US20030094459A1

US20030094459A1 - Beverage can with sucking means

Info

Publication number: US20030094459A1
Application number: US10/200,236
Authority: US
Inventors: Dae-Yoon Kang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-20
Filing date: 2002-07-19
Publication date: 2003-05-22
Also published as: JP3089256U; KR200271323Y1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a beverage can that is provided at a top surface of a body thereof with an opening portion. This beverage can includes a bracket and a straw. The bracket is positioned under the top surface of the body, and has a bottom wall of a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the body. In this case, a port is formed on the bottom wall of the bracket. Meanwhile, the straw is interposed between the top surface of the body and the bottom wall of the bracket in such a way as to be elastically projected from the inside to the outside of the can by itself when the opening portion is opened. The straw comprises a cover and a holding part. In this case, the cover is seated on the top of the straw to be selectively opened. The holding part is provided on the lower portion of the straw. A circular groove is formed around the external surface of the side wall of the holding part to elastically engage with the edge of the port of the bracket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to beverage cans, and more particularly, to a beverage can with a sucking means, which is designed such that a straw is automatically projected from the inside to the outside of the can when removing a one-touch opening portion defined on the top surface of the can, thus allowing a user to easily suck beverage through the projected straw, therefore being more sanitary and convenient to the user while drinking beverage contained in the can.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, various kinds of drinking water, beer, herbal medicine, and health drinks (hereinafter referred to as “beverage”) are packed in portable cans through a vacuum packaging method, thus allowing people to easily drink beverage from the cans.

A conventional beverage can is made of metal, such as aluminum, and contains beverage therein. The conventional beverage can is advantageous in that it is easy to market or handle, in addition to being relatively sanitary. The beverage can is designed such that its opening portion is removed in a one-touch method, so the opening portion is easily removed without additional tools, thus allowing people to conveniently drink beverage contained in the can. Due to such numerous advantages, use of the beverage cans has steadily grown.

Such a conventional beverage can will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawing, a beverage can 1 comprises a cylindrical body 2 with an opening portion 4. The opening portion 4 is integrally formed at a position on the top surface 3 of the body 2, and is defined by a tearing line 4 a. A pull-tab 6 is exteriorly fixed to the opening portion 4 by a rivet 5.

The conventional beverage can 1 is designed such that the opening portion 4 is removed inwardly or outwardly with respect to the body 2 along the tearing line 4 a to form an outlet port, when levering the pull-tab 6 upward. At this time, a user can drink beverage contained in the can through the outlet port.

However, since the outlet port is formed on the same plane with the top surface 3 of the body 2, contents in the can 1 may be splashed as soon as the opening portion 4 is removed, thus getting a user's dress wet or soiling an area around the user. Further, the user's lips must be in contact with a portion around the outlet port in order to drink beverage from the can. Thus, in the case where the portion around the outlet port is soiled, it may be unsanitary. Above all, in the case where a female user wearing lipstick drinks beverage from the can, the lipstick may be removed. Further, adults' assistance is required for children to drink beverage from the can without spilling the beverage.

In order to solve the problems experienced in the conventional beverage cans, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a beverage can was proposed by this inventor and registered as Korean U.M. No. 191393.

As shown in the drawings, the beverage can 10 proposed by this inventor is designed such that an opening portion 12 is removed along a tearing line 12 a when levering a pull-tab 11, and includes a bracket 13 and a straw 14. The bracket 13 having a predetermined height is interiorly mounted at its top end to the opening portion 12, and has a port at its bottom wall 13 a. The collapsible straw 14 is set on the bottom wall 13 a of the bracket 13 as it is withdrawn. Thus, in the case of removing the opening portion 12, the withdrawn straw 14 is elastically and outwardly projected from the interior of the can 10.

The

cylindrical bracket

13 is slightly larger than the opening portion 12 in its diameter. A flange 14 a is provided at the lower end of the straw 14 and is fixed to the bottom wall 13 a of the bracket 13 using an adhesive.

When a user removes the

opening portion

12 in order to drink beverage from the beverage can 10, the straw 14 is elastically and outwardly projected from the can 10, so that the user can drink beverage through the straw 14.

Thus, contents in the can are prevented from being splashed when removing the

opening portion

12, and user's lips do not come into contact with a portion around the opening portion 12, thus allowing a user to neatly and sanitarily drink beverage from the can 10. Especially, even when a female user wearing lipstick drinks beverage from the can 10, her lips are not in contact with a portion around the opening portion 12, so she does not worry about the removal of her lipstick.

