WO2003010064A1

WO2003010064A1 - Container having an audible signaling device

Info

Publication number: WO2003010064A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/001408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glenn Holmberg
Original assignee: Glenn Holmberg
Priority date: 2001-07-24
Filing date: 2002-07-23
Publication date: 2003-02-06
Also published as: SE0102591D0; SE0102591L

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) provided with means to give off a sound signal on opening the container which contains goods or liquids kept under above atmospheric pressure. The container is provided with one or more means (73, 74) arranged to direct a stream of gas mixture escaping from the container to an instrument (75, 81) located in the opening area such that said instrument on opening the container gives off a sound signal when the stream is passing.

Description

CONTAINER HAVING AN AUDIBLE SIGNALING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a method and a device which make it possible, when opening a container filled with contents kept under above atmospheric pressure, to receive information related to the contents of the container.

There is often a need for information related to the contents of a container. A person needs, for instance, to have confirmation that the product which is kept in the container fulfils the specifications of the product, is produced by a certain manufacturer, fulfils certain environmental demands, etc.

Especially interesting to a number of companies is a package which on opening thereof draws the attention of the customer to the trademark under which the product is marketed or to the name of the manufacturer, as such characteristics of the package would strengthen the marketing and would influence the customers to choose this product.

The present invention relates to a method and a device which meet with the above-mentioned needs. According to the invention, for the opening of a container, the container is provided with an opening means and an instrument placed in the opening area of the container. This instrument gives off a sound signal when the container is opened. The instrument is arranged to direct the stream of gas mixture which, because of the above atmospheric pressure in the container, escapes from the interior when opening the container. The stream is directed to pass means which generate sound waves when the gas mixture is passing through.

As mentioned above, use is made of the above atmospheric pressure in the container to create a sound signal which gives the desired information. The technique is thereby especially suitable for containers of aerated drinks. Bottles and cans are examples of containers that are used for aerated drinks. The technique is not to any extent limited to these two forms of containers but can, as a rule, be applied irrespective of the form of the container.

When the filled and sealed container contains an aerated drink, there is a relatively small space that is not filled with the drink. However, in experiments, it has turned out that the quantity of gas escaping from the interior of the container when it is opened, is enough to obtain the desired production of sound waves. In experiments, it has also transpired that the quantity of gas is enough even in the smallest containers that are used for aerated drinks.

According to the invention the gas mixture escaping from the container is directed to pass through one or adjacent to one sound generating device. This device encompasses, as a rule, at least one resonance cavity and/or at least one element which starts to vibrate by the gas stream. A groove or a hole is also used to generate the sound in certain embodiments. By the dimensioning of the hole, the cavity and/or the vibrating element, a sound is generated with the desired strength and frequency/frequencies. According to the invention, the device also encompasses, as a rule, means which, at least during the part of the opening process when the sound waves are being generated, limit the size of the opening through which the gas mixture is escaping from the container and also direct the stream of gas mixture so this mixture passes through or adjacent to the sound generating device.

Several expedient embodiments of the present invention can be realized. In a first embodiment, according to the invention, the device, is designed to be used on lids for cans, for example, on a lid placed on a can containing an aerated drink. The lid is then provided with an opening means for co-operation with a weakening area arranged in the lid. The opening means includes a part which is lifted to open the package by breaking open the lid at its weakening. In addition, the device includes an instrument which is part of a guide means which after the breaking open of the lid directs the created stream of gas mixture to pass the sound generating device of the instrument. In a second embodiment of the invention the container is provided with a mainly hollow cylindrical part through which the container is drained and which is sealed with a screw cap. The instrument that will create a sound includes a passage placed in the cap through which the stream of gas passes when the container is opened. The embodiment mentioned in this paragraph does not only relate to bottles but also to other forms of containers which are provided with a cylindrical part through which the container is drained and which is arranged to be sealed with a cap or a screw cap.

Further embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and in the appended claims.

