STRAW EXTENSION FOR CAPPED CONTAINERS

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to straws for drinking beverages, and in particular a collapsible extension for a beverage straw. Most particularly, a straw extension to permit a straw to automatically collapse for storage and expand for use with closing and opening of a cap on the beverage container.

It is common for beverage containers, such as water bottles to have a spout for drinking. In some cases, however, the user may prefer to drink the beverage using a straw. The straw would be inserted into the container via the container spout, and the drinking end of the straw would extend outward through that spout for access by the user. To prevent spilling, it is often desired to use a cap to close the container and in particular to seal the spout.

A rigid straw which has a length to rest on the bottom of the container and extend through the spout would prevent placement of the cap to close the container. To overcome this, it has been proposed to form the straw with a section similar to a coil spring. Examples of this are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,296 to DiBaggio. This new straw solved some problems, but created some new problems. These problems using a coil-spring type straw were then solved by the prior art use of a relatively rigid straw having an elastic tubular straw extension on it's inner end.

This prior art tubular straw extension also created new problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a straw extension allowing a container to employ a straw which automatically extends upon opening a container cap, and which automatically collapses upon closing a container cap.

This and other objects are achieved by a straw extension for capped containers. The straw extension is preferably a monolithic elastic body which includes a connector head which may attach to a straw. Extending from the connector head is a main body. The main body has a complex curvilinear form which is semi-helical. This complex for allows manufacture using normal methods, but collapses more easily and has reduced chance of being blocked during collapse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top rear perspective view of the straw extension for capped containers according to the present invention, with the cap in the open position and the straw in the operative position;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view a long line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view a long line A-A of FIG. 2, with the cap in a partially closed position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view a long line A-A of FIG. 2, with the cap in the fully closed position and the straw in the storage position;

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view as in FIG. 3, but with the straw and straw extension at a different angle of operative position;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a straw extension according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the straw extension;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the straw extension;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the straw extension; and

FIGS. 11a-11e are illustrations of the creation of the geometry for the straw extension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a straw extension for capped containers according to the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The container 10 generally includes a container body 12, a cover 14, a cap 16, a straw 18, and a straw extension 20. Each will be described in more detail below, including their interaction.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the container body 12 is intended to hold a beverage, and includes a base 22 having an outer periphery. Extending upward form the periphery of base 22 is one or more sidewalls 24, with the sidewalls terminating at an upper rim 26. In the preferred embodiment shown, the sidewalls 24 narrow to a rim of reduced size, but this is not required. As may be seen, the various elements of the container body 12 together define a container interior to hold and retain a beverage.

The cover 14 is secured to the upper rim 26. This may be by a threaded connection, an interference fit, adhesive, welding or similar. In the embodiment shown, the cover 14 is secured by threads to allow removal of the cover 14 from container body 12. This is not required, and the cover 14 may be an integral part of container body 12. Cover 14 includes a central body 28 which extends over and closes the upper rim 26, combining with the container body 12 to define the container interior and in particular blocking flow of the beverage out of (or contaminants in through) the upper rim 26. Central body 28 may be planar, domed, concave or more complex forms. In the embodiment shown, it is generally planar.

In order to allow the user access to the beverage, the central body 28 includes an opening 30. While not required (as discussed more fully below), it is preferred that cover 14 further include a spout 32. Spout 32 includes a spout wall 34 extending from the periphery of the opening 30, and extending outward to a spout rim 36. As is known, the user may press their lips to the spout rim 36 and/or spout wall 34 while tilting the container body 14 to drink directly from the container body without use of the straw 18.

The straw 18 may take a variety of forms, but would typically be a standard linear tube allowing the beverage to flow there through as is well known. Straw 18 may be formed of a variety of materials: while plastics such as polypropylene are preferred, other materials such as metals or ceramics could be used. All that is required is that straw 18 be sufficiently rigid and self-supporting to maintain its form during closure of the cap 16 and movement of the straw from the operative to the storage position. Straw 18 has an inner end 38 intended to be located within the container body 12, and an outer end 40 intended to engaged by the user's mouth for sipping the beverage within the container body 12. The distinction of inner end and outer end 38 and 40 may be due to physical differences such as differing diameters, differing shapes, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown, there is no physical distinction between these inner and outer ends 38 and 40, and in practice they may be interchanged: the straw 18 is formed by simple drawing or extrusion and whichever end the user inserts within the container body being the inner end 38, and the other end being the outer end 40.

