US20100213194A1

US20100213194A1 - Pop Can Beak Spout Design

Info

Publication number: US20100213194A1
Application number: US12/697,225
Authority: US
Inventors: Junsong Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-21
Filing date: 2010-01-30
Publication date: 2010-08-26

Abstract

The Pop Can Beak Spout Design provides a new way to open the pop can and create easily a sanitary spout for the user to drink with. The pop can lid has “beak”-shaped form, comprising the pull-ring portion in the front; the central “beak” portion in the middle to be converted as spout; and the “accordion” portion behind with wrinkled surface. When the user pulls up the ring to open the pop can, it will lift the scored area below the ring from the upper surface, then the central “beak” portion will be separated also from the top, if continuing to turn them backward, the “accordion” portion behind will be compressed and allows “beak” portion to be erected, after bending the pull-ring against the bottom of “beak” portion, a sanitary spout will be finally formed automatically with the inherent material of the pop can.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Application (Application No. 61/154,389) which was submitted to USPTO on 21 Feb. 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention consists of an appropriate design of the pop can lid which allows creating easily a sanitary “beak” spout for the user to drink or pour the liquid with when the pop can is opening.
2. Prior Art
Pop cans are widely used for the storage and consumption of soft drinks and other cold beverages. These cans often become contaminated with dirt and other debris during handling prior to consumption by the user. In the traditional design, when pulling the ring at one end to open the pop can, its opposite end will press the scored area below downward into the pop can, touching the liquid inside with the risk of contamination. Also as there is no protection near the peripheral rim, when the user drinks directly with pop can or pours the liquid into glass, user's mouth or the liquid will contact to the exposed outside surface which can be totally unsafe.
Although there are ways to clean the pop can before drinking, they are not always practical for the user. And additional devices can bring more risks if they are also contaminated with dirt.
It would be desirable to provide an appropriate new design of the pop can lid, in which the pull-ring will pull up the front scored area instead of pressing it down into the pop can, thus avoid to bring the contamination into the liquid.
It would also be desirable that the new design can provide an easy way to create a sanitary spout for user when the pop can is opening, which allows protecting the liquid and the user from touching the outside exposed surface.
It would further be desirable to create such a spout with the inherent material of the pop can without resorting to any other additional means.
None of the current inventions and patents related to pop can is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus the new Pop Can Beak Spout Design solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The Pop Can Beak Spout Design provides a new way to open the pop can and create easily a sanitary spout for the user to drink or pour the liquid with. The pop can lid has a generally “beak”-shaped form, comprising the pull-ring in the front to open the pop can; the central portion formed as “beak” to be converted as spout; and the “accordion” portion behind with wrinkled surface linking to the upper surface.
The pull-ring portion is composed of a pull-ring and a rectangle lame fixed on the upper surface by the rivet. The pull-ring heads outward to the peripheral rim of the pop can and is folded upward like a wing so that the user can have more space to insert the finger underneath to open the pop can. Below the pull-ring, there is half circle scored area on the upper surface, combined with concave groove along the score line to facilitate the opening.
The pull-ring portion has leverage means. When the user pulls the ring to open the pop can, with the rectangle lame fixed by rivet and supporting on the top surface, the upward force applied to the rivet will be subsequently transmitted to the front half circle scored area where the concave groove will concentrate the upward force to the score line, which allows lifting easily the front scored area at first from the upper surface. Therefore it can avoid bringing the contamination into the liquid like the traditional design does by pressing down the scored area.
The central “beak” portion has its main body formed like “bird beak”. It is connected to the pull-ring portion in the front. If the user pulls the ring upward, it will be separated from the upper surface along the score line on its both sides. There are also concave grooves combined to facilitate opening. When the score line stops near the rear end, the central “beak” portion will start rotating backward, pushing the “accordion” portion behind.
As the surface of the “accordion” portion is wrinkled as latitudinal waves, it will be easily compressed when the central “beak” portion turns backward. Finally the “beak” portion will be erected as a spout, ready to receive the liquid inside the can. And the pull-ring portion can be also bent all the way against the bottom of the “beak” portion so that the front edge of the spout is smoothen and thus protects the user from being cut.
Because all the touching areas of the “beak” spout are converted from the pop can inside surface, when the liquid flows out, it will not contact the exposed outside surface any more. So the present invention is capable to eliminate the risk of contamination and well protect the user with the new sanitary beak spout. And because the beak spout is created only with the inherent material of the pop can, there will be no more extra needs to resort to other devices for deliberately cleaning the pop can.
So far, as explained all above, the present invention provides the optimized design elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which uses the inherent material and unique design, and is fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of the pop can with the inventive Beak Spout design;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pull-ring portion;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pop can lid with reference detail;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inventive pop can lid with the beak spout totally opened;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of FIG. 4 from another side;

