This invention improves the cooling effect of ice in a drinking cup and economizes on the amount of ice used. The invention comprises a truncated cone with the widest base at the bottom, and with a hole at its apex, the hole being large enough to allow a straw to pass through. It also comprises a me
This invention improves the cooling effect of ice in a drinking cup and economizes on the amount of ice used. The invention comprises a truncated cone with the widest base at the bottom, and with a hole at its apex, the hole being large enough to allow a straw to pass through. It also comprises a mechanism located at the apex of the cone, which holds the straw in place. This cone structure prevents ice cubes, which are normally buoyant, from floating up to the surface of the liquid. Instead, the cone forces the ice to congregate near the straw inlet thereby cooling the liquid entering the straw.
대표청구항▼
1. A drinking apparatus for holding down ice cubes within close proximity to the bottom opening of a straw in a drinking cup, comprising: a. a truncated cone having its base at the lower end and its apex at the top end,b. said apex being traversed by a hole through which a straw can pass,c. said ape
1. A drinking apparatus for holding down ice cubes within close proximity to the bottom opening of a straw in a drinking cup, comprising: a. a truncated cone having its base at the lower end and its apex at the top end,b. said apex being traversed by a hole through which a straw can pass,c. said apex also comprising an attachment mechanism for affixing said straw to said apex, said attachment mechanism being non-detachable from said apex, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises at least one flexible structure perforated by a hole, said hole configured to fit snugly around said straw and providing a resistive frictional force against sliding movement by said straw along the axis of said cone. 2. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cone is made in part or in whole as a net. 3. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cone is made of a solid sheet material. 4. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible structure is a membrane. 5. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises at least one flexible funnel-shaped membrane coaxial with said cone, said membrane having its widest rim at the top and its narrowest rim at the bottom, furthermore, said membrane affixed at its said widest rim to said apex, said narrowest rim defining a circular opening configured to fit snugly around said straw and providing a resistive frictional force against sliding movement by said straw along the axis of said cone. 6. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises at least one flexible disk-shaped plate, periphery of said disk-shaped plate being affixed to said apex, said disk-shaped plate having a number of radial slits and divided into sectors, said sectors configured to bend down when said straw is pushed down through said disk-shaped plate, said sectors exerting a constricting force on said straw, thereby restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone. 7. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises at least one flexible disk-shaped plate, periphery of said disk-shaped plate being affixed to said apex, said disk-shaped plate having a number of radial slits and divided into sectors, said sectors configured to bend up when said straw is pushed up through said disk-shaped plate, said sectors exerting a constricting force on said straw, thereby restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone. 8. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a tube made of flexible material, said tube being coaxial with said cone and having at least one narrowing along its length, said at least one narrowing configured to fit snugly around said straw, said at least one narrowing exerting a frictional force on said straw, thereby restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone. 9. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a tube, said tube being coaxial with said cone, the sides of said tube being partially scored to form tabs, said tabs being pushed inward, said tabs exerting a constricting force on said straw, thereby restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone. 10. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises at least one truncated restraining cone, said at least one restraining cone being coaxial with said cone, a narrow opening of said at least one restraining cone forming a narrow passage configured to exert a constricting force on said straw, thereby restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone. 11. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a tube coaxial with said cone, the cross-section of said tube having the shape of an ellipse, major axis of said ellipse being larger than the outer diameter of said straw and the minor axis of said ellipse being smaller than the outer diameter of said straw, said tube being made of flexible material configured to allow said cross-section to be deformed to a circular shape when said tube is squeezed along said major axis, thereby restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone when said tube is not squeezed and not restricting the sliding of said straw along the axis of said cone when said tube is squeezed. 12. The drinking apparatus of claim 11 wherein the inside surface of said tube is partially coated or fully coated with a material selected for its high coefficient of friction. 13. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said straw is permanently attached, wherein said attachment mechanism is configured to attach said straw to said apex in a permanent non-detachable fashion. 14. The drinking apparatus of claim 13 wherein said straw has the shape of a truncated cone with its largest diameter at the bottom and attached to said apex and its smallest diameter on top. 15. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said straw comprises near its lower end two annular protuberances, each said protuberance permanently attached to said straw and forming between themselves a narrow neck along said straw, and said attachment mechanism being configured with said hole in the shape of a collar, said collar being configured to fit snugly around said neck when the lower end of said straw is pushed through said collar, thereby holding said straw in place. 16. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said straw comprises near its lower end an annular protuberance, said protuberance permanently attached to said straw, and said attachment mechanism comprising a cylinder with a swelling at its waist, said swelling forming a chamber, said chamber being configured to fit snugly around said protuberance when the lower end of said straw is pushed through said cylinder, thereby holding said straw in place. 17. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said straw comprises near its lower end an annular protuberance, said protuberance permanently attached to said straw, and furthermore said straw comprising a conical flair at its lower end, said protuberance and said flair forming between themselves a narrow neck along said straw, and said attachment mechanism being configured with said hole in the shape of a collar, said collar being configured to fit snugly around said neck when the said straw is pushed up through said collar, thereby holding said straw in place. 18. A method of manufacturing said drinking apparatus of claim 1 comprising: a. cutting a sheet into the shape of an open ring;b. configuring the inside edge of the open ring as said straw attachment mechanism;c. bringing together the ends of the open ring, thereby forming a truncated cone;d. attaching together the ends of the open ring. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said straw attachment mechanism comprises radial slits cut into inside of said open ring. 20. The drinking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said truncated cone includes an upper edge at its top, said upper edge being cut by at least two slits.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Murphy Peter F. (Grosse Pointe MI) Kurtz ; Jr. James H. (Grosse Pointe Farms MI) Whitehead Ross (Wilmington DE) Szasz David A. (Wilmington DE), Beverage container with self-contained drinking straw.
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