MXPA00003205A - Can end - Google Patents

Abstract

A can end comprising:a) a disc-shaped panel (2) having a peripheral edge to be engaged with a rim of a can body, the panel having a frangible area;and b) a stay-on type lift tab (3) provided on the panel (2) and having a pull-up end and an opposed end arranged to bear on the frangible area;and c) a seal member (20) attached to the panel, the attachment (22) being between the frangible area and the peripheral edge such that the seal member (20) covers the frangible area and the lift tab (3).

Description

END OF A LATA FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the end of a can having an uncapping tab of the type that does not separate from the can, and a seal for the can end, which provides, to the uncapping tongue mechanism, a security feature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many beverages are packaged in cans of various sizes with an uncapping tab of the type that is not separated from the can. These drinks include soft drinks, beers, wines and healthy drinks. An advantage of this form of packaging is that the product can be kept in a closed, light-free environment which, if desired, can be pressurized. Once sealed in the can, the possibility that the content becomes contaminated inside the can, either by chance or by deliberate attempt, is very small. However, current designs of can ends having an opening tab have several disadvantages. Today's unlocking tabs have the disadvantage that it is possible that, at the time of uncovering the can and consuming the contents, the product may reach P1 06 / 00MX contaminated. When the current can ends open, there is an area of the end that becomes a fin. As a result, an area of the end that was previously external to the content of the can comes in contact with the content. In this way, any type of contamination that is present in the aforementioned area will be transferred to the content. In addition, there is generally a space between the end of the release tab and the end of the can, which can include an indentation to prevent skidding of the tab at the time it is lifted. It is this space that represents the most important source of potential pollution. When the contents of the can become empty, any contamination in this space is dragged out along with the contents of the can. Pollution of this nature can be accidental or deliberate. For example, the presence of a small amount of contaminating material in this space could be enough to deteriorate the taste of the product dispensed. The effect would be particularly noticeable if the contents of the can were drunk directly from the container or if, in a beverage container, only a small amount of the product is served or dispensed before consumption. In addition, an additional disadvantage of current P1206 / OOMX can ends that have release lugs, is that it is difficult to lift the tongue, particularly for people with arthritis in the joints of the fingers or for those who have brittle nails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a can end which significantly reduces the risk of contamination and which allows users to open the opening tab with a reduced risk of damage to the nails of the teeth. hands and a reduction in the need for a flexible movement of the fingers. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a can end which includes: (a) a disk-shaped panel having a peripheral edge to engage with the edge or rim of the body of a can, the panel has a fragile area, that is, breakable; and (b) an uncapping tab of the type that is not separated from the can, provided on the panel and having one end to pull and an opposite end arranged to push over the breakable or brittle area; and (c) a seal member attached to the panel, the junction being between the brittle area and the peripheral edge, P1206 / 00MX in such a way that the seal member covers the fragile area and the opening tab. Typically, the release tab has a connection portion that is rotatably connected about an axis perpendicular to the panel. It is contemplated that in a first embodiment of the present invention, the panel also includes a recess arranged to accommodate the opening tab. In this embodiment, the seal member is arranged, advantageously, to be flush with the surface of the panel. Typically, the seal member is attached to the panel using an adhesive that is suitable for a food / beverage application, such as, for example, a latex-based adhesive. The seal member acts, advantageously, as an inviolability seal or aperture indicating seal and further includes a fin portion that is free and not attached to the panel. In one embodiment, this fin portion may, in general, be substantially opposite to the opening tab of the end of the can. However, it is also contemplated that the seal member may be attached to the panel by adhesive, which is arranged substantially along the outer periphery of the seal member, the seal member has a weakened line parallel to the outer periphery and that define an area Fragile P1206 / 00MX of the stamp member. In this embodiment of the invention, as it is pulled to the pull end, the seal member breaks along the weakened line and the brittle area of the seal member is removed from the end of the can, leaving the outer periphery of the member seal attached to the panel. The seal member can, advantageously, be made from the same can material, so that recycling is facilitated. For example, when the can is made of steel, the seal member will be made of steel and, when the can is made of aluminum, the seal member will be made of aluminum. Alternatively, the seal member may be made of a laminated film or a plastic film, such as, for example, polypropylene. The seal member is preferably continuous and practically impermeable to liquids to minimize the possibility of contaminating the contents of a can having a can end according to the invention. Desirably, the seal member is additionally attached to the release tab, thereby allowing the pull end of the release tab to be lifted when the tab portion is pulled. Preferably, the seal member is attached to the pull end by an adhesive, such as an epoxy resin, or P1 06 / 00MX by welding. Alternatively, the seal member may be attached to the end for pulling by means of a loop that passes or is threaded through the hole in the pull end. In order to break the seal member to open the can, the opening tab can be pulled up; this same action lifts the end to pull the opening tab and opens the can or, at least begins the opening process, by causing the opposite end to push on the fragile area and thus initiate the fracture process (and form a corresponding opening in the panel). In the latter case, because the opening tab is more easily accessible, the rest of the opening process can be completed by directly lifting the opening tab. Because after the opening, the seal member can remain attached to the pull ring, it can not be easily disposed of separately after use. Therefore, it is unlikely to be the cause of annoying garbage. It is preferred that the seal member be such that it can be almost completely removed from the panel when the pull end is pulled up. When the contents of the can will be drunk directly from the container, it is preferred that virtually the entire area that will be in contact with P1206 / 00MX the mouth is initially covered by the seal member. The seal member can be simple and small and can be adjusted to the types of existing cans without requiring major modifications to the release tab mechanism. Similarly, the current ease of the cans being stacked on top of each other need not be compromised by the supply of a can end according to the invention. The seal member can provide, in an economical manner, improvements in both the safety and the can opening method. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a can is provided that includes a can body having a closed end and an open end spaced therefrom, a peripheral wall extending between the closed end and the open end, there at the open end there is a peripheral rim or rim and a can end, as described hereinabove, attached to the rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the invention can be understood more clearly, by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, which are provided only by way of example and, in P1206 / 00MX which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional can end; Figure 2 is a similar plan view, showing a can end according to the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view showing a can end, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view through the can end of Figure 3, along the line x-x; Figure 5 is a plan view of a can end, in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view through the can end of Figure 5, along the line y-y; and Figure 7 is a sectional view through the can end of Figure 5, along the line zz.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring initially to Figure 1, this illustrates a conventional can end known in the art, indicated generally by the number 1. The can end 1 comprises a disc-shaped panel 2 and a tongue. opener 3, of P1206 / 00 X type that does not separate from the can. The opening tab 3 is attached to the panel 2 at the pivot point 4. The panel 2 has on its upper surface a notch line 5 generally in the shape of a "C". The notch line 5 can be formed by making a shallow notch in the upper surface of the panel 2. The notch line 5, as illustrated, starts at a point adjacent the center of the panel 2 (near the pivot point 4), passes through a point adjacent to the outer periphery of panel 2 and terminates at an additional point adjacent to the center of panel 2. In general, notch line 5, as illustrated, consists of two parallel notches 51 and 52. The outer notch 51 is the main notch that will be torn when the unlocking tab 3 is pulled and the internal notch 52 is an auxiliary notch that facilitates tearing of the outer notch 51. The can is opened by lifting the unclog tab 3 at point 6. Initially, this causes the other end of the opening tab 3 to press down, at point 7, on the surface of end 1 of the can. The placement of the release tab 3 is such that it results in the fracture of the end 1 of the can in the notch line 5. An additional downward pressure results in the notched portion 8 being pushed down into the interior of the can.

