Patent Application
20240409268
This patent application relates to a can lid for a beverage can made from thin sheet material, the can lid comprising a base and a rivet structure disposed at the centre of the base, with an opening tab and rotatable lids being secured to the rivet structure.
Cylindrical containers (cans) made of thin sheet material have long been applied for packaging beverages. Compared with earlier technical solutions, such cans have several advantages, including having small size and mass, being easy openable and easily recycled.
The most widespread opening process of such beverage cans involves lifting an auxiliary tab attached to the can, as a result of which, under the force acting on the can lid the material is torn along a weakened contour, allowing access to the contents of the can through the opening created in such a manner. The prior art document with publication number WO2012112487 A1 also discloses such a technical solution.
However, such solutions do not allow for reclosing (resealing) of the interior of the can, so the beverage contained therein cannot be isolated from outside effects, for example dust, insects, or prevented from splashing out.
A possible solution addressing these problems is disclosed in Hungarian utility model No. 4647, which discloses an isolating can lid having a rotatable lid, with an opening tab being attached to the can lid by means of a rivet structure, and with a score line being formed on the can lid. A further characteristic feature of the solution is that the rivet structure is disposed at the centre of the can lid, with a rotatable lid member being rotatably attached to the rivet structure, the rotatable lid member having a curved guide rim adapted to fit in the recess of the can lid, the surface area of the rotatable lid member being maximum 80% of the can lid, and with the opening tab being attached to the rivet structure above the rotatable lid member.
A disadvantage of the technical solution according to the utility model is that the rotatable lid adapted for resealing the can easily comes loose when it is rotated repeatedly, with the seal optionally disposed thereon wearing off easily, which results in that a waterproof seal can no longer be provided, even before the contents of the can is fully consumed, i.e., the can deteriorates prematurely.
A further drawback of prior art technical solutions, in addition to limited reclosability, is that in such cases it is uncertain that the closure can handle the overpressure caused by carbon dioxide contained therein (increased by shaking the can).
The objective of the invention is to provide such a resealable can lid for a can made of thin sheet material that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art technical solutions, thereby preventing the premature deterioration of the can and providing the waterproof reclosing of the can, even over a prolonged period of time.
The objective of the invention is realized based on the recognition that a more complex mechanism comprising two closure lids is capable of bringing about stronger sealing in such a way that the compressive force required for providing the watertight sealing of the can lid is only provided to the rotatable lid when the lid is situated above the opening. This solution allows that the force required for watertight sealing and the integrity of the seal can both be ensured at the position and time where and when they are needed, without causing a premature deterioration of the watertight seal due to wear-off.
The objective of the invention is realized by providing a can lid comprising a base having a weakened contour defining a tear portion, wherein the base comprises a flange, with a rivet structure being arranged at the centre of the base, and with an opening tab being attached to the rivet structure. A bottom rotatable lid and a top rotatable lid are secured to the rivet structure, where an external curved guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid is fitted slidably in a circumferential bottom groove of the flange of the base, and where an external curved guide rim of the top rotatable lid is fitted slidably in a circumferential top groove of the flange of the base, with the bottom rotatable lid and the top rotatable lid being adapted to be rotated about the rivet structure independent of each other; and where the bottom rotatable lid comprises a protrusion disposed in a direction opposite its side facing the base, with the top rotatable lid comprising another protrusion at its side facing the base, where the protrusion of the bottom rotatable lid and the protrusion of the top rotatable lid fitting tightly against each other when the rotatable lids are in an identical position.
In a preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention the protrusion of the bottom rotatable lid and the protrusion of the top rotatable lid are formed by embossing the material of the lid.
In a further preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention the external curved guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid and/or the top rotatable lid extends along at most 50%, preferably at most 33%, more preferably 25% of the circumference of the flange.
In another preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention a respective stop members is disposed in the circumferential bottom groove and top groove of the flange of the base, said stop members being positioned angularly shifted with respect to each other.
In another preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention the bottom rotatable lid comprises a sealing strip that is disposed along the edges thereof and/or is arranged to correspond to the shape of the tear line defined on the base, and is adapted to be in contact with the base.
In a further preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention the sealing strip is made of a silicone material.
In a still further preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention the bottom rotatable lid and/or the top rotatable lid comprises a surface pattern, for example Braille script or other embossed pattern, adapted to facilitate the rotation and recognition of the lid.
