Multifunctional eating utensil for a can and a can equipped with said eating utensil

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the fields of food containers and eating accessories. The gist of the invention is that an opening tool used to open a can is shaped as an eating tool, which can be used to open the can or remove the can cover, respectively, and to consume or use the contents of the can. The eating tool (1) of the present invention has a handle (2) and a tip (3), the tip being shaped as a knife, spoon, fork, or a combination spoon and fork. The tool is manufactured separately from the can (10) and cover (11) and is therefore a pre-manufactured element to be attached to the can cover. The tool is attached to the outer surface of the can cover by rivets (4) or welding, similar to existing opening tools. The end opposite the tip of the handle is therefore attached. The tool may be attached to the existing opening tool or on the opposite side of the opening tool.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of containers for containing food and dining accessories. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of utensils and closures for metal cans in which food products are contained. The present invention relates to a multifunctional eating utensil for disposable metal cans, which allows the cover of the can to be opened and food to be consumed from the can. [Background technology]

[0002] Background of the present invention and technical problems Tin cans are well-known packaging for food products. Tin cans are particularly useful in connection with travel, camping, mountain climbing, and similar activities and locations where cooking and / or otherwise preparing food is impossible, inappropriate, or undesirable. In such cases, it is not customary to have utensils for preparing and consuming food, and therefore the necessary cutlery must be brought with one. Individual cutlery is, of course, known, but is not always available or is limited.

[0003] Consuming food from a can is difficult if cutlery or a similar accessory is not available. After removal, the cover is too sharp and therefore unsuitable as a utensil for consuming food. To quickly open the cover, a metal opening tool, a so-called tab, is provided, which is attached to the cover by rivets or welding. One example of such a solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,752. When the opening tab is lifted with a finger, one edge of the tab presses against an intentionally created weakened portion on the can cover, thereby breaking the weakened portion of the cover. By pulling the tab, the cover breaks along the entire weakened line of the can cover. The aforementioned tabs for opening the can have holes to improve grip and are generally too small to be used as eating utensils. Therefore, the technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide an accessory for consuming food from a can that is attached to the can cover and is therefore always available with the purchased can. The object of the present invention is a solution of simple construction in the form of an eating utensil with multiple uses, namely for opening cans and emptying or consuming the contents of cans intended for animal or human food.

[0004] prior art U.S. Patent No. 5,443,174 describes a solution for opening a can and consuming it with a spoon. The spoon is made as part of the cover during manufacturing. The spoon's shape is defined by a weakened line or contour. A standard metal opening tool is riveted to the end of the spoon's handle. A problem with this solution is that the spoon is part of the cover, and removing the spoon exposes the contents. Therefore, opening the cover to access or shape the spoon can contaminate the contents. A further disadvantage of this solution is that the spoon is extracted from the cover by pulling along the weakened contour, leaving the spoon with sharp edges. Combining the spoon and cover as separate components is wasteful and not cost-effective. Additionally, the condition of the spoon is questionable after opening, as the cover may bend, potentially bending the spoon as well. Therefore, its functionality is limited.

[0005] Solutions in which the eating utensils are not part of the cover are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,398 discloses a solution in which a spoon or fork is separately attached to the inside surface of a can cover. This solution comprises a conventional opening tool attached to the outside surface of the cover by a rivet. On the inside surface of the cover, the same rivet is used to attach the eating utensils, which extend over the entire diameter of the can cover. In this solution, near the rivet, a weakened profile is provided that allows the removed cover to be separated from the eating utensils. A disadvantage of this disclosure is that, since the eating utensils are located inside the can, they are invisible and undetectable to the user. The location of the opening tool on the outside surface (i.e., outer surface) and the eating utensils on the inside surface (i.e., inner surface) means higher manufacturing costs and therefore a higher price for the final product, which makes this solution less preferred by buyers than manufacturers. This solution also has metal eating utensils, which can leave a metallic aftertaste when the eating utensils are in contact with the food inside the can for an extended period of time.

