WO2010109341A1

WO2010109341A1 - Rotatable can cover having two openings

Info

Publication number: WO2010109341A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/050439
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham Stewart Watts; Natalie Rosemary Callaghan; Allan Charles Watts
Original assignee: Sim, Sean Dean
Priority date: 2009-02-03
Filing date: 2010-02-02
Publication date: 2010-09-30

Abstract

The invention concerns a can cover (10) which can be fitted to a conventional beverage can (28) of the type having a circular top wall (30) secured to a cylindrical side wall (32) of the can at a peripheral seam (34), the top wall including a dispensing opening (42) which is initially closed by a peripherally scored closure section (36) forming part of the top wall and a stay-tab (38), secured to the top wall at a rivet connection (40), which can be actuated to press the closure section into the can and thereby form the dispensing opening. The can cover includes a circular cover member (12) having a cover member opening (14) therein and a circular, peripheral lip (22) which can be clipped over the peripheral seam after actuation of the stay-tab. This attaches the cover member to the can, with the stay-tab projecting through the cover member opening, in a manner allowing the cover member to rotate over the top wall of the can between a dispensing position in which the cover member opening registers with the dispensing opening and a closed position in which the cover member opening is out of register with the dispensing opening and the cover member extends over and covers the dispensing opening.

Description

Rotatable can cover having two openings

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a can cover.

The invention is particularly concerned with a cover for beverage cans of the type having a circular top wall or lid which is seamed about its periphery to the upper edge of a cylindrical side wall. A levering tab is riveted centrally to the top wall at a position between its ends with the rivet providing a fulcrum point. In order to open the can, one end of the tab is lifted with the result that the other end of the tab presses down against a peripherally scored closure section of the top wall. This separates the closure section from the remainder of the top wall and presses it downwardly into the interior of the can, thereby forming a dispensing opening in the top wall. The tab can then be bent back to a position in which it lies close to the top wall, away from the dispensing opening. The can contents can now be dispensed through the dispensing opening. The tab of a can of this type is referred to as a stay-tab because the tab remains attached to the top wall of the can by the rivet.

Beverage cans of this type, which are used for a wide range of beverages such as carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, beer and so on are very well known and have been in widespread use for many years. However, a problem with such cans arises from the fact that after actuation of the tab, the dispensing opening remains open and allows insects such as bees, or other foreign matter, to enter the can. Another problem is the fact that when a person drinks directly from the can through the dispensing opening there is lower lip contact with the side wall of the can and this is considered to be unhygienic. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a can cover for a beverage can having a circular top wall, secured to a cylindrical side wall of the can at a peripheral seam, the top wall including a dispensing opening initially closed by a peripherally scored closure section forming part of the top wall and a stay-tab, secured to the top wall at a rivet connection, which can be actuated to press the closure section into the can and thereby form a dispensing opening in the top wall, the can cover comprising a circular cover member having a cover member opening therein and a circular, peripheral lip which can be clipped over the peripheral seam, after actuation of the stay-tab, in order to attach the cover member to the can, with the stay-tab projecting through the cover member opening, and in a manner allowing the cover member to rotate over the top wall of the can between a dispensing position in which the cover member opening registers with the dispensing opening and a closed position in which the cover member opening is out of register with the dispensing opening and the cover member extends over and covers the dispensing opening.

The cover member opening is preferably shaped such that a portion thereof has a shape corresponding to the shape of the dispensing opening. The cover member opening may include a projecting lip at an edge thereof which is shaped complementally to a radially outer edge region of the dispensing opening such that with the cover in its dispensing position the lip extends over the edge region. In a preferred embodiment, the cover member opening has a further portion which accommodates the rivet connection when the cover member is attached to the can such that the cover member is rotatable about the rivet connection.

The lip of the cover member may be circumferentially continuous and may include one or more externally knurled regions to facilitate rotation of the cover between its respective positions. The cover member is preferably shaped such that when it is in its dispensing position and a user drinks directly from the can through the registering cover member opening and dispensing opening, the cover member prevents direct contact between the user's upper lip and the top wall of the can. Hygiene may be improved further by an embodiment which includes a skirt, provided at least at an angular position corresponding to that of the cover member opening, which extends over the side wall of the can to prevent direct contact between the user's lower lip and the side wall of the can when the cover is in the dispensing position and a user drinks directly from the can through the dispensing opening and cover member opening. The skirt may be circumferentially continuous or it may be provided only at a location corresponding to the position of the user's lower lip during drinking.

