TITLE

SYSTEM OF POUNDING DEVICE IN COMBINATION WITH DRINKING STRAW

FIELD Example embodiments relate to instruments used in beverage consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various forms, functions, and presentation of instruments used in beverage consumption are available in the market. Many of them serve specific functional purposes, such as a pounder for use to crush, squeeze, melt, or extract liquid from the solid contents of a beverage container, a drinking straw for use to consume the contents of a beverage container, a stir stick for use to mix or dissolve the contents of a beverage container, and a spoon for use to scoop up the contents of a beverage container. Some such instruments commonly found in the beverage industry require sequential use to achieve a specific purpose. For example, the use of a pounder for crushing, squeezing, melting, or extracting liquid from solid contents of a beverage container, such as fruit or ice, followed by the use of a drinking straw for ingesting the crushed, squeezed, melted, or extracted fruit or ice from the beverage container.

However, there may be disadvantages, ancillary considerations, and even potential hazards of some combined uses of beverage instruments, especially when pertaining to the importance of hygiene, cost, and efficiency. In many situations, such as those found in fast food restaurants, sports bars and coffee shops, a consumer that is using a drinking straw and a pounder typically must first remove the pounder from the beverage container before he/she can apply the drinking straw into the beverage container to ingest its contents. In this situation, the consumer will use the pounder to crush, squeeze, melt, or extract the solid items in the beverage container, remove the pounder from the beverage container, and then place the pounder on the surface of a table. However, the need for the pounder typically does not end after that initial use. After one or more sips from the drinking straw, the consumer typically removes the drinking straw from the beverage container, places the drinking straw on the surface of the table, and applies the same pounder to further crush, squeeze, melt, and/or extract from the solid contents of the beverage container. The problem of hygiene becomes apparent since the pounder and drinking straw may have been exposed to unclean elements and possibly a contaminated table surface. The problem of

efficiency also becomes apparent, especially for food and beverage establishments committed to hygiene that are required to ensure their table surfaces are sufficiently clean. As a result, such establishments typically incur additional costs of providing a clean placemat or tissue paper to receive the pounder and drinking straw in between uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to provide simple, low cost, easy to handle and maintain, and universally adaptable methods of combining the functionality of two or more beverage instruments into a single beverage instrument. It would be advantageous to address the problems of hygiene, cost, and efficiency commonly found in the combined use of beverage instruments in a manner that is not only simple, low cost, easy to handle and maintain, and universally adaptable but also applicable in all types of establishments and settings, and in all parts of the world.

Specifically, present example embodiments relate generally to a modified drinking arrangement and its combined functionality as a drinking straw and pounding device.

An example embodiment relates to a novel drinking arrangement using a modified drinking straw with a pounding apparatus attachment comprising one or more side walls, or also known as pounding surfaces, attached to one end of the drinking straw.

Although the example embodiments provide for a drinking arrangement, with direct reference to example embodiments and applications in the beverage industry, it is to be understood by persons ordinarily skilled in the art that the present invention can also be applied to the consumption of other foods, such as soups, and to other applications and industries.

In an example embodiment, there is provided an instrument for use in a beverage container containing a heterogeneous combination of a beverage and solid, said instrument comprising a drinking straw having a first end section and a second end section, and a pounding apparatus having a side wall, wherein the drinking straw is attached to the pounding apparatus.

In another example embodiment, there is provided an instrument for use in a beverage container containing a heterogeneous combination of a beverage and solid, said instrument comprising a drinking straw having a first end section and a second end section, and a pounding apparatus having a plurality of side walls, wherein the drinking straw is attached to the pounding apparatus.

In another example embodiment, there is provided a pounding apparatus for attaching to a drinking straw having a first end section and a second end section for use in a beverage container containing a beverage, said pounding apparatus comprising a side wall, wherein the side wall is capable of transferring an applied force to press the solid against one or more interior walls of the beverage container.

In another example embodiment, there is provided a pounding apparatus for attaching to a drinking straw having a first end section and a second end section for use in a beverage container containing a beverage, said pounding apparatus comprising a plurality of side walls, wherein at least one of the side walls is capable of transferring an applied force to press the solid against one or more interior walls of the beverage container.

In another example embodiment, there is provided an attachment apparatus for attaching to a drinking straw having a first end section and a second end section for use in a beverage container containing a beverage and a solid, wherein said attachment apparatus having a means to attach the drinking straw to a pounding apparatus having one side wall capable of transferring an applied force to press the solid against one or more interior walls of the beverage container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. l is a side view of an example embodiment having a drinking straw attached to a pounding apparatus through the use of an attachment apparatus in an overlapping configuration.

