HYGIENIC BEVERAGE CAN LID
Hygienic lid intended to be used in a pop-top type can, comprising an upper surface, where said upper surface covers entirely the wall of the can, a skirt that detaches from said upper surface in the shape of ring, where said skirt is not a closed ring and where said skirt is hermetically sealed with said upper surface by means of a scored line; a flange attached to the upper surface where said flange is pulled so that said lid detaches from the upper wall of said can; a link in the upper part of the lid; and a rim formed as of a rung in the skirt. The closure of the lid is completely hermetic according to the can.
This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT application Ser. No. PCT/MX2006/000017, filed Mar. 14, 2006, to which priority is claimed, and which claims priority to Mexican Application No. PA/u/2005/000066 filed Mar. 14, 2005, to which priority is also claimed. This application also claims priority to Mexican Application No. PA/u/2006/000196 filed Sep. 29, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a can lid that allows a person to drink from a hygienic can. Likewise, it refers to a can lid that allows advertising media by both sides of the lid.
2. Background Art
Millions of canned beverages, such as sodas, beers, teas, juices and many more, are sold each year and drank by millions of different persons. In fact, it is so much so that it would be difficult to believe that a person had not drank a canned beverage during the last year.
Currently, the health of the consumer is not protected by the producers of canned beverages, because as the can is always kept outdoors, either in its transportation and storage, it is contaminated by dirt, liquids, organic disposals of animals that live in the warehouses, and an endless number of organic and inorganic contaminant elements that, as much as one cleans or disinfects the surface that will contact the lips, a real hygiene condition cannot be guaranteed.
These problems have been tried to be resolved in several occasions. For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,358 describes an accessory in the shape of a second lid for the “pop-top” type of cans. The “pop-top” cans are those whose upper part has a lever that creates a force against a pre-scored opening of said upper part of the can, in order to open the can and be able to drink the contents of the same. In the invention of the above-mentioned patent the cap attachment is formed of a liquid-impervious, elastically resilient material that has a skirt with a radially inwardly directed lip at its outer periphery and with a drinking port defined completely through its structure. The drinking port is spaced radially inwardly from the periphery of the cap attachment for alignment with the drinking opening in the pop-top beverage can.
Usually, the conventional beverage cans are made of aluminum, iron or any other metal, with a cylindrical shape in general, with upper parts that are partially flat, and with hollow lower parts. The upper part of the cans is generally round, the side walls of the can are rolled with the upper part of the outside wall of the can, in order to seal the internal contents.
Another intent to solve the problem in question, is the U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,597. Said patent resolves the aforementioned hygiene problem by means of a cap and a straw, where the cap includes a ring in its lower part that adjusts to the edge of the upper part of the can. This invention solves the hygiene problem, but the production of the same is expensive and not very useful.
Another invention that solves this same problem, is U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,324. This invention provides an adapter in the shape of an upper part of a bottle, for the consumer to drink from the can, as he/she was drinking from a bottle. The adapter may be detached and fastened at any time. One of the objectives of said invention is to provide greater hygiene to the product being consumed, and such is achieved through the adapter. Now, the problem with said invention is that when the can is poured in order to consume its product, it touches the metal of the upper part of the can, thus the organic or inorganic contaminants that could be in the upper part of the can will be in contact with the liquid.
Another intent to solve this problem is the U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,344. This device cleans contaminants of the upper part and the upper side part of a can. Nevertheless, this device is very expensive to manufacture by the packing company or for the manufacturer of the can. Additionally, it is not practical to be carrying with such cleaning device.
There is also the request of Mexican utility model number PA/u/2004/000114, granted under Utility Model number 1441, of the same inventors of the invention herein. The invention of the request, also has as objective to keep the lower part of the beverage can free of contaminants. One of the disadvantages that the invention mentioned above presents, is the lack of seal of the lid, same that this invention resolves, allowing that particles and substances bigger than particles and not much hygienic are introduced, same problem that this request resolves, as will be later explained. Additionally, the way in which the lid is attached to the can is different, providing even another hygienic advantage over the prior art. Another advantage of this invention versus the utility model requested, is the detachability of the lid, once the guarantee seal is broken, as will be later explained. Finally, another advantage of the invention herein is that the part where the lower lip is placed to drink, is also free of contaminants, as the guarantee seal is sealed in its lower part.
