BRPI0807628A2 - CAN, UNDERSTANDING A BODY PROVIDED WITH A PANEL - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a can, comprising a body provided with a panel, wherein the panel is provided with a tab comprising a front tab part and a rear tab part for gripping in forming by engagement of the front tab part with the panel of an opening in the panel, wherein the panel is provided with a flip panel area at least beneath the rear tab part, which panel area forms a depression beneath the rear tab part dependent on a negative pressure difference over the panel, and to a body and panel for such can.

Description

I CAN, UNDERSTANDING A BODY PROVIDED WITH A PANEL

The present invention relates to a can and a body and a panel therefor.

The can according to the invention may be of a type 5 having a so-called easy open closure. An easy open closure is a can closure device in which an opening can be formed using one or more fingers and without the need for a separate opening tool. For this purpose, the can 10 is provided with a tongue for forming an opening in the can panel. The tongue acts as a lever.

The tongue comprises a rear tongue portion intended to be grasped by the user. By means of a lever effect or tongue tilt, the front of the tongue is actuated. Leverage or tilt acting results in initial opening created with a popping effect on the panel. The opening is defined by a creased line. The creased line 20 is generally circumferential. With the tongue in an upright position, a popping opening with a maximum size is formed. A pull out of the tongue results in the panel breaking along the crease line. Finally, by articulation, the panel is separated from the can and the can opening is formed.

The can according to the invention may also be provided with a smaller opening through the leverage action of the tongue, thus forming a small opening just sufficient to empty the contents of the can.

Users of the can types described above 5 typically face a problem when wielding the back of the tongue. Usually, it is necessary to insert a fingernail or fingertip between the panel and the back of the tongue to initiate the gripping action.

The invention aims to improve the initial gripping action performed by the user. This improvement is conditional on other can and tongue functions not being influenced, such as the manufacture, filling, handling and opening of the can by the tongue.

The present invention is based on the perception that

the cans may have, after filling and closing, an internal pressure which is different from the surrounding atmospheric pressure. There may be a negative pressure difference on the panel. This negative pressure difference 20 may be the result of hot filling and / or cooking the contents of the can prior to its closure. Upon closing and cooling the gas phase located above the contents will have its volume reduced, thus forming a negative pressure difference over the panel and the surrounding environment. A positive pressure difference may result from a permanent or transient pressure build-up after shutdown due to desired or unwanted gas generation and / or volume expansion due to heating. This pressure difference is used to make the panel take on a depressed or concave shape at least under the back of the tongue. These depressed or concave forms result in increased space under the back of the tongue. The increased space perfects the gripping action. Obviously, this panel change occurs after the can and panel is manufactured after filling and closing. There is substantially no interference in the traditional handling of these cans.

The change from concave to convex shape may occur as a result of a pressure difference change. However, the invention also encompasses the alternative where after pressure change the shape change still does not occur, requiring an impact from outside such as a mechanical contact or other physical medium (magnets) whereby the Format change will be made easier.

It is noted that when the pressure difference is substantially zero the panel may be in a concave or convex shape depending on the panel structure. Thus, the pressure difference may result from internal or external pressures, one of which may be above or below atmospheric pressure. At a zero pressure difference the panel may have a concave or convex shape.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a can comprising a body provided with a panel, wherein the panel is provided with a tongue comprising a front tongue portion and a rear tongue portion for gripping in a locking configuration of the panel. front tongue portion with the panel of an opening in the panel, wherein the panel is provided with a displaceable panel area at least under the rear of the tongue, wherein that panel area forms a depression under the panel portion. rear of the tongue, such pressure preferably having a concave shape dependent on a pressure difference on the panel. The displaceable panel may be formed by providing the panel with a specific material (such as steel and aluminum), a specific structure, and / or by providing the panel in the displaceable area of the panel with a different thickness. The main influencing factor, among all material properties, is Young 20 modulus (elasticity). Additionally, it is observed that two panel geometries may be identical, but due to different manufacturing methods, their residual stress fields may be different, interacting with the material properties. Essentially it is necessary that the displaceable area of the panel has greater flexibility than the other parts of the panel such that by the pressure difference the concave shape situated under the rear of the tongue is provided.

It is noted that glasses, cans and bottles for fruit juices and jams may be provided with a screw cap having a similar displaceable panel area.

5 However, these screw caps are not provided with a tongue.

According to a first embodiment the displaceable panel area moves between a concave shape and a flat shape depending on the pressure difference on the panel.

Thus, when the pressure difference is neutralized the displaceable panel portion moves from a concave shape to a substantially flat shape.

