Tape closure for a can end

Abstract

A tape closure which is adhesively adhered about a pour opening on the exterior surface of a can end having a first coating over the metallic can end and a second coating over said first coating comprising a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer having at least about 10 percent vinyl acetate which is adhered to the tape adhesive with a bond greater than the bond between the second coating and the first coating affording removal of the second coating upon breaking the coating and delaminating the same from the first coating upon removal of the tape.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a container end assembly and in one aspect to an improved container end construction for use on beverage containers and having an opening in the end covered by a length of removable tape. More particularly, this invention provides an improved tape closure for container ends which permits the clean opening of the container utilizing a tape closure.

The present invention provides an improved tape closure and has as an object thereof the leaving of a clean area surrounding the pour hole upon removal of the tape. This would be true of tape closures for container ends utilizing simply an exterior tape or a two-tape system, including an exterior tape and an interior sheet material situated circumjacent (over and surrounding) a preformed opening (i.e. a pour opening) in a container end portion.

The present invention provides a tape closure which when opened sufficiently to obtain access to the pour hole is not self-sealing and thus offers resistance to tampering which would not otherwise be possible of detection.

The present invention provides a tape closure for container ends which will withstand the internal pressure of carbonated beverages or other beverages where an internal pressure is developed.

The present invention provides an improved tape closure which is suitable for use with pressurized containers but which is easily removable, as the force necessary for peeling the closure from the can end is relatively small compared to the force necessary to open score lines in the metal defining an opening. The present invention also reduces the amount of force necessary in a two-tape system for removing a tape closure.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a container end assembly including a metallic can end of metal or a composite of plastic and metal formed with a pour opening, the exterior surface of the can end being coated with a first layer of protective material, i.e. an enamel, and a second layer comprising a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, preferably having at least about 10 percent by weight vinyl acetate which is applied as a thin coating to the first layer after the curing of the first layer. A tape is then applied over the second layer after it has cured. The tape is provided with a heat activatable thermoplastic adhesive to secure the tape backing to the second layer or coating on the can end. The adhesive is preferably bonded to the outer layer in a pattern to provide at one end of the pour opening a narrowing of the adhesive bond across the width of the tape to afford an initial reduced area for force concentration for the easy fracture of the second layer from the first layer to delaminate the layers in the area of the adhesive bond of the tape to the exterior layer. In a two-tape system an interior sheet material is adhered to the inner surface of the can end circumjacent the pour opening and, in the area of the pour opening, the external tape is bonded by the adhesive to the interior sheet material to afford tearing of the interior sheet material at the edges of the pour opening as the exterior tape is peeled from the can end.

The can end is initially formed from sheet stock to which the first exterior coating, i.e., a lacquer or an enamel, and the copolymeric vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate coating have been applied, each of which is cured by heating after being coated, providing a releasable bond between the two coatings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one container end assembly including a tape closure illustrating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a second vertical sectional view corresponding to that of FIG. 2 showing the closure in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a detail fragmentary vertical sectional view through the closure and can end of the present invention with the closure in the open position; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the container end with the closure in the open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of a container end assembly according to the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. It should be noted that my invention herein is equally applicable for use with other container end assemblies. For example, the assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,389,827; 3,990,603; 4,108,330; 4,135,637; 4,163,506; 4,189,060; 4,215,791, and the like all can be utilized in conjunction with my invention.

The present invention can be utilized with can ends for containers of material which will not be pressurized and in such applications only an exterior tape adhered to the container end circumjacent the pour opening would be utilized. The illustrated assembly includes a tape closure utilizing an exterior tape and an interior tape which is suitable for all applications.

The container end assembly 10 comprises a container or can end 12 formed of a flexible metallic sheet material or metal which takes a permanent set with folded and has a circular flange 14 about the periphery for attachment to an end of a cylindrical container. The can end 12 has a generally U-shape cut 15 defining three sides of an opening in the container end forming the pour opening 15. On the fourth side of the pour opening 15, a tongue 16 is formed which extends from the side into the pour opening to hold the tape, upon opening of the closure, in a position away from the pour opening and to restrict the possibility of entirely separating the tape closure from the can end upon opening same such that the closure does not become separated from the can and not properly deposited or disposed of by the person opening the container. The tongue-like portion 16 is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,330, assigned to the assignee of this invention.

Additionally, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,603, assigned to the assignee of this application, the pour opening 15 preferably includes a relatively narrow arcuate portion 17 extending toward the flange 14 of the can end 12. The portion 17 will be the first part of the illustrated pour opening uncovered as the tape is being peeled from the can. When this occurs, the portion 17 permits a small area of the interior tape to be drawn against the edge of the opening 15 and it will begin to tear along the edges of the portion 17 and progress along the remaining portions of the three sides of the opening 15 to neatly tear the interior sheet material covering the pour opening 15.

