JENSEN, Michael (Lærkevej 9, Slangerup, DK-3550, DK)
| Claims 1. A resilient adapter (11,27) arranged for detachable being mounted on a circumferential bead (4,26) on top of a beverage can (1,25), comprises, a disc-formed base (12,28) which in mounted state is extending across said bead, a spout (13,29) rising from the base, and an annular flange (14,30) descending from the base and surrounding the bead, characterized in that at least one circumferential rib ( 16, 17; 41, 43 ) is formed on the inner side of the flange, that said rib has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the bead in the tension-free condition of the adapter, and that at least one lever arm (23,42) is protruding from the adapter. 2. An adapter according to any of the claims 1 - 2, characterized in that the rib on the inner side of the flange (14) consists of at least two pairs (16,17) of opposite placed hooks. 3. An adapter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adapter (11) is provided with two upstanding opposite lever arms (23) placed at the periphery of the disc-formed base (12) of the adapter. 4. An adapter according to 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the adapter (11) comprises a sealing ring (24) for sealing the connection between the adapter and the beverage can. An adapter according to claims 1, characterized in that the adapter (27) is provided with a lever arm (42) protruding from the flange (30) of the adapter. An adapter according to any of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the spout (29) of the adapter (27) is placed at or close to the periphery of the base (28) of the adapter. An adapter according to claim 6, characterized in that the axis (35) of the spout (29) of the adapter (27) forms an angle with the axis (36) of the disc-formed base (28) of the adapter. An adapter according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the adapter (27) comprises a cap (29') for closing the spout (29) and a holder (38) placed on top of the base (28) of the adapter and arranged for detachable holding the cap. A method for detachable mounting the adapter (11) according to the claims 1 - 4 onto a circumferential bead (4) on top of a beverage can (1) and afterwards demounting the adapter from said bead, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, placing the sealing ring (24) in the flange (14) of the adapter, placing the adapter above the beverage can, acting onto the adapter with a downwards directed force until a snap-fitting between the adapter and the bead of the beverage can is provided, acting onto the two upright lever arms (23) on the disc-formed base (28) of the adapter with forces directed against each other until the snap-fitting between the adapter and the bead is loosened, and removing the adapter from the beverage can. A method for detachable mounting the adapter (27) according to the claims 1, 5 - 8 onto a circumferential bead (26) on top of a beverage can (25) and afterwards demounting the adapter from said bead, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, placing the adapter above the beverage can, acting onto the adapter with a downwards directed force until a snap-fitting between the adapter and the bead is provided, acting on the lever arm (42) protruding from the flange (30) of the adapter with an upward directed force until the snap-fitting between the adapter and the bead is loosened, and removing the adapter from the bead of the beverage can . |
The invention relates to a resilient adapter arranged for detachable being mounted on a circumferential bead on top of a beverage can.
The invention also relates to methods for mounting the adapter onto the beverage can and demounting the adapter from the beverage can.
The invention relates more specifically to a resilient adapter comprising a disc-formed base, which in mounted state is extending across said bead, a spout rising from the base, and an annular flange descending from the base and surrounding the bead of the can.
Beverage like bear and soft drinks is in increasing quantities distributed in beverage cans of e.g. aluminum. Each of these cans comprises of a cup and a lid joined together by means of an airtight seam formed as a circumferential bead on top of the can .
Filling the can with beverage takes place in the cup after which the lid is seamed to the cup since the can need to be hermetically closed until consuming the beverage.
The lid is however, for being able to open the can, formed with a potential pour opening covered by a flap partly encircled of a rupture line in the lid.
The flap is connected to a pivotable pull-tab, which by being pivoted breaks the rupture line and turns the partly released flap into the can so that the potential pour opening is being transformed to a real pour opening. It is however a substantial problem that the can afterwards cannot be closed again so that remaining beverage in the can risk to go flat and foreign matter such as insects moreover is allowed freely to enter the can via the pour opening and contaminate the beverage.
