EP3210904A1

EP3210904A1 - Dispensing stopper that can be fitted to drinks cans with stay-on tab opening.

Info

Publication number: EP3210904A1
Application number: EP15852225.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Antonio MORÁN MARÍN; Simón CRISTÓBAL CRISTÓBAL
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-20
Filing date: 2015-10-14
Publication date: 2017-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-14
Also published as: ES1135601Y; ES1135601U; EP3210904B1; WO2016062906A1; EP3210904A4

Abstract

A device that can be fitted to beverage cans (7) which have a stay-on tab type opening. Said device is to be placed in the opening of the lid and consists of a main body (1) with a cylindrical or frustoconical outer shape, where the walls of said body have a non-uniform thickness, a hole (2) being located at the top thereof and another hole (4) at the bottom thereof, connected with each other so that said main body is hollow. Said main body (1) has at the bottom thereof a hollow space (6) of large enough dimensions to insert the tab (11) of the can (7); wherein at the bottom there is a fastening base (3) which has a semicircular recess (5) of equal diameter to that of the rivet (12) which secures the tab (11), and an opening of the same dimensions as the lower hole (4) of the main body (1).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention, as indicated in the title of this report, relates to a device that can be fitted to beverage cans that have a non-removable closing element, commonly known as a stay-on tab. Said device is intended to be placed in the opening of the lid and takes its characteristic configuration to adapt to its surface so that no leakage of liquid between the device and the lid occurs when pouring the beverage, the device also being firmly secured to prevent unwanted movements from occurring. Advantageously, the device also has a top closure for closing an already opened can in order to preserve the properties of the liquid contained therein.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The cap-dispenser that is proposed is configured as an accessory element for the consumption of canned beverages, so its field of application will be the manufacturing industry of this type of packaging.

BACKGROUND

One of the main advantages of easy-open beverage cans is that they are easy to store, distribute and consume, which has led to their growth since their inception in the 1960s to date, clearly prevailing over other types of packaging.
Nevertheless, different problems with regard to the consumption from these cans are known, such as the risk of contamination of the lid during any stage of distribution or storage from its manufacturing until it reaches the end consumer, or the fact that the lid cannot be closed once opened.
With regard to the first of the problems cited, although each can is subject to a sanitation process immediately after it is manufactured, contamination of the surface of the lid can occur, and in fact, this occurs with relative frequency due to incorrect storage or possible knocks or breakages during transportation. Since the consumption of these cans is mostly undertaken by means of directly drinking the content therein, possible contamination poses a hygiene problem that becomes apparent with regard to the existence of many proposed solutions that try to resolve such in very different ways. For the other problem cited, there is also a wide range of devices that can close an already opened can. Normally the two solutions are complementary, finding that many existing devices solve both problems simultaneously.
However, to date, all proposed solutions for the aforementioned problems present disadvantageous aspects ranging from the fact that while several models prevent direct lip contact with the surface of the lid, the liquid itself does enter in contact with said surface, thus carrying contaminants that it may have, which will be ingested by the consumer. For other devices, excessive size or complexity of use due to being made up of several pieces assembled together makes them uncomfortable to use.
The advent of a device that could be easily and quickly attached to and removed from a can would therefore be desirable, preferably being of a reduced size and which also prevents the liquid from being in contact with the surface of the lid of said can.
A series of devices that partially solve the problems that have been described is known to the author of this invention, although said solutions have clear disadvantages with regard to the cap-dispenser proposed in this report. Some of the devices are described in the following documents:

