WO2015155570A1

WO2015155570A1 - Cooling element for drinks cans, self-cooling drinks can, and method for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2015155570A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/060623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Kampmeyer; Frank Bartels
Original assignee: Do-Tech Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-04-10
Filing date: 2014-04-10
Publication date: 2015-10-15

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling element for drinks cans, a self-cooling drinks can, and a method for cooling a drinks can. In particular, the invention relates to a cooling element which can be activated from outside without opening the can. The cooling element (7) comprises a housing having at least two chambers (8A, 8B) which can be filled with a liquid and/or a solid, and a membrane (9) fluidically separating the two chambers (8A, 8B), wherein the housing is completely hermetically sealed at all times and has an elastically or plastically deformable trigger region (10) integrated in the housing, which trigger region abuts at least one of the chambers (8A, 8B) such that when the trigger region (10) is deformed by a load acting in a trigger direction (13A) the volume and/or internal pressure of at least one chamber (8A, 8B) can be changed. The cooling element (7) is characterized in that the trigger region (10) is curved such that when a load is applied to the trigger region (10) its circumference (10B) attempts to increase.

Description

Cooling element for beverage cans, self-cooling beverage can and

Method

introduction

The invention relates to a cooling element for beverage cans. In particular, the invention relates to a cooling element which can be activated without opening the can from the outside. The invention further relates to a self-cooling beverage can and a method for cooling a beverage can.

State of the art and disadvantages

Beverage cans (hereinafter also referred to as "cans" for short) have long been known from the prior art and are used for storing and transporting "still" or else carbonated, ie pressurized drinks.

Typically, the beverage is taken out of the can. For this purpose, the same is opened by means of a closure by the user. This closure is typically designed as a single closure, but there are also concepts for reclosability known. An example of such a concept is shown in the publication EP 2614010 AI. The closure is integrated exclusively in the lid of the can. The remaining body of the can ("body", usually cylindrical side wall with bottom) is unchanged compared to conventional, non-resealable cans, which is advantageous for manufacturing.

The base material for beverage cans is usually an aluminum alloy. The body is deep-drawn, the top edge crimped (bent outward), the lid is prepared separately and attached gas-tight and liquid-tight, for example by means of Auffalzen on the body. Since drinks are predominantly consumed preferably cooled, transport and storage, however, take place at normal ambient temperatures, it is desirable to sufficiently cool the can before consumption. This can be done in the simplest case by means of longer storage in a refrigerator. However, because of their high stability and low weight, cans are often brought to places where such refrigerators are not available (in the car, on walks, ...). Thus, there is a desire for a can, which nevertheless provides a sufficiently cool content regardless of known, in particular current-driven cooling devices. It is particularly desirable that the cooling takes place sufficiently fast.

From this need, a variety of concepts have been developed to cool a can by means of an integrated, preferably energy self-sufficient, cooling device.

The cooling principles are in particular the adiabatic expansion of a gas (Joule-Thompson effect), adiabatic cooling (evaporation cooling), and the use of salt mixtures into consideration.

An example of a self-cooling can with salt mixture is shown in the document EP 0286382 A2. Accordingly, inside the can is a shielded from the drink, but accessible from the outside cylindrical container (cooling element). In this, a salt (eg ammonium nitrate) or a solvent (eg water) are stored separated by a membrane in two chambers. In an externally accessible through a lid in the can channel, which is preferably initially closed with a protective cover, a needle is arranged. This passes through a first chamber limiting the outward end and ends in the rest position just before the membrane in the first chamber. To initiate the cooling, the needle is actuated by pressing. It pierces the separating membrane, so that salt and solvent can mix and extract heat from the environment. This leads to the desired cooling effect.

Two other examples of a self-cooling box are disclosed in the document DE 2150305 AI. Even after one of these solutions, the interior of the cooling element is accessible from the outside to actuate the cooling mechanism and thus trigger. According to another solution, an actuatable from the bottom of the can forth, designed as a "double bottom" designed cooling element, in which the membrane is severed by means of a mandrel which is movable by pressing the outer bottom in the direction of the membrane.

However, the solutions with external actuation and release are disadvantageous.

Thus, modifications of the lid or floor are necessary in that it provides an opening through which the trigger is accessible. The tightness must be ensured at all times, which is expensive. In addition, additional openings reduce the stability of the usually pressurized can. If the cooling element is accessible from the outside and thus structurally part of the wall of the can (one side is the pressurized beverage, the other side facing the environment), external pressure changes also affect the pressure conditions in the interior of the cooling element. Unintentional or impossible initiation of the cooling process can be the result. In addition, that part of the surface of the cooling element facing outwards is no longer available for heat exchange.

A further disadvantage relates to the force required to initiate the cooling process, which the user has to apply, hereinafter referred to as "actuation." This is quite large in the aforementioned solutions of the prior art, so that An actuation for less powerful people can be very difficult.

