CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS WITH TWO PARTITIONS

Abstract

 A container for liquids (10), comprising a bottom (120), a lateral wall (100) jointed to said bottom (120), and an upper portion (110b) jointed to said lateral wall (100); said container (10) being characterised in that it comprises an internal area, defined between said lateral wall (100), said bottom (120) and said upper portion (110b), divided by a partition wall (170) defining in said integral area two separated and liquid sealed partitions; said container (10) comprising a couple of apertures (151, 152), arranged upwards, suitable for allowing the exit of said liquids, and each partition communicates with only one aperture (151; 152).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention concerns the field of containers for liquids and in detail concerns a container for liquids with two partitions.

Background art

[0002] The containers for liquids typically have a body provided by a lateral wall, a bottom and an upper portion with an opening potentially closable by means of a cap.

[0003] In detail among the various types of containers for liquids there are also cans. Said cans are typically realised with a cylindrical section metal body, in steel and/or aluminium, and are provided with an upper opening that in normal conditions is closed by a metal pre-cut portion onto which acts a metal tab pivoted on a central point of contact with the upper portion of the can. When the user pulls the tab, rotates it respectively to said central pivoting point. The portion of tab opposite respective to the one which is pulled, exerts a force on the pre-cut metal portion, breaking the thinner metal layer and causing the opening of the can.

[0004] The applicant has observed that the typical volumes of the cans in commerce are 33cl, or in particular cases 25cl. Further exist cans of a greater size, whose internal volume is about 50cl. Furthermore it is possible that some formats of cans have sizes exceeding those indicated. The applicant has observed that for the producer of beverages contained in the can, even though the production process thereof during the years has been significantly optimised, the cost of production and sale is for a significant part due to the cost of material itself. In fact the cans are realised in aluminium, that today represents the material offering the best combination among resistance, proofness from agents contained in the beverages, and production cost.

[0005] The applicant has further observed that often the content of the can is not consumed immediately. In other words, not always the consumer immediately finishes the beverage therein contained.

[0006] In some cases, not ending in a short time the content of a can produces some drawbacks: in fact often the beverage loses gas, or the can tips over. The result is more or less the same: the remaining portion of beverage is often trashed.

[0007] The applicant, therefore, with the present invention, fosters to realise a container for liquids which concours to solve the aforementioned problem.

Summary of the invention

[0008] According to the present invention is produced a container for liquids comprising a bottom, a lateral wall jointed to said bottom, and an upper portion jointed to said lateral wall; said container being characterised in that it comprises an internal area, defined among said lateral wall, said bottom and said upper portion, divided by a partition wall defining two separated and liquid sealed partitions into said internal area; said container comprises a couple of openings suitable for allowing the exit of said liquids, and each partition comprises only one opening.

[0009] In a preferred and non limiting embodiment of the present invention, the container for liquids presents a circular section, and said partition wall defines said two internal partitions as two disjointed semi-cylindrical areas.

[0010] In detail, in a first variant of the container for liquids object of the present invention, said openings are normally closed by a metal portion delimited by pre-cutting lines onto which act respective opening tabs.

[0011] More in detail, in a first variant of the container for liquids object of the present invention, the two openings lay juxtaposed on a same side of said container respective to a central plane thereof.

[0012] In a second variant of the container for liquids object of the present invention, the two openings lay one on one side and the other on the opposite side respective to a central plane of said container, laying diametrally opposed and oriented in an opposite way.

[0013] In a third variant of the container for liquids object of the present invention, the two openings are positioned frontally one respective to the other and lay on two opposite sides respective to a central plane of said container.

[0014] In said third variant, the two opening tabs are at least partially superimposed.

[0015] In a preferred and non limiting aspect of the container object of the present invention, the upper portion of said container has the same diameter defined by the lateral wall.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the annexed figures, said partition wall divides said internal volume in two partitions of a volume differing one respective to the other.