Preferably there is a second opening in the cover member which is angularly displaced from the cover member opening and which can be brought into register with the dispensing opening when the cover member is appropriately rotated. The second opening is typically smaller than the cover member opening and is dimensioned to receive a drinking straw, thereby to allow passage of the drinking straw into the interior of the can through the second opening and the dispensing opening when the cover member is rotated to the position in which the second opening registers with the dispensing opening.

The can cover of the invention is preferably moulded in one piece of plastics material. Preferably also, the cover member has a central region which is depressed relative to a peripheral region thereof such that the central region closely overlies the top wall of the can in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a can cover according to this invention, and part of a conventional beverage can;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the can cover seen in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an underplan view of the can cover;

Figure 4 shows a cross-section at the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 illustrates the can cover attached to a beverage can and in a dispensing position;

Figure 6 illustrates the can cover attached to a beverage can and in a closed position; and

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a modified can cover according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The can cover 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 includes a circular cover member 12 formed with first, cover member opening 14 and a second opening 16. The openings 14 and 16 are formed in a central region 18 of the cover member which is slightly upwardly convex and which is depressed relative to an annular, peripheral region 20 thereof. The central region is joined to the peripheral region 20 by an inclined wall 19 as illustrated. Depending from the periphery of the cover member there is a circumferentially continuous, transverse lip 22 carrying an inwardly directed projection 24 at its extremity. Knurled regions 26 are formed on the outside of the depending lip 22. The first opening 14 has a first, larger portion 14.1 which is generally elliptical in shape and a second, smaller portion 14.2 which is shaped as a part-circular lobe. The second opening 16 is relatively small relative to the first opening 14 and has a circular shape as illustrated.

The cover cap 10 is moulded in one piece of a suitable plastics material.

Figure 1 also shows the upper end of a conventional beverage can 28 having a top wall 30 which is slightly upwardly convex and a cylindrical side wall 32 connected to the top wall at a peripheral seam 34. The can 28 has a stay-tab 38 which is connected to the top wall 30 of the can at a rivet connection 40. The stay-tab can be actuated in the conventional manner, as a lever about the fulcrum provided by the rivet connection 40, to press downwardly against a closure section 36 defined in the top wall by a score line. This tears the closure section 36 from the remainder of the top wall along the score line, and drives the closure section into the can, thereby forming a dispensing opening 42 in the top wall through which the contents of the can may be dispensed. At this stage, the tab 38 is at an upright orientation.

Persons skilled in the art of conventional stay-tab type beverage cans will be familiar with the function and actuation of the stay-tab as described above.

The diameter of the cover member 12 corresponds to the diameter of the top wall 30 of the can. The can cover 10 is installed on the can by locating it over the can such that the upstanding tab 38 is received through the opening 14 with the rivet connection 40 lying within the portion 14.2 of the opening. The periphery of the cover member is then pressed down so that the lip 22 clips over the peripheral seam 34 with the projection 24 locating beneath the seam, whereafter the tab 38 is bent back in the normal way to the orientation seen in Figures 5 and 6. The dimensions are such that while the clipping of the cover cap onto the can in the manner described above anchors it securely against axial separation from the can, the cover member can be rotated around the central axis of the can, i.e. around the rivet connection 40. Also, the shape of the cover member is such that the central depressed region 18 closely overlies the top wall of the can, i.e. there is a minimal gap between the region 18 and the upper surface of the top wall 30.

The first portion 14.1 has a radial position and shape corresponding to the position and shape of the dispensing opening 42. In Figure 5 the cover member has been rotated to bring the portion 14.1 into register with the dispensing opening. In this position of the cover member, referred to as its dispensing position, a user may either pour the contents of the can through the registering openings or drink directly from the can, in either case by tilting the can to an appropriate orientation. The radially outer edge of the opening portion 14.1 is formed with a downwardly projecting lip 44 which, when the cover member is in the dispensing position, extends over the relatively sharp, radially outer edge 46 of the dispensing opening in the top wall of the can.

Apart from protecting the user's lips from possible injury, the lip 44 forms a barrier to reduce the chances of liquid running between the cover member and the top wall of the can when the can is tilted. It will be understood that the closeness of the fit between the central region 18 and the top wall of the can also reduces the chances of liquid running between the cover member and the top wall.

When the user has poured out or drunk enough of the can's contents, the can is righted and the dispensing opening can be closed by rotating the cover member to a position, for example that seen in Figure 6, in which a solid portion of the cover member lies over the dispensing opening. In this closed position of the cover member, the dispensing opening is not accessible to insects such as bees, and there is little chance of foreign material, such as sand or dust, entering the can. When the can has been emptied, the can cover can be undipped and removed from the can for reuse with another can.

