JP2014114077A - Twin-style lid with high-level service and hygienic design - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new lid 1 and a drinking gadget, the lid 1 for closing a drinking cup; the lid 1 includes a drinking straw 7 and an opening 8 for direct mouth drinking.SOLUTION: A repartitioning between a first part 2a of a lid 1 used for a straw 7 and a second part 2b used for an opening 8 for mouth drinking is preferably 2:1 when expressed in surface area of a base portion 2 of the lid 1. A first and a second cavity 6a, 6b, in which the straw 7 and the opening 8 for mouth drinking are respectively contained, are formed and sealed in the first and second part 2a, 2b of the lid 1, respectively, by a first cover 5 to one side of the lid 1, and by a second cover 11 and a third cover 13, respectively, to the other side of the lid 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a lid for closing a drinking cup, and in particular to a tamper-evident lid that contains a straw and is suitable for mouth drinking. From the state of the art, a standard plastic or cardboard lid for drinking cups is known, which is a crossed insert with a notch for inserting a drinking straw into the drinking cup from the lid, or It has an accessible area for the straw that is protected from contact with the finished product by a protective peelable or pierceable membrane.

  Generally, drinking straws are provided as a separate packet. However, separate drinking straws are often not even packaged, because drinking straws are observed with products on the sales floor as observed when serving drinks in bars, pubs, cafeterias and other places outside the home. Because it is given directly together. In any case, the drinking straw needs to be inserted by the consumer into the cross insert or into the accessible area for the straw.

  Thus, the standard plastic lid solution is not hygienic and safe, and the straw solution is also not hygienic if the straw is not individually flowpacked or packaged . In addition, with standard solutions, straws must be given directly to the consumer by the operator or taken by the consumer, causing the straw to run out of stock or continuously replenish the store inventory. With the risk of doing. Furthermore, in order to drink the product directly from the drinking cup by mouth, the standard plastic lid needs to be removed from the cup.

  The state of the art describes a drinking straw that is inserted through a plastic lid and simultaneously attached to the plastic lid. The drinking straw itself can be closed by some kind of stopper to avoid spillage during transport of drinking cups with plastic lids. When drinking from a cup, the drinking straw may be pulled. However, this type of plastic lid fitted with drinking straws cannot be stacked, and there are also hygiene issues.

  Furthermore, Tetra Pak ™ or similar types of composite packaging materials containing drinkable products are known from the state of the art. Drinking straws are often glued to the side of Tetra Pak ™. The disadvantage of Tetra Pak (TM) is that Tetra Pak (TM) is not designed to apply Tetra Pak (TM) directly to the mouth for drinking, or there is an accessible area for drinking However, it is not easy to drink. In addition, drinking straws attached to the sides of Tetra Pak ™ can potentially be damaged, contaminated, or lost, for example during production or shipping.

  US 2002/0050514 discloses a disposable container having an integral sealing flap. When the container is filled, the container is closed by squeezing or folding the top of the container together. The container is then sealed by folding an integral sealing flap over one side of the closed container. The sealing flap can comprise an integral drinking straw, spout, and a filling line to prevent overfilling of the container. The integral drinking straw is either fixed to the container, protrudes from the container, or is part of the container, so that at least a part is always located outside the container, and thus for example during production or transport Can be damaged and / or contaminated.

  WO 95/23744 discloses a disposable cup with a cover having a special straw socket, through which a drinking straw can be inserted into the cup. The drinking straw is a separate part and can therefore be contaminated and / or lost.

  In view of the above, the present invention seeks to improve the known state of the art. In particular, the present invention avoids the need for separate packaging elements to be combined by the consumer or provided by the operator at the point of sale where the beverage product is sold or served. It seeks to provide a convenient all-in-one solution for straws and lids. Furthermore, the present invention desires to overcome the hygiene problems associated with drinking straws or direct drinking areas. Another object of the present invention is to allow a drinking product to be consumed without the drinking product flowing out or spilling.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by the attached independent claims. The appended dependent claims develop further advantages of the invention.