Fig. 2a is a side view of an example embodiment having a drinking straw attached to a pounding apparatus through the use of an attachment apparatus in an overlapped configuration. Fig. 2b is a top view of an example embodiment having a drinking straw attached to a pounding apparatus through the use of an attachment apparatus in an overlapped configuration.

Fig. 3 is an exploded side view of an example embodiment having the drinking straw detached from the attachment apparatus. Fig. 4 is an exploded side view of an example embodiment having the drinking straw, the attachment apparatus and the pounding apparatus all detached from one another.

Fig. 5 is a side view of an example embodiment with a five-sided rectangular shaped pounding apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a side view of an example embodiment with a one-sided pounding apparatus with a square shaped pounding surface.

Fig. 7 is a side view of an example embodiment with a one-sided pounding apparatus with a heart shaped pounding surface. Fig. 8 is a top view of an example embodiment with a one-sided pounding apparatus with a pounding surface shaped as characters.

Fig. 9 is a side view of an example embodiment with the pounding apparatus having four protruding sections, and each protruding section being shaped as a sharp stick.

Fig. 10 is a side view of an example embodiment with the pounding apparatus having protruding sections along the peripheral edge of the pounding surface.

Fig. 11 is a side view of an example embodiment with the pounding apparatus having a plurality of protruding sections throughout the pounding surface.

Fig. 12 is a side view of an example embodiment having one pounding apparatus and two attachment apparatuses attached to one drinking straw and one stick. Fig. 13 is a side view of an example embodiment having one pounding apparatus and one attachment apparatus attached to one drinking straw and one stick.

Fig. 14 is a top view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus having one spring to secure a drinking straw.

Fig. 15a is a side view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus having two protruding sections.

Fig. 15b is a top view of the example embodiment of Figure 15a showing the attachment apparatus having three springs to secure a drinking straw.

Fig. 16a is a side view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus having two clips to secure a drinking straw. Fig. 16b is a side view of the example embodiment of Figure 16a showing the attachment apparatus securing a drinking straw.

Fig. 17a is a side view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus having a radially widened protruding section.

Fig. 17b is a side view of the example embodiment of Figure 17a showing the attachment apparatus securing a drinking straw.

Fig. 18a is a side view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus that is telescopic.

Fig. 18b is a side view of the example embodiment of Figure 18a showing the attachment apparatus securing a drinking straw.

Fig. 19a is a side view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus comprising a gradual radial widening. Fig. 19b is a side view of the example embodiment of Figure 19a showing the attachment apparatus securing a drinking straw.

Fig. 20 is a side view of an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus having a square shape.

Fig. 21a is a side view of an example embodiment not requiring the use of a separate attachment apparatus, and with the drinking straw detached from the pounding apparatus.

Fig. 21b is a top view of the same example embodiment of Figure 21a.

Fig. 21c is a side view of the same example embodiment of Figure 21a and Figure 21b.

Fig. 22 is a side view of an example embodiment without the use of a separate attachment apparatus.

Fig. 23 is a side view of an example embodiment having a modified drinking straw with a first end section that is screwable.

Fig. 24 is a side view of a user using an example embodiment.

Although similar reference numbers are used to refer to similar elements for convenience, it can be appreciated that each of the various embodiments may be considered to be distinct variations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example embodiment of a beverage instrument arrangement 100 is depicted in Figure 1. The beverage instrument arrangement 100 comprises a drinking straw 400 having a first end section 110 and a second end section 120, a pounding apparatus 300 having a pounding cavity 310 and a side wall, and an attachment apparatus 200 having an attachment cavity 210. The first end section 110 and the second end section 120 of the drinking straw 400 are interchangeable in some present embodiments. In the example embodiment shown, the pounding cavity 310 and the attachment cavity 210 work in concert to allow contents of the beverage container 600 to flow from the beverage container 600, up through the drinking straw 400, and into the user's mouth for ingestion. The attachment apparatus 200 attaches the pounding apparatus 300 to the drinking straw 400 by being tightly overlapped

by the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400, for example using a frictional or other connection. This type of beverage instrument arrangement 100 will be hereinafter referred to as the Overlapping configuration for convenience.