FIG. 4C is a photo about how the ordinary pop can is opened

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to the FIG. 1 (an environmental perspective view of the pop can), the present invention includes the pull-ring portion A in the front, the central beak portion B in a projecting convex form like “bird beak”, and the “accordion” portion C behind with wrinkled surface linking to the upper surface.
As seen in view FIG. 2, the pull-ring portion A has the pull-ring 11 combined with the rear rectangle lame 13 which is fixed by the rivet 12 on the upper surface. The pull-ring 11 is heading outward to the peripheral rim of the pop can. Its front part 14 is folded upward like a wing which allows having more space for user to insert the finger underneath. It also allows reducing the total length of pull-ring portion A and thus leaving more space for other portions if needed.
As illustrated in bottom view FIG. 2B, below the pull-ring 11, there is a half circle concave groove 15 on the upper surface, which is combined with half circle score line 16 near the edge to facilitate the opening. The score line 16 is also extended up to the border of said central “beak” portion B.
In fact, the pull-ring portion A has the leverage means for the opening. When the user pulls the ring 11 at one end to open the pop can with the force f1, the rectangle lame 13 fixed by rivet 12 will then have downward pressure f2 on the upper surface at the rear part. As the border line with the central “beak” portion B is not scored, the pull-ring portion A will remain connected there with the rectangle lame 13 supporting. The upward force f3 applied on the upper surface to the rivet 12 will be subsequently transmitted to the front half circle scored area where the concave groove 15 will concentrate the upward force f4 to the score line 16, which allows lifting easily the front scored area at first from the upper surface.
Please refer to FIG. 2C to view the pop can after the pull-ring portion A is opened.
If the pull-ring portion A continues pulling up and backward, it will tear off the central “beak” portion B from the upper surface along the score lines beside its 2 grooves.
As seen in FIG. 3 (perspective view of the pop can lid with reference detail), the central “beak” portion B has its main body 20 in a projecting convex form like a “bird beak”, it starts from the front part 21 near the center, connecting to the pull-ring portion A in the front, afterward the main body 20 grows in a gentle slope and stops at its rear end section 22 with an arc border line where the accordion portion C will start.
On both sides of the main body 20, there are concave grooves 23/24 along with the score line 25/26 on the upper surface, which are also connected to the score line 16 of the pull-ring portion A. The two grooves 23/24 have their rear end 27/28 at certain depth, as long as it goes up connecting the upper surface in the front, the depth will be smaller and finally be flat to 0. All the linkage between the grooves and the upper surface can be smoothen and well curved (like area 29).
As shown in the sectional view FIG. 3B, between the border of rear end section 22 and the bottom base of the central “beak” portion B, there is an angle (a) which determines the range where the central “beak” portion B exists.
The main body 20 is designed to have the bottom base sink down backward below the upper surface horizon with an adequate angle (b), the purpose is to make main body 20 not too high on the top of the pop can, and the rear end section 22 will be more open to the inside of the pop can, which can make the opening course shorter and easier.
When the central “beak” portion B is being pulled up from the upper surface, the concave grooves 23/24 will concentrate the upward lifting force on the score line 25/26 and make it easy to separate the central “beak” portion B from the upper surface. Also the concave form of the grooves 23/24 can make the central “beak” portion B more resistant to the vertical force and have less deformation.
If the pull-ring portion A continues pulling up and backward, when the score line 25/26 stop near the rear end 27/28, the central “beak” portion B will remain connected there to the upper surface and start rotate backward, pushing the “accordion” portion C behind.
As shown in FIG. 3, that “accordion” portion C is in fact the linkage between the central “beak” portion B and the upper surface of the pop can, its sphere surface starts from the border of the rear end section 22 of the central “beak” portion B, following a longitudinal arc path, closing downward to connect to the upper surface. The linkage between “accordion” portion C and the pop can's upper surface is also smoothen and well curved, like area 30. The sphere surface is transformed into “accordion” which is wrinkled as latitudinal waves.