According to another embodiment the displaceable panel area moves between a concave and a convex shape depending on a pressure on the panel. The provision of a convex shape on the displaceable panel portion does not interfere with the opening action using the tongue due to the fact that the tongue is at such a more inclined position away from the displaceable panel area. For these configurations, it is noted that the pressure difference can be

According to a preferred embodiment the displaceable panel area is part of a terrace structure. Thus, there is a better controlled area in the terrace structure where displacement of the displaceable panel portion can occur. In this regard, it is preferred from a consumer point of view that the displaceable panel area has a central terrace structure.

According to another embodiment the panel is provided in a skewed or gradually depressed shape (when the pressure difference exists). However, when the pressure difference is fully or partially neutralized, the displaceable panel area shifts from the skewed concave shape to a flat or convex shape.

To precisely set or limit the position

substantially horizontal of the tongue prior to the can opening, it is preferred that the movement of the tongue is limited by a panel support structure. According to one embodiment the panel structure is in the form of a shoulder on which the tongue may be supported or through which shoulder the downward movement of the tongue portion is limited. Although it is preferred that the displaceable panel area is located in the central part of the panel, other non-centered locations 20 are equally suitable.

Preferably, the pressure difference at which the transition from convex to concave shape occurs is preferably a negative pressure difference.

The panel can be attached to the can body by

any known medium. The panel may be unitary to the body or may be coupled by any means, such as by welding, thrust (seam) and the like. It is preferred that the panel be attached to the can body by a thrust ferrule.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a body provided with a panel having a displaceable panel area having a concave shape dependent on the pressure difference over the panel.

Finally, a last aspect of the invention relates to a panel having a displaceable panel area that has a concave shape dependent on a pressure on the panel when it is part of a can described above.

The aforementioned and other features of the can, body and panel according to the invention will be further illustrated by the following examples, which are given by way of illustration and not intended to limit the present invention in any way. , with simultaneous reference to the following drawings.

The drawings feature:

2 0 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can

according to the invention;

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a cross section along line II-II shown in Figure 1 and showing the panel displacement of the displaceable panel area according to the present invention;

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an alternative of the can according to the invention; Figures 4A / 4B and 5A / 5B illustrate other alternatives;

Figures 6A / 6B / 6C illustrate other alternatives of which Figure 6D is an exploded top view; and

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate other additional alternatives of the easy opening panel according to the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a can 1 according to

invention. The can comprises a body 2, a top panel 3 and a bottom panel 4. The top panel 3 and the bottom panel 4 are sewn through a seam coupling.

5 to the body 2.

The top panel 3 is provided with a traditional tongue 6. The tongue 6 comprises a front tongue part 7 and a rear tongue part 8. The rear tongue part 8 is provided with an opening 9 into which a finger may be inserted. of user.

The tongue 6 is coupled to the top panel 3 through a 20 rivet 10. Other methods for the tongue 6 coupling include welding with metal or a plastic welding material. The rivet 10 may be a separate rivet or may have been formed of material originating from the top panel and formed into a rivet shape.

The panel is provided with a crease line 11 which

It has a circular shape. The crease line defines the opening in can 1. The can is opened by inserting a finger or nail under the rear tongue portion 8 into a so-called gripping space 12. The leverage or inclination of the tongue 6 results in a 5 snap effect on front reed part 7 on crease line

11 with a movement illustrated in Figure 2B.

Figure 2A illustrates in more detail, and in cross section, the top panel 3 according to the invention. The top panel 3 is provided with a terrace structure 1310 with three concentric terrace rings 14-16 in a lower position relative to seam 5. The terrace structure comprises a central area, which is a displaceable panel area 17 according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 2A the displaceable panel area 15 has a concave structure due to the fact that there is a negative pressure difference on the panel from the inside to the outside. That is, the atmospheric pressure on the outside is higher than the internal pressure on the inside 18 of can 1 according to

invention.

It is observed that the downward movement of the tongue

6 in its rear tongue part is limited by the presence of a shoulder-shaped support structure 19.

After popping open panel 3, forming

thus a snap opening 20, the pressure difference is neutralized, resulting in a shift from the displaceable panel area 17 from the concave shape shown in Figure 2A to the convex shape shown in Figure 2B.

Of course, having a concave shape as shown in Figure 2A, there is a larger and increased gripping space 12 between the rear tongue portion 8 and the panel 3 at the location of the displaceable panel portion 17.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an alternative of the can.

