NL2004639C2 - Beverage can with a pull tab an element provided near the pull tab. - Google Patents

Description

P91409NL00

Title: Beverage can with a pull tab and an element provided near the pull tab.

The invention relates to beverage cans. The invention more specifically relates to beverage cans having a pull tab at a can surface for opening a dispensing opening in said surface.

Beverage cans are well known in the art. They are commonly used 5 for packaging volumes of beverages, such as but not limited to soft drinks and beer. Such cans are commonly made of metal, such as aluminium, steel, metal blends or combinations of metal and plastics, such as sheet metal covered with a foil layer. These types of beverage cans are for example substantially cylindrical, provided with an outer wall, a bottom and a top surface. Especially 10 the top surface can be formed by a can top connected to the side wall by bevelling and/or sealant, after filling the can with the desired beverage. This is commonly done in a filling line. In a can surface, such as the top surface, a dispensing opening is provided, which is closed by a lid, partly surrounded by a score line. The lid, surrounding can surface and score line are preferably made 15 integrally, such that by ripping the score line the lid can be pushed away from the opening, for example into an inner volume of the can, for opening the opening.

For opening the lid a pull tab is normally provided on said can surface, near the lid. The pull tab is connected to the surface, for example by a 20 bevelling of the surface through an opening of the pull tab, such that by lifting an end of the pull tab the lid is pushed down and torn loose along the score line, until it is pushed out of the dispense opening into the can interior, connected to the rest of the can surface by a hinge portion. In a normal position, before pushing the lid from the dispense opening, the pull tab can be 25 substantially flat and can extend substantially parallel to the relevant can surface.

2

On the outer surface of the can information can be provided, in the form of for example branding, product information, producer and distributor information and the like. On the can top or at least the surface comprising the dispensing opening it is uncommon to provide such information. Moreover, the 5 can surface comprising the pull tab and the dispense opening or lid and score line is exposed directly to the environment, which may lead to contamination or at least for some consumers the perception of possible contamination. Furthermore the score line and lid are exposed to the environment, which may reduce tamper evidence.

10 The present invention has as an object to provide a new type of beverage can. The present invention has as another object to provide a new accessory for a beverage can. Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a beverage can with an element covering a dispensing opening. A further object is to provide a beverage can with information visible on a can 15 surface comprising a pull tab. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for forming a beverage packaging.

At least one of these or other objects are provided for by a beverage can or package or method according to the present disclosure.

In a first aspect a beverage can can comprise a pull tab at a can 20 surface and an element positioned above said surface, extending at least partly between the pull tab and said surface. The element can extend substantially parallel to at least a central portion of said surface, covered partly by the pull tab.

In a second aspect an element for positioning on a beverage can can 25 comprising an opening for extending over a connecting element between a pull tab and a can surface. Said opening can be designed to be slid over the pull tab.

In a third aspect a method for forming a beverage package can comprise the steps of packing a beverage in a can with a pull tab on a surface 3 of the can and providing an element on said package, at least partly between said surface and said pull tab.

In an embodiment the element can be substantially disc shaped. The element can have a peripheral edge portion, preferably at the side facing the 5 can surface, especially fitting in a groove at the periphery of the can surface. Information can be provided on one or both sides of the element. The information can be information traditionally provided on beverage cans, as discussed here above, and/or other information, such as special offers, advertisements, lottery tokens or prints and the like. For example codes can be 10 printed or otherwise provided on a surface of said element, preferably at a side facing the can surface, or otherwise such that it is covered or otherwise shielded from observation by the element, prior to removable or otherwise intervening with the element and/or its position on the beverage can. The information can also be provided on the can surface and then be covered by 15 said element. Such codes can then for example be used for consumer actions, such as but not limited to sweepstakes, lotteries, price winning schemes, access to web sites, games or otherwise web applications such as Internet sites, bonus elements and the like, or information that can be used in such applications. The elements themselves can be collectors items due to for 20 example different prints on different elements.

