MULTI-FUNCTIONAL EATING UTENSIL FOR CANS AND A CAN COMPRISING SAID EATING UTENSIL

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This present application is a § 371 national stage of International Application PCT/SI2023/050021, filed Dec. 5, 2023 which claims priority benefit of Slovenian Pat. Application Ser. No. P-202300007, filed Jan. 10, 2023 and Slovenian Pat. Application Ser. No. P-202200235, filed Dec. 5, 2022, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties

FIELD

The present disclosure belongs to the field of receptacles for storing food and to the field of accessories for eating. In particular, the disclosure belongs to the field of utensils and closures of metal cans, in which food products are stored. The disclosure relates to a multi-functional eating utensil for cans, which allows opening of the cover of metal cans for single use and consumption of the food from the can.

BACKGROUND

Tin cans are a well-known packaging for food products. They are particularly useful for travelling, camping, mountaineering and similar activities and locations, where it is not possible, not suitable, or not desired to cook and/or otherwise prepare food. In such cases it is also not customary to have tools for preparing and consuming food, hence the necessary cutlery normally must be brought along. Individual cutlery pieces are of course known, but are not always available or are limited.

In case cutlery or similar accessory is not available, consumption of the food from the can is challenging. After removal the cover is too sharp to be suitable for use as a utensil for food consumption. For instant opening of the cover a metal opener, a so-called tab, is provided, which is attached to the cover with a rivet or with welding. An example of such solutions is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,752. When the opening tab is raised with fingers, one edge of the tab pushes on the intentionally made weakening on the can cover and consequently breaks the weakened part of the cover. By pulling the tab the cover breaks along the whole weakening line of the can cover. The described tab for opening the can has a hole for an improved grip and is in general too small to be used as an eating utensil.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,174 describes a solution for opening a can and its consumption with a spoon. The spoon is made as a part of the cover during manufacturing. The shape of the spoon is defined by weakened lines or contours. In the end of the spoon handle a standard metal opener is fastened with a rivet. The problem of this solution is that the spoon is a part of the cover and its removal causes the contents to be exposed. Thus, the contents may be contaminated, if someone opened the cover with the aim to access or form the spoon. A further disadvantage of this solution is also that the edges of the spoon are sharp, as the spoon is taken out from the cover by pulling along the weakened contours. The combination of the spoon and covers as separate entities is wasteful and financially ineffective. Additionally, the condition of the spoon is questionable, as the cover is curved after opening and the spoon is likely to be curved as well. Consequently, its functionality is limited.

A solution, where the eating utensil is not a part of the cover, is also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,398 discloses a solution according to which a spoon or a fork is separately attached to an inner surface of the can cover. The solution on the outer surface of the cover comprises a usual opener, which is attached to the cover with a rivet. On the inner surface of the cover, the same rivet is used to mount the eating utensil, which extends over the whole diameter of the can cover. Near the rivet, this solution provides weakened contours allowing the removed cover to be separated from the eating utensil. The disadvantage of this disclosure is that users do not see and feel the eating utensil, as the latter is located inside the can. The opener on the outer surface and the eating utensil on the inner surface mean higher production costs and thus the price of the final product, thus making this solution less preferred for the buyer as for the manufacturer. This solution also has a metal eating utensil that upon longer contact times with food inside the can may leave a metal aftertaste.

In addition to above-mentioned solutions, other patent documents disclosing simultaneously present eating utensils and openers are available. For example, some solutions use specially designed covers to be folded into a spoon-like form, while others have double-covers with an inner space where an eating utensil, usually a spoon, is located. Some of these solutions are less desirable due to complex manufacturing and/or price, for example.

SUMMARY

The present concept provides an accessory for consumption of food from the can, which will be provided on the can cover and will thus be always available with bought cans. The concept provides a simple constructional solution in the shape of an eating utensil with a multi-faceted use, namely for opening the can and emptying or consumption of the can contents intended as animal or human food.

The essence of the present concept is in that the element or tab used for opening cans is shaped as an eating utensil, which allows opening on the can or removal of the cover, respectively, as well as consumption or use of the can contents. The eating utensil may be shaped as a spoon, a fork, or a combination of spoon and fork. The utensil has a handle and a head, wherein the head is shaped as a spoon, fork, or a combination of both. According to an alternative embodiment, the utensil is shaped as a knife, wherein it comprises a handle and a head shaped as a knife. The length of the utensil is usually limited with the size of the can cover and is preferably shorter from at least one dimension of the can cover, such as from the largest dimension of the cover.

The eating utensil is made separately from the can and the cover and is consequently a pre-fabricated element, which is then attached to the can cover. It is attached in the same manner as existing openers, i.e., on the upper or the external part of the can cover with a rivet or with welding. The utensil is attached at the end of the handle, which is opposite the head. Preferably attachment is achieved with a rivet. The rivet may be a part of the cover or a separate element, which is installed on the can cover later.

