GB2417474A

GB2417474A - Pull tab opening device for a drinks can which prevents entry of insects

Info

Publication number: GB2417474A
Application number: GB0419004A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth George Barnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-26
Filing date: 2004-08-26
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: GB0419004D0

Abstract

A pull tab opening device for a beverage can which is rotatable horizontally about a rivet 3 to a position in which it at least partially covers the opening 17 formed in the can. The pull tab 4 has an arrangement of holes or slots 5 calibrated to prevent insects, such as wasps or bees, from entering the can but allow the contents to be poured out. A first embodiment of the invention has a pull tab which is of sufficient size to cover the whole of the opening. A second embodiment has a pull tab which is smaller than the size of the opening formed in the can, such that in the covering position over the aperture, the contents of the can are able to escape past the periphery of the tab.

Description

24 1 7474 Drinks container of the 'can' type This invention relates to a

bee and wasp safe drinks container.

When existing 'can' type drink containers are opened they leave an aperture typically 22mm x 1 6mm. Because the contents are usually of a sweet and sugary flavour the aroma attracts bees and wasps. The aperture is large enough for these insects to enter the 'can' when set aside between mouthfuls and not be visible for the consumer to see the insect.

Drink cans that are currently available vary in design of pull tabs and aperture size. Any gaps or holes that may be formed are not calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps It is surprisingly common for people to suffer bee and wasp stings on the lips or in the mouth and throat. This type of accident, apart from the pain, can cause anaphylactic shock or asphyxia and even death. It is also very costly for the NHS and other health organizations Other ideas to prevent the entry of bees and wasps into drinking cans have been considered and rejected by the drinks and canning industries because of the cost of machinery set-ups and the practicality of conveyor systems or the location of the devices within or on the drinks container. The cost of a death in the UK is relatively a small amount of money in terms of compensation. However, it is also important to consider the waste of human resources in the medical profession. Health and safety to the public should be paramount.

To overcome the problem of bees and wasps entering drink containers called 'cans' the present invention is a pull tab on the opening mechanism that forms a sieve or grill which after opening can be rotated 180 to cover and fit snugly over the exposed aperture and then will allow the contents to be drunk directly through the sieve or grill when required. When not required, for example if the contents are poured straight into a glass or sucked through a straw, then the aperture is left exposed to its maximum size.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the plan view of a bee and wasp safe can type drinks container before opening.

Figure 2 shows for comparison to figure 1 the plan view of a can type drinks container which does not provide any method or device to prevent the entry of bees or wasps before opening because any gaps or holes are not designed or calibrated to prevent this from happening.

Figure 3 shows the plan view of a bee and wasp safe can type drinks container after it has been opened when it is required for the contents to be poured into a glass or if the contents are to be consumed through a straw.

Figure 4 shows for comparison to figure 3 the plan view of a can type drinks container which does not provide any method or device to prevent the entry of bees or wasps after it has been opened for drinking straight from the can into the mouth. l

Figure 5 shows the plan view of a bee and wasp safe can type drinks container after it has been opened as shown in figure 3 and then rotated 180 around the rivet so that the grill area of the pull tab sits over the aperture and where the contents can be consumed directly into the mouth through the grill area. The grill or slots are calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the grill area of the pull tab is shown as a series of holes calibrated to prevent the entry of bees or wasps.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the pull tab is smaller than the aperture creating a space or gap which is calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps and the contents can be consumed directly into the mouth through the gap.

Figure 8 shows a section through a bee and wasp safe drinks container before opening as figure 1.

Figure 9 shows a section through a bee and wasp safe drinks container after opening as figure 3 when it is required for the contents to be poured into a glass or if the contents are to be consumed through a straw.

Figure 10 shows a section through a bee and wasp safe drinks container after opening as in Figure 3 and then rotated 180 around the rivet so that the handle part of the pull tab is located over the aperture.

In figure 1 a drinks container of the 'can' type 1 shows a pre-determined tear line 2, a rivet 3, a pull tab 4 incorporating a series of slots 5 which are calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps from entering the container.