Further, since the

straw

14 outwardly projected from the can 10 completely enters a user's mouth, it is convenient to drink beverage from the can 10, and besides, children can neatly drink beverage from such cans 10 without the assistance of adults.

However, the above-mentioned beverage can 10 has the following problems.

The top end of the

straw

14 set in the can 10 is elastically in contact with the bottom surface of the opening portion 12. However, a small amount of beverage may flow into and be collected in the bracket 13 through the top end of the straw 14 by a shock generated during marketing or handling the beverage can 10. At this time, when removing the opening portion 12 to drink beverage from the can 10, the beverage flows out from the bracket 13, thus soiling the users mouth region.

As shown in FIG. 3, the beverage can 10 is naturally inclined when drinking the beverage from the can 10. At this time, a user cannot drink beverage remaining in the bracket 13, because the straw 14 does not reach the beverage collected in the bracket 13.

Further, the flange 14 a made of synthetic resin is provided at the lower end of the straw 14, and is fixed, using an adhesive, to the bottom wall 13 a of the bracket 13 made of metal. However, the adhesive force between the flange 14 a and the bottom wall 13 a is not strong, so that the flange 14 a may be separated from the bottom wall 13 a during marketing and/or handling the beverage can 10. Furthermore, it is difficult to automate the process of adhering the flange 14 a to the bottom wall 13 a.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage can, which is sanitary and convenient to users who are drinking beverage contained in the can, and which is designed such that a straw, as a sucking means, is firmly set in the can, and which allows the process of mounting the straw in the can to be easily and automatically carried out.

Another object of this invention is to provide a beverage can that is designed to be completely emptied while the contents are being drunk.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a beverage can having, at the top surface of a body thereof, an opening portion, the beverage can comprising a bracket positioned under the top surface of the body and having a bottom wall of a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the body, with a port being formed on the bottom wall; and a straw interposed between the top surface of the body and the bottom wall of the bracket in such a way as to be elastically projected from an inside to an outside of the can by itself when the opening portion is removed, and consisting of a cover seated on a top of the straw to be selectively opened, and a holding part provided on a lower portion of the straw, with a circular groove being formed on the side wall of the holding part to elastically engage in the port of the bracket.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a beverage can, which is designed such that the opening portion is formed on the central portion of the top surface of the body, and the port of the bracket is formed on the central portion of the bottom wall of the bracket to be positioned under the opening portion, the bottom wall of the bracket being curved in such a way as to be reduced in height from the port toward a side wall of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: [0024]
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a conventional beverage can with a one-touch opening portion; [0025]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the conventional beverage can; [0026]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the conventional beverage can of FIG. 2, when a user drinks beverage contained in the can; [0027]
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a beverage can according to the primary embodiment of this invention; [0028]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a beverage can according to a first modification of the beverage can shown in FIG.4; [0029]
FIG. 6[0030] a is a sectional view of a straw included in the beverage can of this invention, when a cover is set on the straw;
FIG. 6[0031] b is a sectional view of the straw of FIG. 6a, when the cover is removed from the straw;
FIG. 7[0032] a is a sectional view of a straw according to a first modification of FIGS. 6a and 6 b, when the cover is set on the straw;
FIG. 7[0033] b is a sectional view of the straw of FIG. 7a, when the cover is removed from the straw;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the beverage can according to the primary embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 4, when a user drinks beverage contained in the can; [0034]
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the beverage can shown in FIG. 5, when a user drinks beverage from the can; [0035]
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a beverage can according to a second embodiment of this invention; [0036]
FIG. 11[0037] a is a sectional view of a straw included in the beverage can according to the second embodiment, when a cover is set on the straw;
FIG. 11[0038] b is a sectional view of the straw of FIG. 11a, when the cover is removed from the straw;
FIG. 12[0039] a is a sectional view of a straw according to a first modification of FIGS. 11a and 11 b, when the cover is set on the straw;
FIG. 12[0040] b is a sectional view of the straw of FIG. 12a, when the cover is removed from the straw; and
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the beverage can according to the second embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 10, when a user drinks beverage contained in the can.[0041]

