GB2344093A

GB2344093A - Receptacles having spouts

Info

Publication number: GB2344093A
Application number: GB9819913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Shakhani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-24
Filing date: 1998-09-11
Publication date: 2000-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-11
Also published as: GB2344093B; GB9819913D0

Abstract

A receptacle for containing a liquid has an aperture 4, or a region which is to form an aperture, communicating with the interior of the receptacle, there being a body 5 secured to the receptacle incorporating an extensible spout 11, the spout being positioned to be in fluid flow communication with the interior of the receptacle through the aperture that exists or that is to be formed. The body 5 may be attached to or moulded onto a beverage can end 3 and may be covered by a cap 14 attached by a retaining strap, 15 or by a screw cap. The free end of the spout 11 may be sealed by a disc or a cap. The spout may be positioned over an area of the receptacle bounded by a line of weakness, pressure on said area creating the aperture.

Description

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A RECEPTACLE" The present invention relates to a receptacle and more particularly relates to a receptacle such, for example, a beverage can adapted to contain a carbonated beverage such as a soft drink or beer.

For many years a"ring-pull"can has been used to package carbonated drinks.

Initially, the"ring-pull"became totally detached from the can when the can was opened, but more recently a"ring-pull"can has been in common use in which the"ring-pull"deflects a tab, which initially forms part of the lid of the can, downwardly into the can to form an opening through which the beverage can be dispensed.

Typically, the edge of the top of the can adjacent the opening formed by displacement of the tab is placed against the lips of the person who is to consume the beverage and the can is then tilted to allow the beverage to flow through the opening in the lid.

If the can has, subsequent to manufacture and filling, been exposed to any source of germs, this may prove to be unhygienic. It may be difficult for young children to consume the beverage in the manner described.

Carbonated drinks, especially"soft"carbonated drinks which have a high sugar content, tend to be harmful to teeth, especially the teeth of young people, and thus it is desirable to minimise any contact between a beverage of this type and the teeth of a person drinking the beverage.

In using a conventional ring-pull can it is not possible to re-seal the can once the can has been opened. Thus, either the entire contents of the can have to be consumed when the can is opened or, alternatively, some of the contents of the can are eventually wasted.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved beverage can and in particular the present invention seeks to provide an improved beverage can for containing carbonated drinks such as"soft"drinks.

According to this invention there is provided a receptacle for containing a liquid, part of the receptacle defining an aperture, or a region which is to form an aperture, communicating with the interior of the receptacle, there being an element secured to the receptacle incorporating an extensible spout, the spout being positioned to be in fluid flow communication with the interior of the receptacle through the aperture that exists or that is to be formed.

Preferably the receptacle is a can for containing a carbonated beverage.

Preferably means are provided to seal the spout.

Conveniently the free end of the spout is sealed by a sealing member which is secured to or forms part of the element secured to the receptacle.

Advantageously the sealing member comprises a cap that is releasably connectable to the said element.

The cap may be adapted to snap fit onto said element or may be adapted to screw-threadedly engage the element.

Alternatively the sealing element comprises a foil which is releasably secured to said element, such as a foil which is adhesively secured to said element and the foil is adhesively secured to the said spout.

Alternatively the free end of the spout is sealed by a sealing member formed integrally with the said element and connected to the rest of the element by means of a line of reduced mechanical strength.

Preferably the sealing member is provided with a lug to assist tearing the said line of reduced mechanical strength.

Advantageously the said element is injection moulded in situ in an aperture formed in part of the receptacle.

Alternatively the said element is formed of two parts which are inter-connected to embrace part of the receptacle adjacent said aperture.

In a further alternative embodiment the said element is adhesively secured to one surface of the receptacle adjacent the aperture.

In certain embodiments it is preferable for the spout to be provided with additional sealing means. Conveniently the additional sealing means comprise a foil of sealing material secured to the end of the spout.

Alternatively the additional sealing means comprise a spigot provided at the end of the spout and a cap adapted sealingly to engage said spigot.

In a preferred embodiment the said element incorporates a straw extending to a pre-determined position within the interior of the receptacle, said straw being in fluid flow communication with said spout.

The invention also relates to a receptacle in which the receptacle defines an area thereof which is separated from the rest of the receptacle by a line of mechanical weakness such that the application of pressure to said area will create said aperture in the receptacle, said spout comprising a spout member, part of which is secured to the receptacle in a region surrounding said line of mechanical weakness.