Figure 2 shows for comparison to figure 1 a 'can' type drinks container 11 with a pre- determined tear line 2, a rivet 3, a pull tab 6 and a finger grip 7 which is not designed to form a bee and wasp safe container.

Figure 3 shows the plan view of a 'can' type bee and wasp safe drinks container 1 after the pull tab 4 has been lifted and leverage upwards forces pressure through the rivet 3 acting as a fulcrum downward onto the tear line 2, creating the aperture 8 and then returned to its original position as in figure 1 so that the aperture 8 is fully open and the contents can be poured into a glass or a straw can be inserted for consumption.

Figure 4 shows for comparison to figure 3 a 'can' type drinks container 11 which does not have calibrated gaps or holes to prevent the entry of bees and wasps.

Figure 5 shows a 'can' type bee and wasp safe drinks container 1 after it has been opened as in figure 3, then the pull tab 4 has been rotated around the rivet 3 as shown by arrows 10, 180 so that the pull tab 4, with the slots or holes 5 forms a calibrated area over the aperture 8 which prevents the entry of bees and wasps.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment which is a series of holes 14 which can be of any shape or quantity as long as they are calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps as in figure 5 Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment where the pull tab 16 is smaller than the aperture 8 creating a gap 17. The gap 17 is calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps and can be the opening through which the drink is consumed directly into the mouth when positioned over the aperture. To increase the surface area of holes or slots there may also be a hole or slots 18 in the pull tab handle 16, also calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps.

Figure 8 shows a section through the lid of a 'can' type bee and wasp safe drinks container 1 before opening as described in figure 1.

Figure 9 shows a section through the lid of a 'can' type bee and wasp safe drinks container 1 as described in figure 3 where the aperture 8 is fully exposed for pouring the contents into a glass, at this position the pull tab 4 has created a distorted area 12 around the rivet 3 during the opening process and therefore does not return to the pre-opening position by approximately 10 as shown by angle 13.

Figure 10 shows a section through the lid of a 'can' type bee and wasp safe drinks container 1, as in figure 5, where the pull tab 4 has been rotated 180 as shown by arrows 10 in figure 5 to a position directly over the aperture 8, and fits snugly in position by utilising the distortion of the rivet 3 and area 12. The contents can now be consumed through the calibrated gaps directly into the mouth and bees and wasps cannot enter when the can is set aside between mouthfuls.

Claims

Claims I. A bee and wasp safe drinks container of the 'can' type where the

pull tab handle is rotated 180 after opening to cover the drinking aperture.
2. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 1 which has holes or slots in the handle part of the pull tab which are calibrated to prevent bees and wasps from entering into the drink container.
3. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 where the handle part of the pull tab when rotated 180 after opening fits over the aperture and all holes or slots are calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps.
4. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 and claim 3 where the shape and size of the pull tab handle is relative to the shape and size of the opening aperture so that there are no gaps between the pull tab handle and the opening aperture when the pull tab handle is in position over the aperture.
5. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 1 where the size of the pull tab handle is smaller than the drinking aperture so that a space or gap between the outer edge of the pull tab handle and the perimeter of the aperture is calibrated to prevent the entry of bees and wasps when the pull tab handle is positioned as described in claim 1 and the resultant gap becomes the grill through which the drink can be consumed directly into the mouth.
6. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 1 which has holes or slots in the handle part of the pull tab as claimed in claim 2 and the pull tab can be rotated 180 as in claim 3 and a gap or space is created between the outer edge of the pull tab handle and the perimeter of the aperture as in claim 5.
7. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 1 which utilises the distortion of the rivet and rivet area so that when the pull tab handle is rotated 180 after opening the pull tab handle fits snugly over the exposed aperture.
8. A bee and wasp safe drinks container as claimed in claim 2 where the aperture can be left fully open for pouring the contents into a glass or a straw can be inserted for consumption.