A main feature of the present invention is the straw extension 20. Straw extension 20 is essentially an elastic self-supporting tubular member. To this end, the straw extension 20 is formed of an elastic material suitable for food applications, such as a rubber or silicone, and is preferably (but not necessarily) formed as a monolithic member of silicone. Straw extension 20 includes an upper end 42, and extends toward a lower end 44. As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, the upper end 42 includes a straw opening 46 and the lower end 44 includes an inlet opening 48, and the opening 46 and 48 are in fluid communication via a tubular cavity 50 such that the beverage may flow through the straw extension 20 similar to straw 18. This tubular cavity 50 has along it's length a centerline 52 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 11d). The straw opening 46 is sized and shaped to receive the inner end 38 of straw 18 with an interference fit, which is enhanced by the elastic nature of the straw extension 20. This will hold the straw extension 20 to the straw 18 during normal use but will allow removal for cleaning, and then allow for reassembly by the user.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, it is preferred, but not required, that the various elements be sized for automatic operation: that the cap 16 may be closed and opened without being blocked by the straw 18; and that the straw 18 will extend outward to an operable position when the cap 16 is open, and withdraw when the cap 16 is closed. The length of the straw 18 and straw extension 20 are chosen such that when the extension lower end 40 is resting upon the base 22 the outer end 40 of straw 18 will extend beyond the spout rim 36. This operative position is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, and it is apparent that the user may engage the straw outer end 40 with their lips to drink. As shown in FIG. 4, as the cap 16 is moved from the open position of FIGS. 3 (and 6) towards the closed position (of FIG. 5), the cap 16 will abut the outer end 40 of straw 18 at some partially closed position of cap 16. Further movement of the cap 16 to the closed position will place a downward force on the straw 18 and extension 20. This force will cause the extension 20 to buckle and collapse, allowing the straw 18 to move downward with the still-closing cap 16. This will continue until the cap 16 is in its fully closed position and the straw 18 is in the storage position of FIG. 5, which also shows the extension 20 in its fully buckled and collapsed configuration. It is important to note that as used herein, the term “collapsed” is intended to exclude compression, as with compression of a coil spring.

This general use of elastic deformation to permit a straw to move to a storage position when a cap is closed, and expand to an operative position when a cap is opened is known in the art. The straw of DiBaggio includes a lower portion formed as an expanding helical spring, with the helical spring portion expanding and compressing as with a typical helical spring. This has three disadvantages.

First, the expanding helical portion of DiBaggio must be a rather large diameter. This is due to the properties of the material forming the straw. If formed of a highly flexible material (such as silicone) the helical spring section would compress under it's own weight. Using a material which will not only support it's own weight but expand as a spring (to extend upon opening the cap) of necessity requires a larger diameter coil. This large diameter of the helical portion limits the positions which the interior portion of the straw may take within the container. To provide contrast, the straw 18 and extension 20 of the present invention have a relatively small diameter to allow the lower end 40 of extension 20 to rest at many different locations upon the base 22, as illustrated by comparison of FIGS. 3 and 6. This results in the outer end 40 of straw 18 taking highly variable angles with regard to the cover 14, allowing the user to hold the container body 12 at many different angles as per their preference. In contrast, DiBaggio discloses an expanding helical straw end intended to compress and expand, and due to this large diameter, the inner end of the straw would be limited in its movement. This in turn limits the angle possible for the outer end of the straw. As such, the present invention provides the user with greater variation in how they may hold the container body 12 while still drinking comfortably.

A second disadvantage of the helical compression straw of DiBaggio is the difficulty to manufacture. As noted, the material of the helical portion need by relatively rigid to be self-supporting. This would prohibit molding to the final helical form. As such, manufacture of the helical portion (and likely the entire straw if monolithic) would require an initial molding step to a relatively linear form and then a secondary bending step to the helical form. This additional step obviously increases time and expense. Further, many preferred plastic materials for such a straw would not permit secondary forming in this manner.

A third disadvantage of the helical compression straw of DiBaggio relates to ease of use. The straw of DiBaggio includes the expanding helical section with a large diameter allowing compression. This also prevents the helical compression straw of DiBaggio from being removed via the spout (32 in the present invention). If the user desires to place the straw aside and drink directly from the spout, then the entire cover would need to be removed. Similarly, the entire cover would need to be removed before the straw could be removed for cleaning. The extension 20 of the present invention, however, has a small diameter permitting the extension 2 to be easily removed via the spout 32. With the present invention there is no need to remove the cover 14 to remove the straw 18 and extension 20.