[0017] According to the present invention is realised a forming cylinder for liquids, said cylinder comprising a lateral wall, an upper wall upwardly delimiting said lateral wall, and a central cut oriented on a plane which is parallel to the direction of sliding of said cylinder when used; said forming cylinder being configured for sliding into a formation recess starting from which a lateral surface of said container for liquids is realised, and a lateral partition wall of the container for liquids suitable for dividing an internal area defined at least starting from said lateral wall, in two separate partitions; said forming cylinder being configured for operating a compression of a matrix of metallic material against a stopper, and for making said metallic material develop in an annular interstice created between said lateral wall of the cylinder itself and the formation recess, and said central cutting. According to the present invention is further realised a process of production for a container for liquids, said process comprising a step of production of a lateral wall of said container for liquids by means of lamination or deep-drawing, and wherein said process comprises a step of creation of a disc in metal material for realising a bottom of said container; and wherein said process of production is characterised in that it comprises introducing into an internal volume defined by said bottom and by said lateral wall a partition wall defining two partitions into said internal volume which are separated and liquid sealed one respective to the other, and a step of closure of said container for liquids by means of an upper portion provided with a plurality of openings, each one facing on a respective partition.

[0018] In said process, there are one or more steps of bending and/or cutting of a metal sheet used for producing at least said lateral wall and said partition wall realising a separation of at least said lateral wall and partition wall, realising a separation between the two partitions into said volume without welding.

[0019] Furthermore, said partition wall and said bottom wall are jointed together by means of one or more steps of bending and/or cutting, without welding.

[0020] Finally, said production process can be realised in such a way that the partition wall is realised in a single production phase together with said lateral wall by means of a pushing of said forming cylinder against a forming base in metallic material contained in said forming recess.

Description of the figures

[0021] The invention will now be described by referring to the annexed figures wherein:

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a couple of cans according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the can object of the present invention;
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the can object of the present invention;
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a cylinder for producing the can object of the present invention;
• Figure 5 shows a lateral view of a third embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 6 shows a lateral section view of a third embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 7 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the can object of the present invention;
• Figure 8 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the can object of the present invention; and
• Figure 9 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the can object of the present invention;
• Figure 10 shows a section view of a further embodiment of the can object of the present invention, wherein there is a recess, which is not accessible along the lateral outer perimeter, for reducing the volume of one of the two partitions on the can itself; and
• Figure 11 shows a partial section view of a further embodiment of the can object of the present invention observed from lines XI-XI of figure 9.

Detailed description of the invention

[0022] Referring to figure 1, with the reference number 10 is shown in its complex a container for liquids with two partitions, and in detail a can for liquids with two partitions.

[0023] The can 10 comprises a bottom 120, a lateral wall 100 jointed with said bottom 120 and an upper portion jointed to the lateral wall 100.

[0024] Preferably the can 10 object of the present invention has a circular section and therefore the lateral wall 100 extends on a single surface without angled points. The junction between the bottom 120 and the lateral wall 100 takes place on a portion 130 of connection between the diameter of the lateral wall 100 - greater - and the diameter of the bottom 120 - lower.

[0025] Furthermore, the bottom 120 is concave, hence having a convexity directed towards an internal volume defined between the bottom 120 itself, the lateral wall 100 and the upper portion. This concave bottom permits to well function when the beverage inside the can 10 is under pressure by avoiding then to bend itself outwards and finds a rest circular profile.

[0026] The main peculiar characteristic of the can 10 object of the present invention is to have an internal division wall that divides into two partitions the area or the internal volume. In particular, the two partitions are waterproof and therefore there is no possibility that the liquid of one partition is in communication with the liquid of the other.

[0027] In the upper portion of the can object of the present invention there are two openings 151, 152, that allow the liquids, and particularly to beverages contained inside each of the partitions, to exit from the can 10. In detail, the first opening 151 communicates with a first partition and the second opening 152 communicates with a second partition. In other terms, each opening communicates with a single opening, communicating therefore with a single partition.

[0028] The internal or division wall, divides the internal volume preferably into two partitions each thereof having the same size, defining two disjointed and opposed semi-cylindrical partitions, that as it will be better described hereinafter in the description can have the same size or not. For this reason, in the cylindrical can there is a central axis X, represented in figure 5 and in figure 6, and the division wall 170 lays on a plane that passes through said central axis X.

[0029] Each one of the openings 151, 152 is normally closed, and is realised by a metallic sheet contoured by a pre-fracture line. The pre-fracture line is broken by a tab 141, 142. Preferably but not limiting, also the tab 141, 142 is realised in metal. For each opening 151, 152 exists a respective tab.

