Drinking Straw Wrapper

Abstract

A wrapper for a drinking straw is longer than the length of the drinking straw. The additional margin beyond the length of the drinking straw forms a grip portion of the wrapper. The grip portion is separable from the remainder of the wrapper. Optionally, the wrapper may be perforated to separate the grip portion from the remainder of the wrapper. A grip piece is associated with the grip portion. The grip may, for example, be positioned inside or outside the grip portion, or may be integrally formed with the grip portion.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cover for a drinking straw having a straw length, comprising:
 a wrapper substantially enclosing said drinking straw, wherein the length of said wrapper is greater than said straw length to produce a grip portion of said wrapper; and   a grip piece associated with said grip portion of said wrapper such that said grip piece and said grip portion of said wrapper are substantially coincident, wherein said grip piece is separable from said drinking straw such that force applied to separate said grip piece from said drinking straw causes said wrapper to rupture.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said grip piece is inside said grip portion of said wrapper. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said grip piece is outside said grip portion of said wrapper. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said grip piece is integrally formed with said grip portion of said wrapper. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said wrapper includes perforations. 
     
     
         6 . A cover for a drinking straw having a straw length along a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a wrapper substantially enclosing said drinking straw, wherein the length of said wrapper is greater than said straw length to produce a grip portion of said wrapper, and wherein said wrapper includes perforations; and   a grip piece inside said grip portion of said wrapper such that said grip piece and said grip portion of said wrapper are substantially coincident, wherein said grip piece is separable from said drinking straw such that force applied in opposite directions along said longitudinal axis to separate said grip piece from said drinking straw causes said wrapper to rupture at said perforations.   
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 6  wherein said wrapper includes perforations. 
     
     
         8 . A cover for a drinking straw having a straw length along a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a wrapper substantially enclosing said drinking straw, wherein the length of said wrapper is greater than said straw length to produce a grip portion of said wrapper, and wherein said wrapper includes perforations; and   a grip piece integrally formed with said grip portion of said wrapper such that said grip piece and said grip portion of said wrapper are substantially coincident, wherein said grip piece is separable from said drinking straw such that force applied in opposite directions along said longitudinal axis to separate said grip piece from said drinking straw causes said wrapper to rupture at said perforations.   
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 8  wherein said wrapper includes perforations.