Beverage can end with vent port

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND (12) TRANSLATION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT (19) PL (11) PL / EP 2969797

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The Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (96) Date and number of the European patent application: March 12, 2014 14725563.2 (97) The grant of the European patent was announced:

19.07.2017 European Patent Bulletin 2017/29 EP 2969797 B1 (13) T3 (51) Int.CI.

B65D 17/00 (2006.01) (54) Title of the invention:

Beverage can end with air vent (3 °) o

Priority:

03/12/2013 US 201313796645 (43) Application announced:

20.01.2016 in the European Patent Bulletin no. 2016/03 (45) The following was announced about the submission of the translation of the patent:

28.02.2018 News of the Patent Office 2018/02 (73) Patent holder:

Rexam Beveraga Can Company, Chicago, US (72) Inventor (s):

RANDALL FORREST, Park Ridge, US

MICHAEL GOGOLA, Itasca, US £ 2 DEREK REACHED, Chicago, US (74) Attorney:

thing, pat. Maciej Grabowski

OJ SULIMA-GRABOWSKA-SIERZPUTOWSKA _n OFFICE OF PATENTS AND ZNAKÓW TOWAROWYCH SP.J.

iii Mailbox 6

00-956 Warsaw 10

ABOUT.

Attention:

Within nine months of the publication of the information on the grant of the European patent, any person may file an objection to the European Patent Office against the European patent granted. The objection must be submitted in the form of a written statement of reasons. It is considered brought only when the opposition fee has been paid (Art. 99 (1) of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents).

SGS-11645 / VAL

EP 2 969 797 B1

Description Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to beverage containers having a permanently attached opening lug, the invention in particular relating to a pressure-balancing opening for improving the pourability of the beverage from the beverage container.

State of the art

[0002] US 5,494,184 relates to a top of a can that includes a disc-shaped panel having a flat disc-shaped portion, an outer circumference joined to the top end of the can body, and a fixed tab attached to the flat portion of the panel. The disc-shaped flat portion has a main cut portion defining a main cut portion surrounded by the main cut, and the flat portion further includes a secondary cut portion defining a secondary cut portion flanked by the secondary cut. The eye has a connecting portion pivotally attached to a central portion of the flat portion about an axis perpendicular to the flat portion, and the ear has both an upward pull end and a downward pushing end. The main slit portion is below the downward push end of the tab to allow the main slit portion to be opened by pulling the end upward to pull the tab upward. The secondary cut portion is scored facing the end of the downwardly pushed ear as the ear rotates to a predetermined angle from the starting position such that the secondary cut portion is opened by pulling the end to pull the ear upward.

[0003] Typical end closures for beer and beverage containers have an opening panel and attached a lever eyelet for pushing the opening panel into the container to open the end. The container is usually an iron-bearing metal, drawn can, usually made of a thin sheet of aluminum. End closures of these types of containers are also typically made of cut aluminum or steel sheet, formed into pig iron and finished by a process often called tip conversion. Such tips are formed by a method involving first forming the severed thin metal, forming the pig iron from the cut metal, and processing the pig iron into an end seal that can be welded to a container.

[0004] Container ends of this type have been used for many years, virtually all of these types of tips used today are "green" or "stay-on-tab" (SOT) ends, in which the handle remains fully attached to the end. opening the tear-off panel containing the large opening end (LOE) terminals. The tear-off panel portion of the can end is defined by the cut length. The tear panel can be opened, i.e. the score line can be torn and displaced the tear panel in an angular direction with respect to the remainder of the can tip, thereby creating a pour opening through which the drink can pour out of the container. The tear-off panel remains hinged to the remainder of the can tip by the hinge segment, leaving an opening for the user to extract the contents of the container. In the LOE, the pour hole has a surface area of ​​about 3.2 square centimeters (0.5 square inches).

[0005] The tear-off panel is opened by means of a lug, which is attached to the end of the can by a rivet through a rivet bead on the lug. The lug is attached to the end of the can so that the lug of the lug extends beyond the proximal portion of the tear panel. The liftable tip of the eyelet is on the side opposite the nose of the eyelet and provides access for a user to lift the lift-up tip, for example by a user's finger, to force the nose to act on the proximal part of the rupture panel.

[0006] When the tab of the tab applies pressure to the rupture panel, the cut initially breaks in the vent area of ​​the cut. This pre-fracture notch is mainly due to the lifting force applied to the eyelet to raise the central area of ​​the can tip close to the rivet. As the tab further lifts, the notch fracture propagates further along the notch, eventually stopping at the hinge segment.

[0007] Since the tips are used in cans containing pressurized content and / or content that requires heat treatment or pasteurization, the incision of the opening panel must have a sufficient notch residue to withstand the pressure, which in turn requires that the eyelet has a metal thickness to provide strength necessary to open the panel. The ear must have a thickness that will exert a force to open the end member and which will ensure the reliability of the opening of the panel opening to tear the end member.

