GB2379917A

GB2379917A - A Reclosable Tab for Beverage Cans

Info

Publication number: GB2379917A
Application number: GB0122986A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chil Surk Yoon; Jai-Jun Choung
Original assignee: EU BIOTECH DEV Ltd
Current assignee: EU BIOTECH DEV Ltd
Priority date: 2000-09-25
Filing date: 2001-09-25
Publication date: 2003-03-26
Also published as: GB0122986D0; KR100329127B1; KR20010016144A

Abstract

Disclosed is a can having a can end wall. The can end wall includes an opening panel portion which is delimited by a score line so as to define a discharge opening upon being depressed downward, an opening tab, a reclosing tab and a rivet. The reclosing tab has substantially a cylindrical configuration which is closed at an upper end thereof and opened at a lower end thereof. The opening tab and the reclosing tab are oppositely arranged to each other and integrally connected with each other to define a tab section. Three tab supporting projections are frusto-conically formed on an upper surface of the can end wall, and a cylindrical wall part is integrally formed with the can end wall in such a way as to be closed at an upper end thereof by the opening panel portion.

Description

23799 1 7

CAN HAVING CAN END WALL PROVIDEI) bTITH}lECLCSING TAB BACKGRoUND OE THE INVENTION

5 Fin eld of the Invention The present invention rclal:es to a beverage or beer con having a can end wall provided with a recloslng tab which enables rem. ning liquid contents to be effectively stored and thereby prevents liquid contents spillage from the can after 10 the can trade of aluminum or steel material is initially opened. Description of the Related Ant

Convcntional y, a can for containing alcoholic liquors 1 5 such as beer and a variety of beverages has been widely used throughout: the world in view of its convenience upon use and storage An amount of contents contained in the can generally varies dcgending upon a human race and a regional culture In these days, a volume of a can has been gradually increased in 20 obedience to a personal eating practice. However, because it is the norm that contents are drunk down not at one gull but through several times, once the can is ccened, there exists a need to temporarily store remaining liquid contents. Also, if a user moves while holding the can in his hand, the likelihood 25 of liquid spillage front the can i s increased.

Moreover, in the case that an opening tab:is pulled upward to rupl:ure an opening panel along a score line, since Che opera ng tab is brought into near y close contact with an upper surface of a can end wall of the can, a fingernail of S the user:is apt to be broker: or damaged in the course of pulling upward the open ng tab, whereby trouclesomencss is caused in that he opening tab cannot be cast ly pulled upward.

To core with these problems induced in a stay-on-tab (SOT) type car opening method which is generally ernpioved i0 among a diversity of can opening methods so far known in the art, a structure has been proposed n which an interval between an upper surface of a can end wall and a lower surface of an openly; tab is increased from 0.82-1.OS mm to 1.52-1 95 rem so as to allow the opening Cab to be pulled upward in an 15 easy arid safe manner. Korean Utility Model Appllcatlon No. 96-29543 disc3.oscs a sanitary cup which is f1ttcd on a beverage Con in such a way as to enable a user to share contents with another person in a convenient manner.

Hercinafter, descriptions will be given for a multitude

20 of invert-ions which are known in the art In Korean, Utility Model Publication No. 92-1112, a covering piece which is made Of synthetic resinous material, i5 attached to a].owe' surface of a hardly end of an opening tab win-, On handle end i s opposed to a discharge opening of a 5 beverage can. Sy rotating the opening tab through 180^ about

rivet and pressing downward the handle end of the opening tab into the discharge opening, the discharge opening can be rcclosed by the covering piece. Korean Utility Model Publication No. 92-1142 is s mi].ar to U.S. PaLent No. 5 5,779,087 in that the discharge opening is reclosed by the Flouring piece. In Korean Utility Model Publication No. 92 1142, since an inner edge portion of a can cnd wall defining tic discharge opening and an outer edge por1:ion of the coverirtg piece arc rolled and pushed inward of the beverage 10 can, when reopening the beverage can, the probability of a Serfs Eingernai.: 1:o be broRcn oa: damaged is increased. In Korean Utility Modal Publication No. 2000-182053, a covering part is formed on an upper surf ace of a handle end of an opening tab which handle end is opposed to discharge opening 16 of a beverage can. By bending the handle end toward a lever end of the opening tab through approximately 180 with respect to a rivet and pressing downward the handle end of the opening tab, the discharge opening can be recloscd by the covering part. In Kctcan C't lity Mode]. Publication No. 2000 20 182058, a problems is caused in that the handle end of the opening tab cannot be fully bent through 1BO toward the lever end.

