Apparatus and method for regulation of fluid flow from a straw

Abstract

A regulating component to regulate fluid flow through the axial passage communicating between the intake end, and mouth engageable distal end, of a drinking straw. The component has an upper wall separated from a lower wall by an engaged sidewall all defining a restriction chamber. When engaged in the axial passage of a drinking straw, fluid traversing the straw all traverses through apertures in the lower and upper wall and thereby through the restriction chamber. Force of the moving fluid on a ball in the restriction chamber acts to raise the ball to seal the aperture in the upper wall. If the fluid reaches too high a speed or continues long enough at a lower speed to move the ball upward it seals the restriction chamber from the exit end of the straw.

1 . A regulating component apparatus to regulate fluid flow through the axial passage communicating between the intake end, and mouth engageable distal end, of a drinking straw, comprising:
 an upper wall having a perimeter edge and having a centrally located upper aperture communicating therethrough;   a lower wall having a perimeter edge and located a distance from said upper wall and having a centrally located lower aperture communicating therethrough;   a sidewall communicating between an engagement said perimeter edge of said upper wall and perimeter edge of said lower wall;   a restriction chamber defined by the area between said upper wall, said lower wall, and said sidewall;   a ball located in said restriction chamber, said ball having a static position resting upon said lower wall;   said ball formed of a material having a density and having an exterior surface area determined by a diameter;   said upper aperture adapted for temporary sealed engagement with said ball;   said ball having a restricting position, in said sealed engagement with said upper aperture;   means for engagement of said restriction chamber in said axial passage in an engaged position;   said restriction chamber in said engaged position, providing a conduit for all said fluid flow, communicating between said intake end to said distal end of said straw; and   a force exerted on an exterior surface area of said ball by said fluid flow urging it toward said restricting position, during durations of said fluid flow through said restriction chamber; and   a means for regulation of a maximum velocity of said fluid flow exiting said distal end of said straw provided by said force equaling or exceeding a force level sufficient to move said ball into said restriction position.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said means for regulation of said velocity of said fluid flow also providing means for regulating a total volume of said fluid flow exiting said distal end; and   said means for regulating a total volume determined by the total said fluid flow through said restriction chamber, over a time period required for force to move said ball from said static position to said restricting position.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 means to adjust said maximum velocity provident by one or a combination of, changing the mass of said ball, increasing or decreasing ball dimensions to change said exterior surface area exposed to said force, or changing distance between said upper wall and said lower wall.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 means to adjust said maximum velocity, and said means for regulating said total volume provided by one or a combination of, changing the mass of said ball, increasing or decreasing ball dimensions to change said exterior surface area exposed to said force, or changing said distance between said upper and lower walls.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said lower wall having a top surface and a conical configuration defined by a slope of said lower wall from an interior edge defining said centrally located lower aperture to said perimeter edge of said lower wall engaging said sidewall;   a lower seat area for said ball in said static position, defined by an area between said sidewall and said top surface of said lower wall between said perimeter edge and said lower aperture; and   said seat area positioning a portion of said ball below said ball lower aperture when said ball is in said static position and said straw is substantially vertical with said distal end above said intake end.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 said lower wall having a top surface and a conical configuration defined by a slope of said lower wall from an interior edge defining said centrally located lower aperture to said perimeter edge of said lower wall engaging said sidewall;   a lower seat area for said ball in said static position, defined by an area between said sidewall and said top surface of said lower wall between said perimeter edge and said lower aperture; and   said seat area positioning a portion of said ball below said ball lower aperture when said ball is in said static position and said straw is substantially vertical with said distal end above said intake end.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 said lower wall having a top surface and a conical configuration defined by a slope of said lower wall from an interior edge defining said centrally located lower aperture to said perimeter edge of said lower wall engaging said sidewall;   a lower seat area for said ball in said static position, defined by an area between said sidewall and said top surface of said lower wall between said perimeter edge and said lower aperture; and   said seat area positioning a portion of said ball below said ball lower aperture when said ball is in said static position and said straw is substantially vertical with said distal end above said intake end.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 said lower wall having a top surface and a conical configuration defined by a slope of said lower wall from an interior edge defining said centrally located lower aperture to said perimeter edge of said lower wall engaging said sidewall;   a lower seat area for said ball in said static position, defined by an area between said sidewall and said top surface of said lower wall between said perimeter edge and said lower aperture; and   said seat area positioning a portion of said ball below said ball lower aperture when said ball is in said static position and said straw is substantially vertical with said distal end above said intake end.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for engagement of said restriction chamber between all said fluid flow communicating between said intake end and said distal end of said straw comprises:
 said sidewall having an exterior surface defining an exterior circumference;   said axial passage of said straw having an internal circumference defined by an interior surface of said straw; and   said exterior circumference sized for a frictional engagement of said exterior surface with said interior surface of said axial passage.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for engagement of said restriction chamber between all said fluid flow communicating between said intake end and said distal end of said straw comprises:
 said sidewall having an exterior surface defining an exterior circumference;   said axial passage of said straw having an internal circumference defined by an interior surface of said straw; and   said exterior circumference sized for a frictional engagement of said exterior surface with said interior surface of said axial passage.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for engagement of said restriction chamber in said axial passage in an engaged position:
 an upper collar engaged to said sidewall adjacent to said upper wall and having an interior collar surface defining an interior collar circumference; and   said interior collar circumference sized to provide a frictional engagement with an exterior surface of said straw.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for engagement of said restriction chamber in said axial passage in an engaged position:
 an upper collar engaged to said sidewall adjacent to said upper wall and having an interior collar surface defining an interior collar circumference; and   said interior collar circumference sized to provide a frictional engagement with an exterior surface of said straw.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said means for engagement of said restriction chamber in said axial passage in an engaged position:
 an upper collar engaged to said sidewall adjacent to said upper wall and having an interior collar surface defining an interior collar circumference; and   said interior collar circumference sized to provide a frictional engagement with an exterior surface of said straw.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally comprising:
 a plurality of said regulating components each having a different rate of said fluid flow; and   indicia on said regulating components designating each said different rate of said fluid flow, whereby a said regulating component may be chosen from said plurality by viewing said indica, and engaged into said axial passage of a straw to achieve the chosen fluid flow rate through said straw.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  additionally comprising:
 a plurality of said regulating components each having a different rate of said fluid flow; and   indicia on said regulating components designating each said different rate of said fluid flow, whereby a said regulating component may be chosen from said plurality by viewing said indica, and engaged into said axial passage of a straw to achieve the chosen fluid flow rate through said straw.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 6  additionally comprising:
 a plurality of said regulating components each having a different rate of said fluid flow; and   indicia on said regulating components designating each said different rate of said fluid flow, whereby a said regulating component may be chosen from said plurality by viewing said indica, and engaged into said axial passage of a straw to achieve the chosen fluid flow rate through said straw.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  additionally comprising:
 a plurality of said regulating components each having a different rate of said fluid flow; and   indicia on said regulating components designating each said different rate of said fluid flow, whereby a said regulating component may be chosen from said plurality by viewing said indica, and-engaged into said axial passage of a straw to achieve the chosen fluid flow rate through said straw.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said sidewall being provided by a wall surface of said drinking straw.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 said sidewall being provided by a wall surface of said drinking straw.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 7  additionally comprising:
 said sidewall being provided by a wall surface of said drinking straw.