U.S. patent application number 10/711285 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for straw-delivery-mechanism to provide automatic straw delivery from within a metal can.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE COMCONNECTION DBA, THE COMCONNECTION DBA. Invention is credited to Lisa Price.
Application Number | 20060049196 10/711285 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35995179 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060049196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Price; Lisa |
March 9, 2006 |
Straw-Delivery-Mechanism to provide automatic straw delivery from
within a metal can
Abstract
A metal beverage container having a bend-down tongue in its
orifice, a telescopic straw, and a mechanism, with an attachment
for the straw, to deliver this straw from within the container when
the container has been opened.
Inventors: |
Price; Lisa; (Fort
Lauderdale, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LISA PRICE
1709 SW 5TH STREET
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33312
US
|
Assignee: |
THE COMCONNECTION DBA
1709 sw 5th street
Fort Lauderdale
FL
|
Family ID: |
35995179 |
Appl. No.: |
10/711285 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/705 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2517/0014 20130101;
B65D 2517/0049 20130101; B65D 17/4012 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/705 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A "device for automatic delivery of a drinking straw" from the
inside of a metal beverage container having an opening mechanism
with a bend-down-tongue.
2. The device according to claim 1, and the way of holding the
straw in the strawholding arm.
3. The device according to claim 1, and the mechanism to lock the
release-arm against the inner rim of the lid.
4. The device according to claim 1, and the spring supplying the
power to secure and turn the mechanism named in claim 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,184
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,084
1. FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] The Invention relates generally to beverage containers using
a bend-down-tongue to create an opening in the lid and specifically
to an improved method to supply a more hygienic drinking
environment and a more enjoyable drinking experience, than drinking
directly from the container.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0004] Numerous different Straw-delivery-mechanisms had been
developed in prior art for metal beverage cans. All had flaws and
none ever went into mass production until today.
3. DISCUSSION OF NEW STRAW-DELIVERY-MECHANISM
[0005] My new invention (the straw-delivery-mechanism for automatic
straw delivery from within the metal can here referred as "the new
mechanism") covers many of those flaws and will overcome the
shortcomings of prior art devices. [0006] a) The new Mechanism is
secure and cannot move or release the straw when the can is closed.
[0007] b) The new Mechanism works reliable. [0008] c) The new
Mechanism is easy produced. [0009] d) Already existing machinery
can be used to produce the new mechanism. [0010] e) The new
Mechanism is extremely low cost compared with prior Art devices.
[0011] f) The new Mechanism can be made from the same material as
the Lid is made from. [0012] g) The new Mechanism is easily mounted
to the Lid. [0013] h) The new Mechanism is easy implemented into
the container. [0014] i) The mounting procedures are more easily
implemented into the canning/filling production lines. [0015] k)
The contamination of the Aluminum container through the use of
other types of materials is prevented and therefore the aluminum
recycling process is not impaired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows from below the Straw-delivery-mechanism in the
can in its locked position when the can is still closed.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows from below the Straw-delivery-mechanism in the
can in its final position when the straw has been released.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows the Straw-delivery-mechanism looking down on
the can in a sectional view from a 45 degree angle in its locked
position when the can is still closed.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the Straw-deliver-mechanism looking down on the
can in a sectional view from a 45 degree angle in its final
position when the straw has been released.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows the arm of the Straw-delivery-mechanism that
holds the straw from a 45 degree top view.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEQUENCES
PARTS INVOLVED
[0021] 1. Lid [0022] 2. Inner, lower Rim of Lid [0023] 3. Outer,
upper Rim of Lid [0024] 4. Straw delivery Mechanism [0025] 5.
Spring [0026] 6. Strawholding Arm [0027] 7. Strawholder [0028] 8.
Corrugated part of Straw-holding-Arm [0029] 9. Release Arm [0030]
10. Lock on Release Arm [0031] 11. Rivet [0032] 12. Bend-down
tongue in the orifice [0033] 13. Orifice [0034] 14. Tab [0035] 15.
Straw [0036] 16. Can
[0037] When the can opens (12) the straw-delivery-mechanism is
released, the spring will force the mechanism to turn and finally
to deliver the straw.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] In Three Steps
The Straw
[0039] The Straw (15) is a common telescopic straw as produced for
several uses out of any convenient material.
The Straw-Delivery-Mechanism
[0040] The Straw delivery mechanism (4) is fabricated from
aluminum. The mechanism (4) carries the following components.
[0041] a) A Rivet (11) with which the mechanism (4) on its turn
point (11 as well) is connected to the lid [0042] b) The
straw-holding arm (6) has a improved spring effect through its
corrugation (8). The straw-holder (7) lets the straw only move in
one direction out of the holder. [0043] c) The release Arm (9) The
tip of the release-arm (9) creates the lock (10) in conjunction
with the inner rim (2). [0044] d) The Spring (5) supplies three
forces [0045] 1) To turn the straw-delivery-mechanism (4) [0046] 2)
To push the straw (15) on the arm (6) through the Orifice (13)
[0047] 3) To press the release-arm (9) against the lid (1) and to
lock the mechanism (4) against the inner rim (2) The Straw-Holder
(FIG. 5)
[0048] The straw-holder (7) has a serrated hole in which the straw
is located. The serrated inside edge of the hole allows the hole to
expand slightly to maintain a firm grip on the straw and to allow
the straw to move only in one direction through the hole.
When the Can is Closed (FIG. 1 & FIG. 3)
[0049] The Spring (5) presses against the wall (16) of the can. The
pressure ensures that the release-arm (9) stays in its locked
position (10). The Straw hits the lid (FIG. 3) and the strawholding
arm (6) is bend downward.
When the Can is being Opened
[0050] The release arm (9) is unlocked and snaps over the inner rim
(2) and starts sliding along the conical portion of the can-wall on
top of the can (16). As the release-arm (9) is pushed down by the
bend-down tongue (12) through the opening process, the entire
mechanism (4) can turn being pushed by the spring (5), until the
straw (15) reaches the opening (13) and the strawholding (6) arm
can release the straw (15) to the outside.
When the Can is Open (FIG. 2 & FIG. 4)
[0051] The straw (15) appears at the orifice (13) and sticks out
about 1 inch. The strawholding arm (6) is larger than the orifice
(13) and cannot be pulled out of the can. The telescopic straw can
be easily pulled out of the straw holder and used for drinking but
not pushed back into the can. After use the straw can be easy
completely removed from the can if wanted.
[0052] Several possible reasons exist for the complete removal of
the straw: [0053] a) The consumer may like to drink without a
straw. [0054] b) The consumer may want to drink the last remaining
liquid. [0055] c) The straw may be made out of plastic, and should
be removed before the can enters a recycling process
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