RESEALABLE CAN LIDS FOR METAL BEVERAGE CANS

Abstract

The object of the invention is a can lid comprising a base (1) having a weakened contour (10) defining a tear portion, wherein the base (1) comprises a flange (7), with a rivet structure (2) being arranged at the centre of the base (1), and with an opening tab (3) being attached to the rivet structure (2). The can lid according to the invention is characterised in that a bottom rotatable lid (4) and a top rotatable lid (5) are secured to the rivet structure (2), where an external curved guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid (4) is fitted slidably in a circumferential bottom groove (8) of the flange (7) of the base (1), and where an external curved guide rim of the top rotatable lid (5) is fitted slidably in a circumferential top groove (9) of the flange (7) of the base (1), with the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the top rotatable lid (5) being adapted to be rotated about the rivet structure independent of each other, and in that the bottom rotatable lid (4) comprises a protrusion (12) disposed in a direction opposite its side facing the base, with the top rotatable lid (5) comprising another protrusion (13) at its side facing the base, where the protrusion (12) of the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the protrusion (13) of the top rotatable lid (5) fitting tightly against each other when the rotatable lids (12, 13) are in an identical position.

Claims

1. Can lid comprising a base (1) having a weakened contour (10) defining a tear portion, the base (1) comprises a circumferential flange (7), with a rivet structure (2) being arranged at the centre of the base (1), and with an opening tab (3) being attached to the rivet structure (2), characterised in that a bottom rotatable lid (4) and a top rotatable lid (5) are secured to the rivet structure (2), where an external curved guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid (4) is slidably received in a circumferential bottom groove (8) of the flange (7) of the base (1), and where an external curved guide rim of the top rotatable lid (5) is slidably received in a circumferential top groove (9) of the flange (7) of the base (1), with the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the top rotatable lid (5) being adapted to be rotated about the rivet structure independent of each other; and in that the bottom rotatable lid (4) comprises a first protrusion (12) disposed on its side facing away from the base, the top rotatable lid (5) comprises a second protrusion (13) on its side facing the base, and where the first protrusion (12) of the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the second protrusion (13) of the top rotatable lid (5) abut tightly against each other when said rotatable lids are in a fully overlapping position.

2. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the external curved guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the top rotatable lid (5) extend along at most 50% of the circumference of the flange (7).

3. The can lid according to claim 2, characterised in that the protrusion (12) of the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the protrusion (13) of the top rotatable lid (5) are embossments.

4. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that stop members (14) are disposed in the circumferential bottom groove (8) and the circumferential top groove (9) of the flange (7) of the base (1), the said stop members (14) being positioned angularly shifted with respect to each other.

5. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the bottom rotatable lid (4) is provided with a sealing strip (11) in sealing contact with the base (1) and disposed along straight edges of the bottom rotatable lid (4).

6. The can lid according to claim 5, characterised in that the sealing strip (11) is a silicone material.

7. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the top rotatable lid (5) have a surface pattern adapted to facilitate rotation and haptic recognition thereof.

8. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the external curved guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid (4) and the external curved guide rim of the top rotatable lid (5) extend along at most 33% of the circumference of the flange (7).

9. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the external guide rim of the bottom rotatable lid (4) and external guide rim of the top rotatable lid (5) extend along about 25% of the circumference of the flange (7).

10. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the bottom rotatable lid (4) on a surface thereof facing the base (1) has a closed loop sealing strip in sealing contact with the base (1) and sized to surround the weakened contour (10) in the base (1) when positioned over the weakened contour (10).

11. The can lid according to claim 3, characterised in that said embossments extend toward one another and together provide a seal over an opening in the can lid defined by the weakened contour (10).

12. The can lid according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of said bottom rotatable lid (4) and said top rotatable lid (5) has a surface pattern adapted to facilitate rotation and haptic recognition thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The preferred embodiments of the technical solution according to the invention are explained below referring to the accompanying drawings, where

[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded drawing of a beverage can, showing the major components of the can lid according to the invention,

[0019] FIG. 2 is the top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the can lid according to the invention,

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the can lid according to FIG. 2,

[0021] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A indicated in FIG. 2,

[0022] FIG. 5a is an underside view of the bottom rotatable lid of the can lid, and

[0023] FIG. 5b is an underside view of the top rotatable lid of the can lid.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the can lid in exploded view, showing the major components of the can lid. The can lid comprises a base 1 to which a bottom rotatable lid 4, a top rotatable lid 5, and an opening tab 3 are secured by means of a rivet structure 2.

[0025] In FIG. 2 a top plan view of the can lid is shown, illustrating that a weakened contour 10 defining a tear portion is disposed on the base 1. The rivet structure 2 is arranged at the centre of the base 1, with the bottom rotatable lid 4, the top rotatable lid 5, and the opening tab 3 being arranged at increasing distance from the base 1 in a direction perpendicular to the base 1.

[0026] The opening tab 3 is configured in line with the state of the art, in a tiltable manner, according to one of the known technical solutions; i.e., it is adapted to tear an opening in the can lid along the tear line by applying force to the surface region bounded by the weakened contour 10, thus allowing access to the contents of the can.

[0027] As can be seen also in FIG. 3, the base 1 comprises a flange 7 that has a bottom groove 8 and a top groove 9 disposed on its inside face. The two grooves can be formed during the manufacturing of the can lid blank, or even when the can lid is placed on the can, for example by stamping of the base 1, or also post-manufacturing, applying other machining or cutting processes, or optionally by fitting an additional intermediate flange to the base.

[0028] The bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 arranged on the rivet structure 2 are adapted to be rotatable about the rivet structure 2, such that they are slidably secured in the bottom groove 8 and the top groove 9 disposed on the flange 7 of the base 1, and that the rivet structure 2 disposed at the centre of the base 1 extends through the bores 6 of the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5. (The bores 6 can be seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b.)

[0029] A respective stop member 14 is disposed in the bottom groove 8 and the top groove 9, the stop members 14 being configured such that they block the travel of the flanges of the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 running in the grooves at respective predetermined close positions, and optionally also secure them at their predetermined respective close position. By a predetermined close position such a position is meant wherein the region bounded by the weakened contour 10 defining the tear portion of the base 1 is fully covered by the bottom rotatable lid 4 and/or the top rotatable lid 5 such that the lids preferably overextend the region bounded by the weakened contour 10 in every direction.

[0030] The stop members are arranged in the grooves such that one of them, for example the bottom rotatable lid 4, can be brought into its close position in a clockwise direction, while the other, for example the top rotatable lid 5 can be brought into its close position in an opposite (for example, anti-clockwise) direction.

[0031] In the case of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the stop members are preferably angularly shifted by 45 along the circumference of the flange 7 relative to the centreline of the opening defined by the tear line 10; however, the exact location of these stop members 14 may vary according to the rule described above, depending on the size of the rotatable lids 4 and 5.

[0032] The bottom rotatable lid 4 comprises a protrusion 12, for example an embossing, in the direction opposite the side facing the base 1, said protrusion being elevated from the plane of the bottom rotatable lid 4 by a predetermined amount. The top rotatable lid 5 comprises a similar protrusion 13 on its side facing the base 1.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the protrusion 12 and the protrusion 13 are configured such that their combined height is substantially greater than or equal to the distance between the bottom guide groove 8 and the upper guide groove 9. Due to this, in the assembled state of the can lid, the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 are fitted tightly against each other if they are in an identical angular position.

[0034] The force generated by this tight (compressed) fit causes the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 to undergo a minimal extent of elastic deformation, as a result of which the bottom rotatable lid is fitted tightly against the base 1, which provides better sealing and closure.

[0035] However, the tight (compressed) fit thus produced can also be applied at an angular position that is different from that of the opening, in which case both lids can be secured against rotation at any position by the tightening force.

[0036] It is also shown by everyday experience that users do not always need a waterproof resealing of the can, i.e., a lid that covers the opening of the can such that insects, small objects and dust are prevented from entering the can can be sufficient. In such a case it is sufficient to apply exclusively the bottom rotatable lid 4 or the top rotatable lid 5 in such a position that the opening defined by the tear line 10 can be covered.

[0037] In order that the bottom rotatable lid 4 and the top rotatable lid 5 can be easily rotated, the external curved guide rim of the lids 4, 5 extends along at most 50%, in an ideal and ergonomic embodiment, 20-30%, preferably for example 25% of the circumference of the flange 7.

[0038] Also for the sake of easier use, i.e., for facilitating the recognition of the lids by haptic sense and for making their rotation easier, the bottom rotatable lid 4 and/or the top rotatable lid 5 comprise a surface pattern, for example Braille script or embossing.

[0039] FIGS. 5a and 5b show underside views of the rotatable lids 4 and 5. To provide a watertight seal, the bottom rotatable lid 4 comprises sealing strips 11. As can be seen in FIG. 5a, the sealing strips are arranged along the lateral edges of the lids and, in the case of the bottom lid directly contacting the base 1, along a line corresponding to the shape of the weakened contour 10.

[0040] The sealing strips are preferably made of a silicone material, but can also be formed of other sealing materials acceptable for application in the food industry.

[0041] A great advantage of the invention is that it eliminates the drawbacks of prior art technical solutions by providing such a resealable can made of sheet material that provides improved sealing compared to existing solutions, prevents premature wear of the can, and provides a multifaceted sealing action that is in line with functionality.

[0042] Another great advantage of the technical solution according to the invention is that the closure brought about by a dual lid configuration provides improved sealing that is watertight and is resistant against mechanical shocks and pressure, so the can is sealed securely and the beverage contained in it retains its freshness and carbon dioxide content for a more prolonged time.

[0043] A further advantage of the technical solution is that the hissing opening sound that has been long familiar to consumers is retained when the lid configured according to the invention is utilized, so the comfortable, familiar feeling of using the existing solutions does not disappear, while the inventive solution can be realized in a cost-effective and economical manner.

[0044] An advantageous feature of the technical solution according to the invention is that, in addition to providing watertight sealing, the solution comprising rotatable seals provides other hygiene-related advantages, for example that the drinking surface of the can is regularly wiped and thus kept clean, and that aerosol-transmitted bacteria and viruses are kept away from the interior of the can.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0045] 1base [0046] 2rivet structure [0047] 3opening tab [0048] 4bottom rotatable lid [0049] 5top rotatable lid [0050] 6bore [0051] 7flange [0052] 8bottom guide groove [0053] 9upper guide groove [0054] 10weakened contour [0055] 11sealing strips [0056] 12protrusion [0057] 13protrusion [0058] 14stop member [0059] 15surface pattern