Drinking straw prepared from flattened polymeric tubular conduit, method of making same and dispenser therefor
US6736409B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 18, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T279/17162
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drinking straw for consuming a beverage is prepared by: a) melt-extruding a polymeric material in the shape of a continuous tubular conduit suitable for preparing a plurality of drinking straws; b) cooling said continuous tubular conduit to a temperature below the softening point of the polymer; c) flattening the tubular conduit so as to collapse its structure into a substantially planar form, thereby constricting the central longitudinal cavity and reducing the volume of the continuous tubular conduit; d) cutting a length from the continuous conduit of suitable length for making the straw; and e) dilating the length cut from the conduit so as to restore the cross-sectional area of the central cavity and reconstitute the tubular structure of the straw. Advantages of the invention include minimizing storage space and shipping bulk, as well as reducing the need for packaging materials. In further aspects of the invention, there are provided particular processes for making the drinking straw and a drinking straw dispenser.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.