These disadvantages of the large diameter helical spring segment have already been solved by the prior art, but in a way which brings a new set of disadvantages. In particular, the prior art has already found an improvement over DiBaggio by the use of a relatively rigid straw (similar to straw 18) combined with a tubular elastic straw extension having a diameter to interference fit on the inner end of the straw, similar to the present invention. It may be envisioned that this prior art improvement solves the problems with the DiBaggio helical straw: the smaller diameter of the tubular extension permits the straw to achieve many angles; the two-piece nature and tubular form of both elements allows easier manufacture, and the smaller diameter and tubular form allows removal of the straw via the cover spout without removing the cover. What is less apparent, is that this prior art tubular elastic straw extension operates differently that the straw of DiBaggio. The helical portion of DiBaggio is compressed as with a typical helical spring. In contrast, the tubular elastic extension of the prior art buckles and collapses, similar to a column breaking.

The prior art tubular extension collapses similar to a column, precisely because it is shaped as a column. Columns are common structural components due to their ability to resist compressive forces. As such, the tubular prior art straw extensions require appreciable pressure to initially collapse, which makes it difficult to close the container cap or otherwise collapse the straw. This increased force to cause buckling (compared to compression of DiBaggio) is a disadvantage.

Additionally, once buckling occurs this buckling itself creates another problem. The prior art tubular extension is elastic, and as such the compressive force upon the straw leading to buckling will first cause the lowermost end of the elastic extension to be held more firmly in place against the container base due to increased friction. As the tubular straw extension buckles, it does not fracture but remains a connected monolithic unit. In practice, because the lowermost end of the tubular extension is held in place against the base of the container due to friction, this means that the point at which the tubular extension buckles (typically near the mi-point) will move laterally outward. Upon buckling, the entire prior art tubular extension will take a form similar to the “less than” mathematical operator “<”.

The direction of lateral movement for this mid-point of the tubular extension is theoretically random. In practice, however, the typical orientation of the straw, plus slight lateral forces exerted upon the straw by the closing cap will often cause the lateral movement to be in a direction toward the closest sidewall of the container. In particular, with reference to FIG. 4 the prior art tubular extension (not shown) would typically buckle as a “<” shape with the mid-point of the prior art tubular extension moving laterally to the left. As may be envisioned, the left-most sidewall of the container would block this movement, and this block full buckling of the prior art tubular extension. As with the lowermost end of the tubular extension, this mid-point of the tubular extension is similarly made of the same elastic material, which will have a relatively high friction against the sidewall it now abuts. This friction inhibits any sliding of the mid-point to the left or right to allow rotation of the tubular extension, which might free the tubular extension to allow more buckling. As may be envisioned, the prior art tubular extension is often blocked during the buckling process and it is increasingly difficult to push the straw into the storage position within the container even after the initial greater difficulty in forcing the tubular extension to initially buckle.

The present invention seeks to improve upon this prior art tubular extension. This is achieved by combining features of both prior art devices, but which when combined operate in a different manner than either alone. The structure of the straw extension of the present invention will first be described, and then the advantages.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, the straw extension 20 includes a connector head 54 and a main body 56 extending from the connector head 54. As noted previously, it is preferred by not required that the connector head 54 and main body 56 be a monolithic unit. The connector head 54 is a short segment having a tubular form and intended to act as a connector for the attaching to the (similarly tubular) straw 18. The free end of the connector head 54 comprises the upper end 42 having the straw opening 46. The main body 54 extends downward form the connector head 54, and the free end of the main body 54 comprises the lower end 44 which includes the inlet opening 48. As noted, the openings 46 and 48 are in fluid communication via a tubular cavity 50, and this tubular cavity 50 runs the entire length of straw extension 20, and thus through each of the connector head 54 and main body 56. Again, this tubular cavity 50 has along it's length the centerline 52 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 11d). In contrast to the prior art tubular column form, the main body 56 of the straw extension 20 has a curvilinear form. This curvilinear form appears generally helical in FIGS. 7-10, but is more complex. This complexity is illustrated via the design process in FIGS. 11a-e.

