WO2000046123A1

WO2000046123A1 - Pull-off opening device for beverage container with pop-up straw

Info

Publication number: WO2000046123A1
Application number: PCT/IT1999/000281
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniele Piazza
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-05
Filing date: 1999-09-03
Publication date: 2000-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2001-08-05
Also published as: ITMI990220A1; IT1307754B1

Abstract

Device for opening hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans (10) and tetrapak cartons provided by the presence of a fixed plug (20) on the top of the container (10) said plug having a tubular extension towards the inside, closed by a membrane (21) surrounded by an area prepared for easy tear-off, and connected to a pulling ring (24), the internal dimensions (35) of said extension corresponding, with a slight amount of play, to those at the top end (43), also if there is a pleated area (41), of a floating drinking tube (40) lodged inside the container (10), so that, when the membrane (21) is pulled off, the top (43) of the drinking tube (40) emerges from the container (10) thrust upwards by hydrostatic force of the liquid, thus permitting convenient and hygienic consumption of the drink inside the container.

Description

PULL-OFF OPENING DEVICE FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH POP-UP STRAW

The invention concerns hermetically sealed containers for drinks, especially cans closed by a metal cover opened by pulling round a prepared tear-away area.

The cans normally used to contain drinks in general, especially those of aluminium, and tetrapak cartons, associate the advantages of easy storage and transport with a light weight and high resistance to shocks. The means provided for easy opening, consisting of a tear-off tab, makes any tool for the purpose unnecessary.

Against these advantages the following disadvantages must be set. The containers are sold without any coating to protect them against dust and impurities generally in spite of the fact that they may be stored anywhere, even out in the open, and transport may be necessary over long distances to other points of storage for wholesale and retail sale. Impurities in particular are liable to accumulate just at the position of the tear-off tab. The contents of the can is often drunk by holding it directly to the mouth if a straw or glass does not happen to be available.

It is therefore inevitable that many of, the impurities lying on the upper surface of the can are swallowed together with the liquid as, on leaving the can, it must pass over at least one area of the lid where dirt can collect, thus involving serious risks to health and hygiene especially bearing in mind the many diseases brought to light by modern research. These drawbacks are further aggravated by the system of opening the cans especially because, after pulling, the tab is pushed inside the can instead of outside it.

Even if the drink is poured into a glass it will still be polluted by the tab, full of impurities, as this is pushed inside the can and therefore comes in contact with the liquid. Subject of the invention is a device for opening hermetically sealed containers of drinks, especially those of metal or tetrapak. Inside a hole made in the top of the container is a fixed plug with an upper head, substantially matching with the surface of the cover, having a tube fixed to it and extending downward inside the can, the upper surface of the head being closed by a membrane surrounded by a prepared tear-away line.

Said membrane is connected by a peripheral pulling means to a ring into which a finger can be hooked. The internal dimensions of the head's downward tubular extension correspond, allowing for a very slight amount of play, to those at the top of a floating drinking tube placed inside the container. By pulling on the ring and breaking the membrane, it is therefore possible to open the container through which the upper end of the drinking tube will emerge pressed by hydrostatic thrust from the liquid. The tubular extension of the head is cylindrical, its internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the top of the tube in which there is a pleated section for more convenient consumption of the drink. The tube is made of material of a lower density than that of the liquid, or else at its lower end there may be a block of material of lower density than that of the liquid so that hydrostatic thrust from the liquid automatically causes its upper end to emerge from the container. The hole, for introduction of the plug's iubular extension, in the fixed lid of the metal can, is made in a raised area of the lid to allow the pulling ring, when lying flat, to be at a sufficient distance from said lid to permit insertion of a finger under and into the ring when the membrane is to be pulled off.

The plug is applied to the hole in the lid of the metal can and is pressed into a collar-shaped extension in said hole towards the inside of the can, the internal dimensions of said collar corresponding substantially to the external dimensions of the plug's tubular extension. The plug is held firm by the base of a lower truncated cone-shaped head that fits up against the edge of said collar. In the case of a tetrapak container, the plug is held firm to the container's upper surface by glueing the lower surface of the upper head of the plug to said upper surface of the tetrapak container.

In one execution the plug has in it a hole of dimensions corresponding to the end of the drinking tube bent over U-wise round its pleated area, and having a substantially oval cross section.

Said plug is closed by a membrane surrounded by a prepared tear-off area so that, on opening the plug, the end of the drinking tube emerges, under hydrostatic pressure from the liquid, through the oval hole permitting the user to bend the tube at its pleated area and drink the liquid with greater convenience.

The invention offers evident advantages.

