The present invention refers to an attachment for drinking out of cans with a cap, specifically a utensil that enables the user to consume beverages from cans in a simple and hygienic manner and provides an option of closing the can after use.
This invention addresses the problem of consuming beverages in the instance where consumer does not have an option of pouring the beverage into a glass or they simply do not want to. Drinking directly from a can has its disadvantages: consumers can often spill their drink, mouth-to-can contact is neither pleasant nor hygienic and insects often get into the can, which can be deadly in case of wasps, giant hornets or bees. This invention addresses the technical problem of designing a cap that can be easily attached to an open can and provides an option to close the cap if we decide to take a break during drinking.
Some inventions that solve the problem of consuming canned beverages already exist. Inventions patented under U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,444, U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,358 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,827 all solve the problem with a cap that fits the entire rim of a can. A disadvantage of those caps is their large size. Moreover, in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,827 there is no concern for hygiene since the liquid is spilled on the top of the can before coming in contact with the mouth. U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,358 solves a problem of hygiene but lacks the ease of use.
There are also other inventions in the form of attachments for vacuum flasks, plastic bottles and other drink containers, such as EP 2216262 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,624, but they are not modified to be used on cans.
Unlike existing solutions, the invention described in the present patent application, can be easily inserted into the can, all the while being very small.
An example of invention will be described and shown in the figures that show:
The key point of the invention described the present patent application is that its shape is adapted to the size of the can opening E1, after the can E is opened with the help of an added opener E2. There are only several different sizes of these openings, but their shape remains the same more or less. Concrete versions of the invention have to be tailored for particular versions of these openings E1.
The invention is made of a single piece, which is comprised of the following essential parts: part A for drinking, part B for insertion and sealing, closing cap or a lid C and preferentially a connective part D with which the cap C is connected with a drinking part A. If the invention is made without the connective part D it is made of two parts or pieces where parts A and B are a single piece and the cap C is another.
The drinking part A consists of an upper drinking part A1, which is the part that comes into contact with the consumers mouth and a lower part A2, which is a part that gets attached to the can opening. Alongside the drinking part A is an opening A3, through which the liquid can come through. The drinking part A is designed around the can opening E1 that appears when one opens the can with the help of the can opener E2 that is a component of the can E and is preferentially c-shaped.
The part for insertion B is made of a front part B1, which enables simple insertion into the can, and a sealing part B2, which surrounds the drinking part A and tightens the area between the cap and the can so the drink does not spill and the liquid only passes through the opening A3 and not on the edges of an open can E1. Part B at the same time also ensures that the invention is firmly attached in the can E and does not slip into it. This is solved by the part under the upper part for drinking A1, i.e. the sealing part B being bigger and covering upper, visible side of the can opening while the tooth (outgrowth) A4 fits the central inner part of the can opening E1.
The front part for insertion B1 is designed in the shape of two outgrowths (teeth) that enable easy positioning of the part A2 in the can opening E1. Other variations with more outgrowths (teeth) are possible as well.
The closing cap C is made of a lid C2 and part C1, which goes inside of the drinking part A upon closing. The notch C3 fits precisely into part A and ensures that the cap C seals properly.
The procedure of inserting the invention into the can and using the cap C is shown in
The invention is made from a material harmless to health, not too hard, so that it can be easily inserted and at the same time not too soft so it still provides an easy consumption of beverages. That is why we preferably use plastic.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P-201300187 | Jul 2013 | SI | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/SI2014/000001 | 1/14/2014 | WO | 00 |