U.S. patent application number 14/394333 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-11 for can end.
The applicant listed for this patent is Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Nicholas James Caunter, Christopher Paul Ramsey, Lucy Winstanley.
Application Number | 20150158627 14/394333 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46261635 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150158627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramsey; Christopher Paul ;
et al. |
June 11, 2015 |
CAN END
Abstract
A can end (2) for a drinks can (1). The can end (2) is provided
with a tab (5) attached to the can end (2) with a rivet (6). The
tab (5) is initially flush against the can end (2), causing
rotation to be restricted by friction between the tab (5) and the
can end (2). However, once the drinks can (1) has been opened, the
tab (5) is raised from the can end (2) and is easily rotatable
about the rivet (5) to form a rotatable pointer. Additionally, the
can end (2) includes two raised portions (13) disposed on either
side of the tab (5), each raised portion (13) being arranged to
limit the degree of rotation of the tab (5) about the rivet (6)
Inventors: |
Ramsey; Christopher Paul;
(Oxfordshire, GB) ; Caunter; Nicholas James;
(Oxfordshire, GB) ; Winstanley; Lucy;
(Gloucestershire, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. |
Alsip |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
46261635 |
Appl. No.: |
14/394333 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
April 19, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/058228 |
371 Date: |
October 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/270 ;
413/14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2517/0053 20130101;
B65D 51/245 20130101; B21D 51/443 20130101; B65D 2517/0011
20130101; B65D 17/4012 20180101; B21D 51/383 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00; B21D 51/38 20060101 B21D051/38; B21D 51/44 20060101
B21D051/44; B65D 51/24 20060101 B65D051/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2012 |
GB |
1206989.4 |
Claims
1. A can end for a drinks can , the can end having a tab attached
to the can end by a rivet, wherein the tab has a first
configuration in which the tab is flush against a top surface of
the can end, such that rotation of the tab is restricted by
friction between the tab and the top surface of the can end, and
wherein the tab has a second configuration after the drinks can has
been opened, in which the tab is raised from the top surface of the
can end such that the tab is easily rotatable about the rivet to
form a rotatable pointer, characterised in that the can end
includes two raised portions disposed on the top surface of the can
end on either side of the tab, wherein each raised portion is
arranged to limit a degree of rotation of the tab about the
rivet.
2. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the tab further
comprises a marker located at a handle end of the tab, the marker
being formed by any of a hole, a depression or a raised area in the
handle end.
3. The can end according to claim 2, further comprising two raised
portions disposed on the can end either side of the tab, wherein a
rotation of the tab causes an interaction between the marker and
one of the raised portions at a predetermined angle of rotation of
the tab about the rivet to provide an indication of a limit of
rotation of the tab.
4. The can end according to claim 2, comprising further raised
portions disposed on the can end, wherein a rotation of the tab
causes an interaction between the marker and one of the raised
portions at a predetermined angle of rotation of the tab about the
rivet to provide an indication of an incremental degree of rotation
of the tab.
5. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the tab comprises a
marker located at a handle end of the tab, the marker being formed
by any of printing and laser etching.
6. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the tab comprises a
strengthened area at a location around the rivet.
7. A method of making a can end for a drinks can, the method
comprising: positioning a can end with a tab attached to the can
end by a rivet, wherein once the drinks can has been opened, the
tab is rotatable about the rivet to form a rotatable pointer,
wherein the can end has two raised portions on the can end either
side of the tab, wherein each raised portion is arranged to limit a
degree of rotation of the tab about the rivet.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising providing
the tab with a marker located at a handle end of the tab, the
marker being formed by any of a hole, a depression, or a raised
area in the handle end.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising providing a
plurality of raised portions on the can end, the plurality of
raised portions being arranged to interact with the marker during a
rotation of the tab in order to provide any of a tactile indication
of a limit of rotation and an incremental degree of rotation of the
tab.
10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising providing a
marker located at a handle end of the tab by any of printing or
laser etching.
