end 4, as treated in detail below, with the change of profile occurring at a transition segment 5. In an optional and preferred embodiment an optional bending segment 6 can be provided to provide a bend in the tube body 1 or allow the user to make such a bend.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the proximal end 4 of the tube body 1 is shaped to be accommodated by the lips of the user without requiring puckering or pursing of the lips. The sectional profile of the proximal end 4 is a rounded oblong. When positioned during use the short dimension of the oblong profile runs vertically as a height, and the long dimension runs horizontally as a width. The lips of the user require only a slight parting to accommodate the proximal end 4. The greater part of the outer surface area of the proximal end is oriented horizontally along either the top or the bottom lip. Only a lesser part of the outer surface area has any vertical component, and any air gap at the sides can be closed with just the natural compression of the lips, without any need to pucker or purse the lips into a central rounded shape.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the sectional profile of the enclosed conduit 2 at the distal end 3 is maintained along most of the length of the tube body 1. The sectional profile can be substantially round or circular, which is a standard profile for straws, and which promotes a more smooth, laminar flow of liquids because of the absence of corners or internal obstructions that can increase turbulence. Small deviations from a perfect circle should not significantly affect the flow of liquids. In an embodiment having an optional bending segment 6, the bending preferably should create no change in the sectional profile or size of the enclosed conduit 2, which would impede the flow of liquids, or should create as little as possible. Although any bend in the tube body 1 and enclosed conduit 2, even at constant profile and size, will have some small effect, maintaining the constant profile and size should prevent significant disturbance of the flow.
[0025] The sectional profile and size of the enclosed conduit 2 is maintained constant from the distal end 3 through approximately 90% of the length of the tube body 1. Within the approximately 10% of the length of the tube body at the proximal end 4, the sectional profile of the enclosed conduit 2 and the enclosing tube body 1 change to the oblong profile of the proximal end 4. A transition segment 5 is provided near the proximal end 4. The transition segment 5 provides a smooth gradual transition from the substantially round profile at the distal end through approximately 90% of the length of the tube body, to the oblong profile at the proximal end 4. The profile is changed gradually and without creating internal obstructions or areas which would promote turbulence or impede the flow of liquid.
[0026] The lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw 10 can be provided in embodiments made from several different materials suitable for use with food and beverages. Stainless steel is appropriate for a reusable straw which will need to be cleaned and will need to be kept at hand. Durable plastics and rubbers, such as silicon rubber, are appropriate for a reusable straw which will also need to be cleaned and kept available. Paper having a fluid-resistant and stiffening coating is appropriate for a disposable straw. Although plastic straws as presently made are not favored because of environmental pollution and damage, a straw could be made of a lightweight degradable or biodegradable plastic or plastic blended with materials such as corn starch. Straws made from paper, lightweight degradable plastic, or softer materials such as some silicon rubbers will be inherently susceptible to collapsing or failing when excessive differences in pressure or suction build up inside or are applied to the straw. Where the lips of the user are required to be puckered and placed under strain, it is likely that excessive suction or pressure sufficient to collapse a lightweight straw is being applied. The lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw 10 controls such excessive differences in pressure or suction, as treated below, and therefore can be made from paper, lightweight degradable plastics, and softer silicon rubbers.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the sectional profile of the enclosed conduit 2 is changed from substantially round to oblong in a smooth transition through the transition segment 5. Although the sectional profile is changed, the sectional area or circumference or size of the enclosed conduit 2 is not reduced because reduction of the sectional area would act as a choke or obstruction, which would require greater draw or suction from the mouth of the user, which would consequently put more strain on the lips of the user. Additionally, where the tube body 1 of the lip-pucker avoiding drinking straw 10 is made from thinner or relatively weaker material, such as paper or thin biodegradable plastic, a significant change of pressure inside of or applied to a small area of the straw might cause a structural failure in that area of the straw.
[0028] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sectional area or circumference of the enclosed conduit 2 at the proximal end 4 is substantially equal to the sectional area at the distal end 3 and throughout approximately 90% of the tube body 1. Using this embodiment, the drawing or suction force required to initiate a flow and to sustain a flow should be substantially the same as would be required through a conventional straw of the same dimensions, and should be substantially evenly distributed along the tube body 1. This even distribution of force allows lighter materials such as paper or degradable plastics to be used without susceptibility to collapse or failure.
[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the sectional area or circumference of the enclosed conduit 2 at the proximal end 4 is greater than the sectional area at the distal end 3 and throughout approximately 90% of the tube body. Using this embodiment, liquid passing through the transition segment 5 will effectively move into a larger tube with a resulting change of pressure. Using this embodiment, the drawing or suction force required to initiate and to sustain a flow can be applied over a longer amount of time and can therefore be done with less instantaneous strain on the lips. However, if too much drawing or suction force is applied to this embodiment, it is somewhat more likely that lighter materials such as paper or degradable plastic might collapse or fail.
[0030] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