[0008] One problem with such opening systems relates to the ability to pour the beverage from the container. Since these types of tips are not typically provided with a pressure equalization port, the beverage may "gurgle" as air enters the beverage through the pour opening to replace the volume of the quick-exiting beverage from the container. "Gurgling" refers to the uneven flow caused by internal air trying to enter the container through the pour opening.

[0009] Many years ago, before equipping beverage containers with any kind of breakable tear panel, users opened the beverage containers with openers having a downward sharp end to pierce the tip closure. Users pierced the tip cap twice creating a pour hole and alignment hole. This type of method is often used today by vendors in sports stadiums and the like where the speed of serving of the drink is important in order to serve a large number of customers in a short time. Many attempts have been made to provide SOT tips with a sort of alignment hole. Neither of these solutions has been adopted universally due to the serious shortcomings inherent in each of them.

[0010] For example, one method of improving the pourability of SOT end closures comprises enlarging the pour opening. However, the holes can rarely be large enough to prevent gurgling completely. Moreover, when the openings are very large, the problem of undesirable spillage may arise due to the beverage splashing or splashing through the very large pour opening. In addition, a large pour opening typically requires the tab to be rotated about the rivet to apply the force of the tab nose at multiple locations on the closure to bend the enlarged tear panel into the container. Full bending of the hinge area on the lug several times leads to a hardening of the bead under the rivet, which causes the metal to become brittle, which in turn can lead to undesirable breakage of the lug and detachment from the closure. Moreover, the user has to rotate the handle to a predetermined position without instructing the tear panel to create a large pour opening.

[0011] Some designers have proposed a second tear panel on the end closure. These designers typically rely on the use of an external punch tool, such as an opener, or use a SOT to open a second tear panel. Obviously, it is undesirable to provide the user with an external piercing tool as this leads to the setback of the prior art to the times of use of openers. Using SOT to open a second tear panel requires the rotation and deflection of the SOT described above, which has disadvantages similar to those associated with the larger hole tips also described above. Finally, the size and position of this type of second tear panel is undesirable because the openings are too large to spill and / or too close to the pour opening to provide the corresponding pour ability advantage.

[0012] One proposed method for eliminating rotation of the equalizing opening tab is to provide a pivoting eye or "tailstock", one of the tabs being used to open the pouring panel, the opposite end or other portion of the tab to open the equalizing aperture. However, swinging the tab is disadvantageous as it will lead to premature opening of one or both of the tear-off panels.

[0013] As a result of efforts, such a vent has been positioned close to or under the rivet bead in the SOT and / or in the knockout area surrounding the rivet. These features consist of a second frangible score which breaks when the SOT is lifted to break the frangible score that partially defines the pour opening. Such positions and methods are disadvantageous as they are too close to the pour opening which can lead to undesirable spills through the vent, and the separation method does not allow the user to use or not use the vent as the second incision is automatically or naturally separated when the user breaks the main an incision partially defining the pour opening.

[0014] Another attempt to improve pouring involves forming a concave channel proximate the first hour position of the pour opening. There is an ongoing debate as to whether a concave channel is an improvement in pour ability.

[0015] Thus, the problems associated with the prior art trials to provide a pressure equalization hole mainly focus on the size and / or position of the opening and / or the method of opening. The non-exhaustive list of problems associated with prior art trials includes, individually and in any combination: failure to provide the user with the ability to use / open the opening due to the location, unfavorably and / or unnecessarily large, being too close to the pour opening, the need to use an additional tool such as an opener, the need for the user to use a finger to push the center panel down, which may translate to cut fingers due to the sharp edges of the central panel, possible premature opening of the opening, unacceptable / non-existent equalization of pressure in the container and spilling and splashing of the container contents. As detailed below, the invention reduces or obviates the above problems associated with container ends. The invention provides solutions to overcome certain difficulties with the design, manufacture and use of beverage container ends having large openings.

[0016] The invention has been provided to solve the above and other problems and to provide advantages and features not provided by the prior art tip closures. A complete discussion of the features and advantages of the invention is provided in the following detailed description, which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Summary of the invention