The present invention will now be described hereinbelow, with reference to a number of drawings, in which:

Fig. 1a is a cross-section through the upper part of a can sealed with a lid in a first embodiment;

Fig. 1b is a cross-section through the opening portion of the can in detail when the opening of the can has started and the lid has begun to deform but the breakopen-instructions are still intact;

Fig. 1c is a cross-section according to Fig. 1b when the break-open instructions have been broken;

Fig. 1d-f illustrates the sections D, E and F in Fig. 1c;

Fig. 1g is a perspective view of the upper part of a sealed can according to Fig. 1a-f;

Fig. 2a is a cross-section through the upper part of a can sealed with a lie in a second embodiment; Fig. 2b is a perspective view of the upper part of a sealed can according to Fig. 2a in a slightly enhanced scale relative thereto;

Fig. 2c is a slightly revised cross-section analogous to Fig. 2a;

Fig. 2d is a slightly revised cross-section analogous to Fig. 2b;

Fig. 3a is a cross-section through the mouth portion of a bottle showing the screw cap of the bottle in a first embodiment and in a position where the bottle is sealed;

Fig. 3b is a cross-section through the mouth portion of the bottle when the bottle is partly opened;

Fig. 3c is a detailed enlargement of the cross-section in Fig. 2b;

Fig. 4a is a cross-section through the mouth portion of a bottle sealed with a screw cap in a second embodiment;

Fig. 4b is a part of the cross-section through the bottle according to Fig.

3a after the screw cap of the bottle has been screwed off a bit;

Fig. 4c is an exploded view showing the design of the screw cap in a second embodiment and of the co-operating means included therein;

Fig. 5a is a cross-section through the mouth portion of a bottle sealed with a cap lacking threads;

Fig. 5b is a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section according to

Fig. 5a during the opening of the bottle. Figs. 1a-1g illustrate the upper part of a container 1 in shape of a can 1a with a can body 2 provided with a lid 3a in a first embodiment. In this description the word container also encompasses the sealing means (for example a lid or a cap/screw cap) used for the container. An opening means 4 is arranged on the lid. This opening means co-operates with a weakening area 30 in the lid 3a. By means of an attachment means 31 , shown in the Figure as a rivet 31, the opening means is attached to the lid 3a. The opening means includes a lifting loop 42 and a contact surface 44 (Fig. 1b) which is pressed against the lid when the lifting loop is removed from the lid. A membrane 43 is placed between the opening means 4 and the exterior area 40 of the lid.

The membrane 43 is sealingly attached to the exterior area 40 of the lid with a binding agent, tape or the like along the edges 32 of the membrane (cf. Fig. 1f). The membrane 43, the lid 3a and the joints formed by a binding agent, tape or the like define a space 46 (Fig. 1e). An opening 41 to the space 46 is arranged, in the joint formed by the binding agent at that edge 45 of the membrane which is situated opposite to the edge attached to the part of the lid which is moved into the container when it is opened. As long as the can is sealed, the opening 41 is the only connection between the space and the surroundings.

Fig. 1a illustrates the lid when the uplifting of the lifting loop 42 attached to the opening means has already begun. In the position which is shown in Fig. 1a the contact surface of the opening means has reached the exterior area 40 of the lid but the container is still completely sealed.

Fig. 1b illustrates the lifting loop when being slightly more lifted and the contact surface 44 has begun to move part of the lid towards the interior of the container. The movement has not proceeded so far that the weakening 30 has broken.

Fig. 1c illustrates that the weakening 30 has broken and the gas mixture inside the container has begun to form a stream of gas which passes from the interior of the container into said space 46. The gas escapes the space through its opening 41. The size of the opening is chosen in such a way that the desired sound is created as the gas is passing through the opening.

In another embodiment, the membrane 43 is pressed against the area 40 of the lid 3 (without a binding agent) in an area closest to the edge where the gas stream will escape from the space 46. The lack of a binding agent to the membrane results in the pressure of the gas lifting the membrane off the surface 40 whereby the gas stream which passes between the membrane and the upper surface of the lid affects the membrane in such way that it vibrates. Thereby the desired sound is created for as long as the gas stream with requisite pressure and speed lasts.

