U.S. patent application number 09/766595 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for beverage can cap and straw.
Invention is credited to Fukuda, Junji, Hirota, Kashichi.
Application Number | 20020008109 09/766595 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18687662 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020008109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hirota, Kashichi ; et
al. |
January 24, 2002 |
Beverage can cap and straw
Abstract
The present invention provides a combination of beverage can cap
and straw, comprising: a beverage can cap including a top plate
portion and a peripheral rim portion which is to be fitted into a
can edge of a beverage can, the beverage can cap being formed with
a straw-inserting aperture at a position corresponding to a
drinking aperture which is to be opened in a top cover of the
beverage can, the beverage can cap being formed with a straw
retaining portion on the outer surface of the peripheral rim
portion as rising outward in a direction orthogonal to the surface
of the top plate portion, the straw retaining portion having a
fitting slot capable of retaining straw fitted thereinto; and a
straw having a diameter capable of being fitted into the fitting
slot formed in the straw-retaining portion, the straw being formed
with a bendable accordion-like portion. The present invention also
provides a beverage can cap using in such the combination of
beverage can cap and straw.
Inventors: |
Hirota, Kashichi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Fukuda, Junji; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACOBSON HOLMAN PLLC
400 SEVENTH STREET N.W.
SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
18687662 |
Appl. No.: |
09/766595 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/258.2 ;
220/258.3; 220/709 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/0018 20130101;
B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2547/06 20130101; B65D 2543/0074
20130101; B65D 2543/00805 20130101; B65D 2543/00685 20130101; B65D
2543/00527 20130101; B65D 2543/00638 20130101; B65D 51/20 20130101;
B65D 2543/00046 20130101; B65D 77/28 20130101; B65D 43/0212
20130101; B65D 2251/0071 20130101; Y10S 220/906 20130101; B65D
2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/258 ;
220/709 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2000 |
JP |
187732/2000 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination of beverage can cap and straw, comprising: a
beverage can cap including a top plate portion and a peripheral rim
portion which is to be fitted into a can edge of a beverage can,
said beverage can cap being formed with a straw-inserting aperture
at a position corresponding to a drinking aperture which is to be
opened in a top cover of said beverage can, said beverage can cap
being formed with a straw retaining portion on the outer surface of
said peripheral rim portion as rising outward in a direction
orthogonal to the surface of said top plate portion, said straw
retaining portion having a fitting slot capable of retaining straw
fitted thereinto; and a straw having a diameter capable of being
fitted into said fitting slot formed in said straw-retaining
portion, said straw being formed with a bendable accordion-like
portion.
2. A combination of beverage can cap and straw as defined in claim
1, wherein said straw-retaining portion is located on the opposite
side of said straw-inserting aperture in a diametrical direction of
said top plate portion so as to position a center of said top plate
portion between said straw-retaining portion and said
straw-inserting aperture.
3. A combination of beverage can cap and straw as defined in claim
1 or claim2, wherein a diameter of said straw-inserting aperture is
substantially equal to said diameter of said straw.
4. A combination of beverage can cap and straw as defined in either
one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said straw-retaining portion is
adapted to use as a claw for pulling up a pull-tab of said beverage
can.
5. A beverage can cap using in said combination of beverage can cap
and straw defined in either one of claims 1 to 4.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Heretofore, after opening a beverage can, there have been
some problems. For example, turning over the beverage can would
result in the spill of a beverage in the beverage can through a
drinking aperture which has been opened in a top cover of the
beverage can by pulling up a pull-tab to drink the beverage
therethrough, and dusts entering through the drinking aperture into
the beverage can possibly makes an undesirable insanitary
condition. Further, a sharp edge of the drinking aperture
potentially hurts user slip or hands, and it would be undesirable
from a hygienic point of view to drink with touching user's mouth
directly to the beverage can. Some beverage can cap has been known
for settling these problems caused after opening the beverage can,
such as that described in Japanese Registered Utility Model No.
3024479. This prior art beverage can cap includes a straw-inserting
portion provided at a position corresponding to the drinking
aperture, a straw-retaining portion provided on the top surface of
the beverage can cap, and a closure plug member provided at an
upper portion of the beverage can cap, wherein the beverage can cap
is mounted on the opened beverage can so as to cover a top cover of
the beverage can in its use. A user may insert a straw through the
straw-insert portion of the beverage can cap to drink a beverage in
the beverage can. When some amount of beverage is left in the
beverage can, the straw may be taken out through the
straw-inserting portion, and the taken-out straw may be fitted into
the straw-retaining portion to keep it for reuse. The opening of
the straw-inserting portion may be plugged with the closure plug
member so that the beverage in the beverage can would never be
spilled out even if the beverage can is turned over.
