PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BEVERAGE TIN

Abstract: A hermetically sealed protective cover (1) made from aluminium or another material adapted to hygienically protect the upper part of a can, its tearable opening and the alimentary drink contained within, with a profile the same as the can's cover on which it is placed. Courtesy of the canal (2) that functions as a fastening, the coupling of can and protective cover (1) can be maintained firm. Given moreover that the can has the same whether in its upper part or its lower part the cover (1) encapsulates and contains the aforementioned lower part of the can. Consequently the cover (1) is not dispersed into the environment when opened by the consumer and thus may be recycled with the can to which it is attached.

Description: DESCRIPTION PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BEVERAGE TIN TECHNICAL FIELD The proposed solution is a hermetically sealed cover made in a flat- press irom aluminium or other materials adapted to the task. It is capable of hygienicaUy protecting the upper part of a can containing an alimentary drink and its ring pull opening. In order to facilitate the opening of the can the proposed cover must be removed, it can then be upturned and the lower part of the can may be subsequently inserted and embedded into the protective cover. BACKGROUND ART Cans used for the distribution of alimentary drinks are made from an aluminium cylinder welded at each end to an aluminium disc, one with a closed surface and the other with a surface that contains the ring pull opening. On the upper extremity there is a ring pull, which must be lifted in order to open the can. When opening a ring pull of the type that currently exist a situation is created whereby a part of the ring pull enters the inside of the can. Such a system has practical results, however it allows microbes or external agents that have been deposited on the outer cover to enter and therefore contact the contents of the can once the ring pull has been raised. The proposed solution seeks therefore to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. DISCLOUSURE OF INVENTION The primary scope but not the only role of the proposed solution, is to completely cover the upper part of the can, where the ring pull is located. Specifically to protect the part of the ring pull that will subsequently enter the inside of the can and contact its contents. In the proposed solution external microbes and agents will not contact the upper part (or cover) of the can itself. This certainty that external microbes and agents will never contact the contents of the can, may be assured by the fact that the protective cover of the proposed solution will create a hermetic seal that can only be opened with deliberate but simple manual pressure exerted upon the external side of the can. Another aim of the proposed solution is to solve the technical problem of creating a cover for a can with ring pull opening that is capable of encapsulating the lower part of the can after it has been opened so as not to be destroyed or thrown away. This therefore renders it more easily recyclable, and of consequence more ecological. The proposed solution is characterised by the following claims; that it resolves the problem of supplying a protective cover for cans used in alimentary drink distribution. The protective cover could be generally considered to consist of an aluminium body or other material of sufficient dimensions to embrace all of the outer extremities of the can, but that is capable of being joined or coupled to the inner part of the can once opened. In conclusion, the proposed protective cover serves the 1. It is used like a hermetic seal in order to hygienically protect the upper part of the can, during the period of time between manufacture of the filled can and the final consumption of the drink by the consumer (Fig. 5). 2. The flat structure of the cover and its dimensions allow two or more cans to put end to end without creating some of the problems associated with the storage and transportation of cans, be it for the producer or retailer (Fig. 6). 3. The structure of the cover mirrors that of the upper and lower parts of the can (Fig. 4.5), allowing it after use to encapsulate the lower part of the can, encouraging the recovery and consequent recycling of both parts that are made of the same material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The major characteristics and advantages of the proposed solution will become evident primarily from the detailed descriptions that follow. • Figure 1 illustrates the proposed solution for a protective cover in plan view from below. • Figure 2 illustrates the proposed protective cover of figure 1 in plan view from above. • Figure 3 illustrates the proposed protective cover of figure 1 as viewed from the side. • Figure 4 illustrates a section of one can from the side. • Figure 5 illustrates the proposed protective cover when placed upon a can as seen from the side. • Figure 6 illustrates two cans both with protective covers placed one on top of the other as seen from the side. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Complying with the can of today, the protective cover for the can is constructed from an aluminium (or other material) body, of circular shape (fig. 1,1). The body (fig. 3,1) proposes the use of a channel (fig. 3.2) that covers the entire lower circumference of said cover (fig. 1.2) in such a way that it embraces and encapsulates the upper circular edge of the can (Fig. 4.4). The body (fig. 3,1) proposes the use of another channel (fig. 3.3) that covers the entire upper circumference of the cover (fig. 2.3) so as to embrace and encapsulate the lower circular edge of the can (fig. 4.5). The body (fig. 1,1) proposes the use of a flat surface (fig. 3.6) that is parallel to the can (fig. 4.7) when the cover is positioned over its upper part, in order to protect the ring pull and its part that will enter the inside of the can once opened. It is also parallel to the can (fig. 4.8) when the cover encapsulates the lower part of the can, once it has been opened and set in said cover. The proposed solution is removed from the upper part of the can and then subsequently the lower part of the can is reinserted into the cover. It is then fixed in place by means of light manual pressure applied to the outside of the cover (Fig. 3.9). When the cover is positioned on the upper part of the can in order to fulfil the desired functions already stated, (Fig. 5) it does so in a way that cannot block or obstruct adjacent objects, therefore permitting the stacking of one can on top of another (Fig.6). In practice there is obviously room for modifications and/or improvements within the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS l. The proposed solution concerns the realisation of a hermetic cover for the protection of cans containing drinks that are opened by means of a ring pull. Its aim is to avoid the possibility that the contents of the can whence opened, could be altered or contaminated in any way by microbes or external agents present on the external surface of the can. In particular to avoid the problems created by the part of the ring pull that enters directly into the liquid contents of the opened can. The protective cover is made up of a circular shaped alummium body or other material (Fig. 1.1). The said body proposes a channel (Fig. 3.2) that covers the entire inner circumference of the cover Fig. 1, 2 so as to encapsulate the upper circular edge (Fig.4.4) on which it is placed. Given the fact that a can has the same dimensions (circumference) whether in its upper or lower part, the proposed solution can also encapsulate the lower circular edge of the can (Fig. 4.5.) The proposed protective cover can consequently be removed through the manual application of light pressure to the outside of the cover (Fig. 3.9.), and then the lower part of the can may then be reinserted into the cover. 2. The cover of the proposed solution is made by means of flat- pressing an aluminium disc (or other material adapted to the function)_ Fig. 1.2) like the can itself, however with a peripheral channel (Fig. 3.3) that functions like a fastening that enables the encasement of the can (via its external upper edge), to be maintained firm (Fig. 4.4). 3. The cover will be used mainly as a hermetically sealed hygienic protector of the upper part of the can (Fig.5). 4. The conceived cover as it exists, thanks to its canal that functions as a fastening, allows for its easy detachment from the can by simple means of manual application of pressure to the outside of the can, exerting pressure on the aforementioned 'fastening' (Fig. 3.9). 5. The proposed solution allows cans to be placed one on top of another without creating some of the problems associated with the storage and transport of cans, be it for the producer or retailer (Fig. 6). This is because the cover does not create any additional volume to that of the can's. 6. After the protective cover has been raised from the upper part of the can that supports it, it may then be used to encapsulate the lower part of said can therefore avoiding its subsequent disposal in the environment. (Fig 4.5). 7. After the cover has been raised from the upper part of the can that supports it, it may then be used to encapsulate the lower part of the can and thus may be recovered and recycled together with the can (Fig.4,5). 8. The cover of the proposed solution is extremely light and thus its use is especially advantageous. 9. It is possible to use the outer surface of the cover as advertising space for insertions of various types (Fig.3.1).

Inventors: BINDI MANLIO, SPLENDORINI ARMANDO, BINDI, MANLIO, SPLENDORINI, ARMANDO
Applicants: BINDI MANLIO, SPLENDORINI ARMANDO, BINDI, MANLIO, SPLENDORINI, ARMANDO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D51
IPC codes: B65D21, B65D51