Conveniently the spout is sealed by means of a sealing disc secured to one end of the spout.

Preferably the spout incorporates a section of concertina-form to permit extension of the spout so that the overall length of the spout may increase.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can for carbonated beverages in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part of the can of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the upper part of the spout of the can of Figures 1 and 2 illustrating an optional sealing disc, Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the top of the spout as shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper part of the spout of a modified embodiment of the invention, in which the spout incorporates a sealing closure cap, Figure 6 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 5 with the cap in the sealing position, Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention in which the cap is screw threaded, Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention, Figure 9 is a perspective view of part of the embodiment of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of part of a can constituting further embodiment of the invention, and Figure 11 is a further diagrammatic sectional view of part of another can constituting another embodiment of the invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings a can 1, comprising a can intended to contain a carbonated beverage, such as a"soft" drink or beer, comprises a generally cylindrical body 2 and lid 3. A central portion of the lid 3 defines an aperture 4. Received within the aperture 4 is an integral element that forms a housing 5. The housing, and the associated components of the housing, as will now be described, may be injection moulded"in situ"in the aperture 4 formed in the lid 3 of the can, before the lid is assembled with the rest of the can to form the sealed can illustrated in Figure 1.

The housing 5 comprises a transverse base 6 which extends across the aperture 4, and a cylindrical upstanding side wall 7. The upstanding side wall has a peripheral groove 8 which receives the part of the lid 3 that defines the aperture 4. An annular protrusion 9 is provided on the exterior surface of the side wall 7 adjacent the upper edge thereof.

The transverse base 6 defines a flow passage 10 which communicates with the interior of the can. Extending upwardly from the base, in alignment with the flow passage 10, is an extensible spout 11 which communicates with the flow passage 10. The extensible spout 11 preferably comprises a concertina or bellows section 12 which is located between the base 6 and a tubular end-piece 13. The concertina section 12 enables the length of the spout to be extended without any telescopic or sliding motion between two separate components.

Thus the spout is an integrally formed element, the length of which may be increased.

A cap 14 is provided which is secured to the housing 5 by means of a retaining strap 15. The cap 14 comprises a substantially circular upper wall 16 having a depending peripheral wall 17, the inner face of the peripheral wall 17 having a circumferential groove 18. The cap 14 is dimensioned so that it may be snapfitted onto the housing 5 with the peripheral rib 9 on the side wall 7 of the housing being received within the peripheral groove 18 on the side wall 17 of the cap 14. A paper sealing strip 19 may be provided adapted to be adhered to the cap 14 and also to the lid 3 of the can 1 to provide visible evidence of any tampering with the can. The spout 11 is thus initially retained in a sealed sterile environment.

It is to be appreciated that when the cap 14 is in position on the housing 5, the open end of the terminal tubular part 13 of the spout 11 will be biased, by the concertina section 12, into firm contact with the undersurface of the upper wall 16 of the cap 14. The cap 14 thus acts as a sealing member to seal the spout 11.

Also, there is a sealing-fit between the cap 14 and the housing 5. Consequently there is no risk that the contents of the can will leak through the described closure.

When it is desired to consume the contents of the can initially the paper sealing strip is broken and the cap 14 is"snapped"out of engagement from the housing 5. A protruding lug may be provided on the cap 14 to facilitate this movement of the cap. The spout 11 will then expand upwardly or may be pulled upwardly, thus extending the concertina section 12 of the spout. The length of the spout 11 is thus increased and the spout extends above the surface of the can. The contents of the can may then be either poured through the spout or, alternatively, may be drunk through the spout. If the contents are drunk through the spout it is to be noted that only the terminal tubular portion 13 of the spout will contact the lips of the person drinking the contents of the can, and this part of the spout will have been maintained in a substantially sterile environment within the housing 5. Thus there is not risk of infection. Since the beverage is consumed through a spout the beverage is directed past the teeth of the drinker. It is possible to re-seal the can simply by replacing the cap 14 on the housing 5.