The can end 12 may be formed of a metal which is subject to corrosion and thus is provided with a coating to restrict corrosion and maintain its appearance. In this respect the can end 12 is provided with a first exterior coating defining a first layer 19 which is applied to the material forming the can end and is cured. A second coating or layer 20 is then applied to the layer 19 and is suitably cured to form a releasable bond between the first layer 19 and the second layer 20. In current practice in the industry a first interior coating 21 is applied to the interior surface of the can end and a top coating 22 is applied over the coating 21 in a similar manner by applying the first coating and curing the same and then applying the second coating 22 and curing the same. A single interior coating would be sufficient with a coating having the protective properties and adhesion while being ductile enough not to crack or fracture during the can end making and sealing operations.

An exterior tape 24 is adhered to the exterior surface of the can end 12 in a position circumjacent and completely covering the pour opening 15. The tape 24 comprises a backing 25 having coated on one surface thereof an adhesive 26 which adheres tightly to the backing 25 and in the presence of heat and pressure bonds the backing 25 securely to the exterior layer 20 of the can end. The adhesive 26 forms a bond to the external top layer 20 which exceeds the bond between the top layer 20 and a first layer 19. An adhesive bond is made to the can end 12 about the pour opening 15 and has a peripheral pattern such that at one end of the pour opening 15 adjacent the flange 14 the peripheral edges of the adhesive 26, where it is bonded to the layer 20, converge to a point 28. This pattern is such that the peeling force applied to the tape 24 is concentrated initially on a small area, as at the point 28, to afford the initial fracture of the outer second layer 20. Continued peeling of the tape removes the layer 20 bonded to the adhesive 26 from the layer 19.

The container end assembly 10 as illustrated also includes an interior sheet material 29 comprising a thin transparent sheet material 30 having an adhesive layer 31 which material is firmly adhered to the inner surface of the can end circumjacent and completely covering the opening 15. Sheet 30 is adhesively secured to the interior top coat 22 and is adhesively secured to the opposed adjacent surface of the exterior tape 24 through the pour opening 15 and to the tongue 16. This interior sheet material 30 can serve to protect the edge of the can along the cut forming the pour opening 15 and the tongue 16 from the contents of the container.

In the example illustrated in the drawing it is also seen that an opening 34 is formed in the backing 25 and the adhesive 26 of the exterior tape in the area of the pour opening 15. Through this opening 34, the backing 25 may be pressed against the adhesive 31 of the interior sheet material 30 to seal the opening 34. The bond between the backing 25 and the adhesive 31 is sufficient such that upon lifting the exterior tape 24 by a free end or tab 35 the first thing to happen is a fracturing of the interior tape 30 in the area of the opening 34 to provide a small pressure relief aperture which will allow a safe and relatively quiet release of the pressure within the container without causing the contents to spray from the pour opening.

Upon lifting of the free end 35 of the exterior tape 24 the vent is opened at the hole 34 and then the continued application of pressure on the tape 24 will cause a fracture of the second exterior layer 20 at the area 28. Then the exterior layer 20 will be peeled with the exterior tape from the first coating 19 such that the tape may be easily removed from the exterior of the can end covering the pour opening. As the progressive peeling reaches the arcuate portion 17 of the pour opening the interior tape is fractured along the edge of the portion 17 and the bond between the adhesive 31 of the interior tape and the adhesive 26 of the exterior tape will cause the interior tape to continue to tear along the edges of the pour opening 15. The exterior tape 24 is removed progressively from the can end by a delamination between the exterior second layer 20 and the first layer 19 on the can end. As the opening of the container progresses the tongue 16 begins to fold and folds back across the container end 12. Since the tongue 16 is sandwiched between the interior and the exterior tapes and is adhered thereto through the coatings the tongue remains secured to the tapes and to the can end 22 at the edge of the pour opening but it is folded, and when folded, stays in its folded position to retain the tape in a position back from the pour opening as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.

FIG. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the fracture line of the exterior layer 20 and shows the exposed first exterior layer 19 and the separated and peeled portion of the exterior layer 20 remains adhered to the adhesive on the backing 25 of the exterior tape 24. The line of the fracture can be noticed by moving a finger nail from the pour opening across the can end surface normal to the direction of the peeling of the tape. Since the separated layer 20 will not self-adhere back to the layer 19 the closure tape 24 cannot be returned to its initial position and adhere to the can end about the opening 15.

Thus, the present invention provides a tape closure for a metal can end formed with a pour opening and coatings protecting it against corrosion and deterioration of the appearance of the can end in such a manner that the can end may be sealed during transportation and storage and easily opened by the user in a manner to afford a clean, adhesive-free, uncontaminated coating surrounding the pour opening from which the contents may be dispensed.