11. A container comprising a can end as claimed in claim 1, the can
end fastened to close an access opening of a container body.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of can ends.
[0002] Can ends, in particular for cans that contain beverages, are
provided with tabs (also known as ring pulls) to allow access to
the contents of the can. The can end comprises an openable area
that is intended to form an opening in the can end. The openable
area is typically defined by a scored line in the can end. When a
force is applied to the openable area, the scored line will break
in preference to any other area of the can end, and produce an
opening in the can end through which the contents can be
accessed.
[0003] A tab is affixed to the can end via a rivet or other fixing
means. A nose end of the tab is adjacent to the openable area, and
the opposite end of the tab is shaped so as to be easily
manipulated by a user. When the user wishes to open the can, he
lifts the tab. This causes the tab to pivot about the rivet so that
the nose end of the tab presses against the openable area. This
provides sufficient force to break the openable area and open the
can end.
[0004] Conventionally, once the can end has been opened, the tab
has no more use and becomes redundant.
BACKGROUND ART
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,077 B (HOWARD L. ROSE) Feb. 20, 1996
the applicant describes how indicia can be provided on the end
panel of a beverage container and the tab can be rotated to point
to one of the indicia to avoid inadvertent use by another. This
general idea is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,349 B
(EUGENE JR. ET EL.) Apr. 25, 2000 and is developed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,244,456 B (DENIS J. HANLON) Jun. 12, 2001 which describes how
such an identification system includes a series of discrete areas
and each discrete area is configurable from an original condition
to a visibly different condition.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved can
end. Although it has been acknowledged in the prior art that a
further use can be made of the tab after the can end has been
opened and the tab is rotatable about the rivet, the inventors have
realised that after opening the drinks can, rotation of the tab is
largely unrestricted. Therefore, the invention proposes that the
can end may comprise two raised portions disposed on the can end
either side of the tab. Each raised portion is arranged to limit a
degree of rotation of the tab about the rivet. This prevents the
tab from blocking the aperture that allows a user access to the
contents of the drink can.
[0007] The tab optionally further comprises a marker located at a
handle end of the tab. The marker may be formed by a hole in the
handle end, a depression in the handle end, or a raised area in the
handle end. As a further option, the can end is further provided
with two raised portions disposed on the can end either side of the
tab. In this case, rotation of the tab causes an interaction
between the marker and one of the raised portions at a
predetermined angle of rotation of the tab about the rivet to
provide an indication of a limit of rotation of the tab.
Furthermore, the can end may be provided with further raised
portions disposed on the can end, wherein a rotation of the tab
causes an interaction between the marker and one of the raised
portions at a predetermined angle of rotation of the tab about the
rivet to provide an indication of an incremental degree of rotation
of the tab.
[0008] As an option, the tab further comprises a marker located at
a handle end of the tab, the marker being formed by printing or
laser etching. In order to reduce metal fatigue on the tab, the tab
is optionally provided with a strengthened area at a location
around the rivet.
[0009] According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of
making a can end for a drinks can. A can end is provided with a tab
attached to the can end with a rivet, wherein the tab, once the
drinks can has been opened, is arranged to be rotatable about the
rivet to form a rotatable pointer.
[0010] The method optionally comprises providing two raised
portions on the can end either side of the tab, wherein each raised
portion is arranged to limit a degree of rotation of the tab about
the rivet.
[0011] As an option, the tab is provided with a marker located at a
handle end of the tab, the marker being formed by a hole in the
handle end, a depression in the handle end, or a raised area in the
handle end. The method may further comprise providing a plurality
of raised portions on the can end. The plurality of raised portions
are arranged to interact with the marker during a rotation of the
tab in order to provide a tactile indication of a limit of rotation
and/or an incremental degree of rotation of the tab. The method may
optionally comprise providing a marker located at a handle end of
the tab by any of printing and laser etching.
