Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CAP FOR CANNED DRINKS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cap for canned drinks that covers the top
face of a
container for canned drinks, where an opening for drinking is disposed, to
preserve hygiene
before opening and to prevent leakage of the drink in the container after
opening.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A container for canned drinks in general distribution is equipped with a stay-
on
pull-tab, and the container is opened by lifting the pull-tab so that the pull-
tab is separated
from the top of the container, opening the can. However, once opened, the
canned drinks
cannot be closed. This may not be a problem if one drinks all the content, but
it is difficult
to carry the drink if drink is left over. Furthermore, the container with left-
over drink
therein may not even be discarded. Therefore, consumers have to consider
whether they
can consume all the drink before they drink outdoors. Thus, depending on the
degree of
thirst, the consumers often give up drinking.
Hence, the device disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Utility Model Publication
No.
Hei 5-46755 (Japanese Application for Utility Model No. Hei 3-104586) was a
sealed lid
for an opened container consisting of a flat top and a curved cylindrical side
wall, wherein
an annular skirt is placed inside of the cylindrical side wall, and the seam
of a large-
diameter can may be fitted between the cylindrical side wall and the annular
skirt. Also,
another annular skirt with a smaller diameter is placed inward from the
annular skirt so that
the seam of a can with a smaller diameter may be fitted,
On the other hand, in the design of a container for drinks, a seam is disposed
at a
higher place than the top face of the container, and furthermore, a thin
groove is formed
inside the whole perimeter of the seam. This thin groove is present between
the seam and
the tab for opening. The groove is formed as a necessary consequence of the
seaming
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process, which connects a peripheral wall and a lid that compose a main body
of the
container, but it cannot be denied that the structure of the groove tends to
allow invasion of
dirt and dust before opening the container. Since an opening area, where the
mouth is
expected to touch when one drinks, is exposed in common canned drinks, it is
difficult to
maintain hygiene at the distribution stage. It has been pointed out that
hygiene problems
exist in that common bacteria on people's hands and the like might contaminate
the opening
area of the canned drinks, because employees of shops or customers may touch
directly the
opening area of the containers with their hands when the canned drinks are
displayed or
purchased.
Thus, an invention disclosed in the Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No.
9-
207956 (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-38961) was a canned drink with a
covering part
consisting of a top part covering the top face of a container for canned
drinks and a sealing
part that is continuous from the top part and adheres to the side of the
container, wherein
the area of the container where the mouth contacts on drinking is covered
thereby.
However, the former art, of the conventional arts described above, is useful
to
preserve the leftover drinks but does not maintain hygiene of the whole
container for
canned drinks at the distribution stage, because it is to be used for canned
drinks after the
purchase after distribution. The art described above is prepared for two kinds
of cans, one
of small and another of large diameter. However, the conventional art cannot
deal with all
cans, because the sizes of cans from manufacturers are slightly different from
each other
even if they are categorized in a single size group. Furthermore, the seam, at
which a lid is
attached on the peripheral wall of the container for canned drinks, is hard
but, when
dropped on a floor, the seam would be deformed easily and would no longer fit
to the cover
which is designed to attach to the seam.
On the other hand, the latter of the conventional arts described above can
manage
the maintenance of hygiene of the canned drinks at the distribution stage but
cannot deal
with problems of leftover drinks. By using both arts together, problems of the
maintenance
of hygiene of canned drinks at the distribution stage and the preservation of
leftover drinks
may be solved. However, using both the cover at the distribution stage and the
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hermetically sealed lid when drinking would increase costs for consumers. The
consumers
are expected to carry the hermetically sealed lid all the time in case they
drink canned
drinks, and when several canned drinks are opened at the same time, multiple
hermetically
sealed lids are needed. Different lids are needed for different kind of drinks
because the
smell of one drink may be transferred to another drink through the lid. Thus
the consumers
have to carry multiple hermetically sealed lids according to the number of
different kinds of
drinks they might consume.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems
and to
provide a cap for canned drinks which can be used for various cans with
slightly different
diameters, and which can also be used for maintenance of hygiene of canned
drinks at the
distribution stage as well as for preservation of leftover drinks at the stage
when consumers
drink.
