US 8,409,643 B2 · Methods for the application of ingredients to the inside of a straw

Abstract

Methods of coating the interior surface of a hollow tubular structure, in particular a drinking device, and more particularly a drinking straw, with an edible composition to impart a desirable modification to a beverage that is drunk through the straw. The edible composition comprises an adhering agent and a powdered ingredient coated to the interior surface. Suitable adhering agents include lipids (e.g., soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, and mixtures thereof), medium chain triglycerides oils, emulsifiers, and mixtures thereof. Suitable powdered ingredients include edible acids, edible bases, sweeteners, flavorings, vitamins, minerals, colorants, sensate agents, carotenoids, antioxidants, polyphenols, phytonutrients, and mixtures thereof. The adhering agent is applied to the interior surface of the straw by any one of a number of methods followed by incorporating the powdered ingredient into the adhering agent layer. The powdered ingredient adheres or sticks to, and is incorporated into, the adhering agent layer. Once the powdered ingredient layer is added, the coated drinking straw is ready for use with a beverage.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for preparing a drinking device containing an edible composition comprising an adhering agent and a powdered ingredient, wherein the drinking device is suitable for consuming a beverage and wherein the powdered ingredient imparts a desirable modification to the beverage when consumed using the drinking device, said method comprising:

providing a hollow tubular structure having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the hollow tubular structure is open at both the distal end and proximal end such that an interior surface is defined therein;
coating the interior surface with an adhering agent to form an adhering agent layer;
and
applying a powdered ingredient in the form of a flowable solid powder to the adhering agent layer on the interior surface to form the edible composition, the flowable solid powder adhering to the adhering agent layer to form an edible composition layer with the hollow tubular structure the solid powder imparting the desirable modification to the beverage when the beverage is consumed using the drinking device, and
the edible composition layer is formed in the tubular structure without drying or hardening steps.

2 more elements

A method for preparing a drinking device containing an edible composition comprising an adhering agent and a flowable solid powder, wherein the drinking device is suitable for consuming a beverage and wherein the powdered ingredient imparts a desirable modification to the beverage when consumed using the drinking device, said method comprising:

providing a hollow tubular structure having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the hollow tubular structure is open at both the distal end and proximal end such that an interior surface is defined therein;
coating the interior surface at about ambient temperature with an adhering agent comprising a lipid to form an adhering agent layer;
and
drawing with a vacuum the flowable solid powder into the hollow tubular structure to effect contact of the flowable solid powder with the adhering agent layer on the interior surface to form the edible composition, the flowable solid powder adhering to the adhering agent layer to form an edible composition layer with the hollow tubular structure, the solid powder imparting the desirable modification to the beverage when the beverage is consumed using the drinking device, and
the edible composition layer is formed in the tubular structure without drying or hardening steps.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for the application of ingredients to the inside of a straw

Life of this patent

Methods for the application of ingredients to the inside of a straw

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20