JP7492660B1 - Aluminum can crushing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] An auxiliary tool for crushing aluminum cans that is small, foldable, easy to carry, made of a lightweight, soft material, and can be used to crush aluminum cans easily and space-savingly. [Solution] An auxiliary tool for crushing aluminum cans made of a soft material that has a side that surrounds the can and has four or five or both of these guidelines that are inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the can and are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the side. [Selected drawing] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an auxiliary tool for easily crushing empty aluminum cans in order to reduce the volume of these bulky and cumbersome aluminum cans, which do not change in volume even after drinking.

Conventionally, there have been devices that place the can at the base of a metal alligator mouth jig and use the principle of a lever to crush the empty can, and smaller devices that have a hard case with a flower-shaped opening on the side, and the protrusions on the side of the case create indentations in the side of the aluminum can, reducing the vertical strength of the aluminum can.

Conventional aluminum can crushing aids are made of hard materials and are slightly larger than aluminum cans, making them inconvenient to carry and store, and there was a need to make them lighter, smaller, and more portable.

The present invention is an aluminum can crushing aid made of a soft material, with a side that surrounds the can and has four or five or both of these guidelines arranged at substantially equal intervals along the side and inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the can.

It is small, foldable, and easy to carry, and since it is made of a light, soft material, it can crush empty cans easily, does not take up much space, and is effective for use when camping.
You can also crush the aluminum cans, which is a fun and refreshing way to crush aluminum cans and can also help relieve stress. With skill, you can crush one can in about 20 seconds, and complete the entire process.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an aluminum can crushing aid, where (a) is an upper perspective view and (b) is a lower perspective view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of how to use the aluminum can crushing aid shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the next step of FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the next step of FIG. 3 . An explanatory diagram of how to crush an aluminum can vertically. This is an upper perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid with a dotted line as the right-hand upward guideline. An upper perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid, with a right-upward guideline as a mark. An oblique top view of an aluminum can crushing aid with a striped color and pattern on the guideline running upward to the right. This is an upper perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid with a guideline going up to the right. This is an upper perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid in which the right-hand upward guideline is a notch. This is an upper perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid in which the right-hand upward guideline is a convex portion. An upper perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid with a three-dimensional right-upward guideline. FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of a modified example of the first aluminum can crushing aid, the bottom of which has a hole. FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of a modified example of the first aluminum can crushing aid, which covers only a portion of the side of the can in an annular shape. An explanatory diagram of a method for crushing aluminum cans in the second step, which involves deforming the extension line of the right-shoulder upward guideline. FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a modified example of the aluminum can crushing aid of FIG. 14 . FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of another modified example of the first aluminum can crushing aid. FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of another modified example of the first aluminum can crushing aid. An upper oblique view of an aluminum can crushing aid with right-hand and left-hand upward guidelines on top and bottom. This is an upper perspective view of the aluminum can crushing aid body having a net shape. This is an upper oblique view showing guidelines that tilt in different directions on the outer and inner sides of the assistive device when in use. FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of a modified example of the assisting tool of FIG. 21 . Diagram of aluminum can crushing aid including insulation. An example of the compressed size when using this aluminum can crushing aid. A diagram of an aluminum can crushing aid that contains a container that encases the top and bottom of the aluminum can.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are explanatory diagrams of a method for crushing an aluminum can, which is a method of using the aid, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of how to crush an aluminum can.
In FIG. 1(a), the aluminum can crushing aid is made of a soft material and has an aid body 101 with a side that surrounds the can, and four or five or both right-shouldered upward guide lines 501 that are inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the aluminum can and are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the side. The error of 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the aluminum can is within the range of expansion and contraction due to the aluminum can crushing aid body being in a net shape, but it is adjusted so that it is 60 degrees from the bottom of the aluminum can. The guide line at 60 degrees from the bottom of the aluminum can is the optimal angle for efficiently crushing the aluminum can by creating mountain ranges 356 by hand. If three mountain ranges 356 at 60 degrees are created as evenly as possible on the side of the aluminum can, and the center of the ceiling and the center of the bottom of the aluminum can are kept vertical and the ceiling and bottom of the aluminum can are kept horizontal, and the aluminum can is pressed and crushed, the ceiling surface becomes unstable and it is not possible to crush it well. Furthermore, if six 60-degree mountain ridges 356 were to be created as evenly as possible on the side of an aluminum can, the side of the can would break, which would be dangerous. Therefore, the number of guidelines is four or five. Although five guidelines require the effort of creating one extra mountain ridge 356 compared to four guidelines, it is easier to keep the center of the ceiling and the center of the bottom of the can vertical and the ceiling and bottom of the can horizontal, and the pressing force is less, allowing the aluminum can to be crushed efficiently.

