U.S. patent application number 10/529102 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for protective device for drinks cans.
Invention is credited to Oriol D. De Balle Comas.
Application Number | 20060163266 10/529102 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36695659 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060163266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
De Balle Comas; Oriol D. |
July 27, 2006 |
Protective device for drinks cans
Abstract
The invention relates to a protective device for drinks cans.
The inventive device consists of a thin, deformable discoid body
comprising numerous radial notches along the periphery thereof.
Internally, the device comprises a series of curvilinear cuts which
are concentric with the edge of the disk, thereby defining
peripheral areas which are intended to be positioned below the
upper rim at the top of the cylindrical body of the can.
Inventors: |
De Balle Comas; Oriol D.;
(Barcelona, ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CASTELLANO MALM FERRARIO & BUCK PLLC
2121 K STREET, NW
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
36695659 |
Appl. No.: |
10/529102 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
September 24, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES03/00481 |
371 Date: |
March 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/784 ;
220/716; 220/729; 220/730 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2517/0098 20130101;
B65D 17/4012 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/784 ;
220/729; 220/716; 220/730 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/16 20060101
B65D041/16; B65D 25/00 20060101 B65D025/00; B65D 1/40 20060101
B65D001/40; A47G 19/22 20060101 A47G019/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2002 |
ES |
U200204445 |
Claims
1. A protective device for drink cans, of the type intended to be
placed on the upper base of a can, characterized in that it
consists in a thin body (1) having advantageously a discoidal shape
and made from an easily deformable material, provided on its
periphery with a number of radial notches (2) which are
substantially angular in shape and a number of curvilinear cuts
(3), concentric with the edges of the disk (1) and arranged between
the notches (2), defining peripheral areas (7) which can be
arranged by flexion below the upper rim (6) formed on the upper
portion (5) of the cylindrical body (4) of a can.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a protective device for
drink cans.
[0002] As stated in the title, there is provided an element
applicable to a can of the type used for containing soft drinks and
the like, for protecting it against external agents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] As is known, cans of the above type are exposed, while
stored, to various agents such as dust, dirt, and other materials,
which may contaminate the outer surface of those cans, just at the
region that remains in contact with a person's lips when the liquid
contained is consumed, as is common practice, by sucking directly
from the can.
[0004] Until recently, apart from a simple lid in the form of a
cylindrical disk of a very short height relative to its diameter,
and Spanish Utility Model U9991209, no practical and cost effective
device was known that prevents dirt from being formed on a drink
can.
[0005] A cylindrical lid of the above type has many disadvantages:
it must be applied to the outside of the can top rim, so that it
may be easily released, and therefore its protective feature may
get lost, and in addition it has to be made from a material such as
plastic whereby its cost has to be taken into consideration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The device which will be now described allows overcoming the
above mentioned disadvantages. It consists of a discoidal member
which is applied to the top of a can for soft drinks or the like,
and is temporarily retained thereto, covering said portion and thus
preventing dust and other materials from being formed thereon.
[0007] When the user is going to drink from the can the protective
member is first detached, this operation being carried out with
hardly any effort, leaving the can top and the closure member
thereof accessible; these will be clean precisely due to the
insulating function of the protective device.
[0008] For ease of disclosure, the present description is
accompanied by drawings in which one case of embodiment of a
protective device for drink cans is shown by way of an illustrative
and non-limitative example according to the principles of the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan and side elevational view of the new
protective device for drink cans.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows, in an enlarged, fragmentary view, the position
of the protective device on a can of the above mentioned type.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The elements indicated by the reference numerals in the
drawings correspond to the parts referenced hereinbelow.
[0012] The protective device of this patent consist of a thin body
1 which is preferably circular in shape (even though it could also
take other forms), made from an easily deformable material, such
as, for example, cardboard, plastic or metal.
[0013] The body 1 has, on its periphery, a number of radial notches
2 which are advantageously angular in shape, with their vertexes
facing the center of the piece.
[0014] Likewise, the body 1 has curvilinear cuts 3, concentric with
the edges of the body itself and at a distance from them similar to
the length of the radial notches 2.
[0015] The can 4 is of the known type having at the top of its
cylindrical body a frustoconical portion 5 and a concentric rim
6.
POSITIONING AND USE OF THE DEVICE
[0016] The described protective device is positioned on a drink can
as follows:
[0017] The disk 1 is positioned overlapping and centered on the rim
6 (whereby it will protect the central portion of the upper base of
the body 4), and thus the peripheral areas 7 defined by the cuts 3
project from the rim itself. Subsequently, a slight force is
applied to said areas 7 resulting in their downward flexion which
is facilitated by the radial notches 2. The cuts 3 are positioned
with their lower sides located below the rim 6, resulting in that
the disk 1 remains attached to the body 4 of the can.
[0018] The frustoconical portion 5, which will also be in contact
with the user's lips, is protected by the protruding areas 7 and it
is sheltered from dust and other materials.
[0019] When the contents of the can is going to be consumed, the
described device is easily detached by applying a slight force in
the direction of lifting the flanges formed by the peripheral areas
7.
[0020] Furthermore, the device itself may form an excellent
advertising carrier, since logos and inscriptions regarding the
product contained therein or other products and services may be
included on one or both of its two faces.
[0021] The number of notches 2 and cuts 3 may be varied in
accordance with the size of the disk 1 and the can 4.
* * * * *