Finally, the solutions presented are only limited to integration with a resealable lid. If both components (cooling, reclosure) require a modification of the lid, this leads to a competition for the available space, which must also necessarily include the spout.

Object of the invention and solution

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling element for a beverage can which avoids the disadvantages known from the prior art. Accordingly, the cooling element should not or only slightly affect the stability of the can. The force required to operate, applied by the user should be low and independent of this. Accidental actuation or tripping or unwanted prevention of actuation or tripping should be avoided. The modifications compared to a conventional box should be as small as possible. The heat exchange should be optimized. The spout should be affected as little as possible.

The object of the invention is also to provide a beverage can with a disadvantage of the prior art avoiding cooling element.

The object is achieved by a cooling element according to claim 1 or a beverage can according to claim 10. Preferred Ausführungsfor ^¬ men can be found in the dependent claims, the following description and the figures. spelling

The cooling element according to the invention will first be described below. Subsequently, a description of a beverage can with the cooling element according to the invention.

The cooling element for a beverage can comprises a housing with at least two chambers, which can be filled with a liquid and / or a solid. Preferably, a chamber is filled with a solvent such as in particular water, a second chamber with a salt. By mixing the two substances, a chemical reaction is initiated, in the course of which heat is removed from the environment.

The two chambers are fluidly separated by a membrane. Typically, the chambers are approximately the same size, although other size ratios are possible. The membrane can be separated in a variety of ways for the purpose of mixing the two substances intended for the chemical reaction, as will be discussed below.

The housing is completely hermetic at all times, ie liquid and gas tight, closed. This means that there is at no time an access from the outside into the interior of the housing, as is the case with a part of the solutions known from the prior art. Thus, leakage of the substances from the chambers is impossible.

The housing has (at least) one in the housing integrated, elastically or plastically deformable, accessible from outside the housing and operable trip area. This adjoins at least one of the chambers, so that the volume and / or the internal pressure of at least one chamber can be changed by deformation of the triggering region by means of a load acting in a triggering direction (force, pressure, displacement). In other words, the deformation of the triggering area initially leads to a reduction in the housing volume. Unless the volume is can escape into another area, the pressure in the chamber, which communicates with the triggering area increases. The pressure change affects the entire volume of this chamber and also affects the membrane limiting it. Depending on the structural design, this leads to an at least partial destruction of the membrane, which will be discussed in more detail below.

From the release direction, the actuation direction is to be distinguished. This is the direction in which a user must actuate an actuating mechanism to effect the triggering according to the invention. Actuation and release direction depending on the imple mentation shape in particular run collinear or perpendicular to each other.

According to the triggering region is curved, so that seeks to increase its size under load of the triggering area by means of tensile or compressive forces or displacement. Depending on the definition of the circumference, this can then actually increase, or voltages are generated. The curvature can be concave or convex. The presence of the curvature according to the invention can be used advantageously in various ways, so that the result is the desired destruction of the membrane and the initiation of the cooling process.

According to a first embodiment, the preferably elastic (made of an elastic material) release region is fixed at its circumference in and perpendicular to the release direction. Thus, this is not enlargeable, because it can not dodge in any direction, as would be the case if it were not fixed perpendicular to the triggering direction.

In addition, the triggering area is curved in particular in a concave or convex manner so that a first, stable rest position, an unstable intermediate position, and a second, stable triggering position can be taken by it. This behavior is so called "crackpot frog" or the "snap" known, these devices usually have only a stable and an in or metastable state. In the transition from the stable to the metastable state is often a crackling noise audible. In the present case, however, when the unstable intermediate position is exceeded, the tripping area automatically jumps into the stable tripping position in which it remains. It is therefore a bistable snap disk.

In one of the chambers, when the triggering area assumes or takes the triggering position, the volume is smaller and / or the internal pressure greater than when the triggering area assumes the rest position. In other words, by triggering the trip area, the volume of the chamber decreases. If this can move into another area, the volume shifts; If the volume can not or only partially escape, this leads to an increase in the internal pressure of the chamber. Both affect the membrane and cause it to move or strain.

The advantage of using the principle of the bistable snap-action disc is, above all, that with a small actuating force to be applied by the user, a high triggering force independent of the actuating force can be provided. Thus, the actual triggering of the cooling element is largely decoupled from actuation with respect to the necessary force.

It should be noted that in certain constructive embodiments when triggered the volume in the other chamber (if exactly two chambers are present) also becomes smaller (see the following embodiment), and / or that the internal pressure of the second chamber also increases.

It should also be noted that the reduction in volume / pressure increase does not necessarily have to take place in the chamber adjacent to the triggering area. It is also possible the Deforming the triggering region "outwards" by means of a load directed away from the housing, so as to increase the volume of the chamber adjacent to it and reduce the pressure, if appropriate, then reducing the volume and increasing the volume of the other, not adjacent to him chamber.

