Foldable reusable drinking straw

Abstract

A foldable reusable drinking straw in the shape of a tube is provided. The tube has a tubular wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a wall thickness therebetween. The inner surface defines a bore with a generally constant inner diameter. The tube has a first end and a second end, and a plurality of annular grooves in the outer surface of the wall to reduce the wall thickness of the tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves for bending the tube. The wall thickness of the tube from the first end to the second end, except for the plurality of annular grooves, is generally constant. The tube also has an angular transition between the first end and the second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable reusable drinking straw, comprising: a silicone tube comprising a tubular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a bore through the silicone tube, the silicone tube having a first end, a second end, and an angular transition between the first end and the second end, the tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves in the outer surface of the tubular wall to reduce a wall thickness of the tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves. 
     
     
         2 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the silicone tube is generally linear from the first end to the angular transition, and wherein a second portion of the silicone tube is generally linear from the second end to the angular transition. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the silicone tube extends at between a 20° angle and a 40° angle to the first portion of the silicone tube. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of the silicone tube from the first end to the second end, except for the plurality of annular grooves, is generally constant. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of annular grooves have a flat at a valley thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein all of the plurality of annular grooves are provided between the first end and the annular transition. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of annular grooves separate the silicone tube into different sections of the silicone tube. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 7 , wherein the different sections of the silicone tube do not all have an identical length. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 7 , wherein different sections of silicone tube can be folded approximately 180° at the annular grooves to lay adjacent another section of the silicone tube. 
     
     
         10 . A foldable reusable drinking straw, comprising: a flexible tube having a tubular wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the distance between the outer surface and the inner surface defining a wall thickness of the tubular wall, the inner surface defining a bore through the flexible tube with a generally constant inner diameter, the flexible tube having a first end and a second end, the tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves in the outer surface of the wall to reduce the wall thickness of the tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves for bending the flexible tube, and wherein the wall thickness of the flexible tube from the first end to the second end, except for the plurality of annular grooves, is generally constant. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 10 , further comprising an angular transition between the first end and the second end of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 11 , wherein a first portion of the flexible tube is generally linear from the first end to the angular transition, and wherein a second portion of the flexible tube is generally linear from the second end to the angular transition. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the flexible tube extends at approximately a 35° angle to the first portion of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 11 , wherein all of the plurality of annular grooves are provided between the first end and the annular transition. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of annular grooves separate the flexible tube into different sections of the flexible tube, and wherein the different sections of the flexible tube do not all have an identical length. 
     
     
         16 . A foldable reusable drinking straw, comprising: a tube comprising a tubular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a bore through the tube, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an angular transition between the first end and the second end, the tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves in the outer surface of the wall to reduce a thickness of the tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves, wherein a first portion of the tube is generally linear from the first end to the angular transition, and wherein a second portion of the tube is generally linear from the second end to the angular transition. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 16 , wherein the second portion of the tube extends at between a 20° angle and a 40° angle to the first portion of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 16 , wherein the wall thickness of the tube from the first end to the second end, except for the plurality of annular grooves, is generally constant. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 16 , wherein all of the plurality of annular grooves are provided between the first end and the annular transition. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable reusable drinking straw of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of annular grooves separate the tube into different sections of the tube, wherein the different sections of the tube do not all have an identical length, and wherein the different sections of tube can be folded approximately 180° at the annular grooves to lay adjacent another section of the tube.