Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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A TOP COVER FOR SEALING AN OPEN END OF A CYLINDRICAL BEVERAGE
CONTAINER, A CONTAINER, A METHOD FOR PROVIDING A TOP COVER AN
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CONTAINER
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a top cover for sealing an open end of a
cylindrical beverage container. The top cover comprises a panel having a
scored
portion, and a tab attached to a first side of the panel and configured to
open a hole in
the panel by fracturing the scored portion.
BACKGROUND
Cylindrical beverage containers are widely used for storing soft drinks, beer,
ice tea, etc. In many cases, consumers carry the beverage containers into
areas, such as
outdoors, having no facilities for cooling the beverage. Therefore, a variety
of self-
heating or self-cooling containers have been proposed.
A typical beverage container has a cylindrical peripheral wall defining two
spaced open ends, one open end being closed by a top cover and the other end
being
closed by a bottom cover. Normally, the bottom cover is integrally formed with
the
cylindrical wall by an extruding process. The cylindrical wall, the top cover
and the
bottom cover are defining a tubular body forming a cavity for enclosing the
beverage.
In a self-cooling beverage container according to prior art, the bottom cover
defines a body that forms a cavity, which extends within the tubular body
along the
longitudinal axis of the container. The body of the bottom cover is separated
from the
cylindrical wall of the container. Such a bottom cover may be provided in any
conventional container without affecting the external configuration or size of
the
container. However, the interior volume of the container is reduced.
The cooling process of such a self-cooling beverage container is provided by
means of an elongate insert retained within the body of the bottom cover. The
insert
comprises freezable material. This material is typically one that melts at
less than 5 C,
for example, water, heavy water or a freezable gel. The insert may also be an
electrically powered cooling element or a cooling element relying upon
chemical
reactions. The cooling element may also be a gas cylinder with controllable
vent means
for venting the gas to the atmosphere during cooling.
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Generally, the prior published proposals provide entirely new configurations
of
containers, which cannot be used on existing filling lines. Such containers
thus require
heavy investments by beverage manufacturers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above and the following description in mind, then, an object of some
embodiments of the present invention is to provide a self-cooling beverage
container,
which seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-
identified
deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination.
An idea according to some embodiments is to provide a top cover configured
to receive a temperature changing device.
A further idea according to some embodiments is to provide a top cover for a
beverage container that can be produced in existing production lines, also
when
pasteurization processes are utilized.
A further idea according to some embodiments is to provide a top cover for a
beverage container, which enables an efficient cooling of the beverage in a
cost-
effective way.
A yet further idea according to some embodiments is to provide a top cover for
a beverage container, wherein all construction parts of the top cover are
recyclable.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a top cover for sealing an open
end
of a cylindrical beverage container is provided. The top cover comprises a
panel having
a hollow body forming a cavity for a temperature changing device (11), said
cavity
extending from an open end on the first side of the panel to a closed bottom
end.
The hollow body may have a tapered profile, which is advantageous in that a
plurality of top covers may be stacked on top of each other for reducing the
space
required for transporting and storing.
The top cover may further comprise a second cover for sealing the open end of
the hollow body, wherein the second cover comprises at least one through hole
and a
protrusion arranged on a side of the second cover facing the interior of the
hollow body.
Hence, exhaust of a cooling fluid, as well as means for initiating a cooling
process are
provided in a simple and effective way.
The tab may extend over the second cover for maintaining the second cover
over the open end of the hollow body. Hence, eliminating the use of adhesives
or other
external fastening means reduces the production costs.
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The interior volume of the hollow body may be less than 15 percent of the
interior volume of the beverage container, which is advantageous in that only
a minor
reduction of beverage volume is necessary to provide an efficient cooling.
The outer surface of the hollow body may be rough, which is advantageous in
that a larger contact area with the beverage is provided, thus improving the
cooling
efficiency.
The top cover may further comprise a temperature changing device having a
container enclosing a pressurized fluid, an aerosol valve connected to an
outlet of the
container, which aerosol valve is moveable between an open position and a
closed
position, and an actuator configured to initiate dispensing of aerosols of the
fluid. The
actuator comprises a first member connected to the aerosol valve, and a second
member
connected to the container, said first member being securely attached to the
second
member when the valve is in the open position. The temperature changing device
is
arranged within the hollow body of the top cover such that the first member of
the
actuator is arranged adjacent to the interior surface of the closed bottom end
of the
cavity. Hence, an external cooling device is provided within the top cover,
providing an
efficient cooling.