  The present invention relates to a lid for closing a drinking cup, the lid comprising a base part for mounting the lid on the drinking cup, the base part comprising a circumferential side wall, the base part as a first part and a first part. A transverse wall for dividing the portion into two parts, or the base part is provided with a circumferential side wall and a transverse wall for dividing the base part into a first part and a second part, the lid being , Further comprising a first cover, wherein the first cover forms a first cavity between the first portion of the base portion and the first cover, and the second portion of the base portion At least a circumferential side wall is mounted to form a second cavity with one cover, the first cavity contains a drinking straw and the second cavity contains a mouth opening. .

  The lid according to the invention is convenient to use, because all the elements necessary for consumers to drink / consume the product from the drinking cup are housed in the lid and protected from external contact Because it is done. Furthermore, drinkable products can be sold without an operator, such as a vending machine. If the lid is deposited on the drinking cup by the operator at the point of sale, a faster and sanitary and safer service is possible since all the necessary elements are already contained in the lid.

  In addition, the lid secures the drinking straw. The straws are securely stored in the lid so they do not fall apart and are not damaged during transport and are not easily contaminated.

  Furthermore, the present invention eliminates the need for individual flow packs or packaging in protective packaging materials when the straw is served with the product. This provides producers with material and cost savings as well as further solutions to environmental problems, as straw packaging is known to be usually discarded by consumers.

  The present invention is also environmentally friendly because when the lid is used by a consumer, the drinking straw may be returned into the lid and the entire lid can then be collected, for example, in a plastic trash can. .

  The area ratio between the first part and the second part of the base part is preferably greater than 1: 1, preferably 2: 1.

  The area ratio according to the present invention provides the necessary space for including a drinking straw in the lid on one side and allows easy drinking from the cup through the mouth opening on the other side.

  The first cover is preferably an adhesive film suitable for peeling, preferably made of aluminum or another material. The adhesive film is attached to the circumferential side wall and can be easily reattached. The first cover is preferably designed so that the consumer can see and identify whether the first cover has been removed at least once.

  The first cover is preferably removable and remountable. The lid can therefore be closed again. This makes it possible to consume the beverage product from the cup several times in succession, which is particularly beneficial when the beverage product is served on the counter and is consumed on the move or transport. Overflowing or running out of the contents of the drinking cup can be largely avoided. In addition, for drinks served hot (such as coffee, chocolate and cocoa-based products, tea and hot extract, or hot milk-based products), the risk of skin damage due to overflow and / or run-off of hot liquid Is reduced.

  The first cover is preferably printable. Thereby, all kinds of labels can be provided on the first cover.

  Preferably, the first cover is cut into two parts, so that the first part forms a first cavity, the second part forms a second cavity, and the first and second parts Is attached to the transverse wall.

  In this way, the consumer consumes the product in the cup either by opening the first cavity and using a drinking straw or by opening the second cavity and drinking directly. Can be selected.

  Each part of the first cover is preferably provided with a protruding element for removing the respective part of the first cover from the circumferential side wall.

  The protruding element can be conveniently grasped and pulled by the consumer, so that at least one part of the first cover can be easily removed from the side wall.

  The lid is preferably fixed to the drinking cup by an open-closing closure.

  Thus, the consumer can be confident that the drinking cup has never been opened, i.e., the lid has not been removed and therefore can be contaminated. Furthermore, the lid should be secured to the drinking cup in a sterile and anti-counterfeit manner that prevents contamination inside the drinking cup.

  The drinking straw is a folded drinking straw, preferably made of plastic.

  Such drinking straws are small and conveniently fit within the first cavity. In addition, plastic straws are durable and can be reused. The drinking straw preferably has several pre-bent and / or bent parts, which can easily be folded at this part and fit within a cavity made in the lid. it can. When the product is used by a consumer, the drinking straw can be easily straightened for easy drinking.

  In the first part, the base part preferably has a straw opening for tightly inserting a drinking straw.

  The straw opening makes it easier for the user to handle the drinking straw, i.e. to insert the straw into the cup. By designing the diameter of the opening closely with the outer diameter of the straw, it can be avoided that the product spills past the inserted straw.

  Preferably, the straw opening is sealed with a second cover, preferably an aluminum film or another material film, and the drinking straw has a first end shaped to pierce the second cover. .

