Safety drinking straw

Abstract

A drinking straw is sealed at one end and a foraminous filter member is formed in the tubular body of the straw adjacent the sealed end. Upon immersion of the tube in a liquid and suction applied to the opposite end of the tube, liquid is drawn into the tube through the foraminous member, but solid material such as pits or other debris in the liquid are not, being blocked from ingestion by the otherwise sealed second end of the tube.

1 . A drinking straw immersible in a liquid comprising:
 a tube having an exterior and interior surface,   said tube including   a first end and a second spaced end, said first end being open for insertion into the mouth of a user to induce suction in said tube, the second spaced end of said tube being closed and immersible in a liquid in a container, and   a filter element formed on the exterior surface of said tube in communication with the interior of said tube adjacent said second closed end adapted to receive liquid into said tube upon suction being induced in said tube through said first tube end while precluding any solid objects in said liquid from entering said tube.   
   
   
       2 . The drinking straw of  claim 1  wherein said filter element is a foraminous member. 
   
   
       3 . The drinking straw of  claim 2  wherein said foraminous member includes a series of holes in said tube adjacent said second, closed end. 
   
   
       4 . The drinking straw of  claim 3  wherein said holes are of a predetermined size to permit the passage of liquid into said tube but to block solid objects which may be found in said liquid from entering said tube. 
   
   
       5 . The drinking straw of  claim 4  wherein said holes are rectangular slots. 
   
   
       6 . The drinking straw of  claim 2  wherein said foraminous member includes a mesh screen adhered to the exterior surface of said tube adjacent said second end of said tube. 
   
   
       7 . The drinking straw of  claim 6  wherein said foraminous member includes a series of holes in combination with said screen mesh adjacent the second end of said tube. 
   
   
       8 . The drinking straw of  claim 1  wherein said closed end of said tube is heat sealed. 
   
   
       9 . The drinking straw of  claim 1  wherein said closed end of said tube is welded. 
   
   
       10 . The drinking straw of  claim 2  wherein said foraminous member is a conical plug inserted in said second end of said tube and includes a series of holes in the bottom thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The drinking straw of  claim 10  wherein said plug is force fitted into the second end of said tube with a conical surface thereof in contact with the interior surface of said tube end.