CAN END

Abstract

A can end having a metallic end surface in which an opening is formed that is bounded by a closed margin of the end surface and that can be closed by a closure piece is provided. The can end has a sealing frame and a closure unit that supports the closure piece and that is pivotably attached to the metallic end surface. The sealing frame and the closure unit can be releasably connected in a fluidtight manner to one another via a sealing rib and an associated reception groove. Respective latching lugs are arranged at the one sealing rib and at the reception groove. In a starting position of the closure unit, the closure piece is flush with the surrounding end surface or is offset in parallel therefrom by less than the thickness of the metallic end surface.

Claims

1. A can end: having a metallic end surface in which an opening is formed that is bounded by a closed margin of the end surface and that can be closed by a closure piece of the metallic end surface, having a sealing frame composed of plastic material that is connected to the metallic end surface and that surrounds the opening, having a closure unit composed of plastic material that supports the closure piece and that is pivotably attached to the metallic end surface via a pivot bearing, wherein the sealing frame and the closure unit can be releasably connected in a fluidtight manner to one another via at least one sealing rib and an associated reception groove, wherein respective latching lugs (are arranged at the at least one sealing rib and at the associated reception groove, the respective latching lugs running around the opening and engaging behind one another with respect to a vertical direction facing transversely to the plane defined by the opening, and wherein, in a starting position of the closure unit, the closure piece closing the opening is flush with the surrounding end surface or is offset in parallel therefrom by less than the thickness of the metallic end surface wherein the latching lug of the sealing frame and the latching lug of the closure unit are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction by a predefined vertical offset when the closure unit is in the starting position.

2. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the latching lugs extend around the opening without interruptions or with distributed interruptions.

3. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the vertical offset is at least substantially exactly as large as the thickness of the metallic end surface .

4. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the metallic end surface is laminated with a foil at an inner side opposite the sealing frame and the vertical offset is at least as large as the sum of the thickness of the metallic end surface and the thickness of the foil.

5. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the vertical offset is at least 0.05 mm and at most 2 mm.

6. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the latching lugs are formed by surface sections extending at least substantially in parallel with one another and/or obliquely to the plane defined by the opening.

7. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the metallic end surface is made of aluminum.

8. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the sealing frame and the closure unit have respective abutment surfaces that contact one another when the closure unit is in the starting position.

9. A can end: having a metallic end surface in which an opening is formed that is bounded by a closed margin of the end surface and that can be closed by a closure piece of the metallic end surface, having a sealing frame composed of plastic material that is connected to the metallic end surface and that surrounds the opening, having a closure unit composed of plastic material that supports the closure piece and that is pivotably attached to the metallic end surface via a pivot bearing, wherein the sealing frame and the closure unit can be releasably connected in a fluidtight manner to one another via at least one sealing rib and an associated reception groove, wherein respective latching lugs are arranged at the at least one sealing rib and at the associated reception groove, the respective latching lugs running around the opening and engaging behind one another with respect to a vertical direction facing transversely to the plane defined by the opening, wherein the latching lugs extend around the opening with distributed interruptions.

10. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the can end is configured for beverage cans.

11. The can end according to claim 3, wherein the vertical offset is at least substantially exactly as large as the thickness of the metallic end surface

12. The can end according to claim 4, wherein the metallic end surface is laminated with a foil at an inner side opposite the sealing frame and the vertical offset is at least substantially exactly as large as the sum of the thickness of the metallic end surface and the thickness of the foil.

13. The can end according to claim 5, wherein the vertical offset is at least 0.2 mm and at most 1 mm.

14. The can end according to claim 5, wherein the vertical offset is at least 0.35 mm and at most 0.55 mm.

15. The can end of claim 9, wherein the can end is configured for beverage cans.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawing.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective part representation of a can end according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the can end according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view before the first opening;

[0023] FIG. 3 is the enlarged section A from FIG. 2;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the can end according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view after the first opening in a reclosed state;

[0025] FIG. 5 is the enlarged section B from FIG. 4; and

[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a plastic part by which a sealing frame, a closure unit and a tear-open member of a can end according to the invention are formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a can end 1 that is in particular intended for a beverage can and into whose metallic end surface 13 a reclosable opening system 15 is integrated. The can end 11 can be connected to an associated container, not shown, via a beaded rim 17. In the metallic end surface 13, an opening is provided that is closed by a section of the metallic end surface 13 in the form of a closure piece 19 in the delivery state of the can end 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The closure piece 19 is separated from the surrounding end surface 13 by a microgap or weakening line (not shown).

[0028] The metallic end surface 13 is preferably formed from a sheet metal layer of aluminum or tin plate. A sealing film composed of plastic can be applied to the inner side of the can end 11, which is not shown in the Figures, however.

[0029] The reclosable opening system 15 comprises a sealing frame 21 composed of plastic material that surrounds the opening and that is fixedly connected to the surrounding end surface 13. A closure unit 25 composed of a plastic material is further provided that supports the closure piece 19 and that is attached to the sealing frame 21 via a first pivot bearing 27 and is thus pivotably attached to the surrounding end surface 13.

