AU2008350612B2

AU2008350612B2 - Protective cover for beverage cans

Info

Publication number: AU2008350612B2
Application number: AU2008350612A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Aranda Campin
Original assignee: Aragonesa de Desarrollos e Innovaciones SL
Current assignee: Aragonesa de Desarrollos e Innovaciones SL
Priority date: 2008-02-12
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-03
Also published as: ES2420114T3; PL2243714T3; MA32133B1; ES1067176U; EP2243714A4; ZA201005719B; UA103184C2; EP2243714B1; US20100320205A1; WO2009101220A1; MX2010008805A; AU2008350612A1; EA201001282A1; CA2715156A1; ES1067176Y; JP2011511744A; CN101977822A; EP2243714A1; BRMU8803237U2; CA2715156C

Abstract

Protective cover for beverage cans, for guaranteeing suitably hygienic conditions for drinking directly from the can, characterized in that it comprises a body (1), made of a suitably impermeable and sufficiently strong material, preferably transparent, with a cylindrical configuration open at the bottom (1a) and closed at the upper end wall (1b) thereof, and being slightly larger than the can (2), so that it covers the can at the top, at the end wall where the relevant ring pull (6) is positioned, and surrounds at least the upper half of the can laterally with a tight fit; in which said body (1) has at least one tear means, such as a partially pre-perforated strip (3) or any other similar known system, optionally with at least one tab (4) at the bottom for catching hold of it.