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. [0042]
As shown in FIGS. [0043] 4 to 8, according to the primary embodiment of this invention, a beverage can 20 is provided at the top surface 22 of its body 21 with an opening portion 23, and is designed such that a straw 24 is elastically projected from the inside to the outside of the can 20 by itself, when the opening portion 23 is removed.
The [0044] opening portion 23 is easily removed along a tearing line which is formed on the top surface 22 of the body 21, and a pull-tab 26 is fixed to the opening portion 23 by a rivet 27, in the same manner as a conventional beverage can.
According to the primary embodiment of this invention, the beverage can [0045] 20 has an openable cover 24 a on the top end of the straw 24. The straw 24 is provided on its lower portion with a holding part 24 b. The holding part 24 b has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of a port 25 b of a bracket 25 while having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the port 25 b. A circular groove 24 ba is formed around the outer surface of the side wall of the holding part 24 b. Further, the lower end of the holding part 24 b is tapered to have an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the port 25 b of the bracket 25 such that the circular groove 24 ba of the holding part 24 b easily engages into the port 25 b of the bracket's bottom wall 25 a.
The [0046] straw 24 is made of synthetic resin having a predetermined elasticity, and has a bellows structure which is elastically contracted when collapsed.
The [0047] cover 24 a seated on the top of the straw 24 may have a variety of shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 6a and 6 b, the cover 24 a may consist of an insert part 24 aa and a flange 24 ab. The insert part 24 aa is downwardly projected to be inserted into the upper portion of the straw 24. The flange 24 ab extends outwardly from the top of the insert part 24 aa.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7[0048] a and 7 b, a cover 24 a′ may be formed to close the upper portion of the straw 24, and a notch 24 a′a may be formed at an upper portion of the straw 24. In this case, the cover 24 a′ must be pulled to be separated from the straw 24 so as to drink beverage contained in the can 20.
The engagement of the [0049] straw 24 into the port 25 b of the bracket 25 is accomplished by pushing the holding part 24 b of the straw 24 into the port 25 b while the cans are being produced. At this time, the holding part 24 b having a predetermined elasticity is contracted while the circular groove 24 ba engages with the bottom wall 25 a around the port 25 b. Thus, the process of setting the straw 24 at the port 25 b of the bracket 25 can be easily and automatically performed.
Since the [0050] straw 24 itself has appropriate elasticity, it can provide an airtight seal at the bottom wall 25 a of the bracket 25. However, if necessary, rubber packing can be fitted along the edge of the port 25 b formed on the bottom wall 25 a to enhance the airtight sealing effect between the straw 24 and the bottom wall 25 a of the bracket 25.
In order to allow a user to drink all of the beverage from the [0051] can 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the straw 24 is set at the port 25 b of the bracket 25. In this case, the outer diameter of the bracket 25 is the same diameter as the inner diameter of the body 21.
Since the outer diameter of the [0052] bottom wall 25 a of the bracket 25 is the same as the inner diameter of the body 21, the bottom wall 25 a substantially forms a ceiling defining the inside space of the body 21.
Preferably, both the [0053] port 25 b provided on the bottom wall 25 a of the bracket 25 and the opening portion 23 of the top surface 22 are formed at vertically aligned positions offset from the center of the top surface 22, thus allowing a user to drink all of the beverage from the can 20, as shown in FIG. 8.
Further, in order to allow a user to drink all of the beverage from the [0054] can 20, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, an extending part 24 c may integrally extend from the lower end of the holding part 24 b to a position adjacent to the bottom of the body 21. In this case, a user must suck almost all of the beverage contained in the can 20 through the straw 24.
In a beverage can [0055] 30 according to a second embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, an opening portion 33 is formed on the central portion of the top surface 32 of a body 31, and a port 35 b of a bracket 35 is formed on the central portion of a bottom wall 35 a of the bracket 35 which is positioned under the opening portion 33. The bottom wall 35 a of the bracket 35 is curved in such a way as to be reduced in height from the port 35 b toward the side wall of the body 31. A straw 34 is set at the port 35 b formed on the central portion of the bottom wall 35 a of the bracket 35.
According to the second embodiment, the beverage can [0056] 30 is designed such that the opening portion 33, a pull-tab 36, and a rivet 37 are formed on the central portion of the top surface 32 of the body 31, so that the top surface 32, the bracket 35 and the body 31 are assembled together without hindrance, resulting in a more efficient manufacturing process.