The various coatings discussed herein are typically applied directly to sheet stock prior to forming of the can ends.

The following is an illustrative example of a container end assembly of the type described above.

A generally circular steel can end 12 of 0.013 inch thick angle reduced tin-free steel (double reduced steel can also be utilized) was formed with a generally U-shaped cut 15 to form a pour opening and a tongue 16. The sheet steel used to form the can end 12 was first coated with an enamel, e.g. epoxy/phenolic resin such as Mobil S-9200-001, available from Mobile Chemical Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A. The coating 19 had a film weight of 14.0 mg per 4 square inches and was baked at 400 degrees F. for 10 minutes. Coated over the epoxy/phenolic coating 19 was a second layer, e.g. a clear vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer coating such as Mobil S-4134-025, available from Mobile Chemical Company. The coating 20 had a film weight of 18.0 mg. per 4 square inches and was baked for 10 minutes at a temperature of 355 degrees F.

To this exterior coating 20 was applied the exterior tape 24 comprising a polycarbonate film backing (for example "Merlon 700" resin from Mobay Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pa.) having a thickness of about 5 mils (130 micrometers) and having a linear thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive, such as that designated "Texin 480F" (which is commercially available from Mobay Corporation) or "Estane 58277" (which is commercially available from B. F. Goodrich Company) coated thereon. A preferred adhesive is the polyurethane-based system disclosed in commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 578,651 filed Feb. 9, 1984, incorporated herein by reference.

The exterior tape 24 was adhered to the exterior coating and can end by applying the tape circumjacent the pour opening 15 and adhering same in the presence of heat at a temperature of between 275.degree. to 425.degree. F. under a pressure of 40 to 90 psi.

The interior surface of can end 12 can also be coated with an enamel, e.g. epoxy/phenolic resin, as was the exterior coat 19, and a second coating to form a second layer of e.g. a clear vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer layer such as the layer 20 may also be applied Alternatively a single layer may be applied to the interior surface of the sheet material which offers corrosion protection and adhesion to the sheet material while being ductile enough when cured to avoid fracture or cracking during the formation of the can end. An example is a dispersion vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer coating such as Mobile S9434-037 (available from Mobile Chemical Company).

To this interior coating can be applied an interior sheet material 29 comprising a flexible transparent sheet material including a plastic film such as polyethylene/terephthalate, polyvinylchloride (unplasticized), composite films comprising a layer of polyethylene/terephthalate and a layer of polyethylene/terephthalate/polyethylene/isophthalate copolymer and films derived from a graft copolymer comprising acrylonitrile/methyl/methacrylate copolymer grafted onto an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer backbone. A particularly useful graft copolymer is formed by graft polymerizing acrylonitrile (73-77 parts by wt.) and methylmethacrylate (23-27 parts by wt.) in the presence of 8 to 10 parts by wt. of an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer (70% by wt. derived from butadiene).

The adhesive layer 31 on the interior sheet material 29 is preferably less than about 100 micrometers in thickness and is firmly anchored to the backing material. The adhesive must provide a bond of sufficient strength between the exterior film material 24 and the interior sheet material 29 such that when the exterior flexible film is stripped back, the interior sheet material is cleanly removed in the area of the pour opening. Suitable adhesives provide a means of attachment of the exterior flexible film to the interior sheet material which will stand a force of up to 22 pounds per sq. in. width (3.9 kg per cm width) of said exterior flexible film at temperatures from at least 35.degree. F. to 100.degree. F. (2.degree. to 38.degree. C.) without separation of the flexible film from the interior sheet material.

In one embodiment, the interior sheet material 29 comprises a composite plastic film in which one layer thereof serves as the backing member and the other layer thereof serves as a heat-softenable bonding layer, with no adhesive being necessary. This particular composite film comprises a layer of polyethylene/terephthalate (which serves as the backing member) and a layer of polyethylene/terephthalate (50-90)/polyethylene/isophthalate (50-10)/copolymer (which serves as a heat-softenable bonding material).

The backing 25 of the exterior sheet material may be a flexible film selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polytetramethylene terephthalate, (e.g., using "Valox 303" resin from General Electric Corporation), polyamide derived from 6.6 nylon (e.g., using "Zytel ST 810HS" resin from E. I. duPont deNemours Co.), physical blends of polytetramethylene terephthalate/polyethylene, physical blends of polytetramethylene terephthalate/phenoxy, glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate (e.g. using "Kodar 6763" resin from Eastman Chemical Products, Inc.), polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and films derived from a graft copolymer comprising acrylonitrile/methylmethacrylate copolymer grafted onto an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer backbone (e.g. using "Barex" resin from Vistron Corporation). Other materials may include thin foil-film composites as described in U.S. Pat. No. (application Ser. No. 264,657) assigned to the assignee of this application and have a thickness of between 2 mils (50 micrometers) to about 7 mils (180 micrometers). A preferred material is a polycarbonate film backing (e.g. using "Merlon 700" resin from Mobay Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pa. of about 5 mils (130 micrometers) in thickness.