According to the present invention, there is provided a seal for a container
for
canned drinks, wherein said container comprises a top face and a seam part
having
a bottom edge, the seal comprising:
a seal face part comprising a film which expands and contracts and covers the
top face of said container for canned drinks;
an outer-perimeter part being an elastic material to expand and contract and
disposed on an outer perimeter of said seal face part, said outer-perimeter
part
having a cross-sectional composition that is configured and arranged to couple
with
said bottom edge of said seam part of said container;
wherein the top face of said container for canned drinks is covered entirely
in a
water-tight manner by said seal face part when said outer-perimeter part
engages
below the seam part of said container thereby removably and replaceably self-
sealing said seal to said container for canned drinks,
wherein a thickness of said seal face part is less than a thickness of said
outer-perimeter part; and
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wherein a portion of said seal face part contacts said container above the
seam part and below the top face.
According to. the present invention, there is provided a seal for a container
for
canned drinks, wherein said container comprises a top face and a seam part
having
a bottom edge, the seal comprising:
a seal face part comprising an elastic material which expands and contracts
and covers the top face of said container for canned drinks;
an outer-perimeter part comprising an elastic material which expands and
contracts and disposed on an outer perimeter of said seal face part;
a sealing part continuous with said outer-perimeter part and adhering to a
peripheral wall of said container for canned drinks;
wherein the top face of said container for canned drinks is covered entirely
in a
water-tight manner by said seal face part by attaching said outer-perimeter
part to
said bottom edge of said seam part of said container for canned drinks;
wherein a thickness of said seal face part is less than a thickness of said
outer-perimeter part; and
wherein a portion of said seal face part contacts said container above the
seam part and below the top face.
According to the present invention, there is provided a cap disposed around a
lid of a container for canned drinks comprising:
a seal face part comprising an elastic film and covers a top face of said
container for canned drinks;
an outer-perimeter part of an elastic material which expands and contracts and
is disposed on an outer perimeter of said seal face part;
a sealing part continuous with said outer-perimeter part and adheres to a
peripheral wall of said container for canned drinks;
an edge part disposed on an edge of said sealing part; and
perforations formed at a border between said outer-perimeter part and said
sealing part;
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According to the present invention, there is provided the cap disposed around
a lid of a container for canned drinks comprising:
a seal face part comprising an elastic film and covers a top face of said
container for canned drinks, having an outer-perimeter part comprising an
elastic
material capable of expanding and contracting that surrounds an outer
perimeter of
said seal face part; and
a cover part covering said lid and a peripheral wall of said container for
canned drinks;
wherein an entire top face area of said container for canned drinks is covered
in a water-tight manner with said seal face part, said outer-perimeter part
engages
below a seam of said container for canned drinks; and
wherein said cover part covers said lid and said peripheral wall of said
container for canned drinks and said seal face part is attached.
The seal face may be made with sufficient flexibility and expandability and
the
outer-perimeter part may be made with sufficient elasticity, by making them by
injection
molding as one piece structure using polystyrene or polypropylene. Further,
the preferable
flexibility and expandability of the seal face may be obtained by making the
thickness of
the seal equal to or below 0.4 mm, while the preferable elasticity of the
outer-perimeter part
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wherein an entire top face of said container for canned drinks is covered in a
water-tight manner by said seal face by replacably, removably attaching said
outer-
perimeter part below a seam part of said container for canned drinks.
According to the present invention, there is provided the cap disposed around
a lid of a container for canned drinks comprising:
a seal face part comprising an elastic film and covers a top face of said
container for canned drinks, having an outer-perimeter part comprising an
elastic
material capable of expanding and contracting that surrounds an outer
perimeter of
said seal face part; and
a cover part covering said lid and a peripheral wall of said container for
canned drinks;
wherein an entire top face area of said container for canned drinks is covered
in a water-tight manner with said seal face part, said outer-perimeter part
engages
below a seam of said container for canned drinks; and
wherein said cover part covers said lid and said peripheral wall of said
container for canned drinks and said seal face part is attached.
The seal face may be made with sufficient flexibility and expandability and
the
outer-perimeter part may be made with sufficient elasticity, by making them by
injection
molding as one piece structure using polystyrene or polypropylene. Further,
the preferable
flexibility and expandability of the seal face may be obtained by making the
thickness of
the seal equal to or below 0.4 mm, while the preferable elasticity of the
outer-perimeter part
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may be obtained by making the wall thickness of the outer-perimeter part equal
to or above
0.5 mm.
The cap for the container for canned drinks may be put on or off easily by
disposing
at least one tongue part that protrudes from the edge of the outer-perimeter
part. Putting-on
and -off the cap is made easy by disposing many small tongue as well as two
tongues with
large area.
