U.S. patent application number 15/359741 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-24 for re-closable container lid.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daryl Afshin. Invention is credited to Daryl Afshin.
Application Number | 20180141702 15/359741 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62144749 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180141702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Afshin; Daryl |
May 24, 2018 |
RE-CLOSABLE CONTAINER LID
Abstract
A container top for a container includes a stay-on tab mechanism
pivotally and rotatably attached by a rivet. The stay-on tab
mechanism includes a tab section integrally connected with and
folded over a cover section, wherein the rivet acts as a fulcrum
for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section
is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least
partially severs a displaceable portion of the container top. The
cover section and the tab section can be rotated around the rivet
between a position where the cover section covers the displaceable
portion and another position where the cover section does not cover
the displaceable portion such that the user can selectably close
and reopen the container after the displaceable portion has been
severed.
Inventors: |
Afshin; Daryl; (Andover,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Afshin; Daryl |
Andover |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62144749 |
Appl. No.: |
15/359741 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2517/0014 20130101;
B65D 2517/0044 20130101; B65D 2517/0029 20130101; B65D 17/4014
20180101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00 |
Claims
1. A container top for a container, comprising: a top plate
including a displaceable portion defined by a scoring line, said
displaceable portion being at least partially severable from the
remainder of the top plate along the scoring line to open the
container and to enable contents of the container to flow out of
the container; a rivet; a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and
rotatably attached by the rivet to the top plate, said stay-on tab
mechanism comprising a tab section integrally connected with and
folded over a cover section, wherein the rivet acts as a fulcrum
for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section
is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least
partially severs the displaceable portion of the top plate to open
the container, and wherein the cover section is configured to cover
the displaceable portion of the top plate, and the cover section
and tab section can be rotated around the rivet between a position
where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another
position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable
portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the
container after the displaceable portion of the top plate has been
at least partially severed.
2. The container top of claim 1, wherein the tab section is folded
over the cover section at a fold line forming the second end of the
tab section.
3. The container top of claim 1, wherein the stay-on tab mechanism
comprises a single piece of stamped sheet metal.
4. The container top of claim 1, wherein the cover section has a
shape similar to and larger than the displaceable portion of the
top plate.
5. The container top of claim 1, wherein the container top is
configured to cover a beverage can body.
6. The container top of claim 1, wherein the user can selectably
move the cover section over and away from the displaceable portion
by pushing the first end of the tab section around the rivet.
7. The container top of claim 1, wherein the rivet extends through
the tab section and the cover section of the stay-on tab
mechanism.
8. The container top of claim 1, wherein the cover section includes
a sealing material on at least a portion of a lower surface thereof
to substantially seal the container when the cover section covers
the displaceable portion.
9. The container top of claim 1, wherein the rivet is located at
the center of the top plate.
10. The container top of claim 1, wherein the container is a food
can.
11. A container, comprising: a hollow container body; a top plate
covering the container body, said top plate including a
displaceable portion defined by a scoring line, said displaceable
portion being at least partially severable from the remainder of
the top plate along the scoring line to open the container to
enable contents of the container to flow out of the container; a
rivet; a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached by
the rivet to the top plate, said stay-on tab mechanism comprising a
tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover
section, wherein the rivet acts as a fulcrum for the tab section
such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user,
an opposite second end engages and at least partially severs the
displaceable portion of the top plate to open the container, and
wherein the cover section is configured to cover the displaceable
portion of the top plate, and the cover section and tab section can
be rotated around the rivet between a position where the cover
section covers the displaceable portion and another position where
the cover section does not cover the displaceable portion such that
the user can selectably close and reopen the container after the
displaceable portion of the top plate has been at least partially
severed.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the tab section is folded
over the cover section at a fold line forming the second end of the
tab section.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein the stay-on tab mechanism
comprises a single piece of stamped sheet metal.
14. The container of claim 11, wherein the cover section has a
shape corresponding to and larger than the displaceable portion of
the top plate.
15. The container of claim 11, wherein the container is a beverage
can.
16. The container of claim 1, wherein the user can selectably move
the cover section over and away from the displaceable portion by
pushing the first end of the tab section around the rivet.