In U.S. Patent No. 5, 779, 087, a reclosing tab which is made from an elastically ceformable rigid plaster c material and 25 has a sufficient size capable of covering a dischar c opening,

is mounted to a lower surface of a natal opening tab, Cold a tab opening sl:rip Is projected3.y conme_ted to a top outward side of the reclosing tab. In U 5. Patcot No. 5, 779, 037, when i t is necessary to reclose a discharge opening defined in a 5 can end wall, the reclosing tab is rotated approximately 180 about an attaching post/r vet. Then, by gushing downward the reclo;ir g tab into l:he discharge opening, the discharge opening is reclosed. In U.S. Patent NC. 5, -/79, oar, since the reclosing tab made froIr. the plastic material must be separated 10 from,;hs metal opening lab so as to enable a can to be recycled, bothersomeness is provoked from the standpoint of recyling of resources. Also, as described above, when the reclos ng tab is pressed downward af1:er being rotated by 180 so as to reclose the discharge opening, since an inner edge 15 portion of a can end wall de:Eining the discharge opening arid an outer edge portion of the reclos ng tab arc rolled and pushed inward of the can, it is difficult Lo reopen the can.

While O.S. Patent No. 5, 785,199 discloses an opening and closing protector which is made from a plastic material, a 20 process for manufacturing the opening and closing protector is complicated, and a manufacturing cost is increased. In U.S. Patent No. 5,452,818, a clip is attached to a lower end surface of a can in a manner such that the cup ls used to reclose a clischar c opening, which deteriorates s ack, b.iliLv and 25 shippability of the can. In U.S. Patent No. 5,351, 853, an I.

shaped reclosing tab is separately manufactured in a manner such that the reclosing tab can be fitted below an opening tub, and in U.S. Patent No. 5,108,QO,, a rec].csina tab is attached sac a lower surface of a can bottom. The rcc'osing tabs described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,351 853 and 5, on, 003 are inconvenient to use. Further, in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,887,712, I- City 4,842,15a, 4,979,635 and reclosing tabs are attached to can end walls along with opening tabs so that the rcclos ng tabs and opening tabs can be rotated In such a way 10 as to reclose respective discharge openings. However, in these patents, since means for securely maintaininq the reclosing tabs within the discharge openings defined in the can end walls are not provided, reliable sealing cannot be ensured. 15 As a consccuence, all of the above-described can Closing devices suffer from one or more of the following defects: O A great deal of effort and cost is required for manufacturing those can reclosing devices.

20 0 Significant retoo ir.g of existing equipment is required.

O Reliable seal no of a discharge opening cannot be ensured, and those can roclosing devices are inconvenient to use.

Due to the fact that lower surfaces of reclosing tabs are exposed to the outside, those can reclosing devices raise a 25 consumer sanitary question.

À Since entire configurations of cans are changed, the effective use of shelf, storage and shipping space, that is, stackability and shippability of the cans is reduced.

5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a can in which structures of a can end wall and a reclosing tab are modified into more convenient-to-use, safe lo and simpler ones, and sealing of a discharge opening defined in the can end wall and sanitization of the can are simultaneously ensured when the discharge opening is reclosed by virtue of the reclosing tab.

According to the present invention there is provided a can having 15 a can end wall, the can end wall including an opening panel portion which is delimited by a score line so as to define a discharge opening upon being depressed downwards, an opening tab, a reclosing tab and a rivet, wherein the reclosing tab has a substantially cylindrical configuration, being closed at an upper, in use, end thereof and open, or

only closed by a temporary cover, at a lower, in use, end thereof, the can end wall having a cylindrical wall part projecting therefrom around the discharge opening and with which the reclosing tab may co-operatively engage in use to thereby close the discharge opening.

Preferably the opening tab and reclosing tab are oppositely arranged to each other and integrally connected with each other to define a tab section.

Suitably a plurality of tab supporting projections are provided on o an upper surface of the can end wall.

Preferably the reclosing tab (220) has on its cylindrical part (222) an annular flange (223) which co-operatively engages with an annular groove (152) in the substantially cylindrical wall part (151) of the can end wall ( l DO).

Suitably the annular flange (223) has a cut-out portion (224) formed therein.