To this must be added that pouring the beverage into e.g. a drinking glass frequently causes loss of beverage in form of spillage and furthermore it is very uncomfortable to drink the beverage directly from such can.
Beverage cans exist in varying heights to encompass the range of capacities in use. The diameter of the bead on top of the can is however usually found in two sizes only, namely an US standard size and an European standard size.
Beverage cans also are produced in very large numbers and by means of fabrication processes so advanced that the dimensions of the beads of the cans is within a very close tolerance range.
During the years efforts has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems involved in using beverage cans for distributing beverage.
Said efforts has resulted in development of adapters of different kinds arranged for detachable being mounted on top of the cans by means of snap-on fittings. Construction of adapters with such snap-on fittings are in practice possible owing to the large numbers of beverage cans which are produced in two standard sizes only and the close tolerance range of the dimensions of the beads of the cans too. It has however turned out that these prior art adapters for mounting upon opened beverage cans don't function fully satisfactory . Even if a standard beverage can is mounted with a prior art adapter is spillage of beverage still possible when pouring the beverage but now in particular because the connection between the adapter and the can is not hermetically sealed whereby also the beverage tends to go flat owing to leaking of pressure gas in the beverage.
It also is uncomfortable and in some cases even impossible to drink directly from said prior art adapters, which moreover frequently are difficult to put on the can and take off again.
The above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art adapters are according to the invention remedied by, in a first aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph, which in mounted position on a beverage can fits tightly to the bead of the can, in a second aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph, which mounted on a beverage can secures that beverage in the can doesn't go flat, in a third aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph which is easy and comfortable to put on and take off a beverage can, in a fourth aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph which mounted on a beverage can secure that spillage is avoided when pouring the beverage, in a fifth aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph which is arranged in such a way that it is possible comfortably to drink the beverage directly from the adapter being in mounted position on a beverage can, in a sixth aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph which is easy to operate, in a seventh aspect of the present invention providing an adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph which has a simple and inexpensive construction, and in an eight aspect of the present invention providing a method of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph for detachable mounting the adapter of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph onto a circumferential bead on top of a beverage can and afterwards demounting the adapter from said bead.
Other aspects of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description where the novel and unique features of the invention consists in the fact that at least one circumferential rib is formed on the inner side of the flange, that said rib has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the bead in the tension-free condition of the adapter, and that at least one lever arm is protruding from the adapter .
This adapter is of a simple and inexpensive construction, which mounted on the beverage, fits tightly to the bead of the can so that beverage with a content of pressure gas doesn't risk to go flat. Owing to the existence of the at last one lever arm is the adapter moreover easy to put on and take off the can. The tight connection to the can also secure that spillage during pouring of the beverage effectively is avoided.
The invention will be explained in greater details below, giving further advantageous features and technical effects and describing exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which
Fig. 1 shows, seen in cross section, a first embodiment of an adapter according to the invention,
Fig. 2 shows, seen in cross section, a cap for the adapter seen in fig .1 , Fig. 3 shows, seen in cross section, a sealing ring for the adapter seen in fig. 1,
Fig. 4 shows a fragment of a standard beverage can, seen in cross section,
Fig. 5 shows the adapter, cap and sealing ring seen in fig. 1, 2 and 3 mounted in assembled state on the standard beverage can seen in fig. 4, Fig. 6 shows the same, seen from the side,
Fig. 7 shows the same seen from above,
Fig. 8 shows the same, seen from below,
Fig. 9 shows, seen in cross section, a second embodiment of an adapter according to the invention,
Fig. 10 shows, seen from the side, a cap for the adapter seen in fig .9 , Fig. 11 shows, seen from the side, a standard beverage can,
Fig. 12 shows the adapter and cap seen in fig. 9 and 10 mounted in assembled state on the standard beverage can seen in fig. 11,
Fig. 13 shows the same seen from above, Fig. 14 shows the same, seen from below,
Fig. 15 shows in a larger scale a cross section of a fragment of the standard beverage can, seen in fig. 4, being opened by means of the second embodiment of the adapter seen in fig. 9, Fig. 16 shows, seen in cross section in a larger scale, a fragment of a first embodiment of an assembling between the adapter seen in fig. 9 and the standard beverage can seen in fig. 11, Fig. 17 shows, seen in cross section in a larger scale, a fragment of a second embodiment of an assembling between the adapter seen in fig. 9 and the standard beverage can seen in fig. 11, and Fig. 18 shows, seen in cross section in a larger scale, a fragment of a third embodiment of an assembling between the adapter seen in fig. 9 and the standard beverage can seen in fig. 11. With the term "beverage can" is in this application understood a can for distributing beverage as for example beer, soft drinks and wine.