Another example embodiment of the beverage instrument arrangement 100 is shown in Figure 2a. The attachment apparatus 200 attaches the pounding apparatus 300 to the drinking straw 400 by having the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400 overlapped by the attachment apparatus 200. This type of beverage instrument arrangement 100 will be hereinafter referred to as the Overlapped configuration for convenience. Figure 2b is a top view of Figure 2a showing an attachment means 200' of the attachment apparatus 200 for this example embodiment. The attachment means 200' along the wall of the attachment cavity 210 is used to securely receive the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400.

It is to be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art that present embodiments can either comprise the Overlapping configuration, the Overlapped configuration, or a configuration that does not require a separate attachment apparatus. Example embodiments of a configuration that does not require a separate attachment apparatus will be described in greater detail below.

In Figure 3, the beverage instrument arrangement 100 of Figure 1 is shown with the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400 completely detached from the attachment apparatus 200. Arrow A depicts the insertion direction of the attachment apparatus 200 into the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400 for a successful attachment of the pounding device 300 to the drinking straw 400.

The example embodiment in Figure 4 shows the beverage instrument arrangement 100 with the attachment apparatus 200, the pounding apparatus 300, and the drinking straw 400 completely detached from one another. Arrow A depicts the insertion direction of the attachment apparatus 200 into the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400 for a successful attachment of the attachment apparatus 400 to the drinking straw 400. Arrow B depicts the insertion direction of the attachment apparatus 200 into the pounding cavity 310 of the pounding device 300, and Arrow C depicts the rotational direction of the attachment apparatus 200 in order to achieve a complete attachment of the male connection portion 220 of the attachment apparatus 200 with the female connection portion 350 of the pounding apparatus 300. Although the example embodiment of Figure 4 is shown with the attachment apparatus 200 having a screwable male connection portion 220 capable of being received by a receiving female connection portion 350 of the pounding apparatus 300, it is

to be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art that present embodiments may include other attachment means of securely fastening the attachment apparatus 200 with the pounding apparatus 300.

Present embodiments may be packaged to include the pounding apparatus, the attachment apparatus and the drinking straw as one unit, with the pounding apparatus and the attachment apparatus being washable, and reusable with disposable drinking straws. Alternatively and preferably, the pounding apparatus and/or the attachment apparatus may be sold separately without a drinking straw so as to reduce packaging and shipping costs. In yet other example embodiments, a kit of parts may be provided to include one or more combinations or sub-combinations of the attachment apparatus, the drinking straw, and the pounding apparatus.

Example embodiments may include a pounding apparatus 300 with a plurality of side walls. Each side wall may interchangeably be called a pounding surface in present embodiments. The advantage of a pounding device 300 having one or more, or a plurality of pounding surfaces is to allow flexibility for the user to attack the one or more solid contents 800 of the beverage container 600 at different directions and against different interior walls of the beverage container 600. An example embodiment of a five-sided rectangular-shaped pounding apparatus 300 is shown in Figure 5 with pounding surfaces 301, 302, 303, 304 and 305. This example embodiment will be capable of pressing one or more solids 800 against any interior side wall of the beverage container 600 using pounding surfaces 302, 303, 304 and 305, and against the interior bottom wall of the beverage container 600 using pounding surface 301. A similar example embodiment may comprise an additional pounding surface opposite to pounding surface 301 that would be capable of pressing one or more solids against an interior upper wall of a beverage container 600. Each pounding apparatus 300 may comprise one or more basic shapes and forms, such as a triangle, a circle as shown in Figure 1, a sphere, a cylinder, a square as shown in Figure 6, a rectangle, a cube as previously seen in Figure 5, or more complex shapes and forms such a heart as shown in Figure 7, animals, people, objects, characters as shown in Figure 8, or logos. Each pounding apparatus 300 may possess one or more features, including glow in the dark, being waterproof in part or in whole, being buoyant, being soluble in part or in whole, adding and/or changing the flavor and/or odor of the beverage, emitting light such as the use of an LED, emitting audible sounds, emitting heat to melt

frozen contents, and changing colors, patterns and/or shapes caused by the interaction of the beverage 700, solid 800, or beverage container 600.

The one or more pounding surfaces of the pounding apparatus 300 may comprise one or more means for attaching to the one or more solid contents 800 of the beverage container 600. Figure 9 shows an example embodiment of a beverage instrument arrangement 100 comprising four protruding sections 320, represented here as four sharp objects that are fixedly protruding from the one pounding surface 301. Two of the protruding sections 320 are shown piercing a slice of lemon 800 and securely attaching the slice of lemon 800 to the beverage instrument arrangement 100. An advantage of the example embodiment includes assuring the pounding device 300 has an opportunity to squeeze the lemon slice 800 against an interior wall of the beverage container every time the user presses down on the beverage instrument arrangement 100 in the direction depicted by arrow A. Furthermore, the size of the pounding surface 301 becomes less important since the solid is fixedly attached to the one or more protruding sections 320 to assure the user attacks the solid each and every time.

