Patent Publication Number: US-4584848-A

Title: Container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a container or disposable can in which two substance are separately packaged and carried. Such a container is of a general type for use in which one of the substances is the primary substance for whose packaging the container is used, and the other is for a cooling substance which renders the container self-cooling at time of use. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Such containers are shown in applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 3,309,890, applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,143, and applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,898, and also other U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,460,765 and 2,187,558; there are also other types of cooling devices, however, the disadvantages of these and other such known devices render these cooling devices impractical to manufacture or use and are not desirable from the aspect of safety or economy, and also these devices disadvantageously involve complex construction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the disadvantages and problems of the prior art cited, it is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an improved, practical, and economical self-cooling can for ease of manufacturing and safety of useage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The inventive concepts are illustrated in the accompanying somewhat schematic drawings; and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows hereinafter, and in the drawings, description of the preferred embodiment, and claim. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a self-cooling can of the present invention, but without the device&#39;s inner cap installed; 
     FIG. 2 is a similar cross-sectional view but with the inner cap and an actuator spring installed; 
     FIG. 3 is a botton view of the self-cooling can with the parts installed as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4, in larger scale, is an axial cross-sectional view of the cap for the inner chamber of the device; 
     FIG. 5 is an outer end view of the cap of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6, in further enlarged scale, is a fragmental sectional view through a spring and the transverse wall of the cap for the inner chamber; and 
     FIG. 7 is a frangmental sectional view as FIG. 6, but showing the spring lance penetrating the cap&#39;s transverse wall. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention provides a self-cooling can 10 with double chambers formed or drawn out of a single slug of material. The outer chamber has a relatively thin wall, and the inner chamber has a relatively thicker wall. 
     Drink or foodstuff is contained in the outer chamber 11c having outer walls 11, bottom rim 11e, and flat bottom area 11f from which extends a recessed protecting rim 11d and inner wall 11a. An outer cap or lid 12 is provided for the open end of the walls of the outer chamber 11c; and lid 12 may have any type of opening means. 
     The thicker walled inner chamber 11b holds the coolant material used to cool the surrounding drink or foodstuff in chamber 11c when coolant is released from chamber 11b. 
     Comparing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it will be noted that an inner cap 14 is provided, having a transverse wall, to close the open end of the inner chamber 11b. 
     The coolant in chamber 11b is sealed therein by two separate pressure sealing areas. That is, the inner cap 14 has sealant 15 applied under its lip 14b and on its side wall. 
     Inner cap 14 is inserted into the opening of the inner chamber walls 11a; and an expanding rolling tool means (not shown) is inserted into lid cavity 14c, and the outer side wall of 14 carrying sealant is expanded (17) outwardly. 
     Material elasticity of components 11a and 14 applies pressure on sealant 15, between the inner walls 11a and the side wall of the cap 14. Both the side walls of inner cap 14 and inner cavity wall 11a are expanded, as shown at 17, causing pressure on sealant 15 and the tightly pressed engagement of those walls to provide proper seal to prevent coolant from escaping. Also, inner cap 14&#39;s lip 14b with sealant is pulled downwardly over the rim 11d by elasticity of material in the side walls of cap 14 as it is expanded (17) by the expansion tool means (not shown); and thereby is attained another tight seal of the cap 14 onto the inner chamber 11a, by the sealant and the tightly pressing engagement of the lip 14b against the rim 11d. 
     The inner chamber cap 14 has a stamped &#34;V&#34; in cap 14&#39;s transverse wall 14d as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7. The point 14a of the &#34;V&#34; is cut deeper in cap 14, and it is centered in cap 14&#39;s central area 14c. The &#34;V&#34;-cut in cap 14 is very thin at the apex or pointed end of the &#34;V&#34; 14a at the center of cap 14 area 14c. The &#34;V&#34;-cut acts as a safety valve, and will release pressure at a predetermined P.S.I. from coolant chamber 11b if needed, venting coolant before rupturing of wall 11a or its cap 14 occurs. 
     A lance 16a and retainer ears 16b are shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7. FIG. 2 shows a spring 16 installed in the outer opening of the inner cap or lid 14 with the lance 16a over the thin portion of cap 14 at the &#34;V&#34; apex 14a; and FIG. 6 shows the spring 16 with lance 16a at point of &#34;V&#34; 14a which when the spring 16 is depressed releases pressurized coolant from inner chamber 11a, causing outer chamber region 11c to be cooled. The coolant could be a coolant like Freon 12, (a trade-name coolant) or other coolants of similar properties of cooling by evaporation as the coolant emerges from the high pressure in inner chamber 11b. 
     Because the spring 16 is a spring it returns the lance 16a to rest, when force on the spring 16 is released, leaving a pre-determined size hole of proper dimension for proper coolant release rate for maximum cooling effect. Also, the spring 16 is much wider than lanc3 16a, and thus coolant cannot be sprayed directly outwardly from the opening caused by lance 16a because spring 16 acts as a deflector shield. 
     The spring 16 is held in position by spring ears 16b (FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7); and FIG. 2 shows the spring 16 and its ears 16b in the position of expanded area 17 of cap 14, the spring 16 being retained by its ears 16b in that area 17. 
     FIG. 6 shows the spring 16 at rest; and FIG. 7 shows the spring 16 and its lance 16a after the spring lance 16a has been depressed thus having penetrated the lipped cap scored section &#34;V&#34; and into the pressurized coolant chamber 11b. 
     As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the outer extending can rim 11e extends outwardly a greater distance than the inner sealing rim 11d, as shown in FIG. 1, and the inner sealing rim 11d is thus protected by the outside rim 11e which acts as bumper. 
     It is thus seen that a disposable container according to concepts of the present invention provides novel and advantageous concepts and features, providing a disposable container having means for changing the temperature of the contents thereof. 
     Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the invention according to this illustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful disposable container, having desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which inherent in the invention. 
     Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described or shown.