The material of the main body 101 of the support tool is a soft material such as polyester, low-density polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, cloth, rubber, silicone, tape, or waterproof paper that can surround the side of the can, and the thickness is preferably within 10 mm. The length of the guide line should be drawn as full as possible on the side of the main body 101 of the support tool, and the thickness should be about 1 mm to 10 mm. The width and unevenness of the three-dimensional guide line should also be about 1 mm to 10 mm. The height of the side of the main body 101 of the support tool is preferably 5 mm or more so that the angle of the right-shoulder-upward guide line can be easily identified. In FIG. 1(a), there are five right-shoulder-upward guide lines 501, with a thickness of 2 mm and a side height of 100 mm.

The main body 101 of the support tool has an opening 301 on the top as shown in FIG. 1(a), but also has a bottom surface 302 on the bottom as shown in FIG. 1(b). When a can is surrounded, it can be easily lifted without directly touching the sides of the can, and the hand lifting it can reduce the heat or coldness of the can. To prioritize lifting the can easily and reducing the heat or coldness of the can, it is better for the thickness and height of the sides of the main body 101 to be high, but to prioritize weight reduction, it is better for the thickness and height of the sides of the main body 101 to be as low as possible. Also, by eliminating the bottom surface 302 of the main body 101 of the support tool, it is possible to reduce weight and increase portability.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, surround the side of the aluminum can 370 with the main body 101 of the assisting tool, hold it with the right hand 350 and the left hand 351 at an angle that is easy to apply force to, and pinch up both sides near the right-shoulder-upward guideline 501 with the index fingers and thumbs of both hands, actually forming valleys on both sides near the mountain range 356 on the side of the aluminum can. When the height difference between the mountain range 356 in the center of the side of the aluminum can and the valleys becomes 10 mm ± 2 mm, rotate the aluminum can 370 and the main body 101 of the assisting tool together clockwise or counterclockwise, and hold the right-shoulder-upward guideline 501 that has come to the front at an angle that is easy to apply force to, and pinch up both sides near the right-shoulder-upward guideline 501 with the index fingers and thumbs of both hands, actually forming valleys on both sides near the mountain range 356 on the side of the aluminum can. A valley is gradually formed on the side of the aluminum can, and when the difference in height between the mountain ridge 356 in the center of the side of the empty aluminum can 370 and the valley reaches 10 mm ± 2 mm, the series of forming operations of rotating the empty aluminum can 370 and the auxiliary device main body 101 together clockwise or counterclockwise is repeated, and when the difference in height between the mountain ridges 356 and the valleys under all of the right-shoulder-upward guidelines 501 reaches 10 mm ± 2 mm, the auxiliary device main body 101 is removed from the empty aluminum can 370, the empty aluminum can 370 is held with the right hand 350 and the left hand 351 at an angle that makes it easy to apply force, and the index fingers and thumbs of both hands are used to form the difference in height between the mountain ridges 356 and the valleys on all of the sides of the empty aluminum can 370 to be 20 mm ± 4 mm, and the empty aluminum can 378 shown in Figure 3 (a) is formed. When forming the can, be careful not to apply too much force due to being too conscious of forming the valleys, as this can cause a large dent in the side of the aluminum can 370 that cannot be repaired, so be aware of the distance between the mountains 356 on either side, and use the fingers of both hands other than the index finger and thumb to control the amount of force you apply while working on the aluminum can 370.