Figs. 2a-2b, 2c-2d, respectively, illustrate a second embodiment of the lid 3b fixed to the upper portion 1 of the container. Said lid 3b has an opening means (not shown in the Figures) corresponding to that described earlier and which is attached to the lid with attachment means 31. The lid has a weakening 30 which is broken open when the lifting loop of the opening means is lifted up from the lid. A membrane 43 (in Fig. 2a shown as transparent) corresponding to the membrane 43 in the Figs. 1a-1g is tightly attached either by means of a tightly fitting edge, or a binding agent against the interior surface 40 of the lid 3b. The lid 3b has in a known manner a weakening 30 along which it is broken open when opening the container. On the underneath side (according to Fig 2b) of the membrane there is a fixation plate 101 , and on the other side of said membrane 43, along the periphery of the fixation plate 101, on the inside of the lid 3b there is a fixation ring 102. The outer edge of the fixation plate 101 is slightly bent upwardly to establish a possibility to by force make a deformed portion 103 of the membrane 43 enter said plate 101 and be kept therein by the fixation ring 102. Between the portions 101 ,102 and 103 respectively consequently exist a forced fit relation. The fixation plate 101 is on the inside of its bent outer edge, at its left portion as seen in the Figure, provided with a through going passage 73, to upon opening of the container allow an evacuation of the gas mixture set under above atmospheric pressure in the closed state of said container. As is described above, thus the membrane 43 is clamped between the fixation plate 101 and the fixation ring 102. 1 addition thereto the membrane 43 has in the area a continuous long-strip through going flow slot 104, in order to like the passage 73 allow an evacuation of above atmospheric pressure when the container is opened. As is shown in Fig. 2b, which illustrate an initial opening stage for said container, the gas mixture set under above atmospheric pressure will under these circumstances be forced towards the outside of the container firstly via the passage 73, and secondly via the flow slot 104, whereupon a signal depending on the pressure will be generated by the fact that the membrane 43 is put into vibration.

From Figs. 2c and 2d, which with the deviation presented below, depicts analogous embodiments to figs 2a and 2b, alternatively show how the fixation of the membrane 43 between the fixing plate 101 and the fixation ring 102 is realisable. Instead of as was the case according to the previously described embodiment according to which a bent outer edge of the fixing plate is used, according to this alternative embodiment use is made of a kind of riveting, where pins 105, preferably made from plastic of the same kind a that of the membrane 43, which by making use of a tight fit is pressed into the fixing plate 101 and the fixation ring 102 respectively, while squeezing the membrane between themselves.

The membranes 43 as described in connection with Figs. 1a-1f and 2a-2b are, as a rule, given a colour which mainly coincides with the colour of the container. Thereby the membrane will not affect the visual impression of the container.

It should in connection with the embodiments shown in Figs. 2a-2d be stated that these drawings neither show the exact relation of the details relative to each other nor their position. This is, however, done on purpose to enhance the distinctivity and thereby the understanding of the disclosure.

Figs. 3a-3c illustrate the container 1 in the form of a bottle 1 b with a mouth portion 7 which in the illustrated embodiment is provided with threads 70 which are placed on the outside of the mouth portion. In the illustrated embodiment the container has a screw cap 8. This screw cap 8 is provided with inner threads 80. The screw cap 8 has a central passage 81.

When the screw cap 8 is on, there is provided for a membrane-like means placed between the screw 8 and the edge 71 of the mouth portion of the bottle. With the screw cap 8 screwed on, the membrane-like means forms a lid 72 in abutment with the edge 71 of the mouth portion. In an area which is situated close to the edge of the lid, the lid is provided with a passage 73. A membrane 74 provided with a central opening 75 is arranged between the lid 72 and the upper part of the screw cap 8. Between the screw cap 8 and the membrane-like lid a space 76 is formed.

