US3729136A

US3729136A - Drinking straw

Info

Publication number: US3729136A
Application number: US00209129A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Friedman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-12-17
Filing date: 1971-12-17
Publication date: 1973-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-24
Also published as: GB1412604A; CA958349A

Abstract

A drinking straw has opposite open ends and is surrounded in part and with clearance by a tube which extends beyond one of the open ends and an end section of which is closed by a plug which is to be inserted into the mouth of a doll. Thus, when the straw with the open inlet end of the tube is inserted into a body of liquid, and a child exerts suction at the opposite open end of the straw, liquid will first rise in the clearance between the tube and the straw, thereupon enter in the region of the mouth of the doll the straw itself and travel along to the mouth of the child, creating the illusion that the doll is drinking together with the child through the same straw.

Description

United States Patent ['19] Friedman 51 Apr. 24, "1973 l DRINKING STRAW [76] Inventor: Sol Friedman, 10 Roland Drive,

Monsey,N.Y.

[22] Filed: I Dec. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,129

7 [52 us. Cl. ..239/33 [5| lnt.Cl. ..A47g 21/18, A6lj 15/00 58 Field of Search ..239/24,33

[56] g References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Freeburgum ..239/33 2,8ll,808 ll/1957 Briese Primary Examiner -Lloyd L. King Attorney-Michael S. Striker 5 7] ABSTRACT A drinking straw has opposite open nds and is surrounded in part and with clearance by a tube which extends beyond one of the open ends and an end section of which is closed by a plug which is to be in- ;serted into the mouth of a doll. Thus, when the straw with the open inlet end of the tube is inserted into a body of liquid, and a child exerts suction at the opposite open end of the straw, liquid will first rise in the clearance between the tube and the straw, thereupon enter in the region of the mouth of the doll the straw itself and travel along to the mouth of the child, creating the illusion that the doll is drinking together with thechild through the same straw.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DRINKING STRAW BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a drinking arrangement, and more particularly to a drinking straw.

Drinking straws are already known in various types and applications. While many of them are purely functional there are others which are intended also to entertain or amuse, for instance some which are helically configurated, knotted or otherwise shaped to provide during drinking an interesting or amusing appearance of the liquid flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to provide a drinking arrangement which is a further improvement over those known from the art.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide a drinking arrangement in which the illusion is created that a user, usually a child, has a drinking companion who is drinking from the same body of liquid.

In pursuance of the above objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in such an arrangement which, briefly stated, comprises a drinking staw having a first sectiomprovided with an open first end, and a second section communicating with the first section and having a second open remote therefrom. A tube surrounds at least the first section with clearance and has one open end portion projecting outwardly beyond the first end and an other open end portion in the region of the second section. Closure means closes the one end portion so that, when the other end portion is immersed in a body of liquid and suction is exerted at the second open end of the drinking straw, liquid will rise in the clearance and enter the first end prior to flowing through the drinking straw to the second end. If the closure means, preferably in form of a plug, is inserted into the mouth of a doll, it will appear that the doll is drinking together with the child because the liquid will rise first towards the mouth of the doll and will then enter the first end of the drinking straw and flow through the same to the second end and into the mouth of the child.

Of course, various different materials may be used for making the arrangement. Thus, synthetic piastic material, glass or the like can be utilized, and it will be appreciated that at least the tube should be least translucent and preferably transparent. Of course the same can also be done with the drinking straw, and both the latter and the tube may be colored or tinted to an extent which must not unduly reduce their transparency.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood best from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic section of a further embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a section on line III-III of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly FIG. l in detail, it will be seen that I have illustrated therein the head of a child C and the 0 head of a doll D. A drinking arrangement according to the present invention is being utilized, comprising a drinking straw having a first section In and a second section 1b may be of one piece but can also be of two pieces as illustrated, with the one end of one of the sections (here the section 1a) being tightly telescoped into the one end of the other section (here the section 1b). With this latter type of construction, that is the one which is shown in the drawing, the section 1b may be made disposable, that is a regular drinking straw of paper, straw or plastic material may be utilized which can be thrown away for hygienic purposes and replaced with a new one which is then telescoped over the one end of the section 1a.

The section 1a has an open end 2a and the section 1b has an open end 2b which is to be placed in the mouth of the child C for exertion of suction. The section 1a is surrounded with clearance by a transparent or translucent tube 4 which projects with its free end portion 4a beyond the open end 2a and is provided in the region of the latter with at least one very small pinhole 3. The open end portion 4a of the tube 4 is closed by a removable plug 5. The plug could, however, also be made non-removable. The plug 5 is inserted into the mouth of the doll D, simulating the manner in which the open end 2b is to be inserted into the mouth of the child C. Reference numeral 6 identifies a glass or similar container accommodating a body 7 of liquid.