17. The container of claim 1, wherein the rivet extends through the
tab section and the cover section of the stay-on tab mechanism.
18. The container of claim 1, wherein the rivet extends through the
tab section but not the cover section of the stay-on tab
mechanism.
19. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover section includes a
sealing material on at least a portion of a lower surface thereof
to substantially seal the container when the cover section covers
the displaceable portion.
20. A container top for a food container, comprising: a top plate
including a displaceable portion defined by a scoring line, said
displaceable portion being at least partially severable from the
remainder of the top plate along the scoring line to open the
container and to enable contents of the container to flow out of
the container; a fastener; a tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably
attached by the fastener to the top plate, said tab mechanism
comprising a tab section integrally connected with and folded over
a cover section, wherein the fastener acts as a fulcrum for the tab
section such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by
a user, an opposite second end engages and at least partially
severs the displaceable portion of the top plate to open the
container, and wherein the cover section is configured to cover the
displaceable portion of the top plate, and the cover section and
tab section can be rotated around the fastener between a position
where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another
position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable
portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the
container after the displaceable portion of the top plate has been
at least partially severed.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present application relates generally to closures used
in containers such as metal beverage cans and, more particularly,
to containers with a stay-on type tab opening mechanism with a
re-closure feature.
[0002] Pop-top cans are commonly used in containers for a variety
of beverages and other food products. Most beverage cans for soft
drinks, beer, teas, high energy drinks, and the like can be opened
using a pop-top opening mechanism in the top of the can. Typical
pop-top cans include a stay-on tab riveted to a top of a
cylindrical can at the center of the top. As the user pulls the tab
upward on one end, the opposing end moves downward towards a
displaceable scored region of the top of the can. When sufficient
force is exerted by the tab against the scored region, the scored
region tears away from the rest of the top of the can, thereby
creating an opening through which the beverage or other content of
the container can flow out.
[0003] Once a container having such a stay-on tab opening mechanism
has been opened, there is no convenient way for the user to
re-close the container. A user may desire to re-close the container
for various reasons, including to keep out dust and insects
(particularly wasps, which are attracted to sweet drinks), to store
the product for later consumption, or to keep the contents of the
container from splashing out (particularly when used in moving
vehicles).
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] A container top for a container in accordance with one or
more embodiments includes a top plate including a displaceable
portion defined by a scoring line. The displaceable portion is at
least partially severable from the remainder of the top plate along
the scoring line to open the container and to enable contents of
the container to flow out of the container. The container top also
includes a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached
by a rivet to the top plate. The stay-on tab mechanism includes a
tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover
section. The rivet acts as a fulcrum for the tab section such that
when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user, an
opposite second end engages and at least partially severs the
displaceable portion of the top plate to open the container. The
cover section is configured to cover the displaceable portion of
the top plate. The cover section and the tab section can be rotated
around the rivet between a position where the cover section covers
the displaceable portion and another position where the cover
section does not cover the displaceable portion such that the user
can selectably close and reopen the container after the
displaceable portion of the top plate has been at least partially
severed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIGS. 1A-1E are perspective views illustrating a
representative container with a stay-on tab opening mechanism with
a re-closure feature in various operational positions in accordance
with one or more embodiments.
[0006] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate formation of an exemplary stay-on
type tab mechanism in accordance with one or more embodiments.
[0007] Like or identical reference numbers are used to identify
common or similar elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a stay-on tab
opening mechanism with a re-closure feature for metal beverage cans
and other containers. The re-closure feature enables the container
to be re-closed by the user once the container has been initially
opened.
[0009] FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate a representative container 10 with a
stay-on tab opening mechanism with a re-closure feature in
accordance with one or more embodiments. In the illustrated
embodiment, the container 10 comprises a beverage can, e.g.,
containing soft drinks, beer, teas, high energy drinks, and the
like. It should be understood that the re-closure feature can also
be used in a variety of other containers for food and non-food
products (e.g., paint).
