WO2004028912A1

WO2004028912A1 - Can with additional outlet member

Info

Publication number: WO2004028912A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jinwoo Song
Original assignee: SONG TAESEONG
Current assignee: SONG TAESEONG
Priority date: 2002-09-27
Filing date: 2003-09-26
Publication date: 2004-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2005-03-27
Also published as: KR200298285Y1; AU2003264973A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a can having additional outlet member. The outlet member is concealed within the container normally and is attached to removable piece provided in the upper surface of the container. When the removable piece begins to tear from the upper surface, the outlet member also begins to appear from the container together with the piece. A user can drink beverage contained in the can with the outlet member hygienically.

Description

[Specification] [Title of the invention]

CAN WITH ADDITIONAL OUTLET MEMBER [Field of the invention] The present invention relates to a can wherein a user can easily drink beverage contained in the can. Specifically, the invention is directed to a can having additional outlet member so that a user can drink the beverage with its mouth not contacting the can container that may be contaminated. [Technical background] In general, a can made of steel reserves beverage and the like and has an opening in its upper side, which is closed by removable piece. The beverage contained in the can is discharged through the opening that is formed after the removable piece is removed.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a conventional can. The can comprises a container (100) made of closed cylindrical metal, a removable piece (200) that is demarcated by cutting line (201), and a pulling means (202). The removable piece (200) is provided on the upper side of the can. The removable piece (200) is removed by pulling the pulling means (202) so that a beverage contained within container (100) can be discharged. However, in the conventional can, a user's lip contacts with the area of the opening formed by removing the removable piece (200), which might be contaminated during treatment. This is not hygienic. In order to prevent this hygienic problem, a user should clean the area of the opening. However, this is very troublesome.

The object of the invention is to provide a can resolving the problem. [Detailed description of the invention] A can of the invention comprises a container for containing beverage, a removable piece provided in at least one of surfaces of the container and having a pulling means, and an outlet member having a beverage-receiving element having an opening and an engagement flange provided in periphery thereof.

The removable piece is demarcated by cutting line in the surface. Edge of the beverage-receiving element is separatably connected with the releasing part. The outlet member is provided within the container. The beverage-receiving element is adapted to rise together with the removable piece when the removable piece is removed by pulling of pulling means. The engagement flange is formed so as to engage with the surface of the container when the beverage-receiving element is exposed in a predetermined level. The connection between the edge and the removable piece is adapted to disconnect by further pulling of the pulling means after the engagement flange engages with the surface of the container.

According to the invention, the outlet member which is disposed within the container is not contaminated by foreign contaminants before the can is opened for drinking. Thus, a user can drink beverage hygienically compared with the conventional can. Further, there is no trouble to clean the can for remove contaminants, thereby improving convenience. The releasing part may be provided in lateral side of the container and the lateral side having flat surface formed therein.

The container may comprise an upper surface, a lower surface, a curved surface between the upper surface and the lower surface. The curved surface has recessed surface, the recessed surface being provided with the removable piece.

It is preferred that degree between edge of the beverage-receiving element and the surface of the container is approximately 45° when the beverage-receiving element is fully exposed from the container.

The removable piece may comprise a flap connected to the surface where the removable piece is provided, the flap not being removed. [Brief description of the drawings]

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a can according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the can according to the invention. Figs. 3 A to 3C show a partial cross-sectional view of the can when the removable piece is being removed.

Fig. 3D shows that a user drinks beverage with the can according to the invention.

Fig. 4A shows a perspective view of a can according to second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4B shows a partial cross-sectional view of the can shown in Fig. 4 A.

Fig. 5A shows a perspective view of a can according to third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5B shows a partial cross-sectional view of the can shown in Fig. 5 A. Fig. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a can according to fourth embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the can shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the outlet member of the can shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the outlet member having removable piece attaching therein of another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the outlet member not having removable piece shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of an outlet member having removable piece attaching therein according to another embodiment.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the outlet member not having removable piece shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of engagement flange and can surface. Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a conventional can. [Preferred embodiments]

In the following, the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, the can comprises a closed container (10) made of cylindrical metal, a removable piece (20) and a pulling means (22). Removable part (20) is provided in upper surface of container (10) and is demarcated by cutting line (21).

