Container can and holding device

Abstract

The invention relates to a container can that is sealed after being filled, to a holding device for introduction into a container can, and to a method for manufacturing a container can. A container can according to the invention that has a bottom, a peripheral wall that adjoins the bottom, and a narrowed end on one end facing away from the bottom is characterized in that a two-part holding device is located in the container can that has a second part and a first part detachably connected thereto, of which the first part has a connecting section for connecting the second part to the first part as well as a plurality of support arms, at least two upper support arms of which are designed to be supported in the region of the narrowed end on the peripheral wall of the container can and at least two lower support arms of which are designed to be supported on the peripheral wall of the container can in a place that is nearer to the bottom of the container can than the connecting section is.

Claims

1. A container that is sealed through placement of a lid after being filled, the container comprising: a bottom, a peripheral wall that adjoins the bottom, and a narrowed end on one end facing away from the bottom; a holding device provided in the container, the holding device comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being detachably connected to the second part; wherein the first part comprises a connecting section for connecting the second part to the first part, and a plurality of support arms; wherein at least two of the plurality of support arms of the first part comprise upper support arms operable to be supported on the peripheral wall of the container; and wherein the second part comprises a connecting section and at least two support arms that comprise lower support arms operable to be supported on the peripheral wall of the container, and wherein the at least two support arms of the second part extend downwardly from the connecting section of the second part toward the bottom of the container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the second part comprises three lower support arms.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the second part comprises three upper support arms.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the support arms of the first part extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the support arms of the first part each have a first end that is arranged on the connecting section of the first part and a second end that is supported on the peripheral wall of the container, and wherein the second ends of the support arms extend radially outward in relation to the respective first ends.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the second ends of the support arms of the first part each have at least one region that is arched radially outward.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the connecting section of the first part is annular.

8. The container of claim 1, further comprising a lid operable to contact and displace the first part when the lid is provided in an assembled state with the container.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged such that at least one of the first part and the second part comes into contact with the lid upon placement of the lid onto an initially open container, and wherein the lid is operable to detach a connection between the first part and the second part.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein a detachable connection is provided between the first part and the second part of the holding device, wherein the detachable connection comprises a predetermined breaking point between the first part and the second part, and wherein placement of a lid onto the initially open container is operable to detach the first part and the second part at the predetermined breaking point.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the detachable connection can be detached through a movement of both parts of the holding device relative to each other in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the container.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein a connection between the first part and the second part of the holding device is a mechanical connection comprising at least one of a plug, a clamp and a snap connection.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part of the holding device are arranged in an interconnected state such that pressure is applied in the axial direction onto the holding device upon placement of a lid onto the container.

14. The container of claim 1, wherein the support arms of the second part abut against a peripheral wall of the container.

15. The container of claim 1, wherein the support arms of the first part extend beyond the connecting section of the second part in the axial direction and the support arms of the second part extend beyond the connecting section of the first part, and wherein the connecting sections are detachably interconnected.

16. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part comprises a reservoir, and wherein a detachment of first part and the second part causes the release of a substance from the reservoir.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part is formed such that at least one of the first part and the second part can be moved relative to the container upon disconnection of the first part and the second part.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the part that can be moved has a lower density than a filling medium with which the container is filled during a filling operation.

19. The container of claim 17, wherein a drinking straw is arranged on the part that can be moved.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the drinking straw has a drinking end that faces toward a lid and is closed in the axial direction of the drinking straw and has at least one radial opening.

21. A holding device to be introduced into an initially open container can that is sealed after being filled through placement of a lid, the holding device comprising: a first part and a second part, wherein the first part and the second part are detachably connected, the first part comprising a connecting section for connecting the second part to the first part, and a plurality of support arms, wherein at least two of the support arms comprise upper support arms operable to be supported on a peripheral wall of a container can, and wherein the second part comprises a plurality of support arms comprising lower support arms operable to be supported on the peripheral wall of the container can proximal to a bottom of the container can.

22. The holding device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the holding device is displaceable between a first state and a second state upon placement of a lid onto the initially open container can, wherein the first part and the second part of the holding device are arranged in a first position such that at least one of the two parts comes into contact with the lid upon placement of the lid onto the initially open container can, and wherein the contact with the lid is operable to disconnect the first part and the second part.

23. The holding device according to claim 21, further comprising a drinking straw arranged on at least one of the first part and the second part, and wherein the drinking straw has a drinking end and that is closed in an axial direction of the drinking straw and has one, two or more radial openings.

