Constructive arrangement for the opening of a beverage can

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed and includes a can, which has an end wall incorporating a vent panel and a pouring panel, both panels presenting a contour defined by a rupture line. The apparatus includes an actuation tab with an extracting end portion affixed to the vent panel. The actuation tab includes a punching end portion affixed to the pouring panel and a lower end tooth to be pressed against a spot region of the rupture line of the pouring panel. The actuation tab includes a grip portion affixed to the extracting end portion and is designed to be manually and upwardly actuated for detaching the vent panel from the end wall. The grip portion is designed to punch and rupture the spot region of the rupture line of the pouring panel and, subsequently, detaching the latter from the end wall.

Claims

1. A constructive arrangement for the opening of a beverage can comprising: an end wall surrounded by an adjacent peripheral edge of the can, the end wall including a vent panel and a pouring panel, the vent panel spaced apart from the pouring panel, the vent panel having a vent contour defined by a vent rupture line breakable for the formation of a vent opening, the pouring panel having a pouring contour defined by a pouring rupture line breakable for the formation of a pouring opening; and an actuation tab comprising: an extracting end portion externally affixed to the vent panel; a punching end portion externally affixed to the pouring panel, the punching end portion including, in a single piece, a hinge region and a tab portion cut out from the actuation tab by a cutout, said punching end portion being provided with a lower end tooth configured to be pressed against a confronting spot region of the pouring rupture line of the pouring panel, the lower end tooth provided on a side of the hinge region opposite the tab portion; and a grip portion having a hinge end and a free end, the hinge end affixed to the extracting end portion, the grip portion configured to be manually and upwardly displaceable about the hinge end from a retracted inoperative position to an operative position, the grip portion configured to separate the punching end portion from the end wall of the can to separate the vent panel from the can and, subsequently, detach the pouring panel from the end wall.

2. The constructive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cutout has a shape corresponding to a rounded “C”, the cutout open to the hinge region.

3. The constructive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion of the actuation tab remains contained within an outer perimeter of the end wall in a plan view when in the retracted inoperative position.

4. The constructive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the extracting end portion and the punching end portion of the actuation tab are respectively affixed to the vent panel and to the pouring panel by a rivet.

5. The constructive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion takes the form of an extension of the extracting end portion of the actuation tab.

6. The constructive arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the grip portion is formed in a single piece with the extracting end portion and the punching end portion of the actuation tab.

7. The constructive arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the grip portion is an axial extension of the extracting end portion and remains positioned over both the extracting end portion and the punching end portion when in the inoperative retracted condition.

8. The constructive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the hinge end is provided between the grip portion and the extracting end portion.

9. The constructive arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the rivet extends through the tab portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extracting end portion is provided on a first side of the cutout and the tab portion is provided on an opposite second side of the cutout.

11. An apparatus for opening a can that includes an end wall having a vent panel and a pouring panel spaced apart from the vent panel, wherein a first contour of the vent panel is defined by a first rupture line, and wherein a second contour of the pouring panel is defined by a second rupture line, the apparatus comprising: an actuation tab including an extracting end portion, a punching end portion, a tab portion, a lower end tooth, and a grip portion, wherein: the extracting end portion is externally affixed to the vent panel; the lower end tooth and the tab portion are separated via a hinge region; the lower end tooth abuts a confronting spot region of the second rupture line; the grip portion includes a hinge end and a free end; the hinge end is coupled to the extracting end portion; the grip portion is displaceable around the hinge end from a first position to a second position; the second position is located above the first position relative to the end wall; in response to actuating the grip portion, the lower end tooth is configured to break the confronting spot region of the second rupture line; and in response to breaking the confronting spot region of the second rupture line, the pouring panel is configured to separate from the end wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a cutout having a shape corresponding to an arc disposed around the tab portion.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the grip portion is located at the first position during a retracted and inoperative state; the grip portion is located within an area defined by at least the end wall and a peripheral edge of the can; and the peripheral edge of the can is perpendicular to the end wall.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the extracting end portion is affixed to the vent panel using a first rivet; and the punching end portion is affixed to the pouring panel using a second rivet.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the grip portion extends from the extracting end portion in a same direction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the grip portion, the extracting end portion, and the punching end portion are integrated into a single component.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: the grip portion is an axial extension of the extracting end portion; and while the grip portion is at the first position, the grip portion is positioned above the extracting end portion and the punching end portion relative to the end wall.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hinge end is provided between the grip portion and the extracting end portion.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second rivet extends through the tab portion.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the extracting end portion is provided on a first side of the cutout and the tab portion is provided on an opposite second side of the cutout.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure will be described below, with reference being made to the appended drawings, given by way of example of a possible construction for the present constructive arrangement, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 represents an upper plan view of a beverage can of the type considered herein, in the closed condition and provided with the actuation tab proposed in the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 represents an enlarged diametric sectional view of the upper portion of the can of FIG. 1, further illustrating the bottom of other can stacked thereon.

(4) FIG. 3 represents an enlarged diametric sectional view of the upper portion of the can of FIG. 1, with the actuation tab being displaced by the user/consumer, in order to initiate the separation of the vent panel in relation to the end wall, for forming the vent opening and rupturing the spot region of the rupture line of the pouring panel;

(5) FIG. 4 represents an enlarged diametric sectional view of the upper portion of the can of FIG. 3, in which the actuation tab is already markedly displaced away from the end wall of the can, initiating the rupture of the remaining part of the rupture line and the consequent separation of the pouring panel in relation to the can, in order to form the pouring opening; and

(6) FIG. 5 represents the diametric sectional view illustrated in FIG. 4, but in which the actuation tab and the two panels have been totally detached from the can and discarded, in order to form the vent and pouring openings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) As illustrated in the appended drawings and mentioned above, the present constructive arrangement is applied to a beverage can L of the type which comprises an end wall 10, usually in the form of an upper lid and surrounded by an adjacent peripheral edge 21 defined at one of the ends of a generally cylindrical lateral wall 20 of the can L. The end wall 10 incorporates a vent panel 11 and a pouring panel 12, which are spaced from each other usually in a diametrically opposite arrangement, with the pouring panel 12 presenting a contour usually much larger than that of the vent panel 11.

(8) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the vent panel 11 and the pouring panel 12 have the contours thereof totally defined by respective rupture lines 11a, 12a, allowing said panels to be manually along the contours thereof, for the formation of a vent opening A1 (as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) and, subsequently, of a pouring opening A2, respectively, (as better illustrated in FIG. 4). This type of can may be constructed in different ways well known in the art.

(9) The can L further comprises an actuation tab 30, constructed in a single piece and in any metal alloy adequate to the present use, having an extracting end portion 31, externally attached to the vent panel 11 by a retention element 35, of any known construction and which, for example, may take the form of a rivet 35a, hermetically incorporated to the vent panel 11 of the end wall 10. The actuation tab 30 further presents a punching end portion 32, externally affixed to the pouring panel 12, by a retention element 36, for example, in the form of a rivet 36a, the punching end portion 32 being provided with a lower end tooth 32a, designed to be pressed against the confronting spot region 12b of the rupture line 12a of the pouring panel 12.

(10) The actuation tab 30 further comprises a grip portion 33, having a hinge end 33a affixed to the extracting end portion 31, and a free end 33b, the grip portion 33 being manually and upwardly displaceable, around its hinge end 33a, from a retracted inoperative position, to an operative position, spaced from the end wall 10 of the can L and in which it is upwardly actuated by the user/consumer, for upwardly elevating the extracting end portion 31 and thus, separating, from the end wall 10, the vent panel 11, punching and rupturing the confronting spot region 12b of the rupture line 12a of the pouring panel 12 and, subsequently, detaching the latter from the end wall 10.

(11) The provision of the grip portion 33 of the actuation tab 30 allows providing the user/consumer with a good grip for pulling said actuation tab 30, since the initial moment of the upward displacement of its extracting end portion 31, which may make unnecessary the provision of a tongue portion joining the extracting end portion 31 to the respective retention element 35, as described herein below in relation to the punching end portion 32 of the actuation tab 30.

(12) The punching end portion 32 of the actuation tab 30 incorporates, in a single piece and through a hinge region 32b, a tab portion 32c cutout from the actuation tab 30 by a cutout 32d in the form of a rounded “C” said tab portion 32c to define the portion of the actuation tab 30 attached to the retention element 36.

(13) After the extracting end portion 31 of the actuation tab 30 has been sufficiently displaced to detach the vent panel 11 and the respective retention element 35 in relation to the end wall 10 of the can L, with the progressive upward displacement of the actuation tab 30 by the user/consumer, the lower end tooth 32a is pressed against the confronting spot region 12b of the rupture line 12a, external to the cutout 32d and to the hinge region 32b of the tab portion 32c, rupturing the rupture line 12a in said confronting spot region 12b and allowing the progressive upward displacement of the actuation tab 30 to be effected around the hinge region 32b, until occurring the initial rupture of the pouring panel 12 by the lower end tooth 32a and, with the progressive upward angular displacement of the actuation tab 30, is obtained the complete rupture of the rupture line 12a and the consequent complete separation of the pouring panel 12, of the retention element 36 and of the actuation tab 30 in relation to the can L.

(14) Although not illustrated herein, the extracting end portion 31 of the actuation tab 30 may incorporate, in a single piece and through a hinge region, a tongue portion cutout from the actuation tab 30 by a cutout in the form of a rounded “C”, similarly as described in relation to the punching end portion 32, allowing said tongue portion to define the portion of the actuation tab 30 affixed to the retention element 35 associated to the vent panel 11.

(15) In the constructive variant described in the above paragraph (not illustrated), the tongue portion of the extracting end portion 31 of the actuation tab 30 allows the initial upward angular displacement of the extracting portion of the actuation tab 30 to be effected around the hinge region. With the progressive upward angular displacement of the actuation tab 30, it is obtained the complete rupture of the rupture line 11a and the consequent complete separation of the vent panel 11 in relation to the can L.

(16) In the illustrated construction, the grip portion takes the form of an extension of the extracting end portion 31 of the actuation tab 30, usually formed in a single piece with the extracting end portion 31 and the punching end portion 32 of the actuation tab 30.

(17) In the illustrated form, the grip portion 33 is an axial extension of the extracting end portion 31 of the actuation tab 30 and remains positioned over the extracting end portion 31 and the punching end portion 32, when in its retracted inoperative condition.

(18) The manual and angular displacement of the actuation tab 30 pulls axially the retention element 35 away from the end wall 10 of the can L, provoking the rupture of the rupture line 11a of the vent panel 11, which is, then, integrally detached from the can L, forming the vent opening A1 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) which may be dimensioned so as to receive a straw (not illustrated), when the user wishes to consume the beverage in this manner, reducing the risks of spilling.

(19) During the angular displacement of the actuation tab 30 for rupturing the vent panel 11, the lower end tooth 32a of the punching end portion 32 ruptures the confronting spot region 12b of the rupture line 12, initiating the process of liberating the pouring panel 12.

(20) With the progressive upward angular displacement of the actuation tab 30, the latter acts over the retention element 36, pulling it upwardly, in order to rupture the rupture line 12a of the pouring panel 12 and to separate totally the latter from the end wall 10 of the can L, forming the pouring opening A2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

(21) The present constructive arrangement allows the grip portion 33 of the actuation tab 30 to remain contained, in its retracted inoperative position, within the contour of the end wall 10, between the latter and the plan of the adjacent peripheral edge 21 of the can L, not interfering with the bottom of an identical can L stacked thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

(22) In relation to the description above, it should be understood that example dimensional relationships for the components of the present disclosure include variations of size, materials, geometric forms, functions, operation modes, mounting arrangements usage will become apparent. All relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification should be understood as encompassed by the present disclosure.

(23) Thus, while only one way of carrying out the present disclosure has been illustrated herein, it should be understood that modifications as to form and constitution of the parts can be made, without departing from the protective scope defined in the claims that accompany the present specification.