Self-cooling can
View Patent ↗A self-cooling can comprising an evaporator unit within the can and an absorber unit provided outside the container body. A beverage within the can is cooled by means of vapor which passes from the evaporator to the absorber when these are connected so as to provide a vapor path between the two. The path for water vapor, for example, to pass from the evaporator to the absorber is formed by rupturing a pane between the evaporator and the absorber when the can and part or all of the absorber are rotated relative to each other.
1. A self-cooling can having a cylindrical can body and comprising:
an evaporator for cooling a product within the can body;
an absorber unit mounted at least partially on the outside of the can body and including a desiccant container;
a rupturable panel comprising two gas impermeable layers for separating the evaporator from the absorber unit, one layer being bonded to the evaporator and a second layer being bonded to the absorber unit, the two layers contacting each other in a central portion, from which all air is displaced, and being sealed together around the central portion;
one or more seals for preventing gas penetration of the evaporator and/or absorber;
a cutter; and
an actuator which includes a deformable member and means for deforming the deformable member;
and in which the rupturable panel comprises two layers of foil sealed together by an adhesive, seal or lubricious grease.
2. A can according to claim 1 , in which the seal between the foil layers comprises a gasket, grease or sealant.
3. A can according to claim 1 , in which the deformable member is a bistable portion of the absorber unit.
4. A can according to claim 1 , in which the cutter comprises a porous spike.
5. A can according to claim 1 , in which the deforming means and/or deformable member include a cam profile.
6. A self-cooling can having a cylindrical can body and comprising:
an evaporator for cooling a product within the can body;
an absorber unit mounted at least partially on the outside of the can body and including a desiccant container;
a rupturable panel comprising two gas impermeable layers for separating the evaporator from the absorber unit, one layer being bonded to the evaporator and a second layer being bonded to the absorber unit, the two layers contacting each other in a central portion, from which all air is displaced, and being sealed together around the central portion;
one or more seals for preventing gas penetration of the evaporator and/or absorber;
a cutter; and
an actuator which includes a deformable member and means for deforming the deformable member;
and in which a seal between the layers comprises a gasket, grease or sealant.
7. A can according to claim 6 , in which the deformable member is a bistable portion of the absorber unit.
8. A can according to claim 6 , in which the cutter comprises a porous spike.
9. A can according to claim 6 , in which the deforming means and/or deformable member include a cam profile.
10. A self-cooling can having a cylindrical can body and comprising:
an evaporator for cooling a product within the can body;
an absorber unit mounted at least partially on the outside of the can body and including a desiccant container;
a rupturable panel comprising two gas impermeable layers for separating the evaporator from the absorber unit, one layer being bonded to the evaporator and a second layer being bonded to the absorber unit, the two layers contacting each other in a central portion, from which all air is displaced, and being sealed together around the central portion;
one or more seals for preventing gas penetration of the evaporator and/or absorber;
a cutter; and
an actuator which includes a deformable member and means for deforming the deformable member;
and in which the rupturable panel comprises two layers of foil sealed together by a seal.
11. A can according to claim 10 , in which the seal between the foil layers comprises a gasket, grease or sealant.
12. A can according to claim 10 , in which the deformable member is a bistable portion of the absorber unit.
13. A can according to claim 10 , in which the cutter comprises a porous spike.
14. A can according to claim 10 , in which the deforming means and/or deformable member include a cam profile.
15. A self-cooling can having a cylindrical can body and comprising:
an evaporator for cooling a product within the can body;
an absorber unit mounted at least partially on the outside of the can body and including a desiccant container;
a rupturable panel comprising two gas impermeable layers for separating the evaporator from the absorber unit, one layer being bonded to the evaporator and a second layer being bonded to the absorber unit, the two layers contacting each other in a central portion, from which all air is displaced, and being sealed together around the central portion;
one or more seals for preventing gas penetration of the evaporator and/or absorber;
a cutter; and
an actuator which includes a deformable member and means for deforming the deformable member;
and in which the rupturable panel comprises two layers of foil sealed together by an adhesive.
16. A can according to claim 15 , in which the deformable member is a bistable portion of the absorber unit.
17. A can according to claim 15 , in which the cutter comprises a porous spike.
18. A can according to claim 15 , in which the deforming means and/or deformable member include a cam profile.
19. A self-cooling can having a cylindrical can body and comprising:
an evaporator for cooling a product within the can body;
an absorber unit mounted at least partially on the outside of the can body and including a desiccant container;
a rupturable panel comprising two gas impermeable layers for separating the evaporator from the absorber unit, one layer being bonded to the evaporator and a second layer being bonded to the absorber unit, the two layers contacting each other in a central portion, from which all air is displaced, and being sealed together around the central portion;
one or more seals for preventing gas penetration of the evaporator and/or absorber;
a cutter; and
an actuator which includes a deformable member and means for deforming the deformable member;
and in which the rupturable panel comprises two layers of foil sealed together by a lubricious grease.
20. A can according to claim 19 , in which the deformable member is a bistable portion of the absorber unit.
21. A can according to claim 19 , in which the cutter comprises a porous spike.
22. A can according to claim 19 , in which the deforming means and/or deformable member include a cam profile.