According to another embodiment of the cooling element, at least the triggering area, but preferably the housing, is convexly curved, and the triggering area is fixed at its circumference in the release direction, but not fixed perpendicular to this direction. Thus, this can be increased by loading the trip range; this is clearly seen in a projection of the release region in the direction of the trip and actuation ^¬ direction. The actuation direction runs parallel to the release direction. The scope and triggering direction are perpendicular to each other.

The housing is also fixed on the circumference or, seen in the direction of actuation, beyond it in the release direction. In other words, a deflection of the complete housing in the actuation or release direction is prevented, since this is fixed in the region of the circumference or beyond it.

The membrane extending perpendicular to the triggering direction is fastened along its circumference (at least partially) in the region of the circumference in the housing. It is preferably already in the rest position slightly under tension. This is then the greater, the greater the load of the tripping area and the stronger the resulting increase in size. It is clear that when a limit is exceeded, the membrane ruptures, so that the cooling process can be initiated.

A particularly preferred form of the housing is a lenticular capsule whose interior is divided by the membrane into two regions, the membrane at the widest point the capsule is fully attached. The bulges of the areas need not be the same size to provide different sized chambers.

This variant is particularly suitable for non-pressurized beverage cans, since the functionality of the compressibility of the housing must remain guaranteed, which means a certain amount of gas in the housing, since the total volume of the housing decreases when triggered. A filled with liquids and solids housing would be virtually incompressible. However, gas is detrimental to a pressurized can because the pressure could then inadvertently deform the housing.

According to a similar embodiment, in which, however, release direction and circumference are not perpendicular to each other, but parallel to each other, at least the triggering area, but preferably the entire housing on the circumference in triggering and parallel to their operating direction so one-sided (not fully) fixed in that the circumference can be increased by pulling load. This is achieved by fixing the circumference in the opposite direction to the release direction seen (the lid facing away) end in and perpendicular to the release direction. The membrane is parallel to the triggering direction and is mounted in the region of the circumference in the housing so that it tears when loaded on the circumference by means of tensile forces.

According to another embodiment, the cooling element has a plurality of trigger surfaces as described above for a bistable snap-action disc. These can be arranged, for example, on the sides of a cuboid capsule. The trigger surfaces are indirectly triggered by a relative increase in the internal pressure of the housing, ie, they can also by a drop in pressure within the can, but outside the Housing of the cooling element are actuated (eg when opening a pressurized beverage can).

The membrane is perpendicular to the release surfaces concave in the rest position and is attached to the center of them. Now change the trigger surfaces their state, wander their centers, which have the largest stroke, away from the center of the housing to the outside. The attached to them membrane is placed under tension and finally tears.

Due to the multiple presence of bistable domes, a particularly large force can be provided to rupture the membrane. A suitably well-coordinated construction thus makes it possible, with a particularly low, applied by the user actuating force, which leads to an increase in pressure inside the housing to release a much higher release force, which is stored in the rest positions of the individual snap discs in these and then abruptly becomes free.

According to another embodiment, at least one (stationary) cutting or puncturing element is arranged inside the housing, and the membrane is made of an elastic material (for example polyethylene). Their relative distance to the cutting or puncturing element can be reduced to the extent that it can be pierced by the cutting or puncturing element by way of loading the triggering region (and the associated volume or pressure change). This leads to an initiation of the cooling process.

According to another embodiment, the membrane is made of a non-stretchable material (eg aluminum foil), and inside the housing at least one cutting or lancing element is arranged, ie a blade, a mandrel, or a component of comparable functionality. The distance of this cutting or puncturing element to the (substantially fixed) membrane can be reduced to such an extent by means of the loading of the triggering area that the membrane can be pierced by it. In other words, the cutting or puncturing element is attached to a position of the inner wall of the housing, which moves in the direction of the membrane under load of the triggering region. Since this can not escape due to lack of elasticity, it is finally cut by the cutting or lancing element.

In contrast to the above-described imple mentation form so not the membrane is mobile, but the cutting or lancing element. As a result, however, even after this imple mentation shape, the membrane is severed due to their relative approach to the cutting or lancing element, so that the cooling process can be initiated.

Depending on the concrete structural design, the cutting or piercing element is fastened to the inside of the triggering region, opposite the same beyond the membrane, or in the region of the circumference.

According to another embodiment, the membrane is made of a non-stretchable material of certain, preferably low tensile strength. Thus, this tears even at relatively low elongation, without building up high opposing forces.

When loading the tripping area, the tensile strength of such a membrane is exceeded due to the impermissible increase in the tensile stresses acting in it. This is the result of the pressure and / or volume change of a chamber, and / or a change in shape of the housing with which it is firmly connected. Even a temporary exceeding of the tensile strength is sufficient, since a once cracked membrane causes a permanent contact of the chemical substances used for cooling by itself. Preferably, such a membrane is stretched by tensile forces acting on its circumference. However, it is also possible to generate the stretching by acting on the surface of the membrane compressive forces, which also result in an increase of the tensile stresses.