All contact between the drinker's mouth and the lid of the can, so often covered with dirt and dust, is avoided as the lips can come in contact with the tube only when it automatically emerges after opening the can. As the device consists of extremely simple means made of inexpensive material, its cost is practically negligible, especially bearing in mind the enormous health and commercial advantages obtainable. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated with diagrammatically drawn figures.

Fig. 1 Metal can for drinks showing the plug subject of the invention, perspective.

Fig. 2 Cross section of the above can. Fig. 3 The above can when the plug is being removed, cross section.

Fig. 4 As above, after the plug is removed, longitudinal cross section.

Fig. 5 The can with plug removed when the drinking tube of low density material has emerged, longitudinal section. Fig. 6 As above, perspective view.

Fig. 7 Another execution of the closed can having a drinking tube of material of normal density but with a float, longitudinal section.

Fig. 8 As above, with the can opened, perspective view.

Fig. 9 Tetrapak container for drinks with the invented plug and drinking tube fitted with a float, perspective view.

FigJ O As above, longitudinal section.

Fig. 1 1 Tetrapak container with its plug removed and the drinking tube out, perspective view.

Fig. 12 Tetrapak container with a different plug, longitudinal section. Fig. 13 Metal can with a different plug for U-bent drinking tube, closed, a longitudinal section.

Fig. 14 As above when the can is open and the drinking tube opened out, perspective.

The can 10 for drinks presents a fixed plug 20, closed by a discoid rπem- brane 21 , said plug being detachable from a peripheral area prepared for easy tear-off 22.

At one end of the membrame 21 is a pulling means 23 joined to a ring 24 said means lying substantially parallel to the upper surface of the can before it is used. Said plug 20 presents a cylindrical body 30, an upper head 31 , a lower head 32 and an axial cylindrical hole 35 whose diameter, corresponding to the discoid membrane 21 , is slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the drinking tube 40 at the position of its pleated area 41 .

Said plug 20 is pressed into a cylindrical hole 15 created by an inward extension of the fixed lid 12 of the can 10.

Said extension starts from a raised area 13 of the surface of the lid 12 and has sides 14 inclined at approximately 45°.

The edges 25 of the upper head of the plug 20 are slightly rounded where they join with said sides 14.

The shape of the lower head 32 of the plug 20 is that of a truncated cone, diameter of the base 33 being greater than that of said hole 15 in the lid 12 of the can to facilitate assembly. Density of the material 42 of the drinking tube is lower than that of the liquid in the can so that said tube partially floats.

As will be seen in Figures 3-5, the plug is opened by detaching the membrane 21 round the line of the prepared tear-off area 22, this being done by pulling on the ring 24 with one finger 19 (Figure 4). Figure 5 shows the membrane 21 completely detached causing the upper end 43 of the drinking tube 40 to emerge automatically, due to hydrostatic pressure from the liquid 17.

Figure 6 also shows the same stage as in Figure 5 when the liquid in the can may be drunk through the drinking tube. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another execution 50 of the drinking tube made of material 51 of ordinary density with application of a perforated ball 54 of low density material that therefore floats readily.

Figures 9-1 1 illustrate a tetrapak carton 60 for liquids 17, wherein the discoid membrane 21 is fixed to a ring 24 substantially the same as that fixed to close the cans already described. By means of the prepared tear-off area 22, said ring is supported by a plug 65 comprising a substantially flat upper head 66 and substantially cylindrical lower extension 67 in whose inner hole 68 the upper end 73 of the drinking tube 70, with float 72, is freely lodged. The plug 65 is mounted in the hole 63 in the top 61 of the tetrapak carton

60 and is held in place by glue applied to its upper head 61 .

Figure 12 illustrates another version 75 in which the plug 80 is made of two components 81 and 85.

The upper component 81 is formed of a flat discoid head 83 to which the membrane 21 fixed to the ring 24 and the lower cylindrical extension 82 are fixed.

The lower component 85 comprises an upper flat head 86, of a diameter substantially the same as that of the flat head 83, and a cylindrical cavity 87 into which fits the lower cylindrical extension 82 of component 81. The two components 81 and 85 are fitted one into the other and glued together at the hole 84 made on the upper surface 81 of the carton. Figure 11 shows the tetrapak carton following detachment of the plug 21 , pulled off through the ring 24, and the end 73 of the drinking tube 70 that has emerged.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate another version 90 of the can comprising a plug 92 with oval closing piece 105 surrounded by the prepared tear-off area 106, to receive a drinking tube 110 whose upper end 1 13 is bent over U-wise at its pleated area 112.

