One-piece Cleanable and Reusable Drinking Straw

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleanable and reusable drinking straws. The present invention, more particularly, relates to straws that can be opened in half allowing the user to effectively clean and dry the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Single use plastic straws are extremely harmful to the environment. As they are difficult to dispose off, they are filling up our oceans and causing unnecessary pollution and health issues for marine animals.

There are reusable plastic straws in the market but they are not the best replacement as they are unsanitary, inconvenient to clean and can result in health issues for the user. It is convenient to throw the straw than to clean it because of its size. Also, the cylindrical straws with small diameters make it harder to reach every area for cleaning. Therefore, most of the straws only provide one time use. Further, the material of these straws also prevents long term use of it. Paper straws even though very environmental friendly are not very useful with kids as they tend to chew them making sucking a beverage very difficult. Also, paper straws don't work with thick beverages like smoothies.

The cleanable reusable straws that are in market are not airtight, do not work properly, it's difficult to clean them, and are expensive. Further, they are not very convenient to open for cleaning.

Therefore, a need remains for a one-piece drinking straw that allows for simple, convenient and effective cleaning and drying thereby making it reusable for the users and also helping the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description of the invention. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present application discloses seamless and airtight one-piece straws that can be opened for cleaning, sanitizing and drying.

It is an object of this invention to provide a drinking straw with a lateral cut through the length of a portion of the straw cutting the entire straw in a first semi-circular side body and a second semi-circular side body resulting in opening of the straw. Further, the first semi-circular side body and the said second semi-circular side body are tapered towards their respective edges. Furthermore, the tapered edge of first semi-circular side body overlaps onto the tapered edge of second semi-circular side body when closing the opening of the straw.

It is another object of the invention to provide a straw with an opening access resulting in hollow semi-circular straw halves connected via a full length hinge which allows for effective cleaning and also allows the user to connect both halves of the straw maintaining the tube shape for straw function. The position of hinge is such that the straw halves are spaced no more than approximately 0.050 inches apart and preferably no more than 0.025 inches apart. The feature of the straw with a full length hinge makes it possible for straw to remain open during cleaning and drying unless closed by the user.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a one-piece reusable straw with a clipping mechanism that opens and closes the straw thereby allowing for simple, convenient and effective cleaning and drying.

The lateral cut through the entire length of the straw and the way part of the two semi-circular side bodies of the straw are tapered towards their respective edges allows space for various clipping components. The clipping mechanism formed on the tapered edge of each semi-circular side body where the straw is cut longitudinally in halves, opposite to the full-length hinge, ensures an airlocked closure of the two semi-circular halves of the straw. It comprises of at least one male snap tab or clip and at least one female snap tab or clip on each semi-circular side body of the straw allowing the user to open and close the straw conveniently. The number of male and female snap tabs or clips on each straw may vary from 1 to 5 respectively. The male snap tab or clip components are small semi-cylindrical protrusions on first semi-circular side body of the straw whereas female snap tab or clip components are rectangular recess on second semi-circular side body of the straw. When the user intends to close the straw, the first semi-circular side body is overlapped onto the second semi-circular side body wherein the semi-cylindrical protruded male snap tab or clip components interlocks into the rectangular recessed female snap tab or clip components allowing the two semi-circular side bodies to snap close. This feature of interlocking of male and female snap tab components when each of the semi-circular side bodies are overlapped creates a seamless and airtight design in a straw.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drinking straw with at least one indentation on the outer part of one side body of the straw thus providing a way for the user to open the straw conveniently. The indentation on the outside of the straw on one side body is a notch which when pressed detaches the interlocked male and female snap tab components which opens the straw. The shape of the notch on one side of the body could be but not limited to semi-circular, crescent or elongated annular.

It is an another object of this invention to provide a one piece straw that is fully functional, minimal, and airtight with a seamless design. The straw of the present invention can be made with various diameters depending upon the need of users. The straw with a smaller diameter is preferred thereby making it work as classic straw.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a washable drinking straw that opens up completely to lay flat in dishwasher for washing or to dry on a mat after it is hand-washed. The hinge not only keeps the straw open for lying flat on a surface, it also exposes the entire internal surface of the straw for effective cleaning.

When the straw is closed, the user uses the straw as he would any standard straw to drink a beverage. When ready to open, the user places their finger or thumb into the indentation located on the outside of the straw and applies an outward pressure to detach the male snap tab components from female snap tab components. When the straw is opened, it can be washed by either placing it in a dishwasher or by hand. The full length hinge on the straw let it remains open on its own which makes it convenient to place it on a rack of dishwasher. Further, it also helps if and when it is laid out to dry. Once cleaned and dried, the user can push the two side bodies to overlap with each other with as little as two fingers, interlocking the clips and closing the straw making it ready for use.