21 according to the invention. The can is provided with a panel 22 having a skew shape. The panel has a central area 23 (at least under the rear tongue portion 8 of the tongue 6), thus forming the holding space 12 under the rear tongue portion 8.

Panel 23 is welded to body 24. Due to the hot content of can 21 after closing, there will be an internal pressure below atmospheric pressure, and therefore there will be a negative pressure difference over panel 22. Due to this negative pressure difference , the displaceable panel portion 23 will have a concave shape.

The popping effect opens panel 22 through the

leverage or tilt of the tongue 6, and the displaceable panel area 23 moves to a convex shape.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate another can 25 according to the invention. The top panel 26 has a central displaceable panel area 27 which has a corrugated cross-sectional shape. This wavy shape defines a depression 28 under the rear tongue portion 8, thereby forming the increased grip space 12.

Figure 4B illustrates that when can 25 with latch 6 is opened and after pressure balancing on top panel 26, displaceable panel 27 changes shape 5 such that depression 28 is transformed into a flatter area. 29. However, trendline 30 has changed from a substantially concave shape to a substantially convex shape.

Figures 5A / 5B illustrate another can 31 according to the invention. Can 31 has a panel 32 comprising a displaceable panel area having an annular depression 34 and a central flat portion 35. After neutralization of the negative pressure difference over panel 32, the displaceable panel area 33 changes in shape. shown in Figure 5A to the shape illustrated in Figure 5B, in which the depression 34 has disappeared and the central part 35 has moved upwards. Again, the trend line 36 has changed from a substantially concave shape to a substantially convex shape.

The can, body and / or panel may be made of metal, such as aluminum and steel.

The cans may be round or non-round (oval and rectangular). When round, the can can have a diameter of from about 52 to 153 mm. With smaller diameters, the panel having a terrace structure will have about 1 or 2 terraces but with larger diameters the number of terraces may increase. The advantage of these terrace structures is that they provide rigidity in the terrace structures, allowing for better control and reliability of the flexible displacement properties 5 for the displaceable panel area which generally consists of the center panel area.

When made of steel, the panel may have a thickness of about 0.13 to 0.30 mm. The thickness may be smaller in the area that forms the scrollable panel area.

The following figures show the values for

the parameters of metal thickness, diameters and geometric radii in millimeters.

Figure 6 illustrates three variations of an easy opening panel according to the invention having a diameter of 73 mm or more. Only the concave shape is illustrated. The values for the various diameters and angles are illustrated in Table 1 below. Table 1 (see Figure 6) metal thickness r0 Rl rl al R2 r2 a2 R3 R4 r4 h4 R5 r5 020 +/- 04 IOCH- (plane) -20 & f / -4 05 +/- 03 tf +/- 4 ° 22 +/- 4 0 & H / -03 I6-Oifjf3 30 +/- 4 020 +/- 04 100+ (flat) -20 & f / -4 05 +/- 03 ^ + M0 22 +/- 4 05 +/- 03 1 ° -0 '+ 3P 30f / -4 (R2 --- 06) + / --- 06 06-.4 + 2005f / - .2020 +/- 04 10CH- (flat) -208 + / -4 05f / -03 <? +/- 4 ° (R5KB) +/- 02 C & - / - 02 IO-O? +? 3CH - / - 4 21 +/- 4 05 +/- 02 Rl is the diameter of the panel

R2 is the diameter of the displaceable panel area

R3 is the diameter of central displaceable panel area

R4 is the diameter of the displaceable panel transition

R5 is the diameter of the panel transition slot

scrollable

R6 is the diameter in the inner radius of the displaceable panel ring

rO is the geometric radius of the center displaceable panel area

rl is the displaceable panel transition geometric radius

r2 is the geometric radius on the displaceable panel ring

r4 is the geometric radius in the shift panel transition

r5 is the geometric radius of the transition slot

r6 is the inner radius of the displaceable panel ring

a is the angle of the displaceable panel ring

a2 is the angle of the outer panel ring

h4 is the height of the shift panel transition

h6 is the height of the transition slot

From the configuration of Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C, the height difference between the concave and convex shape of about 4.3 +/- 1.5 mm is determined. However, the concave to convex transformation occurs in Figure 6A at a pressure difference of 0.6 +/- 0.3 bar (-20%), for Figure 6B the transformation occurs at a pressure difference of 0.5 +/- 0.3 bar (-15%), and for Figure 6C the transformation occurs at a pressure difference of only 0.35 +/- 0.3 bar (-5%). As shown in top view in Figure 6D the geometry is due to the presence of a non-symmetrical easy-opening tongue. Additionally, the outer concentric area beyond R3 forms a secondary geometry which may be rigid (flat) or flexible (wavy) and may have an additional effect on the pressure difference.