A modified example of the invention described above is a cap disposed around a
lid
of a container for canned drinks consisting of: a seal face part composed in a
film form that
is capable of expanding and contracting, and covers the top of above mentioned
container;
an outer-perimeter part made of an elastic material capable of expanding and
contracting
that surrounds the outer perimeter of the seal face part; and a sealing part
that is a
continuation of the outer-perimeter part and adheres to a peripheral wall of
the container for
canned drinks, wherein the whole top area of the container for canned drinks
is covered
water-tight with the seal face part by attaching the outer-perimeter part to
the area below
the seam of the container. By this modification, canned drinks in the
distribution stage may
be better protected hygienically because the sealing part covers a large area
of the upper
part of the container for canned drinks
In this case also, the seal face part, the outer-perimeter part and the
sealing part are
made with sufficient flexibility and expandability by injection molding of
polystyrene or
polypropylene as a one piece structure. Especially the seal face part may be
made
sufficiently flexible and expandable with a thickness of the seal face part
equal to or below
0.4 mm and the outer-perimeter part may be made sufficiently elastic with a
wall thickness
equal to or above 0.5 mm..
Further, a modification is a cap disposed around a lid of a container for
canned
drinks consisting of: a seal face part composed in a film form that is capable
of expanding
and contracting, and covers the top of above mentioned container; and an outer-
perimeter
part made of an elastic material capable of expanding and contracting that
surrounds the
outer perimeter of the seal face part; a sealing part that is a continuation
of the outer-
perimeter part and adheres to a peripheral wall of the container for canned
drinks; and an
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edge part composing a terminal edge of the sealing part, wherein the whole top
area of the
container for canned drinks is covered water-tight with the seal face part by
attaching the
outer-perimeter part to the area below the seam of the container. In this case
adherence
between the container for canned drinks and the sealing part may be made
stronger by
giving sufficient elasticity to the edge of the sealing part.
Particularly, all of the seal face part, outer-perimeter part, sealing part
and edge part
are composed of polystyrene or polyethylene as one unit by injection molding,
wherein the
seal face part and the sealing part possess sufficient flexibility and
expandability, and the
outer-perimeter part and the edge part possess sufficient elasticity, by
making the thickness
of the seal face part and the sealing part equal to or below 0.4 nun and the
thickness of the
outer-perimeter part and the edge part equal to 0.5 mm or above, and therefore
the seal face
part is stabilized by the elasticity of the outer-perimeter part, and the
sealing part is
stabilized by the elasticity of the edge part.
In an embodiment as another modification of the present invention, it is
preferable
that perforations are present at the border between the outer-perimeter part
and the sealing
part. These perforations are formed along the border line between the outer-
perimeter part
and the sealing part, wherein the preferred border line is a line forming the
edge of the
outer-perimeter part and an outline of the tongue parts projecting therefrom.
Further, it is
preferable that the sealing part contains the second perforations which are
continuing from
the perforations formed at the border between the outer-perimeter part and the
sealing part,
to the edge of the sealing part. At this point, a preferable composition is
that the sealing
part contains the second tongue part projecting from the edge near the second
perforations.
The second tongue part herein is a tongue part used for breaking the sealing
part along the
second perforations.
A further modification of the present invention is a cap disposed around a lid
of a
container for canned drinks consisting of. a main part of the cap including a
seal face part
in an expandable film form that covers the top of above mentioned container
and an outer-
perimeter part made of an elastic material capable of expanding and
contracting that
surrounds the outer perimeter of the seal face part; and a covering part which
covers the lid
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and the peripheral wall of the container for canned drinks, wherein the whole
top face area
of the container for canned drinks is covered water-tight with the seal face
by attaching the
outer-perimeter part to a site below the seam of the container and at the same
time, the
cover part covers the lid and the peripheral wall of the container for canned
drinks to which
the main part of the cap is attached.
Because the seal face part and the outer-perimeter part in this modified
example are
also made of polystyrene or polyethylene by injection molding as one piece,
and the
thickness of the seal face part is equal or below 0.4 mm and that of the outer-
perimeter is
equal to or over 0.5 mm, the seal face part has sufficient flexibility and
ability of expanding
and contracting and the outer-perimeter part has sufficient elasticity.
Similarly, the
disposition of at least one tongue part protruding from the edge of the outer-
perimeter of
the peripheral wall of the cap makes putting on and off the cap easier.
In the modified example described above, after the cover part is removed, only
the
main part of the cap (the cap for the container for canned drinks in the
present invention)
stays. Therefore, the perforations formed from one part of the edge of the
cover part to
suitable directions makes breaking off the cover part easy, and further by
disposing the
tongue part protruding from the edge of the cover part near these
perforations, the cover
part is broken off by the tongue part.
