Dispensing – Movable material discharge guide – Swingable
Patent
1997-04-25
1998-10-20
Shaver, Kevin P.
Dispensing
Movable material discharge guide
Swingable
220269, 220270, 2225419, B65D 1732, B65D 4132
Patent
active
058234047
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container, particularly for drinks.
More specifically, the invention relates to a containers of the type having: lid and of a corresponding hole, and container and can be operated manually to tear the wall along the weakened line and to deflect the lid thus formed relative to the plane of the end wall.
There are known drinks containers comprising sealingly interconnected containers and tops of metallic material (typically aluminium, steel, or alloys thereof).
In a first known type of container, a weakened line formed in the top defines the outline of a lid and of a corresponding hole. A lid lever connected to the portion of the top which is intended to form the lid can be operated manually to "tear" and separate the lid (and the lever) from the top of the container, opening the corresponding hole.
This known type of container has the disadvantage that, when it is opened, the tear lever and the lid are physically separated from the container and may therefore be scattered in the environment.
To prevent this problem, drinks containers of the type defined at the beginning of the present description, in which the operation of the opening lever tears the top of the container and bends the lid thereof towards the inside of the container through the corresponding hole have been proposed.
After the tearing and bending of the lid, however, the latter remains firmly connected to the container and cannot be scattered in the environment separately therefrom.
Both of the solutions described above have the disadvantage that the consumption of drinks packaged in containers with partially-open tops does not afford suitable hygienic protection. In fact, however the product is swallowed, directly from the container or by being poured into a glass, it runs over the top or over its edge, so that the precautions adopted during production and packaging to ensure the sterility of the product are rendered useless. When drinking takes place directly from the container, it is also necessary to take into account, together with the undoubted inconvenience, the further risks resulting from the contact of the lips with the rim of the top and the edge of the hole.
The second solution (described above) also has the disadvantage that, in the condition of use, the lid is "immersed" in the drink and may transfer any germs, bacteria, etc. thereto, further detracting from its hygiene.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a container of the type defined at the beginning which overcomes these problems.
These and other objects are achieved, according to the invention, by means of a container of the type defined above, characterized in that a mouthpiece is connected to the portion of the end wall which is intended to form the lid and is disposed inside the container, beneath the wall before the end wall is torn, and, after the wall is torn, can be entrained by the lid through the corresponding hole formed in the wall to a position of use in which its end which is inside the container abuts the wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for drinks according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a partial view, sectioned on the line II--II of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale,
FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of part of the drinks container of FIGS. 1 and 2,
FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a mouthpiece included in a drinks container according to the invention, in two successive stages of manufacture,
FIGS. 6 to 9 are partial, sectioned views similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing successive configurations adopted by some parts of the container according to the invention in the course of the lid of the container,
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a drinks container according to the invention i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3473705 (1969-10-01), May et al.
patent: 4000838 (1977-01-01), Bogert
patent: 4407425 (1983-10-01), Combs
patent: 5000337 (1991-03-01), Im
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