[0012] According to a third aspect, there is provided a container
comprising a can end as described above in the first aspect. The
can end is fastened to the container to close an access opening of
a container body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the following drawings, in which;
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a can prior to a can end
being opened according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the can after opening of
the can end according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the can end with the tab
rotated according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of a can end according to a
further embodiment of the invention;
MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0018] As described above, once a known can end has been opened,
there is no further use for the tab. It is provided solely to allow
the user to form an opening in the can end to gain access to the
contents of the can. Referring to FIG. 1, a can 1 having a can end
2 is illustrated. The can end 2 is provided with a rim 3. An
openable area 4 is also provided in the can end 2. The openable
area 4 is typically defined by a score line in the can end 2 that
extends partially around the openable area 4 and breaks
preferentially when pressure is applied to the openable area 4.
[0019] A tab 5 is affixed to the can end 2 using a rivet 6. A nose
end 7 of the tab 5 is located adjacent to the openable area 4, and
a handle end 8 of the tab 5 is located at the opposite end to the
nose end 7. The tab 5 sits flush against the can end 2, and is not
easily rotatable owing to friction between the tab 5 and the can
end 2 and the internal pressure of the unopened can 1. The original
position of the tab 5 is such that a main length of the tab 5 and
the openable area 4 of the can end 2 are disposed along a main axis
10 across the can end 2.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the handle end 8 of the tab 5 is
provided with a marker 9 such as an arrow, a chevron, a line, a
triangle, a representation of a pointing finger etc. In the
initial, unopened position of the tab, the marker 9 points along
the main axis 10.
[0021] Turning now to FIG. 2, when a user wishes to open the can 1
he lifts the handle end 8 of the tab 5 away from the can end 2.
This causes the tab 5 to pivot about the rivet 6, and pushes the
nose end 7 of the tab 5 against the openable area 4. The score line
that defines openable area 4 breaks under this pressure. The
openable area 4 is pushed into the body of the can 1 to form an
opening 11 in the can end 2 through which the contents of the can 1
can be accessed. The score line defining the openable area 4 does
not extend completely around the openable area 4. The unscored edge
of the openable area 4 forms a fold as the handle end 8 of the tab
5 is lifted and the nose end of the tab 5 pushes the openable area
4 into the body of the can 1. The openable area 4 remains attached
to the can end 2 at the fold.
[0022] At this point, the tab 5 becomes much more easily rotatable
about the rivet 6, as the tab 5 is slightly raised and no longer
sits flush against the can end 2. Turning to FIG. 3, there is shown
a can 1 having a can end 2 in which the tab has been pulled to form
an opening 11. The tab 5 is rotated about the rivet 6 such that it
is disposed at an angle away from the main axis 10. The tab 5, and
any marker 9 located on the tab 5, now point to a different point
12 on the rim 3 from the original location of the tab 5. The tab 5
effectively becomes a rotatable pointer that can point to different
areas of the can end 2 or around the rim 3 of the can end 2.
[0023] The can end 2, the rim 3 of the can end 2, or an outer wall
of the can 1 just below the can end 2 may be provided with graphics
or decoration to which the tab 5 can be pointed. This may be, for
example, printed or laser etched. The decorations may relate to
branding, customisation of the can, games, predictions, counters
and so on.
[0024] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the marker 9 is shown
as an opening in the handle end 8 of the tab 5. It will be
appreciated that the marker 9 may be applied to the handle end 8 of
the tab 5 in one of many different ways. For example, the handle
end 8 of the tab 5 may have no hole at all, and the marker is
applied to the handle end 8 of the tab 5 using techniques such as
laser etching or printing. Alternatively, the marker 9 may be
applied in the form of a depression or a raised area of the handle
end 8 of the tab 5. Any suitable technique may be used, provided
the marker 9 is easily visible to a user.