As illustrated in sectional view FIG. 3B, between the rear end section 22 and the extension of the bottom base of the central “beak” portion B, there is angle (c) which determines the range where the “accordion” portion C exists. The angle (c) and (a) are supplementary angles as their sum equals to 180 degrees. The surface of the “accordion” portion C is made in the special form wrinkled as latitudinal waves which move up (like 31) and move down (like 32) continuously, this form allows being compressed easier. It can be made during the fabrication by using specific molding technology.
Upon the application of the backward force by the central “beak” portion B, the wave 31 will be compressed flat and then will be 32 and so on, in this way, the “accordion” portion will become smaller and smaller in the longitudinal opening course.
Please note that the surface area on the central “beak” portion B and the “accordion” portion C can be adjusted according to customer's need, they can be converted from one to another. That means if we want to open the “beak” in a bigger angle backward, we can extend the “accordion” portion C forward by increasing angle (c) and shrink the central “beak” portion B by decreasing angle (a). In other word, if more surface area of the central “beak” portion B is converted into “accordion” portion C, then more surface area will be compressed while opening, and the central “beak” portion B will be disposed with bigger angle backward and therefore open wider. (same principle vice-versa).
As seen in FIG. 4, finally the central “beak” portion B will be erected in the totally open position; the “accordion” portion C is compressed flat underneath; the opened aperture 40 appears now on the upper surface. The rear end section 22 of the central “beak” portion B is facing downward to the inside of the pop can. With only a little part blocked by the compressed “accordion” portion C, the section is still big enough to let the liquid pass through fluently. Thus the “beak spout” is created successfully.
Please note: As the two concave grooves 23/24 on both sides of the central “beak” portion B have been turned over, their concave form will be turned into convex form, with the cutting edges curved down, when the user's mouth or lips contact with the beak, it won't hurt.
As seen in FIG. 4B, the pull-ring portion A can be also bent down all the way against the bottom of the “beak” portion B. That can make the spout front edge 41 smoothen and well protect the user from the cutting edges.
Up to now, we have described in detail the present invention and the whole opening process. For better understanding, you can compare the FIG. 4B (the present invention) and FIG. 4C (the traditional design) to find out their differences about how the pop can looks like after being opened.
Also all the said central “beak” portion; concave grooves; “accordion” portion and their linkages will be smoothen and well curved. These can be made during the fabrication using specific molding technology, as pop can's raw material “aluminum alloy” has very good ductility.
As explained above, the present invention provides the optimized design elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which uses the inherent material with the unique design, and is fully feasible and effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
It will be understood that the relative proportions and configurations of the components of the pop can beak spout design of the present invention can be varied, as desired, to suit individual requirements. All such modifications, changes, alterations are within the scope of the related claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. The pop can lid has the pull-ring portion in the front, which allows easy grasping by the user, comprising:

The pull-ring which heads outward to the peripheral rim of the pop can and is folded upward like a wing so that the user can have more space to insert the finger underneath to open the pop can;

The rectangle lame fixed on the upper surface by the rivet;

The half circle scored area on the upper surface below the ring, combined with concave groove along the score line to facilitate the opening.

2. The pop can lid has the central “beak” portion in the middle, which allows building a safe and sanitary spout body, comprising:

The main body (like “bird beak”) growing backwards in a gentle slope and stopped at the rear end with an arc border.

The bottom base sinking down backward below the top surface horizon with an adequate angle, so that the main body will not be too high on the top of pop can, and the rear end section will be more open to the inside of the pop can, which can make the opening course shorter and easier.

The concave grooves on both sides along with the score line to facilitate the opening.

3. The pop can lid has the “accordion” portion at the back, which links to the pop can top surface, with its sphere surface transformed into “accordion”, i.e. wrinkled as latitudinal waves, allows to be easily compressed, therefore facilitating the opening.