Whilst one embodiment of the invention has been described above, it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected to that described embodiment, and various modifications will be described below. One or more of the modifications may be used in any particular example of the invention.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the terminal tubular part 13 of the spout 12. The upper end of the tubular part 13 is provided with a sealing disc 20. The sealing disc 20 may be formed, for example, of an aluminium foil or a plastic foil, and comprises a circular region 21 having an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubular portion 13 of the spout 12 and a radially outwardly protruding tab 22. The sealing disc 20 may be adhesively secured (or secured in some other way) to the upper end of the tubular portion 13. The sealing disc will help ensure that the contents of the can cannot escape out of the end of the spout 13 until the sealing disc has been removed by grasping the tab 22 and tearing it from the tubular portion 13 of the spout 11.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative modified embodiment of the invention in which the upper end of the tubular portion 13 of the spout 12 is provided with its own closure cap, in addition to the cap 14. Thus, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a housing 25 of generally cylindrical form is provided attached to the end of the tubular portion 13. The housing 25 defines a through passage 26 which terminates with a conically upwardly tapering spigot 27. Connected to the housing 25, by means of a strap 28, is a cap 29. The cap 29 comprises an upper wall 30 which has, on its undersurface, a depending angular wall 31 dimensioned and located to engage the outer surface of the tapering spigot 27 to provide a liquid-tight seal. It will thus be appreciated, from the description provided above with references to Figures 3 to 6, that in addition to the cap 14, the spout 11 may be provided with additional sealing means.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment which is very similar to that of Figure 2, but in this embodiment the element that forms the body 5 is not injection moulded in-situ, but instead comprises two components namely a lower component 31, and an upper component 32. The two components may be bonded or adhered together to form the housing 5 which engages the aperture 4 formed in the lid 3 of the can.

It is to be noted that in the embodiment of Figure 7 the exterior of the upper part of the side wall 7 of the housing 5 is provided with a screw thread 33 and it is also to be noted that the inner surface of the side walls 17 of the cap 14 is provided with a thread 34. The thread 34 is adapted to screw-threadedly engage the thread 33 so that the cap 14 may screw-threaded onto the housing 5 to act as a sealing member.

It is also to be noted that in the embodiment of Figure 7 the passage 10 communicates with a depending straw 35, that is formed integrally with the lower component 31 of the housing 5. The straw 35 may be such a length to extend to a lower corner of the can 1.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another modified embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention the housing 5 is formed integrally, but the undersurface of the element that forms housing 5 presents a flat annular region 36 which is adhered or otherwise secured to the part of the upper surface of the lid 3 of the can immediately adjacent the aperture 4. In the embodiment of Figure 8 the closure cap 14 is omitted and is replaced by a sealing member in the form of a sealing disc 37. As can be seen from Figure 9 the sealing disc 37 comprises a circular portion 38, the outer diameter of which is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the housing 5, the circular portion being provided with a radially outwardly protruding tab 39. The sealing disc 38 may be made of any appropriate sheet material, such as aluminium or plastic and may be adhered both to the housing 5 and to the upper end of the tubular portion 13 of the spout 11 to provide the required sealing effect. When the can of this embodiment is to be used the tab 39 is grasped to pull the sealing disc 37 away from the rest of the can, thus exposing the spout 11.

Figure 10 illustrates a further modified embodiment of the invention in which the housing 5 is formed of two components. The lower component 31 is as described with reference to Figure 7 and incorporates the optional straw 35.

The upper component 40 comprises an upstanding peripheral side wall 7 of the type described above the side wall 7 being connected to a transverse sealing disc 41 by means of an annular region 42 of very thin material. The disc 41 then extends across the top of the housing 5, and is located above the spout 11.

The disc 41 may be provided with an integral pulling lug 43. It is to be seen that the transverse sealing disc 41 performs the function of the cap 14 of the embodiments of Figures 1 and 7. The sealing disc 41 may be removed from its initial position simply by grasping the lug 43 and pulling with a sufficient force to break the annular region 42 of thin material. When the disc 41 has been removed the spout 11 may be extended.

