Drinking straw assembly

Abstract

A reusable drinking straw assembly is provided, having a plurality of modular segments joined end-to-end to form an elongate tubular portion. The modular segments are separable from one another to allow for adjustability of the length of the straw assembly and to facilitate cleaning of the straw assembly between uses. Each of the modular segments is itself separable longitudinally into at least two re-attachable components to facilitate cleaning of the straw between uses. A mouthpiece is removably attached to one end of the tubular portion. A filter is removably attached to the other end of the tubular portion. The mouthpiece may include a one-way valve for controlling the direction of fluid flow.

1 . A reusable drinking straw assembly comprising:
 a plurality of modular segments joined end-to-end to form an elongate tubular portion having first and second ends and a longitudinally-extending channel defined therethrough for receiving a beverage;   a mouthpiece removably attached to the first end of the tubular portion; and   a one-way valve positioned within the mouthpiece, the valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively block fluid flow within the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The straw assembly of  claim 1  wherein the valve is a cross-slit valve that divides the mouthpiece into a first chamber and a second chamber, and in the closed position the valve occludes the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber, and in the open position the valve provides an opening for fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The straw assembly of  claim 1  wherein the valve is biased to be in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The straw assembly of  claim 1  comprising a filter attachment removably attached to the second end of the tubular portion. 
     
     
         5 . The straw assembly of  claim 1  comprising a puncturing attachment removably attached to the second end of the tubular portion, wherein at least one end of the puncturing attachment is cut at an angle to provide a puncturing tool. 
     
     
         6 . The straw assembly of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of modular segments is shaped to form a bend in the tubular portion. 
     
     
         7 . A reusable drinking straw assembly comprising:
 at least one tubular segment forming an elongate tubular portion, the tubular portion having first and second ends and a longitudinally-extending channel defined therethrough for receiving a beverage;   a tubular mouthpiece with first and second mouthpiece openings at opposed ends of the mouthpiece for receiving the first end of the tubular portion; and   a mouthpiece neck element positioned within the mouthpiece and separating the mouthpiece into a first mouthpiece section and a second mouthpiece section, wherein the mouthpiece neck element defines a circumferential mouthpiece ledge within the mouthpiece for abutting the first end of the tubular portion.   
     
     
         8 . The straw assembly of  claim 7  wherein the mouthpiece neck element is positioned closer to the first mouthpiece opening than to the second mouthpiece opening such that the first mouthpiece section is shorter than the second mouthpiece section, and wherein insertion of the tubular portion into the first mouthpiece section to abut the mouthpiece neck element produces a first overall length of the assembled straw, and insertion of the tubular portion into the second mouthpiece section to abut the mouthpiece neck element produces a second overall length of the assembled straw, and the first overall length is greater than the second overall length. 
     
     
         9 . The straw assembly of  claim 7  comprising:
 a tubular attachment with first and second attachment openings at opposed ends of the attachment for receiving the second end of the tubular portion; and 
 an attachment neck element positioned within the attachment that separates the attachment into a first attachment section and a second attachment section, wherein the attachment neck element defines a circumferential attachment ledge within the attachment for abutting the second end of the tubular portion, wherein the attachment neck element is positioned closer to the first attachment opening than to the second attachment opening such that the first attachment section is shorter than the second attachment section. 
 
     
     
         10 . The straw assembly of  claim 9  wherein insertion of the tubular portion into the first attachment section to abut the attachment neck element produces a first overall length of the assembled straw, and insertion of the tubular portion into the second attachment section to abut the attachment neck element produces a second overall length of the assembled straw, and the first overall length is greater than the second overall length. 
     
     
         11 . The straw assembly of  claim 9  wherein at least one end of the tubular attachment is cut at an angle to produce a puncturing point. 
     
     
         12 . The straw assembly of  claim 9  comprising at least one gasket, each gasket having:
 a body with a reception end for receiving one end of the tubular portion and an insertion end for insertion of the gasket into one of the mouthpiece and the attachment, wherein openings are defined at each of the reception end and insertion end to allow fluid to flow between the tubular portion and the one of the mouthpiece and the attachment; and 
 at least one rib provided on the body and extending longitudinally between the reception end and the insertion end, the at least one rib being engageable with a corresponding slot defined in an internal surface of the one of the mouthpiece and the attachment to impede rotation of the gasket therein. 
 
     
     
         13 . A reusable drinking straw assembly comprising:
 at least one modular segment to form an elongate tubular portion, the tubular portion having first and second ends and a longitudinally-extending channel defined therethrough for receiving a beverage; and   a mouthpiece removably attached to the first end of the tubular portion, wherein the at least one modular segment comprises a plurality of modular segments joined end-to-end to form the tubular portion and wherein each of the modular segments is separable longitudinally into at least two re-attachable components.   
     
     
         14 . The straw assembly of  claim 13  comprising a filter removably attached to the second end of the tubular portion, the filter comprising a plurality of perforations sized to allow a beverage to pass through during use, while blocking certain particles from entering the straw assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The straw assembly of  claim 13  wherein each of the at least one modular segment is provided with corresponding inner and outer threaded surfaces at opposite ends of the segment to enable coupling of the segment to adjacent segments or attachments. 
     
     
         16 . The straw assembly of  claim 13  wherein the mouthpiece comprises an attachment portion adapted to be press fit into the tubular portion, wherein the attachment portion of the mouthpiece is made of a compressible material. 
     
     
         17 . The straw assembly of  claim 13  comprising a one-way valve positioned within the mouthpiece, the valve having a flexible valve flap movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively block fluid flow within the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         18 . The straw assembly of  claim 17  wherein the valve flap circumferentially abuts an inner wall of the mouthpiece to divide the mouthpiece into a first chamber and a second chamber, and when the valve is in the closed position the valve flap occludes the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The straw assembly of  claim 17  wherein the mouthpiece comprises two longitudinally extending mouthpiece segments and the valve comprises a lip portion that latches to an edge of one of the mouthpiece segments, and is secured to the mouthpiece between the mouthpiece segments when the mouthpiece segments are joined together. 
     
     
         20 . A kit for a straw, comprising:
 at least one modular segment to form an elongate tubular portion, the tubular portion having a longitudinally-extending channel defined therethrough for receiving a beverage;   at least one mouthpiece adapted to be removably attached to an end of the tubular portion; and   a storage device, the storage device having at least two storage compartments, each storage compartment being adapted for storing one or more of: (1) the at least one modular segment; (2) the at least one mouthpiece; and (3) an accessory.