BEVERAGE CAN COUPLINGS

Abstract

A coupling for assembling at least two beverage cans together, comprising at least a pair of collar portions, each to slidably receive a corresponding end region of one of the beverage cans, the collar portions being configured to engage the beverage cans for associated games and/or other amusement activities.

Claims

1. A coupling for assembling at least two beverage cans, comprising at least a pair of individual beverage can receivers joined at a junction, each receiver configured to snugly and slidably receive a corresponding end region of one of the beverage cans, the coupling configured in a first mode to form, with at least two of the beverage cans, an end-to-end subassembly exposing at least a pair of non-received end regions, the coupling configured in a second mode to join a non-received end region of each of least a pair of neighboring beverage can subassemblies for building structural forms for associated games, educational and/or other amusement activities.

2. A coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein each receiver includes a sleeve portion configured to provide an inner surface region forming an end region-receiving zone.

3. A coupling as defined in claim 2, each receiver being adjustably positioned on the junction to enable the beverage cans in the end-to-end subassembly to be oriented in alternative designated angular configurations.

4. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receivers are arranged in opposed configurations of at least two receivers.

5. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein one or more sleeve portions further comprise a plurality of first projections formed on the inner surface region thereof to provide a plurality of contact surface portions thereon for localized contact with the corresponding end region.

6. A coupling as defined in claim 5, wherein the first projections include ridges aligned with a central axis.

7. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a plurality of interconnectors to releasably join the receivers to the junction.

8. A coupling as defined in claim 7, the junction including a plurality of receiver locating zones and each including a first interconnector, each receiver configured to locate at any one of the receiver locating zones, and each receiver including a second interconnector to engage the first interconnector.

9. A coupling as defined in claim 8, the first interconnector configured to engage the second interconnector in at least two positions corresponding to at least two of the designated angular configurations.

10. A coupling as defined in claim 8 or claim 9, each first or second interconnector including a locating tab, or a locating passage to receive the locating tab.

11. A coupling as defined in claim 10, wherein the passage includes a slot configured to provide at least two alternative slot receiving zones.

12. A coupling as defined in claim 10 or claim 11, one or more of the slots having a plurality of slot termini, each terminus to receive the locating tab in a corresponding angular configuration.

13. A coupling as defined in claim 12, the junction providing at least one corner region, one or more of the slots having first and second slot sectors formed therein, each slot sector providing a terminus to receive the tab in corresponding first and second angular configurations.

14. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the locating tabs and the slots have complementary parallel or non-parallel opposing surface formations.

15. A junction device for use with a plurality of beverage can receivers, in forming a beverage can subassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at least two beverage cans, comprising a body including a plurality of beverage can receiver mounting zones, each to receive a corresponding beverage can receiver thereon, each zone configured to enable the beverage can receiver to be releasably located in position thereon, in at least one beverage can receiver configuration.

16. A receiver device for use, at least in groups of two, with a junction unit, in forming a beverage can subassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at least two beverage cans, comprising at least one inner receiving surface to engage an outer surface on an outer side wall formed on a corresponding beverage can, and at least one interconnector for interconnection with a complementary interconnector on the junction.

17. A kit for use in forming a beverage can subassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at least two beverage cans, comprising at least one junction device as defined in claim 15, and a plurality of receiver devices as defined in claim 16.

18. A method of forming a beverage can subassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at least two beverage cans, comprising: a. providing at least one junction, and at least two beverage can receivers, the junction portion and receivers mutually configured for removable interconnection in one or more one receiver configurations, each receiver configured with at least one inner receiving surface to engage an outer surface on an outer side wall formed on a corresponding beverage can; b. selecting the desired receiver configuration for each of the receivers; c. interconnecting the receivers on the junction; and d. engaging a beverage can with each corresponding receiver to form the beverage can subassembly.

19. A coupling as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, each receiver being fixedly positioned on the junction.

20. A coupling as defined in any one of claim 1, 2 or 19, wherein the sleeve portions are coaxial.

21. A coupling as defined in any one of claim 1, 2, 19 or 20, wherein the sleeve portions form a tubular structure, the junction being centrally located therein.

22. A coupling as defined in claim 21, the junction including a central panel extending laterally across the tubular structure.

23. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 5 to 22, wherein the sleeve further comprises at least one end surface region providing a plurality of second projections configured to engage a sealed lid portion on the beverage can.

24. A coupling as defined in claim 23, further comprising one or more flange portions extending outwardly from the end surface region, with the second projections formed thereon and extending inwardly toward a central axis thereof.

25. A coupling as defined in claim 24, wherein the flange portions are symmetrically disposed relative to the central axis.

26. A coupling for assembling at least two beverage cans together, comprising at least a pair of beverage can receivers, each to slidably receive a corresponding end region of one of the beverage cans, the beverage can receivers being configured to engage the beverage cans for associated games, educational and/or other amusement activities.

27. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein each beverage can receiver includes a plurality of contact surface-providing elements for engaging corresponding regions of the end region.

28. A coupling as defined in claim 27, further comprising a plurality of support portions to support the contact surface-providing elements in an operative position to form collectively an end region-receiving zone.

29. A coupling as defined in claim 26, wherein each beverage can receiver includes a collar portion providing an inner surface region forming an end region-receiving zone.

30. A coupling as defined in claim 29, further comprising a body portion located between the collar portions.

31. A coupling as defined in claim 30, the body portion including a panel with a plurality of peripheral regions, each said collar portions being positioned near a corresponding peripheral region.

32. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 29 to 31, the collar portions being fixed in position relative to the panel.

33. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 29 to 32, the collar portions being adjustably attached to the body portion.

34. An assembly as defined in any one of claims 29 to 33, the beverage cans and collar portions having complementary cross sections.

35. An assembly as defined in any one of claims 29 to 34, the beverage cans and collar portions having common cross sections.

36. An assembly as defined in claim 35, the cross sections being circular.

37. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 29 to 36, the collar portions including at least three collar portions to be organized in an opposed configuration.

38. A coupling as defined in claim 37, further comprising a fourth collar portion to be orthogonal to the at least three collar portions.

39. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 26 to 38, further comprising a plurality of projections located on an inner surface of the collar portion to provide a plurality of contact surfaces for contact with the end region of the beverage can.

40. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 26 to 39, further comprising a junction located between the beverage can receivers, and configured to support the receivers in an operative position.

41. A coupling as defined in claim 40, the junction including a plurality of receiver mounting portions for mounting the receivers thereto.

42. A coupling as defined in claim 40 or claim 41, the receivers and receiver mounting portions including complementary anchoring segments.

43. A coupling as defined in claim 42, the anchoring segments include a mounting tab and a corresponding mounting slot.

44. An assembly comprising the coupling of any one of claims 26 to 43, further comprising a plurality of said beverage receivers and a corresponding plurality of beverage cans engaged therewith.

45. An assembly as defined in claim 43, wherein the slots and tabs have side edge surface regions which are complementarily configured to contact one another in an assembled condition.

46. An assembly as defined in claim 45, wherein the slots and tabs have respective parallel or non-parallel opposed edge surface regions forming a triangular configuration.

47. An assembly as defined in claim 46, wherein the slots and tabs have respective convergent edge surface regions forming a triangular configuration.

48. An assembly as defined in claim 46, the tab further comprising a support panel with an inner surface facing the edge surface regions and which is configured to engage an inner surface of the receiver in the assembled condition.

49. An assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein the support panel extends laterally beyond the edge surface regions, to be received by an enlarged entry region in the slot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Several exemplary embodiments will be provided, by way of examples only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary coupling;

[0038] FIG. 2 is an end view of the coupling of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0040] FIGS. 4 and 7 are perspective views of another exemplary coupling;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the coupling of FIG. 4;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0043] FIGS. 8 and 11 are perspective views of another exemplary coupling;

[0044] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the coupling of FIG. 8;

[0045] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

[0046] FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show cross sections of portions of exemplary assemblies;

[0047] FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 show perspective and plan views of another exemplary coupling;

[0048] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a junction portion of another exemplary coupling;

[0049] FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken on line 19-19 of FIG. 20;

[0050] FIG. 20 is an end view of the junction portion of FIG. 18;

[0051] FIG. 21 is a side view of the junction portion of FIG. 18;

[0052] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a receiver portion for use with the junction portion of FIG. 18 in an exemplary coupling;

[0053] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the receiver portion of FIG. 22;

[0054] FIG. 24 is a plan view of the receiver portion of FIG. 22; and

[0055] FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken on line 25-25 of FIG. 24.