Since the top face of the container for canned drinks can be covered according
to
the invention described above, invasion of dirt, dust and the like into a
groove formed on
the top face may be prevented. Further, the disposition of the sealing part
allows to cover
the area on the peripheral wall of the container where consumers are expected
to touch
directly with their mouths, and even if distributors, sales personnel in shops
or general
consumers may touch the top face of the container, hygienic canned drinks may
be
provided. Further, the presence of the cap for canned drinks, or confirming
that the sealing
part is not removed makes it possible to determine instantaneously whether
foreign bodies
may be introduced into the canned drinks in the distribution stage, and thus
the hygienic
management in the distribution stage is benefited.
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Further, the expandable construction of the seal face part and the outer-
perimeter
part of the cap for canned drinks allows repeated putting on and off of the
cap. Thus, in the
case there are leftover drinks in the container, the drinks can be
hygienically preserved by
applying the cap for canned drinks and the leftover drinks are prevented from
spilling out
because the seal face part can cover the whole top area water-tight.
Furthermore, as described above, the outer-perimeter part of the cap for
canned
drinks is capable of expansion and contraction, and therefore, when the outer-
perimeter part
is attached to the area below the seam of the container, it is not easily
removed because of
the contraction power of the outer-perimeter part, and the attachment is
secured. Even if
the diameter of the upper face of the container for canned drinks is slightly
different from
the standard, the difference may be absorbed by the contraction force of the
outer-perimeter
part. In this case, the condition that the seal face part covers the whole top
area of the
container for canned drinks is not changed because the seal face part also
contracts
appropriately. Furthermore, in a container for canned drinks equipped with a
stay-on pull
tab, the top part of the pull tab may be lifted to a higher position after
opening. In this case
the seal face part may be stretched and deformed to a tent-like shape but the
condition of
the top area being covered as described above is not changed.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will
become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same
elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. l(a)-l(c) illustrate an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 illustrate a mode of use of the above embodiment.
Figs. 3(a)-3(b) are perspective views showing a mode of the production of the
cap
for drinks in the above embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 4(a)-4(b) are cross sections of the container for canned drinks used in
the
present invention. Fig. 4(a) shows the type I and Fig. 4(b) shows the type II
of the container
of canned drinks.
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Fig. 5 illustrates a cross section view showing the condition wherein the
above
embodiment is used on the type II container for canned drinks.
Figs. 6(a)-6(d) illustrate the shapes of the perimeter part in the above
embodiment
when it is modified.
Fig. 7 shows a cross section view demonstrating the usage of the above
embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a cross section view showing a stacked condition when the above
embodiment is used.
Figs. 9(a)-9(b) illustrate modified examples of the above embodiment.
Figs. 10(a)-10(b) illustrate the usage modes of above mentioned modified
example.
Fig. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 12(a)-12(b) illustrate modified examples of the embodiment.
Fig. 13 illustrates another modified example in which the embodiment is
further
modified.
Fig. 14 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 15 illustrates a modified example of the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, a seal face part
11 with
an appropriate area and an outer-perimeter part 12 which forms the outer
perimeter of the
seal face part 11 are constitutional elements. The seal face part 11 is
composed of a
material with the ability to expand and contract and is formed as a film with
an appropriate
elasticity. Similarly, the outer-perimeter part 12 is also composed of an
elastic material
with the ability to expand and contract. More concretely, the seal face part
11 is composed
of polystyrene or polypropylene as one unit by injection molding, wherein the
seal face part
11 is made thinner while the outer-perimeter part 12 is thicker. When the
thickness of the
seal face part 11 is made equal to or below 0.4 mm, reasonably good
flexibility and ability
to expand and contract are obtained. The thickness of 0.3 mm - 0.4 mm is
appropriate and
provides strength, but if flexibility is regarded more important, it may be
changed to less
than 0.3 mm easily. The expandability of the seal face part 11 means that it
can expand and
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contract freely in vertical and horizontal directions, and the expansion ratio
in terms of the
area of the outer-perimeter part is equal to or more than 1:1.3. This is
equivalent to 1:1.14
when converted to the ratio for the diameter. Since the diameter of the top of
the small
container for canned coffee drinks distributed in Japan is 52 mm, a seal face
part with a
diameter equal to or above 46 mm may be used for this kind of the container.
