Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Fountains or drinking tubes and straws – Drinking
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-12
2004-01-13
Evans, Robin O. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Fountains or drinking tubes and straws
Drinking
C239S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676032
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a drinking straw having a weight integrated thereto which is provided to anchor the drinking straw against the buoyant effects of escaping diffused gases in carbonated drinks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain drinking apparatus are known which are designed to make the consumption of various types of beverages, including carbonated beverages, more convenient. Representative examples of such apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 214,617; 1,253,579; 2,613,107; 3,099,565; and 5,038,476. Typically, such drinking apparatus have been used, for example, to automatically “float” a straw (which is enclosed in a drinking container) to the beverage surface for convenient access when the beverage container is opened (such as by removal of a bottle cap, for example). Other examples of known drinking apparatus include straws with integrated spoons, straws with mixing or swirling devices, and straws with check valves for fluid control or regulation.
Although, as evidenced by the above referenced patents, various types of apparatus have been invented in the past to render the process of drinking a beverage through a straw (or other tubular apparatus) more convenient, no known device or system has addressed the problem of the buoyant effect of escaping gases in carbonated beverages. In particular, a typical straw when placed in a carbonated beverage will not remain at the bottom of the glass (or other drinking container) where the beverage is most conveniently and efficiently withdrawn but will float to the surface and, at times, fall out of the glass. Such a floating straw is inconvenient in that its use requires that at least one hand be occupied in holding the straw at the desired location e.g. at the bottom of the glass. In addition, in a highly carbonated beverage, for example, a straw will often float very rapidly to the surface of the beverage and the straw will fall out of the glass causing beverage to spill on the person holding the beverage container, the table, or other surface (e.g. causing stains etc . . . ).
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need in the art for a drinking apparatus which is capable of anchoring itself against the buoyant effects of escaping gases in drinking beverages. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this need in the art, as well as other needs which will become apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, this invention fulfills the above-described needs in the art by providing a drinking apparatus comprising:
a tubular member for consumption of a beverage therethrough, the tubular member having a first end and second end, the first and second ends being non-fixedly located;
a weight comprised of a substantially non-soluble material and integrally connected to the tubular member; and
wherein the weight is located between the first and second ends of the tubular member and is located at a distance offset from the second end of the tubular member such that when the drinking apparatus is placed in a drinking vessel containing a liquid beverage, the second end of the tubular member will be anchored by the mass of the weight, such that the second end of the tubular member will be in contact with a bottom surface of the drinking vessel.
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