The blank metal from which the can ends are formed might be coated with a different lacquer or enamel than the specific epoxy/phenolic resin coating mentioned above. An example of a different exterior enamel coating is an epoxy/urea formaldehyde clear coat such as Mobil S-6265-034 (available from Mobil Chemical Company) which may be applied at a film weight of 13 to 14 milligrams per 4 square inches and baked for 10 minutes at 400.degree. F. onto the can end.

The second layer comprises a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, preferably containing at least about 10 percent by weight of vinyl acetate. The copolymeric structure will insure that the bonding strength of the second layer to the first layer is sufficiently high but does not exceed the bonding strength between the film backing 25 and its adhesive layer 26 or exceed the bond between the adhesive layer 26 and the exterior second layer 20 to insure that the peeling of the tape from the can end causes a delamination of the top layer 20 and the first layer 19 to permit removal of the exterior tape.

Other conventional components, such as plasticizers, adhesion promoters, and the like may be added to the coating composition for this second layer to achieve specific characteristics.

Having thus disclosed the present invention with reference to the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing it is to be understood that a layer of exterior tape with no interior sheet may be applied to a can end over the pour opening 15 when the beverage is not carbonated or under pressure and will provide a suitable seal which is readily removable by peeling the exterior tape as hereinabove described. The exterior tape in a single tape system may thus be detachable from the can end upon opening the closure system.

Claims

1. A container end assembly comprising:

a container end formed of metallic material having an exterior surface and an interior surface and being formed with a pour opening;

a first coating over said exterior surface of said end;

a second coating on said exterior surface over said first coating and bonded thereto, said second coating comprising a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer;

a tape bonded by an adhesive to an area of the exterior surface of said second coating circumjacent and covering said pour opening, said adhesive forming a bond between said tape and said second coating which is greater than the bond between said second coating and said first coating whereby upon peeling of the tape from said container end said second coating delaminates in the area of the adhesive bond to said second coating, peeling said second coating from said first coating upon removal of the tape from the container end.

2. A container end assembly according to claim 1 wherein said vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer contains at least about 10 percent by weight vinyl acetate.

3. A container end assembly according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the container end has at least one coating over the interior surface and an interior sheet material is bonded to said one coating circumjacent and completely covering said pour opening and is adhered to the adhesive of said tape adhered to the exterior surface of the can end in the area of the pour opening.

4. A container end assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first coating is an epoxy/phenolic coating.

5. A container end assembly according to claim 3 wherein said interior surface has a second coating corresponding to said exterior second coating.

6. A container end assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tape comprises a polycarbonate resin to which a thermoplastic adhesive is coated.

7. A container end assembly according to claim 1 wherein the exterior tape backing comprises a flexible film selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polytetramethylene, terephthalate, polyamide derived from 6--6 nylon, physical blends of polytetramethylene terephthalate/polyethylene, physical blends of polytetramethylene terephthalate/phenoxy, glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, and films derived from a graft copolymer comprising acrylonitrile/methylmethacrylate copolymer grafted onto an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer backbone, or thin foil-film composites.

8. A container end assembly according to claim 7 wherein said adhesive is a thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive.

9. A container end assembly according to claim 4 wherein the exterior tape backing comprises a flexible film selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polytetramethylene terephthalate, polyamide derived from 6--6 nylon, physical blends of polytetramethylene terephthalate/polyethylene, physical blends of polytetramethylene terephthalate/phenoxy, glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, and films derived from a graft copolymer comprising acrylonitrile//methylmethacrylate copolymer grafted onto an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer backbone, or thin foil-film composites.

10. A container end assembly according to claim 9 wherein said adhesive is a thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive.

11. A tamper-resistant tape closure for a container having

a container end formed of metallic material, said end having an exterior surface and an interior surface and being formed with a pour opening;

a first coating over said exterior surface of said end;

a second coating on said exterior surface over said first coating and bonded thereto, said second coating comprising a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer;

a tape comprising a polymeric backing and thermoplastic adhesive, said tape being bonded to an area of the exterior surface of said second coating circumjacent and covering said pour opening, said adhesive forming a bond between said tape and said second coating which is greater than the bond between said second coating and said first coating whereby upon peeling of the tape from said end said second coating delaminates in the area of the adhesive bond to said second coating, peeling said second coating from said first coating and exposing the first coating about said opening while leaving a coating on the adhesive to restrict subsequent adhesive bonding again to said container end in the area said tape is peeled from the container end.

12. A tape closure according to claim 11 wherein said vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer contains at least about 10 percent by weight vinyl acetate.