P1206 / 00MX can, thus creating an aperture defined by what was the notch line 5. Through this opening the contents of the can can be accessed. Referring now to Figure 2, this shows the manner in which a can end, such as that illustrated in Figure 1, can be modified to be incorporated into the present invention. A plastic seal 21 covers the entire release tab mechanism (which may be, in general, as described above with reference to Figure 1). The seal 21 is attached to the end of the can along the line of junction 22 and is also connected, at the point 24, to the mechanism 25 of the release tab. The pull tab 23 is not attached to the panel 2. The line 26 is parallel to the line of attachment 22. During use, the pull tab 23 is raised and the seal 21 is torn along the line 26, exposing an uncontaminated portion around the notch lines of the unclog tab arrangement. As the pull tab 23 is pulled back and up, the action causes the release tab to rise, causing a downward pressure on the notched portion, resulting in the fracture of the can end along the notched line. Referring to Figure 3, this shows how a can end can be modified P1206 / OO X such as that illustrated in Figure 1 to incorporate the second aspect of the present invention. An aluminum seal 20 covers the entire release tab mechanism (which may be, in general, as described above with reference to Figure 1). The seal 20 is attached to the can end along the joint line 22 and is also attached, at the point 24, to the release tongue mechanism 25. The pull tab 23 is not attached to the panel 2. During use, the pull tab 23 is lifted and the seal 20 is removed from the end of the can 2. As the pull tab 23 is pulled back and up, the action causes the release tab to be lifted, causing a downward pressure on the notched portion, resulting in the perforation of the can along the notched line 5. In this embodiment, the entire seal 20 is removed of the panel 2. The following will be referred to Figure 4, in which similar reference numbers have been used to identify similar parts corresponding to those of Figures 1, 2 and 3. A clip 30 is attached, at point 24, to seal 21 (or with reference to the Figure 3, to the seal 20) as well as to the release tab 3. When the seal 21 is pulled back and up, the clip 30 is also pulled back and toward P1206 / 00MX above. The resulting action causes the opening tab 3 to be lifted, which in turn initiates the fracture of the end 1 of the can in the notch line 5. Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, these show the manner in which a Can end, such as that illustrated in Figure 1, can be further modified to incorporate a third aspect of the invention. In the panel 102 there is formed a depression 105 defining an undercut portion 106. In the undercut portion 106 there is provided an uncapping tab, such as that shown in Figure 1. A steel seal 121 covers the entire unlocking tab mechanism and is flush with the non-undercut portion of the panel 102. The seal 121 is attached to the can end along the junction line 122 and is also attached, at the point 124, to the release tab mechanism 125. The seal 121 is welded to the unlocking tab mechanism 103 at point 124. When the seal 121 is pulled back and upward, the resulting action causes the unclogging tab 125 to be lifted, which in turn initiates the fracture of the end. of the can in the notch line.