In a preferred embodiment, a one piece washable cylindrical drinking straw comprising a lateral cut through the length of a portion of the straw cutting the full straw in a first semi-circular side body and a second semi-circular side body resulting in opening on one surface of the straw wherein the said first semi-circular side body and the said second semi-circular side body overlaps with each other thereby closing the opening of the straw; a full length hinge on the opposite side of the opening formed on the straw wherein the said hinge allows the straw to remain open when placed on its own; a clipping mechanism comprising at least one male clip on edge of first semi-circular side body and at least one female clip on edge of second semi-circular side body of the opening formed on the straw creating an airlocked closure when male and female clips are snap closed; and an indent on the outside of the straw to conveniently open the straw by putting outward pressure on the said indent and detaching the male clips from female clips.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the invention as more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of drinking straw in open position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of drinking straw in closed position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of drinking straw in open position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a top view of drinking straw in close position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention

FIGS. 3A & 3B shows a perspective view of drinking straw in open and closed position respectively showing only one indentation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a cross section view of the drinking straw when it is open for washing or drying according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a cross section view of the drinking straw when it is closed for drinking a beverage.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of drinking straw in open position showing hollow female clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or examples in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The aspects, embodiments and/or examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

In an exemplary embodiment of the drinking straw (10), as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the drinking straw may comprise a hinge (11) covering the entire length of the drinking straw (10), two semi-circular side bodies (13, 16) formed after the drinking straw was cut laterally, at least one indentation (17) on the outer part of one semicircular side body (13).

FIGS. 2A and 3A shows a drinking straw (10) with an opening formed after the drinking straw (10) was cut laterally. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the hinge (11) is present opposite of the opening of the drinking straw (10). Further, the hinge (11) covers the entire length of the drinking straw (10). The position and size of hinge (11) is such that the two semi-circular side bodies (13, 16) of the drinking straw (10) are spaced no more than approximately 0.050 inches apart and preferably no more than 0.025 inches apart. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the hinge (11) formed across the full length of the drinking straw (10) makes it possible for straw to remain open completely during cleaning and drying unless closed by the user. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1A & 1B, the thickness of hinge (11) present across whole of the drinking straw (10) is less than the two semi-circular side bodies (13, 16) of the drinking straw (10) which makes opening and closing of the straw convenient for the user. As shown in FIGS. 4A & 4B, the hinge (11) along the entire length of the straw (10) even helps in maintaining the tube shape for the straw.

Another feature of the present invention that makes the drinking straw (10) user-friendly includes tapering the edges of the two semi-circular side bodies (13, 16) allowing first side body (13) and second side body (16) to overlap each other as can be seen in Figs. The thickness of the first semi-circular side body (13) and second semi-circular side body (16) is reduced to half. The first semi-circular side body (13) is tapered from outside whereas the second semi-circular side body is thinned towards inside. As illustrated in FIGS. 1B & 4B, the tapered edge (13a) of first semi-circular side body (13) overlaps with tapered edge (16a) of second semi-circular side body (16) thereby creating an airlocked closure which prevents leakage from the straw when in use.

The drinking straw (10) of FIG. 1A further comprises of a clipping mechanism which is used to snap close the opening access formed after the drinking straw (10) was cut laterally. The clipping mechanism includes male snap tabs or male clips (14) on the tapered edge (13a) of first semi-circular side body (13) and female snap tabs or female clips (15) on the tapered edge (16a) of second semi-circular side body (16). The male snap tab components (14) are small semi-cylindrical protrusions on first semi-circular side body (13) of the straw whereas female snap tab components (15) are rectangular recess on second semi-circular side body (16) of the straw (10) as shown in FIG. 1A. In order to connect the overlapping semi-circular side bodies (13, 16), usually 3 to 5 male clips (14) on first semi-circular side body and 3 to 5 female clips (15) on the second semi-circular side body are preferred.

In another embodiment, the female snap tabs or female clips (18) on the tapered edge (16a) of second semi-circular side body (16) are hollow, as can be seen in FIG. 5, so that the male snap tabs or male clips (14) on the tapered edge (13a) of first semi-circular side body (13) can interlock with female clips (18) resulting in a strong closure of the drinking straw.

The washable and reusable drinking straw (10) of the present invention may have variety of hinges and methods to snap close the two side bodies. It may include, but are not limited to, molded-in living hinge and latch-in/snap in mechanism or external hinge and twisting mechanism. In addition, a magnetic closure can also be used to snap close the two side bodies.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A & 1B, there is an indentation (17) on the outer part of the first semi-circular side body (13) of the drinking straw (10) which helps the user to conveniently open the straw when needed. The indentation (17) is a semi-circular notch mostly secured over the first semi-circular side body (13) with an oblong bottom extended on the tapered edge (13a) of the first semi-circular side body (13) of the drinking straw (10). When the user desires to wash the straw, a finger or thumb is placed on the indentation (17) and outward pressure is applied which detaches the male clips (14) from the female clips (15) thereby opening the straw (10) for cleaning. As shown in FIGS. 3A & 3B, there is at least one indentation (17) present on the outer part of the first semi-circular side body (13) of the drinking straw (10). However, the drinking straw of the present invention may have several indentations on the outer part of the first side body. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A & 2B, the drinking straw (10) may have up to 5 indentations on the outer part of first semi-circular side body (13). In another embodiment, the drinking straw may also have a button on the top and/or bottom of the straw that when pressed help in releasing the hooks allowing it to open.

Since it is a drinking straw which will be used to drink beverages both hot and cold. The examples of materials that could be used to manufacture the drinking straws according to the invention include but not limited to PLA, molded bamboo, recycled plastic. It is preferred that environmental friendly and compostable materials are used in order to prevent pollution by straws. The male snap tab and female snap tab of the clipping mechanism can be manufactured with the same materials as listed above.

The straw described in the present invention provides an additional convenience to the user as it can be opened in half and can be placed in the dishwasher thereby effectively cleaning and sanitizing it.

While many of the fundamental characteristics and features of the portable solar storage container have been described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it should be apparent that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined herein.