There is also the request of Mexican utility model number PA/u/2005/000066, conferred with utility model number 1394 of the same inventors of the invention herein. The subject of this utility model also has as purpose to maintain free of contaminants the upper part of the beverage can. One of the disadvantages present in the utility model mentioned above, is the way in which the lid seals, a problem, which the invention herein resolves. This invention, by means of its technical configuration, does not allow the entry of particles and substances that are not very hygienic, by means of its novelty sealing, as it will be explained further herein. Considering that the technical configuration of the sealing of the lid is modified, the way in which the lid is attached to the can is different, providing another hygienic advantage over the prior art. Another advantage of the invention herein versus the utility model mentioned above, is the detachability of the lid once the guarantee seal is broken, as will be explained later. Finally, another advantage of the invention herein is that the part where the lower lip is placed to drink, is also free of contaminants, as the guarantee seal is sealed in its lower part.
Thus, one of the objectives of this invention is to keep the upper part of the beverage can free of contaminants.
Another of the objectives of the invention in question is to keep the upper side parts of a beverage can free of contaminants.
Even another objective of the invention herein is to keep a reasonable cost for the producer, the distributor or the packager, depending on who produces the invention in question.
Another objective of this invention is that the same can be disposable.
Another objective of this invention is that such invention is not to be an obstruction for the consumer when he/she is drinking the liquid from the can.
Additionally, this invention has as purpose to provide the consumer a guarantee that the lid is not broken, and therefore there are no contaminants in the upper area of the can.
Another objective of this invention is that the sealing lid may be easily detached.
The invention herein also has as its purpose to provide the consumer the guarantee that the lid has not been broken, and therefore there are no contaminants in the upper area where the lower lip contacts the can.
Other objectives of the invention will be made evident along the description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a better understanding of the invention, we refer to the following descriptions, and linking them with the attached drawings, where:
In
Said lid (1) can be manufactured of different materials, such as plastic, plastified paper, metallic paper, laminated paper or any other similar material. Likewise, the skirt (3) is made of any of the materials mentioned above. That is, said lid (1) and said skirt (30 can be made of any material that is flexible and adapts to the needs of said lid (1) for said can (2).
As it can be observed in the same figure, the skirt (3) is initially attached to said lid (1) and to said flange (4). It is worth mentioning that the three elements, the skirt (3), the lid (1) and the flange (4) are attached directly with the can (2). We will explain later in detail how they are attached, and the way to detach said lid (2) from said can (2).
Likewise, in said figure we can observe that said skirt (3) covers incompletely the upper part of said can (2), as said skirt (3) is cut by said flange (4). The skirt (3) is preferably made of a flexible material, but it can be made of any type of material.
As it can be observed, the flange (4) is in the shape of a tab (4), where said flange (4) acquires that shape, with the purpose of covering the side wall part (9) of the can (2) with which the lower lip of the consumer will be in contact. The fixing of the lid (1) to the can (2) is achieved whenever the skirt (3) of the lid (1) has an inside diameter smaller than the outer bore of the can (2) along the entire contact area. The material used for the lid (1) which may be selected from high impact polyethylene, has elastic properties that will allow, by means of a die, assembly the lids (1) to the cans (2) and the memory properties of the material will achieve the fixing. Along all this part there will be a seal which shall ensure that no dust or any other substance penetrates between the lid (1) and the can (2).
The material of said lid (1) and said skirt (3) is selected preferably among materials that are flexible, light, cheap and not very porous.
In
From said scored line (5) that is located between said lid (1) and said skirt (3), is hermetically sealed, therefore sealing the lid (1), just as will be explained later.
This Figure shows how the flange (4) is directly attached to the lid (1). We will later show how said lid (1) is attached to said skirt (3).
It is clear that at the time of pulling said tab (4) from its initial closed position, the scored line (5) existing between said lid (1) and said skirt (3) is broken, and said lid (1) may be open up to 270° of its original position. Nevertheless, and as will be shown further herein, said lid (1) can be opened in different positions considering the integration of a new connection (8) between the skirt (3) and the lid (1) integrated in this invention, in the lid (1) and in the skirt (3).