The mode of
attachment of the seal face part 11 to the container for coffee drink is shown
in Fig. 2.
By forming the outer-perimeter part 12 in a ring shape and making the
thickness 0.5
mm or more, expansion and contraction was possible and sufficient elasticity
was obtained.
The ring of the outer-perimeter part 12 applies pressure on the seal face part
11 evenly and
is suitable for the container for canned drinks with a circular cross section.
By making the
seal face part 11 with polystyrene or polypropylene having a thickness of 0.1 -
0.4 mm, the
original shape may be maintained without deformation of the whole structure
while keeping
a proper flexibility.
The cap for canned drinks made of polystyrene or polypropylene undergoes no
change in flexibility, expandability or elasticity of the material even when
left in an
environment of 120 C. Thus a cap for drinks made of these materials may be
used for a
container for hot drinks. Naturally the cap for canned drinks made from the
materials
described above undergoes no change in flexibility and the like in an
environment at 0 C
or below and therefore may be used for cold drinks. Further, substitute
materials for the
above described polystyrene or polypropylene include polyolefin and the like.
In the embodiment described above, the outer-perimeter 12 is affixed by being
latched to a recess 22 formed below a seam 21. Since the outer-perimeter 12 is
formed like
a ring with sufficient elasticity, it may be attached to the seam 21 by
stretching to increase
the radius of the ring, and at the same time the seal face part 11 is enlarged
in accordance
with the increase of the diameter of the ring. The cap for canned drinks 10 is
stably
attached to the container 20 by the outer-perimeter 12 engaging with the
recess 22 formed
below the seam 21, by the elasticity of the outer-perimeter 12 and by the
latching action
provided by the recess 22. The cap being attached in this way, the top face of
the container
for canned drinks 20 can be covered water-tight by making the surface of the
seal face part
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11 abut the upper end of the seam 21 of the container for canned drinks 20.
The state of the
can that is covered as described above is shown in Fig. 2.
A seal face part 11 and an outer-perimeter part 12, the configuration of which
are
shown in Fig. 3, are produced by modifying the process for producing described
above,
wherein the seal face part 11 and the outer-perimeter part 12 are composed as
one unit by
layering the outer-perimeter 12 along the outer perimeter edge of the seal
face part 11. In
this case, the elasticity of the seal face part 11 and that of the outer-
perimeter part 12 may
be changed to make a suitable expansion and contraction adjustment according
to the size
and variety of the container for canned drinks to which the caps for canned
drinks 10 is
attached. Further, it may be possible to make a very flexible film-like
structure by making
polystyrene or polypropylene used for the seal face 11 very thin. Still
further the seal face
11 may be a thinly stretched film made of a rubber material such as synthetic
rubber and
the like, and the outer-perimeter part 12 may be a rubber band like structure
made of a
rubber material, and they may be composed separately, and similar functions
may be
obtained by adhesing them together forming one unit.
A container for canned drinks 20 which uses the embodiment described is herein
explained. A seam part 21 of the container for canned drinks 20 is a part for
connecting a
peripheral wall 22 and a lid 23 as one unit and is projected out sideways
further than the
peripheral wall 22, since the edges of the peripheral wall 22 and the lid 23
are layered on
each other. Fig. 4 (a) shows a type I container for canned drinks, used mainly
for coffee
drinks distributed in Japan. Fig. 4 (b) shows a type II container for canned
drinks widely
used for drinks such as green tea, black tea, juice or the like in Japan. The
seam part 21 is
formed at the connecting site between the peripheral wall 22 and the lid 23 in
either type of
the container.
Thus, a recess is formed below the seam part 21 at the gap between the seam
part 21
and the peripheral wall 22, and when the outer-perimeter part 12 is installed
to the recess,
the outer-perimeter part 12 latches on to the seam part 21. Since the recess
is a ring-shaped
structure formed around the whole perimeter of the container for canned drinks
20, the
whole perimeter of the outer-perimeter part 12 is latched on to the ring-
shaped recess. This
CA 02508566 2005-05-27
latching action is influenced by the contraction power of the outer-perimeter
part 12, and
the elastic power of a elastic material such as rubber and the like can
provide enough power
so that the cap for canned drinks 10 is not easily released. Further, the mode
of the cap for
canned drinks 10 attached to the type I container for canned drinks is shown
in Fig. 2 and
the mode of the cap for canned drinks 10 attached to the type II container for
canned drinks
is shown in Fig. 5.