FIG. 11 illustrates the steps in the design process for the main body 56, as this is the best method of describing it's geometry. In FIG. 11a, the main body 56 has not yet been designed, so the connector head 54 is all that is shown. Extending from the top of the connector head 54 is the centerline 52. Extending from the bottom of the connector head 54 is a linear extension 58, and this extension 58 represents an imaginary linear continuation of the center line 52 downward from the connector head 54. It is important to note and clarify that linear extension 58 is not the centerline 52 of the straw extension 20, but an imaginary continuation of the centerline 52.

This same FIG. 11a also includes an imaginary curve line 60. The curve line 60 may take many forms, but in the present invention the curve line 60 includes a first curve section 62 which begins tangent to linear extension 58 but curves outward and away form the linear extension 58. The curve line 60 further includes a second curve section 64 which begins tangent to first section 62, but then curves inward toward the linear extension 58. In the preferred embodiment shown the second curve section 64 intersects the linear extension 58 at an acute angle.

In the second step of the design process, shown in FIG. 11b, this curve line 60 is rotated about the linear extension 58 to form a three dimensional projection surface 66. As shown, and as following the first and second curve section 62 and 64, the projection surface takes the form of a pointed teardrop solid which is symmetric about the linear extension 58.

The next step of the design process, illustrated in FIG. 11c, is to form a helical reference line 68 about the linear extension. The helical reference line 68 shall have a constant radius about the linear extension 58; in other words the helical reference line has as its longitudinal center line the linear extension 58. Further the helical reference line has a radius greater than that of the largest diameter of the projection surface 66. The helical reference line 68 will have an upper end just at the start of the linear extension 58. Put another way, this upper end begins at a longitudinal point just where the connector head 54 ends (and therefore also where the main body 56 will eventually begin.

The next step of the design process is illustrated in FIG. 11d. Here, a marking line (not shown for clarity) has an inner end extending radially outward from, and normal (perpendicular) to, the linear extension 58. The outer end of the marking line intersects the helical reference line 68. Given that the projection surface 66 is a solid rotated about the linear extension 58, this marking line must also intersect the projection surface 66 at a specific point between the linear extension 58 and helical reference line 68.

This marking line is then moved downward along the length of the linear extension 58 and helical reference line 68. As the marking line moves downward along the length of the linear extension 58 it maintains it normal orientation thereto. Further, the outer end of the making line continues to intersect helical reference line 68. As the marking line moves downward along the linear extension 58 the marking line rotates about the linear extension 58 as the outer end of the making line continues to intersect the helical reference line 68. As this marking line is moved downward, it also continues to intersect the projection surface 66, creating a locus of points on the projection surface 66 which defines the centerline 52 of the main body 56.

With the centerline 52 so defined upon the projection surface 66, it is then a simple matter of designing the main body 56 to conform it's curvature to accommodate the centerline 52. The lower end 44 of straw extension 20 may be set at any desired point providing proper length for the desired combination of straw 18 and extension 20. In the preferred embodiment the lower end 44 is formed in a manner to provide further advantage. In particular, the lower end 44 is spaced from the intersection of the projection surface 66 and linear extension 58. As the centerline 52 is located on the projection surface 66, this means that the lower end 44 is spaced radially outward from the linear extension 58. In this manner, the lower end 44 is also radially offset from the straw 18 and the forces along the straw forcing collapse of straw extension 20. Thus the extension 20 of the present invention also avoids the purely compressive forces associated with a purely-tubular prior art extension. This radial/lateral offset of the lower end 44 will make collapse of extension 20 easy of achieve for the user.

Additionally, it is clear that the complex form of the centerline 52 will result in main body 58 having a complex curvilinear form, which may be described as semi-helical. As may be envisioned, as a section of the main body 58 buckles, it too may move to abut against an interior of container sidewall 24. However, unlike the prior art, the complex semi-helical form of the extension 20 will cause rotation of the extension 20 along the sidewall 20 to clear any obstruction against buckling. In this manner, the extension 20 of the present invention avoids a further problem of the prior art.

Finally, the curvature of the extension 20 is geometrically complex but the curvatures may be formed with relatively small angles as shown. As such, manufacture of the extension 20 may be readily achieved using standard compression or other molding methods on a mass production scale. This solves a further problem of the prior art.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects set forth above together with the other advantages which are inherent within its structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth of shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.