[0025] In a further embodiment, the amount of allowable rotation of
the tab 5 about the rivet 6 is restricted. It is undesirable for
the tab 5 to point to a region of the rim 3 or can end in such a
way that the tab 5 blocks the opening 11. This would impede access
to the contents of the can 1. In order to avoid this, the rotation
of the tab 5 about the rivet is limited to, or example, a rotation
of 90.degree. clockwise and 90.degree. anticlockwise from the
original position along the main axis 10, giving a total rotation
of 180.degree.. This not only prevents the tab 5 from blocking the
opening 11, but also reduces metal fatigue of the tab 5 about the
rivet 6 when the tab 5 is repeatedly rotated about the rivet 6.
[0026] There are several ways that rotation of the tab 5 about the
rivet 6 can be restricted to 180.degree.. Referring to FIG. 4, an
exemplary way to restrict rotation is to provide two raised areas
13 on the can end 2. When the tab 5 is rotated 90.degree. either
clockwise or anticlockwise, it abuts one of the two raised areas
13, which restricts further rotation. This gives the user a tactile
indication that the tab 5 should not be rotated any further.
[0027] Another exemplary way, in the case where the marker 9 in the
handle end 8 of the tab 5 is applied as a depression in the handle
end 5, is to provide two raised areas 13 on the can end 2. When the
tab 5 is rotated, the depressed marker 9 forms a raised area on a
lower surface of the handle end 8. When the rotation limit is
reached, the raised area on the underside of the handle end 8 of
the tab 5 caused by the depressed marker 9 abuts one of the raised
areas 13 on the can end 2, indicating to the user the maximum limit
of rotation.
[0028] A further exemplary way to restrict rotation, in the case
where the marker 9 comprises a hole through the handle end 8 of the
tab 5 is to provide two raised areas 13 on the can end 2. When the
tab 5 is rotated to its maximum allowable rotation in either
direction, the marker 9 hole will align with one of the raised
areas 13 and lock into place. Again, 5 this provides an indication
to the user that the maximum allowable rotation of the tab 5 has
been reached. A similar technique can be used where the marker 9 is
a raised area in the handle end 8 of the tab 5. In this case, the
underside of the handle end will include a depression, caused by
the raised marker 9. In this case, the depression on the underside
of the handle end 8 of the tab will interlock with one of the
raised areas 13 on the can end 2.
[0029] In a further exemplary embodiment, further raised areas 14
may be provided. These correspond to incremental positions of the
tab 5 within the allowable amount of rotation. The further raised
areas 14 provide tactile and/or audible indications of an angle of
rotation of the tab 5 at discrete positions. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 4, the marker 9 comprises a hole in the handle end 8
of the tab 5. The hole interacts with a raised area 14 such that,
as the tab 5 is rotated about the rivet 6, the user receives
tactile and audible cues indicating the position of the tab 5 at
certain discrete points.
[0030] It will be appreciated that the further raised areas 14 may
interact with markers 9 consists of a hole or a raised area.
Furthermore, if the marker 9 is formed by making a depression in
the upper surface of the handle end 8 of the tab 5, it effectively
forms a raised area on an underside of the handle end 8 of the tab
5. As the tab 5 is rotated about the pivot 6, the raised area on
the underside of the handle end 8 of the tab 5 will sit between two
further raised areas 14, again providing an audible and tactile
clue to the user as the tab 5 is rotated about the pivot 5.
[0031] As mentioned above, repeated rotation of the tab 5 may case
metal fatigue. Metal fatigue is more likely to be an issue for the
tab 5 where it is attached to the rivet 6 than for the rivet 6
itself. It may be desirable to provide a strengthened area 15 on
the tab 5 at the point where it is attached to the rivet 6, for
example by providing a thicker cross-sectional area.
[0032] It will be appreciated by the person of skill in the art
that various modifications may be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the present
invention. For example, different forms of tactile and/or audio
indicator are described above that indicate to a user when the tab
has been rotated to a particular increment or a preferred limit of
rotation. However, a skilled person will be able to devise
alternative indicators for the tab to interact with the can end in
order to limit rotation or provide an indication of when the tab
has been incrementally rotated to a predetermined angle.
* * * * *