EP1114782A2 - Container with automatic straw delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

The straw extraction device for a drinks can comprises a flexible plastic arm (4) with a ring at its end which fits around the straw (2) and which allows it to be moved from a position inside the can to a position where its top rests against the top of the can opening (5). A support arm (9) fixed between the side and top of the can cooperates with the first arm.

Description

The present invention relates to a container provided with a device allowing the absorption of a drink in a hygienic way avoiding that the consumer does not put the lips on an external part of said container and more particularly the device for extracting a straw from the container.

There are many types of containers on the market: bottles plastics, glass bottles, metal cans, cardboard packaging can have various shapes allowing the packaging of everything type of liquid food products.

These different containers have the drawback for the user to be unhygienic when drinking from the container, either impractical depending on the shape and size of the neck, or even the shape of the container.

In the particular case of metal cans or packaging cardboard boxes used for various and varied beers of the beer type, soft drinks, fruit juice or milk, these are very unhygienic. Indeed, from their places of production at the time when the drink was conditioned, these are transported and unloaded without any measures specific hygiene products then sold to the consumer by a retailer who stores them without special hygiene precautions and handles them manually. During these various manipulations, it may deposit various microbes, viruses, bacteria or dust that the consumer will absorb when he puts his lips to the container.

Furthermore, in the particular case of metal cans and regardless of hygiene issues, the consumer can be embarrassed during absorption of the drink by flow problems nuisance most often causing stains on his clothes.

In order to avoid said drawbacks, the invention proposes by simple and inexpensive ways to solve these practical problems and hygienic thanks to an automatic straw extraction device located inside the container.

• un organe support de paille mobile entre une position libre où la paille qu'il supporte présente son extrémité dans l'orifice des moyens d'ouverture du récipient et une position verrouillée où ladite extrémité est disposée à l'intérieur du récipient, ledit support de paille étant constitué par un bras portant à son extrémité des moyens de retenue de la paille et étant, par ailleurs, articulé sur une pièce, tandis que la pièce intermédiaire comprend un rebord périphérique disposé entre la paroi supérieure de la canette et sa paroi périphérique pour y être pincé par sertissage.

Thus, according to its main characteristic, the device for automatically extracting a straw placed inside a container provided with opening means of the cylindrical can type, for example, is characterized in that it comprises:

• a straw support member movable between a free position where the straw which it supports has its end in the opening of the container opening means and a locked position where said end is disposed inside the container, said support straw being constituted by an arm carrying at its end means for retaining the straw and being, moreover, articulated on a part, while the intermediate part comprises a peripheral rim disposed between the upper wall of the can and its peripheral wall for be pinched there by crimping.

According to an additional characteristic, the device comprises means for urging the straw support member intended to request it from its locked position to its free position.

According to other additional characteristics, the device includes locking means for blocking the support member straw in its locked position, and unlocking means intended to release the support member from its locked position.

Note that, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the means of unlocking are constituted by a secondary unlocking arm, while the intermediate piece and the support arm are made in one holding, forming a single piece of plastic material, having some elasticity.

According to another characteristic, the intermediate piece presents itself in the form of an annular ring.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figures 1 to 11 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the straw extraction device and an alternative embodiment of said device.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate respectively in perspective the opening of a metal cylindrical can type container.

Figures 3a to 3d are a block diagram of the device extraction and its operation.

Figure 3a illustrates the device in the locked position.

FIG. 3b illustrates the extraction device in the position of release, when it is about to be unlocked.

FIG. 3c illustrates the device when the support member passes from its locked position to its free position.

Figure 3d illustrates the extraction device in the free position.

Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the extraction device in the free position.

Figures 5a and 5b show a bottom view of the device extraction respectively in the locked position and in the free position, the configuration of the abutment and support surfaces of the different arms being simplified as well as the release tab to simplify the understanding of the figures.

Figures 6a and 6b show, in perspective views different from that of FIGS. 5a and 5b, the extraction device, respectively in its locked position and in its free position.

Figure 7a shows the extraction device from below in the locked position.

Figure 7b illustrates in a view similar to Figure 7a the extraction device in free position.

Figure 8a shows in perspective the extraction device arranged in its cylindrical can and shows the two extreme positions of the straw support arm, the upper wall of the can represented.

FIG. 8b illustrates in perspective the bobbin and the end of the straw extracted therefrom when the extraction device is in position free.