Embodiments of a beverage can, element and method are hereafter discussed with reference to the drawings. These embodiments are shown and discussed by way of example only and should by no means be considered limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings: 25 Fig. 1A shows in top view a beverage can, showing a can surface with a pull tab and a dispensing opening;

Fig. IB shows in top view the beverage can of fig. 1A, comprising an element extending between the pull tab and can surface;

Fig. 2 shows in cross sectional side view along the line II - II in fig.

30 IB a first embodiment of a beverage can with element; 4

Fig. 3 shows in cross sectional view along the line II - II in fig. IB a second embodiment of a beverage can with element;

Fig. 4 shows in top view a first embodiment of an element with an opening; 5 Fig. 5 shows in top view a second embodiment of an element with an opening;

Fig. 6 shows in top view a third embodiment of an element with an opening;

Fig. 7 shows in top view a fourth embodiment of an element with an 10 opening;

Fig. 8 shows in top view a fifth embodiment of an element with an opening;

Fig. 9 shows both sides of an element, provided with information on both sides of the element.

15 In this description the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs in the different embodiments. The embodiments are disclosed for elucidation purposes only. Beverage can has to be understood as at least encompassing cans for beer or soft drinks, including but not limited to carbonated drinks. A beverage can in the present description can have a 20 known configuration in two or three parts, can be forced or pulled and can be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as but not limited to metal. In this description beverage cans are discussed which can have any size of content. Such as for example but not limited to 30 or 33 cc or 50 cc.

25 In fig. 1A and B a beverage can 1 is shown, from above. The beverage can 1 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, in this embodiment formed by a bottom with integral sidewall 2 and a top 3 connected to side wall 2 by a bevelled peripheral rim portion 4. The top 3 forms or defines a can surface 5, in this embodiment enclosed by the peripheral rim portion 4. In the 30 can surface 5 a dispense opening 6 is provided, closed by a lid 7. The lid 7 is at 5 least partly surrounded by a score line 8. A hinge portion 30 is provided between two ends 9 of the score line 8. The lid 7, score line 8 and the rest of the can surface are integrally made. In an embodiment they are integrally stamped from sheet metal. The dispense opening 6 is provided at a relatively 5 short distance from the peripheral rim portion 4. In an advantageous embodiment the dispense opening 6 is spaced apart from a centre of the substantially circular can surface 5 or at least not concentric with said centre.

On the can surface 5 a pull tab 10 is provided, which can be realised in any known manner. In this embodiment the pull tab 10 is connected to the 10 can surface 5 be a deformation 11 of the can surface 5, which extends through an opening 12 in the pull tab 10 and is flattened above the pull tab 10, that is on the side of the pull tab 10 opposite the can surface 5. This locks the pull tab 10 in position. The deformation 11 of the can surface extending through and above the pull tab 10 is in general referred to as connecting element 13 and is 15 substantially mushroom shaped in cross section, having a foot 14 connected to and made integral with the can surface 5.

In fig. 1 a top view is shown of the beverage can 1, showing the top can surface 5. In fig. IB the same view is shown of the can 1, but with an element 15 extending above the can surface 5, partly between the can surface 5 20 and the pull tab 10. Above has to be understood with respect to the normal position of the can 1, placed on its bottom (not shown), with the can surface 5 facing up, as is schematically shown in fig. 2 and 3. Above can include in contact with the surface 5, or spaced apart from said surface 5. The element 15 can further also be referred to as disc 15. The element 15 is held in position 25 above the can surface 5 by the pull tab 10. In different embodiments the element 15 extends substantially parallel to the upper side 16 of the can surface 5, at least at a central portion 40 of the can surface 5. This can be understood in embodiments as the element 15 having a main plane 18 extending substantially parallel to the upper side 16. In embodiments the 30 element 15 can be substantially flat and disc shaped, as is shown in cross 6 section in fig. 2, or it can have a peripheral edge portion 19 extending downward, that is in the direction of the can surface 5, as is shown in fig. 3, which will be referred to later.

The element 15 can have an opening 17 which can extend around 5 the connecting element 13, or at least around the foot 14 thereof, and with which the element 15 can be slid over the pull tab 10 and/or over the connecting element 13, into the position as shown in fig. IB. The opening 17 can be fully enclosed within the element 15, as is shown by way of examples in fig. 4 - 7 and 9, or can extend into the peripheral edge of the element 15, as 10 shown in fig. 8.