Figure 11 illustrates schematically a further modified embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention the lid 44 of a can adapted to contain a carbonated beverage is provided with a line 45 of reduced mechanical strength. The line 45 may surround a circular disc 46 formed by part of the lid 44 of the can. Connected to the upper surface of the lid 44 of the can, at a region outside the line 45 of reduced mechanical strength and totally surrounding that line is the lower edge of a conical portion 47 of a spout element 48. The conical portion of the spout element 48 communicates with a first tubular portion 49 of the spout, that tubular portion being connected to a concertina section 50 which enables the length of the spout to be adjusted without their being any sliding action between relative components. The upper end of the concertina section communicates with a terminal tubular region 51. The open end of the tubular region 51 may be sealed by means of a sealing disc 52, which effectively corresponds with the sealing disc 20 as described above with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

It is to be envisaged that in utilising the embodiment of Figure 11 initially downward pressure will be applied to the top of the spout member 48, for example with a thumb. This pressure will be sufficient to break the line of reduced mechanical strength 45, thus separating the disc 46 from the rest of the lid 44 of the can. The disc 46 will thus fall to the bottom of the can and a hole will be created which forms a communication between the interior of the can and the interior of the spout element 48. If the sealing disc 52 is then removed from the tubular end portion 51 of the spout the contents of the can may be consumed through the spout. In the embodiment of Figure 11 it may be desirable to provide a sealing membrane 53 which extends over the spout and which is secured to the upper part of the lid 44 of the can so that the spout 48 is retained in a sterile environment until it is to be used.

It is to be understood that in each of the embodiments described above the aperture in the lid of the can, or the region of the lid of the can that is to form the aperture, is preferably centrally located. A typical can has a recessed under-surface and consequently if two cans are stacked one-above-the-other the housing or the spout member of the lower can may be located between the lid of the lower can and the recessed bottom of the upper can.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A receptacle for containing a liquid, part of the receptacle defining an aperture, or a region which is to form an aperture, communicating with the interior of the receptacle, there being an element secured to the receptacle incorporating an extensible spout, the spout being positioned to be in fluid flow communication with the interior of the receptacle through the aperture that exists or that is to be formed.
2. A receptacle according to Claim 1 in the form of a can for containing a carbonated beverage.
3. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding Claims where means are provided to seal the spout.
4. A receptacle according to Claim 3 wherein the free end of the spout is sealed by a sealing member which is secured to or forms part of the element secured to the receptacle.
5. A receptacle according to Claim 4 wherein the sealing member comprises a cap that is releasably connectable to the said element.
6. A receptacle according to Claim 5 wherein the cap is adapted to snap-fit on to the said element.
7. A receptacle according to Claim 5 wherein the cap is a screw threaded cap adapted to screw-threadedly engage said element.
8. A receptacle according to Claim 3 wherein the sealing element comprises a foil which is releasably secured to said element.
9. A receptacle according to Claim 8 wherein the foil is adhesively secured to said element and the foil is adhesively secured to the said spout.
10. A receptacle according to Claim 3 wherein the free end of the spout is sealed by a sealing member formed integrally with the said element and connected to the rest of the element by means of a line of reduced mechanical strength.
11. A receptacle according to Claim 10 wherein the sealing member is provided with a lug to assist tearing the said line of reduced mechanical strength.
12. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the said element is injection moulded in situ in an aperture formed in part of the receptacle.
13. A receptacle according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the said element is formed of two parts which are inter-connected to embrace part of the receptacle adjacent said aperture.
14. A receptacle according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the said element is adhesively secured to one surface of the receptacle adjacent the aperture.
15. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the spout is provided with additional sealing means.
16. A receptacle according to Claim 15 wherein the additional sealing means comprise a foil of sealing material secured to the end of the spout.
17. A receptacle according to Claim 15 wherein the additional sealing means comprise a spigot provided at the end of the spout and a cap adapted sealingly to engage said spigot.
18. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the said element incorporates a straw extending to a pre-determined position within the interior of the receptacle, said straw being in fluid flow communication with said spout.
19. A receptacle according to Claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the receptacle defines an area thereof which is separated from the rest of the receptacle by a line of mechanical weakness such that the application of pressure to said area will create said aperture in the receptacle, said spout comprising a spout member, part of which is secured to the receptacle in a region surrounding said line of mechanical weakness.
20.. A receptacle according to Claim 19 wherein the spout is sealed by means of a sealing disc secured to one end of the spout.
21. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the spout incorporates a section of concertina-form to permit extension of the spout so that the overall length of the spout may increase.
22. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
23. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
24. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
25. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
26. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
27. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.
28. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.
29. Any novel feature or combination of novel features disclosed herein.