Enhanced drinking straws

Abstract

Certain drinking straw device embodiments comprise an inner tube having a hole along its length and an actuator for actively introducing a gas or fluid through the hole into a liquid flowing through the inner tube. In an embodiment, the actuator stores and releases a pressurized gas. In some embodiments, the actuator stores and releases a second liquid or gel. In some embodiments, a device comprises a non-pressurized gas or fluid substance introduction mechanism, which, when activated, allows the gas or fluid substance to enter and be mixed with a liquid flowing through the inner tube.

1 . A drinking straw device comprising:
 a) an inner tube having a hole along its length; and   b) an actuator for actively introducing a gas or fluid through the hole into a liquid flowing through the inner tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a chamber for storing a gas source and a gas introduction mechanism for allowing gas from the gas source to enter and be mixed with the liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the gas introduction mechanism includes a flexible area coupled to a plunger. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber is formed by a sealed outer tube surrounding the inner tube. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the gas introduction mechanism includes a needle operative to penetrate into and retract from the hole. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a chamber for storing a fluid substance source, the chamber formed by a sealed outer tube surrounding the inner tube, and a fluid introduction mechanism for allowing the fluid substance to enter and be mixed with the liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid introduction mechanism includes two one way valves. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas includes oxygen. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas includes CO 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid substance is selected from the group consisting of a liquid and a gel. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube includes a section filled with a water-soluble substance. 
     
     
         12 . A drinking straw device comprising:
 a) an inner tube having a septum wall section;   b) an outer tube surrounding and sealing the inner tube with the septum to form a closed chamber;   c) a pressurized gas filling at least part of the chamber; and   d) an actuator for actively introducing the pressurized gas through the slit wall section into a liquid flowing through the inner tube.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes a pierced needle, which, when inserted through septum, provides an open path for the pressurized gas to enter the liquid. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator includes a retracting mechanism for retracting the needle from the septum to close the path. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes two pierced needles positioned diametrically opposite a symmetry axis of the inner tube, wherein each needle, when inserted through the septum, provides an open path for the pressurized gas to enter the liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes a retracting mechanism for retracting each needle from the septum to close the path. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the inner tube includes a section filled with a soluble substance. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the gas includes oxygen. 
     
     
         19 . A drinking straw device comprising:
 a) an inner tube having a wall with a length extending between a top end and a bottom end;   b) an outer tube which surrounds the inner tube in a generally concentric way for part of its length to form a chamber, the outer tube having a top end open to the atmosphere and a bottom end which blocks a liquid from entering the chamber, wherein the inner tube has at least one lower hole positioned between the bottom inner tube and bottom outer tube ends and at least one upper hole positioned between the outer tube top and bottom ends.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising an additional tube slideably inserted inside the inner tube, the additional tube used as a fluid flow control mechanism.