GB2066091A

GB2066091A - Connector device for drinking cans

Info

Publication number: GB2066091A
Application number: GB7944479A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-12-28
Filing date: 1979-12-28
Publication date: 1981-07-08

Abstract

A connector device for interconnecting drinking cans to build a structure, comprises a central sleeve (9) and four peripheral sleeves (10) each of which is capable of interconnecting two drinking cans in an endwise configuration. The sleeves are interconnected by a supporting web (11) which includes integral hinges (12) to allow the sleeves to be directed at desired angles relative to one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A connector device for drinking cans This invention relates to a connector device for interconnecting drinking cans to permit the building of structures. The device of the invention may for example be used by children with empty drinking cans as a constructional toy, but the device of the invention may also be used in shops to interconnect drinking cans for display purposes.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connector device consists of a sleeve of plastics material that receives and connects two generally cylindrical drinking cans in an endwise configuration, the sleeve preferably being formed with an interior lip against which the cans abut from opposite sides, the sleeve being arranged to frictionally grip the portions of the cans inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve may be of a shape to conform intimately any lips or grooves on the inserted part of the can so as further to retain the cans in the sleeve. The invention thus further includes a method of constructing a structure from drinking cans, comprising pushing drinking cans into the aforementioned sleeve such that they are disposed in an endwise interconnected relationship.

The sleeve may include a flared annular portion at one end, so that when only one can is fitted into the sleeve at the other end, the flared annular portion defines a cup-like lip for the purpose of drinking from the can.

Another embodiment of the invention consists of a connector device including a plurality of such sleeves formed on a common base and preferably hingedly connected to one another to permit such drinking cans to be connected in different angular configurations to one another. Preferably the device of the invention is integrally moulded in a plastics material such as polypropene. Preferably the device includes five such sleeves four of which are disposed in a cruciform arrangement about a central one of the sleeves. Preferably integral plastics hinges respectively interconnect the central sleeve with the other sleeves, if desired. The cruciform disposed sleeves may be removed by cutting along the hinges if a smaller number of connector devices is required.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of drinking cans interconnected to form a structure by means of connector devices in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of a multi connector device shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view of the connector of Figure 2, taken along the line X-X', and Figure 4 is a sectional view of a single connector device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a number of drinking cans 1 to 6 interconnected to form a structure. Two connectors 7 and 8 are shown. The connector 7 includes five connecting sleeves which are hinged to allow the cans to be disposed at different angles. The connector 8 interconnects two cans endwise. The cans are empty metal cylindrical cans of the kind conventionally used for soft drinks, beers, cola, and the like. The connectors 7 and 8 allow empty cans to be used as constructional elements of a building toy such that the cans can be interconnected to define structures. The connectors can also be used with full cans in order to construct displays for use in shops for example.

Referring to Figure 2, the connector 7 consists of a central sleeve 9 and a plurality of identical sleeves 10 disposed in a cruciform arrangement about the central sleeve. The sleeves 9, 10 are integrally moulded in a plastics material such as polypropene with supporting webs 11 that include integral hinges 12.

The construction of the sleeves can be seen clearly from Figure 3, which illustrates the central sleeve 9 in section. The sleeve 9 includes a central annular interior lip 13 on each side of which is formed annular grooves 14 and a tapered circular outer portion 15. Each tapered portion 14 and groove 15 is adapted to receive an end of one of the cans. In use, the can is push fitted into the sleeve 9 so as to abut the interior lip 13 and is thereby retained by the resilientfrictional grip exerted by the plastics material of the sleeve 9 on the can. Certain can designs have a lip at each or one of the ends of their cylindrical surface and the groove 14 is adapted to receive the lip and so aid in retaining the can.

It will be appreciated that the sleeves 9, 10 each interconnect two cans in an endwise configuration such that their cylindrical surfaces are coaxially disposed. Also, the sleeves 10 can mount cans at different angles relative to one another and/or relative to a can be retained by the central sleeve 9, but virtue of the integral hinges 12. Many combinational possibilities will be readily apparent.

Another feature of the connector 7 is that if desired, certain ones of the sleeves 10 can be removed by cutting the web along one or more of the hinges 12. The removed sleeves can be used in much the same way as the connector 8. Clearly, with several of the connectors 7, complex structural forms can be fabricated.

The single connector 8 shown in Figure 4 consists of a sleeve of substantially the same construction as the sleeve 9 already described. The connector 8 is for the purpose of connecting two cans in a coaxial end to end relationship. The sleeve includes the internal lip 13, the grooves 14 and the tapered portions 15 previously described with reference to Figure 3. The connector 8 is moulded in a plastics material such as polypropene. Integrally formed on the sleeve is a flared lip 16 which can be used rather like the lip of a cup to provide for improved comfort when drinking direct from the can. In use an open can is clipped onto the underside of the sleeve shown in Figure 4, and the lip 16 is used as the lip of a cup for drinking purposes.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a useful marketing device and/or ancillary product for the trade of vending canned drinks.

Many modifications and variations fall within the scope of the invention. In one modification, the sleeves are disposed at fixed predetermined angles relative to one another, thus dispensing with the hinges 12.

Claims

1. A connector device for drinking cans, compris ing five sleeves each for connecting two generally cylindrical drinking cans in an endwise configuration, said sleeves being interconnected by a supporting web, the sleeves being arranged such that one is centrally disposed of the device and the other sleeves are disposed around the periphery of the central sleeve.

2. A connector device according to claim 1 and integrally moulded of a plastics material.

3. A connector device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the sleeves are disposed in a generally cruciform arrangement.

4. A connector device according to any preceding claim including integral hinges in the supporting web, the hinges permitting the sleeves to be turned relative to one another.

5. A connector device according to any preceding claim wherein each said sleeve includes an interior lip against which the two cans can abut on opposite sides of the lip, the sleeve being arranged frictionally to grip portions of the cans inserted into the sleeve.

6. A connector device according to any preced ing claim, made of polypropylene.

7. A connector device substantially as hereinbe fore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A structure formed of drinking cans interconnected by at least one connector device in accordance with any preceding claim.

9. A structure according to claim 8 wherein two cans of the structure are interconnected in an endwise relationship by a single said sleeve which is not interconnected by the supporting web to other such sleeves.

10. A structure according to claim 8 wherein said single sleeve is produced by removal thereof from the or one of the connector device(s).

11. A structure according to claim 9 wherein said single sleeve is formed with a drinking lip.