Figure 7 illustrates another variant of the easy opening panel according to the invention. In particular, for a can having a diameter of 65 mm or more.

Table 2 illustrates the various diameters and angles. Table 2 metal thickness r0 R1 rl hl R2 r2 R3 r3 h2 al R4 r4 0.16 +/- 0.4 30 +/- 10 (P2-0.6) +/- 0.4 0.3-0.140.2 0.25f / -0.15 (R3.5) +/- 0.2 0.3-0.1 + 0.2 8.5 + - / - 2 2-1.6 + -1 0, 15 +/- 0.1 14-2 + 10 1 +/- 1 RO is the geometric radius of the central displaceable panel

Rl is the inside diameter of the panel's inner slot

central displaceable

R2 is the outer diameter of the inner groove of the central sliding panel

R3 is the diameter of the central sliding panel outer groove

R4 is the panel diameter

rO is the geometric radius of the central displaceable panel

rl is the inner geometric radius of the inner groove

r2 is the outer geometric radius of the inner groove

r3 is the geometric radius of the outer groove

hl is the height of the inner slot

h2 is the height of the outer slot

a2 is the angle of the outer ring of the panel

The height difference between the concave and the convex shape is about 1.0 +/- 0.5 mm, and is initiated by a pressure difference of only 0.15 +/- 0.05 bar (- 10 mm). %).

Finally, Figure 8 illustrates another variant for an easy opening panel having a diameter of 65 mm or larger. The flexible panel is illustrated in convex shape position and only the main geometry is represented.

Table 3 illustrates the various diameters and angles. Table 3 miscure R1 r1 R2 r2 R3 r3 hl R4 r4 h2 R5 r5 to 0.16 +/- 0.4 (R2-0.5) 4 - / - 0.4 0.5-0, HO, 2 (R3-12) 4 - / - 0.2 0.5-0.140.2 5.5 + - / - 0.1 HCH- (Jdane) -3 0.25 +/- 0.15 (B3H, 6 ) 4 - / - 0.2 0.5-0.140.2 0.15 +/- 0.15 (R44-1.5) 4 - / - 0.2 (0.5-0.140.2? +/- R1 is the diameter of the central part of the panel R2 is the diameter at the edge of the inner groove R3 is the diameter in the center of the groove R4 is the diameter at the edge of the outer groove R5 is the diameter at the transition of the outer ring R6 is the diameter of the panel rl is the geometric radius at the center of panel r2 is the geometric radius at the edge of the inner groove r3 is the geometric radius of the groove r4 is The geometric radius of the outer groove edge r5 The geometric radius at the transition from the outer ring hl is the height of the groove h2 is the height of the outer groove edge al is the angle of the outer ring in this case, the difference in height due to

concave to convex transformation was 1.0 + / -

0.5 mm as a result of a pressure difference of 0.15 +/- 0.05 bar (-10%).

It is again noted that the tongue used may be a conventional tongue. The object of the invention is to provide an improved and wider space for the user to insert their fingernail or fingertip over the back of the tongue thereby enhancing the gripping action and opening of the can.

Claims (13)

1. CAN, UNDERSTANDING A PANEL-PROVIDED BODY, characterized in that the panel is provided with a tongue comprises a front tongue portion and a rear tongue portion for gripping forming a front tongue portion engagement with the panel for an opening in the where the panel is provided with a displaceable area at least under the back of the tongue, wherein that area of the panel forms a depression under the rear of the tongue depending on a pressure difference over the panel. Can according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the panel has a concave shape depending on a pressure difference on the panel. Can according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the displaceable area of the panel is displaced between a concave and a flat shape depending on the pressure difference on the panel. Can according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the displaceable area of the panel is displaced between a concave and a convex shape depending on a pressure on the panel. Can according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the displaceable area of the panel is part of a terrace-shaped structure. Can according to claim 5, characterized in that the displaceable area of the panel is a centrally located terrace-shaped structure. Can according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the displaceable area of the panel is formed in a biased panel. Can according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the movement of the tongue is limited by a support structure located on the panel. Can according to claim 8, characterized in that the support structure of the panel consists of a shoulder. Can according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the panel is joined to the can body by a type of stapling or sewing. Can according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the transformation from the concave to the convex form results from negative pressure. Body, characterized in that it is provided with a panel according to claims 1-10. Panel, characterized in that it is according to claims 1-10.