FIG. 9a schematically illustrates in cross section the installation of the straw extraction device inside the can.

Figure 9b shows in a view similar to Figure 9a, the extraction device arranged in its can.

FIG. 9c represents a detail of FIG. 9b illustrating the sealing means of the extraction device.

Figure 10 schematically illustrates in cross section the extraction device and its container in the free position, a portion of straw being extracted from the container.

Figure 11 shows in perspective an alternative embodiment of the extraction device.

Note that, to allow a better understanding of different figures, the straw has not been shown in Figures 4, 5b, 6b, 7a, 8 and 10, but only the means for retaining the support member straw were illustrated.

The invention relates to an automatic extraction device bearing the general reference (1) intended to extract automatically when from its opening a straw (2) disposed inside a container (3). The extraction device (1) is advantageously described in the case particularly metallic cylindrical cans whose means opening (MO) are constituted in a manner known per se by a ring pusher (6) and a precut tab (7) which can pivot towards the interior of the container (3) under the action of the ring to release the orifice (5) said opening means, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It goes from the automatic extraction device according to the invention could be modified to suit other types of containers or other types of opening means without leaving the scope of protection of the invention.

According to the invention, the automatic extraction device (1) of the straw (2) comprises a straw support member (4) movable between a locked position (B) where the straw (2) is inside the container (3) and which corresponds to the closed position of the opening means (MO) and a free position (A) where the support member (4) has the end (2a) of the straw (2) at the orifice (5) and which corresponds to the position open said opening means. The device also includes biasing means (MS) of the straw support member (4) which tend to move it from its locked position (B) to its free position (A). Furthermore, there are provided locking means (MV) intended to block the straw support member (4) in its locked position (B) and unlocking means (MDV) intended to cause the release of said organ. In addition, the unlocking means (MDV) are advantageously made so as to be actuated by the means opening (MO) of the container (3) when the consumer performs the opening of the orifice (5).

According to the preferred embodiment of the extraction device according to the invention, the straw support member is constituted by an arm (4) carrying at its end (4a) means for retaining the straw (2) such a portion of tube (10) inside which is disposed the end (2a) of said straw. The straw support arm (4) is advantageously articulated on an intermediate piece (9) arranged at inside the container and secured to it by means of fixation which will be described later.

According to this preferred embodiment, the locking means (MV) illustrated in Figure 4 are advantageously constituted by a locking such as, for example, a secondary locking arm (8) which has at its end (8a) a set of abutment surfaces (11), namely, two lateral stops (11a, 11b) and a lower stop (11c). The lateral (11a, 11b) and lower (11c) abutment surfaces are intended to cooperate with complementary bearing surfaces (12, 12a, 12b, 12c) carried by the straw support arm (4) when the extraction device (1) is in the locked position (B). The secondary arm (8) is advantageously articulated at its other end on the intermediate piece (9), however it goes without saying that it could very well be articulated on another part integral with the bobbin (3).

According to the preferred embodiment of the extraction device automatic straw (1), the intermediate piece (9) is made in a slightly flexible material with a certain elasticity. The arm support (4) and the secondary arm (8) being constituted by extensions of the intermediate piece (9), their articulation with this takes place according to a hinge (13, 14) formed in a manner known per se, for example, by a narrowing of the section of the extensions forming the arms. The elasticity of the material used allows the articulated arms (4, 8) to be resiliently biased towards their respective initial positions which each correspond to the free position of the extraction device (1) as shown in Figures 5b and 6b. The elasticity of the support arm straw (4) constantly tends to recall it to its free position (A) and thus constitutes the biasing means (MS) of the extraction device (1). However, said means could be obtained by any device equivalent elastic return, as for example located on the hinges or articulations of the arms without leaving the field of claimed protection of the invention.

According to the preferred embodiment of the extraction device (1), the stress on the articulated arms (4, 8) due to the elasticity of their materials when bent in the locked position (B) allows to cooperate the respective abutment and bearing surfaces (11, 12) against the forces of recall which are exerted on said arms according to a principle of flying buttresses known per se illustrated schematically in Figure 3a. Thus, all of said bearing and abutment surfaces allow positioning and holding the arms articulated and essentially the straw support arm (4) in a position locked (B) as shown in Figures 5a and 6a, where the end (2a) of the straw (2) which he carries is set back inside the can (3) and where the straw support arm (4) is biased towards its free position (A) thanks to its elasticity and its flexed position.

