Someone else has just noted how the prevalance of discarded plastic six-pack can holders is a detriment to the environment.
But it occurs to me that we don't really need a holder at all - we can simply glue the cans together for packaging and shipment. Minimal fuss, simply peel a can off when you're ready to use it.
In fact, this would probably be strong enough to hold more than six cans together - we could also use it to replace the cardboard packaging currently used for twelve packs.
I don't know if there is an environmentally sound (i.e., decomposing) rubber cement, but since it's stuck to the can, the can recycling process will generally take care of it anyway.-- DrCurry, Jan 30 2006 Snow fencing from six-pack holders Six-pack_20snow_20fencing [DrCurry, Jan 30 2006] or adapt the little ringpulls - weld them together in chains http://www.goodwin-...mages/ringpulls.jpgyeah, but at least they can be recycled can't they? [po, Jan 30 2006] (?) 3000 will make an artificial leg. http://www.gulf-dai...=BNEW&IssueID=28306 [po, Jan 30 2006] Mercury causes Aluminum to "rust." http://www.popsci.c...004eecbccdrcrd.htmlHoly Corundum, Batman! [csea, Feb 01 2006] Manufacturers use foodsafe glue on a lot of things these days - labels on baking pans, for example. And that's some strong stuff. I would think that a dollop of glue on each can would hold them together fairly well.-- shapu, Jan 30 2006 Nice idea. It's time we look for solutions like this to start protecting our environment and start solving the growing trash disposal problems. Now, if they could make 'dissolving' beer cans.-- xandram, Jan 30 2006 If they made "dissolving" beer cans - they would dissolve!-- roleohibachi, Jan 30 2006 well let's see, after one drank the beer, you spray on some aluminum dissolving acid and there it goes.poof-- xandram, Jan 30 2006 Well, if you lined the can with something that reacted with oxygen which would then destroy the can, that could work. Beer is pretty much oxygen free, so until the can is open, the degredation is held at bay.-- Galbinus_Caeli, Jan 30 2006 But then they would regain the loss in saved six-pack can holders.
I like this idea a lot. I think that it really could work. As for the cans themselves, use minimal labeling and just melt them down to make new ones.
Bun.-- dbmag9, Jan 30 2006 you're so sincere - you crack me up!-- po, Jan 30 2006 DC, this just makes me want to yell - "yee ha!"-- po, Jan 30 2006 Of course, the most environmentally sound way to drink beer is --> kegs.
And, as much as I hate drunk drivers, they can actually help the environment by reducing the # of consumers.
Oh, and before I forget: good idea![+].-- sophocles, Jan 31 2006 Drunken Bird Flu?-- shapu, Jan 31 2006 Rather than glue, the cans could be connected with a tin six pack holder that would fully release the can when it was pried upwards. The holder could be pressure crimped on the cans edge much the same way as the top is attached to the can itself.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 31 2006 I drink the beer, put the torn-up can in a bottle, add some aluminium dissolving acid (hydrochloric), put a balloon over the neck to collect the hydrogen, tie a strip of paper to the balloon, light, release, float.. float.. Bang! No really, I do. +-- spidermother, Jan 31 2006 I like the idea of pulling off can, whilst a strand of glue stretches across the room, like an umbilical cord.......-- xenzag, Jan 31 2006 ...then snaps back once you've finished the can?-- DrCurry, Jan 31 2006 exactly !-- xenzag, Jan 31 2006 Not entirely convinced - Sticky cans anyone? On saying that I am sure that an appropriate adhesive, applied in a well engineered way would do a good job (and not be sticky afterwards).So + from me.
