WO1997026196A1

WO1997026196A1 - Easy-open can end with retained tear strip

Info

Publication number: WO1997026196A1
Application number: PCT/IT1996/000242
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luigi Mamone
Original assignee: Luigi Mamone
Priority date: 1996-01-17
Filing date: 1996-12-05
Publication date: 1997-07-24
Also published as: JP2000503285A; AU1108797A; ITNA960005A0; ITNA960005A1; BR7603496U; NO983093L; CN1207712A; EP0874759A1; NO983093D0

Abstract

The invention can be used in the opening system of cans for drinks or different contents. Its main characteristics are: 1) A particular opening system with a stripping tab (6) to be pulled as far as to reach punch-pressed stops (1, 2) limiting pre-pressed cut borders (3, 4); as a result, the tab, still connected to the other part of the cover, remains on it. 2) The tab, pulled towards the outside in the action of opening the can, does not come into contact with its content; furthermore, the tab can be placed again into its original position for a better preservation of the remaining content.

Description

EASY-OPEN CAN END WITH RETAINED TEAR STRIP

The opening systems for cans containing drinks, or contents of any kind , which are actually in use, belong to one of two different types:

- the first less recent one, based on the complete detachment of the tab from the top, besides the loss of the tab into tbe environmenu also causes problems concerning people's security, - the second more recent one, called " stay on tab" type allows for a 90 ° turning of the tab inside the can, and while it keeps the tab connected lo the cover, presents the risk of contaminating the content.

The present patent for industrial invention proposes a system for opening cans which prevents both these disadvantages. The solving idea proposed for this paient is illustrated on table 1/1 in figs. 1, 2 and 3 in which the axial view of tbe can and two views of the same can from the upper side are respectively represented, the pulling ring beeing turned inside in fig.2 and outside in fig 3.

As shown in these illustrauons, the upper side of the can has been provided with two punch-pressed stops 1 and 2 and with two pre-pressed opening traces 3 and 4; at the starting point of these traces, near to the border of tbe can has been placed the opening ring 5.

From the enclosed table it is clear that the opening of the can occurs by pulling the ring towards the inner side of the can to strip tab 6 which is delimited by traces 3 and 4.

The stripping of the tab will occur as far as to reach the stop points 1 and 2 which are placed at the opposite end of each pre-pressed line in respect to the πng; after the opening has occurred the tab will still be connected to the remaining part of the cover.

The pulling πng 5 is pivotted in posiuon 7 and it can be turned in such a way as to assume the different positions illustrated in figs. 2 and 3.

Tins allows for the tab to be stripped from two positions: a) as shown in picture 2, leaving the opening ring oπented towards the center of the can cover, in the same position that it oπginally is in to allow a convenient assembling of cans for production and distπbution. b) as shown in picture 3, where tbe πng (designed with the nght thickness and structure) has been rotated 180° on tbe border of the cover, lo facilitate its gπpping To achieve a better flowing of the liquid from the can after opening, a slightly concave shape can be given to the border of the can along zone 8 From this descπpuon and from the enclosed illustrauons the following advantages of this invention clearly result

- after the can has been opened the tab remains peπnanentely connected to the can without representing in any way an obstacle for the liquid being poured, hence with no possibihty for the tab to come in contact with it - inverting the sequence of the opening movements, the tab can be placed back into its oπginal position, covering the outlet for better preservauon of a residual content suit in the can

The enclosed tables illustrate only one way, chosen for illustration purposes, to apply the solving idea of this invenuon; it is clear that any kind of formal and structural vaπalions can be applied to tbe same mvenuve concept which ultimately is summaπzed by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS DCan for drinks characterized by a tab limited by stripping traces ending towards tbe inner side of the cover with two punch-pressed zones; the opening of the can occurs by stripping of the tab .

2) Can for drinks, as resulung from preceding claim and for the same purpose illustrated there, characteπzed by the fact that the tab remains connected to the cover after the can has been opened avoiding its loss.

3) Can for drinks, as resulting from preceding claims and for the same purpose illustrated there, characteπzed by the fact that in the process of opening it the tab is folded outside without coming into contact with Ihc content. 4) Can for drinks, as resulung from preceding claims and for the same purpose illustrated there, characterized by tbe fact that the opening πng for pulling the tab can be turned inside or outside the perimeter of the can cover.

5) Can for drinks, as resulting from preceding claims and for the same purpose illustrated there, characterized by the fact that the tab, after the can has been opened, can be placed again in its onginal position, to cover the outlet of the can.