This invention relates to opening assemblies for beverages containers, and more specifically, opening assemblies apparatus and methods for making beverage containers.
Different forms of opening assemblies have evolved over the years. One type of container conventionally used for carbonated beverages is a can with a ring pull arrangement. While such containers have proved very popular, a number of disadvantages can be encountered with them. For instance, it is not possible to close the can once opened, and the contents therefore have to be consumed at one time. This can be a particular problem with children or when travelling, in that a container could for instance be knocked over and therefore the contents spilt. Also there is a potential hygiene problem as the top of the cans can become dirty, and this part can come into contact with some of the can's contents and/or a person drinking from the can.
A second type of container includes those used with molded plastic bottles, it is generally necessary for the bottles to be relatively tall with a screw thread molded at the upper end. It is generally not possible to vary the thickness of the body other than at the upper end, and therefore strengthening portions and internal thickening cannot be provided. Accordingly, only relatively tall shapes are usually produced, as these have adequate strength. Shipping drinks in either such containers takes up a significant volume and weight, and hence adds to the costs for such products
A number of manufacturing disadvantages are encountered with the present arrangements for such containers. For instance, with ring pull cans, relatively complex and expensive machinery is required to mount the closure arrangements on the can bodies following filling. This generally prevents smaller concerns from producing drinks in such containers. Similarly, significant costs barriers preclude entry for retailers and small concerns into beverage container assembly, which today for metal containers is typically processed by expensive combined filling and spin lid sealing machines.
Accordingly, a need has evolved for a more economical and end-user friendly opening assembly that will reduce cost, weight, and storage space during shipping. In addition, a need has developed for a low cost assembly of the beverage containers such that it allows retailers or small business concerns to fill the containers at point-of-sale locations without incurring costs from expensive capital equipment.
The present disclosure is directed to a beverage container with an opening assembly apparatus and method having an advanced design for sealing the contents within the container after opening. The opening assembly includes a lid having a top and bottom side, the lid being attached to a receptacle for containing the beverage contents, and a recess located about the top side of the lid for facilitating the filling of the receptacle. An aperture is located about the recess and projecting from the aperture is an undulating flange on the bottom side of the lid. A closure member coactively engaging the aperture and recess to provide a sealing engagement by inserting a first portion of the closure member into the recess and a second portion of the closure member into the aperture and rotating the closure member from an opened position to a closed position. The recess in the lid in one embodiment is responsible for the geometric configuration of the undulating flange.
The opening assembly of the closure member includes a breakaway portion secured to the lid by a projection fixedly engaged to a depression in the lid to provide security to a consumer that the product is tamper free. The breakaway portion fractures upon initial opening by the consumer when an arm on the opening assembly is rotated to an opening position. The projection also assists in retaining the closure member to the container via a cord connection.
An additional feature of the opening assembly is a reinforced surface located above and along the contact portion of the undulating flange. The additional support surface is achieved in one embodiment by forming a reinforcing lip about the flange during a pressing or stamping operation. In another embodiment the reinforced surface is achieved by adding additional material during a forging or molding process. Another feature of the opening assembly adds structural support by the addition of ribs formed in the lid geometry.
In another embodiment, the container encases a straw within the body of the receptacle when the container is closed. Removing the closure member allows the straw to protrude through the aperture for consumer usage. The closure member includes a recess for housing the straw while the opening assembly is in the closed position.
These and other advantages and features of the exemplary embodiment of the recessed opening assembly are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the figures, and in particular
The aperture 15 includes an undulating flange 17 on the underside of main part 14 of lid 11 as best seen in
A closure member 21 is provided and is part of the opening assembly 20, which in a closed condition is attached to the main part 14 by a breakable seal 22 that is removably attached to an upper part 24 of the closure member. The upper part 24 is generally a circular configuration with an arm 26 projecting therefrom, and also a smaller tab 28, which includes a portion containing the breakable seal 22. The arm 26 acts as a handle to facilitate the handling and rotation of the closure member 21 from a first closed position shown in
The closure member 21 is oriented in the closed position following the filling of the container 10 to provide for the securing of the content within the beverage container 10. The breakable seal 22 provides reassurance when intact that the beverage container has not been tampered with or opened after filling by the seller. The port 15 and closure member 21 are arranged such that the closure member can be replaced on the port following an initial opening by a consumer to permit subsequent access and securing of the container's contents. The noncircular port 15 and a noncircular engagement member 34 can be rotated from alignment so that fingers 36 cannot pass back through the port 15 and the closure member 21 closes the port 15.