It is clear that the membrane can have certain predetermined breaking points (weakenings) in order to allow particularly easy or at least locally determinable tearing. It is also clear that such a membrane can be combined with the above-described cutting or puncturing element.

According to another embodiment of the cooling element, the same has a volume and / or pressure compensation area that differs from the triggering area. This compensation area is used to catch or absorb volume that has been displaced by loading the trip area.

The balance region may extend directly into the liquid surrounding the cooling element, or it may be housed inside the cooling element, with the evacuated volume being filled with gas beyond the chamber but within the housing to be compressible.

If such a compensation range is not available, the pressure inside the housing increases very much, provided that the materials stored there are not compressible, or the actuation / release requires a lot of power. With such a compensation range, the pressure remains substantially the same, or it increases significantly less in any case.

It may for example be formed by an elastic membrane in the wall of the housing, for example, opposite the triggering region, beyond the membrane. The then elastic membrane will follow the volume shift and move, for example, in the direction of a mandrel. Also fold or Bellows-like structures are suitable for creating a compensation area. Finally, it is also possible that the compensation area is constructed in the manner of a bistable snap-action disc described above, so that actuation of the activation area by means of volume displacement / pressure increase leads to a "actuation" of the compensation area ,

In the event that the volume moves towards a gas entrapped material, e.g. shifts coarse-grained salt filled chamber, this chamber can also take over the function of a compensation area. It can also be made slightly larger than necessary to accommodate the substance needed to provide a larger volume of gas.

It is clear that the housing can also have several compensation areas, or that the compensation area can be multi-part.

According to another embodiment, the cooling element does not have a wall common to a beverage can.

In other words, the cooling element is mounted inside the beverage can and can be completely surrounded by liquid. This brings a better heat exchange with it; All surfaces that can be used for cooling are in contact with the liquid.

It is clear that an actuating mechanism must be provided which allows a loading of the triggering area from outside the can. For this purpose, for example, simple pull / push rods can be used which forward a applied to the outer skin of the can mechanical movement / force to the cooling element. The actuation mechanism then includes a tie rod and a portion of the outer skin of the can, hereafter called "actuation area." Also, indentations in the can wall or local thickenings thereof serve that purpose The cooling element can also be placed so close to the inner wall of the can as to be straight in the Center of the then preferably convexly curved triggering area is a mechanical contact with the can, whereas the remaining triggering area and the rest of the cooling element have no mechanical contact with the can.

It is clear that "no mechanical" contact does not extend to the provision of support structures necessary to fix the cooling element in the can.

Actuation of the actuation mechanism by the user then results in a loading of the deployment area and thus initiation of the cooling process.

The invention also relates to a self-cooling beverage can. A self-cooling beverage can according to the invention comprises at least one arranged and fixed in its interior cooling element according to one of the preceding claims.

It is also possible to arrange several of the cooling elements according to the invention inside the can. In this case, the cooling elements can be coupled to one another mechanically or fluidically in such a way that the triggering of a first cooling element leads to triggering of the further cooling element or elements ("chain reaction".) For example, the stroke that is generated by the triggering of the first cooling element can whose triggering area facing the can lid is forwarded to the compensating area lying opposite it, this compensating area being adjacent to the triggering area of the adjacent cooling element, etc.

The advantage of such a coupling capability of a plurality of preferably identical cooling elements lies in the easier adaptability to different scenarios of different cooling performance, which would otherwise result in new designs of the cooling elements. According to one embodiment of the beverage can, it can be re-closed, ie has a closure mechanism which can be operated from the outside and leads to an at least approximately liquid-tight closure of the spout. Since such mechanisms have moving parts, it is advantageous to train these moving parts so that they also serve to load the triggering area of the cooling element or to actuate the operating range of the box. Particularly preferably, these mechanisms allow the taking of an intermediate position in which the beverage can still closed, the triggering area is charged. In this way, the drink can be cooled before opening and the can be closed again after opening.

An embodiment of a self-cooling beverage can has a tab provided for opening a drinking opening located in the lid of the beverage can. Advantageously, this tab is made of the same material as the can.

The tab has a tip and a trained example as eyelet handle. In a preferably existing opening of the eyelet, a finger can be hooked, or the handle can be held between two fingers and pulled the tab so / bent. Particularly preferably, the tab corresponds largely to the known from the prior art opening devices of commercial beverage cans. The tab is fixed by means of a fastening on the lid. This attachment has a hinge and is preferably formed by a rivet which holds the tab on the lid. Handle and tip are located at opposite ends of the tab. The attachment allows rotation of the flap lying parallel to the cover so far that the tip either above the drinking opening or above the triggering area of the cooling element (= direct release) or one with this mechanically connected actuation range (= indirect triggering) can be positioned.