Fig. 3a illustrates the bottle completely sealed whereby the membrane 74 is pressed against the lid 72 by the screw cap. Since the membrane also covers the mouth of the channel 73, the gas mixture inside the bottle is prevented from passing into the space 76.

Figs. 3b and 3c illustrate the screw cap when it has been screwed off a bit. The pressure of the gas mixture inside the container lifts the membrane 74 from the mouth of the channel 73 and thereby from abutment with the membrane-like lid at which gas from the interior of the container escapes into the space 76 from which it escapes out through the central passage 81 of the screw cap. Thereby the membrane is free to vibrate by the powers that are pressed against the membrane and by the stream of passing gas. In this way a sound signal is created.

To obtain the desired effect the membrane-like lid 72 is, as a rule, provided with a number of channels 73 which are arranged at distance from one another in the direction of the circumference of the membrane-like lid. Hereby the gas mixture is secured to pass through at least one of the channels when the container is opened. In some embodiments the membrane 74 is dimensioned not to vibrate as the stream is passing the space 76. Instead, the central passage 81 of the cap is dimensioned to create the desired sound when the gas is streaming through the passage.

In Figs. 4a-4c, illustrating one application of the present invention, are shown as well that the membrane-like means 72a has a passage 73a which is formed by a radially directed groove 73a in the membrane-like means. The length of the groove in the direction of the centre of the membrane exceeds the length of a landing 82 situated next to the downwardly directed part of the Figure, i.e. the part having the threads of the screw cap. As evident from Figs. 4b and 4c the groove continues in the opposite direction over the edge of the membrane. Fig. 4b illustrates as well that the depth of the groove is less in the edge portion than the thickness of the wall forming the edge of the mouth of the bottle. The remaining means included in the Figure have correspondence in the means being described in Figs. 3a-3c.

In Fig. 4a the bottle is sealed in such a way that the screw cap is screwed on to a completely sealed position. The membrane-like means 72a is then pressed sealingly against the edge of the mouth. By the dimensioning of the groove as described in the previous paragraph it is guaranteed that the container is sealed also in the area for the groove.

In Fig. 4b the screw cap has been screwed off a bit whereby the sealing abutment 72a against the edge of the mouth portion has been removed. A channel for the gas from the interior of the container has thereby been opened to the channel which is formed by the groove 73a between the screw cap and the membrane-like means 72a. The gas pressure thereby lifts the membrane 74, by which a gas stream is formed from the interior of the container and out through the central passage 81 of the screw cap. As already mentioned in Figs. 3a-3c the desired sound is thereby generated. It will be obvious for a person skilled in the art that, in other applications of the present invention both the membrane 74 and the central passage 81 can function as sound generating devices at the same time. Thereby the membrane 74 is dimensioned to vibrate at the passage of the gas mixture. In certain embodiments only the membrane 74 is used as a sound generating device.

Figs. 5a-5b illustrate one embodiment of the present invention in which both the mouth portion 7a of the bottle and the cap 8a are lacking threads. The membrane 74 is located between the membrane-like portion 72 and the cap 8a. Passages 73 are arranged in the membrane-like means. The passage 81a corresponding to the central passage 81 which has already been described, is arranged in the cap's 8a downwardly directed portion and situated in such way that when the bottle is sealed, the passage is in a position slightly beneath the edge of the mouth.

Fig. 5b illustrates, beside in the previous paragraph already described means, also an opening key 5 for caps. This drawing illustrates that the opening of the bottle has begun. Next to the opening key the cap has been released from the mouth of the bottle and is slightly lifted. Thereby, the parts of the membrane 74 which are closest to the opening key have been uplifted by the pressure of the gas in the container as the gas is escaping from the container and is passing through the passage 81a which is now in a position above the mouth edge.