[0017] A first aspect of the invention relates to a can end for closing the open end of a two piece or three piece beverage container. The circumferential bend is centered along the longitudinal axis. The peripheral wall extends downward from the bend. The circumferential reinforcement element extends radially inward from the circumferential wall with respect to the longitudinal axis. The center panel around which the peripheral reinforcement element exits has an outer side opposite the product side. The center panel includes a peripheral edge defining the radially outer circumference of the center panel. The tear panel extends radially inward from the peripheral edge. The tear-off panel is defined by a first frangible notch on the outside and a non-breakable hinge segment. The eyelet is attached to the center panel with a rivet on the center panel. The lug has a lifting end and a lug on the side opposite to the lifting end. The end with the tongue overlaps the rupture panel in a first fracture breaking position. The rivet bead has a rivet hole. There is provided a hollow area partially surrounding the rivet bead and having a first leg extending along a first side of the rivet bead and a second leg extending along a second side of the rivet bead. The tab hinge extends between respective ends of the first and second legs of the void. The stamped part of the center panel surrounds the rivet. The center panel has a first axis that extends through the toe end and the eyelet lifting end and through the center of the rivet. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. The first circle has a first center point being in the center of the rivet and a first radius equal to the distance from the center of the rivet is the radially outermost point of the void area on the first axis. The second circle has a second center point at the center of the rivet and a second radius less than 2.5 times the first radius. The second frangible score is completely radially outward of the rivet bead and between the first circle and the second circle.

[0018] A first aspect of the invention may include one or more additional features, individually or in a suitable combination. The can end may further include a third circle having a third radius equal to the maximum length from the center of the rivet to the lug nose tip, the second frangible cut intersecting the third circle. The can end may further include a third circle having a third radius equal to the maximum length from the center of the rivet to the lug nose tip, the second frangible incision being located between and spaced from the second circle and the third circle. The can end may further include a third circle having a third radius equal to the maximum length from the center of the rivet to the lug nose tip, the second frangible notch being located between the first circle and the second circle. The second frangible score may be spaced from the first circle and the second circle. The ear may have a circumference defining a tab area therebetween, and the second frangible notch may be in the area of ​​the center panel below the tab area when the tab is in the breaking position of the first frangible notch. The tab may have a circumferential edge defining a tab region, and the second frangible notch may be completely in the center panel area underneath the tab area when the tab is in the breaking position of the first frangible notch. The tab of the tear can rotate about the rivet 180 degrees from the fracture position of the first frangible incision such that the tear of the lug lies on the second frangible incision. The tear nose is rotatable about the rivet 180 degrees from the fracture position of the first frangible incision such that the first axis divides the lug nose in half and the tear nose is disposed radially inside the second frangible incision. The tear nose is rotatable about the rivet 180 degrees from the fracture position of the first frangible incision such that the first axis divides the ear lug in half and the tear nose is located radially outside the second frangible incision. The first axis may divide the second frangible incision in half. The second frangible cut may be curvilinear in shape having a pair of concave portions between opposite ends and separated by a convex portion therefrom. The ear may include a second hollow area defining a finger hole, the second frangible incision being visible through the finger hole. The first and second axis may lie along the diameter lines on the center panel. The can end may further include a concave panel provided on the center panel, the tab and the first and second frangible notches being completely in the concave panel. The can end may further include an upwardly extending center panel bead partially surrounding the punctured portion surrounding the rivet between the second breakable score and the rivet. The frangible cut may be in the shape of a fragment of an ellipse. The frangible notch may have ends that are on the common side of the major axis of the ellipse and equidistant from the axis of the minor ellipse such that the hinge extends between the ends when the frangible notch is separated to open the pressure equalization hole.

[0019] A second aspect of the invention relates to a can end for closing the open end of a two piece or three piece beverage container. The circumferential bend is centered along the longitudinal axis. The peripheral wall extends downward from the bend. The circumferential reinforcement element extends radially inward from the circumferential wall with respect to the longitudinal axis. The center panel around which the peripheral reinforcement element exits has an outer side opposite the product side. The center panel includes a peripheral edge defining the radially outer circumference of the center panel. The tear panel extends radially inward from the peripheral edge. The tear-off panel is defined by a first frangible notch on the outside and a non-breakable hinge segment. The eyelet is attached to the center panel with a rivet on the center panel. The lug has a lifting end and a lug on the side opposite to the lifting end. The end with the tongue overlaps the rupture panel in a first fracture breaking position. The rivet bead of the eyelet has a rivet hole. There is provided a hollow area partially surrounding the rivet bead and having a first leg extending along a first side of the rivet bead and a second leg extending along a second side of the rivet bead. The tab hinge extends between respective ends of the first and second legs of the void. The stamped part of the center panel surrounds the rivet. The center panel has a first axis that extends through the toe end and the eyelet lifting end and through the center of the rivet. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. The selectively openable pressure equalization hole extends completely radially outward from the rivet bead and is defined by the area of ​​the center panel sandwiched between the edge portion of the broken second frangible score and the plurality of hinge portions provided between the ends of the second frangible score and on the side opposite the edge portion.

[0020] The second aspect of the invention may include one or more additional features of the first aspect of the invention individually or in any suitable combination, and any of the following additional features within the same guidance. The can tip may further include a first circle having a first center point being in the center of the rivet and a first radius equal to the distance from the center of the rivet to the radially outermost point of the void area on the first axis. The can end may further include a second circle having a second center point located in the center of the rivet and a second radius less than 2.5 times the first radius, the second frangible score being located between the first circle and the second circle.