Further inventive features of the present invention are as set out in 20 the claims hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention w111 become more apparent arts' a reading of the rol2cwing deta. lcd aescripLicr when taken conjunction with -:ac drawings, in which: 5 FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating an upper portion of a tan Sheaving a can e-d pal provided with c reclos>.g tab in zcccrdancc wth an embodi.mcrt Cal the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partial exploded pe spcc_ ve view 10 iliustrat.ina the up-e- portion of the can having the can cod wall provided with the reclosing tab in accordance with the embolden- of the present invention; FIG Ja is a plan view lllustrat_r.; an initial status cf a tab section, in the can having the can end wall provided 15 with the rc 7osing tab in accordance with the hod'mcnt c the present invention; FIG. 3b is a pain vice 1llustratlng a state wherein the tab section is rotated by 160, in t;.e car having the can end wall provided with the reclosing tab in accordance with the 20 e oodimert of the Present invention; FIG. 1S a par-'z].ly enlarged and broken-awcy perspective v_e' illustrating the initial status of the tab section, in the car. having the car end wall provided with the reclosing tab 1n accordance watt. the e. bodiment of the present 5 invention;

hi FIGs. Sa and 5b are each a partially enlarged and broken-away perspective view of a respective one of two variants of the preferred embodiment illustrating the state wherein an opening panel is ruptured along a score line to define a discharge opening and the discharge 5 opening is reclosed by the reclosing tab, in the can having the can end wall provided with the reclosing tab in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention - in the Figure Sa variant the cylindrical parts of the tab and can endwall are straight sided, whereas in the Figure Sb variant they have an inter-engaging annular flange and groove, o respectively.

FIG.6 is a bottom perspective view illustrating an appearance of the tab section, in the can having the can end wall provided with the reclosing tab in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible the same reference

IN numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to

refer to the same or like parts.

As shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, in a can having a can end wall provided with a reclosing tab, the can end wall 100 is coupled to an 5 upper end of the can.

In the can according to the present invention, a tab section 200 and a rivet 300 are provided on the can end wall \ TO'

100. Three tab supporting projections 110, 120 and 120' arc projectodly formed on an upper surface of the can end wall 100. A rivet fluting hole 140 through which the rivet 300 is fitted, is defined in the can end wall 150- Also, an opening 5 panel portion 150 is delimited by a score l ne on the can end wall lOO. When the opening panel portion 150 is depressed downward, z discharge opening is defined and contents can be discharged out of the can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the three tab supporting proj ectionS lo llO, 120 and 120' and the opening panel portion 150 are opposed to each ether while being centered on the rivet fitting hole. 140. 'the three tab supporting projections 110, :120 and 12.0' are formed by pressing the can end wall 100 in a . manner such that the tab supporting projections 110, 12Q and 15 120' frusto-conically project from the upper surface of the can end wall-.OO. One tab supporting projection llO of the three tab supporting projections llO, 120 and 12.0' is formed higher than other two tab supporting projections 120 and 120', in a manner such that the one tab supporting projection llO 20 can support a reclosing tab 220 as will be described later, which constitute the tab section 200. The opening panel portion 150 has substantially a circular plate-shaped configuration. A cylinarlc l wall part 151 is integrally formed with the can cad wall loo in a manner such that the 25 cylindrical wall part lS1 is closed at an upper end thereof by A\

the opening panel portion 150. The cylindrical wall part 153 has substantially a ring-shaped cross-section ( see FrGs. 4 and 5). Paper material such as tctrapack harry predetermined thickness, shape and size' and silicon-coated aluminum or 5 material such as aluminum or the like, from which the can is made, are attached to an upper surface of the reclosing tab 220. The one tab supporting pro ecticn 110 has a height of about 1. S-2 mm, and other two tab supporti.r>g pro: actions 120 and 120' have a bright of about J.-1. 5 mm. That is to say, the 10 one tab supporting proj action 110 has a height which is different from that of other two tab supporting projections 20 and 120'.

As can be readily soon from FIGs. 1 and 2, the tab ,. section 200 comprises all opening tab 210 and the reclosing tab 15 220 which axe oppositely arranged to each other and integrally connected with each other. While the opening tab 210 has the same structure as the conventional opening tab, the reclosing tab 220 has substantially a cylindrical configuration which is closed at an uppor end thereof and operated at a lone end 20 thereat. PI cylindrical side wall of the reclosing tub 220 has a curved side wall portion 222 and a cut-out portion. The cut-acl: portion is formed in a rotating direction of the reclosi: g tab 220, and a remaining portion of the cylindrical side wall of the reclosing tab 220 defines the curved side 25 wall portion 22z (see FIG. 6). As tees, shown in FIG. 5 by a 1;L

