Universally known are the cans containing drinks that can be drunk through a hole created by pulling back a strip from a prepared area in the top of the can and by application of a ring fixed by a pin to the rear end of said strip which, prior to pulling, lies flat on the upper surface of the can.

A serious drawback to this type of can is that its top is unprotected against pollution caused by dirt that accumulates during storage and transport.

Further, once opened, there is practically no way of closing the can again with possible loss and, in any case, deterioration of the contents left in it after the first drink.

In a previous patent application I described a lid, also applied by pressure to cans containing drinks, the internal shape and size of which corresponded to the external shape and size of the top of the can.

The under surface of the lid contains a raised area whose shape and size correspond to those of the hole in the can when open.

On putting back the lid at a suitable radial position, the raised area can therefore be pressed inside said hole, said raised area acting as a stopper and hermetically closing the can, thus avoiding accidental spillage but allowing more of the contents to be drunk as desired, removing the lid each time.

At the top of its truncated-cone shaped body, the lid has an internal annular seal rib that matches with the top of the can creating an airtight chamber on said top.

Outside the lid, substantially at the end of its truncated-cone shaped body, there is a handle which, when idle, faces towards the top of the lid and adheres to its body.

This handle can be easily rotated outwards to facilitate pull on the lid and separate it from the can.

As described in the patent application, the lid can be put back on the top of the can after each drink thus protecting the remaining contents against pollution and preserving its characteristic flavour.

Subject of this present invention is an improved version of the lid described, consisting in the fact that, on the edge of the lid at the position of the handle, there is a prepared fracture area which, on pulling the handle to detach the lid, produces a fractured line on the side of the lid showing that the lid has been detached.

The handle consists of a hole between two lateral arms to permit entry of at least one finger of the hand, or else of a continuous wall with ribs that help the fingers to gain a hold.

In one type of execution, at the lateral end of the handle or at the ends of each of its arms, the lid presents prepared linear fracture areas, substantially perpendicular to the edge of the lid, extending to a short distance from its top, these arears breaking off when the handle is pulled to detach the lid from the can.

In another type of execution, parallel to and at a short distance from its edge the lid presents a prepared linear arc of fracture which, from the top of a straight length, also prepared for tear-off, that departs orthogonally from said edge at one end of the handle, extends towards the other end of said handle and beyond it.

In order to detach the lid, it is therefore necesssary to pull on the handle and break through at said prepared fracture lines.

Instead of the prepared fracture lines, there can be areas of a width less than or equal to 22 mm.

Diameter at the upper end of the lid, at a position corresponding to that of the internal annular rib, is between 2.5 and 25 cm.

The advantages of the described improvement to the protective lid for canned drinks are evident.

If, after first being opened, the lid is replaced on the can either to protect the remaining contents against environmental pollution or to maintain intact its flavour and aroma, the areas on the sides of the tin prepared for initial detachment will clearly indicate that such detachmnent has taken place.

This fact will avoid any illecit consumption supposedly hidden by replacement of the lid.

Even if the handle were pulled without noticing the broken areas and consequent extension of connections between handle and lid, the fact that the lid has already been detached is indicated by touch.

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.

Figure 10. Can for drinks of the type opened by a strip prepared for fracture and protective lid having a handle with a hole in it fixed by two arms at its lower edge and operable by pulling on said edge at prepared fracture lines that depart orthogonally to said edge at the

two lateral edges of each of said arms, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 11. The can with the handle pulled out, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 12, First variation of the lid of the can for drinks with pre- pared fracture lines starting from said edge, at the two lateral ends of the handle, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 13. The can in Figure 12 after the handle has been pulled away, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 14. Second variation of the lid of the can with prepared fracture line along a parallel arc and at a short distance from the edge of the lid that, connecting with a length prepared for fracture orthogonal to the edge of the lid, extends from one lateral end of the handle towards its other end and beyond it, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 15. The can in Figure 14 after the handle has been pulled away, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 16. Third variation of the lid of the can whose handle, com- pared with that in Figures 14 and 15, presents a continuous wall on which are ribs for finger grip, perspective view with enlarged detail.

Figure 17. The variation in Figure 16 after the handle has been pulled away, perspective view with enlarged detail.

The can 50, illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, of the well-know type opened by a tear-off strip 57 and with a body 54, presents a protective lid 55 applied by pressure, on whose lateral wall 56 is a handle 60 with a hole 61 in it and arms 62 joined to the lower edge of the lid.

At the lateral ends of each arm 62 at the area of attachment to the edge of the lid, are prepared fracture lines 64,65, orthogonal to said edge and extending as far as a short distance from the top of the lid.

In order to remove the lid, tear off the strip 56 and drink the contents, the fingers of the hand 56 must take hold of the handle 60 and pull it outwards producing the fractures 66 on the walls of the lid 55, as illustrated in Figure 11, along the prepared tear-away lines 64 and 65 already described.

These fractures obviously do not lessen the strength of the handle but are useful for indicating that the lid has already been opened even if it is then put back on the can with the intention of con- suming the remainder later on.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a variation of the lid in Figures 10 and 11, this variation consisting in the fact that a pair of prepared fracture lines 87 are made, orthogonal to the edge of the lid 75, starting from said edge, continuing to the two lateral ends of the handle 80 with its hole 81 and arms 82 and extending as far as a short distance from the top of the lid.

To detach the lid the fingers 58 must take hold of the handle 80 pulling it until a fracture 86 is produced along the prepared fracture line 87 already described, and as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 14 illustrates a variation of the solutions described above consisting in the fact that, at a short distance from the edge of the lid 95, a prepared fracture line is made along an arc 108 parallel to said edge, from the top of a short length 107, also prepared for tearing, starting orthogonally from said edge at one end of the handle 100 with its hole 101 and arms 102, extending towards the other end of said handle and passing beyond it.

Figure 15 illustrates the effect of pulling on the handle 100 with the fingers 58, making the tear 105 along the previously mentioned prepared fracture lines 107 and 108 so that the lid 95 can be removed from the can.

Figure 16 shows a variation 115 of the lid 95 illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, wherein said lid 115 presents a handle 120 substantially

the same as the handle 100 already mentioned, but with a con- tinuous wall on which are vertical ribs 127.

The prepared fracture line along the arc 125 that connects up with the length of prepared fracture line 122 starting from the base of one end of the handle, as in the preceding case permits the lid 115 to be opened by pressing on said handle 120 after the pulling action which caused fractures 124 and 126.

In the case of this variation too it is therefore clear that the fractures produced in the lid making it possible to use the handle, indicate that the can has already been opened even if the lid has since been replaced so that the remaining contents can be drunk later on.

Instead of the prepared fracture lines there can obviously be strips prepared for the same purpose, the most suitable width for these being between 1 and 22 mm.