Spill proof straw

• US 20040217187A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Egdewell Personal Care Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: Renz, Charles J., Lieberman, Joshua S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,915,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/33
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/18 Drinking straws or the like as integral parts of drinking containers A47G19/2266; for therapeutic purposes A61J15/00 ; adapted to emerge from drinking containers when opened B65D77/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2400/027 Non-return valves

Abstract

There is provided a drinking straw assembly. The assembly has a first straw portion and a housing that can be removably secured to the first straw portion. The housing has a housing cavity, and a valve that can be removably connected to the housing cavity. The valve is also adapted to receive a second straw portion.

Claims

1. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion;

a second straw portion;

a housing being adapted to be removably secured to said first straw portion, said housing having a housing cavity; and

a valve seat being adapted to be removably connected to said housing cavity for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, and said valve seat being adapted to be removably connected to a second straw portion.

2. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve seat has an outer wall, and wherein said housing cavity has an inner diameter that can frictionally engage the outer wall of said valve seat.

3. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flexible tether.

4. The drinking straw assembly of claim 3, wherein said flexible tether connects said valve seat to said housing.

5. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve seat has a gripping tab.

6. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane with at least one slit therein.

7. The drinking straw assembly of claim 6, wherein said valve membrane is concave.

8. The drinking straw assembly of claim 6, wherein said at least one slit is a pair of slits.

9. The drinking straw assembly of claim 8, wherein said pair of slits intersect essentially at the midpoint of said pair of slits to form a cross.

10. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve membrane opens when negative pressure is applied to said first straw portion.

11. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve seat is tethered to said housing.

12. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially round.

13. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said first straw portion, said housing and said valve seat are made of a flexible material.

14. The drinking straw assembly of claim 13, wherein said flexible material is a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or any combinations thereof.

15. The drinking straw assembly of claim 1, wherein said second straw portion is made of rigid polymeric material.

16. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion;

a housing being adapted to be removably secured to said first straw portion, said housing having a housing cavity;

a valve seat being adapted to be removably connected to said housing cavity for selectively permitting or preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, said valve seat having a valve cavity; and

a second straw portion being adapted to be removably connected to said valve cavity of said valve seat.

17. The drinking straw assembly of claim 16, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane.

18. The drinking straw assembly of claim 16, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane with at least one slit therein.

19. The drinking straw assembly of claim 18, wherein said valve membrane is concave.

20. The drinking straw assembly of claim 18, wherein said at least one slit is a pair of slits.

21. The drinking straw assembly of claim 20, wherein said pair of slits intersect essentially at the midpoint of said pair of slits to form a cross.

22. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion having a housing with a housing cavity; and

a second straw portion having a valve seat connected to said housing cavity for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane that is flexible and self-sealing.

23. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22, wherein said valve seat is adapted to be removably connected to said second straw portion.

24. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22, wherein said valve seat has an outer wall, and wherein said housing cavity has an inner diameter that can frictionally engage the outer wall of said valve seat.

25. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22, further comprising a flexible tether connecting said valve seat to said housing.

26. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22, wherein said valve membrane is concave.

27. The drinking straw assembly of claim 22, wherein said valve membrane has a pair of slits that intersect to form a cross.

28. A drinking straw assembly comprising:

a first straw portion having a housing with a housing cavity; and

a second straw portion having a valve seat adapted to be removably connected to said housing cavity for preventing a flow of liquid into said first straw portion, wherein said valve seat has a valve membrane that is flexible and self-sealing.

29. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28, wherein said valve seat is adapted to be removably connected to said second straw portion.

30. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28, wherein said valve seat has an outer wall, and wherein said housing cavity has an inner diameter that can frictionally engage the outer wall of said valve seat.

31. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28, further comprising a flexible tether connecting said valve seat to said housing.

32. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28, wherein said valve membrane is concave.

33. The drinking straw assembly of claim 28, wherein said valve membrane has a pair of slits that intersect to form a cross.