Drinking Device and Holder

This invention relates to a drinking device.

Drinks are now commonly sold in cans which are of a circular sectioned cylindrical shape with an upstanding rim at each end. The cans include a means for opening them, normally a ring pull tab, which forms an opening in the top surface of the can inside the upstanding rim surrounding the top surface.

Many people drink directly from the can and in this case their lips will contact the areas on the top and side of the can adjacent the opening. Since cans are transported and stored in all sorts of conditions they may be dusty or otherwise dirty in these areas and drinkers can pick up infections from such contact.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3302858 and 3690509 each propose a hygenic, removable and disposable cover secured over the opening area of a can as sold. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4234099 and 4339053 propose a slidable cover member permanently fixed to a can and disposable therewith. I am not aware that any of these proposals are available in the market place because they add considerably to the cost of the can and are not reusable.

An object of this invention is to provide a reusable drinking device for use with such a can, which device will prevent the drinkers lips coming into direct contact with the can.

Accordingly in one form the invention provides a reusable drinking device separate from a can, shaped to clip onto the rim of a can in the region of the can opening and to provide a cover over the areas of the can adjacent the opening.

In a preferred form the drinking device, made of moulded plastics material, has a generaly horizontally extending portion adapted to contact the top surface of a can adjacent an opening and itself defining a channel for alignment with the can opening for passage of drink, a generally upright portion shaped to contact the cylindrical side of a can below the opening, the generally horizontal and upright portions being connected by a rim portion defining a downwardly opening channel adapted to clip over the rim of a can so as to detachably retain the device on the can.

The lower surface of such a drinking device which contacts the can in use may itself pick up dust or other dirt from the can. Since the user may wish to use the device for another drink before he has a chance to wash it, the invention, in another aspect, extends to a holder for the drinking device, which holder includes a part of similar shape to the part of a can adjacent its opening so that the device can be mounted in the holder when not in use, so that its outer surface will not pick up dirt from its inner surface and the device will be readily available for reuse.

One embodiment of drinking device and holder therefor will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the top of a drinks can with a drinking device located thereon,

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a holder for mounting the drinking device when not in use.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale through the top of a can with a drinking device, and

FIG. 4 is an underneath plan view of the drinking device.

A can 12 containing drink has a circular sectioned cylindrical side wall 13, a top 14 and an upstanding circular rim 15 around the top surface. The top surface defines a pear shaped opening 16, normally formed by removal or partial breaking of a weakened portion attached to a pull ring. The pull ring and weakened portion provide an opening means.

A drinking device 20, made from moulded, slightly resilient plastics material, comprises a generally horizontally extending portion 21 having two arms 22 defining between them a channel 23 which is aligned with the opening 16, a generally vertically extending portion 24 curved to engage against the cylindrical side wall of the can and a curved rim portion 25 defining a downwardly opening channel 26, part of which is dimensioned to receive the can rim 15 as a close fit. The drinking device clips onto the can to cover the can surfaces adjacent the opening so that the lips of a person drinking from the can will touch the drinking device but not the can. The outer surfaces of the rim and portions 21 and 24 are smoothly shaped and curved to be comfortably received in and adjacent a drinker's mouth and there are no upstanding or angular parts. The portion 24 tapers downwardly and inwardly.

FIG. 2 shows a holder 30 for mounting the device when it is not in use. The holder comprises a box having a hinged lid portion 31 which can be opened to gain access to the inside or closed to prevent entry of dirt, dust or the like. The holder has a mounting portion 32 with a rim, shaped like the portion of a can around the opening, so that the drinking device can be mounted on it in the same manner as it is mounted on a can for use. Any dirt which the lower surface of the drinking device has picked from the can in use should not be transferred to the upper surface which contacts the mouth of the user as it is transferred between the drinking device, the holder and back to another drinking device. The holder may include means for fixing it to a surface of a car or other surface to which it is to be mounted.

The drinking device may be inscribed with the name of the owner or any other logo or information.