In
In
Additionally, as it is observed in
As it can be observed from
The purpose of the above is that said lid (1) in its general group, that is, said skirt (3), said upper surface (6) and said rim (7) cover the surface of said can (2) where the consumer drinks his/her drink. This way, the upper surface of the can (2) or the upper wall (10) and the upper part of the side wall (9) of the can (2) where the consumer drinks his/her beverage is kept free of organic and inorganic contaminants.
The lower part of said rim (7) has a bigger diameter that said diameter of said upper surface (6). The purpose of said rim (7) covering the upper part of the side wall (9) of said can, specifically the part where said side wall (9) of said can (2) is rolled with the upper wall (10) of said can (2) and where it is not covered by said skirt (3).
In
The lid (1) of
Likewise, in
Additionally, in
Additionally, in
In
The hermetic seal is achieved with the upper part (12) of the link (8) and the lower part (11) of the link (8). The curvature radius in the lid (1) force the same to be deformed when closing, and that the upper part (12) is inserted in the lower part (11) doing, therefore, a closing between the lower part (11) and the upper part (12). When closing the lower part (11) and the upper part (12), they cover entirely the scored line (5) applying force over the same in all the circumference, achieving a hermetic seal.
As it is observed in detail in
Finally,
Now, at the time of joining the lid (1) and the skirt (3), it is hermetically sealed, just as previously performed, creating the scored line (5) between these two pieces. Taking into consideration that at the time the lid (1) is placed on the can (2), said lid (1) is fixed to its skirt (3) and in its upper surface (6), just as mentioned previously, and considering that the scored line (5) is sealed hermetically, the lid closes hermetically to the upper wall (10) of the can (2) and the side wall (9) in its upper part of the can (2).
With the lid (1) of the current invention, we prevent that said lid (1) gets in contact with the internal product of said can (2). Thus, the immediate contamination and probable later contamination of said product of said can (2) is avoided.
It is hereby highlighted that FIGS. 7 to 15 are simple modalities of how the lid can be connected, nonetheless it is not the object of this invention, as the above was claimed in Utility Model number 1394. There are other ways to connect the lid, just as how it is shown in the Utility Model number 1441.
In FIGS. 16 to 19 the different configurations of the rim (19) of the lid (1) that is in the skirt (3) of the same are disclosed.
The function of the rough edge (22) in
In all modalities of FIGS. 16 to 19, there is a first stop (25), where the first stop (25) may have different configurations. The first stop (25) is intended to retain the lid (1) to the can (2). While the lid is inserted (1) in the upper wall (10) of the can (2), the lid (1) clasps the upper part (1) of the can (2) considering that the lid is made preferably of a flexible material. Considering that the can (2) is rolled in its upper part (10), there is a space between the upper part (10) and the side wall of the can. This space is used by the first stop (25). The distance (A) between the upper part of the first stop (25) and the lower part of the upper panel (23) of the lid of the lid, is the distance between the upper part (10) and the side wall of the lid where there is a space.
Therefore, when the lid is fully inserted (1) in the can (2), the first stop (25) occupies the remaining space between the upper part (10) and the side part, forcing the rung (20) to be fixed to an horizontal axis of the lid (1) and fixed regarding a vertical axis of the lid (1), nonetheless the lid (1) can still be turned over its own axis, as it is not attached. If it is attached, said lid (1) does not have any movement. The above allows that the lid (1) cannot be opened unless using the tab (19) of the flange (4) or that the tab (4) is opened.
In the modality of
Finally, the second stop (27), shown only in the modalities of
The above allows the skirt (3) to be fixed according to the can (2). Additionally, having a first seal for the lid of the can. The second seal is created with the first stop (25), whenever it is subject to pressure or is literally glued to the upper part (10) of the can (2).
It is necessary to highlight that in the modalities of FIGS. 16 to 19, the upper surface (6) only covers a portion of the upper part of the can (2) while the upper panel (23) covers the remaining portion of the upper part of the can (2). Between the upper panel (2) and the upper surface (6) there is a dividing scored line, so that it is broken when the lid is pulled by the flange (4) or tab (18).
In other words, the skirt (3) additionally comprises a rim (19) formed as of a rung (20) where said rung (2) is formed as of the first side panel (21) that is supported from the internal part of the upper part (10) of a can (2), an upper panel (23) that rests over the upper part (10) of the can (2) and the side of the can (2) where the second side panel (24) contains at least a first stop (25).
