WO1995005769A1

WO1995005769A1 - Arrangement for closed bottles and cans containing a beverage

Info

Publication number: WO1995005769A1
Application number: PCT/SE1994/000770
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sven A. Swallert; Peter Sixtensson Frisk
Original assignee: Swallert Sven A; Peter Sixtensson Frisk
Priority date: 1993-08-23
Filing date: 1994-08-23
Publication date: 1995-03-02
Also published as: SE9302711L; SE9302711D0; AU7511594A; SE502388C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement of closed containers containing a beverage, such as conventional bottles and cans, for making it possible to pack a drinking straw together with the container in a hygienic way. This is achieved in that the closed container (1) contains the straw (3), which is given a buoyancy (6) having the quality of being able to float up the straw through the container opening high enough to bring the upper portion (5) of the straw to be raised with a seizable part above the opening when the container is opened. The buoyancy is achieved by double folding the upper part (5) of the straw (3) such, that an air cushion (6) becomes trapped in the straw (3).

Description

Arrangement for closed bottles and cans containing a beverage.

The present invention relates to an arrangement of closed containers, such as bottles and cans, containing a beverage, and a drinking straw including a float having the quality of being able to float up the straw through the container opening high enough to bring the upper portion of the straw to be raised with a seizable part above the opening when the container is opened.

Beverages in containers of this type are usually served together with a straw for immediate consumption. The straws may be kept standing in a glass for being collected one by one by the the consumers, which will become unhygienic in the course of time. Therefore, the straws are usually provided with individual wraps now, which are to be torn off and thrown away before use. This is a circumstantial solution of the problem to supply the straws in a hygienic way, and the thrown away wraps will probably lead to littering.

In order to eliminate these inconveniances it is known, for instance, from the US 5160058, US 5148971, and FR 2684658 to place the straw in the container, which straw is provided with a floating body secured to the exterior of the straw. This means that specially designed straws must be manufactured, supplied and distributed. Moreover, special measures must be taken for bringing the straw to reach the bottom of the container when the straw is used. Unreasonable costs occur thereby and there is always a risk of the separate floating body to loosen from the straw.

The object of the invention is to achieve a simple and practical solution of said problem, which solution eliminates said inconveniances.

This has been achieved, according to the invention, in that the arrangement has obtained the characterizing features set forth in the following claims. The straw is a conventional straw, straight or a plastic straw, provided with a flexible portion, and is distributed hygienically packed in the bottle or can, and has entirely by the folding of the straw obtained the necessary buoyancy, which when the container is opened, results in that the straw comes up a bit, and with the upper end protrudes sufficiently in the opening of the container such, that it can be seized and lifted up further a bit such that the straw can be straightened.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings schematically illustrating various embodiments of arrangements according to the invention. Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal views in section of a bottle, which is not yet opened and is opened, respectively, and contains a drinking straw having an upper part, that is turned back, and Figure 3 is a view of a drinking straw having an upper part that is folded back such, that the interior of the straw is choked up.

Fig.l shows a preferred embodiment. A conventional drinking straw 3 is inserted into a bottle 1 filled with a beverage 2 before the closing of the bottle by means of a cap 4. The upper part of the straw is turned back such, that the top end of the straw is directed downwards. An air volume 6 is trapped in the doubled upper part of the straw, and the partition between liquid and air is denoted 7. Hence, when the cap 4 is removed the straw 3 will ccme up a small distance, as shown in Fig.2, after which the straw 3 can be lifted up a further distance such, that a string 8, which keeps the straw turned back, can be removed and the straw straightened or turned sidewards to a desired shape. If desired, the string 8 may be deleted, because the buoyancy is sufficiently enough for overcoming the possible friction against the neck of the bottle. An advantage of the doubled straw is that after the straightening of the straw the length of the straw exceeds the height of the bottle, so that the straw cannot sink back below the opening of the bottle.

This is valid also in connection with the embodiment of the straw 30 according to Fig.3. In this embodiment the upper part 31 is folded back so hard that a fold or tuck 32 is formed, which sealingly closes the interior of the straw. An air cushion 33 is formed in the straw 30 all along its entire length resulting in a correspondingly higher buoyancy. A string securing the doubled part of the straw is not necessary in this case because the fold 32 keeps the folded part in the shown position. Straightening of the straw is performed only by a slight lateral squeezing of the fold, and at the same time the interior closing of the straw is ceased in a way that ensures complete safety. The straw 30 is shown in a bottle 1.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments shown but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An arrangement of closed beverage containers (1,52), such as bottles and cans, containing a beverage, and a drinking straw (3,30) including a float having the quality of being able to float up the straw through the container opening high enough to bring the upper portion of the straw to be raised with a seizable part above the opening when the container is opened, characterized in that the upper part(5,31) of the straw (3,30) is turned back with the turned back end (5,31) of the straw immersed under the surface of the beverage such that a requisite air cushion (6,33), acting as a float, is trapped in the straw (3,30).

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper part (31) of the straw (30) is folded back by forming a fold (32) , which sealingly closes the interior of the straw and traps an air cushion (33) formed all along the the length of the straw (30).