The various component parts of the plug 92 and of the drinking tube 110 are substantially similar to those already described except for the oval shape of the hole 97 to receive the pleated top 112 of the bent over drinking tube 1 10. As will be seen in Figure 14, by pulling off the closing piece 105 with the ring 108, the pleated top 1 12 of the bent-over drinking tube emerges through the oval aperture 97 pressed by the float 1 14, the end 113 of the tube then assuming a convenient angle for drinking.

Claims

1. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks, especially cans (10, 1 1 , 90) and tetrapak cartons (60, 75), characterized in that inside a hole (15, 63, 84) made in the top of the container (10, 11 , 90, 60, 75) is a fixed plug (20, 65, 80, 92) having an upper head (31 , 66, 81 ), substantially matching with the surface of a lid (12, 61), said head having a tubular extension (30, 67, 82) that penetrates inside the container (10, 11 , 90, 60, 75) and is closed, flush with the upper surface of the head (31 , 66, 81), by a membrane (21 , 105) round which is a prepared tear-off line (22, 106), said membrane being joined by a pulling means (23) to a ring (24, 108) into which one finger (19) can be hooked, the internal dimensions of said tubular extension (30, 67, 82) corresponding, with a slight amount of play, to those of the top ( 43, 52, 73, 1 13) of a floating drinking tube (40, 50, 70, 110) lodged inside the container (10, 11 , 90, 60, 75), it being thus possible by pulling on the ring (24, 108) to tear off the membrane (21 , 105) and open the container (10, 11 , 90, 60, 75) from which the top (43, 52, 73, 113) of the drinking tube (40, 50, 79, 1 10) emerges under pressure of hydrostatic thrust from the liquid (17, 62).

2. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks, especially cans (10, 1 1) and tetrapak cartons (60, 75) as in claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular extension (30, 67) is cylindrical, its internal diameter (35, 68) corresponding to that of the top (43, 73) of the drinking tube (40, 50, 70) where there is a pleated area (41) for greater convenience in drinking the liquid.

3. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks, especially cans (10) and tetrapak cartons as in claim 1 , characterized in that the drinking tube (40) is made of material (42) of lower density than that of the liquid (17) so that its upper end (43) will automatically emerge due to hydrostatic pressure from said liquid (17).

4. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans (1 1 , 90) and tetrapack cartons (60, 75) as in claim 1 , characterized in that on the lower end of the drinking tube (50, 70, 1 10) is a small block (54, 72, 1 14) of a density lower than that of the liquid (62), so that the upper end (52, 73, 113) of said tube (50, 70, 110) will automatically emerge due to hydrostatic pressure from the liquid (17, 62).

5. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans (10, 1 1 , 90) and tetrapack cartons as in claim 1 , characterized in that the hole (15) in the fixed lid (12) of the can (10, 11 , 90), for introduction of the tubular extension (30) of the plug (20), is made in a raised area (13) of the lid (12) so that, before the pulling ring (24, 108) is used, it will lie at a sufficient distance from said lid to allow the finger (19) to hook into the ring (24, 108) and pull it up when the closing membrane (21 , 105) is to be pulled off.

6. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans (10, 1 1) and tetrapak cartons, as in claim 1 , characterized in that the plug (20, 92) is applied to the hole (15) in the metal lid (12) of the can (10, 11 , 90) by forced insertion into a collar- shaped extension (14) round said hole (15), projecting inside said container, its internal lateral dimensions substantially corresponding to the extennal dimensions of the tubular extension (14) of the plug (20, 92), this latter being firmly held by the base (33) of a truncated cone shaped head (32), placed at the lower end of the plug (20, 92), that presses against the edge of said collar (14).

7. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans and tetrapak cartons (60) as in claim 1 , characterized in that stabilization of the plug (65) on the upper surface (61) of the tetrapak carton (60) is obtained by glueing the lower surface of the upper head (66) of the plug (65) to said upper surface (61) of the carton (60).

8. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans and tetrapak cartons (75) as in claim 1 , characterized in that the plug (80) is stabilized on the upper surface (61) of the tetrapak carton (75) by inserting the lower tubular extension (83) to said plug (80) in a cavity (87) made in _,a lower head (85) under the upper surface (61 ) of the carton (75) also by glue, adhesives and other means.

9. Opening device for hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans (90) and tetrapak cartons as in claim 1 , characterized in that the plug (92) presents a hole (97), whose dimensions correspond to those of the end (113) of the drinking tube (110) bent over in a reversed "U" at its pleated area (112), of a substantially oval cross section, said plug (92) being closed by an oval membrane (105) round which is an area prepared for tear-off (106), so that on removing the plug (92), the end (113) of the drinking tube (110) is thrust upwards by the hydrostatic force of the liquid and emerges through the oval hole (97) permitting the user to bend it at its pleated area (112) for more convenient consumption of the contents.