The first member of the actuator may comprise a central portion connected to
the valve, and at least two legs extending from said central portion towards
the second
member of the actuator, wherein each leg comprises a hook configured to engage
with
the second member. This is advantageous in that the cooling process is
manually
initiated, and self-maintained until it is completed.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a beverage container is
provided. The beverage container comprises a top cover according to the first
aspect of
the invention.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for providing a top
cover
configured to seal an open end of a cylindrical beverage container is
provided. The
method comprises the step of defining a hollow body in a panel of the top
cover,
wherein the hollow body is forming a cavity extending from an open end on the
first
side of the panel to a closed bottom end.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a container for beverage
having a cylindrical wall, a sealed top and bottom end wherein said top end is
sealed by
a first cover comprising an external cavity with an open top end and a closed
bottom
end which cavity is extending within the internal cavity of the container,
said container
further comprising a second cover for sealing said top end of said external
cavity, a
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temperature changing device for cooling said beverage, wherein said
temperature
changing device is arranged within said external cavity.
A yet further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for
producing a
container for cooling beverage included therein comprising producing said
container
having an open top end and spaced there from a closed bottom end, producing a
first top
cover comprising a cavity with an open top end and a closed bottom end and
which is
extending a specified length from said top end, filling said container with a
beverage,
sealing said container by sealing said top end with said top cover, wherein
said cavity is
extending within said container, producing a second top cover for sealing said
open top
end of said cavity, producing a cooling device comprising an outlet valve,
arranging
said cooling device within the external cavity, sealing said top end of said
cavity with
said second cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear
from the following detailed description of the invention, wherein embodiments
of the
invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a container according to a first embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a top cover according to a first embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a top view of a second cover according to a first embodiment;
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the second cover shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first member of an actuator according to a
first
embodiment;
Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a beverage container according to a second
embodiment;
Fig. 7 illustrates a top cover according to a second embodiment;
Fig. 8 illustrates a temperature changing device according to a second
embodiment; and
Fig. 9 illustrates the mounting process of a beverage container with a
temperature changing device according to a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general, to a top cover 14 of
a
beverage container 10. The top cover 14 is designed such that it can be used
with a
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temperature changing device 11 for cooling different types of beverages, such
as beer,
soft drinks and iced tea, enclosed within the container 10. A preferred
embodiment
relates to a portable container 10, such as a common beer can, including the
top cover
14 and the temperature changing device 11. However, it should be appreciated
that the
5 invention is as such equally applicable to larger beverage containers, which
are not
portable. However, for the sake of clarity and simplicity, most embodiments
outlined in
this specification are related to common beer cans.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the
invention
are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms
and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and
complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like
reference
signs refer to like elements throughout.
Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a container 10 according to a first
embodiment. The container 10 has a substantially cylindrical wall 16, which is
closed at
one end by a bottom cover 15. Further, the container 10 has a top cover 14
having a
panel 20, a scored portion 17, and a hollow body 12 that defines a cavity. A
tab (not
shown) is attached to the outer surface of the panel 20, and configured to
open a hole in
the panel 20 by fracturing the scored portion 17. The top cover 14 is formed
from sheet
material, and the hollow body 12 extends within the peripheral wall 16 along a
longitudinal axis of the container 10. The peripheral wall 16 and the top and
bottom
covers 14, 15 of the container 10 together define a tubular body 18 in which
beverage is
enclosed.
A temperature changing device 11 is arranged inside the hollow body 12. The
temperature changing device 11 comprises a pressurized fluid container 41,
enclosing a
fluid mixture containing CO2 as its main constituent. The outlet of the
container 41 is
provided with an aerosol valve 43. An actuator 45 is connected to the valve 43
and to
the container 41.
With reference to Fig. 2, the hollow body 12 is provided centrically on the
panel 20. It should however be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
variations
may be made in positioning of the hollow body 12 within the top cover 14. The
hollow
body 12 has a closed bottom end 15 and an upper open end 21.
The hollow body 12 is sealed by a second cover 30, which is further described
with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. The second cover 30 is arranged on the outer
surface of
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the panel 20, and extends into the hollow body 12 by means of a
circumferential
protrusive edge 35 of the second cover 30. A protrusion 32 is centrally
provided on the
interior surface of the second cover 30. The protrusion, e.g. a knob, is
integrally formed
with the second cover 30. Further, the second cover 30 comprises at least one
exhaust
hole 31 extending through the second cover 30.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 5, the actuator 45 comprises a first member 46
connected to the valve 43 and a second member 47 connected to the container
41. The
first member 46 has a central portion 48, which is arranged on a stem 44 of
the valve
43, and three legs 49 extend from the central portion 48 towards the second
member 47
shown in Fig. 1. At the end of each leg 49, a hook 50 is provided. The legs 49
are
provided circumferentially of the central portion 48, evenly spaced by an
angle of 120 .