In other words, the tab can first be used to apply a load to the outer wall of the lid by positioning the tip in place and tipping the handle from the lid. The attachment prevents tearing of the tab and also serves as a hinge with parallel to the lid extending tilt axis. By lifting the handle, the tip presses on the lid, with a corresponding leverage increases the moment accordingly. Depending on the constructive variant, the triggering region of the cooling element is triggered directly or actuated indirectly (via the actuating mechanism). Preferably, the triggering / actuation is acoustically detectable by a click sound generated by the possibly existing snap disc (s). Also, a certain plastic deformation of the attachment can be accepted as long as the functionality is maintained and the tab after pressing / triggering returns to approximately in the position adjacent to the lid or can be bent back. It is clear that the tab must be made so stable that the required leverage results and not the handle on the attachment is bent away from the cover, while the tip always remains substantially parallel to the lid. Subsequently, preferably after a certain waiting time of, for example, a few minutes during which the beverage cools down, the tab is rotated around the rotation axis provided by the fastening, which runs perpendicular to the cover, depending on the structural design, for example by 90 °, 120 ° or 180 °. Now the tip is above the known from the prior art drinking opening. By again lifting the handle from the lid of the known from the prior art opening operation is performed by the tip of the pre-punched drinking opening with pressure loaded so that it is finally pushed into the interior of the can, with a non-pre-punched area serves as a (plastic) hinge.

Such a self-cooling beverage can is based almost completely on the known and proven technology, shape and appearance of conventional beverage cans. By practically invisible from the outside supplements, the cooling element, which optionally shares a part of the wall or the lid with the beverage can or is placed as a completely separate body in the can, be operated. Opening the can for this is not necessary. The force required for triggering is low, since the actual triggering by the special shape of the cooling element, in particular when using the bistable snap disc (s), is specified.

The invention also relates to a method for cooling a beverage can, wherein the beverage can comprises a cooling element arranged in its interior with a housing which has at least two chambers which are filled with a liquid and / or a solid and a membrane which fluidly separates the two chambers having. The housing is always hermetically sealed to the outside.

To initiate the cooling process, a release region integrated into the housing is actuated by elastic or plastic deformation thereof by means of a load acting in a release direction, such that the volume and / or the internal pressure of at least one chamber changes. In this case, the triggering area in a stable rest position, viewed from the interior of the cooling element, outwardly or inwardly curved, and when loaded in a triggering position, the curvature decreases.

As a result of the load, unless the circumference is fixed, it is increased, and / or the stresses acting in the tripping area are increased. By enlarging the circumference, the membrane attached to it can be put under tension and finally be torn up. By changing / shifting the volume, the distance between the membrane and a cutting or puncturing element directed towards it can be reduced so far that it pierces or cuts through the membrane. In all cases, the substances stored in the two chambers are mixed, so that a chemical reaction which deprives the environment of heat is initiated, which leads to cooling of the liquid (beverage) surrounding the cooling element.

To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above statements. It is clear that the method is preferably carried out using a cooling element or a beverage can described above.

According to a preferred embodiment, the release position is likewise stable, and an unstable intermediate position is overcome between it and the rest position in order to trigger sufficient loading of the deployment region. This behavior corresponds to that of a bistable snap-action disc described above, which is also referred to to avoid repetition.

According to another embodiment, when the volume is displaced, it deviates into a compensation area. Thus, the triggering of the cooling process is not or only slightly affected by the otherwise strongly increasing internal pressure of the cooling element and / or the housing. Again, reference is made to the above statements.

figure description

The invention will be explained in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS.

Figure 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a self-cooling beverage can with cooling element before the same. Figure 2 shows a section of the beverage can from Fig. 1 after the triggering of the cooling process.

FIG. 3 shows a section of the beverage can from FIG. 1 after opening the drinking opening. FIG. 4 shows the situation according to FIG. Fig. 1 in a plan view.

FIG. 5 shows the view according to FIG. Fig. 4 during the rotation of

Tab.

FIG. 6 shows the view according to FIG. Fig. 4 in the Öffnungsposi ^¬ tion rotated tab. FIGS. 7-9 show views of the situations according to FIGS. 1,

2 and 3 with another embodiment of the cooling element.

Figure 10 shows the detail of a side cross-sectional view of a self-cooling beverage can with a further imple mentation of the cooling element before triggering the same.

FIG. 11 shows the detail of the beverage can from FIG. 10 after the cooling process has been triggered.

FIG. 12 shows the situation according to FIG. 10 with another one

From the guide shape of the cooling element before loading the same.

FIG. 13 shows the situation according to FIG. 11 with a further one

From the guide shape of the cooling element before loading the same. Figure 14 shows the detail of a side cross-sectional view of a self-cooling beverage can with a further imple mentation of the cooling element before the same. FIG. 15 shows the detail of the beverage can from FIG. 14 after the triggering of the cooling process.

Figures 16 and 17 show beverage cans with further embodiments of the cooling element. Figure 18 shows the detail of a side cross-sectional view of a self-cooling beverage can with another embodiment of the cooling element before the loading thereof.