However, this gives me a slightly more halfbaked idea:Lego brick shaped containers of booze!(Just saw [UB]s comment about locking cans: Boo!)-- Jinbish, Jan 31 2006 Oops.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 31 2006 that sticky yucky stuff that holds cds to magazines is pretty strong.-- po, Jan 31 2006 //Now, if they could make dissolving beer cans.//
Just dip the can in mercury and it'll rust away in a minute or two.-- MikeOxbig, Feb 01 2006 I am sure that hilarious glue-based drinking games would ensue.-- bungston, Feb 01 2006 Yeah I suppose so. I'm with idea until the next guy comes along....hmmm-- shinobi, Feb 01 2006 I thought [MOb] was kidding. But not so! see [link]-- csea, Feb 01 2006 [csea] Back in the Good Old Days of smelly and dangerous school experiments, our chemistry teacher demonstrated this. He scored the surface of a sheet of aluminium plate, rubbed on a little mercury, and then suspended the plate upside-down. We watched as thin sheets of oxide "grew" from the score marks, reaching a few millimetres in length before falling off.Of course, dipping a whole can in mercury is quite difficult, as it will be very buoyant, and the inside of the can is probably coated in resin, which will resist the mercury.-- coprocephalous, Feb 01 2006 Aluminium is quite environment friendly material for cans, as long as the majority of cans are recycled.-- Minimal, Feb 01 2006 As a Yankee originally unfamiliar with the term cow gum, I thought the name was touting some sort of ab-cruncher for cattle. I had a nice vision of an infomercial for the ‘Bovine Belly Blaster’ and countless testimonials by cows attributing their total lack of marbling to the device.
After discovering the invention doesn't include any directly edible cow products, I default to my second favorite pass-time, magnets and correspondingly magnet cans. Sure it would drive up production, shipping & retail costs not to mention it likely has a more significant net impact on the environment, but no sticky cans or little plastic thingies.-- Seven, Feb 01 2006 As far as the cans go, just put a big sealed container of lye in you Hydrogen powered car. Toss your used cans into that can. This created hydrogen. Drinking and driving may still be an issue, but you recycle the can and create fuel for your car at the same time..-- dlapham, Feb 01 2006 Until you crash and get these really cool scar/burns.-- shapu, Feb 01 2006 How about casing the sixes in a block of styrofoam? Ice is nice, but leaves rings on furniture.
At least that "might" degrade faster and wouldn't choke animals-- reensure, Feb 01 2006 I wonder if this packaging method can withstand the rigors of mechanical handling, transport and manual shelf stocking if you'd actually be able to pull a can free, especially when they're attached on two sides.
Without the nifty plastic holder's finger friendly design, I wonder if it might be harder to actually pick up a six pack.
Would be interesting to see if it could work.-- half, Feb 01 2006 I'll buy a six-pack and some rubber cement today. I'll let you know.-- shapu, Feb 01 2006 This is one of those ideas that should be baked already, but technicalities make it difficult. Still quite bunnable.-- riemann_ranger, Feb 01 2006 //mercury attacking aluminium// A trace of a mercury salt can be used to unlock aluminium's power as a reducing agent in chemical reactions. I thought that this _did_ work through amalgamation - the oxide layer does not adhere to the constantly forming amalgum. The word used [link] is 'infiltrate' but that may be a sloppy term for 'amalgamate'. Also, iron rusts, other metals don't. Correct me if I'm wrong.-- spidermother, Feb 02 2006 What about just sealing the cans in plastic the same way they do with cases of soda? Rather than whole case just shrinkwrap a 6 pack.-- Jscotty, Feb 02 2006 Then you're left with a pile of plastic, which is what we trying to avoid in the first place.-- DrCurry, Feb 02 2006 Come on ... bigger cans with wire twist handles, mug style. You know you want 'em.-- reensure, Feb 02 2006 Make the plastic thingie out of a big pretzel and enjoy a snack with your beverage.-- Seven, Feb 03 2006 //Make the plastic thingie out of a big pretzel and enjoy a snack with your beverage// At last, another use for biltong/jerky!-- coprocephalous, Feb 03 2006 JERKEY!! Perfect, it can even be used by the same packaging machinery, although I've had some that may be less degradable than the plastics.-- Seven, Feb 03 2006 random, halfbakery