Apart from the opening and closing function of the can cover, an important advantage is the fact that when the cover member is in the dispensing position and a user drinks directly from the can, the cover member prevents direct contact between the user's upper lip and the top wall of the can. This prevents contact between the user's upper lip and what may be a generally unhygienic surface.

Figure 7 shows a modified embodiment of the invention which allows for even greater hygiene. In this case, the can cover includes an extended, depending skirt 50 at a circumferential position corresponding to that of the opening portion 14.1. When the can cover is clipped to the can the skirt 50 extends downwardly over the side wall 32 and prevents direct contact between the user's bottom lip and the side wall when the cover member is in the dispensing position and the user drinks directly from the can. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the skirt may be circumferentially continuous rather than just at a position corresponding to the user's bottom lip. In either event, the lip which clips to the seam may be circumferentially continuous.

In practice, the can cover may be provided in a hermetically sealed package.

The second opening 16 in the cover member is angularly displaced from the opening 14 but is again at a radial distance from the centre of the cover member corresponding to that of the dispensing opening 42. Thus the cover member can be rotated on the can to a second dispensing position in which the opening 16 is in register with the dispensing opening. With the cover member in this position (not shown in the drawings) a drinking straw can be passed through the registering openings and into the can, thereby allowing a user to drink from the can through the straw. The diameter of the opening 16 is only slightly greater than the diameter of a conventional 050439

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drinking straws, so the straw substantially fills the opening, thereby reducing the chances of an insect or of foreign material entering the can through the registering openings.

Claims

B2010/050439-9-CLAIMS

1.

A can cover for a beverage can having a circular top wall secured to a cylindrical side wall of the can at a peripheral seam, the top wall including a dispensing opening initially closed by a peripherally scored closure section forming part of the top wall and a stay-tab, secured to the top wall at a rivet connection, which can be actuated to press the closure section into the can and thereby form the dispensing opening, the can cover comprising a circular cover member having a cover member opening therein and a circular, peripheral lip which can be clipped over the peripheral seam, after actuation of the stay-tab, in order to attach the cover member to the can, with the stay-tab projecting through the cover member opening, and in a manner allowing the cover member to rotate over the top wall of the can between a dispensing position in which the cover member opening registers with the dispensing opening and a closed position in which the cover member opening is out of register with the dispensing opening and the cover member extends over and covers the dispensing opening.

2.

A can cover according to claim 1 wherein the cover member opening is shaped such that a portion thereof has a shape corresponding to the shape of the dispensing opening.

3.

A can cover according to claim 2 wherein the cover member includes a projecting lip at an edge of the cover member opening which is shaped complementally to a radially outer edge region of the dispensing opening such that with the cover in its dispensing position the lip extends over the edge region.

4. A can cover according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the cover member opening has a further portion which accommodates the rivet connection when the cover member is attached to the can, such that the cover member is rotatable about the rivet connection.

5.

A can cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the peripheral lip of the cover member is circumferentially continuous.

6.

A can cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the peripheral lip of the cover member includes one or more externally knurled regions to facilitate rotation of the cover on the can.

7.

A can cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the cover member is shaped such that when it is in its dispensing position and a user drinks directly from the can through the registering cover member opening and dispensing opening, the cover member prevents direct contact between the user's upper lip and the top wall of the can.

8.

A can cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the can cover includes a peripheral skirt, provided at least at an angular position corresponding to that of the cover member opening, which extends over the side wall of the can to prevent direct contact between the user's lower lip and the side wall of the can when the cover is in the dispensing position and a user drinks directly from the can through the dispensing opening and cover member opening.

9.

A can cover according to claim 8 wherein the skirt is circumferentially continuous.

10.

A can cover according to claim 8 wherein the skirt is provided only at a location corresponding to the position of the user's lower lip during drinking.

11.

A can cover according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising a second opening in the cover member which is angularly displaced from the cover member opening and which can be brought into register with the dispensing opening when the cover member is appropriately rotated.

12.

A can cover according to claim 11 wherein the second opening is smaller than the cover member opening and is dimensioned to receive a drinking straw, thereby to allow passage of the drinking straw into the interior of the can through the second opening and the dispensing opening when the cover member is rotated to the position in which the second opening registers with the dispensing opening.

13.

A can cover according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the cover member has a central region in which the cover member opening is formed and a peripheral region from which the peripheral lip depends, the central region being depressed relative to the peripheral region.

14. A can cover according to claim 13 wherein the central region is shaped to closely overly the top wall of the can with a minimal gap between the central region and the top wall when the cover member is attached to the can.

15.

A can cover according to claim 14 wherein the central regionof the cover member is upwardly convex.