For reasons of design technical nature, Figs. 5a-5b only illustrate two passages 81a, but it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as a rule, a number of passages are arranged around the mouth edge to make it possible for the gas in the container to escape through the passage which is opened when the uplifting of the cap is occurring. Also in this embodiment the passage 81a and/or the membrane 74 are dimensioned in such way that they form sound generating devices.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention includes a device which gives off a sound signal when opening a container in which goods or liquids under pressure are kept. The sound signal can be used to identify the type of goods, liquids, manufacturer of the goods or the liquids, supplier, etc. To generate the signal the container is designed with and/or provided with a means which when opening the container directs a stream of gas mixture created by the pressure into an instrument arranged in the opening area. This instrument gives off a sound signal when the stream is passing. The word instrument used in this description includes the combination of means, cavities, and narrow passages which involve that the sound signal is being generated when the gas stream is passing. It is obvious that the instrument in certain embodiments completely or partly is formed by means attached to the container.

To a person skilled in the art it will be obvious that a container of an arbitrary design can be provided with means corresponding to those described above and encompassing means and devices forming instruments to generate sounds when opening a container filled with goods kept under above atmospheric pressure.

In the foregoing description the expressions "upper", "lower", "downward", "beneath" and other similar expressions have been used. These definitions are used only to simplify the description and are related only to the orientation of the container in the Figures. To a person skilled in the art it is obvious that the container and the means included therein can have an arbitrary spatial orientation.

The above detailed description has only referred to a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, but it will be readily perceived by a person skilled in the art that the present invention encompasses a large number of embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container provided with means for identifying the type of goods, liquids, manufacturer and supplier thereof, etc, when opening a container (1, 1a, 1b) in which goods or liquids (6) are kept under above atmospheric pressure, from now on designated "overpressure", characterized in that, the container is provided with one or several membranes or reeds with flow opening means (3, 43; 8, 72, 74, 76; 8, 72a, 83, 86, 84) arranged to direct a stream of gas mixture created by the overpressure, together constituting an instrument (41, 81, 81a) whereby the membrane/-s or reed/-s are brought to vibrate so that said instrument gives off a sound signal when the stream is passing.

2. The container as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the membrane/-s or reed/-s (43, 74) are attached to the container.

\. The container as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the instrument is formed by parts of the container and by parts being attached to the container.

4. The container as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the instrument (41, 81, 81a) encompasses cavity portions (84) are designed to generate sound waves when the stream is passing.

5. The container as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that the container is provided with a lid (3) from metal; that the lid is provided with an opening means (4) designed to co-operate with a weakening (30) in the lid; that the opening means includes a part (44) for opening the package by breaking open the lid at the weakening; and that a guide means (43) is disposed to direct the gas escaping from the container to pass the sound generating devices of the instrument (41) after breaking open the lid.

6. The container as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the guide means (43) includes a portion which covers at least part of the weakening (30) of the lid.

5 7. The container as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, c h a ra ct e rize d in that the container (1b) is provided with a mainly hollow cylindrical part (7); that the cylindrical part is provided with threads (70) for co-operation with a screw cap (8); and that the instrument (41) includes a passage (81, 81a) disposed in the screw cap through which passage the stream of gas is lθ passing when the package is opened.

8. The container as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the container includes a membrane-like lid (72, 72a) in abutment with the opening edge (71) of the cylindrical part when the container is sealed; that 15 the screw cap and the membrane-like lid are arranged to form a cavity (76) between themselves; that the passage (81, 81a) of the screw cap falls into said cavity (76); that the membrane-like lid (72) includes a channel (73, 73a) connecting the interior of the container with the cavity (76, 87) when the container is opened.

20

9. A container as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that a membrane (74) provided with a central opening is arranged between the screw cap (8) and the membrane-like means (72) for closing said channel (73, 73a) when the screw cap is in a screwed-on position.

25

10. The container as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the containers includes a membrane (74 ) arranged to be exposed when the container is opened; and that said membrane is located and dimensioned in such way that when opening the container, the gas stream is passing the 30 membrane and bringing at least part of the membrane to vibrate.