U.S. Patent 9,913,554
Some patents just need pictures to appreciate the cool factor. This patent is one of them. The patent claims a novelty straw. However, the straw appears to be a buzz lightyear star with expandable wings connected to the straw. The patent attorney that drafted the patent had fun with this one. Judging by the figure—before even reading the patent—it is obvious that when the child sucks through the straw, the Buzz Lightyear wings go up and when the child stops drinking, the wings go back down. It is obvious based on the arrows in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the position of the wings in the figure. This invention could clearly be extended “up up and beyond” Buzz Lightyear as it is not clear if the inventor has a license to use the trademark/copyright of Buzz Lightyear.
On March 13, 2018, Week 11, Number 1448-2, the United States Patent and Trademark Office published issued U.S. Patent Number 9,913,554.
In the background section, the patent attorney describes how drinking stars also exist that move novelty items that are external to the straw. The patent attorney provides examples of such prior art such prior art straws are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,622 to Lombard, entitled Drinking Straw, U.S. Pat. No. 2,811,808 to Briese, entitled Drinking Tube, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,292 to Leung, entitled Novelty Drinking Straw. With such prior art, the liquid passing through the straw is used directly to create the mechanical motion. As such, the mechanisms within the straws are hydraulic in nature. The patent attorney identified a problem shared by all such prior art straws is that since the mechanisms are hydraulic, the mechanisms become contaminated by the flowing fluid. Often the flowing fluid is a high-sugar soft drink or chocolate milk. Such fluids leave sugar/cocoa deposits within the straw mechanism that can quickly bind the moving parts.
The patent describes:
Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2, a novelty straw assembly 10 is shown. The novelty straw assembly 10 includes an upper straw section 12, a lower straw section 14, an intake head 16, and an articulated character 20. The articulated character 20 is disposed between the upper straw section 12 and the lower straw section 14. The intake head 16 terminates the lower straw section 14 at the lowest part of the novelty straw assembly 10.
The articulated character 20 has moving parts 22. The moving parts 22 are moved by a unique manifold and diaphragm subassembly that is later described in more detail. The manifold and diaphragm subassembly produces movement that depends upon the relative pressure within the upper straw section 12. When the pressure in the upper straw section 12 is greater than ambient pressure, the moving parts 22 of the articulating character 20 are moved into a first configuration. When the pressure within the upper straw section 12 is lower than ambient pressure, the moving parts 22 are moved into a second configuration.
In the exemplary embodiment, the articulated character 20 is configured as the Disney® character Buzz Lightyear®. The moving parts 22 of the articulated character 20 are the wings 25 and the laser arm 27. In the first configuration, the wings 25 and laser arm 27 of the articulated character 20 are down. In the second configuration, the wings 25 and the laser arm 27 of the articulated character 20 are raised. It will therefore be understood that the wings 25 and the laser arm 27 can be raised by selectively sucking through the novelty straw assembly 10 and causing the moving parts 22 to move between the first configuration and the second configuration.
The patent claims provide, inter alia:
A novelty straw assembly for drinking a fluid, comprising:
a first straw section;
a second straw section;
a diaphragm;
a manifold comprising a bottom opening, a top opening, and a side segment, said diaphragm mounted on said side segment, said side segment in fluid communication with the top opening and bottom opening through the manifold and having a fluid passageway that terminates in said diaphragm, wherein said manifold interconnects said first straw section to said second straw section so that said fluid passes through said manifold when flowing between said first straw section and said second straw section, therein creating changes in pressure within said manifold;
wherein said diaphragm expands and contracts with said changes in pressure within said manifold;
at least one linkage element that is moved by said diaphragm as said diaphragm expands and contracts; and
a character having moving parts that are coupled to said at least one linkage element and are moved by said at least one linkage element.
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