The preferred embodiments of the technical solution according to the invention are explained below referring to the accompanying drawings, where
In
The opening tab 3 is configured in line with the state of the art, in a tiltable manner, according to one of the known technical solutions; i.e., it is adapted to tear an opening in the can lid along the tear line by applying force to the surface region bounded by the weakened contour 10, thus allowing access to the contents of the can.
As can be seen also in
The bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 arranged on the rivet structure 2 are adapted to be rotatable about the rivet structure 2, such that they are slidably secured in the bottom groove 8 and the top groove 9 disposed on the flange 7 of the base 1, and that the rivet structure 2 disposed at the centre of the base 1 extends through the bores 6 of the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5. (The bores 6 can be seen in
A respective stop member 14 is disposed in the bottom groove 8 and the top groove 9, the stop members 14 being configured such that they block the travel of the flanges of the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 running in the grooves at respective predetermined close positions, and optionally also secure them at their predetermined respective close position. By a “predetermined close position” such a position is meant wherein the region bounded by the weakened contour 10 defining the tear portion of the base 1 is fully covered by the bottom rotatable lid 4 and/or the top rotatable lid 5 such that the lids preferably overextend the region bounded by the weakened contour 10 in every direction.
The stop members are arranged in the grooves such that one of them, for example the bottom rotatable lid 4, can be brought into its close position in a clockwise direction, while the other, for example the top rotatable lid 5 can be brought into its close position in an opposite (for example, anti-clockwise) direction.
In the case of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the stop members are preferably angularly shifted by 45° along the circumference of the flange 7 relative to the centreline of the opening defined by the tear line 10; however, the exact location of these stop members 14 may vary according to the rule described above, depending on the size of the rotatable lids 4 and 5.
The bottom rotatable lid 4 comprises a protrusion 12, for example an embossing, in the direction opposite the side facing the base 1, said protrusion being elevated from the plane of the bottom rotatable lid 4 by a predetermined amount. The top rotatable lid 5 comprises a similar protrusion 13 on its side facing the base 1.
As illustrated in
The force generated by this tight (compressed) fit causes the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 to undergo a minimal extent of elastic deformation, as a result of which the bottom rotatable lid is fitted tightly against the base 1, which provides better sealing and closure.
However, the tight (compressed) fit thus produced can also be applied at an angular position that is different from that of the opening, in which case both lids can be secured against rotation at any position by the tightening force.
It is also shown by everyday experience that users do not always need a waterproof resealing of the can, i.e., a lid that covers the opening of the can such that insects, small objects and dust are prevented from entering the can can be sufficient. In such a case it is sufficient to apply exclusively the bottom rotatable lid 4 or the top rotatable lid 5 in such a position that the opening defined by the tear line 10 can be covered.
In order that the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 can be easily rotated, the external curved guide rim of the lids 4, 5 extends along at most 50%, in an ideal and ergonomic embodiment, 20-30%, preferably for example 25% of the circumference of the flange 7.
Also for the sake of easier use, i.e., for facilitating the recognition of the lids by haptic sense and for making their rotation easier, the bottom rotatable lid 4 and/or the top rotatable lid 5 comprise a surface pattern, for example Braille script or embossing.
The sealing strips are preferably made of a silicone material, but can also be formed of other sealing materials acceptable for application in the food industry.
A great advantage of the invention is that it eliminates the drawbacks of prior art technical solutions by providing such a resealable can made of sheet material that provides improved sealing compared to existing solutions, prevents premature wear of the can, and provides a multifaceted sealing action that is in line with functionality.
Another great advantage of the technical solution according to the invention is that the closure brought about by a dual lid configuration provides improved sealing that is watertight and is resistant against mechanical shocks and pressure, so the can is sealed securely and the beverage contained in it retains its freshness and carbon dioxide content for a more prolonged time.
A further advantage of the technical solution is that the “hissing” opening sound that has been long familiar to consumers is retained when the lid configured according to the invention is utilized, so the comfortable, familiar feeling of using the existing solutions does not disappear, while the inventive solution can be realized in a cost-effective and economical manner.
An advantageous feature of the technical solution according to the invention is that, in addition to providing watertight sealing, the solution comprising rotatable seals provides other hygiene-related advantages, for example that the “drinking surface” of the can is regularly wiped and thus kept clean, and that aerosol-transmitted bacteria and viruses are kept away from the interior of the can.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P2100352 | Oct 2021 | HU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/HU2022/050013 | 2/22/2022 | WO |