! partially enlarged and broken-away perspective view, when the tab section 200 is rotated by 180 to enable the xeclosing tab 220 to reclosc the discharge opening, the curved side wall portion 222 of the reclosing tab 220 is engaged with the 5 cylindrical wall part 151 which is integrally formed with the car end wall 100, and thereby, effective sealing of the discharge opening is ensured. Further, as can be rcadlly seen from FIG 6, due to the fact that the cut-out portion is formed in the cy].indr:.ca: side wall of the reclosing tab 220, 10 when the recJ. osing tab 220 is rotated to reclose and reopen the discharge opening, the curved side wall portion 222 of the reclosing tab 220 can be easily engaged with and disengaged from the cylindrical wall part 1C1. An inner diameter of the cylindrica1 side wall of the reclosing tab 220 is determined IS to be slightly larger than that of the cylindrical wall part 151. A height of the cylindrical side wall of the reclosing tab 220 is established in a manner such that the rotating movement of the reclosing tab 220 for Closing the discharge opening is not disturbed by the cylindrical wall part 151. A 0 rotation knob 221 is projectedly formed on an upper surface of and adjacent to an edge of the reclosing tab 220, so that the tab section 200 is easily rotated while the rotation knob 221 is grasped by the hand. The rotation knob 221 has a height of about 1-2 mm.

25 The tab section 20Q constructed as mentioned above is

assembled to the can end wall 100 by means of the rivet 300.

In a state as shown in FISK 1 wherein the discharge openly is not opened, the opening tab 210 of the tab section 200 is positioned above the opening panel portion 150 of the can end 5 wall loo, and the reclosing tab 220 is-positioned abowc the three tab supporting projections 110, 120 and 120' which are formed on the upper surface of the can end wall 100, In the can having the can end wall loo and the tab section 20C which are assembled in this way, as a handle end To of the tao section 200 is pulied upward, the opening panel portion 150 is ruptured along the score line to define the discharge opening, and by thi.6r contents or the can is able to be drunk. When it is necessary to reclose the discharge opening, by grasping the rotation knob 221 and rotating the 15 tab section 200 by laO about the rivet 300 which serves as a rotation shaft, tne dischar c opening con be rcclosed by the reclosing tab 220. At this time, the three tab supporting projections llOr 120 and 120' having different heights function as a leverage which holds the opening tab 210 at a 20 raised location. By this, because the reclosing tab 220 is brought into close contact with the upper end of the cylindrica: wall part 151, the contents of the can are prevented from being leaking out. Sluce the cylindrical wall part lbl and the curved side wall portion 222 of the rcclosing 25 tab 220 arc engaged with each ether around the discharge \-\

opening, the discharge opening can be easily reopened (see FIG. 5).

Due to the fact that The cylindrical wall part 151 and the curved side wall portion 222 of the reclosing tab 220 have 5 circular and curvca configurations, respectively, when the discharge opening is reclosed by the reclosing tab 220 as shown in FIG. 5, perfect reclosing of the discharge opening is ensured. In addition, due to the fact that the cutout portion of the cylindrical sj.dc wall of the reclosing tab 220 10 is formed in the rotating direction of the reclosing tab 220 and the remaining portion of the cylindrical side wall of the reclosing tab 220 defines:he curved side wall portion 222 Isee FIG. 6), the rotating movement of the reclosing tab 220 can be eased, and thereby the discharge opening can be easily 15 reopened.

In embodying the present invention, since the rotation knob 221 having a predctenmined height and serving as a rotation facilitating projection is formed on the upper surface of the reclosing tab 220 of the tab section 200 which 20 inciodes the reclosing tab 2.20 as well as the opening tab 210, the rotation of the tab section 200 can be further eased. The cylindrical wall part 151 is projected upward by about 1 mm from the upper surtcce of the can end wall lOC.

