Drinking container

Abstract

A container for food permitting safe drinking or eating from the container. A cylindrical can is provided with a lining of plastic or similar material with the top of the lining extending above the top edge of the can so that the mouth touches the lining and not the sharp edge of the can. The top portion of the can is provided with threads rolled into the can body, one set of threads adjacent the top edge and another set of threads spaced below it. The cover is deep and is provided with two sets of threads, also spaced, and complementary to the can body threads. The cover will bear down on top of the lining when it is threaded on to the can. The cover is provided with a plastic insert having a downwardly extending wall portion spaced from the cover wall but shorter. When the cover is positioned on the can, the insert will slide inside of the liner, positioning the liner between the insert and the cover wall. The insert may be provided with horizontal ridges to form a seal with the liner so that the contents will not spill or surge up when the cover is removed. The bottom edge of the can is also threaded to permit the can to be mounted in the inverted cover. After the cover is removed and inverted, the can can be threaded into the cover until it bears against the top of the insert. Ice or a warming chemical can be placed in the cover to cool or heat the contents of the can.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

In the last few years, the practice of packaging foods in cans and for eating directly from the can has increased. Soft drinks, juices and other liquids are packed in cans and are consumed directly from the can. However, this practice has presented several problems. First of all, after opening the can the edge of the metal is sharp and will cut the tongue or mouth. Furthermore, most of the cans had seals which, after breaking, prevented resealing of the can. The contents had to be consumed or thrown away.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention is designed to overcome these disadvantages by providing a construction which protects the mouth of the user and which is resealable. furthermore, the can can be used to cool or heat the contents. Protection is provided by providing the can with a liner of plastic or similar material which extends above the top edge of the opened can. The mouth and lips touch the liner and not the sharp edge of the can. The cover is deep and constructed to threadedly engage the can body. The cover is provided with a depending plastic wall, shorter then the cover wall, designed to slide into the liner when the cover is threaded into position. This places the liner between the cover and the insert to serve as a seal. Further, the bottom of the can can be threaded to allow the can to be mounted within the inverted cover. Ice or a warming chemical can be placed in the cover to cool or heat the contents of the can.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can embodying my present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the can shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section showing the bottom of the can mounted in the inverted cover; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the cover, showing the insert construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 generally illustrate the construction of the drinking container of the present invention. A cylindrical can body 10 is provided with a bottom 12 and a cover 14. Inside, the body 10 is provided with a liner 16 having a bottom 18 and a top edge 20 extending above the top edge 22 of the can body 10. One or two turns of threads are rolled into the can body, one set 24 at the bottom edge, and two spaced sets at the top, 26 at the top edge and 28 spaced below it.

The above can body permits drinking or eating without touching the sharp top edge of the can, only the liner 16 is touched. This can be made of a plastic or similar material with a dull top edge. To seal the can, the cover construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 may be used. The cover 14 is provided with a flat top 30 and the depending wall 32. A pair of spaced sets of threads are rolled into the cover 14, one set 34 adjacent the bottom edge, and a second set 36 spaced above it. The spacing of the threads 34 and 36 should be identical to the spacing of the can threads 26 and 28.

I now provide the cover 14 with a cup-shaped plastic insert 38 having a flat top 40 attached to the underside of the cover top 30 and an integral depending wall 42 in spaced parallel relation to the vertical wall 32 of the cover. The height of the wall 42 is less than the height of the cover wall 32. The outer surface of the insert wall 42 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel horizontal ridges 44 and 46. The bottom ridge 46 is provided with a plurality of fine cuts to communicate the can pressures beyond the bottom groove as hereinafter described.