[0030] Each tab 141, 142 is on a central contact point with the upper portion of the can 10, and presents a grasping ring that allows for introducing an ending portion of the finger to pull the tab itself upward. When the user pulls the tab, rotates it respective to the central pivoting point. The portion of the tab opposed to that which is pulled, exerts a force on the pre-cut metal plate or on the pre-fracture line, breaking the thinner metal layer and causing the opening of the can.

[0031] The first and the second opening 151, 152 can be configured in different variants. In a first embodiment shown in figure 2 (perspective view) and figure 8 (plane view), the first and the second opening 151, 152 lay one on a first side and the other on the other side respective to a central plane of the can 10, and result diametrally opposed and oriented in an opposite direction. Hence, it deals with a configuration with two specularly overturned openings 151, 152.

[0032] In the first embodiment shown in figure 2, also the tabs 141, 142 are consequently diametrally opposed. Said tabs, in case are pulled, rotate therefore respective to the central pivoting point in two opposite directions, for example a first one in clockwise direction and the other one in a counterclockwise direction. In the first embodiment there is therefore at least one plane that divides the two partitions and that also divides the two openings.

[0033] In the second embodiment, shown in figure 3, the two partitions are always such that to define a semi-cylindrical volume, but the first and second opening 151, 152 are aligned and diametrally opposed. In the second embodiment, the first and second tab 141, 142 are partially superimposed and can or not present a central common pivoting point.

[0034] In the second embodiment shown in figure 3 (perspective view) and in figure 9 (plane view), advantageously the opening of the second opening 152 is subordinated to that of the first opening 151. In some cases this can be advantageous in case the content of the can 10 object of the present invention is used for producing cocktails or similar wherein there is a precise order of mixing of two beverages or liquids.

[0035] The Applicant underlines that the second embodiment shown in figure 3 can have a partition wall 170 either orthogonal respective to the vertical line defined by the two opposed openings 151, 152 or, alternatively, and as shown in figure, oriented obliquely respective to the virtual line defined by the two opposed openings 151. A third embodiment of the can 10 object of the present invention, which is illustrated in figure 7 presents finally a couple of juxtaposed openings. For the purposes of the present invention, as "juxtaposed" shall be meant openings 151, 152 arranged side to side, on the left and on the right respective to a plane along which also the divisors wall of the two semi-cylindrical partitions lays. The third embodiment of the can 10 object of the present invention, therefore, has tabs 141, 142 which are flanked, and that once pulled for causing the fracture of the line surrounding the openings 151, 152 rotate in a same direction.

[0036] Therefore the third embodiment of the can 10 is characterised by openings 151, 152 arranged specularly. Advantageously, said third form of embodiment allows for producing a can that shall not be rotated for emptying both the content of the first and the second partition.

[0037] Preferably but in a non limiting extent the openings present an elliptic or anyway asymmetric form which helps the development thereof.

[0038] The can 10 object of the present invention can be conveniently realised by means of a forming cylinder as it is illustrated in figure 4.

[0039] In detail, the forming cylinder presents a cylindrical lateral wall 220 with axial extension h and a bottom 210 provided with a fissure or cut 230 that lays on a plane parallel to the axis of said cylinder. In detail, the cut 230 is arranged at the centre of the bottom 210.

[0040] The cut 230 is produced in such a way to cause the formation of the partition wall of the can 10.

[0041] The forming cylinder slides in a formation recess or hole 200, starting from which the lateral surface of the can 10 is realised. The formation recess or horn 200 has a diameter calculatedly greater than the diameter defined by the lateral wall 220 of the forming cylinder, so that during the compression of a piece of aluminium, the lateral wall is positioned between the inner surface of the formation recess or hole and here lateral wall 220 surface of the forming cylinder.

[0042] During the compression and/or torsion of the material (preferably even if in a non limiting extent in aluminium or anyway in metal) that realises the base from which the body of the can 10 will be produced, the recess 200 is introduced and therefore realises the partition wall 170 that is shown for example in figure 6. Preferably, therefore, the can object of the present invention is realised by means of a process of hot extrusion. Even if the can object of the present invention is realised in metal, it can equivalently be realised also in plastic material.

[0043] As it is illustrated in figure 5 and in figure 6, a fourth embodiment of the can 10 object of the present invention is such that the upper portion 110b of the can 10, a portion that joins, for instance and in a non-limiting extent, with the lateral wall 100, presents the same diameter of the lateral wall itself. This represents a difference respective to some types of cans wherein there is a tapered portion both downwards and upwards.