As shown in FIGS. 11[0057] a, 11 b, 12 a and 12 b, a ring 34 c is fitted over the side wall of the straw 34, and is coupled to the cover 34 a by a coupling wire 34 d.
In FIGS. 11[0058] a and 11 b, the straw 34 consists of an insert part 34 aa and a flange 34 ab. The insert part 34 aa is inserted into the upper portion of the straw 34. The flange 34 ab extends outwardly from the top of the insert part 34 aa. In FIGS. 12a and 12 b, a cover 34 a′ is formed to close the top end of the straw 34, and a notch 34 a′a is formed at the upper portion of the straw 34. In this case, when one desires to drink beverage contained in the can 30, the cover 34 a′ must be pulled to be separated from the straw 34.
As shown in FIGS. 11[0059] a, 11 b, 12 a, and 12 b, the straw 34 is provided on its lower portion with a holding part 34 b. The holding part 34 b has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the port 35 b of the bracket 35 while having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the port 35 b. A circular groove 34 ba is formed on the side wall of the holding part 34 b. Further, the lower end of the holding part 34 b is formed to have an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the port 35 b of the bracket 35 such that the circular groove 34 ba of the holding part 34 b easily engages with the bottom wall 35 a at the edge of the port 35 b.
The [0060] straw 34 according to the second embodiment is longer in length, in comparison with the primary embodiment.
When one desires to drink beverage contained in the [0061] can 30, the opening portion 33 must be removed by pulling the pull-tab 36 fixed to the opening portion 33 by means of the rivet 37. At this time, the straw 34 is elastically and outwardly projected from the can 30, and then the cover 34 a or 34 a′is removed in order to drink beverage from the can 30. In the case where the can 30 is almost empty, as shown in FIG. 13, the can 30 is rotated upward at an angle of 180° to be perpendicular to a user's mouth. In this case, the straw 34 can be naturally bent, so people can drink beverage from the can 30 without any difficulty. Further, the bottom wall 35 a of the bracket 35 is curved as described above, so the remaining beverage is collected at the central portion of the bottom wall 35 a when the can is turned upside down, thus allowing people to drink almost all of the beverage from the can 30.
Since the [0062] cover 34 a or 34 a′ of the straw 34 is connected to the body 31 by the coupling wire 34 d, the cover 34 a or 34 a′ is disposed of together with the beverage can 30 after drinking all of the beverage from the can 30, thus reducing environmental contamination, in comparison with the case where the cover 34 a or 34 a′ is separately thrown away. In addition, when a user drinks a little beverage from the can 30, the remaining beverage can be preserved by closing the cover 34 a or 34 a′.
As described above, the present invention provides a beverage can, which prevents contents from flowing out when removing a one-touch opening portion, and which is designed such that the contents do not flow into a bracket during marketing and handling of the can, thus allowing a user to cleanly drink without soiling the region around a users lips, and which is designed such that the user's lips are not in contact with a portion around the opening portion, thus making it sanitary and convenient to drink beverage contained in the can, and which allows a user to drink almost all of the beverage from the can. [0063]
Further, the present invention provides a beverage can, which is designed to allow for easy positioning of a straw at a port of a bracket, thus automating the process of mounting the straw in the can. [0064]
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. [0065]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage can provided at a top surface of a body thereof with an opening portion, said beverage can comprising:

a bracket positioned under the top surface of said body, wherein said bracket has a bottom wall of a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the body, and wherein a port is formed in said bottom wall; and

a straw interposed between the top surface of the body and the bottom wall of the bracket in such a way as to be elastically projected from an inside to an outside of the can by itself when said opening portion is opened, said straw comprising:

a cover seated on a top of the straw and adapted to be selectively opened; and

a holding part provided on a lower portion of the straw, wherein a circular groove is formed around an external surface of a side wall of the holding part for elastically engaging the port of the bracket.

2. The beverage can according to claim 1, wherein said opening portion is formed on a central portion of said top surface of said body, and the port of the bracket is formed on a central portion of the bottom wall of the bracket for positioning under the opening portion, and wherein said bottom wall of the bracket is curved in such a way as to be reduced in height relative to a bottom of said can from the port toward a side wall of the body.

3. The beverage can according to claim 1, wherein an extending part integrally extends from a lower end of the holding part to a position adjacent to a bottom of the body.

4. The beverage can according to claim 1, wherein a ring is fitted over a side wall of the straw, and is coupled to the cover of the straw by a coupling wire.