[0002] However, as to storing the straw when the beverage is left
in the beverage can, the prior art beverage can cap has the
following problems; it is troublesome to take the straw out of the
beverage can, to fit it into the straw-retaining portion, and then
to plug the opening of the straw-inserting portion with the closure
plug member; since the straw is taken out of the beverage can and
generally stored as it is, the beverage attached on the straw
causes the contamination of hands or surroundings; it is insanitary
to reuse the straw with the beverage on which dusts are easily to
be attached after storing it under contacting with outside air; and
the straw fitted into the straw-retaining portion is obstructive
since it protrudes from the top cover of the beverage can to a
large degree.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to settle the
above-mentioned problems and to provide a combination of beverage
can cap and straw, and a beverage can cap using in such the
combination of beverage can cap and straw, which are capable of
storing a straw conveniently, without any contamination of hands or
surroundings, sanitarily, and unobstructively, when a beverage is
left in the beverage can.
[0004] In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present
invention provides a combination of beverage can cap and straw,
comprising: a beverage can cap including a top plate portion and a
peripheral rim portion which is to be fitted into a can edge of a
beverage can, the beverage can cap being formed with a
straw-inserting aperture at a position corresponding to a drinking
aperture which is to be opened in a top cover of the beverage can,
the beverage can cap being formed with a straw retaining portion on
the outer surface of the peripheral rim portion as rising outward
in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the top plate portion,
the straw retaining portion having a fitting slot capable of
retaining straw fitted thereinto; and a straw having a diameter
capable of being fitted into the fitting slot formed in the
straw-retaining portion, the straw being formed with a bendable
accordion-like portion. The present invention also provides a
beverage can cap using in such the combination of beverage can cap
and straw.
[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
straw-retaining portion may be located on the opposite side of the
straw-inserting aperture in a diametrical direction of the top
plate portion so as to position a center of the top plate portion
between the straw-retaining portion and the straw-inserting
aperture.
[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
diameter of the straw-inserting aperture may be substantially equal
to the diameter of the straw.
[0007] According to still another embodiment of the present
invention, the straw-retaining portion may be adapted to use as a
claw for pulling up a pull-tab of the beverage can.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing one example of a
beverage can cap according to the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the beverage can
cap shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view showing a
straw-retaining portion;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state that the
beverage can cap shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a beverage can and a
straw is inserted into the beverage can;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of
FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state that the straw
is retained in the straw-retaining portion in FIG. 4; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a preferable embodiment
for distribution and sales of the beverage can cap shown in FIG. 1
and a straw.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT
[0015] With reference to a preferable embodiment of the present
invention will now be described.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing one example of a
beverage can cap according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a
rear perspective view showing the beverage can cap shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view showing a straw-retaining
portion; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state that the
beverage can cap shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a beverage can and a
straw is inserted into the beverage can; FIG. 5 is a
cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is
a perspective view showing a state that the straw is retained in
the straw-retaining portion in FIG. 4; and FIG. 7 is a perspective
view showing a preferable embodiment for distribution and sales of
the beverage can cap shown in FIG. 1 and a straw.
[0017] A beverage can cap 1 of the present invention is formed of
synthetic resin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like,
which is harmless in view of food hygiene and has suitable
elasticity or resilience. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the
beverage can cap 1 includes a circular top plate portion 2, and an
annular peripheral rim portion 3 rising along and from the
circumference of the top plate portion 2. The top plate portion 2
is formed with a cylindrical straw-inserting aperture 4 rising from
a position eccentric to a center of the top plate portion 2. On the
outer surface of the peripheral rim portion 3, a straw-retaining
portion 5 is integrally formed as rising outward in a direction
orthogonal to the surface of the top plate portion 2. The
straw-retaining portion 5 is configured by forming a fitting slot
5a in a ligulate member. A plurality of raised portions 3a are
provided on an inner peripheral wall of the peripheral rim portion
3.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the beverage can cap 1 is
mounted on a beverage can 6 so as to cover a top cover 6b of the
beverage can 6, in actual use. A user can mount the beverage can
cap 1 to the beverage can 6 by pushing the beverage can cap 1
downward, or from above, after putting up the beverage can cap 1 on
the top cover 6b of the opened beverage can 6 so as to locate the
straw-inserting aperture 4 directly above a drinking aperture 6a of
the beverage can 6, and can then insert a straw 7 into the
straw-inserting aperture 4 to drink a beverage in the beverage can
6. The straw 7 includes any suitable straws having a bendable
accordion-like portion 7 in a part of its sidewall, such as the
trade name "Bender Straw", which is popularly distributed and
soled.
[0019] As best shown in FIG. 5, the beverage can cap 1 is mounted
on the beverage can 6 so as to closely press and fit the inner
peripheral wall and raised portion 3a of the peripheral rim portion
3 to the upper can edge of the beverage can 6. A diameter of the
straw 7 is substantially equal to a diameter of the straw-inserting
aperture 4 so that the straw 7 passes through the straw-inserting
aperture 4 so as to contact the outer surface of the straw 7
substantially with the periphery of the straw-inserting aperture 4.