Another example embodiment comprises a peripheral protruding section 320 along at least one portion of the peripheral edge of the pounding surface 301 of the pounding device 300. The at least one portion of the peripheral protruding section 320 will serve to restrict the movement of the one or more solid contents 800 of the beverage container. An example of such an embodiment is shown in Figure 10. This example embodiment allows a user to contain the one or more solid contents 800 of the beverage container 600 under the pounding surface 301, thereby ensuring the one or more solid contents 800 is available for pressing against the one or more interior walls of the beverage container 600. Another example embodiment is shown in Figure 11 comprising a plurality of protruding sections 320 fixated throughout the one pounding surface 301.

Present embodiments may include the use of more than one attachment apparatus to attach a pounding device to a drinking straw. For example, an attachment apparatus may be used to attach a pounding apparatus to more than one drinking straw 400. Similarly, a second attachment apparatus may be used to attach an elongated member 400' to a pounding apparatus 300, as shown in Figure 12. The elongated member 400', which may be a stick or an additional drinking straw, should be at least as strong as the drinking straw 400 to enable a user to press down on the elongated member 400' in addition to, or in

replacement of, the drinking straw 400 and firmly crush, squeeze, melt, or extract liquid from the solid contents 800 of the beverage container 600.

An attachment apparatus may also attach a pounding device to two drinking straws, or to one drinking straw and one elongated member. An example embodiment of one attachment apparatus 200 attaching a pounding device 300 to a drinking straw 400 and an elongated member 400' is shown in Figure 13. The elongated member 400' should be at least as strong as the drinking straw 400 to enable a user to press down on the elongated member 400' in addition to, or in replacement of, the drinking straw 400 and firmly crush, squeeze, melt, or extract liquid from the solid contents 800 of the beverage container 600. An attachment apparatus may come in a variety of shapes and forms. Figure 14 shows an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus having a spring mechanism for use in securing a drinking straw to a pounding device. In this example embodiment, the pressing down of the attachment protruding member 201 in the direction depicted by arrow A will cause the corresponding spring 202 to compress and store potential energy. The stored potential energy of the spring 202 will exert a force in the opposite direction, as depicted by arrow B, onto the attachment protruding member 201. When the attachment apparatus is inserted into the first end section of a drinking straw, the said opposite force will push the protruding member 201 against the interior wall of the first end section of the drinking straw. This will ensure a more secure attachment of the drinking straw 400 to the attachment apparatus 200 and pounding apparatus 300. It is to be understood that a plurality of springs may also be used in present embodiments, such as the example embodiment with springs 202, 203 and 204 shown in Figure 15. It is also to be understood that zero, one, or a plurality of attachment protruding members may also be used in present embodiments to secure the drinking straw 400 to the pounding apparatus 300. Furthermore, it is to be understood that means other than one or more springs may be used to apply pressure to secure a drinking straw 400 directly to a pounding apparatus 300 or to an attachment apparatus 200. Figures 16a and 16b depict an example embodiment of an attachment apparatus 200 having a pair of clips 202 to secure the first end section of a drinking straw 400 to the pounding apparatus 300. Another example embodiment is shown in Figure 17a having an attachment apparatus 200 that may be lengthened by pulling on the protruding member 201 in the direction of arrow A. The protruding cavity 210 of the attachment apparatus 200 may also be allowed to widen in circumference and to stay in the widened position as shown in

Figure 17b. When the attachment apparatus 200 is inserted into the first end section of a drinking straw, such widening of the protruding member 201 will cause a radial widening of the drinking straw section 401 to secure the drinking straw to the pounding apparatus 300.

Figures 18a and 18b depict another example embodiment of an attachment apparatus 200 comprising an attachment means in the form of a telescopic attachment apparatus 200. When the attachment apparatus 200 is pulled to remain telescopically lengthened, the structure of the drinking straw 400 will be internally supported by the attachment apparatus 200. With this telescopically lengthened embodiment, the beverage instrument arrangement 100 may be pressed with greater force by a user and the solid contents 800 may be attacked at more angles.