[0030] An annular tear-open member 29 (FIG. 2), preferably likewise composed of plastic, is connected to or directly molded to the closure unit 25 and is accordingly fastened to the closure piece 19. By pulling at the tear-open member 29, a user can pivot the closure piece 19 upwardly out of the opening plane 33 defined by the opening and can thus release the opening, possibly while separating the sealing film. The connection between the tear-open member 29 and the closure unit 25 is provided by a second pivot bearing 35 (FIG. 1) that is disposed diametrically opposite the first pivot bearing 27. For a better overview, the tear-open member 29 is omitted in FIG. 1.

[0031] As can also be seen from the enlarged detailed representation of FIG. 3, a radially outer sealing rib 41 and a radially inner sealing rib 42 are formed at the sealing frame 21. Furthermore, a radially outer reception groove 43 and a radially inner reception groove 44 are formed at the closure unit 25. The sealing ribs 41, 42 and reception grooves 43, 44 engaging into one another enable a releasable fluid-tight connection between the sealing frame 21 and the closure unit 25. The can end 11 is therefore reclosable. It is understood that the sealing ribs 41, 42 could also be arranged at the closure unit 25 and the reception grooves 43, 44 could also be arranged at the sealing frame 21. Depending on the application requirements, more than two pairs of sealing ribs 41, 42 and reception grooves 43, 44 could also be provided.

[0032] At the radially outer sealing rib 41 and at the radially outer reception groove 43, respective latching lugs 45, 46 are formed in the form of slanted surfaces that engage behind one another with respect to a vertical direction 47 facing transversely to the opening plane 33. The latching lug 45 of the sealing frame 21 and the latching lug 46 of the closure unit 25 extend in parallel with one another and extend around the entire opening.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the reclosable opening system 15 and in particular the closure unit 25 in a starting position that is present before the first opening. In the starting position, the closure piece 19 is flush with the surrounding end surface 13 (FIG. 1). That is, the closure piece 19 extends in the opening plane 33. Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the sealing ribs 41, 42 contact the base of the reception grooves 43, 44 when the closure unit 25 is in the starting position.

[0034] However, the latching lug 45 of the sealing frame 21 does not contact the latching lug 46 of the closure unit 25 when the closure unit 25 is in the starting position. Rather, the latching lugs 45, 46 are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction 47 by a predefined vertical offset 49 so that there is a free space 50 between the latching lugs 45, 46. The vertical offset 49 is preferably selected to be as large as the thickness of the metallic end surface 13 plus the thickness of any foil. Specifically, the vertical offset 49 can be at least 0.35 mm and at most 0.55 mm.

[0035] On the first opening of the can, a user pulls at the tear-open member 29 and thereby upwardly pivots the closure unit 25 out of the opening plane 33 with the closure piece 19. In this respect, the latching connection between the closure unit 25 and the sealing frame 21 is released and the closure piece 19 is lifted off the end surface 13. The contents of the can can be removed through the opening produced. When the closure unit 25 with the closure piece 19 is pivoted back again, the latching connection between the closure unit 25 and the sealing frame 21 is reestablished such that the opening is sealed tightly again. The opening and closing procedure can then be repeated as often as desired.

[0036] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the reclosable opening system 15 in a reclosed state after the first opening. Due to unavoidable deformations and changes in position, it is generally not possible to fit the closure piece 19 exactly into the opening again and thus to restore the areally flush starting state. Rather, the closure piece 19 abuts the margin of the opening in places and thus remains slightly above the opening plane 33 viewed as a whole. However, due to the vertical offset 49 (FIG. 3) present in the starting position, there is sufficient movement play in the vertical direction 47 for the closure unit 25 so that the incorrect positioning of the closure piece 19 can be compensated. Despite the misplacement, the latching lugs 45, 46 can engage behind one another so that the sealing frame 21 and the closure unit 25 are reliably latched to one another even in the reclosed state. Leaks and an unintentional opening are therefore avoided with a can end 11 according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a single-piece plastic part 55 that comprises the sealing frame 21, the closure unit 25 and the tear-open member 29. It can be seen that the radially outer sealing rib 41 and the radially outer reception groove 43including the latching lugs 45, 46 not visible in FIG. 6are interrupted by recesses 57 and stiffening webs 59, respectively. That is, the radially outer sealing rib 41 extends around the opening with uniformly distributed interruptions in the form of recesses 57. Similarly, the radially outer reception groove 43 extends around the opening with uniformly distributed interruptions in the form of stiffening webs 59. The stiffening webs 59 fit into the recesses 57. This is advantageous in that an escape of material is counteracted and thus the latching engagement is provided to be more stable and reliable overall, yet completely peripheral around the opening. The latching lugs 45, 46 could, however, generally also extend around the opening without interruptions.

[0038] It is not necessary for the closure piece 19 be flush with the surrounding end surface 13 in the starting state. Rather, in the starting state, the closure piece 19 can be offset in parallel from the metallic end surface 13 transversely to the opening plane 33 by less than the sheet metal thickness, for example by at most 80% of the sheet metal thickness, to form a cutting edge for a better cutting through of the inner-side foil.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

11 can end
13 metallic end surface
15 reclosable opening system
17 beaded rim
19 closure piece
21 sealing frame
25 closure unit
27 first pivot bearing
29 tear-open member
33 opening plane
35 second pivot bearing
41 radially outer sealing rib
42 radially inner sealing rib
43 radially outer reception groove
44 radially inner reception groove
45 latching lug of the sealing frame
46 latching lug of the closure unit
47 vertical direction
49 vertical offset
50 free space
55 plastic part
57 recess
59 stiffening web