How the Modern Paper Drinking Straw Was Invented
A 19th-century patent for a paper tube coated in wax, designed to replace natural rye grass straws for drinking beverages.
Original patent title: “District”
A 19th-century patent for a paper tube coated in wax, designed to replace natural rye grass straws for drinking beverages. Granted to Marvin C. Stone in 1888 with 7 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for manufacturing a drinking tube by winding strips of paper around a mandrel to create a cylinder. The cylinder is then coated in paraffin wax to prevent it from becoming soggy when submerged in liquid. This mechanism provided a durable, sanitary alternative to the hollow rye grass stems commonly used at the time.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover plastic or metal drinking straws.
- Does not cover the use of natural plant-based stems like rye grass.
- Does not cover non-cylindrical drinking implements.
- Does not cover methods of manufacturing straws using non-paper materials.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation was the application of a paraffin wax coating to a paper substrate, which solved the fundamental engineering problem of structural integrity when exposed to moisture.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Paper straws found in modern cafes
Biodegradable beverage tubes
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention marked the transition from natural, inconsistent drinking tools to mass-produced, sanitary consumer goods. It established the standard for the paper straw industry that persists today as a primary alternative to single-use plastics.
Granted
January 3, 1888
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern manufacturers of sustainable food service packaging continue to refine the paper-winding and coating processes pioneered by Stone. Companies focused on plastic-free alternatives rely on these fundamental principles of material coating to meet current environmental standards.
Market impact
The patent enabled the creation of a new category of mass-produced, sanitary beverage accessories. It effectively standardized the paper straw, which remains a relevant product today as global regulations move to phase out single-use plastics.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for manufacturing a drinking tube by winding strips of paper around a mandrel to create a cylinder. The cylinder is then coated in paraffin wax to prevent it from becoming soggy when submerged in liquid. This mechanism provided a durable, sanitary alternative to the hollow rye grass stems commonly used at the time.
The clever bit
The innovation was the application of a paraffin wax coating to a paper substrate, which solved the fundamental engineering problem of structural integrity when exposed to moisture.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover plastic or metal drinking straws.
- Does not cover the use of natural plant-based stems like rye grass.
- Does not cover non-cylindrical drinking implements.
- Does not cover methods of manufacturing straws using non-paper materials.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
18/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$5K – $15K
Midpoint $10K · expired or expiring · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
(1888). How the Modern Paper Drinking Straw Was Invented (U.S. Patent No. 375,962). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/375962/drinking-straw-stone
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Modern Paper Drinking Straw Was Invented cover?
A 19th-century patent for a paper tube coated in wax, designed to replace natural rye grass straws for drinking beverages.
Who owns patent US 375962?
Marvin C. Stone owns this patent, granted in 1888.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 375962 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention marked the transition from natural, inconsistent drinking tools to mass-produced, sanitary consumer goods. It established the standard for the paper straw industry that persists today as a primary alternative to single-use plastics.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover plastic or metal drinking straws.
Patent monitoring