Description

(1) A preferred embodiment of the invention is described for the sake of example with reference to the enclosed figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a holding device with a drinking straw;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the two parts as well as the drinking straw of the holding device depicted in FIG. 1 separately from each other;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the holding device according to FIG. 1 arranged in a container can with the lid not yet put in place;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the container can from FIG. 3 with lid in place;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the container can from FIG. 3 with lid in place according to FIG. 4 with opened drinking opening;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a drinking straw for a holding device;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the drinking straw according to FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows three-dimensional views of two variants of a first part of a holding device;

(10) FIG. 9 shows schematic representations of two variants of a first part of a holding device;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of a variant of a second part of a holding device, and

(12) FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional view of a variant of a holding device.

(13) FIGS. 1 to 11 show a holding device 100 or parts thereof. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, the holding device 100 can be arranged in a container can 200. After being filled, the container can 200 is sealed into a beverage can 400 through placement of a lid 300.

(14) The holding device 100 shown here is formed from two parts 110, 120 that are detachably interconnected. The connection between the two parts 110, 120 of the holding device 100 is a mechanical connection, preferably a snap-fit connection.

(15) Same or substantially functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference symbols. In the case of slightly deviating elements, an apostrophe (') is appended to the same reference symbol.

(16) In FIGS. 1 to 5 as well as in the variant to the left in FIG. 8 and in the variant to the right in FIG. 9, the first part 110 has only upper support arms 112. In FIG. 11 as well as in the variant to the right in FIG. 8 and in the variant to the left in FIG. 9, the first part 110′ also has lower support arms 113 with first and second ends 113a,b. The lower support arms 113 have the particular advantage of stabilizing the first part 110′ upon detachment of the connection with the second part 120, 120′ and preventing or reducing the tilting of the first part 110′ in order to not to interfere with the second part 120, 120′ floating upward or to interfere with it as little as possible.

(17) The second part 120′ shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is substantially functionally equivalent to the second part 120 shown in the other figures but has a slightly modified shape.

(18) Each of the two parts 110, 120 has a connecting section 111, 121 on each of which three support arms 112, 122 are arranged. The support arms 112, 122 are shaped such that they abut against a peripheral wall 204 of the container can 200 or come very close to the peripheral wall 204. The first ends 112a of the support arms 112 of the part 110 are arranged on the connecting section 111. The connecting section 111 of the part 110 is annular. The second ends 112b of the three support arms 112 point slightly radially outward in relation to the first ends 112a, which are connected to the connecting section 111. The three support arms 112 of the first part 110 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container can 200. The support arms 112 rest with their second ends 112b against the peripheral wall of the container can in the region of the narrowed end 203.

(19) The second part 120 also has a connecting section 121 and three support arms 122. The support arms 122 are attached with their first ends 122a to the connecting section 121 and extend along the longitudinal axis of the container can 200. The support arms 122 come very close to the peripheral wall 204 of the container can 200, particularly as a result of the outwardly bulging regions on the first end 122a and in the region 122c. The second ends 122b of the support arms 122 come into contact with the bottom 202 of the container can 200.

(20) When the holding device 100 is in the connected state, the two parts 110, 120 are detachably interconnected at their connecting sections 111, 121. This passive state of the holding device is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this state, the holding device 100 has an extension in the direction of the longitudinal or rotational axis of the container can 200 that corresponds substantially to the extension of the container can 200 along this direction. In the connected state, the two parts 110, 120 are arranged such that the support arms 112 of the first part 110 extend in the axial direction beyond the connecting section 121 of the second part 120 and the support arms 122 of the second part 120 extend beyond the connecting section 111 of the first part 100. The part 120 faces toward the closed bottom 202 of the container can, and the part 110 faces toward the open end 203 of the container can 200.

(21) The connecting section 121 of the second part 120 has a recess 123 for receiving a drinking straw 130. The drinking straw is attached with its section 132 to the receptacle 123 of the part 120, for example through a frictional connection. A section 131 of the drinking straw 130 protrudes axially in the direction of the can lid 300 and the open end 203 of the container can 200 over the connecting section 121 of the part 120. Another section 133 of the drinking straw extends in the direction of the bottom 202 of the container can 200 and can preferably be angled with respect to the other sections of the drinking straw 130.

(22) Preferably, the support arms 112, and particularly the ends 112b thereof, are biased such that, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the outer periphery around the three second ends 112b of the support arms 112, particularly a maximum outer periphery, is greater than the minimum circumference of the container can 200 at its narrowed open end 203. Upon introduction of the holding device 100 into the container can 200, the support arms 112 can then preferably be pressed together radially inward such that they can be introduced through the slightly conically narrowed end 203 of the container can 200 into the interior of the container can 200 and then move again slightly radially outward as a result of the biasing and rest against the conically narrowed end 203 of the container can 200. The shape of the second ends 112b of the support arms 112 is preferably adapted for this purpose to the conical shape of the narrowed end 203 of the container can 200.