[0006] In addition to the above solutions, other patent documents are available that simultaneously disclose existing eating utensils and opening devices. For example, some solutions use a cover specially designed to be folded into a spoon-like shape, while other solutions have a double cover with an internal space where the eating utensil, typically a spoon, is located. Some of these solutions are prohibitive due to manufacturing complexity and / or cost. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The gist of the invention is that the element or tab used to open the can is shaped as an eating utensil, thereby enabling the can to be opened or the cover to be removed, respectively, and the contents of the can to be consumed or used. The eating utensil may be shaped as a spoon, a fork, or a combination spoon and fork. The utensil according to the invention has a handle and a tip, the tip being shaped as a spoon, a fork, or a combination of both. In an alternative embodiment, the utensil is shaped as a knife, with a handle and tip shaped like a knife. The length of the utensil is typically limited by the dimensions of the can cover, and is preferably shorter than at least one dimension of the can cover, and more preferably shorter than the largest dimension of the cover.

[0008] The eating utensil is made separately from the can and cover, and is therefore a pre-manufactured element to be attached to the can cover. The eating utensil is attached to the top or exterior of the can cover in the same way as existing opening devices, i.e., by rivets or welding. The utensil is attached to the end of the handle, opposite the nose. Preferably, attachment is achieved by rivets. The rivet can be part of the cover or a separate element that is later installed on the can cover.

[0009] Because the utensil is made separately from the cover and is not removed or detached from the cover, the utensil has rounded edges that are not sharp and will not injure the user, making it safer to use. Furthermore, the functionality of the spoon is ensured by the present invention, due to a separate manufacturing process that reinforces the rounded edges, and the present invention does not bend like the spoon disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,174. Removing the utensil does not expose the contents of the can, which is a problem with some known solutions. The utensil does not come into contact with the food, avoiding a metallic aftertaste in the food. The attachment method used in the present invention has a marketing advantage, as it allows the user to more easily decide which can to purchase.

[0010] The eating utensils are easily wiped and therefore cleaned before use. Additionally, the solution is useful for visually impaired or blind people, as they can sense and recognize the utensils.

[0011] The utensils may have any shape of tip, i.e. the size and shape of a knife, fork, spoon or a combination of fork and spoon, the fork in each case being provided with any number of tines, usually three or four, while the shape of the handle is such that the edge of the end of the handle is pressed against a weakened part on the cover, thereby enabling the cover to be broken and removed from the can. The principle of this action and opening is the same as for existing can opening devices.

[0012] To more easily remove the eating utensil from the cover, the handle of the utensil may be provided with a weakened portion near the attachment point on the cover, which allows the utensil to be removed without opening the can (i.e., removing the cover). The weakened portion may be created in any suitable manner, such as by narrowing or perforating the handle.

[0013] According to one possible embodiment, the handle may be provided with at least one opening that allows for a better grip by the fingers while opening the can.

[0014] The eating utensil is preferably made from the same material as the cover and can, although other materials with similar properties may be used. Typically, the material from which the can is made is a sheet of steel or aluminum with a protective coating.

[0015] The eating utensils are preferably made using well-established manufacturing processes such as punching, cutting, and bending, although other suitable manufacturing processes or processes may be used if they reduce the cost and time of producing the eating utensils.

[0016] The above-described tool according to the present invention may be attached as an additional element to an existing opening tab on the surface of the can, which is achieved by an additional rivet or weld. The tool may also be attached to the opposite side of the can by a separate rivet or weld. The tool is then removed from the opening tab and the can is opened by the opening tab.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a can with the above-mentioned eating utensils, the can having a container and a cover arranged to cover the container, the cover having a weakening line thereon, and the eating utensil attached to the cover near the weakening line, so that the cover can be removed by breaking the weakening line. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments and figures. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a can with an eating utensil shaped as a spoon attached. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a can with an attached eating utensil shaped as a spoon and fork. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a can with attached eating utensils having a weakened portion for removal without opening the cover. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a can with eating utensils attached to an existing opening tab. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a can with eating utensils attached opposite the existing tear tab. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a can with an eating utensil shaped as a knife attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 shows one possible embodiment of the utensil according to the present invention, which is shaped as a spoon and is attached to the upper side of a can or a can cover. The eating utensil 1 has a handle 2 and a tip 3, which is shaped as a spoon 3a. The length of the eating utensil is shorter than the length of the can. Therefore, the maximum length of the eating utensil is limited by the dimensions of the can. FIG. 2 shows one possible embodiment of the utensil according to the present invention 1a, in which the tip 3 is shaped as a combination spoon and fork, and the rounded part of the spoon 3a is provided with a protrusion 3b characteristic of a fork.