Next, as shown in Fig. 3(a), the aluminum can 378 is held at an angle that allows easy application of force at the top and bottom of the can with the right hand 350 and the left hand 351, and further twisted in the direction of the angle of the mountain ridge 373 on the side of the can 378 to the extent that the side of the can 378 does not break, and while adjusting so that the center of the ceiling and the center of the bottom of the can 378 are vertical and the ceiling and the bottom of the can 378 are horizontal, the height of the side of the can 378 is formed into the aluminum can 395 shown in Fig. 3(b) so as to be as low as possible. By further twisting the side of the can 378 to the extent that it does not break, it becomes easy to adjust so that the center of the ceiling and the center of the bottom of the can 378 are vertical and the ceiling and the bottom of the can 378 are horizontal, and the height of the can can be made as low as possible before it is pressed and crushed, allowing it to be crushed safely and efficiently.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the aluminum can 395 is placed upright on a hard, flat surface, and using a shoe 390 with a sturdy sole or the like, the aluminum can 395 is gradually pressed vertically to crush it while keeping the center of the ceiling and the center of the bottom of the aluminum can 395 vertical and the ceiling and bottom of the aluminum can 395 horizontal.
Also, by placing the bottom surface 391 of the upper container 411 facing up to cover the ceiling of the aluminum can 395, and placing the lower container 412 with the projections 392 on the bottom surface 393 to prevent lateral displacement under the aluminum can 395 and gradually pressing it, the shoes 390 are protected and the aluminum can 395 is prevented from shifting sideways when pressed, thereby increasing safety. The material of the upper container 411 and the lower container 412 may be rubber, silicone, or low-density polyethylene, which easily deform when the aluminum can is crushed, or high-density polyethylene, iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, tin, brass, or the like, which has a hardness that is not easily broken by the stress when the aluminum can is crushed. The material of the projections 392 to prevent lateral displacement is preferably rubber, silicone, low-density polyethylene, or the like, and the projections 392 to prevent lateral displacement are not necessary when the lower container is made of rubber, silicone, low-density polyethylene, or the like, which easily deform when the aluminum can is crushed.
As shown in Fig. 5, when crushing an aluminum can, the aluminum can is gradually pressed vertically while keeping the center of the ceiling and the center of the bottom of the aluminum can vertical and the ceiling and the bottom of the aluminum can horizontal. Since the spread width 381 when crushing a 500 ml aluminum can is about 85 mm in diameter, it is recommended to press the can while adjusting it so that it fits within an imaginary circle with a diameter of 85 mm.

Figures 6 to 9 are perspective views of the second form, a modified example in which the right-shoulder-upward guideline of the first form is drawn in a planar manner on the side of the support device main body 101, 105, 106, 118, and 107. In Figure 6, the right-shoulder-upward guideline 520 is a dotted line, in Figure 7 the right-shoulder-upward guideline 525 is a mark, in Figure 8 the right-shoulder-upward guideline 530 is a different colored striped pattern, and in Figure 9 the right-shoulder-upward guideline 534 is a mural, improving the distinctiveness of each right-shoulder-upward guideline.

Figures 10 to 12 are perspective views of the third form, a three-dimensional modification of the right-shoulder-upward guideline of the first form. In Figure 10, the right-shoulder-upward guideline 538 is cut, in Figure 11, the right-shoulder-upward guideline 542 is convex, and in Figure 12, the right-shoulder-upward guideline 550 is convex, with the right-shoulder-upward guideline 554 having a concave portion directly below. In Figure 10, the right-shoulder-upward guideline cut portion 538 makes it easier to create the mountain range portion 356, in Figure 11, the thin surface of the recess 321 between the right-shoulder-upward guidelines makes it easier to create the formation of the valley portion, and in Figure 12, the thin side surface between the right-shoulder-upward guideline lower recess 554 and the right-shoulder-upward guideline protrusion 550 makes it easier to form both the mountain range portion 336 and the valley portion 376.

Figure 13 is a bottom perspective view of the fourth form, and the advantage of having a bottom hole 305 on the bottom surface 302 of the first form is that it is easier to form a mountain section 356 when the thickness of the side surface of the support device main body 102 increases.