(23) In the connected state, the holding device 100 has a shape that limits a translational movement between the holding device 100 and the container can 200 in the axial direction. In the exemplary embodiment depicted here, this is achieved by virtue of the fact that, on the one hand, the second ends 112b of the support arms 112 abut against the narrowed open end 203 of the container can 200 from the inside and, on the other hand, the second ends 122b of the support arms 122 are arranged on or near the bottom 202 of the container can 200. In this way, the container can 200 can also be handled upside down, for example during a washing operation, without the possibility of the holding device 100 falling out of the open container can 200.

(24) The shape of the holding device 100 further prevents or limits a translational movement in the radial direction relative to the container can 200, whereby the holding device 100 maintains a substantially concentric arrangement on the interior of the container can 200. In the present exemplary embodiment, the star-shaped design of the connecting section 121 of the second part 120 and the biasing of the support arms 112 of the first part 110 contribute particularly to this.

(25) The container can 200 with inserted holding device 100 is preferably filled with a beverage or another medium before a lid 300 is placed onto the open container can 200 and connected with the open, narrowed end 203 of the container can 200 through the creation of a flanged seam to form a closed beverage can 400. Upon placement of the lid 300 onto the initially open container can 200, the part 110, particularly the second ends 112b of the support arms 112, comes into contact with a core crimp 301 of the lid such that the snap-fit connection between connecting sections 111, 121 is detached.

(26) The snap-fit connection between the two connecting sections 111, 121 is detached through a movement of the two parts 110, 120 relative to one another in the direction of a longitudinal axis of a container can 200. This relative movement is produced through pressure in the axial direction toward the holding device 100 that is applied to the holding device 100 upon placement of the lid 300. This pressure results from the fact that the core crimp 301 of the lid 300 protrudes into the interior of the container can 200 during and after placement of the lid 300 onto the container can 200. The available space for the holding device 100 in the axial direction is limited, whereby the core crimp 301, upon contacting the second ends 112b of the support arms 112 of the part 110, exerts pressure substantially in the axial direction onto the holding device 100, thus triggering the snap-fit connection between the connecting parts 111, 121 and activating the holding device 100.

(27) The activated state of the holding device 100 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which differ from each other in that the lid 300 is closed in FIG. 4, and a drinking opening 302 of the lid 300 is open in FIG. 5 so that the drinking straw 130 can emerge from the drinking opening 302 with its section 131. Both parts 110, 120 are freely movable in principle as a result of the detachment of the connection between them, that is, they are movable on the interior of the beverage can 400 relative to one another and relative to the beverage can 400 within the limits that are established by the container can 200 closed with a lid 300.

(28) In the situation shown in FIG. 4, however, the second part 120 is still particularly limited in its translational movement substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beverage can 400, since the section 131 of the drinking straw 130 projects in the direction of the lid 300 beyond the connecting section 121 of the part 120, abuts against the closed lid 300, and thus prevents or limits movement of the part 120 in the direction of the lid 300.

(29) The part 120 has a lesser density than a filling medium, for example a beverage, with which the container can 200 is filled during a filling operation. In particular, the density of the part 120 is adapted to the filling medium such that the part 120 floats upward in the filling medium even with the drinking straw 130 attached to the connecting section 121.

(30) If the closed beverage can 400 is now opened by a user, for example by actuation of an opening element, and the drinking straw 130 is arranged so as to fit into a drinking opening 302 in the lid 300, the first section 131 of the drinking straw 130 can pass through the drinking opening 302 in the lid 300 and therefore no longer prevents the translational movement of the part 120 relative to the beverage can 400, so the part 120 can float upward in the beverage can 400 together with the drinking straw 130 attached thereto and the section 131 of the drinking straw 130 can emerge from the beverage can 400, as shown in FIG. 5.

(31) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a preferred exemplary embodiment of a drinking straw 130 for a previously-described holding device in a previously-described beverage can. This drinking straw 130 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is characterized in that in that the drinking end 134 is closed in the axial direction of the drinking straw by a rounded-off tip 136 and has two radial openings 135. The drinking end 134 is the end of the drinking straw 130 that is arranged on the section 131 of the drinking straw 130 and, in the state in which it is in a closed beverage can, is arranged near the lid. When the beverage can is opened, the drinking end 134 passes upward through a drinking opening and out of the beverage can, so that a consumer can consume the beverage through the radial openings 135.

(32) As a result of the closure of the drinking end 134 in the axial direction by means of the rounded-off tip 136, no medium is able to escape, so inadvertent spraying-out of the beverage in the axial direction out of the drinking straw 130 can be prevented, particularly when opening a can with a carbonated beverage.

(33) The two radial and lateral drinking openings 135 oppose one another and are oval-shaped. When seen from the longitudinal axis of the drinking straw 130, they are openings arranged in the radial direction in the side wall of the drinking straw 130. A consumer is able to reliably and easily drink a beverage through the radial openings 135.