Container (10) is made of metal sheet of aluminum or steel to form a space where beverage is contained.

A user pulls pulling means (22) to remove removable piece (20) along cutting line (21), thereby making the beverage dischargeable.

Outlet member (30) attached to the lower side of the removable piece starts to rise outwardly along with the removal of removable piece (20). In the initial state, the outlet member is disposed within the can container as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the can of the invention. As shown in Fig. 2, outlet member (30) comprises an opening (311) adjacent to the lower side of removable piece (20) and a beverage-receiving element (31) which is shaped as being circular arc. The outlet member further comprises a deformable supporting element (32) whose lower surface is attached to the area of beverage-receiving element (31) adjacent to the upper side of the container (10). The upper surface of deformable supporting element (32) is adhered to an inner side of container (10) having cutting line (21). Beverage-receiving element (31) is provided with engagement flange (33) protruding outwardly radially.

Beverage-receiving element (31) is a part where the lips of a user directly contacts. According to the invention, beverage-receiving element (31) is reserved within container (10) until the user removes the removable piece. Thus, a user can drink the beverage hygienically.

Beverage-receiving element (31) is made in various forms. Further, it is preferred that beverage-receiving element (31) is made of synthetic resin and the like for safety.

Opening (311) is formed adjacent to the lower side of removable piece (20).

Beverage-receiving element (31) continues to rise outwardly from the upper surface of the can until engagement flange (33) contacts with the upper surface of container (10). More pulling of removable piece (20) after engagement flange (33) contacts with the upper surface separates removable piece (20) from beverage-receiving element (31). The separation exposes opening (311).

Opening (312) acts as a role of inlet passage of beverage contained within container (10).

Deformable supporting element (32) is attached inside of container (10) to support beverage-receiving element (31). Further, deformable supporting element (32) is bent along with the rise of beverage-receiving element (32). The bent supporting element (32) holds beverage-receiving element (32) in its position. It is preferred that deformable supporting element (32) is made of a metal sheet.

Engagement flange (33) stops the rise of beverage-receiving element (31), thereby preventing the element from separating from the container. The flange also prevents beverage from leaking in the lower side of beverage-receiving element (31) when beverage-receiving element (31) is exposed from container (10). Thus, it is preferred that engagement flange (33) is made of synthetic resin for rigidity and sealing.

Figs. 3 A to 3 C show a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the process of removing removable piece (20). Fig. 3D shows a schematic side view of drinking beverage.

As shown in Figs. 3 A to 3 C, removable piece (20) is removed by pulling the pulling means (22) by a user's finger, thereby exposing beverage-receiving element (31) outside container (10).

Deformable supporting element (32) is bent along with bending of removable piece (20). As shown in Fig. 3C, the bent supporting element (32) holds beverage- receiving element (31) in its position. Engagement flange (33) formed in beverage- receiving element (31) contacts with inner surface of container (10), thereby stopping more rise of beverage-receiving element (31). In this disposition, leakage of beverage is also prevented since engagement flange (33) closely contacts with the inner side of container (10).

A user can hygienically drink beverage that is discharged via opening (312) and opening (311) as shown in Fig. 3D. Figs. 4 A and 4B show a can according to second embodiment of the invention.

The can of the embodiment has a flat surface (11) in circumferential portion of its container (10). Removable piece (20) is provided in flat surface (11) and outlet member (30) is provided within container (10). As is in the first embodiment, outlet member (30) is attached to the lower side of removable piece. In this embodiment, flat surface (11) is provided in order to make it easy to form removable piece (20) and outlet member (30). It is also for making it easy that a user drink beverage contained within the can. Similarly with the first embodiment, outlet member (30) is exposed outside container ( 10) by pulling the pulling means (22). The rise of outlet member (30) continues until engagement flange (33) contacts with the lower side of flat surface (11).

A user can easily and hygienically drink beverage with outlet member exposed outside container (10).

Figs. 5 A and 5B show a can according to third embodiment of the invention. The can of the embodiment has curved surface (12) in its upper side. An inclined surface (13) is formed in recessed portion of curved surface (12). Removable piece (20) is provided in inclined surface (13). As is in the first and second embodiments, an outlet member (not shown) is provided within the container and is attached to the lower side of the removable piece.

