COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS

COUVERCLE POUR CANETTE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a cover for beverage cans, which provides the user
with a guarantee of hygiene and which enables the user to see if the container
has been interfered with and, consequently, if the hygiene guarantee has been
violated. The invention is characterised in that the cover consists of a
specific hollow body comprising two segments in the form of a housing which
facilitates the incorporation of advertising elements. The invention is also
characterised in that it comprises a sealing element having a particular
structure.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un couvercle pour canette destiné à offrir une garantie d'hygiène à l'utilisateur, permettant à ce dernier de vérifier au premier coup d'oeil si l'emballage a été manipulé et si les conditions d'hygiène n'ont pas été respectées. Ce couvercle se caractérise par le fait qu'il comprend une structure particulière de corps creux composée de deux parties en forme de coque qui facilitent l'insertion d'éléments publicitaires. Ce couvercle se caractérise également par le fait qu'il comporte un élément de scellement possédant une structure particulière.

Claims

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CLAIMS
1.- COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS, which, being destined for being
coupled in correspondence with the upper base of a beverage can, is
characterised in that it comprises a hollow body formed from a lower segment
in
the form of a pan (2) and a second smaller upper segment (3) which starts from
the base of the lower segment (2), with an annular surface (8) being defined
in
this base; all this in order to facilitate the incorporation of advertising
and/or
games elements.
2.- COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS, according to claim 1, characterised
in that it includes a sealing element defined by a ring (14) which possesses a
segment projecting towards the inside located in a channel (12) of the side
wall
of the respective can (6), said ring (14) being joined to the free edge of the
lower segment (2) by means of a succession of small appendages (15).

Description

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COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
As stated in the title of this descriptive specification, the present
invention
relates to a cover for beverage cans which enable the best hygienic conditions
to be obtained when consuming the product and thereby guarantee consumers
that the surface coming into contact with their lips has been protected from
the
outside at all times, thus offering users a guarantee of hygiene, which
permits
them to drink directly from the can without any risk or fear. During canning,
the
io can will be subjected to optimum hygienic conditions which will be
preserved if
this cover is positioned at the end of the canning process.
Moreover, it enables the user to distinguish at a glance whether the can
has been manipulated and its hygiene guarantee has thus been violated.
PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
There currently exist beverage cans which incorporate protective covers
which are coupled in correspondence with the upper base where the opening
device for that cover is to be found. All this is in order to preserve the
cleanliness and hygiene of the can, precisely in the area of opening via which
the user afterwards drinks or pours the contents.
For example, Utility Model No. 9502598 comprises a protective and
hygienic cover for beverage cans which basically consists of a hollow
cylindrical
body in the form of a shallow pan, whose side wall includes a U-shaped
extension as a continuation of that side wall. Said extension serves as an
element allowing the cover of the can to be withdrawn more easily.
Another cover corresponds for example to Utility Model No. 200101910.
There also exists a registration which consists of a cover for beverage
cans which incorporates a safety sealing element joined via some breakage
appendages to the free edge of the main body of this cover, said body having
the general shape of a pan in such a way that this pre-sealing element enables
us to check at a glance whether the container has been manipulated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The cover for beverage cans constituting the inventive object is
characterised in that it comprises a main body formed in principle from two
hollow cylindrical segments in the form of a shallow pan having little height,
a
lower one which is coupled in correspondence with the upper base of the can in