[0056] FIGS. 26 and 27 show perspective and sectional views of another exemplary coupling;

[0057] FIG. 28 shows an exemplary assembly employing selected couplings;

[0058] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another exemplary coupling;

[0059] FIGS. 30 to 36 are perspective assembly views of exemplary couplings using the junction and receiver portions of FIGS. 18 to 25;

[0060] FIGS. 37 to 40 are perspective and end views of another exemplary junction and receiver, respectively; and

[0061] FIG. 41 is an end view of another exemplary coupling according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0062] It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical and/or other configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention. However, other alternative mechanical and/or other configurations are possible which are considered to be within the teachings of the instant disclosure.

[0063] Referring to the FIGS. 1 to 3, a first exemplary embodiment is provided, in the form of a coupling shown at 10 for assembling together two beverage cans, in the form of cans 12, 14. In this case, the coupling 10 is configured to assemble two cans in an opposing format, as an example of an end-to-end subassembly, by way of a pair of beverage can receivers in this example in the form of opposing coaxial sleeve or collar portions 16, 18. Each collar portion 16, 18 includes a skirt portion 16a, 18a extending outwardly from a central boundary wall portion 24, which may be solid or provided with one or more openings 24a, which in this example gives the boundary wall portions an open disc shaped configuration.

[0064] The boundary wall portion 24 is located between the collar portions 16, 18, to abut (or otherwise to be adjacent to) an end region 32 of each beverage can 12, 14 in an operative condition. In this exemplary embodiment, the collar portions form parts of a tubular structure with a central axis 30.

[0065] Located on a surface portion of each collar portion are a plurality of projections to provide a plurality of contact surfaces for contact with the corresponding end region of the beverage can, which in this case are provided in the form of a number of circumferentially spaced ridges or projections 34, which are coaxial with the axis 30 and which enhance the engagement of each collar portion with the end region 32 of its associated beverage can. Thus, each collar portion 16, 18, is configured to slidably receive a corresponding end region 32 of one of the beverage cans, for associated games and/or other amusement activities.

[0066] Referring to the FIGS. 4 to 7, another exemplary embodiment is provided, in the form of a coupling shown at 40 for assembling three beverage cans 42, 44, 46 (as well as two others as will be described). In this example, a body portion 48 is located between and supports five collar portions, three of which are shown at 50 in an opposed triangular orientation. The collar portions 50 are cup shaped with a skirt portion 52 extending from a boundary wall 54 which is positioned near a peripheral region 56 (FIG. 5) of the body portion 48, and in this example fixed in position relative thereto. Thus, in this example, the body portion 48 provides three peripheral regions 56, each holding one collar portion 50 at about ninety degrees thereto, though other angular orientations may be deployed as desired. The body portion 48 also provides a pair of opposed collar portions 60, each mounted centrally on the body portion 48 and on opposite sides thereof, thereby to hold a cluster of five beverage cans in another example of an end-to-end subassembly.

[0067] Referring to the FIGS. 8 to 11, another exemplary embodiment is provided, in the form of a coupling shown at 70 for assembling six beverage cans, one shown at 72. In this example, a body portion 74 is located between and supports six collar portions 76, with two sets of two opposed collar portions 76 positioned on corresponding opposed peripheral regions 80 and another pair of opposed central collar portions on opposite sides of the body portion 74.

[0068] FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show alternative cross sections between the beverage can and the collar portion. All three configurations shown demonstrate complementary cross sections, that is the collar portion cross section is complementary with that of the beverage can. Note that FIG. 12 shows a collar portion 82 with a part-circular cross-sectioned structure to match that of the beverage can 80, but with a pair of outwardly directed rectangular wing sections 84. FIG. 13 shows the configurations of FIGS. 1 to 11 with the collar portion being a circular cross section, while FIG. 14 has a rectangular structured collar portion 92 with a number of inwardly directed stabilizers 94 which cooperate to support the beverage can 90.

