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US 10,123,641 B1Granted
Reusable foldable drinking straw in storage case
OwnerMiles Pepperinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reusable drinking straw that is foldable into a compact configuration for storage and easily transportable in a storage case. The straw comprises a rigid external tube and a flexible internal tubing that is foldable to a compact configuration for storage. In a folded configuration, the reusable straw has a significantly reduced length of approximately one-half to one-fourth of its extended length when in use. The external tube of the straw is preferably formed of multiple rigid segments for supporting the flexible internal tubing in the extended configuration during use as a drinking straw. A simple cleaning device is provided to clean the straw after use. A storage case is provided to store the straw in the folded configuration in a compact form and to store the cleaning device.
Claims20
A reusable drinking straw foldable for storage, the drinking straw comprising:
- a rigid external tube formed of a plurality of tubular segments, said external tube having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, a hollow interior and a central longitudinal axis passing through said ends, said hollow interior being accessible through said ends and having an interior diameter, each of said tubular segments configured to be coupled to at least another one of said tubular segments when positioned adjacent to one another along the central longitudinal axis to form said external tube;
- and
- a flexible internal tubing having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a passageway through said ends of said internal tubing, said internal tubing being formed of an elastic material for conducting liquid through said passageway and being impermeable to liquids, said internal tubing having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, said outer diameter being less than said inner diameter of said external tube, said internal tubing being positioned within said external tube with said proximal and distal ends of said internal tubing proximate to said proximal and distal ends, respectively, of said external tube to conduct liquid therethrough,
- wherein said drinking straw is in an extended configuration when at least two of said tubular segments are coupled together to form said rigid external tube with said flexible internal tubing therethrough, said flexible internal tubing being under tension within said external tube to maintain said tubular segments coupled together,
- wherein said drinking straw is in a folded configuration when at least two of said tubular segments are uncoupled and moved apart along said flexible internal tubing by stretching said internal tubing and folding said internal tubing between said at least two tubular segments.
2 more elements
A system for drinking liquids, comprising:
- a reusable drinking straw foldable for storage, the drinking straw comprising:
- a rigid external tube formed of a plurality of tubular segments, said external tube having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, a hollow interior and a central longitudinal axis passing through said ends, said hollow interior being accessible through said ends and having an interior diameter, each of said tubular segments configured to be coupled to at least another one of said tubular segments when positioned adjacent to one another along the central longitudinal axis to form said external tube;
- and
- a flexible internal tubing having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a passageway through said ends of said internal tubing, said internal tubing being formed of an elastic material for conducting liquid through said passageway and being impermeable to liquids, said internal tubing having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, said outer diameter being less than said inner diameter of said external tube, said internal tubing being positioned within said external tube with said proximal and distal ends of said internal tubing proximate to said proximal and distal ends, respectively, of said external tube to conduct liquid therethrough,
- a cleaning element configured to clean the passageway of said flexible tubing;
- and
- a storage case configured to contain said drinking straw and storing said cleaning element,
- wherein said drinking straw is in an extended configuration when at least two of said tubular segments are coupled together to form said rigid external tube with said flexible internal tubing therethrough, said flexible internal tubing being under tension within said external tube to maintain said tubular segments coupled together,
- wherein said drinking straw is in a folded configuration when at least two of said tubular segments are uncoupled and moved apart along said flexible internal tubing by stretching said internal tubing and folding said internal tubing between said at least two tubular segments,
- wherein said storage case contains said drinking straw in said folded configuration,
- wherein said storage case stores said cleaning element.
8 more elements
A method of using a foldable and reusable drinking straw, the method comprising:
- providing the drinking straw having:
- a rigid external tube formed of a plurality of tubular segments, said external tube having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, a hollow interior and a central longitudinal axis passing through said ends, said hollow interior being accessible through said ends and having an interior diameter, each of said tubular segments configured to be coupled to at least another one of said tubular segments when positioned adjacent to one another along the central longitudinal axis to form said external tube;
- and
- a flexible internal tubing having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a passageway through said ends of said internal tubing, said internal tubing being formed of an elastic material for conducting liquid through said passageway and being impermeable to liquids, said internal tubing having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, said outer diameter being less than said inner diameter of said external tube, said internal tubing being positioned within said external tube with said proximal and distal ends of said internal tubing proximate to said proximal and distal ends, respectively, of said external tube to conduct liquid therethrough,
- extending said drinking straw in an extended configuration when at least two of said tubular segments are coupled together to form said rigid external tube with said flexible tubing therethrough, said flexible tubing being under tension within said external tube to maintain said tubular segments coupled together;
- and
- folding said drinking straw in a folded configuration when at least two of said tubular segments are uncoupled and moved apart along said flexible tubing by stretching said flexible tubing and folding the flexible tubing between said at least two tubular segments.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.