Beverage cans 1, such as for example known in the market, can have the top 3 defining the upper can surface 5, connected to the side wall 2 by the peripheral edge 4 which can extend to a height H above the upper surface 16 of the can surface 5. In embodiments directly next to said peripheral rim portion 15 4 a peripheral groove 20 can be provided, formed integrally with the can surface 5 or at least with the top 3, extending between the central portion 40 and the rim portion 4. In embodiments shown the element 15 can have a peripheral edge portion 19 extending close to or even in contact with the rim portion 4. Close to has to be understood as at least including within 20 millimetres from the rim portion 4, preferably less than 2 millimetres, more preferably less than 1 millimetre. In contact with has to be understood as at least including the entire peripheral edge portion 19 or part thereof being in contact with the rim portion 4, especially at a side 21 thereof facing substantially inward, towards the pull tab 10. This means that substantially 25 the entire upper surface 5, including the groove 20 if present, is covered by the element 15. This prevents direct contact of the upper surface 5 and especially of the area around and of the lid 7 and score line 8 with the environment, preventing to a high extend undesired pollution of the upper surface or at least such perception. The element 15 thus can function as a dust cover for the 30 surface 5 or at least for the lid 7 and its direct surroundings.

7

In the embodiment of fig. 3 the peripheral edge portion 19 extends downward extends into the groove 20 and in embodiments in contact with at least part of the rim portion and/or with the bottom 22 of the groove 20. This provides for even better coverage of the can surface 5. Having a peripheral 5 edge portion 19 of the element 15 extending close to or even in contact with the rim portion 4, preferably below the height H thereof, can have the additional or separate advantage that the element 15 cannot easily be engaged at said peripheral edge portion 19, for lifting it from the can surface 5, at least not without visible evidence of such engagement on the element 15 and/or the can 10 surface 5. This effect is even enhanced by an embodiment of fig. 3, having the edge portion 19 extending into the groove 20.

An element or disc 15 according to the present disclosure can be made of any suitable material. In an embodiment the disc 15 can be made of plastic, and/or of board, such as but not limited to cardboard or paper. In an 15 embodiment the disc is made of laminated paper or cardboard, such that a paper or cardboard layer is covered on one or, preferably, both sides with a covering layer of plastic foil, lacquer or similar covering means which can enhance the strength and/or resistance against for example fluids, touch or damage. Moreover this can enhance stiffness of the element 15. Since most 20 cans 1 are substantially cylindrical, having a circular top 3, the element 15 preferably has a circular shape. The element 15 can for example have a diameter D between about 30 and 70 mm, more specifically between 40 and 60 mm, such as for example about 50 mm. The diameter D is preferably substantially equal to the diameter of the can surface 5. In this description 25 opposite sides of the elements 15 have to be understood, unless otherwise defined, as a first side 23, in coupled condition with the can 1 facing the can surface 5 and an opposite second side 24, facing away from the can surface 5.

In fig. 2 and 3 is shown that the pull tab 10 has a first portion 25 and a second portion 26, on opposite sides of the connecting element 13. By 30 lifting the second portion 26 away from the can surface 5, the pull tab 10 will 8 be tilted in a known manner around the foot 14 of the connecting element 13, pushing the first portion 25 against the lid 7, and the lid will be pushed down, tearing it loose along the score line 8 and folding it by the hinge portion 30 into an internal space 31 of the can 1. In a package or beverage can 1 of the present 5 description at least one of the first and second portions 25, 26 will lie on or above the element 15, holding it in place above the can surface 5.

In fig. 4 an element 15 is shown, in the form of a round or circular disc, comprising a slit shaped opening 17. The opening has a length LI which is smaller than the diameter D of the element 15, and can be positioned spaced 10 apart over a distance B from a centre C of the element 15. The length LI is slightly greater than the largest width W of the pull tab 10. The element can be slid over the pull tab 10 by the slit shaped opening 17, to a position as shown in fig. 2 or 3. In this embodiment both the first and second portions 25, 26 will lie on or above the upper, second surface 24. Positioning of this element 15 15 can be achieved by sliding the element 15 over the pull tab 10, from the free end of the second portion 26 thereof, until an in sliding direction forward lying side of the opening slides past the free end of the first portion 25, and then sliding it slightly back, in opposite direction, forcing the element under the first portion 25 of the pull tab 10. This prevents opening of the lid 7 until the 20 element 15 has been at least partly removed.

