US3871548A

US3871548A - Method of re-attaching convenience closure device

Info

Publication number: US3871548A
Application number: US285766A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Tanzer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-31
Filing date: 1972-08-31
Publication date: 1975-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-18

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a method of re-attaching a tear strip closure after removal from its can top, the tear strip closure being inserted in the opening formed in the can top by the removal of the tear strip closure, and the tear strip closure then being manipulated in order to cause re-engagement of the tear strip closure with the can top.

Description

United States Patent [191 Tanzer [451 Mar. 18, 1975 METHOD OF RE-ATTACHING CONVENIENCE CLOSURE DEVICE John Tanzer, 2605 St. Charles CL, Brookfield, Wis. 53005 Filed: Aug. 31, 1972 Appl. No.: 285,766

Inventor:

us. Cl. 220/243,;0/270 Im. on B65d 5/64 Field of Search 220/54, 2s, 85 R, 33

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1971 Blechman 220/25 3,674,172 7/1972 Wells et al. ..220/54 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed herein a method of re-attaching a tear strip closure after removal from its can top, the tear strip closure being inserted in the opening formed in the can top by the removal of the tear strip closure, and the tear strip closure then being manipulated in order to cause re-engagement of the tear strip closure with the can top.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures METHODOF RE-ATTACHING CONVENIENCE CLOSURE DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Convenience opening devices for beverage cans and the like have rapidly gained wide consumer acceptance since consumers can open cans without the need of a can opener. At the present time, carbonated beverages require the use of a tear strip closure where the consumer tears the removable closure device along preformed or weakened grooves.

After removal from cans, tear strip closures create a safety and pollution problem because consumers casually dispose of the tear strip closures by tossing them on the ground. Despite the safety and pollution problems now associated with tear strip closures, the use of tear strip closures are apparently considered more convenient and desirable byconsumers and manufacturers than the problems theyhave created from a health and safety standpoint. As a result, some research and development by can manufacturers is currently directed to ways in which the tear strip closure can expose the pour or drinking opening in the can top while leaving the tear strip closure attached to the can.

The present invention is directed to a new and improved method by which substantially little, if any, modification is required in the tear strip closure used for beverage cans and the like in order to provide a relatively simple and efficient technique for reattaching the tear strip closure to the can top from which it has been removed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of re-attaching a tear strip closure to a can top after removal therefrom.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of re-attaching a tear strip closure, by inserting and manipulating the tear strip closure relative to the pour or drinking opening in the can top, in order to positively engage the tear strip closure to the can top.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of safely disposing the tear strip section of the tear strip closure within the pour or drinking opening of the can without interfering with the use of the pour or drinking opening by the consumer.

. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by the method of reattaching a tear strip closure having a generally keyhole shaped tear strip section and a finger tab section connected by a rivet portion to the marginal surfaces adjacent a generally key-hole shaped opening formed in a can top after removal of the generally key-hole shaped tear strip section from the can top, said method including the steps of: inserting the tear strip section into the generally key-hole shaped opening formed in the can top, moving the tear strip section inwardly until the rivet portion is positioned in the reduced neck area of the generally key-hole shaped opening and then rotating the tear strip section in order to move the finger tab section and tear strip section into engagement with the can top on opposite sides thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which tear strip closures are currently removed from can tops of beverage cans and the like;

FIG. 2is a top plan view depicting the manner in which the tear strip closure is inserted into the pour or drinking opening of the can top after, removal therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the can top with the rivet portion of the tear strip closure in the reduced neck area of the pour or drinking opening prior to manipula tion or rotation of the tear strip closure; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the manipulation or rotation of the tear strip closure relative to the can top in order to positively re-engage the tear strip closure to the can top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 of the drawing, a tear strip closure 10 for beverage cans and the like is shown in the process of being removed from the can top 12 of the beverage can 14 in order to expose the pour or drinking opening 16. After removal of the tear strip closure 10, it is the current practice for consumers to simply discard the tear strip closure 10 by throwing it in a waste receptacle or on the ground. Where the tear strip closure 10 is discarded on the ground, this not only creates an unsightly environment as do discarded cans and packaging devices, but in the case of tear strip closure devices, there is another problem in that the sharp edges of the tear strip closures 10 provide a health hazard, particularly on beaches, playgrounds and the like. By following the procedural teachings disclosed by the present invention, it is possible to re-attach the tear strip closure 10 to the beveragecan 14 so that even if the can 14 is not properly discarded in a trash receptacle, the tear strip closure 10 will not constitute a health hazard.

The tear strip closure 10 includes a ring pull finger tab section 18 which is connected by a rivet portion 20 to the tear strip section 22. It will be appreciated that tear strip closures 10 other than those with ring pulls 18 can be used in the re-attachment method presently to be described.