FIG. 19 shows the detail of the beverage can from FIG. 18 after the triggering of the cooling process.

Figures 20 and 21 show schematically the operation of a

Cooling element according to FIGS. 18 and 19.

FIG. 22 shows the detail of a side cross-sectional view of a self-cooling beverage can with a further embodiment of the cooling element before the loading thereof.

FIG. 23 shows the detail of the beverage can from FIG. 18 after the triggering of the cooling process.

Figures 24 and 25 show a cooling element with compensation area. Figures 26 and 27 show a beverage can with another

Embodiment of the cooling element.

FIG. 1 shows a thin-walled beverage can 1 in a cross-sectional view. It is circumferentially by means of a fold 3 on the body 4 of the can 1 fluid-tight manner.

On the cover 2, a tab 6 is rotatably mounted by means of a fastening 5, which is designed as a rivet. Inside the can 1, a cooling element 7 is arranged. It consists of two chambers 8A, 8B. These are separated by a membrane 9. The cooling element 7 is delimited on its upper side by a convexly curved triggering region 10 which, according to the embodiment shown, forms part of the beverage can 1, more precisely the lid 2. The triggering area 10 is at the same time accessible from outside the can 1 ^{Betätigungsbe ¬} rich 19. As shown in Figure 2, the tab 6 can be tilted from the lid 2, as indicated by the broad arrow ( without reference). Its tip 12 then loads the triggering area 10 with a compressive force. In the illustrated embodiment, the triggering area 10 is fully fixed at its circumference 10B, ie it can not move either perpendicular to these directions in the triggering direction 13A or the actuating direction 13B. Since the triggering region 10 is made of an elastic material, in this case aluminum, a bistable snap-action disc is formed in this way. As soon as an unstable intermediate position (not shown) is overcome, the trip area 10 jumps to the trip position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The lancing element 11 moves in the direction of the membrane 9 and punctures it. Thus, the two chambers 8A, 8B are fluidly connected and a chemical reaction producing the cooling can be used.

In Figure 3, the situation for opening the spout 14 is shown, wherein already introduced reference numerals have been omitted. By rotation of the tab to the attachment and subsequent lifting of the tab (wide arrow without reference numeral) presses the tip in a known manner on the area in which the drinking opening 14 is located so that it separates from the rest of the lid and the interior of the can releases. If desired, the tab can be brought to the lid by manual depression (not shown).

As can be seen directly from the figures, the cooling element 7 according to the invention hardly changes the exterior of the can 1. The functionality of triggering the cooling process as well as the subsequent opening of the can is very simple and also intuitive. Due to the formation of the triggering region 10 as a bistable snap-action disc, only little force is required for actuation and release; the force required to safely sever the membrane 9 is stored in the snap-action disc and in any case completely free, so that the safe triggering of the cooling element is not dependent on the power of the user.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the view of a preferred embodiment of a beverage can according to the invention from above, with a view of the lid 2. In FIG. 4, the position of the tab 6 is such that its tip 12 is above the triggering area 10 and Actuator 19 is positioned. Trained as an eyelet handle 15 is positioned above the drinking opening 14. By rotation (thick arrow without reference numeral) of the flap 6 about the axis of rotation of the attachment 5 (see Fig. 5), it can be brought into a position in which the tip 12 is located above the drinking opening 14 (see Fig. 6). By lifting the tab 6 by means of the handle 15 of the drinking opening 14 covering area of the lid 1 can be pressed (not shown).

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a beverage can with another embodiment of a cooling element 7. Already introduced reference numerals have been largely omitted here, as far as can be dispensed with. In contrast to the cooling element shown in Figs. 1 to 3, this has no common with a beverage can 1 wall. It is rather free inside the can 1 hung up; its trigger area 10 is spaced from the lid 2, so that the cooling element 7 is umspülbar on all sides.

In the figures, it is indicated that the region of the lid 2, which is provided for the indirect actuation of the triggering region 10, is made thinner than the remaining lid 2 (actuating region 19). In this way, even less force is required for the actual triggering of the cooling element 7. Between the lid 2 and the triggering area 10 extends an actuating mechanism 16, which is designed here as a simple push rod. It transmits the force applied to the actuating region 19 of the lid 2 to the tripping region 10, as can be seen in FIG. The tripping area 10 shown in this figure has already moved over the intermediate position into the tripping position. Finally, by rotating the tab 6 and raising it again, the drinking opening 14 can be opened.

The advantage of such a construction is due inter alia to the separate manufacturability of the cooling element 7. As shown, after the lid 2 has been manufactured, it can simply be hooked into it. The illustrated holder 18 is only exemplary; it serves to fix the cooling element 7 at a defined distance from the cover 2 and to prevent mobility of the cooling element 7 in the release direction 13A or activation direction 13B (see FIG. The remaining components and the mode of action have already been discussed and therefore need no repetition.