Different materials like e.g. plastic, iron and aluminium have during the years been used for manufacturing such cans and in many different constructions and sizes. The beverage can for illustrating this invention is more specifically a beverage can produced by the Company Rexam PLC, which yearly produces billions of such cans made of aluminum.
The cans could within the scope of the invention however also be of other kinds and be produced by other manufactures.
Cans with different capacities are produced for complying with the demand of the market but without thereby varying the dimensions of the necks of the cans, which exists in an European standard size and an US standard size only.
Fig. 4 shows such a beverage can 1 in open state and without beverage. The can consists of a cup 2 and a lid 3 joined together by means of an airtight seam 4 formed as a circumferential bead on top of the can.
Because the can need to be closed until the beverage are going to be used and the can opened is the beverage filled into the cup after which the lid is seamed to the cup in a hermetically closed way.
For being able to open the can is the lid formed with a potential pour opening 5 defined by a rupture line (not seen) , which partly is encircling a flap 6 in form of a portion of the lid. An end 7 of the flap is moreover connected to a pull-tab 8. Pivoting said pull-tap is breaking the rupture line and is turning the now partly released flap into the interior 9 of the can so that the potential pour opening is converted into a real pour opening, as seen in fig. 4. The lid is domed and formed with a circumferential groove 10 at the periphery. The pour opening 5 is, as seen, eccentrically placed on the lid. The above-described opening arrangement of the beverage functions excellent when opening the can. A serious problem is however that the beverage can is constructed in such a way that it cannot be closed again after have been opened.
The adapter 11, shown in fig. 1, serves for remedying this problem so that an opened beverage can with a possible content of unconsumed beverage can be closed again for thereby eliminating the risk for that remaining beverage is going flat or is contaminated by e.g. insects.
The adapter 11 is made of an elastic material as e.g. plastic and consists in the main of a disc-formed base 12 which in the mounted state on the can is extending across the bead 4 as shown in fig 5, a spout 13 rising from the base, and an annular flange 14 descending from the base and surrounding the bead.
On the inner side of the flange 14 of the adapter 11 is, as seen in cross section in fig. 1 and from below in fig. 8, formed two pairs of opposite placed hooks 16 and 17, respectively with spaces 15 in between. The hooks are serving for in the mounted position of the adapter effectively to secure the adapter to the can.
The mounting operation takes place by pressing the adapter down against the can so that the flange of the adapter expands elastically and thereby allows the hooks to pass the bead and snap underneath the bead in consequence of that the tension of the adapter is released. As seen in fig.l an 2 has the spout 13 an external thread 18 fitting into an internal thread 20 formed in a cap 19 for closing the spout 13, if desired. As best seen in fig. 7 and 8 is an insect net 21 extending across the opening 22 of the spout of the adapter. The insect net serves for preventing insects in entering the beverage can when the spout of the adapter is open. Tightness between the adapter and the beverage can is achieved by means of an annular sealing ring 24 abutting the underside of the disc-formed base of the adapter and the circumferential groove 10 at periphery of lid with a circumferential downwards protruding lower part.
Two opposite upstanding lever arms 23 are moreover, as seen in fig. 6 and 7, placed on top of the disc-formed base of the adapter. Said lever arms are placed above the hooks 16. Removing a mounted adapter from a beverage can takes place by pressing the upstanding opposite placed lever arms against each other whereby the hooks below said lever arms elastically are forced away from each other so that they become able to pass the circumferential bead of the beverage can. The adapter then is removed from the beverage can by simply being raised.