In fig. 5 an element 15 is shown, having an opening 17 which has a first end 27 which is substantially a half circle extending substantially parallel to the adjacent peripheral rim portion 19 of the element 15, whereas it has an opposite second end 28 which has a circle segment configuration with a 25 curvature slightly larger than that of the first end, and the apex 29 facing the first end of the opening. It has furthermore two substantially straight side edges 32. In this embodiment the curvature of the first end 27 preferably substantially corresponds with the free end of the first portion 25 of the pull tab 10, whereas the width W1 of the opening 17 between the side edges 32 is 30 preferable substantially equal to the width of the pull tab at the first portion 9 25. When the element 15 is slid over the pull tab 10 from the free end of the second portion 26, the second end 28 of the opening 17 forced under the pull tab 10, the first end can be moved over the free end of the first portion 25, to a position as shown in fig. IB. When the pull tab 10 is in its initial position, as 5 shown in fig. 2 or 3, the element 15 is held in position by the pull tab 10. When the pull tab 10 is tilted as discussed before, for example for opening the beverage can 1, the second portion 26 of the pull tab 10 will extend at an acute angle relative to the can surface 15, allowing easy removal of the element 15 from the pull tab 10. Placing the element 15 on the can surface 5 may be easier 10 than with the embodiment of fig. 4. The second end 28 can be seen as a lip 34 extending in the opening 17, which will position itself under the pull tab 10, close to or even partly on or over the connecting element 13.

In fig. 6 an embodiment of an element 15 is shown, comparable with the embodiment of fig. 5, but the side edges 32 are continued past the second 15 end 28 of the opening 17 in the form of two substantially straight slits 33. This further enables easy placing of the element on a beverage can 1. The second end 28 between the slits 33 here forms a lip 34 which can easily be bent without damage.

In fig. 7 an element 15 is shown according to fig. 6, in which the ends 20 38 of the slits 33 are bent away from each other, which can have the advantage that the risk of damage to the element 15 during placing can even further be limited since these curved ends 38 will further prevent tearing of the element 15.

In fig. 8 an alternative embodiment is show of an element 15, again 25 having a substantially circular shape with an opening 17, which in this embodiment is or has a substantially central opening portion 17A. The opening 17 has a slit-like extension 35, in this embodiment in radial direction, connecting the central opening portion 17A with the peripheral edge 19A. This means that the part 36 of the element on one side 35A of the extension 35 can 30 be lifted relative to the part 37 of the element 15 on the opposite side 35B of 10 the extension 35, allowing the element to be slit over the connecting element 13 under the pull tab 10, for example substantially sideways or by a substantially rotational movement. The parts 36, 37 can then be released, bringing them back next to each other again. Preferably the element is then 5 moved such that the extension 35 will become placed between the pull tab 10 and the surface 5. It shall be clear that the extension could have any desired shape, for example spiralling, zigzag, C, V or WW shaped or the like.

In fig. 9 an element 15 is shown, only by way of example substantially like fig. 6, wherein information is provided on the element 15.