Figures 10 and 11 show a further imple mentation of the cooling element 7. Accordingly, the trigger region 10 is not convex in the rest position, but curved concave. In addition, at the opposite end of the cooling element 7 there is a compensation area 17, which is likewise designed in the manner of a bistable snap-action disc. If the trigger region 10, as shown in FIG. 11, is pulled in the direction of actuation 13B (upward in the image, away from the cover 2), then the compensation region 17 follows due to the volume retention in the two chambers (without reference symbol). without reference numeral), which is preferably made of a non-elastic material is loaded and torn beyond its tensile strength; In addition, a lancing element (without reference numeral) is present, which also drills into the membrane due to the upward movement of the compensation region 17 and destroys it.

The same situations are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, with the difference that the cooling element does not share a common wall with the can (compare FIGS. 7 to 9). ^{Betätigungsbe ¬} rich 19 and trip area 10 are different from each other. FIGS. 14 and 15 also show the situations before and after the rupture of the membrane 9, which does not run parallel to the triggering region 10 but is fastened thereto. Thus, the triggering area 10 is not adjacent to one, but to both chambers. By loading the triggering area 10 by means of tension, for example with the aid of a modified or additional tab (not shown), the membrane 9 is put under tension. When exceeding its tensile strength, it is destroyed. The triggering region 10 is again designed as a bistable snap-action disc and identical to the actuating region 19. A monostable snap disk would also suffice here, since the once broken membrane 9 permanently allows a fluidic contact of both chambers (without reference numerals).

FIGS. 16 and 17 show two further embodiments of a can with cooling element 7. This is of elongated design, so that a larger amount of substances required for the chemical reaction can be stored and a greater contact with the Liquid is provided for heat exchange. The basic construction is identical to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7, so that a further description can be dispensed with. Shown is the situation with uninitiated cooling process.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment according to which the cooling element 7 is not designed in the manner of a snap disk. The triggering area 10 is (as well as the entire housing) convexly curved. It is fixed on its circumference 10B in the release direction 13A (holder 18). However, it is not fixed perpendicular to the release direction 13A (in the picture to the right and left). Thus, it can enlarge its circumference 10B when it is loaded as shown in Fig. 19 (large arrow, no reference numeral). The membrane 9, which is still intact according to FIG. 18, ruptures, so that the two chambers (without reference numerals) are fluidically connected. Advantageously, such a cooling element in the form of a lens. In addition, this embodiment is preferably suspended "suspended", and not realized as part of the cover 2. The principle is shown again in Figures 20 and 21. The initially rather spherical cooling element (without reference numeral) is by load (thick arrow, without 21) To prevent the cooling element from moving, it must be supported (lower arrow pointing upwards, without reference number) The two arrows pointing to the right and left (without reference number) indicate the direction of movement of the enlarging periphery 10B.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show a further embodiment of the cooling element 7. This has a plurality of trigger surfaces 10 according to the above description of a bistable snap-action disc. They are arranged on the sides of the cuboid cooling element 7 (only the two laterally arranged release surfaces 10 are shown). The trigger surfaces 10 are indirectly loadable by means of a relative increase in the internal pressure of the housing, as shown exaggerated from FIG. By loading in the release direction 13A, the internal pressure is increased to the extent that the trigger surfaces 10 to escape outward and bring the membrane 9 to rupture, which preferably consists of a non-stretchable material low tear strength.

In the figures 24 and 25, a cooling element 7 is shown with Ausgleichsbe ^¬ rich 17. In Fig. 24, this is not yet loaded; in the lower part of the image, the compensation area 17 is indicated below the dot-dash line. This is almost filled in FIG. 25 by the cooling element actuated and the volume is correspondingly displaced. The compensation area 17 is located outside the chambers, but within the housing.

Figures 26 and 27 show a beverage can 1 with a further imple mentation of the cooling element. The lenticular shape of the cooling element 7, its circumference 10B and the membrane 9 is now aligned vertically, ie parallel to the direction of actuation 13B and triggering direction 13A. By pulling on the tension element attached to the circumference 10B (without reference number, at the top of the picture), it is enlarged until the membrane 9 breaks. The holder 18 is not formed as a closed body, but allows a flushing of the cooling element 7. He defines the circumference 10B in or against the release direction 13A on one side (bottom of the picture), so that leading to a rupture of the membrane transverse expansion of the cooling element 7 is enabled. Reference sign list

1 soda can, can

2 lids

3 fold

4 corpus

5 attachment

6 tab

7 cooling element

8A, 8B chamber

9 membrane

10 trip range

10B circumference

11 cutting element, lancing element

12 tip

13A trip direction

13B actuating direction

14 spout, drinking opening

15 Grab handle

16 Actuation mechanism 17 Compensation area

18 holders

19 operating area

Claims

claims

1. cooling element (7) for a beverage can (1), the cooling element (7) comprising a housing having at least two chambers (8A, 8B), which can be filled with a liquid and / or a solid, and one of the two chambers (8A , 8B) fluidly separating membrane (9), wherein the housing is completely hermetically closed at all times and has an elastically or plastically deformable release region (10) integrated into the housing, which adjoins at least one of the chambers (8A, 8B), so that by deformation of the

Triggering region (10) by means of a force acting in a release direction (13A) load, the volume and / or the internal pressure of at least one chamber (8A, 8B) is variable, characterized in that the triggering region (10) is curved, so that under load of Tripping range (10) its scope

(10B) seeks to increase.