Upon actually using the can according to the present 25 invention, as can be readily seen from FIGs. 4 and 5, as the \b

handle end of the tab section 200, that its, the reclosing tab 220 is pulled upward, the opening tab 210 depresses the opening panel portion 150 which i delimited by the score line on the can end was 1 100. lay this, as the opening panel port, on 150 is ruptured along the score l i ne, the d scharge - opening is de:Clned. At this time, as shown 1n FIG. 4, due to the presence of the three tab supporting projections 110, 120 arid 120' which arc formed on the upper surface of the can end wall 100 below the reclosing tab 220, a sufficient spatial 10 d.i.stance of no less than 2 man is secured between the reclosing tab 220 and the upper surface of the car end wall 100. By this, when the can is opened, the probability of a user's fingernail to be broken or damaged can be avoided. Then, if . it is necessary to reclose the discharge opening of the can, 15 by grasping the rotation knob 221 of the reclosing tar:, 220 and rotating the tab section 200 by 180 , as the rcclosing tab 220 is placed on the upper end of the cylindrical wal' part 151 of the can end wall 100, the discharge opening can be eficotively reclosed. At this time, the three tab supporting 20 projections 110, 120 and 120' and the rivet 300 cooperatively function as the leverage which holds the opening tab 210 in the raised location, and therchy, the cclosir.g tab 220 can be brought into close contact with the upper end of the cy].indri.cal wall part 151.

25 According to the present invention, an opened lower end

of the reclosing tab 220 of the tab section 200 is closed by a vinyl sheet or an aluminum. foil (not shown) in the course of manufacturing the reclosing tab 220, whereby the rcc'osing tab 220 can be used in a state wherein can tization is ensured.

5 Beforc the reclosing tab 220 is rotated to roclose the discharge opening and thereby temporarily store the remaining contents of the can, the vinyl sheet or the aluminum foil which is attached to the opened lower and of the reclosin; tab 220, can be detached therefrom by the hand.

10 As a result, the can having the can end wall provided with the rcclosing tab according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned Above, affords advantages in that, since the reposing tab has a simple s ructurc, the can is able to be manufactured in an easy manner and thereby economy 15 is improved. Also, the can is manufactured in such a way as not to significantly change an existing manufacturing process.

Ire particular, because the possibility of a f ngernail of the user to be broken or damaged upon pulling upward a har,dlc end of a tab section is eliminated and a discharge opening can be 20 easily opened and reclcscd, user convenience is ensured.

further, other than a can end wall having a conventional Closing tab, a configuration of the can end wall according to the present inventior is not altered, and thereby, the effccti re use of shelf, storage and shipping space, that is, 25 s-ac]cabillty and shippability of the can are not adversely

influenced. Furthermore, the can end wa11 according to the present invention exhibits excellent sea' ing capability upon reclosi.ng the discharge opening.

Moreovcr, in the present invention, due to the fact that 5 vinyl sheet or an aluminum foil is attached co an opened lower end of the reclosing tab in the course of manufacturing the reclosing tab, the reclosing tab does not raise a consumer sanitary question.

In the drawl nits and specification, there have been

lo disc osed typical preferred embodiments of the invention arid, although specific teems are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense orgy and nct for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A can having a can end wall, the can end wall including an opening panel portion which is delimited by a score line so as to define a discharge opening upon 5 being depressed downwards, an opening tab, a reclosing tab and a rivet, wherein the reclosing tab has a substantially cylindrical configuration, being closed at an upper, in use, end thereof and open, or only closed by a temporary cover, at a lower, in use, end thereof, the can end wall having a cylindrical wall part projecting therefrom around the discharge opening and with which the reclosing tab may co 10 operatively engage in use to thereby close the discharge opening.

2. A can as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening tab and reclosing tab are oppositely arranged to each other and integrally connected with each other to define a tab section.

3. A can as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plurality of tab supporting projections are provided on an upper surface of the can end wail.

4. A can as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tab supporting projections are 20 generally frusto-conical or hemispherical in shape.

5. A can as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a rotation knob is provided projecting from an upper surface of the tab section.

25

6. A can as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lower end of the reclosing tab is closed by a temporary cover comprising a vinyl sheet or aluminium foil in the course of manufacturing the reclosing tab.

7. A can as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are at least three tab 30 supporting projections formed on the can end wall and at least one of the tab supporting projections is higher than others of the tab supporting projections.

8. A can as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the substantially cylindrical configuration of the reclosing tab comprises a cylindrical side wall having a curved 35 side wall portion and a cut-out portion, the. cut-out portion being formed on a side of Iq

N the reclosing tab so that when the tab is rotated toward the discharge opening the reclosing tab may slot over the cylindrical side wall portion of the can end wall.

9. A can as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reclosing tab (220) 5 has on its cylindrical part (222) an annular flange (223) which co-operatively engages with an annular groove (152) in the substantially cylindrical wall part (151) of the can end wall (100).

10. A can as claimed in claim 8 and claim 9 wherein the annular flange (223) has 10 said cut-out portion (224) formed therein.

11. A can having a can end wall provided with a reclosing tab substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.