Now, said lid (1) can be made of a material such that, at the time of being closed in the manufacturing facilities, creates an hermetic or forced seal with said can (2), guaranteeing thus, the hygiene conditions that prevail at the packaging plant until the time of consuming the product, as it is detached exactly before drinking the product. The material that better matches the properties mentioned above, is high impact polyethylene, just as previously commented; nonetheless, this does not limit the materials to be used in the lid to this one.
Finally, another of the preferred modes, is where said rim (7) contains the flange, where the flange has an oval shape being, therefore, of the same shape than the lower lip of the users.
Therefore, the invention herein relates to an hygienic lid which is intended for a pop-top type can, which comprises an upper surface which covers all of the upper wall of the can, and where said surface may be flat, a skirt which detaches from the upper surface in the shape of a ring, where said skirt is a non-closed ring as the skirt is cut from being a ring by the flange that comes from the lid, and where said skirt is hermetically sealed with said upper surface by means of a scored line, a flange attached to the upper surface where said flange is pulled so that said lid detaches from the upper wall of said can, and a link in the upper part of the lid, which attaches to said upper surface and said skirt, where said link contains a lever, a hole and a hook where the closing of said can with said lid is hermetic, where said hole and said hook are assembled to keep said lid in a specific position, and where said hook can be disassembled from said hole, to return the lid to the initial closed position.
As previously mentioned, the material of the skirt can be the same or different to the rest of the components.
Likewise, the material of said skirt is preferably the same material of the rest of the components.
The limits of the lid and the ring are made by means of an initial part of the scored line, and a final part of the scored line, where this same scored line provides a guarantee seal for the lid. We also have that the lid can be opened in different positions, and that the skirt and the flange are long enough to cover the part where the lower lip of the consumer will be placed. The skirt has an interior radius smaller than the outer bore of the can along the entire contact area.
The material of said skirt and of said lid is preferably a high impact polyethylene.
The hermetic closing is achieved by means of the radii of the lid's curvature, forcing to deform the link when closing, making the upper part insert in the lower part, covering the scored line and applying pressure over said scored line.
Likewise, the hermetic closure is achieved by means of the two different stops (25, 27), same that allows that no particles penetrate through the skirt (3) of the lid (1).
The prior description is not limited to the invention.
Claims
1. Hygienic lid intended to be used in a soda-type can, comprising an upper surface, where said upper surface covers partially the upper part of a can, a skirt that is detached from said upper surface in the shape of more than half ring, where said skirt is affixed to the can, a flange placed in the front part of the lid, which is pulled from the upper surface of the lid to detach the upper part of the lid by means of a scored line, a link in the upper part of the lid placed in the opposite end to the flange, where the lid is characterized because
- the skirt additionally comprises a rim formed from a rung, where said rung is made as of a first side panel that is held from the inner part of the upper part of a can, an upper panel that rests over the upper part of a can, and a second side panel that is held from the outer part of the upper part of the can and from the side of the can, where the second side panel contains at least one first stop; and
- where the upper panel and the upper surface contain between them said scored line.
2. Hygienic lid to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, characterized because the upper surface of the lid is substantially flat.
3. Hygienic Lid intended to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, characterized because the skirt and the flange are long enough to cover the part where the consumer places his/her lower lip.
4. Hygienic lid intended to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, characterized because the flange is in the shape of a tab.
5. Hygienic lid intended to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, characterized because the lid can be opened 270° of its original position.
6. Hygienic lid intended to be used in a soda-type can, according to claim 1, where the lid contains a second stop.
7. Hygienic lid intended to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, where the first stop is in the shape of a hook.
8. Hygienic lid intended to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, where the first side panel contains a rough edge in its outer part.
9. Hygienic lid to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, where said link is comprised by an upper section with a longitudinal groove, an upper section with a longitudinal groove, a lower section with a lever that defines a hook in one of its extremes, where the hook is inserted in the groove of the upper section, keeping the lid fixed.
10. Hygienic lid to be used in a soda-type can according to claim 1, where the lid is made of a flexible material.
11. Hygienic lid to be used in a soda-type can, according to claim 1, where the rung additionally contains a rim between the second side panel and the upper panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 24, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2007
Inventors: Joaquin Legorreta (Mexico D.F.), Eduardo Yepiz (Mexico D. F.)
Application Number: 11/739,323
International Classification: B65D 55/16 (20060101); B65D 41/18 (20060101);