Drinking straw prepared from flattened polymeric tubular conduit, method of making same and dispenser therefor

A method of making a drinking straw for consuming a beverage, said process comprising:

• a) melt-extruding a polymeric foam in the shape of a continuous tubular conduit suitable for preparing a plurality of drinking straws, said conduit being provided with a central longitudinal cavity of open cross section;
• b) cooling said tubular conduit to a temperature below the softening point of the polymer foam material;
• c) flattening said tubular conduit so as to collapse its structure into a substantially planar form, thereby constricting said central longitudinal cavity and reducing the volume of said continuous tubular conduit;
• d) cutting a length from said continuous tubular conduit of suitable dimensions for making said straw;
• and
• e) dilating said length of said conduit so as to restore the cross sectional area of said central longitudinal cavity thereby reconstituting the tubular structure.

A drinking straw dispenser comprising:

• a) a continuous polymeric tubular conduit of suitable length for preparing a plurality of drinking straws, said continuous tubular conduit defining a central longitudinal cavity thereof;
• b) reel means positioned, configured, and dimensioned to receive said continuous polymeric tubular conduit, wherein said continuous polymeric tubular conduit is wound about said reel means in substantially planar form such that said central longitudinal cavity of said continuous polymeric tubular conduit is constricted and the volume of said continuous polymeric tubular conduit is thereby minimized;
• c) means for dilating said continuous polymeric tubular conduit configured to restore the tubular form of said continuous polymeric tubular conduit as it is unwound from said reel;
• and
• d) means for cutting said continuous polymeric tubular conduit into a length suitable for a drinking straw.