  In addition, the diameter of the straw and the diameter of the straw opening are adapted in size, for example depending on the density and stratigraphy of the product placed in the cup so that it can be easily sucked in the mouth at any time. be able to. The same fit can be provided for the mouth drinking part.

  Therefore, the drinking straw and the mouth drinking part are held between the two membranes, thereby allowing a very hygienic storage of the straw and the mouth drinking part. As long as the membrane is closed, no external contamination will reach the straw or drinking part. In addition, the straw opening with the second cover allows easy insertion of the straw into the cup in a way that the product contained in the cup does not flow out or tip over. This is particularly beneficial for hot products placed in cups, which can be potentially dangerous when in contact with the consumer's skin.

  In addition, the first membrane can allow the consumer to selectively access a first cavity in which the folded straw is accommodated and a second cavity in which the mouth drinking part is placed. The membrane can also provide access to both parts, thereby providing consumers with a wide range of potential consumption. It is known that some beverage products can have solid ingredients or inclusions or can be layered in a manner that can be difficult to consume through a straw alone. This is because the solid component can block the inside of the straw, or the product can be layered in a way that makes the denser layer difficult to suck with the straw. The present invention provides a solution to this problem with two different accessible cavities.

  The drinking straw is preferably arranged with its first end directly above the second cover. The first end is already aligned so that it pierces the second cover and is positioned near the second cover. The first end can touch the first cover, but has not yet perforated the first cover. Thus, the consumer can easily and quickly insert the drinking straw into the drinking cup.

  The second cavity preferably houses a structure for drinking that includes a mouth-opening opening.

  The mouth drinking structure is shaped to allow convenient drinking without the risk of spilling the product. The mouth drinking structure preferably has a curved surface that matches the curvature of the consumer's mouth.

  The mouth-opening opening is preferably sealed with a peelable third cover, preferably an aluminum film or a film of another material.

  If the drinking structure that will come into contact with the outside again and the mouth are in direct contact, it can be a source of microbial contamination and dust. In the solution of the present invention, the drinking area is located between and sealed by the two membranes, thereby providing a very hygienic solution.

  The present invention further comprises a cup for holding a drinkable liquid or semi-liquid product, preferably a plastic cup, a cardboard cup, an aluminum can or a steel can, or a cup of another material, and a cup attached to the cup. A drinking device comprising a lid according to the above description to be closed.

  The drinking cup has all the advantages mentioned above with respect to the lid. Furthermore, the drinking cups can be effectively stacked, preferably in a product production plant. Thus, the lid can be used by high speed production machines, thereby making the cups very suitable for handling and allowing for faster and less expensive production compared to cups that cannot be stacked.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a top view of the lid | cover of this invention which comprises a drinking straw. FIG. 3 is a top view of a lid according to the present invention. It is a side view of the lid | cover of this invention. It is a side view of the lid | cover of this invention. It is a side view of the lid | cover of this invention.

  FIG. 1 shows from above a lid for closing a drinking cup according to the invention. The lid 1 comprises a base part 2 designed to attach the lid 1 to a drinking cup. The base portion 2 preferably has a disc shape since most drinking cups have a circular upper edge. The base part 2 can be mounted on the upper edge. The base part 2 can have a circumferential groove on the lower surface of the base part 2 to receive, for example, an upper ring for securely mounting the lid 1. However, the shape of the lid 1 of the present invention is not limited, and can be adapted to drinking cups of different shapes.

  The base part 2 has a circumferential side wall 3, which is at least on the upper surface of the base part 2 (that is, on the outer surface of the drinking cup to which the lid 1 is attached on its lower surface) on the outer edge part of the base part 2. Arranged along. The circumferential side wall 3 is preferably configured integrally with the base portion 2, but may be provided and attached to the base portion 2 as a separate component. Preferably, the base part 2 and the circumferential side wall 3 are made of the same material, more preferably plastic. The circumferential side wall 3 can also protrude from both upper and lower surfaces of the base portion 2. The part protruding from the lower surface can be used to attach the lid 1 to the edge of the drinking cup.

