Drinking Straw

Abstract

Drinking straws that enable a user to drink a beverage without having to purse the user's lips around the straw. In one embodiment, a drinking straw has a tubular structure which includes a body portion and an upper end portion. A conduit is formed between the body portion and the upper end portion. The upper end portion has an elongated outer periphery which enables a user to create a seal between the user's lips and the outer periphery of the upper end portion without pursing the user's lips. The upper end portion may have a triangular shape. The conduit through the straw may have a constant cross-sectional area, or it may vary. The drinking straw may have solid lateral portions. The upper end portion of the straw may be detachable from the body portion of the straw and replaceable on a different body portion.

1 . A drinking straw apparatus comprising:
 a tubular structure having a body portion and an upper end portion;   wherein a conduit is formed between the body portion and the upper end portion;   wherein the upper end portion has an elongated outer periphery which enables a user to create a seal between the user's lips and the outer periphery of the upper end portion without pursing the user's lips.   
     
     
         2 . The drinking straw apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end portion has a triangular shape which tapers from a smaller width at a first end of the upper end portion which is coupled to the body portion to a larger width at a second end of the upper end portion at which the upper end portion is open. 
     
     
         3 . The drinking straw apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit has substantially the same cross-sectional area through the body portion and the upper end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The drinking straw apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein lateral portions on opposite sides of the conduit through the upper end portion are solid. 
     
     
         5 . The drinking straw apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end portion is rigid. 
     
     
         6 . The drinking straw apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end portion is detachable from the body portion and attachable to a replacement body portion. 
     
     
         7 . A drinking apparatus comprising:
 a drinking straw adapter;   wherein the drinking straw adapter has a first conduit extending therethrough from a first end to a second end;   wherein the first end is configured to be coupled to a drinking straw having a second conduit therethrough;   wherein the second end has an elongated outer periphery which enables a user to create a seal between the user's lips and the outer periphery of the second end without pursing the user's lips.   
     
     
         8 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the upper end portion has a triangular shape which tapers from a smaller width at a first end of the upper end portion which is coupled to the body portion to a larger width at a second end the upper end portion at which the upper end portion is open 
     
     
         9 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the conduit has substantially the same cross-sectional area through the body portion and the upper end portion 
     
     
         10 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein lateral portions on opposite sides of the conduit through the upper end portion are solid 
     
     
         11 . The drinking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the upper end portion is rigid 
     
     
         12 . A method for drinking a beverage, the method comprising:
 providing a drinking straw having a tubular structure having a body portion and an upper end portion, wherein a conduit is formed between the body portion and the upper end portion, wherein the upper end portion has an elongated outer periphery at an upper opening;   placing a lower end of the drinking straw in a beverage;   placing a user's lips around the upper end portion of the drinking straw, thereby creating a seal between the user's lips and the outer periphery of the upper end portion without pursing the user's lips; and   drawing the beverage through the drinking straw.