Figures 14, 16, 17 and 18 show the fifth embodiment of the aluminum can crushing aid, which does not have the bottom surface 302 of the first embodiment, and the aluminum can crushing aid does not have a bottom surface and the side surfaces can be made lower in height, making it more portable and convenient. Figure 15 shows a method of using the fifth embodiment to crush an aluminum can.
14 is a bottom perspective view of the aluminum can crushing aid main body 103. The aluminum can crushing aid main body 103 is annular and is configured to cover only a portion of the side of the aluminum can, which makes it easy to carry and lightweight. The height of the side is preferably 5 mm or more so that the angle of the right-shoulder upward guideline 511 can be identified as being about 60 degrees, and preferably 25 mm to 50 mm.
As shown in Figure 15, when crushing an aluminum can with an aluminum can crushing aid having a lowered side height of the aid body 119, the extension of the right-shouldered upward guideline 626 is formed as a mountain range 361. The method of crushing is the same as in Figures 2, 3 and 4.
16 is a perspective view of the aluminum can crushing aid, and the hook and loop fastener part 309 and the hook and loop fastener part 310 on the side of the aid main body 104 can be separated and reconnected, making it convenient to store it in a belt-like shape. The fastener part can also be tied with a string, buttoned, hooked, or fastened with a reusable tape.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid, which has the advantage that the cutout portion 326 between the right-hand upward guideline makes it easy to form a valley portion 375 directly on the side of an empty aluminum can 370 using the index fingers and thumbs of both hands.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an aluminum can crushing aid. The aid body 112 is net-shaped and has excellent shrinkability and portability. In addition, the right-upward guideline inner notch 558 makes it easy to form the mountain ridge 356.
As described above, the height of the side of the aluminum can crushing aid main body in Figures 17 and 18 is such that it covers only a portion of the side of the aluminum can, but it may be such that it covers the entire side. Also, up to Figure 18, an example was explained in which the guide line of the aluminum can crushing aid that goes up to the right is used, which is suitable for right-handed people, but the guide line that goes up to the left is suitable for left-handed people.

19 to 23 are perspective views of the sixth embodiment of the aluminum can crushing aid, which is an example in which the guidelines are arranged in a right-upward and left-upward direction in a mixed manner.
In FIG. 19, a right-shoulder-up guideline 570 and a left-shoulder-up guideline 574 are separated above and below the guideline boundary line 343, and the right-shoulder-up or left-shoulder-up guideline can be selected for use depending on the dominant hand.
Figure 20 shows a cross between right-upward guideline 562 and left-upward guideline 566 of different colors for an aluminum can crushing aid, and similarly to Figure 19, the guideline can be selected and used according to the dominant hand. This allows the height of the side of the aluminum can crushing aid in Figure 19 to be lowered, despite having guidelines for both left- and right-handed people, making it lighter and more portable. Note that Figure 20 has been described as an example in which the aid main body 113 is in a net shape, but it may also be in a sheet shape other than the mesh shape shown in Figure 19.
In Figure 21, a right-shoulder-upward guideline 578 is provided on the outside of the aluminum can crushing aid main body 115, and an inverted left-shoulder-upward guideline 584 is provided on the inside of the aid main body 115, which is a right-shoulder-upward guideline but can be inverted to become a left-shoulder-upward guideline, allowing the user to select the front or back of the aid main body 115 depending on the user's dominant hand. As a result, despite having guidelines for both left- and right-handed people, the height of the side of the aluminum can crushing aid in Figure 19 can be lowered, making it lighter and more portable. If the aid main body 115 is made transparent, only the outer right-shoulder-upward guideline 578 needs to be provided, which makes manufacturing easier and contributes to cost reduction.
In Fig. 22, five left-upward guidelines 590 and five right-upward guidelines 585 are displayed on the outside of the side of the aluminum can crushing aid main body 116, and four inverted left-upward guidelines 602 and four inverted right-upward guidelines 598 are displayed on the inside. All four types of guidelines are provided on the aid main body 115, and the preferred guideline can be selected depending on the dominant hand or the ease of crushing the aluminum can 370. In Fig. 22, the marks of each guideline are different, but they can also be distinguished by changing the color or the line. Also, in Figs. 19, 21, and 22, it would be even more convenient if the sides of the aluminum can crushing aid main body could be detached and reattached, just like the aluminum can crushing aid in Fig. 16.
23 shows an aluminum can crushing aid main body 117 including heat insulating material having all four types of guide lines, which holds an aluminum can 396, covers the top with a string stopper 347, and can be carried while maintaining the cold or heat retaining effect, and when drinking the contents of the aluminum can 396, the top of the aid main body 117 including heat insulating material is turned up to the bottom of the mouth of the aluminum can 396, and the aid main body 117 including heat insulating material can be used as a drink holder while maintaining the cold or heat retaining effect by utilizing the effect of the heat insulating material, and then, an empty aluminum can 370 that has been emptied after drinking is selected according to the ease of crushing and crushed in the procedure shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The guidelines in Fig. 23 are different in line color, but may be different in mark or drawing, and the left and right shoulder-up guidelines separated by the outer boundary line 630 of the aid main body 117 including heat insulating material may be crossed with different guide line marks or lines as shown in Fig. 22.