[0069] FIGS. 15 to 17 show yet another exemplary coupling 100, in which the body portion 102 supports a collar portion 104 on one boundary and a mounting portion 106 at another boundary, at an angle theta relative thereto, in this case about thirty degrees, though other angular orientations may be deployed. In this case, the mounting portion 106 is complementary with and configured to engage a collar portion on an adjacent, but separate, coupling, as shown at 108. This is, in function, an intermediate or secondary coupling, which allows a primary coupling to be further configured. If desired, the secondary coupling 100 may also be provided with more than one mounting portion, and may in some examples be provided with two or more mounting portions and no collar portions, in order to join two (or more) primary couplings together.

[0070] FIGS. 18 to 25 show yet another exemplary coupling 110, which includes a junction 112 configured to be located between a plurality of beverage can receivers 114 (FIG. 22), and configured to support the receivers 114 in an operative configuration. The junction portion 112 includes a plurality of receiver mounting portions 116 for mounting the receivers 114 thereon. The receivers 114 and receiver mounting portions 116 include complementary interconnectors 118, which in one example include a tab 120 and a corresponding passage (in this instance in the form of a slot) 122, which may be located on the receiver 114 and the junction 112 respectively, or vice versa.

[0071] FIGS. 26 and 27 show another exemplary embodiment, in which a beverage can receiver 130 includes a plurality of contact surface-providing elements 132 for engaging corresponding regions of the end region of the beverage can, along with a number of support portions 134 to support the contact surface-providing elements in an operative position to form collectively an end region-receiving zone 136. The number of contact surface-providing elements 132 may be provided in a number of different configurations, for instance to present a claw or hand-like structure with figures configured to provide number of inner surface regions cooperating to form an end region-receiving zone.

[0072] To use the couplings as described herein, a number of beverage cans, such as cans, may be collected as needed. More than one coupling enables the beverage cans to be formed in multiple connections, or subassemblies. In other words, two beverage cans may be formed into a subassembly with one coupling. One beverage can may have a coupling on both end regions, which can then be repeated as needed to form a beverage can coupling assembly or structural form. In the case of the coupling of FIG. 1, the coupling subassembly is linear, that is following the aligned axes of each collar. In the case of the coupling of FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, more complex subassemblies may be made with individual couplings being formed at different beverage can junctions, allowing the beverage can assembly creator a wide degree of possible structures. An example is shown in FIG. 28, using the couplings 10, 70 and 100 with beverage cans 12, 14.

[0073] FIG. 29 shows another coupling 109 with a body portion configured to provide an adjustable angular orientation, by way of accordion, gooseneck or other configuration. In still other configurations, the body portion may include two or more articulating segments allowing for adjustable angular orientation between the collar portions, or between one collar portion and the body portion.

[0074] FIGS. 30 to 36 show further features as well as the assembly of the exemplary coupling 110. As shown in FIG. 30, the junction 112 includes the receiver mounting portions 116 in the form of receiver locating zones and each includes a first interconnector, in this example, the slot 122. Meanwhile, each receiver 114 is configured to locate at any one of the receiver locating zones, and each receiver includes a second interconnector, in this case tab 120, to engage the slot 122. In this case, the slot 122 may be configured to engage the tab 120 in at least two positions corresponding to at least two of the designated angular configurations. The slot 122 may be configured to provide at least two alternative slot receiving zones, providing in this example a plurality of slot termini 122a, 122b, each terminus to receive the tab in a corresponding angular configuration.

[0075] The junction 112 thus provides an end wall 124 (FIG. 32) with a number of side wall portions 126 forming a corresponding number of corner regions 128 (FIG. 30), with the slot 122 formed through the transition provided by the corner region 128, with a slot termini 122a, 122b at the ends thereof and at two different angles, owing to the included angle of the end wall portion 124 and the corresponding side wall portion 126. Slots may be provided in different configurations on the junction, such as shown in dashed lines at 129, enabling the slot termini in this instance to be at a different included angle than as at slot 122.

[0076] Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 30 and 31, the receiver 114 may be positioned on the end wall portion 124 to the assembled position as shown in FIG. 31. As can be seen in FIGS. 32 and 33, the receiver 114 may alternatively be positioned on the side wall to the assembled position as shown in FIG. 33. As can be seen in FIGS. 34 to 36, additional receivers 114 may be positioned on corresponding side walls 126 to the assembled positions as shown in FIG. 35, with a receiver positioned on the back wall as can be seen in FIG. 36.