[0021] A third aspect of the invention relates to a can end for closing the open end of a two piece or three piece beverage container. The circumferential bend is centered along the longitudinal axis. The peripheral wall extends downward from the bend. The circumferential reinforcement element extends radially inward from the circumferential wall with respect to the longitudinal axis. The center panel around which the peripheral reinforcement element exits has an outer side opposite the product side. The center panel includes a peripheral edge defining the radially outer circumference of the center panel. The tear panel extends radially inward from the peripheral edge. The tear-off panel is defined by a first frangible notch on the outside and a non-breakable hinge segment. The eyelet is attached to the center panel with a rivet on the center panel. The lug has a lifting end and a lug on the side opposite to the lifting end. The end with the tongue overlaps the rupture panel in a first fracture breaking position. The rivet bead of the eyelet has a rivet hole. There is provided a hollow area partially surrounding the rivet bead and having a first leg extending along a first side of the rivet bead and a second leg extending along a second side of the rivet bead. The tab hinge extends between respective ends of the first and second legs of the void. The stamped part of the center panel surrounds the rivet. The second frangible notch is completely radially outwardly from the rivet bead and is cut by a first diameter axis through the center of the rivet, the second diameter axis passing through the center of the rivet being at an angle of 90 degrees to the first diameter axis and with the opposite ends of the second the frangible cuts are on the sides opposite the first diametral axis, and the length of the second frangible score between the ends is greater than the distance between the radially innermost portion of the second frangible score to the radially innermost portion of the second frangible score.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in combination with the accompanying drawing.

Drawing description

For an understanding of the invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 1 showing a tab rotated 180 degrees from a first frangible notch breaking position to a second frangible notch breaking position;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 3 showing the tab rotated 180 degrees from the first frangible notch breaking position to the second frangible notch breaking position;

Fig. 5 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 5 showing a tab rotated 180 degrees from a first frangible notch breaking position to a second frangible notch breaking position;

Fig. 7 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 7 showing a tab rotated 180 degrees from a first frangible notch breaking position to a second frangible notch breaking position;

Fig. 9 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 10 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 9 showing a tab rotated 180 degrees from a first frangible notch breaking position to a second frangible notch breaking position;

Fig. 11 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 12 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 11 showing a tab rotated 180 degrees from a first frangible notch breaking position to a second frangible notch breaking position;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of a can tip having a curvilinear cut acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a can tip having a curvilinear incision acting as a means for providing a pressure equalization hole after 180 degrees of rotation of the tab; and

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of a can tip according to the invention showing a curvilinear cut separated to provide a pressure equalization hole as described;

Fig. 16 is a top view of a can showing a curvilinear cut;

Fig. 17 is a top view of a can showing a curvilinear cut;

Fig. 18 is a top view of a can tip according to the invention showing an alternative curvilinear cut acting as a means to provide a pressure equalization hole after separation or breakage;

Fig. 19 is a top view of the can shown in Fig. 18 showing a tab rotated 180 degrees from a first frangible notch breaking position to a second frangible notch breaking position;

Detailed description

[0024] As the invention may be embodied in various embodiments, preferred embodiments of the invention will be illustrated in the figures and the following description, bearing in mind that the description is to be regarded as an example of the invention and does not limit the broad aspect of the invention to the preferred examples of the invention shown.

[0025] The invention provides a can tip to provide a suitable pressure equalization opening which will allow fluid to enter the head space above the beverage in the beverage container. This enables greater fluidity and faster pouring through the pour opening in the tip of the can. The pressure equalization opening allows fluid to enter the head space to replace the volume of the liquid beverage quickly escaping from the container via the pour opening. The invention relates to a means for providing selective opening of the pressure equalization opening. The pressure equalization hole according to the invention is intended to overcome the drawbacks of the pressure equalization holes according to the prior art. More specifically, the pressure compensation hole according to the invention is sized to eliminate the excessively large pressure compensation holes according to the prior art. It is opened selectively, not automatically. It is well away from the pour hole to avoid spillage. It is handled / opened by means of a lug already attached to the end of the can and there is much less chance of accidental or undesirable opening during transport or handling. Finally, it is clear that the pressure equalization opening improves the pourability of the beverage from the beverage container.

[0026] With reference to the figures, the beverage can end 10 for the container has a center panel 12 separated from the fastening fold 14 by a peripheral wall 15 extending downward from the fastening fold 14 to the reinforcement element 16 which is connected to the central panel 12 The container is usually an iron-bearing metal, drawn can, usually made of thin aluminum or steel sheet. Beverage can ends for these types of containers are also typically made of cut aluminum or steel sheet, formed into pig iron and finished by a process often called tip conversion.

[0027] The can end 10 may be secured to the container by means of a fastening bend 14 which is attached to a mating bend on the container. The fixation fold 14 of the can end 10 is integrated in the center panel 12 through the peripheral wall 15 and the reinforcement element 16, either by a countersink or a fold that attaches to the peripheral edge 18 of the center panel 12, defining the outer periphery of the center panel 12, often by means of an additional a reinforcing element such as a circumferential step or a circumferential wall. Such means of securing the center panel 12 to the container are now common industrial means for joining, and the above-described structure is formed by a method of forming a tip pig stock from a cut sheet metal prior to processing the tip. However, other methods of attaching the center panel to the container may be used in the invention.

[0028] The steps of producing the tip begin with making a section of pig iron, usually circular or non-circular in shape, from a metal sheet. Examples of non-circular slices include elliptical, curved, or harmonic slices. Curvilinear slices can be described as generally having three distinct diameters, each diameter at an angle of 45 ° to the others. The section is then formed into a tip blank to form the fixation fold, countersink, panel radius, and center panel.

[0029] The process of treating this type of beverage tip comprises the steps of: forming a rivet by first forming a protruding bubble in the center of the panel, then processing the metal of the bubble into a button and a narrower metal protrusion; forming a tear panel by notching the metal of the panel wall; forming an inner bead or panel on the tear panel; forming a concave panel by bending the metal of the panel wall such that the center area of ​​the panel wall is slightly lower than the rest of the panel wall; attaching the eyelet to the rivet; and other subsequent operations such as cleaning steps to remove the sharp edges of the tab, stamping the wall of the panel by cutting, engraving or convex (or concave) stamping, and re-punching a bead for a rivet.

[0030] The fastening fold 14 defines the outer circumference of the beverage can tip 10. It is substantially centered about the longitudinal or vertical axis 50.

[0031] The center panel 12 has a displaceable tear panel 20 defined by a frangible score 22 and a non-breakable hinge segment 25. The tear-off panel 20 of the center panel 12 may be opened, i.e., the frangible notch 22 may be severed and the tear panel 20 displaced in an angular direction with respect to the remainder of the center panel 12, with the tear-off panel 20 remaining hingedly attached to the central panel 12 by with the hinge segment to define the pour opening. During the opening operation, the tear panel 20 is moved within the angular deflection range. More specifically, the tear panel 20 is folded at an angle to the plane of the panel 12, the apex of the angular displacement being the hinge segment 25.

[0032] The tear panel 20 is formed during processing by a scoring action. Tearing panel incision tools 20 in center panel 12 including an outermost top die having a tear panel shaped scoring knife edge 20 and a bottom die on the product side to support metal at the scored locations. When the upper and lower dies are joined together, metal of the panel wall 12 will be notched between the dies. This leads to the slitting knife engaging the metal of the panel wall 12, creating a cut that looks like a wedge groove in the metal. The metal remaining below the keyway is the remainder of the score 22. Therefore, the score is formed with a score knife edge that displaces the metal such that an imprint of the score knife edge is formed on the outer side of panel wall 12.

[0033] The central panel 12 has an exterior and an opposite product side, and further includes a lug 26. The lug 26 has a generally elongate body along a diameter line 78 through the lug 30 of the lug, a central carcass 42 and a lifting tip 32. Typical prior art container ends often have lugs 26 fixed in the final stages of processing by joining the area of ​​the center panel 12 adjacent to and under the bead 46 at an angle to deflect the lug 26 so that the lug 32 for lifting the lug 26 The center panel 12 can also have a groove near the tip 32 for lifting the tab 26 to allow easier access for the fingers.

[0034] The figures show only one example of the configuration of the bead 46 for a rivet. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that rivet bead 46 and hollow region 48 can be of any shape without departing from the invention, including, but not limited to, rivet bead or groove bead.

[0035] The tear panel opening 20 is operated by a tab 26 which is secured to the center panel 12 by a rivet 28 spaced from the tear panel 20 substantially through the rivet hole in the rivet boss 46. The lug 26 is attached to the center panel 12 such that the lug 30 of the lug 26 extends in the proximal portion of the tear panel 20 at the tear panel 20 or frangible cut 22 position. The lift tip 32 of the eye 26 is on the side opposite the nose 30 of the eye and provides access for a user to lift the lift tip 32, for example by a user's finger, to force the nose 30 to act on the proximal part of the rupture panel 20.

[0036] Alternatively, the lug 26 may be attached to the central panel 12 with an adhesive.

[0037] The rivet 28 is surrounded by a circular knockout area of ​​center panel 12. The knockout area is the embossed portion of center panel 12 through which the incision 22 generally extends. A raised, curved bead 34 may be around the knockout area so as to partially surround the knockout area.

According to the opening sequence, the lug 30 of the tear exerts pressure on the rupture panel 20, and the notch 22 initially breaks in the vent area of ​​the cut 22 of the rupture panel 20. This initial fracture of the cut 22 is mainly due to the lifting force applied to the eyelet leading to the loop. lifting the area of ​​the central panel, directly next to the rivet 28, which separates the remnants of the metal of the notch 22. The force required to break the notch in the vent area, commonly referred to as the "fracture" force, is a lower degree of force than the force required to propagate the other areas of the notch 22 as the tip 32 continues to lift the ear 26. Therefore, it is preferable that the panel 12 in the area around rivet 28 only rises enough to assist in the initial disengagement of a cut or "break" and remains substantially stiff and flat to provide the necessary leverage for the tab 26 to extend the score line. tear panel 20. The invention provides the optimum stiffness in the center panel as described hereinafter.

[0039] After the rupture panel has initially "ruptured" or vented, the user continues to raise the tab 32 for lifting the tab 26 which causes the tab of the tab 30 to be pushed down on the rupture panel 20 to continue the breakage of the cut 22, generating an opening force. . As the opening operation continues, the tear panel 20 is positioned downwards and pivotable about the hinge region that is foldable to the container.

[0040] The eye 26 has a central carcass 42 located between the lug 30 and the lifting tip 32. The center carcass 42 includes a hinge region and a rivet bead 46 surrounding the rivet 28. The hole or hollow area 48 of the carcass 42 of the tab provides the exposed area of ​​the center panel 12. The hollow area 48 has a curvilinear geometry which borders the rivet bead 46 and at least partially surrounds the rivet 28, the first leg of the hollow area 48 being provided substantially on one side of the rivet 28 and the second leg being provided substantially on the opposite side of the rivet 28. The tab warp area 42 includes a hinge line which is defined by a generally straight line extending between the end of the first leg and the end of the second leg of the void area 48. It may be necessary to add material to the carcass 42 of the tab, modify the bend radius, add a bead or other reinforcement means to ensure that the area is strong enough with the tab 26 bending in the hinge area when opened.

[0041] The hollow area 48 is on the matrix 42 of the tab. The void 48 may be generally arc-shaped. In this configuration, the rivet bead 46 follows the overall shape of the void 48.

[0042] The hinge region of the lug 26 may be adapted to have a hinge line that is not perpendicular to an axis coinciding with the diameter line. Instead, the hinge line cuts the first axis at an angle. Thus, one preferred embodiment has a hollow area 48 where the first leg is closer to the outer edge of the tab of the tab 30 and closer to the rupture panel 20 than the second leg. Thus, the hinge line of the lug 26 is at an angle with respect to the diameter line that is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the diameter line.

[0043] The repositioning of the hinge line with respect to the first axis leads to a structure that directs the path of the lug 26 during the opening of the tear panel 20 due to the lifting force applied to the lifting end 32 to rotate the lug 26 about the hinge line and cause the lug body to displace angularly. .

[0044] The eye 26 also has a folded portion 54 about its periphery. The bent portion 54 strengthens the eyelet 26 and further conceals any sharp edges. The folded portion 54 is provided substantially around the entire circumference of the ear 26 with cut portions to conform to the rounded contour of the ear 26 and avoid puckering of the metal of the ear 26. The folded portion 54 is at least formed from the end of the first leg to the end of the second leg of the hollow region 48 via the tip nose pad 30. The curved portion 54 includes metal from the folded down tab.

[0045] To improve the handling of the can tip 10, an additional element may be provided at the nose tip 30 of the earpiece 26. This member is the connector 58 shown in Figs. 13-15 and detailed in US Patent No. 8,646,643. The connector 58 is substantially proximate the nose tip 30 of the ear 26, preferably within ± 10 ° of the first axis as described below, more preferably crossing the first axis and most preferably halved by the first axis. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that connector 58 may be used in any of the preferred embodiments presented herein.

[0046] Structurally, the connector 58 has a stamped portion of the bent portion 54 and a substantially "V" or "U" shaped slot on the upper surface of the tab 26. The slot has a first wall separated from the second wall by a bottom point. The first and second walls are at an angle to the vertical plane, crossing the bottom point at an angle of 5 ° to 35 °. While the bottom of the fissure is called the bottom point, it contains a curved segment with a radius of curvature rather than a sharp point with a very, very small radius of curvature.

[0047] The connector 58 is formed by hitting the top surface of the tab 26. This forces the curved portion 54 against the top surface and pushes the bottom surface of the tab 26 downward. Thereby, the stamped portion of the folded portion 54 extends downwardly towards the outer portion of the center panel 12 at a greater distance than the portion of the folded portion 54 immediately past the embossed portion 54.