[0044] Upper or lower plied or crimped edges 10, or some constructive details, included serigraphy on the lateral surface 100, typical of some products, can be associated to the can 10 object of the present invention.

[0045] Even if the productive process by means of the afore described forming cylinder shall not be intended as limiting, it presents some advantages. In particular, said proceeding allows for avoiding to perform the welding of the partition wall 170, that therefore is realised in a single piece with the bottom of the can 10. Therefore, more generally, in the production process of the can 10, plying means, starting form a sheet of aluminium, allow of realising a can as described without welding, but only by means of bending sheet against sheet that allow the lateral wall 100 as well as the bottom wall, for coming into contact with the partition wall 170 so that to produce a liquid sealed structure.

[0046] Furthermore, in case the base from which the body of the can 10 object of the present invention will be realised is sufficiently thick and a correct application of a force of pressure and/or heating are applied, the partition wall 170 can already be realised together with the lateral surface of the can itself, in a single body that does not necessitate lateral bending of junction and blockage between the partition wall 170 and the lateral surface, eventually needing only upper bending for realising the two volumes in correspondence of the cap. It is therefore the amount of material which is present in the base, to be pushed in the central channel of the forming cylinder, which being open in correspondence of its lateral wall, allows the realisation of a junction by means of sliding and/or pressure of the metallic material in formation between the lateral wall and the partition wall 170, that so become a single piece without needing the realisation of corresponding bending. The advantages of the can 10 object of the present invention are clear in the light of the preceding description.

[0047] The can 10 which is object of the present invention allows for consuming beverages in two separate times not losing those features for instance of presence of gas that instead, with a time-spread consumption - could deteriorate causing the risk that the consumer trashes the resting content of the can. The can 10 object of the present invention, furthermore, provides this advantage without a substantial reduction of the overall size and neither of the internal volume of the can itself 10. In case the consumer drinks half of the content of the can, and hence opens only one of the two openings 151, 152, the resting content does not risk to spill therefrom.

[0048] This means that a same can of 33cl, could see the same capacity in volume even being usable in two times. Therefore, in case a producer exchanges a traditional can with that of the present invention, he should not re-formulate packaging sizes and could count on a substantially analogous amount of product sold for an equal external dimension.

[0049] Equivalently, where the two partitions of the can object of the present invention are the same and liquid sealed one respective to the other, it is clear that in the can 10, object of the present invention, could be introduced two different beverages or which are drunk in two times, for leaving the user the faculty of drinking them separately or to mix them when necessary for realising cocktails or similar.

[0050] In the production process of the can 10 object of the present invention can be used other techniques respective to that which has been previously described. In derail the prospects shall anyway comprise a step of realisation of a lateral wall 120 by means of lamination or dee-drawing of a metal sheet - preferably aluminium.

[0051] In the aforementioned production step, it is then realised a disc in metallic material, preferably by means of a cutting machine, then bent for forming a cup in metallic material for realising the bottom 120; the production process is characterised in that it comprises an introduction too into the volume defined by the bottom 120 and the lateral wall 100, a partition wall 170 defining two separated and respectively liquid sealed partitions into said internal volume. The can 100 object of the present invention is then closed with a closing step, by means of an upper portion 130 provided with a plurality of apertures 141, 142, each one facing on a respective partition.

[0052] In a preferred and non limiting embodiment, said partition wall 170 is welded or glued or more preferably bent at least on the lateral wall 100 and on the paper portion 130.

[0053] It is finally clear that to the object of the present invention can be applied additions, adaptations or variants being obvious for a skilled person without for this departing form the scope of protection provided by the annexed claims.

[0054] For instance, even in the course of the present description have been dealt openings 151, 152 closed by a metal sheet, with hinged tab, said openings can be equivalently be opened by a metal sheet with annexed tear-off tab.

[0055] As well, the partition wall 170 can also be not positive in correspondence of the plane that divides the in two halves the internal volume. In said configuration, therefore, the two partitions present a volume which is different one respective to the other. Said configuration can be useful in case in the can 10 object of the present invention beverages to be mixed in different proportions one respective to the other are introduced.