[0010] The container 10 includes a hollow container body 12 covered
by a container top or lid 14. The container top 14 includes a top
plate 16, which includes a displaceable portion 18 defined by a
scoring line 20. The displaceable portion 18 is at least partially
severable from the remainder of the top plate 16 along the scoring
line 20 to open the container to enable contents of the container
to flow out.
[0011] The container top also includes a stay-on tab mechanism 22
pivotally and rotatably attached by a rivet (or other pivot
fastener) 24 to the top plate 16. The stay-on tab mechanism 22
comprises a tab section 26 integrally connected with and folded
over a cover section 28.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1B, as with prior art beverage cans with
stay-on type tab mechanisms, the rivet 24 acts as a fulcrum for the
tab section 26 such that when a first end 30 of the tab section 26
is lifted by a user, an opposite second end 32 engages and at least
partially severs the displaceable portion 18 of the top plate 16 to
open the container 10. As shown in FIG. 1C, once the displaceable
portion 18 has been sufficiently moved to open the container, a
user can depress the first end 30 of the tab section 26 back to its
original position, and the container is ready to be used.
[0013] The cover section 28 is configured to cover the displaceable
portion 18 of the top plate 16 when desired to re-close the
container. As such, the cover section 28 corresponds in shape and
is slightly larger than the displaceable portion 18. As shown in
FIGS. 1C-1E, the cover section 28 and tab section 26 of the stay-on
tab mechanism 22 can be rotated around the rivet 24 from the
position shown in FIG. 1C (where the opening in the lid from
movement of the displaceable portion 18 is completely uncovered) to
the position shown in FIG. 1D (where the opening is partially
covered by the cover section 28) to the position shown in FIG. 1E
(where the opening is completely covered by the cover section 28).
The stay-on tab mechanism 22 can be rotated again to uncover the
opening, when desired. The user can conveniently move the cover by
pushing on the first end 30 of the tab section 26 around the rivet
24.
[0014] Thus, a user can very quickly and easily move the cover
section 28 between a position where it covers the displaceable
portion and another position where it does not cover the
displaceable portion to selectably close and reopen the container
after it has been initially opened.
[0015] In accordance with one or more embodiments, the container
10, including the lid 14 with the re-closeable tab mechanism 22 is
made of metal, e.g., aluminum or tin-plated steel.
[0016] In accordance with one or more embodiments, the outer edge
of the cover section 28 or at least a portion of the lower surface
of the cover section 28 is covered with rubber or an elastomeric
material or other material capable of forming a seal over the
opening in the top plate 16 when the cover section 28 is in the
FIG. 1E position.
[0017] The stay-on type tab mechanism 22 can be made by a variety
of manufacturing processes. By way of example, mechanism can be
formed out of suitable sheet or strip metal stock using appropriate
dies (not shown). Portions of tab section 26 can be curled or
rolled thereunder to form a reinforcing bead or rib.
[0018] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate formation of an exemplary stay-on
type tab mechanism 22 in accordance with one or more embodiments.
Once the structure has been formed in a flat configuration (FIG.
2A), it is bent such that the cover section 28 is folded under the
tab section 26 as shown in FIG. 2C. The structure can then be
attached by the rivet 24 to the can top 16 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E.
The stay-on tab mechanism 22 can thus be inexpensively manufactured
and easily assembled with virtually any type of container using
generally conventional techniques.
[0019] The stay-on tab mechanism 22 enables users to easily and
conveniently re-close containers when desired, including to keep
out contaminants and insects, to store the product contents for
later consumption or use, or to keep the contents from splashing
out, particularly when in moving vehicles.
[0020] Having thus described several illustrative embodiments, it
is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and
improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such
alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to form a
part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit
and scope of this disclosure. While some examples presented herein
involve specific combinations of functions or structural elements,
it should be understood that those functions and elements may be
combined in other ways according to the present disclosure to
accomplish the same or different objectives. In particular, acts,
elements, and features discussed in connection with one embodiment
are not intended to be excluded from similar or other roles in
other embodiments.
[0021] Additionally, elements and components described herein may
be further divided into additional components or joined together to
form fewer components for performing the same functions.
[0022] Accordingly, the foregoing description and attached drawings
are by way of example only, and are not intended to be
limiting.
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