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order to protect it and an upper segment constituting a housing in which can
be
stored elements for games or advertising such as counters or "chaps" which are
also to be found in bags of potato crisps, for example, and which children use
for playing. Located in that upper base is the opening ring.
Stickers and transfers can also be attached, and in short anything which
the company in question considers appropriate as a means of promotion and
which have the necessary dimensions for fitting into said space of the upper
segment.
The upper segment will normally have a smaller dimension than the
to lower segment.
It can also be pointed out that the upper segment can be off-centred, and
it is even possible for said upper segment to have a shape other than
circular.
The free edge of the lower segment is suitable for incorporating an
annular projection directed towards the inside in order to ensure that the
lower
segment is secured to the can in correspondence with its upper base.
This same edge of the lower segment also includes a small lateral tab
directed outwards so that the cover unit can be withdrawn more easily.
The upper base of the cover is demarcated by a thickened rim projecting
towards the outside, beneath which an inclined surface is defined converging
upwards which forms part of the perimeter wall of the can, this inclined
surface
ending in a depressed area above which is to be found the thickened rim.
In another embodiment of the cover, the annular projection is done away
with and it includes on the other hand a sealing element characterized in that
it
comprises an annular body joined to the free edge of the main body by means
of some breakage appendages, in such a way that this annular body possesses
a segment projecting towards the inside which is located in the lowest part of
the depressed zone demarcated between the perimeter rim of the can and the
inclined surface converging upwards. In that deepest part, the annular
projection of the first embodiment will also fit.
The side tab is provided in order to facilitate the handling of the cover unit
for its opening, in such a way that, when the sealing element is included,
when
that tab is pulled upwards the main body of the cover will come away, with the
separation being produced via the breakage appendages, the sealing element
remaining associated with the can and revealing whether that can has been
manipulated.

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The sealing element remains associated with the can since its internal
diameter is less than the diameter of the thickened rim and its extraction is
not
possible.
Below, in order to aid a better understanding of this descriptive
specification and forming an integral part thereof, some figures are attached
in
which, on an illustrative rather than limiting basis, the object of the
invention has
been represented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the cover for beverage cans,
lo forming the object of the invention.
Figure 2.- Shows a view in cross-section of the inventive cover.
Figure 3.- Shows a view in cross-section of the cover with a different
embodiment from that shown in the above figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MANNER OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, in a first embodiment
shown in figures 1 and 2, the cover for beverage cans is defined on the basis
of
a hollow main body 1 which in principle comprises a larger lower segment in
the
form of a pan 2 and a hollow upper segment 3, also in the form of a pan, which
starts from the base of the first lower segment 2.
Emerging from the free edge of the lower segment 2 is a perimetric
projection 4 directed towards the inside in order to ensure the securing of
the
cover unit on the beverage can. Also emerging from this free edge, though
towards the outside, is a small lateral flap 5 for withdrawing and separating
the
cover of the corresponding can 6.
Within the interior hollow defined by the upper segment 3 elements of
games can be introduced. Also, on the flat outer segment of the base 7 of the
upper segment 3, any message and/or promotional action can be printed and/or
stamped on its interior and/or exterior.
Moreover, the resulting annular surface 8 of . the lower segment
corresponding to its base can also be used for the same advertising ends as
the
base 7 of the upper segment 3.
The upper base 9 of the can 6 where the opening ring 10 is to be found is
demarcated by a thickened rim 11, beneath which there exists a depressed
channel 12 where ends a lower inclined surface 13 of the side wall of the can
6,
this inclined surface being convergent upwards until it ends in that depressed

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channel 12 where the perimetric projection 4 of the corresponding cover will
be
secured.
In a second embodiment shown in figure 3, the main body 1' of the cover
unit lacks the perimetric projection 4 for ensuring its connection to the can,
and
instead incorporates a sealing element defined by an annular body 14 which is
joined to the lower segment 2 by means of some small breakage appendages
15, that annular body 14 constituting a sealing element which reveals whether
the cover has been manipulated, since on attempting to open that cover, the
breakage will take place of the small appendages 15, this being a feature that
io will be easily visible, the sealing element being at all times associated
with the
corresponding can 6.
In order to achieve this, the sealing element 14 incorporates a segment
projecting towards the inside located in the depressed channel 12 of the can
6,
in such a way that the sealing element 14 will be connected to the can 6
without
it being able to be extracted, since its internal diameter is less than the
diameter
of the thickened rim 11 of the upper base 9 of the corresponding can 6.

Representative Drawing