[0020] The handle has openings 2a, 2b that allow for a better grip. The tool 1 is attached by rivets 4 to the can 10 or its cover 11, i.e., to the upper side of the cover near the weakening line 12 on the cover 11. When the tip 3 of the tool 1 and the handle 2 are lifted, the attachment of the tool 1 moves downward and the end of the handle 2 presses against the weakening line 12 on the cover 11 of the can 10, thereby breaking the cover and removing it from the can. This movement and opening method are identical to those for existing opening devices. Once the cover is separated from the can, the user holds the cover with one hand and uses the other hand to grasp the eating utensil, which is removed from the cover by a back and forth movement.

[0021] To make it easier to remove the tool from the cover, the handle is provided with a weakened section 5 near where it is attached to the can cover, which allows the tool to be removed without removing the cover. The weakened section 5 is made by narrowing the sides of the handle, as shown in Figure 3.

[0022] Figure 4 shows an alternative manner in which the tool 1 is attached to an existing opening device 13 on a can 10 using a rivet 14. The tool 1 is removed from the opening device 13 by weakening the contact around the rivet 14, for example by moving the tool 1 up and down, and the can is then opened with the opening device 13 as is currently known.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the tool on the side of the can 10 opposite the existing tear tab 13.

[0024] 6 shows an alternative embodiment of utensil 100 with handle 102 and tip 103 shaped as a knife, the utensil attached to the top side of can 110 or can cover 111 by rivets 104. The length of the eating utensil is shorter than the length of the can.

Claims

1. A multifunctional eating utensil (1) for a can, the utensil comprising a handle (2) and a tip (3), the tip being shaped as a spoon (3a), a fork, or a combination of a spoon and a fork (3b), the handle (2) being configured to be attached to the upper or outer surface of a cover (11) of a can (10) or to a can opening device (13) using rivets (4, 14) or welding, the handle (2) being configured to open the can (10) when the utensil (1) is attached to the can (10).

2. A multifunctional eating utensil (100) for a can, the utensil (100) comprising a handle (102) and a tip (103), the tip being shaped like a knife, the handle (102) configured to be attached to an upper or outer surface of a cover (111) of a can (110) or to a can opening tool (113) using a rivet (104) or welding, and the handle (102) configured to open the can (110) when the utensil (100) is attached to the can (110).

3. 3. A multifunctional eating utensil (1, 100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the handle (2, 102) is free of holes or has at least one opening (2a, 2b) for better gripping.

4. A multifunctional eating utensil (1, 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the utensil (1, 100) has a weakened portion (5) near the end of the handle (2), thereby enabling the utensil (1, 100) to be detached from the end of the handle (2).

5. A multifunctional eating utensil (1, 100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the weak portion (5) is realized as a narrowing of both sides of the handle (2, 102).

6. A multifunctional eating utensil (1, 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the utensil (1, 100) is made from a thin sheet material of iron or aluminum having a protective coating.

7. A multifunctional eating utensil (1, 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the utensil (1, 100) is made by a process selected from the group consisting of punching, cutting, and bending.

8. A can (10, 110) comprising the multifunctional eating utensil (1, 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A can (10, 110) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the can (10, 110) comprises a container and a cover (11, 111) arranged to cover the container, the cover (11, 111) has a weakening line (12) on the cover, and the tool (1, 100) is attached to the cover (11, 111) near the weakening line (12).

10. 10. A can (10, 110) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the eating utensils (1, 100) are attached by rivets (4, 104) or welding.

11. A can (10, 110) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the eating utensils (1, 100) are attached directly to the cover (11, 111).

12. 11. A can (10, 110) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the eating utensil (1, 100) is attached to an opening device (13) of the can (10, 110).

13. 11. A can (10, 110) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the eating utensil (1, 100) is attached to the can (10, 110) on the side opposite the opening device (13).

14. 14. A can (10, 110) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the length of the eating utensil (1, 100) does not exceed the dimensions of the can (10, 110).

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