Novelty pump straw with combined display area and prize delivery system

Abstract

The invention relates to a novelty pump straw with combined display area and prize delivery system that can easily be used to pump liquids into the mouth of the user without the use of mouth suction, used to convey information and messages, and deliver prizes and other marketing materials. The invention may include noisemakers, a selection of several different pump devices, various shapes of the pump devices, a stand-alone toy, and several means to convey information and messages on a display area. The exterior features, overall look and size are similar to that of a drinking straw with a pump attached between the two ends of the drinking straw. The invention, besides being used for drinking applications, may also be used for many other activities, some of which include marketing, amusement, and relaxation.

1 . A process for pumping liquids with a drinking straw, said process comprising: 
 inserting a drinking straw with a pump device attached thereto into a liquid; activating said pump device so as to move said liquid unidirectionally within said drinking straw; pumping said liquid through said drinking straw such that said liquid progresses through said drinking straw; reactivating said pump device as needed to continue said progression of said liquid through said drinking straw.    
   
   
       2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said pump device further comprises a display area.  
   
   
       3 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein said display area is designed to convey information.  
   
   
       4 . The process according to  claim 3  wherein said information is applied to said display area.  
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein said display area is shaped to convey information.  
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said pump device further comprises a prize message delivery system.  
   
   
       7 . The process according to  claim 6  wherein said prize message delivery system further comprises an opaque device designed to conceal a prize.  
   
   
       8 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein said opaque device is selected from the group consisting of a peel-away flap, a scratch-off surface, and a heat-sensitive surface designed to reveal a prize message upon subjection to a predetermined temperature range.  
   
   
       9 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said pump device is selected from the group consisting of a squeeze bulb pump, an accordion squeeze pump, a roller compression pump, a filter pump, a noise making pump, and a squirt gun mechanism pump.  
   
   
       10 . The process according to  claim 9  further comprising at least semi-rigid spring-loaded plates connected to said pump is designed to aid in pumping action.  
   
   
       11 . A pump drinking straw liquid delivery device, comprising: 
 a. an elongate drinking straw, said drinking straw with a first end and a second end;    b. a pump device, said pump device located on said drinking straw between said first end and said second end, said pump device designed to move a liquid unidirectionally within said drinking straw such that said liquid progresses generally unidirectionally through said drinking straw;    c. a display area located on said pump device.    
   
   
       12 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 11  wherein said display area is designed to convey messages.  
   
   
       13 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 12  wherein said display area further comprises a prize message delivery system.  
   
   
       14 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 13  wherein said prize message delivery system further comprises an opaque device designed to conceal a prize.  
   
   
       15 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 14  wherein said opaque device is selected from the group consisting of a peel-away flap, a scratch-off surface, and a heat-sensitive surface designed to reveal a prize message upon subjection to a predetermined temperature range.  
   
   
       16 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 11  wherein said pump device is selected from the group consisting of a squeeze bulb pump, an accordion squeeze pump, a roller compression pump, a filter pump, a whistling pump, and a squirt gun mechanism pump.  
   
   
       17 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 16  wherein said pump comprises a hand pump inseparable from said drinking straw such that liquid is transferred from a cup to the user's mouth solely by activating said hand pump.  
   
   
       18 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 17  further comprising semi-rigid or harder spring-loaded plates connected to said pump is designed to aid in pumping action.  
   
   
       19 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 17  further comprising at least one unidirectional valve positioned at or between the first and second ends of said drinking straw.  
   
   
       20 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 11  wherein said drinking straw comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion semi-permanently connected to said pump, said drinking straw designed so that disconnecting said first portion from said pump permits said second portion and said pump to function as a stand-alone toy.  
   
   
       21 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device, comprising: 
 a. an elongate drinking straw, said drinking straw with a first end and a second end;    b. a pump device, said pump device located on said drinking straw between said first end and said second end and said pump device designed to assist a beverage to progress through said drinking straw and said pump such that said beverage is transferred from a cup to a user's mouth solely by activating said pump;    c. a display area located on said pump device, said display area designed to convey information.    
   
   
       22 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 21  wherein said pump device is shaped to convey information.  
   
   
       23 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 21  wherein said display area further comprises a category of information selected from the group consisting of political slogans, game pieces, coupons, messages, logos, characters, advertisements, prizes, and fortunes.  
   
   
       24 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 23  wherein said prize comprises a prize message delivery system.  
   
   
       25 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 24  wherein said prize message delivery system is selected from the group consisting of a peel-away flap, a scratch-off surface, and a heat-sensitive surface designed to reveal a prize message upon subjection to a predetermined temperature range.  
   
   
       26 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 21  wherein said pump device is selected from the group consisting of a squeeze bulb pump, an accordion squeeze pump, a roller compression pump, a filter pump, a noise making pump, and a squirt gun mechanism pump.  
   
   
       27 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 26  wherein said pump comprises a hand pump built into said drinking straw.  
   
   
       28 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 27  further comprising semi-rigid or harder spring-loaded plates connected to said pump designed to aid in pumping action.  
   
   
       29 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 26  wherein said pump drinking straw beverage delivery device is designed to be located within a handle of a drinking vessel.  
   
   
       30 . The pump drinking straw liquid delivery device according to  claim 26  further comprising at least one unidirectional valve positioned at or between the first and second ends of said drinking straw.  
   
   
       31 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of pump devices.  
   
   
       32 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 31  wherein said plurality of pumps comprises at least one air pump and at least one liquid pump.  
   
   
       33 . The pump drinking straw beverage delivery device according to  claim 21  wherein said drinking straw comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion semi-permanently connected to said pump, said drinking straw designed so that disconnecting said first portion from said pump reveals said second portion and said pump functioning as a molded pump stand-alone toy.