It will be noted that the pour or drinking opening 16, as well as complementary shaped tear strip section 22, have a generally key-hole shaped configuration. This shape, which has been generally universally accepted by manufacturers, can be usefully employed in the herein disclosed method. As can be seen in FIG. I of the drawing, the key-hole shaped pour or drinking opening 16 includes a reduced neck area 24 and an enlarged opening 26, the latter being more closely positioned the outer periphery of the can 14 in order to facilitate drinking or pouring from the can 14.

In re-attaching the tear strip closure 10 to the can 14, the first step to be taken is the insertion of the tear strip section 22 into the generally key-hole shaped opening 16 formed in the can top 12 as is best depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawing. As the tear strip section 22 is inserted, it will be noted that the ring pull finger tab section 18 is at least partially positioned outside of the can perimeter.

Following the insertion of the tear strip section 22, the tear strip section 22 is moved inwardly toward the center of the can 14 until the rivet portion 20 is positioned in the reduced neck area 24 of the generally key-hole shaped opening 16. This is best depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawing. At this position, the tear strip section 22, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, extends beneath the can top 12 while the ring pull finger tab section 18 overlies the generally key-hole shaped opening 16. With the rivet portion 20 positioned in the smallest part of the reduced neck area 24, the tear strip closure can be rotated or manipulated in order to move the finger tab section 18 and tear strip section 22 into engagement with the can top 12 on opposite sides thereof. This is easily accomplished by gripping the ring pull finger tab section 18 and rotating the tear strip closure from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the posishown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. Approximately 180 movement will have taken place by this manipulation so as to position the ring pull tear tab section 18 away from the pour or drinking opening 16 while the tear tab section 22 is disposed within the can 14. The tear strip section 22 partially blocks the opening 16, but not so much as to interfere with the pouring or drinking of the cans contents.

The positive re-attachment of the tear strip closure 10 relative to the can top 12 is achieved by virtue of the fact that the base portion 28 of the ring pull tear tab section engages the marginal surfaces of the can top 22 in the vicinity of and adjacent to the opening 16 while the free end of the tear tab section 22 engages the marginal surfaces, either on one or both sides of the opening 16, on the undersurface of the can top 12.

It will be appreciated that various changes can be made in the shape of the opening 16 and tear strip closure 10 in order to facilitate the re-attachment method disclosed herein. For example, the smallest part of the reduced neck area 24 of the opening 16 could be arranged to provide a snug or snap-lock fit relative to the the rivet portion 20 in order to provide an even more positive re-attachment. It will further be apparent that the finger tab section 18 and/or tear strip section 22 can be modified in order to provide a more aggressive impingement with respect to the top and/or bottom surfaces of the can top 12. Various other changes which will facilitate the herein disclosed method will depend on the desires of the manufacturer, but it will be seen that various mechanical modifications can be made to improve the re-attachment engagement of the tear strip closure 10 relative to the can top 12.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the reattachment method of the present invention provides a technique whereby substantially little, if any, changes need be made in the manufacturing process while, at the same time, a unique method of re-attaching the tear strip closures commonly utilized for beverage cans can be followed in order to overcome environmental and health problems which are presently associated with tear strip closures.

I claim:

1. The'method of re-attaching a tear strip closure having a generally key-hole shaped tear strip section and a finger tab section connected by a rivet portion to the marginal surfaces adjacent a generally key-hole shaped opening formed in a can top after complete removal of the generally key-hole shaped tear strip section from the can top, comprising the steps of:

inserting the separated year strip section into the generally key-hole shaped opening formed in the can top,

moving the tear strip section inwardly until the rivet portion is positioned in the reduced neck area of the generally key-hole shaped opening, and

then rotating the tear strip section by engagement and movement of the rivet portion thereof within the reduced neck area of the generally key-hole shaped opening and causing the finger tab section and/or tear strip section to engage the can top for re-attaching the tear strip closure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the tear strip section is rotated approximately to positively re-attach the tear strip closure to the can top.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the tear strip section and finger tab section are moved into engagement with the can top on opposite sides thereof.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of hingedly locking the rivet portion of the tear strip closure relative to the reduced neck area of the generally key-hole shaped opening.

Claims

1. The method of re-attaching a tear strip closure having a generally key-hole shaped tear strip section and a finger tab section connected by a rivet portion to the marginal surfaces adjacent a generally key-hole shaped opening formed in a can top after complete removal of the generally key-hole shaped tear strip section from the can top, comprising the steps of: inserting the separated year strip section into the generally key-hole shaped opening formed in the can top, moving the tear strip section inwardly until the rivet portion is positioned in the reduced neck area of the generally keyhole shaped opening, and then rotating the tear strip section by engagement and movement of the rivet portion thereof within the reduced neck area of the generally key-hole shaped opening and causing the finger tab section and/or tear strip section to engage the can top for re-attaching the tear strip closure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the tear strip section is rotated approximately 180* to positively re-attach the tear strip closure to the can top.