Cap for a drinking straw

A cap for a drinking channel of a drinking straw for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said cap being adapted to be mounted removable with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, said cap comprising:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part,
• in which the element to be torn is a band of the container wall extending between the first container portion part and the second container portion part, whereby said band is adapted when torn from the container wall for allowing at least a relative motion between the first container portion part and the second container portion part,
• in which before the tearing off of the band, the container has an inner volume, in which the cap further comprises a securing means adapted to secure together the first container portion part and the second container portion part after tearing of the band to be torn, wherein when the first container portion part and the second container portion part are secured together after the tearing of the band, a closed container is formed having an inner volume lower than the volume of the closed container before the tearing off of the band.

A cap for a drinking channel of a drinking straw for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said cap being adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, said cap comprising:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part,
• in which the drinking straw has an inner wall defining the drinking channel,
• in which the body comprises at least two legs adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, in which at least one of said at least two legs is the at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and in which said legs are each provided with a protuberance adapted to contact the inner wall of the straw when said legs enter within the drinking channel.

A cap for a drinking channel of a drinking straw for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said cap being adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, said cap comprising:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber,
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part, in which said cap is adapted for use with a straw having a drinking channel with a portion adjacent to the upper end with a central axis and a substantially circular cross section having a diameter, in which the drinking straw has an inner wall defining the drinking channel,
• in which the body comprises at least three legs adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, at least one of said at least three legs is the at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and in which said legs are each provided with a protuberance adapted to contact the inner wall of the straw when said legs enter within the drinking channel, and
• in which the protuberance of said legs lays along an outer circle with a diameter comprised between 1.2 and 2 times the diameter of the portion of the straw adjacent to the upper end.

A cap for a drinking channel of a drinking straw for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said cap being adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, said cap comprising:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part,
• in which the body comprises:
• (a) a first body portion attached or connected to the container, and
• (b) a second body portion adapted to enter within the drinking channel,
• and
• in which the second body portion comprises a tube connected to the first body portion and at least two legs, in which at least one of the legs is the at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel, whereby the means for forming the at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said second body portion extends within the drinking channel comprises at least an air channel extending in the first body portion and said tube.

A cap for a drinking channel of a drinking straw for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said cap being adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, said cap comprising:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part,
• in which the body comprises:
• (a) a first body portion attached or connected to the container, and
• (b) a second body portion adapted to enter within the drinking channel, wherein the means for forming the at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said second body portion extends within the drinking channel comprises at least an air channel extending in the first body portion, and
• in which the first body portion has a lateral face, whereby the air channel extending in the first body portion has at least one opening along the lateral face of the first body portion.

A cap for a drinking channel of a drinking straw for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said cap being adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, said cap comprising:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part, and
• in which the body comprises:
• (a) a first body portion attached or connected to the container, said first body portion having a lateral face, and
• (b) a second body portion adapted to enter within the drinking channel,
• wherein the means for forming the at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said second body portion extends within the drinking channel comprises at least an air channel extending in the first body portion, and
• in which the air channel extending into the first body portion comprises:
• (a) a first channel portion extending between an opening directed towards the drinking channel when said second body portion extends within the drinking channel of the straw, and an upper closed end directed towards the container, and
• (b) a second channel portion extending between an opening located between the upper closed end and the opening of the first channel portion directed towards the drinking channel when said second body portion extends within the drinking channel of the straw, and an opening located along the lateral face of the first body portion.

A drinking straw having a drinking channel for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said drinking straw being provided with a cap adapted to be mounted removable with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, in which said cap comprises:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part, and in which the element to be torn is a band of the container wall extending between the first container portion part and the second container portion part, whereby said band is adapted when torn from the container wall for allowing at least a relative motion between the first container portion part and the second container portion part.