P1206 / OOMX

Claims (16)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property: 1. A can end which includes: (a) a disk-shaped panel having a peripheral edge for engaging a ring of the body of a can, the panel has a breakable or fragile area; and (b) an uncapping tab, of the type that is not separated from the can, provided in the panel and having one end for pulling and an opposite end arranged to push over the fragile area; and (c) a seal member attached to the panel, the joining to the panel is between the frangible area and the peripheral edge, such that the seal member covers the frangible area and the release tab, the seal member is further attached to the uncapping tongue, so that the pull end of the uncapping tongue can be lifted when the seal member is pulled.
2. 2. A can end according to claim 1, wherein the release tab has a connecting portion, which is rotatably connected about an axis perpendicular to the P1206 / OO X panel.
3. 3. A can end according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the panel further includes a recess arranged to accommodate the release tab.
4. 4. A can end according to claim 3, wherein the seal member is arranged to be flush with the surface of the panel.
5. 5. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seal member is attached to the panel using an adhesive for use in food.
6. 6. A can end according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a latex-based adhesive.
7. 7. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the seal member is attached to the panel by adhesive, which is arranged substantially along the outer periphery of the seal member, the seal member has a weakened line parallel to the outer periphery and defines a fragile area of the seal member.
8. 8. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the seal member further includes a fin portion, which is free and not attached to the panel.
9. 9. One can end according to P1206 / 00 X claim 8, wherein the fin portion is, in general, practically opposite to the release tab.
10. 10. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the seal member is made of the same material as the can.
11. 11. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the seal member is practically continuous.
12. 12. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the seal member is practically liquid impervious.
13. 13. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the seal member is adhesively attached to the pull end of the tongue.
14. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the seal member is attached to the pull end by means of a threaded loop through the hole in the pulling end.
15. 15. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the seal member is welded to the release tab.
16. 16. A can that includes a can body having a closed end and an open end spaced from it, a peripheral wall that is P1206 / 00MX extends between the closed end and the open end, at the open end there is a peripheral ring, and a can end according to any of claims 1 to 15, is coupled to the ring. P1206 / OOMX