A clamp 14' on the flange 14 of the adapter serves for preliminary pivoting the pull-tab 8 connected to the flap 6 covering the potential pour opening 5. This operation is namely difficult to carry out with the fingers of the user since the pull-tab is placed very close to the lid of a closed beverage can .
Fig. 9 - 18 show a second embodiment of an adapter according to the invention arranged for being mounted onto the beverage can 25, seen in fig. 11. An outwards projecting bead 26 is formed at top of the beverage can.
This second embodiment of the adapter 27 is like the first embodiment 11 of the adapter made of an elastic material as e.g. plastic.
The adapter 27 consists in the main of a disc-formed base 28 which in the mounted state on the beverage can 25 is extending across the bead 26 of the can as shown in fig. 12, a spout 29 protruding from the base and an annular flange 30 descending from the base and surrounding the bead of the can.
The extremity of the opening 31 of the spout 29 is in this case intersecting the periphery 32 of the disc-formed base 28 or is close to do so. In fig. 9 is the lower part of the wall 33 of the spout of the adapter merging with the wall 34 of the flange of the adapter Said placement of the spout on the base of the adapter implies advantageously that the can totally can be emptied and that none of the beverage therefore is lost as a useless rest in the can . The axis 35 of the spout of the adapter is moreover forming an angle a with the axis 36 of the base so that the spout is assuming an inclined position in relation to the base of the adapter . This slanting position of the spout makes drinking the beverage directly out of the spout very comfortable because the user now doesn't need to bend his head backwards into an awkward and unpleasant position while keeping the beverage can in a vertical position with the opening of the can downwards facing. As seen in fig. 9 and 12 has the spout 29 an external thread 37 fitting into an internal thread (not seen) formed in a cap 29' for closing the spout 29. This external thread is in this case formed on a lower part of the spout leaving an upper part of the spout free for thread so that the spout becomes smooth and comfortable to drink out of.
The external thread of the spout is moreover a double thread with a very short length of each of the two threads.
Said construction of the external thread of the spout is implying that advantage that the cap conveniently and quickly can be screwed on and off the spout by means of e.g. a half or a quarter revolution only.
On top of the base of the adapter is, as seen in fig. 9, 12 and 13, arranged a holder 38 for temporary holding the cap 29' when it has been screwed of the spout for pouring or drinking the beverage out of the open spout of the adapter.
The holder 38 consists in this case of three small balls 39 on elastic stems 40 placed in the apexes of a triangle. The cap 29' is in fig. 13 seen in position on the spout 29 but in dashed line also placed in the holder 38 where it elastically is clamped between the balls of the holder.
The holder may however, within the scope of the invention, be constructed in many other appropriate ways. The deciding is according to the invention that the adapter comprises a holder for the cap.
The inner side of the flange 30 of the adapter 27 is formed with a protruding annular rib 41 placed at a distance from the underside of the base of the adapter corresponding with or a little smaller than the height of the bead 26 of the beverage can 25 and having an interior diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the bead being in the tension-free condition of the adapter .
Said rib 41 serves in the mounted position, seen in fig. 12, for effectively securing the adapter 27 to the beverage can 25.
Mounting of the adapter takes place in the same way as by mounting the first embodiment of the adapter 11 to the beverage can 1, namely by pressing the adapter 27 down against the can 25 so that flange 30 of the adapter expands elastically and the annular rib 41 opens so much that the rib can pass the bead and subsequently snap underneath the bead because the tension of the adapter then is released.
The demounting of the second embodiment of the adapter takes however place in another way than demounting the first embodiment of the adapter, namely by means of a lever arm 42 protruding from the flange 30 instead of the upstanding lever arms 23 of the first embodiment of the adapter 11.