As the utensil is made separately from the cover and is not pulled or removed from the cover, the utensil has rounded edges safe for use, as they are not sharp and cannot harm the user. Further, the disclosed concept ensures functionality of the spoon, which is due to separate manufacturing process with rounded edges reinforced and does not bend as the spoon disclosed in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,174. Removal of the utensil does not allow a direct access to the can contents, which is a problem of some known solutions. The utensil is also not in contact with food and the metal aftertaste of the food is prevented. The attachment as used in the disclosed concept may have a marketing effect, as users will decide more easily which can to buy.

Before use, the eating utensil is easily wiped and thus cleaned. In addition, the present solution is useful for the visually-impaired or blind persons, as they can feel and recognize the utensil.

The utensil may have any shape of the head, i.e., the size and shape of a knife, fork, spoon or combination of a fork and spoon, wherein the fork is in any case provided with an arbitrary number of teeth, usually three or four, while the shape of the handle is such that the edge of the handle end part is pushed onto a weakening on the cover and thus allows breaking and removing the cover from the can. This movement and opening principle is the same as for the existing can openers.

For easier removal of the eating utensil from the cover, the handle of the utensil may be provided with a weakening near the attachment point on the cover, wherein the weakening allows removal of the utensil without opening of the can (i.e., removal of the cover). The weakening may be made in any suitable manner, such as a narrowing of the handle or a perforation.

According to a possible embodiment, the handle may be provided with at least one opening that allows a better grip for the fingers during can opening.

The eating utensil is preferably made from the same material as the cover and the can, however, other materials with similar properties may also be used. Usually, the material for manufacturing cans is iron or aluminium sheet with protective coatings.

The eating utensil may be made using well-established manufacturing process, such as punching, cutting, and bending, but other suitable manufacturing processes and treatments may also be used if they decrease the price and time of manufacturing of the eating utensil.

The above-described utensil may also be attached as an additional element on the existing opening tab on cans, which is achieved with an additional rivet or welding. The utensil may also be attached on the opposite side of the can with a separate rivet or welding. The utensil is then removed from the opening tab and the can is opened with the opening tab.

The present concept also relates to a can with the eating utensil as described above. The can has a container and a cover arranged to cover the container, wherein the cover is provided with weakening lines on the cover and the eating utensil is attached near the weakening lines on the cover, as this allows removal of the cover due to breaking of the weakening lines.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present concept will now be described in further detail based on exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:

FIG. 1 A can with the attached eating utensil shaped as a spoon;

FIG. 2 A can with the attached eating utensil shaped as a spoon and fork;

FIG. 3 A can with the attached eating utensil with a weakening for removal without opening of the cover;

FIG. 4 A can with the attached eating utensil mounted on an existing opening tab;

FIG. 5 A can with the attached eating utensil mounted on the opposite side from the existing opening tab; and

FIG. 6 A can with the attached eating utensil shaped as a knife.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the utensil, which is shaped as a spoon and is installed on a can or the upper surface of the can cover, respectively. The eating utensil 1 has a handle 2 and a head 3, wherein the head 3 is shaped as a spoon 3a. The length of the eating utensil is shorter than the length of the can. The maximal length of the eating utensil is thus limited with the can dimensions.

FIG. 2 shows a possible embodiment of the utensil 1a, wherein the head 2a is shaped as a combination of a spoon and a fork, wherein the rounded part of the spoon 3a is provided with protrusions 3b characteristic for forks.

The handle is provided with openings 2a, 2b, which enable a better grip. To the can 10 or its cover 11 the utensil 1 is attached with the rivet 4, namely, on the upper surface of the cover near the weakening line 12 on the cover 11. Upon lifting the head 3 and the handle 2 of the utensil 1, the attached part of the utensil 1 is moved downwards and the end of the handle 2 is pushed on the weakening lines 12 on the cover 11 of the can 10, which consequently leads to breaking and removing of the cover from the can. This movement and the manner of opening is the same as for the existing openers. When the cover is separated from the can, the user holds the cover with one hand, while the other hand is used to grip the eating utensil, which is removed from the cover by moving it forwards and backwards.

For easier separation of the utensil from the cover, the handle is provided with a weakening 5 near the attachment site on the can cover, wherein the weakening 5 is enables removal of the utensil without removal of the cover. The weakening 5 is made as a narrowing on both sides of the handle as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative mounting of the utensil 1 onto an existing opener 13 on the can 10 using a rivet 14. The utensil 1 is removed from the opener 13 with weakening the contact around the rivet 14, for example by moving the utensil 1 upwards and downwards, while the can is then opened with the opener 13 as currently known.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of the utensil, which is provided on the side opposite the existing opening tab 13 of the can 10.

FIG. 6 shows a utensil 100 in an alternative embodiment comprising a handle 102 and a head 13, wherein the head 103 is shaped as a knife, and the utensil is attached with a rivet 104 to the can 110 or the upper surface of the can cover 11. The length of the eating utensil is shorter than the length of the can.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.