Particularly, in the this embodiment, the straw-inserting aperture
4 is not formed only by perforating the top plate portion 2, but
formed in a cylindrical configuration so that the touch area
between the straw 7 and the straw-inserting aperture 4 is enlarged.
Thus, when the beverage can cap 1 is mounted on the beverage can 6
and the straw 7 is inserted into the straw-inserting aperture 4,
high air tightness is maintained between the peripheral rim portion
3 of the beverage can cap 2 and a peripheral edge portion of the
top cover 6b of the beverage can 6 and between the straw 7 and the
straw-inserting aperture 4. As a result, a top opening having a
diameter of about 5 mm to 6 mm of the straw 7 is left as a sole
opening portion for allowing fluid communication between inside of
the beverage can 6 and outside air. Thus, even if the beverage can
6 is turned over and the beverage spills out from the drinking
aperture 6a of the beverage can 6, the spilt beverage will not get
out of contacting portions between the peripheral rim portion 3 of
the beverage can cap 2 and the peripheral edge portion of the top
cover 6b of the beverage can 6 and between the straw 7 and the
straw-inserting aperture 4. In addition, due to external pressure,
the beverage in the beverage can 6 is difficult to get out of the
top opening of the straw 7.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 6, when the beverage is left in the
beverage can 6, the user may bend an upper portion 7b of the straw
7, which protrudes upward from the top plate portion 2, at the
accordion-like portion 7a, and then fit a part of the upper portion
7b of the straw 7 into the fitting slot 5a to retain the straw 7,
so that the straw 7 can be stored in a state inserted into the
beverage can 6 and bended. Thus, since the straw 7 is stored in the
state bended without taken out, it can be stored conveniently,
without any contamination of hands or surroundings, and sanitarily.
Further, the straw 7 is stored in the state bended so as to reduce
the upward protrusion of its upper portion 7b so that it can be
stored unobstructively. When storing in this manner, even if the
beverage can 6 is turned over, the beverage is also difficult to
get out of the beverage can 6, as described above.
[0021] When the straw 7 is inserted into the beverage can 6, the
lower end of the straw 7 desirably lie close to the bottom of the
beverage can 6 so that the beverage in the beverage can 6 can be
fully drunk. The accordion-like portion 7a, or a portion having a
plurality of accordion pleats, is desirably located close to the
straw-inserting aperture 4 so that the upward protrusion of the
upper portion 7b can be minimized by bending the accordion-like
portion 7a to make the upper portion 7b extend along the upper
surface of the top plate portion 2. When bended as described above,
the upper portion 7b of the straw 7 desirably has an unobstructive
length, which allows the upper portion 7b to stay within the
circumference of the top plate portion 2, and preferably at least
30 mm or more to improve convenience for drinking. In this
embodiment, for satisfying these requirements, the straw-retaining
portion 5 is located on the opposite side of the straw-inserting
aperture 4 in a diametrical direction of the top plate portion 2 so
that the upper portion 7a of the straw 7 inserted into the
straw-inserting aperture 4 can be bended in the direction bringing
into the longest distance between the straw-inserting aperture 4
and the circumference of the top plate portion 2, or toward the
center of the top plate portion 2, to be retained.
[0022] The straw-retaining portion 5 may be used as a claw for
pulling up a pull-tab of the beverage can 6. When opening a
beverage can, a user may insert the straw-retaining portion 5
between the top cover 6b of the beverage can 6 and the pull-tab and
then operate the beverage can cap 1 so that the pull-tab can be
pulled up more easily without hurting finger or nail. As shown in
FIG. 7, in distribution and sales, a user may fit the straw 7,
which is not inserted into the straw-inserting aperture 4, into the
fitting slot 5a of the straw-retaining portion 5 so that the straw
7 and the beverage can cap 1 can be distributed or soled in a
non-separated and non-bulky form.
[0023] In the above-described embodiment, the beverage can cap 1
and the straw 7 have been formed as an individual member
respectively. However, these may be integrally formed as a beverage
can cap with straw in which the straw 7 is fixedly penetrated the
beverage can cap 1.
[0024] As described above, in a combination of beverage can cap and
straw of the present invention, a bendable straw is applied as the
straw. When the beverage in the beverage can is left, the straw can
be stored by bending the upper portion at the accordion-like
portion without taken out it and then fitting the upper portion
into the fitting slot of the straw-retaining portion. Thus, the
straw can be stored conveniently, without any contamination of
hands or surroundings, and sanitarily. Further, the straw is stored
in a state bended to reduce the upward protrusion of its upper
portion so that it can be stored unobstructively.
* * * * *