The outer part of the legs are aligned with the interior surface of the
container 41 of the
temperature changing device 11, such that the spaces provided between the legs
49 are
acting as aerosol guides during dispensing of the fluid mixture. The second
member 47
comprises an annular portion provided at a lower portion of the container 41.
At the
upper part of the annular portion, a notch 51 is provided.
In the following, a method for cooling a beverage according to an embodiment
will be described.
When the break or opening mechanism for the beverage container 10, i.e. the
tab for fracturing the scored portion 17, is pushed against the second cover
30, the
second cover 30 switches the shape to a concave shape which, by means of the
knob 32
of the second cover 30, pushes the container 41 of the temperature changing
device 11
downwards towards the bottom of the hollow body 12. This movement forces the
stem
44 of the valve 43 to be retracted into a release position, which causes the
valve 43 to
open. Consequently, aerosols will be outlet through the valve 43. As the stem
of the
valve 43 moves towards the release position, the first member 46 of the
actuator 45 will
move in an upward direction towards the container 11. As the legs 49 of the
first
member 46 reaches the notch 51 of the second member 47, the hook 50 of each
leg 49
will engage with the notch 51. Consequently, the user pushing the tab will
hear a click
sound, and the stem of the valve 43 is prevented from moving back to the
extended
position, i.e. the position where the valve is closed, when the user releases
the tab.
Hence, the valve 43 will remain open until the pressure inside the container
41 of the
temperature changing device 11 is low enough to stop dispensing aerosols.
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When C02, or any other fluid mixture contained inside the container 41 of the
temperature changing device 11, flows through the valve 43, the CO2 is
gasified and
this may result in an outlet temperature of approximately -73 C.
CO2 has no liquid state at pressures below 5.1 atm. At 1 atm., CO2 is a solid
at
temperatures below -78 C. In its solid state, CO2 is commonly called dry ice.
In its
gaseous state, CO2 is 1.5 times as heavy as air, thus if released to the air
it will
concentrate at low elevations. 1 kg of dry ice has the cooling capacity of
approximately
2 kg of ordinary ice. Gaseous or liquid CO2, stored under pressure, will form
dry ice
through an auto-refrigeration process if rapidly depressurized. Hence, 6.69
grams of
CO2 should in theory (if released optimally) lower the temperature of 45 cl
beverage by
C in about 60 seconds.
The beverage container 10 shown in Fig. 1 is designed to have the same
external dimensions and shape as a standard 50 cl portable beverage can.
However, the
presence of the hollow body 12 reduces its interior volume. The hollow body 12
may
15 use 10% of this volume, which, in the case of a 50 cl beverage container,
corresponds to
5 cl of beverage. In other embodiments, the volume of the hollow body 12 may
be
between 5 and 15 percent of the interior volume of the beverage container 10.
Since the
external dimensions are the same as those of conventional beverage cans, each
can be
used and filled on existing filling lines. Correspondingly, the length of the
hollow body
12 may be 115 mm and the diameter may be 38 mm.
Other dimensions of the beverage container 10 may also be utilized. Such
dimensions may correspond to the dimensions of commercially available
containers,
such as 33 cl, 35,5 cl (12 U.S. fl. oz.), or 44 cl (14,9 U.S. fl. oz).
The diameter of the aerosol container 41 of the temperature changing device 11
may be 20 to 35 mm, especially 22 mm, and it may contain 5 cl of fluid mixture
containing CO2 as its main constituent. The aerosol container 41 is capable of
managing
an internal pressure of at least 70 bar. The aerosol valve 43 connected to the
aerosol
container 41 is capable of managing an internal pressure of at least 50 bar.
As a
precautionary measure, the aerosol valve 43 is configured to self-release if
the internal
pressure exceeds 50 bar.
In an embodiment, the container 41 of the temperature changing device 41
comprises a fluid mixture containing CO2 as its main constituent. The fluid
mixture may
be designed such that it is non-toxic according to present environmental
requirements.
Further, the fluid mixture may be designed such that it has a boiling point
similar to
pure CO2, although the critical point is higher as compared to pure CO2.
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In a further embodiment, the container 41 of the temperature changing device
41 encloses approximately 6,7 g of fluid mixture. The dimensions of the
container 41
are designed such that the pressure inside the container 41 will not exceed 50
bar when
the temperature is above 50 C.
