Drinking straw kits and methods

Abstract

Drinking straw kits and methods are disclosed that allow consumers to construct a variety of changeable toys, sculpture, icons, novelties, and designs that can be manipulated in a variety of ways while still maintaining the functionality of the drinking straw to transport liquid via suction. The drinking straws in kits may include one or more corrugated sections that may be elongated into an extended state from a shorter compressed state. The corrugated sections also allow manipulation of the drinking straws into curvilinear shapes that may be substantially retained after manipulation.

1 . A drinking straw kit comprising: 
 a package;    a plurality of drinking straws in the package, wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking straws comprises: 
 one or more corrugated sections extending along at least a portion of a length of the drinking straw, wherein each of the one or more corrugated sections comprises a compressed state and an extended state in which the length of the drinking straw is increased as compared to the compressed state, wherein the one or more corrugated sections can be formed in and retain a curvilinear shape, and wherein at least 30% of the length of the straw is occupied by the one or more corrugated sections;  
 a connector located at a first end of the drinking straw, wherein two drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws can be connected to each other using at least the connector on one of the two drinking straws to form an elongated composite drinking straw.  
   
   
   
       2 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein, for one or more drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws, the one or more corrugated sections comprise a single corrugated section that extends along substantially the entire length of the one or more drinking straws.  
   
   
       3 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more corrugated sections comprise two or more corrugated sections, and further wherein a non-corrugated section is located between two corrugated sections of the drinking straw.  
   
   
       4 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is integrally formed in the end of the drinking straw.  
   
   
       5 . A kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises one or more openings large enough to receive one or more of the drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws through the one or more openings.  
   
   
       6 . A kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises a tab comprising one or more openings large enough to receive one or more of the drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws through the one or more openings.  
   
   
       7 . A kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises one or more clips capable of retaining one or more of the drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws in the one or more clips.  
   
   
       8 . A kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises attachment means for attaching one or more of the drinking straws to the novelty components.  
   
   
       9 . A kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold connector in the package, wherein the manifold connector comprises three or more ports, wherein each port of the three or more is adapted to receive one end of one of the drinking straws, wherein three or more drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws can be placed in fluid communication with each other through the manifold connector.  
   
   
       10 . A kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the manifold connector comprises four or more ports.  
   
   
       11 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking straws comprises an inner cross-sectional area in the one or more corrugated sections of 100 square millimeters or less.  
   
   
       12 . A drinking straw kit comprising: 
 a package;    a plurality of drinking straws in the package, wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking straws comprises one or more corrugated sections extending along at least a portion of a length of the drinking straw, wherein each of the one or more corrugated sections comprises a compressed state and an extended state in which the length of the drinking straw is increased as compared to the compressed state, wherein the one or more corrugated sections can be formed in and retain a curvilinear shape, and wherein at least 30% of the length of the straw is occupied by the one or more corrugated sections; and    a plurality of connectors in the package, wherein the plurality of connectors are independent articles separate from the plurality of drinking straws, and wherein each connector of the plurality of connectors comprises two openings, wherein each opening is adapted to receive and retain an end of one of the drinking straws.    
   
   
       13 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein, for one or more drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws, the one or more corrugated sections comprise a single corrugated section that extends along substantially the entire length of the one or more drinking straws.  
   
   
       14 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more corrugated sections comprise two or more corrugated sections, and further wherein a non-corrugated section is located between two corrugated sections of the drinking straw.  
   
   
       15 . A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises one or more openings large enough to receive one or more of the drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws through the one or more openings.  
   
   
       16 . A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises a tab comprising one or more openings large enough to receive one or more of the drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws through the one or more openings.  
   
   
       17 . A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises one or more clips capable of retaining one or more of the drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws in the one or more clips.  
   
   
       18 . A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises attachment means for attaching one or more of the drinking straws to the novelty components.  
   
   
       19 . A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising a manifold connector in the package, wherein the manifold connector comprises three or more ports, wherein each port of the three or more is adapted to receive one end of one of the drinking straws, wherein three or more drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws can be placed in fluid communication with each other through the manifold connector.  
   
   
       20 . A kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the manifold connector comprises four or more ports.  
   
   
       21 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking straws comprises an inner cross-sectional area in the one or more corrugated sections of 100 square millimeters or less.