CN87100587A

CN87100587A - Rapid cooling device for easy open cans

Info

Publication number: CN87100587A
Application number: CN87100587.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄金山
Original assignee: 袁卫国
Priority date: 1987-02-02
Filing date: 1987-02-02
Publication date: 1988-08-17
Also published as: CN1011337B

Abstract

The invention provides a beverage can cooling device. The apparatus has a divider formed in an end plate of the can and extending inwardly from the end plate. The diaphragm is sealed with a cap having a lever. A suitable cooling substance is charged into the separator in a compressed state. One end of the operating rod forms a sharp tip, which faces the cover. The operating lever is operable to pierce the lid to form a hole, so that the compressed cooling substance in the partition can expand and volatilize through the hole in the lid to absorb heat from the can, thereby cooling the contents of the can.

Description

Quick cooling device for pop-top can

The present invention relates to a cooling device which, in operation, may be used to cool canned beverages.

Canned beverages are typically placed in a refrigerator or ice filled container to reduce their temperature and enhance their taste before being consumed by the consumer, i.e., the beverage user. However, in some situations there may be no refrigerator or ice container and the beverage may not be cooled at will. It would therefore be convenient if a simple and compact device could be provided as part of a can to cool a beverage within the can.

The present invention provides a cooling device for canned beverages, in which a substantial amount of a cooling substance, such as compressed difluoromethane, dichloromethane or fluorotrichloromethane, is sealed in a partition formed integrally with the base plate of the can. The partition extends from the bottom plate of the tank into the tank, and a cover is provided for sealing the partition, the cover having an operating rod, one end of which forms a sharp point facing the cover. In use, the lever is manipulated to pierce the cap with the sharp tip of the lever to volatilize or diffuse the cooling substance into the atmosphere, whereupon the cooling substance is activated to cool the contents of the canister.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is described below by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away, oblique view of a tank showing a preferred embodiment of the cooling apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cooling device of FIG. 1, showing the shape of the partitions and the operating rods containing the cooling substance.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the canister of fig. 1 showing the profile of the operating lever.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional oblique view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an external view of the cooling device used alone in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an oblique view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of the structure of the cooling device shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged end view of fig. 7 showing the structure of the operating lever.

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the cooling device of the present invention. As shown, the apparatus is generally comprised of a cylindrical partition 10 formed integrally with a metal bottom plate 22 of the can 20. On the opposite side of the floor of the tank 20 is a lid 21 which has a conventional pull tab 23 which, when pulled, opens a hole in the lid 21. The compartment 10 extends from the floor 22 into the can to a suitable length and is closed at its inner end 11, the compartment 10 being surrounded by the beverage after the can 20 has been filled with the beverage.

As shown in fig. 2, the partition 10 is provided with a cover 12 to seal the partition 10, thus forming a sealed compartment 13 within the partition 10. As shown, the lid 12 is fixedly secured to the base 22 of the can 20, and an operating lever 14 is fixedly secured to the lid 12 by a post 17, the operating lever 14 having a first end extending freely outwardly from the post 17 and an opposite second end 16 forming a sharp point generally opposite the central portion 16 of the lid 12. A small dome 16A may optionally be formed in the center of the cover 12 to correspond to the second end 16 of the lever 14.

The first end 15 of the operating lever 14 is preferably angled slightly outwardly from the cover 12 to facilitate finger manipulation.

The second end of the lever 14 is preferably bent toward the cover 12, or hooked, to aid in the puncturing process.

A suitable cooling substance, such as difluoromethane, dichloromethane or fluorotrichloromethane, is filled into the compartment 13 under compression. In use, the can 10 is placed in the up and down position with its bottom end facing upwardly, and then the first end 15 of the lever 14 is pulled abruptly to cause the second end 16 of the lever 14 to pierce the central portion of the lid 12, forming an aperture in the lid 12. The compressed cooling substance then diffuses or volatilizes out of the small holes in the lid 12 and the expanded cooling substance absorbs heat from all around, in particular from the canned goods, cooling the canned drink.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 2, the secure attachment of the lid 12 and base 22 to the cylindrical rim of the can 20 is accomplished by crimping the edges of the lid 12 and base 22 together with the cylindrical rim of the can 20. However, other types of connections of the lid 12, base 22 and cylindrical body of the tank 20 are of course possible.

Once the beverage in the can has cooled, the can be inverted again so that the lid is facing upwards, the pull tab is pulled and a hole is pulled in the lid to begin drinking the cooled beverage.

As shown in fig. 4, the cooling device 30 of the present invention may also be mounted on the bottom side of the top cover 21 of the can 20. The structure is exactly the same as described above except that the cylindrical partition 10 has a long shape.

As shown in fig. 5, the cooling device 30 of the present invention can also be used alone. It acts in a stand-alone state and is inserted into the beverage being used to quench the beverage.

As shown in fig. 6, 7 and 8, the cooling device of the present invention may be an annular hollow container 31 made of a material having good thermal conductivity. The container 31 is covered with heat insulating layers 32 on the upper, lower and outer surfaces thereof. The inside of the container 31 is not covered with a layer for clamping onto the body of the can 20 to bring them into close contact for increased cooling effect. In use, the heat of the beverage is absorbed by the walls of the can, allowing the beverage to cool rapidly. The lever 14 having the same structure as described above is mounted on one of both end surfaces of the container 31, so that the can be easily opened.

Claims

1. A beverage can cooling apparatus, said can having a metal end plate, the invention being characterized in that the cooling apparatus comprises:

a separator member formed integrally with said metal end plate and extending inwardly from a central portion of said metal end plate, said separator member having a closed inner end and containing a cooling substance therein in a compressed state, said cooling substance being capable of absorbing heat from the surroundings thereof as it expands and volatilizes;

a cover for sealing said cooling substance within said partition;

a rod fixedly attached to said cap, said rod having a first free end and an opposite second end, said second end being sharply pointed and directed toward said cap, and when said first end of said rod is pulled up, it pierces said cap to form an aperture in said cap, whereupon said cooling substance within said diaphragm expands and volatilizes.

2. A beverage can cooling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the sealed container containing the compressed cooling material is also in a separate sealed state and is inserted into the beverage only at the time of use.

3. A beverage can cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the sealed container for containing the compressed cooling material is also in the form of an annular hollow having heat insulating layers on the upper, lower and outer surfaces thereof, and an inner side thereof for clamping the can body of the can, and an operating rod is mounted on one of both end surfaces thereof.