In using the structure for the container for canned drinks described above,
the shape
of the outer-perimeter part 12 may take various forms. Fig. 6 shows these
modified
examples. These examples include: a hook-like composition formed from the top
edge of
the outer-perimeter 12 to inside; the outer-perimeter part 12 formed with a
semi-circular
cross section; the outer-perimeter part 12 formed with a circular cross
section; and the
outer-perimeter part 12 on which rubber bands with a four-sided cross section
are layered.
In any one of these embodiments, the outer-perimeter part 12 is latched on by
the elasticity
of the outer-perimeter part 12 by being attached to the recess 22 under the
seam part 21 of
the container for canned drinks 20.
In the embodiment described above, by attaching the cap for the container for
canned drinks 10 to the top face of the container for canned drinks 20 at the
time of
shipping out, the top face including the groove 24 formed therein may be
covered, and
invasion of dust and dirt to the groove 24 during the distribution stage may
be prevented.
Also, if a consumer removes the cap for canned drinks 10 after the purchase,
the cap for
canned drinks 10 may be reattached to the container for canned drinks 20 by
covering the
top face, and therefore not only the leftover drinks in the container can be
kept hygienically
but also spillover of the leftover drinks outside of the cap for canned drinks
may be
prevented even if the drink leaks out from the opening 25 of the container for
canned drinks
20 due to shaking and the like while the container is carried around, because
the seal face
part 11 of the cap for canned drinks 10 is attached to the whole perimeter of
the seam part
21 in a water-tight manner.
Furthermore, in a container for canned drinks 20 equipped with a stay-on pull-
tab
26, the top part of the pull tab may be lifted after opening to a higher
position than the
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upper edge of a seam part 21. In this case the seal face part 11 of the cap
for canned drinks
may be stretched a little by the pull-tab 26 because the seal face part 11 of
the cap for
canned drinks 10 is expandable. Because of this the seal face part 11 forms a
tent-like shape
but there is no problem with reattaching the cap for canned drinks 10. The
mode described
5 above is shown in Fig. 7.
Since the cap for canned drinks 10 described above is made of polystyrene or
polypropylene, even if the diameter of the container for canned drinks 20 may
be varied,
the cap can be adjusted accordingly. The same kind of containers for canned
drinks made
by other manufacturers may have differences of a few mm in the diameter.
However, if the
10 expansion ratio of the seal face part 11 is 1:1.14 in diameter basis, the
seal face part 11 with
a diameter of 50 mm can expand to 57 mm, and there is no problem of using the
cap for the
same kind of containers made by other manufacturers which may have 2 - 3 mm
variations
in the diameter. Since the expansion ratio can be increased by making the seal
face part 11
thinner, if there is a possibility of using the same kind of the container for
canned drinks
made by other manufacturers, the thickness of the seal face part 11 may be
adjusted
beforehand so that the cap maybe applied to various containers for canned
drinks.
Further, since the seal face part 11 and the outer-perimeter part 12 have the
ability
to expand and contract, they may be attached to and removed from the top face
of the
container for canned drinks 20 multiple times. However, when consumers drink
canned
drinks, the container for canned drinks is discarded after all the drink is
consumed.
Therefore the cap for canned drinks 10 serves its purpose by being able to be
attached to
and removed from the can only a few times. Consequently, it is possible to
make the seal
face part 11 relatively thin and to conserve materials in such a composition.
Further,
concerning to the expansion and contraction function of the seal face part 11
and the outer-
perimeter part 12, the objective can be achieved by providing the seal face
part 11 and the
outer perimeter part 12 with enough expansion and contraction ability to be
able to
withstand a few attachments and removals from the canned drink. If the cap is
to be used
for canned drinks not shipped with the canned drink cap 10 and is to be used
as a portable
12
CA 02508566 2005-05-27
canned drink cap 10, it is of course necessary to use a material that can
withstand repeated
attachments and removals.
Still further, depending on the packaging and the distribution means, canned
drinks
may be stacked on top of each other. Inthis case the stacking described above
is made
possible because the seal face part 11 with suitable ability for expansion and
contraction
changes its shape easily. This mode is shown in Fig. 8. When the bottom of the
container
for canned drinks 20a stacked on top is engaged to the top face of the
container below, the
seal face part 11, in the middle between canned drinks 20a and 20b, changes
shape. To
make such a change possible, the thickness of polystyrene or polypropylene may
be equal
to or below 0.2 mm so that sufficient flexibility is obtained.