2. Cooling element (7) according to claim 1, wherein the triggering region (10) at its periphery (10 B) fixed in and perpendicular to the release direction (13 A) and is curved in such a way that from him a first, stable rest position, an unstable intermediate position, and a second, stable release position is receivable, wherein in one of the chambers (8a, 8B) when taking the release position, the volume is smaller and / or the internal pressure is greater than when taking the rest position. 3. cooling element (7) according to claim 1, wherein at least the triggering region (10) of the housing is convexly curved and further

- The release area (10) at its periphery (10 B) in the release direction (13 A) and in parallel to their operating direction (13 B) fixed, perpendicular to these

However, directions (13A, 13B) is not fixed so that it can be increased by load, and the housing on Periphery (10B) or, seen in the direction of actuation (13B), fixed in the direction of release (13A) but not fixed perpendicular to this direction, and the membrane (9) is perpendicular to the release direction (13A) and in the region of the circumference (13A). 10B) is mounted in the housing; or

- The release area (10) on the circumference (10B) in the release direction (13A) and in parallel to their operating direction (13B) is fixed on one side so that it can be increased by pulling load by on the contrary in the direction of actuation (13B) seen End is fixed in and perpendicular to the actuating direction (13B), wherein the membrane (9) extends parallel to the release direction (13A) and in the region of the circumference (10B) is fixed in Gehäu ^¬ se.

Cooling element (7) according to claim 1, wherein it has a plurality of trigger surfaces (10) according to claim 2, which are indirectly triggered by a relative increase in the internal pressure of the housing, wherein the membrane (9) perpendicular to the in the rest position concave trigger surfaces (10 ) and is centrally attached to them.

(7) Cooling element according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a cutting or inside the housing lancing element (11) and the membrane (9) made of an elastic material, so its relative distance (for cutting ^¬ or lancing element 11) in the way of the loading of the rich Auslösebe ^¬ (10) to the extent be reduced, that it (the cutting ^¬ or piercing member 11) can be pierced.

Cooling element (7) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the membrane (9) consists of a non-stretchable material and in the interior of the housing, a cutting or lancing element (11) is arranged, whose distance from the membrane (9) by way of Load of the triggering area (10) as far as can be reduced, that of him the membrane (9) is pierceable.

7. cooling element (7) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 6, wherein the membrane (9) consists of a non-stretchable material of certain tensile strength and acting in the membrane (9) tensile stresses by actuating the triggering region (10) on this tensile strength can be increased.

8. Cooling element (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the same has a different from the triggering region (10) compensating region (17).

9. cooling element (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the same has no common with a beverage can (1) wall.

10. A self-cooling beverage can (1) comprising a cooling element (7) arranged and fixed in its interior according to one of the preceding claims.

11. A self-cooling beverage can (1) according to claim 10, wherein the same is reclosable.

12. Self-cooling beverage can (1) according to claim 10 or 11, with a lid (2) for opening a beverage can (1) located in the drinking opening (14) provided tab (6) having a tip (12) and a handle (15 ) and is fixed by means of a fastening (5) on the cover (2), wherein the attachment (5) allows a rotation of the parallel to the cover (2) lying tab (6) so far that the

Tip (12) either above the drinking opening (14) or above the triggering area (10) of the cooling element (7) or a mechanically connected thereto actuating region (19) is positionable. 13. A method for cooling a beverage can (1), wherein the beverage can (1) arranged in its interior Kühlele ^¬ ment (7) with a housing which at least two chambers (8A, 8B), with a liquid and / or one Have solids are filled, as well as the two chambers (8A, 8B) fluidly separating membrane (9) and is hermetically sealed to the outside at any time, to initiate the cooling process in the housing integrated Auslösebe ^¬ rich (10) by elastic or plastic deformation the same is actuated by means of a load acting in a triggering direction (13A), so that the volume and / or the internal pressure of at least one chamber (8A, 8B) changes, wherein the triggering area (10) is arched in a stable rest position, and wherein the load in a release position, the curvature decreases.

The method of claim 13, wherein the triggering position is also stable, and an unstable intermediate position is overcome between it and the rest position in triggering sufficient stress on the triggering region (10).

Method according to one of claims 13 or 14, wherein at a displacement of the volume this evades rich in a Ausgleichsbe ^¬ (17).