  The base portion 2 further has a transverse wall 4 on the upper surface for dividing the base portion 2 into a first portion 2a and a second portion 2b. The transverse wall 4 preferably extends in a straight line across the upper surface of the base part 2 but may also present one or more curved parts. The transverse wall 4 is preferably connected to the circumferential side wall 3 at both ends of the transverse wall 4. The transverse wall 4 is preferably configured integrally with the base portion 2 and / or the circumferential side wall 3, but may be a separately provided and attached component. The transverse wall 4 is preferably made of the same material as the circumferential side wall 3 and / or the base part 2, more preferably plastic. The transverse wall 4 can coincide with the diameter of the circular base part 2, i.e. pass through the center point of the base part 2, in order to divide the base part 2 into two parts 2 a, 2 b of equal surface area. However, the ratio of the surface area of the first part 2a to the surface area of the second part 2b of the base part 2 is greater than 1: 1, more preferably between 1: 1 and 4: 1, most preferably Preferably it is about 2: 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first cavity 6a between the first part 2a of the base part 2 and the first cover 5 and the second of the base part 2 are therefore used to seal the lid 1. The first cover 5 is mounted on at least the circumferential side wall 3 in order to form a second cavity 6b between the second portion 2b and the first cover 5. The first cavity 6 a is further delimited by a part of the transverse wall 4 and the circumferential side wall 3. The second cavity 6 b is bounded by another part of the transverse wall 4 and the circumferential side wall 3.

  The first cover 5 is preferably an adhesive film that can be removed from the circumferential side wall 4 and can be reattached. The adhesive film is preferably flexible and can be made of a thin metal sheet such as aluminum, but can also be made of a synthetic elastomer, resin or thermoplastic material or composite material. The first cover 5 is preferably water impermeable and / or air impermeable.

  Further, the first cover 5 is preferably printable so that a label can be printed on at least the outer surface of the first cover 5. The first cover 5 is preferably designed so that the first cover 5 is an open-open explicit closure. That is, the consumer knows whether or not the first cover 5 has been removed from the lid 1 at least once, even when the first cover 5 is closed again. For example, a portion of the first cover 5 can be peeled off and left attached to the lid 1 when the first cover 5 is first removed. Other techniques for making the lid 1 a tamper-evident closure can also be used.

  A drinking straw 7, preferably a folded plastic or other suitable material straw, is placed in the first cavity 6a. The second cavity 6b accommodates at least an opening 8 that can be used for mouth drinking. For this purpose, the diameter of the opening 8 is preferably 0.5 to 5 cm, more preferably 1 to 3 cm. Furthermore, the opening is preferably included in a drinking structure 12 protruding from the base 2 and designed to fit the consumer's mouth. In particular, the upper surface of the drinking structure 12 protruding from the base 2 is shaped to fit the consumer's mouth and is preferably curved. Therefore, drinking without spilling is helped.

  The straw 7 of folded plastic or other suitable material is preferably pre-bent in at least one part, preferably a plurality of parts. When the straw 7 is stretched, it can be inserted from the lid 1 into the drinking cup. Therefore, it is preferable that one side of the drinking straw 7 is provided with a first end portion 7a that has a sharp and / or tapered edge portion and is shaped to open a hole in the base portion 2, for example. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the straw opening 10 is preferably included in the first portion 2 a of the base portion 2. The straw opening 10 is designed such that the diameter of the straw opening 10 matches the outer diameter of the straw 7, so that the straw 7 can be inserted snugly through the lid 1. Accordingly, spillage from the drinking cup can be avoided during insertion of the straw 7 and while drinking from the cup. The straw 7 seals the straw opening 10 and can be inserted by piercing the second cover 11, which is preferably an aluminum film or other material film.

  The mouth drinking opening 8 is preferably sealed with a third cover 13 as shown in FIG. The third cover 13 is preferably an aluminum film or other material film that can be peeled off by the consumer. However, the third cover 13 can be made of other materials similar to the first cover 5. The second cover 11 and the third cover 13 isolate the mouth opening structure 12 from the straw opening 10 and the straw 7 from the outside, particularly the contents of the drinking cup. The second cover 11 and the third cover 13 are preferably water impermeable and / or air impermeable. The straw 7, the drinking structure 12 and the straw opening 10 are always located between the two membranes, thereby providing complete hygiene. Contamination does not reach the above-mentioned part before it is used. Furthermore, the straw 7 is not lost.