ES 1058995_U . It refers to a device with a lid and mouthpiece for beverage cans, which consists of a tab which is inserted in the opening of the lid of the can by pressure and to which a second device that functions as a lid is coupled by guides. It has the disadvantage of its complexity, being formed of more than one piece, having to perform several operations of insertion and arrangement of the device to finally use it.
ES 1073249_U . It describes a pouring cap for soft drinks cans consisting of a single-pieced body that is made up of a sort of bowl circular mouthpiece that is coupled to the perimetral rim of the can and that is attached by means of a tongue-and-groove coupling. Said body has a hole that extends in an oblique neck that penetrates inside the opening of the can. In addition to lacking a closing system, the tongue-and-groove fastening to the perimetral rim of can is difficult.
ES 1058287_U . A safety cap for cans is described, consisting of a cover that attaches to the upper perimetral rim of the can in a similar way as the previously described invention. It has a screw closure that can be attached to a cap to close the can when drinking is no longer desired. It has the same arrangement difficulties as mentioned above and it does not prevent the liquid from entering into contact with the surface of the lid.
ES 1057458_U . It is a device to facilitate the consumption of canned beverages, consisting of an arch that attaches to the perimetral rim of the can, which has joined thereto a cap of similar geometry to the opening of the lid. Between the arch and the cap is a hinge that allows movement of the cap and to close the opening when the drink is not being consumed.

The author of this report is not aware of any other type of device with these characteristics that is configured in the same way as the invention states in this report, meaning that it is considered to comply with the patentability requirements specified by legislation and are requested as a consequence of the protection offered by this type of invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This device is formed of a main body with an external cylindrical or hollow frustoconical shape, where the walls of said body have a non-uniform thickness, there being a hole of circular or elliptical geometry at the top and another circular or elliptical hole at the bottom.
At the bottom of the main body there is a recess or hollowed-out area, with an almost rectangular geometry and which adapts to the contour of the tab of the can so that said hollow space can house the part of the tab that goes from the rivet that secures said tab to the lid until its front end, i.e., the end that once the can is opened projects over the hole of the opening.
Thus, the walls of this main body will be visibly thicker at the rear (wherein said recess is located) than at the front to house said recess or hollow space.
Attached to the bottom of the main body is a fastening base configured as a flat sheet which has a hole coinciding with the existing hole at the bottom of the main body, and whose geometry is similar to that of the underside of the main body although its dimensions are slightly greater at least at the rear. If the cap-dispenser is observed in plan view, the base protrudes several millimetres, with its contour parallel to the contour of the underside of the main body. At the rear there will be a semicircular recess of the same diameter as the rivet that attaches the tab to the lid of the can, wherein said recess is intended to allow the insertion of the base until said semicircular recess is inserted in the contour of the can so that the base is located under the tab and nipped thereby.
The underside of the base has a rim which protrudes from said underside and which has a perimeter whose geometry is coinciding with that of the hole in the lid, having the rim of its respective hole for the passage of liquid and an end projection of greater diameter than that of the hole, which is inserted through the hole folding it and once it has been inserted secures the device also preventing vertical movements of the device. Therefore, its mission adjusting the device with the hole of the can so that accidental displacement between the two is prevented. The thickness of this lower rim may be slightly greater at the front, so that when the base is inserted under the tab of the can, the latter is forced to exert pressure on said tab which it transmits to the front of the base causing the joint to be compressed in that area, thereby improving the contact with the surface of the can.
The top of the main body may have attached thereto a cap that will allow the closure, consisting of a lid of dimensions coinciding with those of the hole on the top of the main body, being able to insert said cap into the hole, which will be subject to simple pressure on the walls of the inner hollow of the main body.
The cap can be attached to the main body by a strip of material or have a hinge which enables the movement of the cap in relation to the main body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1. Perspective view of the cap-dispenser, where the top can be observed.
Fig. 2. Perspective view this time from the bottom, where the base and the bottom seal can be observed.
Fig. 3. Section view of the cap-dispenser where the cutting plane is located on the longitudinal symmetry axis of the piece.
Fig. 4. Perspective view of the cap-dispenser arranged on a beverage can with stay-on tab opening.
Fig. 5. Plan view of the cap-dispenser assembled on the can.
Fig. 6. Section view of the device assembled on the lid of the can, where the lower rim with its projection fitted over the hole in the lid of the can is observed, the inner surface of the can being represented with shading.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED REALISATION

According to the aforementioned figures, the present invention is illustrated by the following example, developed with descriptive object and not attempting to limit its scope in any way:

The cap-dispenser is formed of a main body (1), with hollow frustoconical geometry, leading to an upper hole (2) and a lower hole (4) which are connected.

The main body (1) has at its rear a hollow space (6) of large enough dimensions to insert the tab (11) of the can (7) with stay-on tab type closure. The formation of said hollow space (6) means that the wall thickness of the main body is not uniform, being greater at the rear than the front.
At the bottom of the main body (1) there is a fastening base (3), in whose bottom there is a lower rim (10), where both elements have holes of matching geometry with the bottom hole (4). In addition, said lower rim (10) has such dimensions that it can be inserted into the hole and its side walls remain in contact with the perimeter of the hole in the lid. Said rim (10) has at its bottom a projection or enlarged area whose dimensions are greater than those of the hole, which needs to be folded to enter through it and which to be introduced through it needs to be folded and once passed the hole is left securing the device to the bottom of the lid of the can.
The base (3) has a semicircular recess (5) of the same diameter as the rivet (12) that secures the tab (11) to the lid of the can (7). The base (3) is configured as a flat sheet of the same geometry as the underside of the main body (1), but whose dimensions are slightly larger so that in plan view said base (3) overhangs between 3 and 4 mm in relation to the main body (1).
Attached to the main body (1) by means of a strip (9) is a cap (8) that is adapted by pressure to the upper hole (2), closing the assembly and preventing the liquid from leaving once the can (7) is opened.
Having described the nature of this invention sufficiently, together with its implementation, it is not considered necessary to give a further explanation for any expert in the art to understand its scope and the benefits it provides, stating that, in its essence, it may be implemented via other realisations that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and which will also offer the protection indicated as long as its fundamental principle is not altered, changed or modified.

Claims

CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING, characterized in that it comprises a main body (1) with external cylindrical or frustoconical shape, where the walls of said body have a non-uniform thickness, there being a hole (2) at the top and another hole (4) at the bottom which are connected so that said main body is hollow; wherein said main body (1) has at its rear a hollow space (6) of sufficient space to insert the ring (11) of a can (7); where at the bottom of the main body (1) has a fastening base (3) that has a semicircular recess (5) of a diameter coinciding with that of the rivet (12) that secures the tab (11) to the lid of the can (7) and a hole of a geometry coinciding with that of the bottom hole (4) of the main body (1).
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 1, characterized in that it joins to the main body (1) with a strip (9) has a cap- dispenser (8) which is adapted by pressure to the top hole (2), closing off the complex and preventing the fluid outlet once the can is opened (7).
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 2, characterized in that the union between the cap (8) and the main body (1) it is made by a hinge.
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (3) it is configured as a flat sheet with an analogous geometry to the lower side of the main body (1), but its dimensions are slightly higher so that the base seen from above (3) projects between 3 and 4 millimeters with respect of the main body.
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower side from the support base (3) there is a flange (10) that projects from the said lower side and it will have a perimeter whose geometry will be coincident with the cap hole, having the flange (10) from the corresponding hole to the digestion fluid.
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 5, characterized in that the flange thickness (10) is bigger in its previous part.
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 5, characterized in that the aforesaid flange (10) has in the lower part that stand out or large area whose dimensions are bigger than the hole, that in order to be introduced through itself needs to be folder and once that it has crossed the hole, it is remained to the device at the lower part of the lid of the can.
CAP-DISPENSER THAT CAN BE FITTED TO BEVERAGE CANS WITH STAY-ON TAB OPENING according to claim 1, characterized in that the emptying (6) has a approximately rectangular geometry and it is adapted to the ring (11) of the can (7) so that allows hosting the mentioned emptying (6) the part of the ring (11) which goes from the rivet (12) that holds the ring (11) to the cap until its front end.