U.S. patent number 3,913,770 [Application Number 05/394,992] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-21 for drinking container.
Invention is credited to Richard E. Tarro.
United States Patent |
3,913,770 |
Tarro |
October 21, 1975 |
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.
Inventors: |
Tarro; Richard E. (Providence,
RI) |
Family
ID: |
23561245 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/394,992 |
Filed: |
September 7, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/223; 206/217;
220/711; 220/592.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
36/30 (20130101); B65D 41/0435 (20130101); B65D
25/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
36/30 (20060101); A47J 36/24 (20060101); B65D
41/04 (20060101); B65D 25/14 (20060101); B65D
055/02 (); A47G 019/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/216.7,525
;220/63R,90.6 ;215/329,6,223 ;44/40 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lowrance; George E.
Assistant Examiner: Farrow; Douglas B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schwartz; Max
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.
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.
* * * * *