A drinking straw having a drinking channel for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said drinking straw being provided with a cap adapted to be mounted removable with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, in which said cap comprises:

• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• whereby the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part,
• in which the element to be torn is a band of the container wall extending between the first container portion part and the second container portion part, whereby said band is adapted when torn from the container wall for allowing at least a relative motion between the first container portion part and the second container portion part,
• in which before the tearing off of the band, the container has an inner volume, in which the cap further comprises a securing means adapted to secure together the first container portion part and the second container portion part after tearing of the band to be torn, wherein when the first container portion part and the second container portion part are secured together after the tearing of the band, a closed container is formed having an inner volume lower than the volume of the closed container before the tearing off of the band.

A method for delivering at least one article in a randomly way by distributing to several considered persons drinking straws each provided with a closed cap, whereby a series of closed caps is randomly distributed to said several considered persons, each with a drinking straw,

• in which the drinking straws have each a drinking channel for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said drinking straws being each provided with a closed cap adapted to be mounted removable with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, in which each closed cap of said series of closed caps comprises:
• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• wherein the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• said method comprising the following steps:
• providing a series of closed caps, at least one of which being provided with an article within its chamber,
• associating the closed caps of said series of closed caps with drinking straws,
• randomly distributing the drinking straws, each with a closed cap to the persons,
• tearing off by each considered person receiving a drinking straw provided with a closed cap of the series of closed caps, of the element of said closed cap which is provided to the drinking straw received by the considered person, so that each considered person has access to the chamber of the container of the closed cap which is provided to the drinking straw received by the considered person.

A method for delivering at least one article in a randomly way by distributing to several considered persons drinking straws each provided with a closed cap, whereby a series of closed caps is randomly distributed to said several considered persons,

• in which the drinking straws have each a drinking channel for drinking a liquid contained in a recipient placed in an air atmosphere, said drinking straws being each provided with a closed cap adapted to be mounted removable with respect to an upper end of the drinking channel of the drinking straw, in which each closed cap of said series of closed caps comprises:
• a container provided with at least one wall defining a chamber adapted for receiving an article, and with an element to be torn at least partly from one of said at least one wall defining the chamber, said element when being torn being adapted to allow access to the article present within the chamber;
• a body having one end attached to the container or a part thereof and another end provided with a portion having an outer shape adapted to enter at least partly within the drinking channel through said upper end of the straw, said body comprising at least one flexible element adapted to exert a pressure on a wall of the drinking straw when said portion of the body extends at least partly within the drinking channel,
• wherein the body is selected form the group consisting of (a) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, (b) a body comprising means for defining at least one air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and (c) a body having a shape adapted to form with the drinking channel at least one first air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, said body further comprising means for defining at least one second air passage between the drinking channel and the air atmosphere when said portion extends at least partly within the drinking channel, and
• in which, before the tearing of the element to be torn, the container comprises a first container portion part and a second container portion part attached to the first container portion part,
• in which the element to be torn is a band of the container wall extending between the first container portion part and the second container portion part, whereby said band is adapted when torn from the container wall for allowing at least a relative motion between the first container portion part and the second container portion part,
• in which the second container portion part comprises at least two distinct parts said at least two distinct parts including:
• (a) a support with an opening and defining a support inner volume, and
• (b) a closing element adapted to close said opening when pushed on said support,
• said method comprising the following steps:
• providing a series of open caps with the closing element not closing the opening of the support of said second container portion part, said series of open caps being adapted to form the series of closed caps after closing the opening of the support of the second container portion part of each open cap with the closing element;
• introducing at least one article through the opening of the support into the chamber of at least one open cap of the series of open caps,
• for the open caps of the series of open caps, pushing the closing element into said opening of said open caps so as to close the chamber thereof and so as to form a series of closed caps,
• associating the closed caps of said series of closed caps with drinking straws,
• randomly distributing the drinking straws each provided with a closed cap to the considered persons,
• tearing off the band of the closed cap by each considered person receiving a drinking straw provided with one closed cap of the series of closed caps, so that each person has access to the chamber of the container.