10 This can be done in each embodiment of an element 15 of this disclosure. Such information can for example be, but is not limited to, branding, product information, advertisements, codes or the like or any information desired, for example as discussed in the introduction to the specification. Fig. 9 shows the first and second sides of the same element 15. In an embodiment the element 15 15 can be provided with information on one side or both sides, as schematically shown in fig. 9. In fig. 9 the first side 23 is shown to at the right hand side and the second side 24 is shown at the left hand side. On the second side 24, which is normally exposed when the element 15 is provided on the can surface 5, general information 40 can be provided, here given as “INFO”. On the first side 20 23, which is normally not exposed when the element 15 is provided on the can surface 5, because it faces the surface 5, more specific information 41 such as a code, token or the like can be provided, here by way of example only shown as “1234”. This specific information 41 is thus shielded by the element 15 until this is removed. The element 15 prevents reading of said specific information 25 prior to opening of the can 1. Especially when the peripheral edge 19 is close to the rim portion 4 or, even better, extends in the groove 20. Similarly the more specific information 41 could be provided in its entirety or partly on the can surface 5, covered by the element 15. The information 40, 41can be provided on the element 15 and/or can surface 5 in any suitable manner, such as but not 30 limited to printing, coating, labelling, stickers, paint, Braille, laser, hologram 11 or other means known in the art. In fig. 9 left hand side in dotted lines the pull tab 10 is shown, in a position prior to opening the lid 7. In stead or besides this information 40, 41 obviously other elements could be provided on the element 15 and/or the can surface 5, possibly covered by the element 15, such as but 5 not limited to merchandise, cards, collector’s items and the like. The specific information 41 can obviously also be provided on the same second side 24 of the element 15. The information 40, 41 can be or comprise as indication which can for example be entered on a web site, for example for winning prices, for gaining access, for entering a game level or otherwise influencing a game or 10 the like.

It should be clear that each of the embodiments shown in fig. 4 - 9 could be made like an element 15 according to fig. 2 and like an element 15 according to fig. 3, that is with or without the peripheral edge portion 19 extending down, either along the entire periphery or only one or more parts 15 thereof.

The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments as shown or discussed or otherwise disclosed in this description. Many variants are possible within the scope of the present invention. The element can be adhered to the can surface over part or all of its contact area. Multiple elements can be 20 placed on a can surface, one beneath the other, for example a small booklet or a stack. The opening 17 can be designed differently, for example but not limited to a cross, triangular or square shaped opening. The elements can be provided on the can surface 5 by hand or with a machine or tool. In an embodiment the elements can be placed together with the pull tab. The 25 elements 15 themselves can be collectors items or part of a game or building system or the like. The outer periphery of the elements can be different then circular, for example multi angled, partly angled or in the shape of a fantasy figure or the like. These and other amendments and variations, including combinations and permutations of embodiments as disclosed should be 30 considered comprised by this disclosure.

Claims (17)

A beverage can comprising a pull tab on the surface of the can, wherein an element is disposed above said surface extending at least partially between the pull tab and said surface. A beverage can according to claim 1, wherein the element has a main surface extending substantially parallel to at least a central part of said surface. 3. A beverage can according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the element comprises an opening that extends around a connecting element that connects the pull tab to said surface. A beverage can according to claim 3, wherein the opening is surrounded by the element. 15 A beverage can according to claim 3, wherein the opening extends into a peripheral edge of said element. 6. A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 3-5, wherein the element with said opening can be slid over the pull lip up to said surface. A beverage can according to any of the preceding claims 3-6, wherein the opening is or comprises an incision in said surface. 25 A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 3-7, wherein a lip extends into the opening, which lip is positioned at least partially between the surface and said pull lip. 9. A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8, wherein the surface of the can comprises a part of a peripheral wall part, the element comprising a peripheral edge part which is positioned on, in and / or against the peripheral wall part, the peripheral wall part being extends from said surface to a height above the element. A beverage can according to claim 9, wherein the wall portion comprises a groove, the edge portion of the element comprising a portion extending into said groove. 10 A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 1-10, wherein the element is disc-shaped, preferably made of plastic and / or cardboard. 12. A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 1-11, wherein the element is provided with information on two opposite sides or at least on a side directed towards the surface of the can. 13. A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 1-12, wherein an opening is provided in said surface, which is closed by a seal partially surrounded by a tear line, said element covering at least the seal. A beverage can according to any one of the preceding claims 1-13, wherein the element forms as a dust cover for said surface. 25 15. An element for placing on a beverage can, comprising an opening for extending around a connecting element between a pull tab and a surface of a can, said opening being designed to be slid over the connecting element or over the pull lip. A method of forming a beverage package, wherein a beverage is packaged in a can with a pull tab on a surface, wherein an element is provided on said package, at least partially between said surface and said pull tab. A method according to claim 16, wherein an indication is provided on the can or on the element, so that it is made invisible by the element, wherein a website is provided on which said indication 10 can be entered.