  FIG. 3 shows the first cavity 6a on the left side and illustrates how the drinking straw 7 can be folded so as to be placed in the first cavity 6a. The straw 7 is preferably folded at least once, preferably a plurality of times. FIG. 3 shows on the right side a second cavity 6 b separated from the first cavity 6 a by the transverse wall 4, the second cavity 6 b comprising a mouth drinking structure 12 protruding from the base part 2. The mouth drinking structure protrudes at almost the same height as the circumferential side wall 3 and the transverse wall 4.

  The first end 7a of the straw is designed for piercing the second cover 11 and is preferably pre-arranged at a specific position in the lid 1. The first end 7a is preferably tapered or sharp. The first end 7a is preferably located directly above and close to the straw opening 10 so that it is very easy for the consumer to push the straw 7 into the straw opening 10. Furthermore, it is prevented that the consumer attaches or puts the first end portion 7a that is tapered or sharpened into the mouth of the consumer.

  The mouth drinking structure 12 includes an opening 8 for mouth drinking. The opening 8 is preferably larger than the opening 10 for inserting the straw 7. The size and shape of the opening 8 are preferably designed according to the viscosity, density or presence of inclusions of various products. The mouth drinking structure 12 may also include another opening that allows air to enter the drinking cup while the consumer is drinking from the opening 8. This makes it easier to drink. Another opening may be initially closed by the third cover 13 or by an extra cover. Alternatively, the straw opening can be pierced while swallowing to provide the same effect.

  FIG. 4 shows a first cavity 6a having a drinking straw 7 and a first cover 5 that seals the first cavity 6a and the second cavity 6b of the lid 1 from the outside. The first cover 5 preferably has protrusions 9a and 9b that can be easily opened. The user can grip the protrusions 9a and 9b, and thus can peel off the first cover 5. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the first cover 5 comprises two protrusions 9a, 9b for removing two separate parts of the first cover 5, respectively.

  The first cover 5 is preferably cut into two parts 5a and 5b. The first portion 5 a is attached to the transverse wall 4 and the circumferential side wall 3 and is combined with the first portion 2 a of the base portion 2 to form the first cavity 6 a. The second portion 5 b of the first cover 5 preferably forms a second cavity 6 b together with the second portion 2 b of the base portion 2 and is attached to the circumferential side wall 3 and the transverse wall 4. The first portion 5a can be peeled by gripping the first protruding element 9a. The second portion 5b can be peeled off by grasping and pulling the second projecting element 9b. By dividing into two parts, the consumer can choose which cavity to open. Thus, the user can choose to use the straw 7 to drink the product from the drinking cup or to dry the product by mouth.

  The present invention can be used with products that are consumed directly by the consumer or intended to be served to the consumer by the operator. The present invention is formulated for products sold in a semi-frozen state (ice cream, frozen dessert, yogurt and yogurt-based products, frozen yogurt, slush, smoothie, sorbet, frappe, granita, iced product, some ice added. Products or food preps and products sold at chilled or room temperature (water, flavored water, water-based products, milk and milk-based products, soft drinks, sodas, smoothies, fruit juices) , Vegetable juices and drinks, cocktails, beer, wine, alcohol-based products, vegetable-based drinks, coffee and coffee-based products, extracts from tea, herbs, fruits, flowers, roots or leaves, yogurt and yogurt-based Products, energy drinks, sports drinks , Including mate tea, chocolate and cocoa-based products, drinks sweetened with sugar, soup or such as food prep), and, the.

  The present invention relates to products sold at elevated temperatures (coffee and coffee-based products, tea, herbs, fruits, flowers, roots or leaf extracts, chocolate-based and cocoa-based products, mate tea, soup or food Including prep). The above list is not exhaustive of the various existing beverage products that may exist or be sold in the future market and that may become relevant to the field of the present invention.