The adapter is made of an elastic and flexible material. Acting upon the lever arm 42 with an upwards-directed force, as shown with the arrow in fig. 12, therefore bends the flange 30 of the adapter 27 and force a portion of the rib 41 outwards in an area at the lever arm.
Further acting upon the lever arm with said upwards-directed force lifts the portion of the rib placed at the lever arm up above the bead of the can followed by breaking off the rest of the rib from the bead so that the adapter easily can be removed from the can. In the figures is the lever arm 42 shown in a straight configuration and protruding in the horizontal direction from the flange. Other configurations and directions is however possible within the scope of the invention.
As previously mentioned is it difficult to open a closed beverage can by means of the fingers of the user because the pull-tab utilized for opening the can is placed very close to the lid in the closed state of the can.
The lever arm 42 also functions, as seen in fig. 15, as a crowbar for pivoting the pull-tab at least so much that the user can get a finger underneath the pull-tab and then pivot the pull-tab all the way until the can is fully opened.
In fig. 15 has an outer end of the lever arm 42 been forced underneath the pull-tab which thereby has been pivoted something .
Acting upon the adapter with a downwards-directed force further pivots the pull-tab since the inner end of the lever arm is resting upon the bead of the can and the adapter thereby is acting as a crowbar making the opening of the beverage can easy .
Fig. 16 - 18 shows three variants of the connection between the adapter 27 and the beverage can 25.
The annular rib 41 on the inner side of the flange 30 of the adapter 27 is in the variant shown in fig. 16 bearing against the underside of the bead of the beverage can 25 while the inner side of the annular flange 27 elastically bears against the outer side of the bead 26 of the can 25.
Sealing between the bead and the flange is secured by forming the flange with an inner diameter so much smaller than the outer diameter of the bead that the flange elastically will not expand any more than it still can bear sufficiently against the bead when being influenced by overpressure in the can.
Sealing between the bead and the rib is secured because the rib is bearing against the bead with a force, which increases when overpressure in the can increases.
A circumferential bulk 41' on tip of the annular rib 41 moreover functions as a circumferential barb keeping the rib in safe engagement with the bead 26 on the beverage can 25.
Fig. 17 shows the same situation as seen in fig.16, but with a second annular rib 43 on the inner side of the flange for achieving a smaller contact surface and therefore a larger pressure per unit of area so that an optimal secure sealing between the adapter and the can is obtained.
In fig. 18 is a clearance arranged between the flange of the adapter and the bead of the can while the annular rib 41 still is bearing against the underside of the bead in the same way as shown in fig. 16 and 17. In this case is a point 44 of the rib furthermore bearing against the outer side of the wall of can.
The rib 41 of the second embodiment of the adapter 27 can, within the scope of the invention, be replaced by hooks (not shown) like the hooks of the first embodiment of the adapter whereby the adapter becomes easier to put on and take off the beverage can. Nummerals
1. beverage can
2. cup of beverage can
3. lid of beverage can
4. airtight seam/circumferential bead
5. pour opening
6. flap for covering pour opening
7. end of flap is moreover connected to a
8. pull-tab connected to end of flap
9. interior of the can
10. circumferential groove at periphery of lid
11. adapter
12. disc-formed base
13. spout rising from base
14. annular flange descending from base
14' c1amp
15. spaces in between hooks
16. hooks
17. hooks
18. external thread on spout
19. cap for closing spout
20. internal thread on cap
21. insect net extending across the opening of spout 22. opening of spout
23. upstanding lever arm
24. sealing ring
25. beverage can
26. bead on beverage can
27. second embodiment of adapter
28. disc-formed base of adapter
29. spout protruding from base
29' cap for spout
30. annular flange descending from the base
31. opening in spout
32. periphery of disc-formed base . wall of spout of adapter
. wall of flange of adapter
. axis of spout
. axis of base
. external thread on spout
. holder
. ball
. stem
. annular rib on inner side of flange
'. circumferential bulk/barb on annular rib
. lever arm protruding from flange
. another annular rib on inner side of the flange
. point on the other annular rib on inner side of flange
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