According to the embodiment, curved surface (12) may prevent the beverage amount from being reduced due to the outlet member.

Further, inclined surface (13) makes it easier to provide removable piece (20) and outlet member (not shown) in the can.

The process of the removal of removable piece (20) and the exposure of outlet member (30) is substantially same as the first and second embodiments as shown in Fig. 5B.

A user can drink beverage more easily than the other embodiments since beverage-receiving element (31 ) is exposed inclinedly in the upper side of container (10).

Fig. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a can according to fourth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from other embodiments in that the arc of beverage-receiving element (61) is half of the art of beverage-receiving element (31) of other embodiments. The degree θ formed by the end of beverage- receiving element (61) with respect to the upper side of container (10) is about 45°. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the can of the fourth embodiment wherein the beverage-receiving element is completely exposed. According to beverage-receiving element (61), it is easier to drink beverage. It is preferred that the degree between the end of beverage-receiving element (61) and upper surface (15) is less than 90° . The degree can be selected between 0° and 90°.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of beverage-receiving element (61) shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in detail. The beverage-receiving element (61) comprises an engagement flange (63) extending along its periphery, first fastening portion (81), second fastening portion (83) fastened to upper side (15) of container (10). It is preferred that first fastening portion (81) and second fastening portion (83) are riveted to the upper side. Further, beverage-receiving element (61), engagement flange (63), first fastening portion (81) and second fastening portion (83) are made of one material such as aluminum so as to be deformed without rupture when removable piece (20) is removed.

Alternatively, while beverage-receiving element (61), first fastening portion (81) and engagement flange (63) are made of injection-molded material while second fastening portion (83) fastened to upper side (15) of metallic container (10) is made of metal.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of an outlet member of another embodiment of the invention. The outlet member is different from the other embodiment in that removable piece (20) is connected with upper side (15) via connecting flap (91), without being completely separated from the upper side of container (10). Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the outlet member without removable piece (20). Removable piece (20) is fastened in connecting portion (101a, 101b) with riveting or swaging. On the other hand, engagement flange (63) is provided with a plurality of projections (93). Projections (93) are press-fitted to projections (17) formed in upper side (15) of the can as shown in Fig. 13, thereby preventing leakage of beverage contained in can container (10).

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of outlet member and removable piece (290) according to still further embodiment of the invention. The outlet member has a crossbar ( 120) crossing beverage-receiving element (61). Connecting portion ( 125) for connecting with removable piece (20) is provided in almost center of cross-bar (120). It is preferred that removable piece (20) and connecting portion (125) are connected by riveting and swaging. [Industrial Applicability]

According to the invention, a user can hygienically drink beverage without lip's contacting with a can container that may be contaminated since outlet member is provided in the can. Thus, there is no trouble to clean the can container for removing contaminants. Further, according to the invention, it is very convenient to drink beverage since the drinking is accomplished hygienically.

According to the invention, it is also possible to provide a can having the above-mentioned effects without reducing the amount of beverage contained in the can.

Claims

[Claims]

1. A can comprising: a container for containing beverage; a removable piece provided in at least one of surfaces of said container and having a pulling means, said removable piece being demarcated by cutting line in said surface; and an outlet member having a beverage-receiving element having an opening and an engagement flange provided in periphery thereof, edge of said beverage-receiving element being separatably connected with said releasing part, said outlet member being provided within said container, said beverage-receiving element being adapted to rise together with said removable piece when said removable piece is removed by pulling of pulling means, said engagement flange being formed so as to engage with said surface of said container when said beverage-receiving element is exposed in a predetermined level, said connection between said edge and said removable piece being adapted to disconnect by further releasing after said engagement flange engages with said surface of said container.

2. The can of claim 1 wherein said releasing part is provided in lateral side of said container and said lateral side having flat surface formed therein.

3. The can of claim 1 wherein said container comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a curved surface between said upper surface and said lower surface, said curved surface having recessed surface, said recessed surface being provided with said removable piece.

4. The can of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein degree between edge of said beverage- receiving element and said surface of said container is approximately 45° when said beverage-receiving element is fully exposed from said container.

5. The can of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said removable piece comprises a flap connected to said surface where said removable piece is provided, said flap not being removed.