Next, a modified example of the embodiment described above is explained. In
this
modified example, tongue parts 17 and 18 are disposed, projecting outward from
the edge
of the outer-perimeter part 12 of the cap 10 for the container for canned
drinks. This
modified example is shown in Fig. 9. As long as the tongue parts 17 and 18
described
above is projecting outward from the outer-perimeter part 12, the directions
may be
horizontal, or toward the bottom face of the container for canned drink,
wherein the tongue
parts are composed with a sufficient area so that the tongue parts may be
picked up separate
from the outer-perimeter 12 using fingers.
The mode of use of the modified example described above is shown in Fig. 10.
When the modified example described above is used, the ring of the outer-
perimeter part 12
may be enlarged by pulling the tongue part 17 and 18 by pinching with fingers,
making the
attachment of the cap to the container for canned drinks easier. Also, when
the attached cap
for canned drinks 10 is to be removed, it is easily done because the outer-
perimeter part 12
is easily enlarged by pulling either the tongue part 17 or 18.
Next, the second embodiment is explained. This embodiment is shown in Fig. 11.
According to this embodiment, the outer-perimeter part 12 of the first
embodiment
described above includes the sealing part 13, which is made like a film and
makes the
outer-perimeter part 12 stick to the surface of the peripheral wall 22 of the
container for
canned drinks, when the cap for the container for canned drinks 10 is attached
to the
13
CA 02508566 2005-05-27
container for canned drinks 20. This sealing part 13 is composed continuously
with the
outer-perimeter part 12, and the perforations 14 are formed at the border
between the
sealing part 13 and the outer-perimeter part 12. The outer-perimeter 12 may be
separated
from the sealing part 13 by cutting along the perforations 14. After
separation of the
sealing part 13, the remaining composition of the cap for canned drinks 10 is
that of the
above embodiment.
Thus, the cap for canned drinks 10 can cover the top face of the container for
canned drinks 20 and the area around the seam part 21, and the sealing part 13
can cover
the peripheral wall 22 of the container for canned drinks while the sealing
part 13 is
continuous with the cap for canned drinks. Since the area in the peripheral
wall covered by
the sealing part 13 is located at the place continuous with the seam part 21
of the cap for
canned drinks, the area near the opening 25 of the container for canned drinks
20 where the
mouth may contact is covered.
To open the cap for canned drinks 10, only the cap for canned drinks 10 is
separated
from the container for canned drinks 20 after cutting along the perforations
14 to break
apart the outer-perimeter part 12 and the sealing part 13. It is possible to
release the cap for
canned drinks by separating the outer-perimeter part 12 from the area below
the seam part
21 of the container for canned drinks 21 utilizing the elasticity of the outer-
perimeter part
12 of the cap for canned drinks. Further, it is possible to harden only the
sealing part 13 by
heating using hot air and the like to make the cutting of the perforations
easier.
Still further, the sealing part 13 may be removed from the surface of the
container
for canned drinks 20 by providing second perforations 15, which are continuous
with the
perforations 14 described above, over a range that extends to the edge of the
sealing part 13.
In this case, the location of the second perforations 15 and the method for
cutting may be
indicated to the consumer by providing a tongue part 16 projecting from the
edge of the
sealing part 13.
In the second embodiment described above, the attachment of the cap at the
time of
shipping of canned drinks may prevent invasion of dust and the like to the top
face of the
container for canned drinks, and even if shop keepers and general customers in
shops touch
14
CA 02508566 2005-05-27
the area of the opening 25 of the container for canned drinks 20, hygienic
canned drinks
may be provided without a fear of contamination by various bacteria. Since the
remainder
of the cap after the removal of the sealing part 13 is the same as the cap for
canned drinks
in the above embodiment, it is possible to remove the cap for opening and re-
attach for
covering the top face of the container for canned drinks 20 after opening.
In a modified example of the embodiment described above, the edge part 13a of
the
sealing part 13 is made into a thick structure to be more elastic. The shape
is shown in Fig.
12. The edge part 13 a is composed of a thick material with a ring form
because the edge
of the sealing part 13 is a circle except the tongue part 16. The entire cap
may be attached
while the sealing part 13 adheres tightly to the surface of the container for
canned drinks by
such a composition. Further, in another modified example of the second
embodiment
described above, the perforation 14, which is added to the border between the
outer-
perimeter 12 of the cap for canned drinks and the sealing part 13, is composed
so that the
tongue parts 17 and 18 are formed by the cutting of the perforations 14. The
configuration
is shown in Fig. 13. In this modification, almost all the perforations 14 are
on the border
line between the outer-perimeter 12 and the sealing part 13 except the
location where the
tongue parts 17 and 18 are to be formed. Perforations in this location are
composed as an
arc so that the sealing part 13 side is cut into an arc-like shape when cut.
