WO1999005034A1

WO1999005034A1 - Drink can lid

Info

Publication number: WO1999005034A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/000452
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raquel J. Teresa Neri
Original assignee: Neri Raquel J Teresa
Priority date: 1997-07-22
Filing date: 1998-06-15
Publication date: 1999-02-04
Also published as: AU686970B1

Abstract

A drink can lid (22) incorporating a tab (26) which when depressed separates from adjoining regions of the lid to form a dispensing hole, characterised in the provision of a flap (1) overlying the tab (26), the flap (1) is attached to an opening lever (30) and covers a central peg (34) the flap (1) depressed by the user to cause depression of the tab (26) followed by movement of the flap (1) away from the resultant dispensing hole to gain access to the can's contents.

Description

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED;

DRINK CAN LID

The invention is described in the following statement;

The presente invention relates to an improved closure arragement for drink cans of the type used, for example, for carbonated beverages.

A standard drink can construction consists of a generally cylindrical container of aluminium or stell and an open upper and onto which a cilindrical lid is crimped into sealing, and essentially permanent, angagement. The lid includes a frangible tab portion extending frn the lid centre to a point just inside the peropheral rim. The lid further includes a central upright peg attaching a lever. One end of the lever lies over the inner portion of the frangible tab so that, when the other end is lifted, the tab is forced down and hinges downwards to form the dispensing hole.

In use, many consumers asist opening of the can by pushing down on the tab eith therir thumb at the same time as lifting the lever. This causes the risk of microbes causing gastroenteritis and other diseases being transferred by contact of the user's hand with the tab, which comes into contact with the liquid in the can, and with the edge of the drinking hole.

While many people take care to wash their hands throughly before eating, few think of doing likewise before consuming a can of drik , and thus the risk of disease transmission is magnified.

The present invention aims to provide an alternative, more hygienic, can lid construction and is characterised by the provision of a flap overlying the frangible tab of the drink can lid, the flap being adapted to be pressed downwards by the user to force the frangible tab open and then moved to allow access to the dispensing hole.

The presente invention thus provides a drink can lid incorporating a tab which when depressed separates fron adjoining regions of the lid to form a dispensing hole, characterised in the provision of a flap overlying the tab, the flap being depressed by the user to cause depression on the tab followed by movement of the flap away fron the resultant dispensing hole to gain access to the can's contents.

Preferably the flap is attached to the opening lever and/or the central peg of the lid, and is adapted to be pivoted laterally away from the dispensing hole in a horizontal plane.

Futher preferred ambodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a botton view of the cover flap;

Fig. 2 is a botton perspective view of the cover flap.

Fig. 2a is an elevation.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a preferred can lid incorporating the cover flap, in its initial position, and portion 3 with a hole 2 for fitting to the central peg of the can lid in a manner which allows horizontal pivoting of the flap, as will be described later with reference to Fig. 4.

The remainder of the flap is sufficiently broad and long to cover the frangible tab of the lid, and angles down slightly fron an arcuate ridge 4, to assist depression of the flap by the user. The edges 5 of the flap may include return flanges 6.

With reference to Fig. 3 and 4, the main circular portion 22 of the can lid is essentially unchanged fron the standard arrangement, with a peripheral rin 24 for attachment onto the drink can ( not shown) and a frangible tab 26 separated fron the remainder of the lid by a line of weakness 28. It is likely that no change to the current tooling for this main portion willbe necessary to implement the present invention.

If formed separately from the cover flap 1, the opening lever 30 may also use the current shape and tooling. Alternatively, the cover flap 1 may be formed integrally with the opening lever.

To open de can, the user lifts the handle portion 32 of the lever 30 and simultaneously presses down on the cover flap 1. This forces the frangible tab to break away fron the remaunder of the lid and hinge downwards, opening the can without the user touching any surface in contact with the drink.

Referring to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the lever 30 and cover flap 1 can then be pivoted as a unit about the central peg 34 to reveal the drinking hole 36.

The flap can also be pivoted back to re-cover the hole if the user wishes at any time to protect the contents To open the can, the user lifts the handle portion 32 of the lever 30 and simultaneously presses down on the cover flap 1. This forces the frangible tab to break away from the remainder of the lid and hinge downwards, opening the can without the user touching any surface in contact with the drink.

Referrin to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the lever 30 and cover flap 1 can then be pivoted as a unit about the central peg 34 to reveal the drinking hole 36. The flap can also be pivoted back to re-cover the hole if the user wishes at any time to protec the contents fron splashing out or being contaminated by dust or the like.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fron the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as ilustrative and not restrictive the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims resther than the foregoing description, and all canges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be ambraced therin.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS;

1. A drink can lid incorporating a tab which when depressed separates from adjoining regions of the lid to form a dispending hole, characterised in the provision of a flap overlying the tab, the flap. is attached to an opening lever and covers a central peg the flap depressed by the user to cause depression of the tab followed by movement of the flap away fron the resultant dispensing hole to gain access to the can's contents .

2. A drink can lid according to claim 1 wherein the flap is movable laterally away fron the hole, relative to a general plane of the lid.

3. A drink can lid according to claim 2 wherein the flap pivots laterally away fron the hole.

4. A drink can lid according to claim 3 wherein the flap pivots about an upright peg on the lid.

5. A drink can lid according to any one of the proceding claims further comprising a lever which is actuated by the user to bear down to cause depression of the flap.

6. A drink can lid according to claim 5 wherein the lever and flap are pivotable laterally.

7. A drink can lid according to claim 1 wherein the flap has a depressed portion overlying a radially inner region of the tap.

8. A drink can incorporating the lid of any one of the proceding claims.

9. A drink can lid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.