[0077] While the receivers 114 are shown to be identical, they need not be. For instance, the receivers may take different shapes and configurations while preserving the beverage can engaging function and the junction locating function. For instance, the receivers may take the form of a first group of one or more receivers and a second group of one or more receivers, among possibly other groups, where the groups have designated outward shapes, treatments or graphics, such as different characters in a cartoon sequence, or different brands under a broader beverage category.

[0078] FIGS. 30 to 36 show further features as well as the assembly of the exemplary coupling 110. As shown in FIG. 30, the junction 112 includes the receiver mounting portions 116 in the form of receiver locating zones and each includes a first interconnector, in this example, the slot 122. Meanwhile, each receiver 114 is configured to locate at any one of the receiver locating zones, and each receiver includes a second interconnector, in this case tab 120, to engage the slot 122. In this case, the slot 122 may be configured to engage the tab 120 in at least two positions corresponding to at least two of the designated angular configurations. The slot 122 may be configured to provide at least two alternative slot receiving zones, providing in this example a plurality of slot termini 122a, 122b, each terminus to receive the tab in a corresponding angular configuration.

[0079] FIGS. 37 to 39 show another exemplary embodiment of an exemplary coupling 140, in which the interconnectors joining the receivers 142 with the junction 144 have additional features. In this case, the slots 146 and tabs 150 have respective side edge surface regions 148 and 152 which are similarly convergent to form a triangular configuration. Each tab 150 is provided with a support panel 154, which laterally extends beyond the side edge surface regions 152 and has an inner surface 158 facing the side edge surface regions 152. The support panel 154 is received by an enlarged entry region 156 at the open end of the slot 146. Accordingly, installing the tab 150 into the slot 146 requires aligning the support panel 154 to pass through the enlarged entry region 156, to an installed position in the slot 146, where the side edge surface regions 148, 152 are in contact with one another, while the inner surface 158 is in contact with the inner surface 160 of the junction 144 in the region surrounding the slot 146, thus providing additional lateral support to reduce relative movement of the tab 150 in the slot 146. Thus, the locating tabs and the slots may have complementary parallel (as in the earlier embodiments) or non-parallel opposing surface formations as shown in FIGS. 37 to 39.

[0080] Referring to FIGS. 39 and 40, the receiver 142 further provides a sleeve which further comprises at least one end surface region 162 providing a plurality of second projections 166 configured to engage a sealed lid portion 167a on the beverage can 167. One or more flange portions 168 extending outwardly from the end surface region 164, with the second projections 166 formed thereon and extending inwardly toward a central axis thereof, and which in this example are symmetrically disposed relative to the central axis. It can be seen that the flange portions have an inner surface 170 with a radius that is smaller than the corresponding radius of the inner surface 172 of the sleeve 162, and thus the second projections follow a similarly smaller radial path than the first projections shown at 174. The second projections 166 may take several forms and be provided in different configurations to those shown, while enabling them to engage the sealed lid portion on the beverage can, and can be provided on different elements of the assembly. As an additional example, shown in FIG. 41, which shows an end view of a tubular coupling 176 corresponding to the coupling 10 in FIGS. 1 to 3, with second projections 178 provided on a plurality of flange portions shown at 10.

[0081] The couplings may be formed form different materials, including resilient plastics materials, though other materials may also be suitable in some cases, such as molded cardboard and the like. The dimensions of the collar portions may be selected as appropriate, bearing in mind the structure of the beverage cans, and the degree of engagement desired between the end region and the corresponding collar portion. The receivers and junction may be formed in a one piece construction in different configurations and constructions, including foam and the like.

[0082] The collar portions may be configured, as shown in some embodiments hereinabove, to be adjustably attached to the body portion, which may be provided by a web extending from the boundary wall panel and rotatably or slidably mounted to the panel, as desired, to adjust the position of the collar portions relative to the body portion.

[0083] While a device or assembly and an accompanying method have been described for what are presently considered the exemplary embodiments, the invention is not so limited. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.