Thus, by cutting
along the perforations 14, the tongue part 17 and 18 are formed at the arc-
like curve, and at
the same time the outer-perimeter part 12 and the sealing part 13 is
separated.
Next, another embodiment is explained. In the third embodiment, the sealing
part 13
is composed as a separate part independent of the cap for canned drinks 10.
After attaching
the cap for canned drinks 10, which is described above as the first embodiment
and a
modification thereof, to a container for canned drinks 20, it may be composed
in such a
way that the sealing part 13 covers the container for canned drinks 20
including the cap for
canned drinks described above. This embodiment is shown in Fig. 14.
The sealing part 13 in the embodiment as described above functions as a cover
part,
which can cover a lid 23 of the container for canned drinks 20 and a
peripheral wall 22 at
the same time, and may cover the whole can including the cap for canned drinks
10. Such a
CA 02508566 2005-05-27
composition prevents the cap attached to the container for canned drinks from
detaching
easily in the distribution stage, and guarantees the safety for the drinks in
the container.
Two parallel perforations 14 and 15 are disposed in the sealing part (covering
part)
13 described above extending from the edge of the sealing part 13 toward the
center, and
the sealing part (covering part) 13 may be separated independently by cutting
both of the
perforations 14 and 15 at the same time and removing the middle section
between the two
perforations 14 and 15. In this case, after removal of the sealing part
(covering part) 13,
only the cap for canned drinks 10 is attached to the container, and the
appearance is the
same as the first or the second embodiment. The composition and the like of
the cap for
canned drinks 10 are the same as described above.
Further, the cutting of the perforations 14 and 15 may be made easy by
disposing a
tongue part 16 between the two perforations 14 and 15. Still further, to make
the cutting of
the perforations easier, a hard material may be used for the sealing part
(covering part) 13.
At least after the attachment, composing the sealing part with a material with
less elasticity
makes the removal of the middle section easier, because when the middle
section of the two
perforations 14 and 15 is lifted up by holding the tongue part 16, the middle
section does
not pull the sealing part (covering part) 13. To compose such a sealing part
(covering part)
13, a shrink film that is heat-shrinkable may be used.
In a modified example of this embodiment, the relative positioning of the
sealing
part (covering part) 13 and the cap for canned drinks 10 is reversed. That is,
the sealing
part (covering part) 13 covers a container for canned drinks from the top face
of the
container, and the cap for canned drinks 10 covers the sealing part (covering
part) 13. This
embodiment is shown in Fig. 15. In this embodiment, canned drinks may be
opened by
separating the cap for canned drinks 10 first and then removing the sealing
part (covering
part) 13. When the sealing part (covering part) 13 is attached to the
container for canned
drinks 20, by covering upper area of the container for canned drinks 20 first
with a heat-
shrinking material, the sealing part (covering part) 13 may cover the
container for canned
drinks by closely adhering to the outside shape. When the sealing part
(covering part) 13 is
applied, it is also effective to use a hot melt adhesive or the like to seal
in a watertight
16
CA 02508566 2005-05-27
manner. Because the outer-perimeter part 12 of the cap for canned drinks 10 is
elastic,
when the cap for canned drinks 10 is attached to the container for canned
drinks 20 to
which the sealing part (covering part) 13 is already attached, the outer-
perimeter part 12 of
the cap for canned drinks 10 may be latched to the seam part 21 of the
container for canned
drinks.
The embodiments of the present invention are as described above. However, many
varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the present
invention
concept. For example, in the seal face part 11, a band-shaped sealing film may
be layered
on the location where the top of the seam part 21 may touch. In this case, the
band-shaped
film made of polyethylene is disposed inside of the outer-perimeter 12, and
this may not
only improve the sealing effect by the seal film but also make the recognition
of the front or
the back of the cap for canned drinks 10 easier.
The container for canned drinks is usually discarded after the drinks in the
container
are consumed, and the container made of metal is melted and reused as a
material for metal.
On the other hand, the cap for canned drinks, if it is made of polystyrene or
polypropylene,
is degraded to water and carbon dioxide by burning, and therefore is an
environmentally
considerate product. Further, if materials for the each embodiment described
above are
composed of biodegradable ones, it is useful to prevent the generation of
nondegradable
wastes.
Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to those
precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be
effected therein
by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention as
defined in the appended claims.
17
