Patent Application
20130043248
The present invention relates generally to beverage container end closures. More specifically, the present invention relates to beverage container end closures with pull tabs and easy opening features including a deep fingerwell positioned proximate to the pull tab.
Food and beverage containers with pull tabs or stay-on-tabs (“SOTs”) are generally known. Various SOTs and related features are disclosed in, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,675 to Rieck et al., the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Known devices, however, generally position a distal or “tail” end of a pull tab in close proximity to the panel of the end closure to allow stacking of the end closures prior to and after filling of the beverage container. Such an arrangement, particularly where can contents are placed under pressure, pose various complications and challenges with operating the tab and opening a portion of the panel. Such complications include, but are not limited to difficulty in engaging or grasping the tab and risks of damage or injury to a user's finger(s) or fingernail(s).
Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a novel system, device, and methods for providing a food and beverage container end closure with easy opening features for a pull tab disposed on the end closure, and more specifically a deep fingerwell to permit the access of a user's finger below the lift ring of a pull tab.
Features of the present disclosure may be employed in wide range of food and beverage containers, including pressurized beverage containers with SOTs secured by a rivet, food containers with tear away lids and full panel easy-open end tabs, to name a few.
Many users of conventional devices, such as SOTs for pressurized containers, have difficulty performing various opening functions. Opening of containers may be frustrated by, for example, difficulty in accessing the underside of a tab, pressure being applied to sensitive areas of one's fingertip, and breakage of fingernails. A significant cause of such frustrations lies in the fact that many known end closures comprise a tab which rests flush against the end panel, particularly when container contents are under pressure. The present invention provides for a plethora of improvements over known devices. End closures of the present disclosure provide, for example, the structural features and benefits, stacking abilities, and ease of manufacture of various known devices, and further provide a deep fingerwell recess allowing for ease of access to the operative (i.e. bottom) side of tab, thereby increasing user-friendliness of the device.
The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present disclosure is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.
For purposes of further disclosure, the following references generally related to end panels and SOTs are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties: Japanese Patent Publication Number JP2002145263 to Yoshihiko and Japanese Patent Publication Number JP2000159229 to Yoshihiko.
In various embodiments, an end closure is provided with a SOT and a dimple shaped fingerwell in the panel. The fingerwell is preferably disposed generally proximal to a distal or user end of the tab. In one embodiment, the fingerwell is disposed such that at least a portion of the tab extends over at least a portion of an area defined by the fingerwell and facilitates user-access to an underside of the tab for lifting.
In one embodiment, an end closure with a fingerwell is provided, the fingerwell having a generally rounded shape when viewed from a top plan view. In various embodiments, a fingerwell is provided having a depth of between approximately 0.010″ and approximately 0.060″ as measured from the panel. In a preferred embodiment, a fingerwell is provided having a depth of between approximately 0.020″ and approximately 0.050″ as measured from the panel. In a more preferred embodiment, a fingerwell is provided having a depth of between approximately 0.025″ and approximately 0.040″ as measured from the panel.
In various embodiments, an end closure with a deep fingerwell and improved geometry is provided to allow access to a pull tab and provide for increased normal force to be imparted upon the pull tab. For example, the present invention contemplates the provision of a fingerwell preferably sized to allow for user access to a pull tab and allow for greater normal force to be applied to the pull tab when compared with known devices. It is known, for example, that existing pull tabs are not only difficult to access but further result in a significant amount of the force being applied to the pull tab in a direction or vector parallel with an opening area. Such a force places stress upon a rivet and provides reduced ability to score or open an opening area. Fingerwells of various embodiments of the present invention allow for a user to provide an initial force upon the tab with an increased degree of normal force, further facilitating opening operations.
Furthermore, based on the distinct geometry of the end closure and associated deep fingerwell, improved strength and buckle resistance are obtained. Furthermore, the improved end closure allows the stacking of multiple end closures and filled food or beverage containers.
In one embodiment, a metallic container end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a metal beverage container is provided. The end closure comprises: a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to the neck of the container; a chuck wall interconnected to the peripheral curl and extending downwardly therefrom; a countersink interconnected to a lower end of the chuck wall; an inner panel wall interconnected to the countersink; a central panel interconnected to an upper end of the inner panel wall; the central panel comprising a debossed area with a substantially tear drop shape, the debossed area disposed at a lower height than the central panel and wherein the debossed area comprises a rivet for securing a pull tab with a forward end and a tail end, the forward end positioned over selective opening area defined by a score line; and the debossed area comprising a fingerwell portion extending below a substantially horizontal plane defined by the debossed area, wherein the fingerwell comprises a substantially planar lower portion and opposing side walls, the first opposing sidewall extending downwardly from the central panel and the second opposing sidewall extending downwardly from a portion of the debossed area, wherein the fingerwell portion has a perimeter edge with a substantially oval shape.
These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention(s) contained herein. The above-described embodiments, objectives, and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible using, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. Further, the summary of the invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the summary of the invention, as well as, in the attached drawings and the detailed description of the invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended to either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this summary of the invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.
Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the disclosure, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments. This description is made for illustrating the general principles of the teachings of this disclosure invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosures.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
The present invention has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the method that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the invention into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary method is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the art and which can be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.
To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
Referring now to
In various embodiments, the end closure comprises a debossed central portion 16 containing the tab 4 and opening area of the closure. The central portion 18 of the panel terminates in a countersink 12, which is further connected to an outside or peripheral curl 14 by a chuck wall 15.
Various methods of forming an end closure with a fingerwell are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising the steps of: providing a blank end panel, forming a rivet at a substantially central location on the end panel, coining the panel, providing one or more scores for an opening area, providing in a single step: a debossed panel and a fingerwell portion; and securing a pull tab.
R1 of
An opening operation of an end closure 2 is provided by the present disclosure. A pull tab 4 is initially provided in a closed state wherein the fingerwell 10 allows access to at least a portion of the tab 4 such that a greater lifting or normal force may be applied to the pull ring of the tab 4. Accordingly, opening operations are facilitated by creating a greater corresponding downward normal force at the nose of the tab 4 to sever a score line and/or force open an opening area. In this manner, embodiments of the present disclosure provide distinct advantages over known devices which require or result in a substantial amount of an initial force applied to a pull tab to be directed parallel to the panel. Whereas known devices do not maximize or achieve a normal force upon the pull tab and/or opening until a portion of opening operations are completed, the present invention provides for a greater application of perpendicular force to a pull tab when an opening area is in a completely closed state, as well as throughout opening operations.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “adding” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as, additional items.
The present application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/525,574, filed Aug. 19, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61525574 | Aug 2011 | US |