Another example embodiment is shown in Figure 19 having an attachment apparatus 200 shaped with a gradual radial widening of the attachment apparatus body. The exterior surface of the attachment apparatus 200 includes a plurality of protruding members 201. At least one protruding member will cause a radial widening of a section of the drinking straw to secure the drinking straw 400 to the pounding apparatus 300. Furthermore, each attachment apparatus 200 in present embodiments may come in other shapes and forms, such as the rectangular-shaped attachment apparatus of Figure 20.

It is to be understood that present embodiments of the Overlapping configuration may also include a peripheral protruding section along at least one portion of the exterior peripheral edge of the mouth of the attachment cavity 210 of the attachment apparatus 200. The at least one portion of the exterior peripheral protruding section of the attachment apparatus, which may be made of rubber, will serve to restrict the drinking straw from sliding off and detaching from the attachment apparatus. Example embodiments are shown in Figures 9, 10, 17a, 17b, 18a and 18b. Similarly, it is to be understood that present embodiments of the Overlapped configuration may also include a peripheral protruding section along at least one portion of the interior peripheral edge of the mouth of the attachment cavity 210 of the attachment apparatus 200. The at least one portion of the interior peripheral protruding section of the attachment apparatus, which may be made of rubber, will serve to restrict the drinking straw from sliding off and detaching from the attachment apparatus.

Figure 21a shows an example embodiment of how a drinking straw 400 can be attached to a pounding device 300 without the use of a separate attachment apparatus. In this example embodiment, the means for attaching the drinking straw 400 to the pounding

device 300 is in fact accomplished with an attachment means 300' integrated into the body of the pounding device 300, as shown in Figure 21b. The attachment means 300' of this example embodiment is a receiving section along the wall of the pounding cavity 310. Figure 21c is a cross-sectional side view of the example embodiment of Figures 21a and 21b.

It is to be understood that the one or more separate attachment apparatuses in present embodiments may also be integrated or unitary with the pounding apparatus 300, thereby eliminating a separated attachment apparatus, an example embodiment of which is shown in Figure 22. For example, the attachment apparatuses and the pounding apparatus 300 may be formed from a single mold.

Another example embodiment not requiring the use of a separate attachment apparatus is shown in Figure 23. In this example embodiment, the first end section 110 of the drinking straw 400 is modified to have a screwable male section 101. The pounding apparatus 300 in this example embodiment will require a corresponding receiving means 350 in the pounding apparatus for attachment of the male section 101. The attachment apparatus will attach and detach to the pounding apparatus in this example embodiment by turning the drinking straw 400 in the directions shown by the arrow A.

Figure 24 shows a typical position of a user using an example embodiment. As can be seen, the user will use his/her fingers to hold the drinking straw 400 and push the drinking straw downward to crush, squeeze, melt or extract liquid from the solid contents 800 of the beverage container 600.

The pounding apparatus 300 maybe formed of any suitable material that has a suitable rigidity for pounding of the solid contents 800. In some example embodiments, plastic may be used. Although plastic may provide for lightweight operation, in other example embodiments a heavy material or additional weight (not shown) is provided within the pounding apparatus 300, to assist in pounding.

The beverage 700 in the beverage container 600 can be any consumable liquid, including water, soda, ice tea, juice, fruit punch, milk, soy milk, yogurt, alcohol, coffee, tea, liquid food additives such as vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, ketchup and mustard, and may include solid contents including ice, tapioca, fruits, tea leaves, coffee grinds, vegetables and other solid contents 800 known in the art. The beverage container 600 containing the beverage 700 may be a variety of types of containers, including drinking cups made of glass, crystal, ceramic, plastic, metal, porcelain, wood, cardboard and/or paper, coffee

mugs, tea cups, beer mugs, wine glasses, shot glasses, soda cans, bottles, plastic containers, plastic bags, bowls, pitchers, jugs, coconut shells and other fruits, and other containers capable of holding beverages and known in the art.

Although the aforesaid example embodiments provide for a drinking straw arrangement improvement over those previously known in the art, with direct reference to example embodiments and applications in the beverage industry, it is to be understood by persons ordinarily skilled in the art that present embodiments described herein are merely intended to facilitate understanding of the invention, and implies no limitation thereof. Various modifications and improvements of the present embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as recited in the appended claims, and these will naturally be included as equivalents in the invention. Furthermore, various modifications and improvements of the present embodiments are applicable in the consumption of other foods, such as soups, and to other applications and industries without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as recited in the appended claims, and these too will naturally be included as equivalents in the invention.