[0048] Thus, the coupler 58 has an upper surface with a slit and a lower surface extending downward toward the outer portion of the break panel 20. The bottom surface of the coupler 58 is structurally different from the top surface. The bottom surface forms an arcuate traverse to the first axis instead of a "V" shape on the top surface. Such structural characteristics also reduce the angle between the bottom surface of the tab 26 and the exterior of the center panel 12, providing faster contact between the tab 26 and the tear panel 20 during opening and limiting the sway of the tab 26 on the rivet 28.

[0049] The carcass 42 further includes a gripping portion 60. The gripping portion 60 is for user use. Typically, the gripping portion 60 has a finger hole 62 and the like. The finger hole 62 is spaced from the void 48 by a thin section of the carcass 42 under which the raised bulge 34 lies.

[0050] The embossed panel 66 is formed on the outside of the center panel 12. The embossed panel 66 is formed on the central panel 12 using conventional die-forming techniques. The tab 26 and tear panel 20 are typically fully recessed into embossed panel 66.

[0051] According to the invention, the center panel 12 has a selectively openable pressure equalization aperture 120. A pressure equalization aperture 120 is formed by separating a frangible incision 74 radial from the center point of the rivet 28, substantially at the intersection of the first axis 78 and the second axis 82. The frangible notch 74 is preferably broken due to the force applied by lifting the end 32 to raise the tab 26 to force the tab nose 30 downward relative to the center panel 12. The ear 26 is pivotable substantially about axis 82 upon opening the break panel 20 from the breaking position. the breakaway panel 20 to a second frangible incision breaking position 74, wherein the tab nose 30 is adjacent to or directly over the frangible incision 74. The connector 58 will penetrate the frangible incision 74 better than the ear without the connector 58. In the case of a circular lug ear, the lug may slide back along the center panel 12.

[0052] The first axis 78 passes through the nose tip 30 and the lifting end 32 on the lug 26 and through the center of the rivet 28, substantially halving the lug in a symmetrical manner. Thus, the first axis 78 may have a length equal to the diameter of the can end 10, assuming a round can end 10. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment, the first axis 78 is the diameter axis.

[0053] The second axis 82 is perpendicular to the first axis 78. It may also pass through the center point of the rivet 28. Therefore, it may also be the diameter axis.

[0054] The breakable score 74 extends completely radially outward of the rivet bead 46 and between a first radial distance 86 from the center of the rivet 28 and a second radial distance 90 from the center of the rivet 28. The first radial distance 86 is equal to the distance from the center of the rivet 28 to the radially most outer point of the void 48 on the first axis 78 such that the can tip 10 has a first circle having a radius equal to the radial distance 86. The second radial distance 90 is greater than but less than 2.5 times the length of the first radial distance 86 such that the can tip 10 has a second circle having a radius equal to the second radial distance 90. The fracture score 74 is preferably spaced from the first and second radii. circle such that the first and second circles intersect frangible notch 74 (see, e.g., Figs. 5 and 6).

[0055] The third radial distance 94 has a length from the center of the rivet 28 that is greater than the length of the first radial distance 86 and less than the length of the second radial distance.

90. The third radial distance 94 is equal to the maximum distance from the center of the rivet 28 to the tip of the nose 30 of the tab 26. Suitably, the can tip 10 has a third circle with a radius equal to the third radial distance 94. The breakable cut 74 may be between and / or spaced from the second circle and of the third circle, may be between and / or distant from the first and third circles. Alternatively, frangible score 74 may intersect the third circle. In one embodiment, the lug 30 of the tab is rotated about the rivet 28 180 degrees from the breaking panel 20 breaking position such that the lug 26 lies over the frangible notch 74 at the frangible notch 74 breaking position (see e.g. Figs. 2, 4 and 14). In another embodiment, the lug nose 30 is rotated about the rivet 180 degrees from the break position of the tear panel 20 such that the first axis 78 divides the lug nose 30 and the lug nose 30 is located radially inside the second frangible incision 74 (see e.g. figures 6 and 8). In another embodiment, the lug nose 30 is rotated about the rivet 180 degrees from the break position of the tear panel 20 such that the first axis 78 divides the lug nose 30 and the lug nose 30 is located radially outside the second frangible incision 74 (see e.g. Figs 10 and 12).

[0056] The frangible notch 74 is positioned substantially entirely within the embossed panel 66. For example, the tab 26 has a diameter defining the tab region inside, and the frangible incision 74 may be within the center panel area 12 below the tab area when the tab 26 is the panel breaking position for the tab area. breaking 20 is preferably completely in the area of ​​the center panel 12 below the tab area when the tab 26 is in the breaking position of the break panel 20. In one embodiment, the first axis 78 halves the frangible incision 74. In one embodiment, the frangible incision 74 is visible through the finger opening 62. The raised bead 34 is positioned between and remote from the knockout area surrounding the rivet 28 and the frangible score 74.