It will be appreciated that when the arrangement is inserted into the body of liquid 7 so that the open end portion 4b of the tube 4 is immersed in the liquid 7, and suction is exerted by the child at the open end 2b, liquid will be drawn through the open end portion 4b into the clearance between the tube 4 and the section 1a of the drinking straw, rising in this clearance to the open end 2a whereat it enteres the section 1a to flow through the latter into the section lb and to leave the latter at the open end 2b. In so doing the liquid creates the illusion that the doll D is drinking with the child, because the liquid initially rises towards the mouth of the doll D.

The pinhole 3 is provided to assure that, when suction at the open end 2b is terminated, the liquid in the clearance between the tube 4 and the section 1a will flow back into the container 6; in other words the pinhole 3 is provided for venting purposes to permit the admission of air.

Of course, various modifications are possible without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention. For instance it is possible to replace the plug 5 with a transverse wall at the end portion 4a of the tube 4, or with a nipple made integral with the end portion 4a and projecting so that it can be inserted into the mouth of the doll. Also, the curved region of the section 1a, where the latter joins the section 1b, can be of different configuration, as indeed can be the sections 1a and 1b in their totality, and the curved region of the section la, as well as the curved region of the section 1b adjacent the open end 2b thereof, can be corrugated to permit them to be more readily bent and flexed.

One such modified embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the heads of doll and child, and the cup, have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

In this embodiment it will be seen that the straw section corresponds to the section designated with reference numeral 1b in FIG. 1. Telescoped into its lower free end is a section 21 which replaces the elements la and 4 ofFIG. 1.

Unlike that of FIG. 1, however, the section 21 is not composed of two separate and telescoped elements. Instead, section 21 is tubular and is provided in the general vicinity of straw section 20 with an opening 22 for entry of liquid. In its end portion remote from section 20, the section 21 is provided with a pinhole 23, and the transverse wall closing the end adjacent this pinhole is provided with the mouthpiece 24 which is to be inserted into the mouth ofa doll.

Located in the interior of section 21, in the illustrated embodiment of one piece therewith, is a divider 25 which extends longitudinally of section 21 from a side of opening 22 closer to the section 20. Thus, the interior of section 21 is subdivided into a channel 2621 through which liquid passes upwardly (after entry through opening 22 and in response to suction in section 20) towards the free end of divider 25 in the region of the pinhole 23, to move around this free end and pass in opposite direction-through a channel 26b and into section 20.

Evidently, this construction is even simpler than that of FIG. 1 and can make use of the same materials which have been indicated as suitable for the same, e.g., synthetic plastic and the like.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a drinking arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. An arrangement of the character described comprising a drinking straw having a first section provided with an open first end, and a second section communicating with said first section and having a second open end remote therefrom, said first section compris ing wall means defining a pair of parallel channels one of which communicates with said second section and the other of which communicates with said one channel remote from said second section; and aperture means in said second section and communicatin with the extenor thereof and with said other channe respectively so that, when said aperture means is immersed in a body of liquid and suction is exerted at said second open end, liquid will rise in said other channel and enter said first channel for movement therethrough into said second section and to said second open end.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said wall means defining an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member surrounding said inner tubular member with clearance and having one open end portion in the region of said second section and defining with said inner tubular member an inlet constituting said aperture means, and an other open end portion remote from said second section and extending beyond said inner tubular member; and closure means closing said other open end portion.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein at least said outer tubular member is transparent.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said sections consists of synthetic plastic material.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said sections are discrete and have respective free ends one of which is tightly telescoped over the other.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said second section is a disposable component.

7. An arrangement as d fined in claim 1, wherein said first section is provided with at least one pinhole in the region of communication of said one and said other channel.

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said closure means being a plug; and further comprising a doll having a mouth dimensioned for partial and removable insertion of said plug so as to afford, on exertion of suction by a user at said second open end, the illusion that the doll is drinking together with the user.

Claims

1. An arrangement of the character described comprising a drinking straw having a first section provided with an open first end, and a second section communicating with said first section and having a second open end remote therefrom, said first section comprising wall means defining a pair of parallel channels one of which communicates with said second section and the other of which communicates with said one channel remote from said second section; and aperture means in said second section and communicating with the exterior thereof and with said other channel, respectively so that, when said aperture means is immersed in a body of liquid and suction is exerted at said second open end, liquid will rise in said other channel and enter said first channel for movement therethrough into said second section and to said second open end.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first section is provided with at least one pinhole in the region of communication of said one and said other channel.