When the cover 14 is put in place as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom threads 34 will first engage the top can threads 26 and then slide beyond them. The bottom threads will then engage the bottom threads 28 on the can, and the top threads 36 will engage the top threads 26 on the can to form a double lock of the cover to the can body 10. Simultaneously, the insert wall 42 will slide into the inside of the liner wall 16 so that the liner wall extends upwardly between the cover wall 32 and the insert wall 42. In this position the grooves 44 and 46 will bear against the liner wall 16. When the cover is being removed, any contents under pressure may tend to surge up and out. The groove construction will keep the pressure down and the cuts in the lower groove will allow a slow leak to bring the pressure up to the upper groove. Thus, when the cover is unscrewed, the pressure is quickly released as the upper groove passes to the top of the liner 16.

This double seal construction also permits the cover to be used as a cooler or heater as shown in FIG. 3. Here the cover 14 is inverted and the bottom 12 of the can is inserted by threading the threads 24 into the threads 34 of the cover. The can will enter the cover 14 only until the bottom 12 bears against the top edge of the inverted insert wall 42. The bottom 12 may be provided with a depending central portion forming a peripheral groove 48 into which the insert fits. Before placing the can into the cover as shown in FIG. 3, the cover may be filled with ice 50 or a warming chemical to either cool or heat the contents. This is ideal for camping or picnicking.

The top 40 of the plastic insert may be extended to the wall 32 so that it engages the top of the liner wall when the cover is in place. This provides for an additional sealing action. Furthermore, the can is renedered sanitary inasmuch as no part of the uncovered portion of the can touches the lips, the entire drinking area being sealed.

Since the cover is replaceable, it may be desirable to provide an indicator for alerting that the can has been opened. For example, the cover top 30 may be flexed in the center 52 to bend inwardly under the vacuum pressure in the can. When the cover is removed initially, the portion 52 will flex outwardly to indicate the release of the pressure. An additional alert may be provided by placing a spot 54 of plastic, enamel, or similar brittle paint which will flake or snap off when the cover portion 52 flexes outwardly. The absence of the spot will provide an immediate alert that the can has been opened. Of course, when the can is pressurized to start with, the flexing will be in the opposite direction.

The invention thus provides a drinking container which allows drinking or eating from a shipping container. The edge is safe and sanitary. The construction provides a tight seal for the contents protected by the indicating devices. The cover can be used for cooling or heating. The structure is easy and economical to manufacture and assemble. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. A beverage can having a cylindrical body and an annular bottom crimped to the bottom of said body, a plastic liner in said can having a bottom and a cylindrical body portion extending vertically above the edge of said can body, and a cover for said can having a cylindrical body portion and an annular top crimped to said body portion, said can body having spaced non-continuous sets of threads, one at the top edge and a second set spaced below it, said cover body portion having spaced non-continuous sets of threads, one at the bottom edge and a second set spaced above it, whereby said non-continuous sets of cover threads will engage said spaced non-continuous sets of body threads when said cover is mounted on said can body, said cover top engaging said liner top edge when said cover is mounted on said can body.

2. A beverage can as in claim 1, wherein said can body is provided with threads at the bottom edge, whereby said bottom threads will engage said cover when said cover is inverted.

3. A beverage can as in claim 2, wherein said cover is provided with a plastic insert, said insert having an annular top attached to the inside of said cover top and a depending cylindrical body portion spaced from said cover body portion, said depending body portion being shorter than said cover body portion.

4. A beverage can as in claim 3, wherein said insert body portion is so spaced from said can body portion that said liner will extend between said can body portion and said insert body portion when said cover is mounted on said can.

5. A beverage can as in claim 1, wherein said cover is provided with a plastic insert, said insert having an annular top attached to the inside of said cover top and a depending cylindrical body portion spaced from said cover body portion, said depending body portion being shorter than said cover body portion.

6. A beverage can as in claim 5, wherein said insert body portion is so spaced from said can body portion that said liner will extend between said can body and said insert body when said cover is mounted on said can.

7. A beverage can as in claim 1, wherein said cover top is provided with a flexed central portion, said flexed portion bending under pressure when the can is sealed, and said central portion flexing in the opposite direction after the opening of said can to break the seal.

8. A beverage can as in claim 7, wherein said flexed central cover portion is provided with a spot positioned in the center, said spot flaking from said cover when said central portion is flexed.