  The main element of the present invention is that one part of the lid 1 is provided with a drinking straw 7 while the other part is provided with an opening 8 for direct drinking. The repartition between the side 2 a having the straw 7 and the side 2 b having the drinking structure 12 is preferably 2: 1 represented by the surface area of the base part 2. The cavities 6a and 6b in which the straw 7 and the drinking structure 12 are accommodated are sealed with the first cover 5 on one side, and the second cover 11 and the third cover on the other side. 13 and sealed.

  The present invention provides a convenient solution for the straw 7 and the lid 1. Hygiene problems usually associated with drinking straws that come into contact with the outside and directly drinking areas are solved. The invention makes it possible to carry the drinking cup without the danger of the contents of the drinking cup flowing out or spilling out, since the first cover 5 can be closed again. Finally, the product can be provided without the risk of closing, damaging or contaminating the straw 7 without an operator. Thus, the present invention provides a better solution to environmental problems because when a straw is given to a consumer, it is no longer necessary to flow pack or package the straw as in the state of the art. It is. The present invention also provides a convenient all-in-one solution for cups, lids and straws that are joined together. Thus, the present invention facilitates better management at the counter for serving beverages, as there is no longer a need for a straw that consumers can use freely.

  Thus, the present invention provides a significant improvement over the state of the art lids, drinking cups and straws.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lid, 2 ... Base part, 2a, 5a ... 1st part, 2b, 5b ... 2nd part, 3 ... Circumferential side wall, 4 ... Transverse wall, 5 ... 1st cover, 6a ... 1st Cavity, 6b ... second cavity, 7 ... drinking straw, 7a ... first end, 8 ... mouth drinking opening, 9a ... first protruding element, 9b ... second protruding element, 10 ... straw opening 11 ... second cover, 12 ... mouth drinking structure, 13 ... third cover.

Claims (15)

A lid (1) for closing the drinking cup,
A base (2) for attaching the lid (1) to the drinking cup;
The base part (2) comprises a circumferential side wall (3) and a transverse wall (4) for dividing the base part (2) into a first part (2a) and a second part (2b). Or the base portion is provided with a circumferential side wall and a transverse wall for dividing the base portion into a first portion and a second portion;
The lid further includes a first cover (5), and the first cover is between the first portion (2a) of the base portion (2) and the first cover (5). A first cavity (6a) is formed, and a second cavity (6b) is formed between the second portion (2b) of the base portion (2) and the first cover (5). Is attached to at least the circumferential side wall (3),
Lid (1), wherein the first cavity (6a) houses a drinking straw (7) and the second cavity (6b) houses an opening for drinking (8).   Lid according to claim 1, wherein the area ratio of the first part (2a) and the second part (2b) of the base part (2) is greater than 1: 1, preferably 2: 1. (1).   Lid (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first cover (5) is an adhesive film.   Lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first cover (5) is removable and remountable.   Lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first cover (5) is printable. The first cover (5) is cut into two parts (5a, 5b) so that the first part (5a) forms the first cavity (6a) and the second part (5b) Form the second cavity (6b),
Lid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two parts (5a, 5b) are attached to the transverse wall (4).   Each of the first and second portions (5a, 5b) is removed from the circumferential side wall (3) in the first and second portions (5a, 5b) of the first cover (5), respectively. Lid (1) according to claim 6, wherein a protruding element (9a, 9b) is provided.   The lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is fixable to the drinking cup by means of an open-closing closure.   Lid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drinking straw (7) is a folded drinking straw, preferably made of plastic.   The first part (2a) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base part (2) has a straw opening (10) for the insertion of the drinking straw (7). The lid (1) as described. The straw opening (10) is sealed with a second cover (11), preferably an aluminum film;
11. Lid (1) according to claim 10, wherein the drinking straw (7) has a first end (7a) shaped to pierce the second cover.   12. Lid (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the drinking straw (7) is arranged with its first end (7a) just above the second cover (11).   Lid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cavity (6b) houses a structure for drinking (12) comprising the mouth drinking opening (8).   14. Lid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouth drinking opening (8) is sealed with a peelable third cover (13), preferably an aluminum film. A cup, preferably a plastic cup, for holding a drinkable liquid or semi-liquid product;
Lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, mounted on the cup and closing the cup;
A drinking device comprising:

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