Note that, according to the preferred embodiment of the device, the articulation (13) of the support arm (4) is made so that it goes from its locked position (B) where the end (2a) of the straw (2) is located in a horizontal plane (H1) located below the horizontal plane (H) comprising the orifice (5) and offset with respect to this orifice, like the show Figures 3a and 7a, towards a free position (A) where the end (2a) is arranged in a plane (H2) located slightly above the plane (H) of the orifice, directly above it, as illustrated in Figures 3d, 7b, 8b and 10. The displacement of the support arm (4) is thus effected by pivoting in a inclined plane orthogonal to the axis of its articulation (14) so as to allow the end (2a) of the straw (2) to pass through the orifice (5).

The extraction device (1) also comprises means for unlocking (MDV) which allow upon actuation of the means opening (MO) of the container (3) illustrated schematically in Figure 3b of release the support arm (4) from its locked position (B). Depending on the mode of preferred embodiment, the unlocking means are constituted by a release tab (15) arranged on the secondary locking arm (8) and intended to be actuated when the container is opened by the pivoting inward of the can (3) of the pre-cut tongue (7) or covers opening means so as to cause the movement by pivoting around its articulation (14) of the arm secondary to an extreme release position (D) illustrated schematically Figure 3b. The pivoting of the secondary arm towards its release position (D) frees all the surfaces of additional stop and support (11a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b, 12c) which cooperated with each other in the locked position (B) so that the straw support arm (4) is returned to its free position (A) thanks to the biasing means (MS), as shown in Figure 3c, the tab of unlocking then ceasing to cooperate with the precut tab so as to also release the secondary arm.

Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment, the arm secondary release (8) is also biased towards its position free (A) by additional means of solicitation obtained also by the elasticity of the material used to make it or by elastic return means located on the articulation (14) of the arm on the intermediate piece (9). When unlocking, the secondary arm (8) passes above the support arm (4) to free the bearing and abutment surfaces of the two articulated arms which cooperate. Then both arms undergo each a force to recall their respective means of solicitation and come to position in free position. Note that the secondary arm of unlocking (8) overlaps the support arm (4) to pass underneath and thus allow by its own restoring force to also solicit towards the high (HA) the support arm (4) so as to bring it towards its free position (AT).

Note that the articulated arms (4, 8), the means for retaining the straw (2), the support arm (4), the bearing and abutment surfaces, the arm secondary (8) and the intermediate part (9) are advantageously made in one piece and form a single piece which is presented under the shape of an annular ring (9) intended to be arranged inside (INT) of the bobbin (3) under the upper wall (16) on which the means for opening said can as shown in Figure 8a.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring annular (9) is made of a plastic material of the type used in the food industry to be able to be placed in contact liquid intended for consumption. It can advantageously be performed by an injection process or by any other equivalent process.

Note also that the straw (2) can consist of two coaxial portions of straw (20a, 20b), one of which (20a) is retained by the retaining means (10) of the straw support arm (4) and of which the other (20b) slides inside the first (20a) as shown in Figure 10 and allows the user to extract part of it for drinking while maintaining the lower end (2b) of the straw portion (20a) at the level of the bottom (17) of the container (3) to allow suction the entire content. The upper straw portion (20b) can advantageously include an annular retaining bead (18) designed to prevent it from sliding fully into the portion lower (20a). The bead (18) is located on the straw portion (20b) of so that its upper end (2a) is located slightly above of the plane (H) of the orifice (5) when the extraction device (1) is in the free position (A).

It is important to note that the annular ring (9) can advantageously include sealing means constituted by its peripheral edge (19). Thus, during the packaging of the can (3) with its extraction device (1) illustrated in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the rim device (19) can advantageously replace silicone seals used by manufacturers to seal between the wall device (21) of the bobbin and its upper wall (16), said rim being pinched between the two walls when these are assembled assembly by crimping for example as shown in detail in the figure 9c. Thus according to the different embodiments, the extraction device consists of an intermediate piece (9) which can be arranged and fixed in the container and in particular in a can without the need for structural modification thereof.

Furthermore, according to the different modes of execution of the device extraction, the annular ring (9) constituting it can advantageously be carried out by an injection process of the bi-material type, so as to obtain a part made from a first plastic material relatively rigid provided with a peripheral rim (19) produced in a second softer plastic material injected simultaneously with in a manner known per se. Thus, during the installation of the device in the bobbin, the relatively flexible peripheral rim allows for a perfect seal between the upper wall (16) and the wall device (21) of the bobbin (3) as shown in FIG. 9c, while the relative rigidity of the main central part allows operation optimal of the device and in particular the elastic stress of the arms of their locked position (B) where they are in a slightly flexed to their free position (A).

According to a second embodiment illustrated schematically Figure 11, the extraction device (1) comprises a straw support arm (4) articulated and biased towards its free position (A) of the type described in the previous embodiment. However, the locking means (MV) are no longer constituted by a secondary arm, but by a stop (22) in the form of a notch secured to the intermediate piece (9) on which the support arm (4) can be arranged in the locked position (B), said arm being biased by its biasing means (MS) towards its free position (AT).

According to this embodiment, the unlocking means (MDV) consist of an unlocking tab (23) formed by a wall portion projecting from the straw support arm (4). This tab (23) is intended to cooperate with the precut tab (7) of the means opening (MO) of the bobbin when it rotates inward to release the support arm (4) from its stop (22) against the stress solicitation means (MS). When said arm (4) is out of its notch and that the release tab stops cooperating with the tongue precut (7), the biasing means remind the arm towards its free position,

Note that, according to this embodiment, the unlocking of the arm (4) which is effected by the release tab (23) allows give the arm more potential energy than it has in the locked position since the arm (4) is moved against the return force of the biasing means (MS) of a required height to pass the notch, the stop (22) thus makes it possible to give an energization complementary to the arm (4) in order to facilitate its positioning in position free (A) when it is released from said stop. Note that the side rim (22a) of the stop (22) can advantageously be inclined and slightly curved, and can therefore constitute means for guiding the arm support (4), allowing it to be guided from its extreme position release where it comes out of the notch towards its free position.

It is also important to note that, according to this mode of embodiment, when in the free position, the support arm (4) is arranged in the same plane as the stop (22) and is arranged next to it. Of this way, during the injection process intended to mass produce the circular ring (9) of the extraction device (1), the mold used is a simple mold, and less expensive than in other embodiments slightly more complex and which may require the use of so-called drawer molds.

According to the various embodiments described, the device extraction consists of a piece in the form of an annular ring; however according to other embodiments not shown, the device can be made in several pieces. In addition, the component (s) of the extraction device could have a different shape from the shape of the annular ring and have a sector or other shape for example. Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment, the means for fixing the annular part are constituted by the peripheral rim intended to be crimped between the cover and the peripheral wall of the can, said rim also constituting the sealing means of the device, however it goes without saying that the fastening means could have a different configuration. Thus, the annular part could for example not not be provided with a peripheral rim but be fixed by wedging in the upper part of the bobbin which has a slightly shaped tapered.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented as examples, but it includes also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (7)

Automatic extraction device (1) from a straw (2) placed inside (INT) of a container (3) provided with opening means (MO) of the cylindrical can type, characterized in that it is of the type which comprises: a straw support member (4) movable between a free position (A) where the straw (2) which it supports has its end (2a) in the orifice (5) of the opening means (MO) of the container ( 3) and a locked position (B) where said end is disposed inside (INT) of the container (3), said straw support (4) being constituted by an arm (4) carrying at its end (4a) means for retaining the straw (2) and being, moreover, articulated on an intermediate piece (9), while the intermediate piece (9) comprises a peripheral rim (19) disposed between the upper wall (16) of the can (3) and its peripheral wall (21) to be pinched there by crimping. Automatic extraction device (1) from a straw (2) according to the claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for stress (MS) of the straw support member (4) intended to stress the latter from its locked position (B) to its free position (A). Automatic extraction device (1) from a straw (2) according to the claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for locking (MV) intended to block the straw support member (4) in its locked position (B). Automatic extraction device (1) for a straw (2) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it includes unlocking means (MDV) intended to release the organ support (4) from its locked position (B). Automatic extraction device (1) from a straw (2) according to the claim 4, characterized in that the unlocking means (MDV) consist of a secondary unlocking arm (8). Automatic extraction device (1) for a straw (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate piece (9) and the support arm (4) are made in one piece, forming a single piece of plastic material, having a certain elasticity. Automatic extraction device (1) for a straw (2) according to any one of the preceding claims and claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate piece (9) is in the form an annular ring.

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