Description

-1 PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS Field of the Invention As expressed in the title of the present specification, the invention relates to a 5 protective cover for beverage cans. More specifically, the invention relates to a cover the purpose of which consists of being configured as a protective element, especially with a hygienic nature, for beverage cans, by means of which the suitable hygiene conditions which the surface of the can will have for safely placing it in contact with the mouth and drinking directly 10 from the can are assured in an effective and simple manner, without fearing the presence therein of dirt and possible bacteria before breaking its seal. The invention also relates to a beverage can on which such a cover is installed. Field of Application The field of application of the present invention is comprised within the industry 15 dedicated to the manufacture of containers. Background of the Invention As is known, beverage cans are a type of container which is widely used and the main advantage of which consists of the ease that they provide for their use without needing to use glasses or other vessels for suitably and comfortably consuming the 20 content thereof suitably. However, said type of container has a significant drawback, which is given by the fact that during its transport and/or storage, which can be quite long, the cans can easily accumulate dirt of any type, from simple dust to any type of substance which can possibly be spilled or accumulate thereon, to excrement and urine of different animals (rats, cockroaches, ants, flies) which generally move around without 25 control in warehouses and similar installations. Said drawback is partially solved, in some cases, by means of the plastic wrapping of the packs or groups of cans which certain companies use. However, in addition to the fact that said wrappings do not completely cover the cans since they are usually partially open, they do not incorporate any type of safety seal and, on the other 30 hand, when said packs are divided into individual cans or groups of cans of a smaller number, the wrapping is broken or directly removed, the cans again being at the mercy of possible anti-hygienic, even pathogenic, elements which can reach the people's mouths if they drink directly from the can. It would therefore be desirable to create some type of protective element 35 assuring the hygiene conditions of the upper surface of each can until the exact time at which it is consumed by the user, this being the main preferred objective of the present -2 invention, with regard to which, on the other hand, it must be indicated that the existence of any other one having similar technical, structural and configuration features is not known. Description of the Invention 5 It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, 10 wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage can having a protective cover in order to assure the suitable hygiene conditions which the surface of the can will have to be able to drink directly from it, wherein the 15 protective cover consists of a body, made from an impermeable material having a predefined strength, which adopts a cylindrical configuration preferably open at its lower part and closed at its upper base and with dimensions slightly larger than those of the can, such that it covers the latter at the upper base part in which a corresponding pull tab is located, wherein said body has at least one tear means, such as a partially pre-die cut strip 20 or any other suitable system, additionally and in order to provide a greater and better hygienic protection of the can, the lower part of the body forming the cover incorporates, at its inner face, a band, which band is provided with an adhesive or with some other type of similar fixing, which keeps said lower part of the body adhered to the side surface of the can, sealing off the space between cover and can, characterized in that, the cover 25 laterally surrounds at least the upper half of the can in a tight manner. Thus, the protective cover for beverage cans proposed by the present invention propone is configured in itself as an outstanding novelty within its field since, according to its application, the objectives indicated above as suitable are reached, the characterizing details which it incorporates and which make it possible being suitably 30 included in the final claims attached to the present specification. Specifically, the proposed cover essentially consists of a body, made with a suitably impermeable and sufficiently strong material, preferably fine plastic, cellophane or the like, preferably transparent, which, adopting a configuration similar to that of the can, being placed, for example, using the technique of heat applied on the material (heat 35 forming), among other possibilities, tightly surrounds at least its upper half, being able to optionally cover it entirely. Said cover advantageously has a tear system which can be - 2a any of those which are conventionally known, which will assure the hygiene of said part of the can, optionally incorporating side flanges for facilitating its opening. Additionally, and in order to provide a greater and better protection, the lower part of the cover can incorporate, at its inner part, a band with adhesive or the like which, 5 in addition to increasing the fixing thereof to the can to prevent it from being accidentally detached while it is handled, seals off the area that it covers, providing greater hygiene assurance for consumption. The new protective cover for beverage cans therefore represents an innovative structure with structural and constitutive features unknown up until now for such 10 purpose, which reasons, combined with its practical usefulness, provide it with sufficient grounds for obtaining the exclusive privilege which is sought. Description of the Drawings To complement the description which is being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to 15 the present specification as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective cover for beverage cans object of the invention, suitably arranged on the can for which it is intended, the way in which it is placed as well as the parts or elements that it consists of 20 being seen. Figures 2 and 3 show respective perspective side elevational views of respective embodiments of the cover object of the invention, completing covering the -3 can in the case of Figure 2 and only covering its upper part in the case of Figure 3. Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In view of the mentioned figures, and according to the numbers adopted, a preferred embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which comprises the 5 parts and elements indicated and described in detail below. As is observed in said figures, the cover in question basically consists of a body (1), made with a suitably impermeable and sufficiently strong material, preferably fine plastic, cellophane or the like, preferably transparent, which adopts a configuration similar to that of the can (2), i.e., a cylindrical configuration open at is 10 lower part (Ia) and closed at its upper base (Ib) and with dimensions slightly larger than those of the can (2), such that it covers the latter at the upper part and laterally surrounds at least its upper half in a tight manner, optionally being able to cover it entirely. Said body (1) has at least one tear means, such as a partially pre-die cut strip 15 (3) or any other similar known system, there optionally being at its end at least one flange (4) which facilitates holding it, thus assuring the hygiene of the upper surface of the can (2) in which the corresponding ring pull (6) is located, in order to be able to drink directly from such can. Additionally, and in order to provide a greater and better hygienic protection 20 of the can (2), the lower part of the body (1) forming the cover can incorporate, at its inner face, a band (5) with adhesive or provided with some other type of similar fixing, which keeps said lower part of the body (1) adhered to the side surface of the can (2), sealing off the space between both elements (cover and can) from the entry of any type of foreign element. 25 Finally, it must be emphasized, as is observed in Figures 2 and 3, that the cover formed by the body (1) can optionally cover the can (2) completely, in which case said body (1) will logically not be open at its lower part and it will not be necessary to fix it by means of the band (5) with adhesive (Figure 2), or it can only cover its upper part (Figure 3). 30 Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to further extend its description for any person skilled in the art to understand its scope and the advantages derived therefrom, stating that, within its essence, it can be put into practice in other embodiments which differ in detail from the one indicated by way 35 of example, and which are also covered by the protection which is sought provided that its fundamental principle is not altered, changed or modified. I /08/10,va es2008 000476 engtrans speci.doc,3 - 3a Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. 5 It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Claims

1. Beverage can having a protective cover in order to assure the suitable hygiene conditions which the surface of the can will have to be able to drink directly from it, wherein the protective cover consists of a body, made from an impermeable 5 material having a predefined strength, which adopts a cylindrical configuration preferably open at its lower part and closed at its upper base and with dimensions slightly larger than those of the can, such that it covers the latter at the upper base part in which a corresponding pull tab is located, wherein said body has at least one tear means, such as a partially pre-die cut strip or any other suitable system, additionally and in order to 10 provide a greater and better hygienic protection of the can, the lower part of the body forming the cover incorporates, at its inner face, a band, which band is provided with an adhesive or with some other type of similar fixing, which keeps said lower part of the body adhered to the side surface of the can, sealing off the space between cover and can, characterized in that, the cover laterally surrounds at least the upper half of the can in a 15 tight manner.

2. Beverage can having a protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the body covers the can completely, being closed at its lower part.

3. Beverage can having a protective cover according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover is made from thin plastic, cellophane or 20 the like, preferably transparent.

4. Beverage can having a protective cover according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover has at the end of the tear means at least one flange which facilitates holding it.

5. Beverage can substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 25 drawings.