Figure 24 shows the compressed size of one 350ml aluminum can and one 500ml aluminum can when crushed using the aluminum can crushing aid main body of the present invention, as well as the dimensions of three cans stacked together. Even a person with little strength can easily crush the aluminum cans.

Figure 25 shows the auxiliary device main body 118 including the insulating material, which can store the upper and lower containers 411 and 412 with enhanced safety shown in Figure 4, and an aluminum can 396 together with the auxiliary device main body 117 including the insulating material shown in Figure 23, making it easy to store and carry.

101 Auxiliary tool body of claim 1 301 Opening 311 Opening 313 Opening 315 Opening 317 Opening 302 Bottom surface 350 Right hand 351 Left hand 356 Mountain ridge 370 Empty aluminum can 373 Mountain ridge 374 Mountain ridge, deformation of mountain ridge 373 375 Valley 376 Valley, deformation of valley 375 378 Empty aluminum can, deformation of empty aluminum can 370 395 Empty aluminum can, deformation of empty aluminum can 378 381 Spread width when crushing 500 ml empty aluminum can 390 Shoe 391 Bottom surface 393 Bottom surface 392 Projection for preventing lateral displacement 411 Upper unit 412 Lower unit 501 Right shoulder upward guideline 520 Right shoulder upward guideline dotted line 525 Right shoulder upward guideline mark 530 Right-hand upward guideline, different color stripes 534 Right-hand upward guideline drawing

Claims (7)

An aluminum can crushing aid made of a soft material, the aid having a side that surrounds an aluminum can, a set of four or five guidelines that are inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the can along the side and are spaced equally apart,
The aluminum can crushing aid includes both a right-upward guideline and a left-upward guideline with a distinct design on a first surface of the side of the aluminum can crushing aid,
The aluminum can crushing aid can form a linear mountain-like portion along the selected guideline by pinching up both sides of the can near a guideline of a selected design with fingers while surrounding the can, making it easier to crush the can vertically.
An aluminum can crushing aid made of a soft material, the aid having a side that surrounds an aluminum can, a set of four or five guidelines that are inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the can along the side and are spaced equally apart,
A guide line extending upward to the right is formed on a first surface of the aluminum can crushing aid side, and a guide line extending upward to the left is formed on a second surface of the aluminum can crushing aid side,
The aluminum can crushing aid is configured such that a selected surface of the first or second surface of the aid is placed on the outer surface and surrounds the can, and when the can and both sides near the guidelines are picked up with fingers, the guide lines form linear mountain sections along the guide lines, making it easier to crush the can vertically.
An aluminum can crushing aid made of a soft material, the aid having a side that surrounds an empty aluminum can, a set of four or five guidelines that are inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the can along the side and are equally spaced apart,
the guidelines include four guidelines of a first design and five guidelines of a second design that are distinct from the guidelines of the first design,
The aluminum can crushing aid can form a linear mountain-like portion along the selected guideline by pinching up both sides of the can near a guideline of a selected design with fingers while surrounding the can, making it easier to crush the can vertically.
An aluminum can crushing aid made of a soft material, the aid having a side that surrounds an aluminum can, a set of four or five guidelines that are inclined at 60 degrees ±15 degrees from the bottom of the can along the side and are spaced equally apart,
Four guidelines are formed on a first surface of the aluminum can crushing aid side, and five guidelines are formed on a second surface of the aluminum can crushing aid side.
The aluminum can crushing aid surrounds the can with the selected surface of the first or second surface facing outward, and when the can and guideline are picked up with fingers on both sides near the guideline, a linear mountain ridge is formed along the guideline of the selected surface of the can, making it easier to crush the can vertically.
5. The aluminum can crushing aid according to claim 1, wherein the guide lines are selected for each set of four, five or left and right inclinations by a design consisting of straight lines, dotted lines, marks, striped patterns, color differences, line drawings, thickness differences, convexities, concaves, or cuts.
5. The aluminum can crushing aid according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum can is crushed by crushing the bottom and the side of the aluminum can in a bag-like shape, and the side includes a heat insulating material.
7. The aluminum can crushing aid according to claim 6, further comprising a lower unit for enclosing the bottom of the aluminum can and an upper unit for covering the top of the aluminum can, the lower unit and the upper unit being capable of being stored together with the aluminum can.

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