Different embodiments of the top cover 14, the second cover 30, and the
temperature changing device 11 will be described below.
The hollow body 12 may have a tubular shape, and the closed bottom end 22 of
the hollow body 12 may be planar, convex, concave, or of any other shape. The
hollow
body 12 may further have a tapered profile such that the dimensions of the
bottom end
22 are smaller than the upper open end 21. Moreover, the hollow body 12 may be
formed integrally with the panel 20. In a further embodiment, the panel 20 has
a
punched hole, and the hollow body 12 having an upper open end 21 is attached
to the
periphery of the punched hole.
The outer surface of the hollow body 12, i.e. the surface being in contact
with
the beverage enclosed inside the container 10, may be rough. Further, the
interior
surface of the hollow body 12 may also be rough.
The panel 20 may comprise a groove (not shown) surrounding the open end 21
of the hollow body 12. The groove is configured to fit the second cover 30 for
sealing
the open end 21. The second cover 30 may be fixedly attached to the groove, or
the
second cover may be attached to the panel 20 by means of the tab, extending
over the
second cover 30 for maintaining the second cover 30 over the open end 21.
The second cover 30 can be immersed such that it does not extend above the
outer parts of the top cover 14. This is advantageous in that unintended
initiating of the
actuating means 32, e.g. during transport or storing, is prevented.
The valve 43 may comprise a membrane (not shown) for providing vibrations
during outlet of the gas mixture. Hence, the vibrating membrane will prevent
clogging
of the valve outlet. The valve 43 may further be configured to dispense a
major part of
the content inside the container 41 of the temperature changing device 11 in
approximately 60 seconds. In a preferred embodiment, 51 % of the gas mixture
content
is dispensed in less than 60 seconds, preferably between 30 and 60 seconds.
The container 41 of the temperature changing device 11, the valve 43 and the
actuator 45 are manufactured by conventional materials known per se,
preferably by
plastics and/or aluminum alloys, for corresponding to present recycling
processes.
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Other embodiments of the top cover are shown in Figs. 6 to 9. Herein, the
valve is denoted by reference numeral 13. Other elements of the embodiments
are
denoted by the same reference numerals as those used with reference to Figs. 1
to 5.
The top cover 14 may be provided by a method according to a first
embodiment. The method comprises the step of forming a panel 20 having a
scored
portion 17. A tab is thereafter attached to a first side of the panel 20,
wherein the tab is
configured to open a hole in the panel 20 by fracturing the scored portion 17.
After this,
a hollow body 12 is defined in the panel 20, wherein the hollow body 12 is
forming a
cavity extending from an open end 21 on the first side of the panel 20 to a
closed
bottom end 22.
The beverage container 10 may further be assembled by providing a tubular
body 18 having a closed bottom end and an open upper end. Next to this, the
beverage
container 10 is filled with some kind of beverage. The top cover 14 is
thereafter
mounted on the beverage container 10, and the top cover 14 is sealed with
respect to the
beverage container 10. The temperature changing device 11, comprising the
valve 43
and the actuator 45 is mounted separately, and inserted into the hollow body
12 of the
top cover 14. The legs 49 of the actuator 45 are thus aligned with the
interior surface of
the bottom end 22 of the hollow body 12. Thereafter, the second cover 30 is
arranged on
top of the open end 21 of the hollow body 12. Finally, the tab that is already
attached to
the panel 20 is rotated such that it extends over the second cover 30. The
second cover
is consequently kept in place by means of the tab.
The manufacturing method is advantageous in that it can be implemented in
existing production lines utilizing pasteurization processes. This is due to
the fact that
the temperature changing device 11 is inserted after the beverage container 10
is filled
25 with the pasteurized beverage and sealed by the top cover 14. Further, the
beverage is
only exposed to the interior surface of the top cover 14, which is made of the
same
material as covers used for presently known beverage containers.
In an embodiment, the outer surface of the beverage container 11 may be
painted with a temperature sensitive paint, which will indicate when the
cooling process
30 is finished. Such paint may e.g. be provided circumferentially on the
beverage container
10. Hence, a user can detect if the temperature distribution is uniform, as
well as if the
temperature has reached its intended value, before the beverage container 10
is opened.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms)
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary
skill in
the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that
terms used
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herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in
the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an
idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The foregoing has described the principles, preferred embodiments and modes
5 of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should be
regarded as
illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as being limited to the
particular embodiments
discussed above. The different features of the various embodiments of the
invention can
be combined in other combinations than those explicitly described. It should
therefore
be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by those
skilled in the
10 art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by
the
following claims.