[0057] The shape of the frangible score 74 is substantially curvilinear, preferably having a pair of concave portions 98 separated by a convex portion 102, all being between opposite ends 110. The shape forms a pressure equalization hole defined partially by a plurality of hinge portions. In this case, such hinge portions may be bends, sagings, grooves and the like formed by simply breaking the frangible cut 74 using the tab 26.

[0058] One hinge portion 114a extends from end 110 to the top of the convex portion 102; another hinge portion 114b extends from an opposite end 110 of the convex portion 102. Another hinge portion 114c may extend between the top portions of the concave portions 98. The determining factor in how the plurality of hinge portions may be used is generally determined by the position of the tab of the tab relative to the position of the frangible notch 74 while breaking the frangible notch 74 to open the pressure equalization aperture. In one embodiment, an open pressure equalization aperture 120 is defined by an edge portion of the fracture fracture and the plurality of hinge portions 114a, 114b provided between the ends 110 of the fracture fracture 74 and the opposite edge portion. Alternatively, an open pressure equalization aperture 120 is defined by a hinge portion 114c located on the opposite side of a pair of hinge parts 114a, b, the first hinge portion 114c being separated from the second hinge portion 114a by the first end 110 and the first hinge portion 114c separated. to the third hinge portion 114b by means of a second opening end 110 defined therebetween.

[0059] In one preferred embodiment, frangible score 74 is completely radially outwardly spaced from rivet bead 46 and cut by a first axis 78 and opposite ends 110 of frangible notch 74 provided on opposite sides of the first axis. The length of the frangible score 74 between the ends 110 is greater than the distance between the radially innermost portion of the frangible incision 74 relative to the radially innermost portion of the second frangible incision. In other words, the length of the frangible score 74 in a direction generally coincident with or parallel to the second axis 82 is greater than the length of the frangible score 74 in a direction generally coincident with or parallel to the first axis 78. Yet otherwise, the height of the frangible score 74 is less than the width of the frangible score 74.

[0060] Referring to Figs. 18 and 19, an alternate embodiment of a frangible incision 174 for creating a pressure equalization hole is shown.

[0061] In this embodiment, the frangible notch 174 is in the shape of a portion of an ellipse. More specifically, frangible notch 174 has ends that are on the common side of the major axis of the ellipse and equidistant from the minor axis of the ellipse such that the hinge extends between the ends when the frangible notch 174 is separated to open the pressure equalization hole.

[0062] This alternative frangible notch 174 may be oriented to the positions described above with respect to the curvilinear fracture 74. More specifically, frangible notch 174 may be at positions relative to the first, second, and third radial distances 86, 90, 94 described above.

Most preferably, frangible notch 174 according to this preferred embodiment intersects the third radial distance 94. When frangible notch 174 is in this position, tab nose 30 is rotated about rivet 28 180 degrees from breaking first fracture 22, ear nose 30. lies over the second frangible cut 174 in the alignment hole open position.

[0064] This alternative frangible score 174 also has the size of the frangible score described above. Thus, the major axis of the frangible notch 174 is larger than the minor axis of the frangible notch 174. Otherwise, the length of the frangible notch 174 in a direction generally coincident with or parallel to the second axis 82 is greater than the length of the frangible notch 174 in a direction generally coincident with or parallel to the first axis. axis 78. Yet otherwise, the height of the frangible incision 174 is less than the width of the frangible incision 174. [0065] In addition to the size of the frangible incision 174, the frangible incision 174 is substantially completely in the area of ​​the embossed panel 66. For example, the tab 26 has a diameter defining the tab region therein, and the frangible incision 174 may be within the area of ​​the center panel 12 under the tab area, when the tab 26 is the breaking position of the tear panel 20, preferably completely in the area of ​​the center panel 12 below the tab area. when the tab 26 is in the breaking position of the tear panel 20. In one embodiment, first axis 78 halves the frangible score 174. In one embodiment, frangible score 174 is visible through the finger hole 62. The raised bead 34 is located between and remote from the knockout area surrounding the rivet 28 and the frangible score 174.

[0066] The terms "first", "second", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", etc. are provided for purposes of illustration only with respect to the other elements and are not intended to limit the invention to the present invention. no way. The term "many" as used herein is intended to mean any number greater than one, either detachably or collectively as necessary, up to an infinite number. The terms "connected", "attached" and "connected" as used herein are used to denote the connection of two elements together so as to form a unit, and any number of elements, devices, fixtures, etc. may be provided between the connected or attached elements, unless otherwise stated using the term "directly" and / or as indicated in the figures.

[0067] While the preferred embodiments are shown and described herein, many modifications are possible without departing from the invention and the scope of protection is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.