[0056] Alternatively, as in the case of figures 10 and 11, in case a division of the internal volume in two partitions not equal in volume is wanted, the Applicant has observed that it is possible to proceed with a raising of part of the bottom portion 120 so that it protrudes in a convex way and for a greater extent inside the internal volume, so that to be capable of realising a variation between the first and the second partition without the need of moving the partition wall 170 respective to the central plane. In such a way it is substantially created, on the bottom of the can, a recess 121 convexely protruding into only one of the two partitions, being advantageously conceived for reducing the volume of the partition itself. The recess 121 can be accessed only by the bottom of the can, and does not face on the lateral wall, so that to avoid injuries for the user. The Applicant has advantageously observed that inside said recess 121 it is possible to introduce volumes of ice expressly produced, so that to allow a cooling of the beverage on a locally insulated area and with the maximal surface in contact with the beverage itself, a feature that the traditional cooling on the lateral surface of the can would not allow.

Claims

1. Container for liquids (10), comprising a bottom (120), a lateral wall (100) jointed to said bottom (120), and an upper portion (110b) jointed to said lateral wall (100); said container (10) being characterised in that it comprises an internal area, defined among said lateral wall (100), said bottom(120) and said upper portion (110b), divided by a partition wall (170) defining two liquid sealed and separated partitions inside said internal area; said container (10) comprises a couple of openings (151, 152), arranged upwards, suitable for allowing the exit of said liquids, and each partition communicates with only one opening (151, 152).

2. Container for liquids (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a circular section, and wherein said partition wall (170) defines said two internal partitions as two disjointed semi-cylindrical areas.

3. Container for liquids (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said openings (151, 152) are normally closed by a metallic portion delimited by pre-cutting lines onto which respective opening tabs (141, 142) act.

4. Container for liquids (10) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in in that the two openings (151, 152) lay on a same side of the container respective to its central plane.

5. Container for liquids (10) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the two apertures (151, 152) lay one on one side and the other on the other side respective to a central plane of said container (10), laying opposite in diameter and opposite oriented.

6. Container for liquids (10) according to any one of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the two openings (151, 152) are positioned frontally one respective to the other and lay on two sides which are opposed respective to a central plane of said container (10).

7. Container for liquids (10) according to claim 6, characterised in that the two opening tabs (141, 142) are at least partially superimposed.

8. Container for liquids (10) according to claim 1, wherein said partition wall (170) subdivides said internal volume in two partitions with a volume one different than the other.

9. Container for liquids (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper portion of said container (10) has the same diameter defined by the lateral wall(100).

10. Forming cylinder (210, 220, 230) for a container for liquids (10), said cylinder comprising a lateral wall (220), an upper wall (210) upwards de limiting said lateral wall (220), and a central cut (230) oriented on a plane parallel to the direction of sliding of said cylinder; said forming cylinder (210, 220, 230) being configured for sliding into a forming recess (200) starting from which a lateral surface for said container for liquids is realised, and a lateral partition wall of the container for liquids (10) suitable for dividing an internal area defined at least starting form said lateral wall (220), in two separate partitions; said forming cylinder (210, 220, 230) being configured for operating a compression of a matrix in metallic material against a stopper, and for develop said metal material in an annular interstices created between said lateral wall (220) of the cylinder (210, 220, 230) itself and the formation recess, and into said central cutting (230).

11. A production process for a container (10) for liquids, said process comprising a step of realisation of a lateral wall (100) of said container for liquids by means of lamination or dee-drawing, and wherein said process comprises a step of creation of a disc in metallic material, subsequently bent for forming a cup in metallic material for realising a bottom (120) of said container (10); and wherein said process of production is characterised in that it comprises an introduction within an internal volume defined by said bottom(120) and by said lateral wall (100) of a partition wall (170) defining two separated and respectively liquid sealed partitions into said internal volume, and a step of closure of said container (120) for liquids by means of an upper portion (130) provide with a plurality of apertures (141, 142), each one protruding on a respective partition.

12. Production process according to claim 11, characterised in that it comprises one or more steps of bending and/or cutting of a metal sheet used for realising at least part of said lateral wall (100) and partition wall (170), reliving a separation between the two partitions into said volume without weldings.

13. Production process according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said partition wall (170) and said bottom wall (120) are joined each other by means of one or more steps of bending and/or cutting without welding.

14. Production process according to any one of claims 11-13, characterised in that said partition wall (170) is realised in a single production phase together with said lateral wall (220) by means of a pushing of said forming cylinder against a base of formation in metallic material contained in said forming recess.

Drawing