In operation, the end user or consumer will open the beverage container 10 by rotating the arm 26, thereby breaking the seal 22 from the upper part 24 of the closure member 21, as shown in
To reassure to the consumer that the beverage container 10 is tamper free, the cord 25 will be intact and the breakable seal remains unfractured. The flush press connection between the projection 23 and both the depression 16 and a flange 21a extending from the closure member 21, as shown in
On the underside of the upper part 24, an arch shaped body 30 is provided. The arching profile of the body 30 coactively engages with a recessed closure port 31 leading into the aperture 15. Shown in
The recessed closure port 31 is shaped such that when the closure member 21 is mounted thereon, it does not extend substantially upward beyond the top of the annular ridge 13 as depicted in
The body 12, lid 11 and closure member 21 in one embodiment are made from plastic by an injection mold process or a blow mold operation. In another embodiment, the body, lid and closure member are made from metals such as aluminium or steel or a combination of metal and plastic.
In use, the closure member 21 is preferably configured such that it can only be introduced into, or removed from, the port 15 when the longitudinal direction of the engagement member 34 is at least generally parallel to a first direction of the port, as indicated by arrows A in
The novel opening assembly design allows for several different methods to manufacture, fill, and seal the beverage containers 10. By having a plurality of receptacles 12, main parts 14 including opening assemblies 20, assembly and filling can occur without expensive equipment or significant capital expenditures. For example, the main parts 14 are capable of being attached to the receptacle 12 by an ultrasonic welding machine. The ultrasonic welding process attaches similar materials together as shown in
The simplified method of attaching the main part 14 of the lids 11 to the receptacles 12 by ultrasonic welding allows retailers to engage in the assembly process at point-of-sale shops and stores. This significantly reduces the weight and costs of shipping, since the containers 10 are empty during transport. In addition, space requirements are significantly reduced, since the receptacles 12 and lids 11 can be stacked one inside another. Further advantages are achieved by reducing the point-of-sale storage, which typically includes large refrigeration cabinets. The above method of assembly is user friendly to the point that a consumer can select a receptacle 12, place it into the welding apparatus, select the desired beverage, and a lid 11 is welded only a few seconds later, thus making the beverage container 10 now ready for purchasing. Thus, eliminating the labor costs typically incurred by the retailer from the wholesaler plant or factory.
Alternatively, the beverage containers 10 can be shipped to a retailer having the lids 11 preassembled, that is, welded or spin formed to the receptacle 12, as shown in
Because flange 17 acts as a cam surface for fingers 36, a reinforcing structure 29 is preferred around the flange surface since conventional beverage container lids are typically 0.010″ thick, thus relying on material of this thickness alone makes the lid susceptible to deformation. It is therefore desirable to have the cam reinforcing surface surrounding the flange 17 to be a thickness measuring approximately 0.040″ to 0.060″ thick.
In one embodiment, the reinforcing structure 29 includes a roll formed lip 14b that surrounds the perimeter of the undulating flange 17, as shown in
In another embodiment, the opening assembly 20 includes a stem 39 for receiving and containing when in a closed position a straw 40. The straw 40 is preassembled within beverage container 10, as shown in
Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, operation and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0103404.0 | Feb 2001 | GB | national |
The present application is a continuation-in-part application containing common subject matter as previously filed and application Ser. No. 10/467,255, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 5, 2003, entitled “OPENING ASSEMBLY” now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,896 issued May 30, 2006, which claims priority from International PCT Application Serial. No. PCT/GB02/00274, filed on Jan. 23, 2002, entitled “OPENING ASSEMBLY”, which claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application Serial No. GB0103404.0 filed in on Feb. 12, 2001. The entirety of the aforementioned patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10467255 | US | |
Child | 11392080 | US |