GB2346204A

GB2346204A - Self cooling drinking can

Info

Publication number: GB2346204A
Application number: GB0011044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Richard Allen; James Philip Rivington Allen; Marcus Oliver Rivington Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-09
Filing date: 2000-05-09
Publication date: 2000-08-02
Also published as: GB0011044D0

Abstract

A self cooling drink can consisting of drink container 11 with deep recess 12 into which is inserted container 13 containing pressurised coolant. To cool the drink, the coolant container is inserted fully into the recess causing nozzle 14 of the coolant container to be depressed by contact with the end of the recess. Coolant is sprayed on the inside surface of the recess causing the drink to be cooled by thermal conduction through the wall of the recess of the drink container. Ridges in either the wall of the recess and/or the body of the coolant container create channels for the coolant gas to flow along the wall of the recess 12. Interlocking shaping 16 of the drink container and the corresponding shape 17 of the coolant container prevents premature discharge of the coolant until the two containers are rotated relative to one another.

Description

SELF COOLING DRINK CAN i This invention relates to a self cooling drink can.

Many types of liquid refreshment intended for human consumption, often consumption, oflen referred drink or drinks, are supplied in containers, often referred to as drink cans. The volume of drink within these cans is typically but not always in the ratage of 200 millilitres to 600 millilitres. The drink is often more satisfying if it is cooled below the external ambient temperature before consumption. This cooling is normally achievd by placing the drink can inside a refrigerator or into close proximity with ice or other cold substance.

Cooling a drink can in this way depends on haying access to a refrigerator or to ice or other cold substance. In many cases this is not possible or not convenient.

According to the present invention there is prdvided a self cooling drink can comprising of two separate containers, one containing the drink and the other containing a substance that when activated cools the drink in the drink container.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: o Figure I shows in vertical cross section, the drink container and the coolant container before cooling has been activated. o Figure 2 shows in vertical cross section, thp drink container and the coolant container after cooling has been activated. o Figure 3 shows in close up an example of the interlocking shaping of the two containers which prevents premature discharge of the coolant before the two containers are rotated relative to each other. o Figure 4 shows in close up an example of the interlocking shaping of the two containers after the two containers are rotated relative to each other and the coolant container has moved further into the recess in the drink container to activate cooling. o Figure 5 shows in radial cross section through section A-A in figures I and 2, the drink container surrounding the separate coolant container.

Referring to the drawing the self cooling drink can comprises a container 11 for the drink 18 with a deeply recessed base 12 into which is inserted the separate container 13 for the coolant 19.

At the top of the coolant container is located a multiple outlet aerosol nozzle 14 which, when depressed by contact with the inner end of the recess, sprays coolant at the inside wall of the recess of the drink container to cool the drink by thermal conduction through the wall of the drink container.

The coolant container is prevented from prematurely discharging by interlocking shaping of the drink container at 16 and the coolant container at 17, or by separate interlocking spacers, that prevent the coolant container from moving fully into the recess in the drink container until required, as shown in Figs 1 and 3. To cool the drink container, the coolant container 20 is twisted 21 relative to the drink container, allowing the coolant container to move 22 fully into the recess in the drink container as shown in Figs 2 and 4, depressing the aerosol nozzle and releasing the coolant.

Ridges 15 are formed in either the wall of the drink or the coolant container (or both) to provide passages for the coolant gas to flow along between the drink and coolant containers. These ridges may be either straight, or curved to form a spiral. If in the form of a spiral, the ridges may also form a screw thread to draw the coolant container further into the recess as the coolant container is rotated relative to the drink container. The coolant gas vents to atmosphere through the gaps 25 between the drink container 16 and the coolant container 17.

After all of the coolant gas has discharged, the drink container is opened by means of a conventional ring pull opener to enable the cooled drink to be consumed.

Circular ridges are incorporated in the top of the drink container 23 and in the bottom of the coolant container 24 to enable the self cooling drink cans to be stacked on top of each other for storage and transportation.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A self cooling drink can comprising of twp separate containers, one containing the drink and the other containing a substance that uhert activated cools the drink in the drink container.
2. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim I wherein the coolant consists of a gas or liquid which cools when discharged from its container.
3. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the coolant is stored in its container at greater than atmospheric pressure and is discharged through an aerosol nozzle.
4. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 3 wherein part of the coolant container including the aerosol nozzle is located inside a hollow recess in part of the drink container.
5. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the drink container is cooled by spraying the coolant against the wall of the hollow recess in the drink-container.
6. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the coolant is caused to be discharged by inserting the coolant container further into the hollow recess in the drink container in such a way as to cause the aerosol nozzle to be depressed by contact with the inner end of the hollow recess.
7. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the coolant container is separated from the drink container by ridges in the wall of the coolant container, or the wall of the hollow recess of the drink container, or both.
8. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the ridges in either the wall of the drink container, or the wall of the hollow recess, or both, are in the form of a curved spiral to act as screw thread to draw the coolant container into the hollow recess in the drink container as the coolant container is rotated relative to the drink container.
9. A self cooling drink can as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the coolant container is prevented from accidental or premature discharge by interlocking shaping of the two containers which prevents the coolant container from being fully inserted into the recess in the drinks container until the two containers have been appropriately rotated relative to one another.
10. A self cooling drink can substantially as de$cribed herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawing.