EP0852554B1 - Pull-tab lid with a surprising pull-off region - Google Patents

Abstract

An openable can end for a beverage can of usual type, having a first tear-out portion which seems to be openable, when a lever-type tab is operated. A second tear-out portion is also provided beside or outside the first portion, wherein the second tear-out portion tears out (or breaks in) instead of the expected first tear-out portion. Thus, it is possible to surprise the user upon opening such a beverage can, without impairing the simple and reliable opening of the beverage can.

Description

The invention relates to tear-open covers made of sheet metal for beverage cans and their design. Such tear-open lids usually have one limited by a line of weakness in the lid mirror Area where the line of weakness tears to open the can and an opening for drinking or pouring the contents exposed. The area in which this tears open Line of weakness is usually arranged by beads or ribs (line deformations) or a flat deformation stiffened accordingly. Stiffened in the area of this The tear-open area is a lever-shaped one, usually by means of a rivet Handle tab, mostly made of sheet metal, attached. With their help the tear area first collapsed and then at least partially separated out to fill the opening or Expose drinking.

Such a cover is known from US Pat. No. 3,773,209 (Schane), which additionally has two opening areas which are visible from the outside and which, depending on the orientation of the grip tab, can break open when it is lifted, cf. there Fig. 5 and 7 or Figures 1 and 4 and column 1, lines 43 to 47. Both opening areas, one of which is small and the other takes up the entire lid area, are real break-open areas and thus at the user's choice to break open alternatively selectable (there 19 or 17, not 19 and 17). The user sees both possible areas from the outside and, by adjusting the grip tab in its angular orientation, selects an opening area which he desires, and can be guided in the selection whether he wants to break open the entire lid surface or only a small part thereof.

In the same way as in the aforementioned Schane US document, the user also sees two alternative possible areas from the outside in US Pat. No. 4,872,597 (Hanafusa) and can select one of these areas for opening the lid or the beverage can, but not through it Turning a single handle tab, but by selecting one of two nested (different sized) handle tabs, the smaller one being fixed to the smaller opening and the larger one being fixed to the large opening (designed as a full tear-open lid), cf. there Figures 1, 3 and column 1, lines 41 to 46, column 2, lines 10 to 12, and column 3, lines 1 to 15.

None of the described beverage cans or lids for these beverage cans will the user on the function and expected opening left in the dark, rather is accurate predetermined which opening area at which Angular position of a rotatable grip tab or which Opening area with which handle tab provided with two Handle straps is opened.

It is an object of the invention to provide a possibility of surprising the user of a beverage can when opening it, without impairing simple and reliable opening of the beverage can.

This object is achieved according to claim 1, 6 or 16.

A can with a lid according to the invention is practically indistinguishable from a "can of conventional type" at first glance. The lid mirror, like the conventional box, has an area stiffened by beads, ribs or depressions or the like, which can also have a type of weakening line. The grip tab is also of conventional form and is fastened in a conventional manner by means of a rivet. When opening, the user expects the lid mirror to break in at the visible position usually provided for opening, to tear and tear further, and in this area, which is characterized by the stiffeners, the opening serving to remove the liquid is thereby exposed. In fact, however, if a weakening line can be seen from the outside in the stiffened area, it is designed such that it does not tear open when it is opened, ie when the grip tab is actuated. Instead, when the can is closed, a weakening line for tearing is provided next to the outside of the usual and stiffened area for the user, or is very difficult to recognize, and also independently of this, so that when the can is opened with the aid of the handle tab at a completely different location when the stiffened point, the pouring opening is exposed (claim 6).

Around the line of weakness that can be torn to expose the opening can not or only difficult to make recognizable for the user this provided on the underside of the lid or from the Be impressed on the underside (claim 5). But it can also a line of weakness arranged on the top like this be provided that it is covered by the grip tab. The Covering can be provided in whole or in part (claim 3, Claim 7, Claim 16). If it is partial, cover it Handle tab only one section of the line of weakness, see above at least the section of both lines of weakness is covered - and thus hidden from the eye of the user - who the initial intrusion enabled by its design. So is cannot see which of the two (or more) score lines begins to break in, although several possible opening areas are evident.

The invention can serve a limited opening segment to be exposed, as is customary with beverage cans, especially with exactly the usual standard score line in the stiffened area. It can also be one provided under the tab Line of weakness should be arranged in the cover mirror so that when Tearing this area forms a tongue, with the help of which and one that runs along the edge of the lid Line of weakness of the entire cover mirror to expose one Opening can be torn out. In this case it is a full tear-open lid (claim 4).

The torn off lid sector can be labeled (symbol or pattern) included (underside), the labeling can also well hidden on the underside of the tab his. It should only come to light when the can is on surprising place has been opened (claim 8). The Surprising location can be a tearable opening segment (Claim 9), thereby expressing that a entire area of the lid torn outwards and not more connected to the rest of the lid mirror. That for Opening inviting segment that can be opened with the handle as per Art a lever should be brought in and that surprisingly does not open, remains a standard opening segment, that swings into the can (towards the bottom of the lid). For such covers, where the surprise is not wanted, the So it should open like a normal lid supposedly swiveling (virtual) opening segment actual opening segment without the surprising Opening segment is torn out. In contrast to tearing (surprising) opening segment that works pivoting opening segment with a break-in point on Start where the ends of the score line are closest to each other lie where the break-in start section by the shear force of the opening lever is formed. Tearing the standard score line leads to the opening area swiveling in. In the event of the wanted surprise, for example with only a few cans a large batch is broken up by tearing it out initiated. Analogously, it is intended to express that in general terminology the tearing up of both Breaking in as well as pulling out includes while breaking in the inward movement component and the pulling out contains the outward movement component.

Additional symbols or patterns can be placed in the lid to appear only when the one with the lid sealed can is pressurized (claims 10, 11). These inseparable "score lines" (lines of weakness) can be introduced by laser (claim 12).

If two opening areas are recognizable to the user from the outside, the section of these multiple opening areas that lies under the grip tab, which breaks open and tears open when the handle tab is actuated, is defined (claim 13, 16). These covered sections are conveniently provided in the fastening area (on the rivet) of the handle tab (claim 17), where the handle tab has the largest contiguous surface area and is least movable upward (preventing the "kibitzing" for the curious).

Are there more tear-open areas than the grip tab (on both sides of the rivet) ends, the grip tab can be rotated (around the rivet) designed so that more than two opening areas are reachable. You can choose from pairs of swivel segment and Ausreißsegment exist (claim 9) around the center of the Lid mirrors are distributed symmetrically. To select the desired pair is twisted, similar to one Wheel of fortune.

The area that designed as a surprising pull-out area is in the form of a bottle (claim 14), too other shapes can be defined with lines of weakness (stars, Cricket bat, hockey stick), especially such motifs the sport. If a bottle shape is selected as the pull-out segment, then so can change the shape of the bottle to a familiar to the user Bottle shape should be approximated, with which he the content of the Tin can associated. Common drinks are common today Bottles connected and the consumer knows bottle shapes, without having to mention certain brand names here. This Bottle shapes can be the surprisingly tearing area be assigned when the drink that is in the metal can is included, corresponds to the drink that is usually under the bottle shape and is sold with the bottle shape.

The invention is described below with the aid of schematic drawings explained in more detail using several exemplary embodiments.

Figur 1

einen Aufreißdeckel 1 gemäß der Erfindung in Draufsicht;

Figur 2

den Deckel nach Figur 1 mit Ansicht von unten, und zwar mit freigelegter Ausgießöffnung 9;

Figur 3, Figur 3a, Figur 3b

in Ansicht von unten und zwei Seitenansichten den aus dem Deckel 1 nach Figur 2 herausgetrennten Teil 10 mit Grifflasche 6;

Figur 4

in ähnlicher Darstellung wie Figur 1 eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform 19, wobei zur Verdeutlichung die Grifflasche weggelassen ist.

Figur 5a, Figur 5b, Figur 5c

veranschaulicht Beispiele von nicht aufreißbaren Schwächungslinien 21a, 21b, 21 die mit Laser unterseitig eingebracht sind und die oberseitig Symbole oder Markierungen 20a, 20b bewirken, die nach Einbringen von Druck auf der Oberseite entstehen.

Figur 6a, Figur 6b

zeigt Beispiele von Ausreiß-Abschnitten 30,31 mit einer neuen geometrischen Gestaltung.

Show it:

Figure 1

a tear-open cover 1 according to the invention in plan view;

Figure 2

the lid of Figure 1 with a view from below, namely with exposed pouring opening 9;

Figure 3, Figure 3a, Figure 3b

in view from below and two side views of the part 10 separated from the cover 1 according to FIG. 2 with a grip tab 6;

Figure 4

in a representation similar to FIG. 1, a modified embodiment 19, the grip tab being omitted for clarification.

Figure 5a, Figure 5b, Figure 5c

illustrates examples of non-tearable lines of weakness 21a, 21b, 21 which are introduced by laser on the underside and which cause symbols or markings 20a, 20b on the upper side which arise after the application of pressure on the upper side.

Figure 6a, Figure 6b

shows examples of tear-off sections 30, 31 with a new geometric design.

The tear-open lids are preferably lids Sheet.

The lid 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has in its lid mirror 2, which is surrounded by the lid edge 3, an area 5 which, in one of the known and common ways, is provided by ribs 5a or beads 5d or flat depression (s) 5b is stiffened. As shown, a type of weakening line 5c can also be seen in this area. However, this can also be missing. The area 5 corresponds to a usual stiffened area of conventional tear-open lids, so that the user of a can, which is closed with such a lid, has to accept and will also assume that the sheet tears when opening and the drink along line 5c in the usual way - or pouring opening exposed.

As usual, a grip tab 6, preferably by means of a rivet 7, is on the Lid mirror 2 attached, namely near the area 5 and preferably in a position relative to area 5 as this is usual with usual lids for beverage cans.

The view and the design of the cover 1 in the top view according to FIG. 1 can deviate from the shape shown, insofar as the appearance from the outside corresponds to that of a conventional tear-open cover.

In Figure 2 , the lid is shown from the bottom, wherein the seal 4 is introduced in the lid edge 3. The stiffened area 5 can be seen again. Outside this area and independently of this, a weakening line 8 that can be torn and then further torn out to expose the opening 9 in section 8a is provided in the cover mirror 2. As a comparison with FIG. 1 shows, this is normally hidden from the outside by the grip tab 6. However, it can also be incorporated into the sheet metal from the underside, so that it cannot be recognized from the outside, or not readily, regardless of a cover by the grip tab 6.

FIG. 2 shows the cover 1 after the sheet metal strip 10, which is delimited by the line of weakness 8, has been separated out and is permanently connected to the grip tab 6 via the rivet 7. The arrangement can also be such that the line of weakness 8 is interrupted in the area near the edge of the lid, so that the metal strip 10 remains captively connected to the lid 1 even after opening.

The purpose and function is to help the user open it to surprise a can with the new lid with regard to the position and the shape of those which are released upon opening Opening. This surprise effect can, for example used to win in a sales competition determine by, for example, on the bottom of the A corresponding note (first win, second profit) can be provided, which (only) after opening the lid becomes visible. Winners will be surprised by the unexpected opening; Losers notice nothing and open it the usual can.

FIG. 3, FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b show opening segments torn out in a top view and two side views, which correspond to the opening segment 10 of FIG. 2. The inner surface area is marked on the opening segment 10, at which a marking can be provided which informs and legitimizes a winner in the frame described above. The initial tear-open area at which the tear-open process starts is designated 8a and corresponds to the semicircular area in FIG . 2 . By the action of the lever-shaped grip tab 6, which must both be able to initiate the pivoting-in process of the usual opening area 5 and at the same time take the tear-out area 10 with the lids, which are supposed to open surprisingly, the tear-out area 10 is strongly curved when opened, as can be seen in FIG. 3a is. A swivel flap 6a can be provided in an inner recess of the grip tab 6 according to FIG. 3b , which absorbs this curvature, so that the pull-out area 10 is hardly curved. The rivet 7, with which the pull-out segment 10 is fastened directly to the handle tab 6 according to FIG. 3a or is attached to the handle tab 6 via the swivel flap 6a, can be clearly seen in all FIGS.

The end of the tear-out segment 10 is the tear line with its section 8b, which can run largely straight to one to allow easy detachment.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a tear-open cover 10 which is designed as a full tear-open cover. In the lid mirror 12 surrounded by the lid edge, the lid again has a stiffened area 14, which corresponds to the area 5 shown in FIG. Outside and independently of this area 14, a notch line or weakening line 18 is provided in the cover mirror, which begins to break in when opened with the aid of a grip tab at 18a omitted in FIG. 4 for simplification. It is provided outside and in terms of the opening function, independently of the area 14, for example stamped on the underside of the lid, ending at 16 and 16 '. Furthermore, a further weakening line 13 that can be torn open is provided, which runs parallel and near the lid edge 11. With the grip tab attached to the rivet 15, the weakening line 18 can first be torn to form a tear strip 10 ′ stiffened by ribs 17, which tear strip then serves as a tear tab for tearing the score line 13, so as to separate the entire lid mirror 12 from the can for opening .

It is emphasized once again that the shape of the recognizable stiffened area 5 or 14 and the type of stiffening can differ from the shape and arrangement shown. The stiffened area should be designed in the usual way. The same applies to the grip tab and its attachment and its relative attachment to the stiffened area. Before opening a can which is provided with this lid, the user should have the impression of opening a can which he is used to at the usual place. In this way, the desired surprise effect is achieved when - completely surprisingly - the can then opens to the user at another point.

FIGS. 5a to 5c show lids with an incorporated pattern on their back, which appears on the top of the lid when the can (which is closed with the lid) is pressurized. The production is illustrated in three steps. According to FIG. 5c , the patterns 20a, 20b are applied with a laser on the back of the cover mirror 2. The symbols are designed as circular designs 21 with a pair of strips 21a, 21b inside. The lids appear from above like conventional lids without the patterns 20a, 20b introduced from below being recognizable, which is illustrated in FIG. 5b . FIG. 5a again shows a view from above of the cover which has been pressurized; the patterns 20a, 20b appear as if they had been placed in the lid attached to the filled can.

The "score lines" 21, 21a, 21b that define the patterns 20a, 20b, are only visible, cannot be torn open and cannot be opened become. The term "score line" is related to pattern 21, 21a and 21b to be understood as not being the usual function of score lines, but in manufacturing technology cheaper Way of forming markings, markings and Embellishments serve the outside of the lid. Towards this "Score lines" have the lines of weakness that actually include opening area in the sense described at the beginning, a greater depth and thus leave less residual thickness of the sheet thickness stand. The score lines that can only be seen optically, the but should also not tear down, can be felt again Leave a larger sheet thickness, so have a smaller one Depth than the actually opening score lines.

FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a design of the tear-out area 30, 31 which corresponds in function to the tear-out area 10 of FIG. 2 . Here, the pull-out areas are designed in the form of a common bottle and the area near the rivet defines whether the bottle shape actually opens or remains closed when the grip tab 6 is actuated, in order to instead open the pivoting area 5 along the score line 5c with the break-in start section 5x. The area that determines which of the two opening areas are actually opened is covered by the handle tab 6 shown in broken lines in FIG. 6a in the area near the rivet. Outside this area, the opening segments can be seen, both the bottle-shaped opening segment 31 and the usual opening area 5.

In FIG. 6a , the usual opening area opens by breaking in at the end 5x of the notch line 5c that has actually been cut. The two ends of the score line are close together. The two ends of the only visible score line 31a, which defines the second opening segment 31, are clearly spaced in the region 31b and do not close, do not even come close.

In the example in FIG. 6b , the tear-out area 30 is the opening area which has an actually tear-out notch line 30a which is separated using the grip tab 6 - which is not shown here. The bottle shape of the score line 30a closes over the rivet start section 30b around the rivet 7. Instead, the usual score line 5c according to FIG. 6a is no longer provided with an end 5x, but ends beforehand at 5y, so that it opens in the opening area 5 when the lever-shaped handle tab 6 no opening.

The determining area of the score line on this side and beyond the rivet 7, which specifies which of the two Opening areas actually appear when the handle is actuated opens, is from the flat part 6b of the handle tab 6 covered. It cannot be viewed by a user even if the user opens the two opening areas 30 and 5 or 31 and 5 can be easily recognized from the outside. Just the opening functionally the burglary start section or the Area of the score line defining the tear-out start section or the false score line are covered.

Claims (18)

1. Openable can end made of sheet material for beverage cans, having a central panel (12;2) which is provided with a score line (5c), an area (5) limited or defined by beads or ribs in substantially prior fashion for providing a tear-out portion for opening an opening portion of delimited size, and a lever-type tab (6) mounted (7) close to said limited area (5) of the central panel to said panel, whereby said score line (5c) or an additional tearable weakening line (8,13,18) for opening or exposing said opening portion (9) is placed outside said limited area (5) and independently of it in said central panel (2) to allow covering of at least that portion of the central panel, in which spaced, initial break-in sections (8a,18a; 31 b, 30b, 5x,5y) of the score or wakening lines would be positioned.
2. Openable can end according to claim 1, wherein said tearable line (13) for opening said opening portion (9) is located parallel and close to the rim (3) of the can end.
3. Openable can end according to claim 1, wherein said tearable line (8;18) for opening said opening portion (9) is covered or hidden completely by said lever-type tab (6).
4. Openable can end according to claim 3, wherein said tearable line (18), provided below said tab (6), delimits a rupture tongue (10') in said central panel (12), said tongue being adapted to tear out the central panel (12) as a whole (full opening end) along a score line (13) extending along the rim (11) of the can end.
5. Openable can end according to one of the aforementioned claims, wherein said tearable line (8,18,13) for opening said opening portion is provided at the inside surface of the can end.
6. Openable can end for a beverage can of usual type, in which

   (a) a first tear-out portion (5;5a,5b,5c,5d;14) is provided, which seems to be openable, when a tab (6) is operated;

   (b) a second tear-out portion (8,9,10;13,10';30;30a,30b) is provided beside or outside said first portion, in which second portion the opening of the end (12) or a segment (10,30) of the end happens surprisingly - instead of the (expected) opening of said first portion (5;14).
7. Openable can end according to claim 6, the second (real) tear-out portion (10,30,10') being visually hidden, so that it may not or only hardly be perceived from outside, at least the portion (5x,5y;30b,31b) which causes or seems to cause the opening, with regard to the first or second tear-out portion, respectively.
8. Openable can end according to one of the aforementioned claims, a mark being provided on the side of the tab (6) facing the can end or on the inner side of the real tear-out (second) portion (10,30,10').
9. Openable can end according to one of the aforementioned claims, said first portion (5,14) being an (alleged to be) inside pivotable (virtual) opening segment and said second portion being a tear-out opening segment (10,30), and - when an opening is to be provided by said tear-out portion (10,30) - the score line (30a,30b) entirely surrounds said rivet (7) of said lever-type tab (6).
10. Openable can end also according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that further score lines (21,21 a,21 b) are applied at the inner side (bottom side) of the central panel (12,2), defining patterns or symbols (20a,20b) on the top or outer side of the central panel, when the can is pressurized, said further score lines however not being tearable.
11. Openable can end according to claim 10, characterized in that said further "score lines" (21,21a,21b) are not visible from outside when no filling pressure is affecting the can end.
12. Openable can end according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said further "score lines" are applied by laser.
13. Openable can end according to claim 3, the covered portion (8a,18a,30b,5x,5y,31b) of the score line (8,13,31a,30a,5c) being the portion enabling and not enabling the initial break-in of said score line.
14. Openable can end made of sheet material according to one of the aforementioned claims, the second - break-in or not break-in - opening portion (30,31) which, to a large extent, is located below said lever-type tab, having the shape of a sports motif or a bottle.
15. Openable can end according to claim 14, the bottle shape of said second opening portion being adapted to the content of the beverage container being closed with said can end.
16. Openable can end made of sheet material for beverage cans, having a central panel (2;12) which is provided with two spaced apart independent opening portions (5,14;30,31,10,10',13), only one of which being initially openable by tearing (5x,30b,18a,8a) and then continuously tearable further along a score line (5c,30a,8,18), whereby the initial sections of said opening portions - one of which being provided to initially break in and the other one of which being adapted not to initially break in - are covered by a lever-type tab (6) for causing the opening and further tearing.
17. Can end according to claim 16, the covered sections (8a,18a,5x,30b) of the score lines being located next to an attachment point (7) of said lever-type tab (6).
18. Can end according to one of claims 16 or 17, said "opening portion" - which is the alleged one - having a reduced weakening line depth, or one end (5y,31b) of said alleged score line is not approaching the other end of said alleged score line to substantially avoid an initial break-in or tear-out starting portion (30b,5x).

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