WO2014158115A1

WO2014158115A1 - Beverage can opening ring made of metal

Info

Publication number: WO2014158115A1
Application number: PCT/TR2014/000092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Necat EMİRCAN
Original assignee: Emi̇rcan Necat
Priority date: 2013-03-28
Filing date: 2014-03-28
Publication date: 2014-10-02
Also published as: WO2014158115A9

Abstract

The invention is related to a novelty which prevents the contact of the openable metal surface (13) with the beverage during the opening thereof in the metal beverage cans (30) with opening ring and provides the opening ring (20) in situ, i.e. on the metal beverage can (20), without being pulled and thrown to the environment.

Description

DESCRIPTION

BEVERAGE CAN OPENING RING MADE OF METAL TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to a novelty made in opening rings used in tin beverage cans.

The invention is particularly related to an opening ring embodiment which prevents the section of the opening rings which opens the tin can, said opening rings being used in the tin beverage cans, from contacting with the beverage, but which provides the opening ring not to be thrown away to the environment.

STATE OF THE ART

Particularly due to the easy mode of production and ease of transporting and storing thereof, metal beverage cans are used in many beverages such as fruit juice, carbonated and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Some of the metal can beverage groups are kept in production hangars in the open air and then transferred to other storages for interim storage. The surface of the can may be contaminated, i.e. get dirty, even in this step. The reserved products are transported by means of trucks for wholesale and retail trade and are stored again in the place of destination. Within this period, the possibility of contamination continues, getting higher and higher.

During transportation and particularly storage, the contamination risk of the cans is very high. Storages are places invaded by pests and insects. A contamination arising out of pests and insects may occur on the surfaces of the cans/ Moreover, a lot of chemicals are used for preventing pests and insects in the storages. Any kind of pesticide and insecticide is in contact with the surface of the can.

At the same time, considering the fact that transportation process is performed by road, sea and rail, it is highly probable that the surfaces of the cans are contaminated due to any environmental factor and are harmful to human health.

Moreover, considering the fact that these beverage cans pass from one human hand to another, it is also probable that the contagious diseases can pass from one person to another. the state of the art, an opening is required to be opened for providing flow in the tin beverage cans. However, the metal surface provided for this opening is in contact with the beverage inside the can. Thus, all the dirt on the metal surface or the chemicals on the can that may be transmitted to the can during storage are in contact with the beverage and pass to the human body.

In the state of the art, there are some products used by pulling and throwing away the opening ring in order to eliminate said drawbacks (See Figure 1 ). This situation pulls the surface contacting with the beverage by entering inside the can and prevents the contact thereof with the beverage in order to provide the flow of the beverage on the surface of the can. However, although this situation prevents the contact of the metal surface which provides opening with the beverage, this time a problem of environmental pollution appears as result of pulling and throwing away the opening rings. Each opening ring opened by pulling is thrown to the environment by the consumer. This situation causes a pollution of opening rings in the environment.

Thus, in the improvement to be made, the followings are needed; opening of the can with ease, providing the opening ring In situ, i.e. on the can, and preventing the contact of the metal section provided on the upper surface of the can for providing the flow with the beverage. Moreover, the opening rings thrown away are regarded as a resource value in terms of grammage.

In the state of the art, solutions have been sought for eliminating the impact of the negative factors of the tin beverage cans on the environment and human health.

One of these is the American Patent No. US2006/0060584 A1 . This patent relates to an independent cap structure placed on the can and to the assembly thereof. However, the present can is still used herein, as well. Thus, the metal surface providing opening on the can in order to provide the flow is still in contact with the beverage after removing the cap.

Yet another solution sought for eliminating these drawbacks is the patent No. WO99/05034. In this application, another metal piece is used as an opening ring in a way to be fully fitted on the opening on the can. In this patent, the opening is provided by rotating the opening ring around the rivet where the ring is fixed to the can. In this document, although an opening is provided and the opening ring stays on the can, a difficulty in providing sealing for liquid beverages arises. gain, another solution sought for eliminating these drawbacks is the patent application No. rO2013/018110. This application cannot solve the hygiene problem despite providing ease of flow and use. Based on this state of the art, in order to solve the aforementioned problems a requirement for a new opening ring embodiment in the opening rings of the metal beverage cans and the opening method thereof is obvious. Thus, the invention is set forth in order to solve the problems mentioned above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a novelty made in the opening rings of the metal beverage cans which meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates all the disadvantages and offers some advantages.

The object of the invention is to prevent the contact of dirt, contamination and similar substances on the metal upper surfaces of the metal beverage cans with the beverage, thanks to the section provided after opening the can. Another object of the invention is to enable the metal beverage cans to be opened with ease.

Another object of the invention is to provide the production of the products in the state of the art without changing the production method thereof. Therefore, the production thereof is easy. Another object of the invention is to prevent said opening ring and/or metal openable surface from falling into the beverage.

Another object of the invention is to provide the opening ring in situ, i.e. on the beverage can, and thus to prevent throwing thereof to the environment and economic loss of the metal opening ring. Thus, it is aimed to prevent the environment from being subjected to the pollution of opening rings.

Another object of the invention is to provide said rivet on the openable metal surface, rather than right at the center of the metal upper surface provided in the beverage can as in the state of the art. By this means, opening ring is fixed to the metal surface and breaking thereof is prevented. Thus, the opening ring is not thrown away, thereby preventing the environmental pollution. GURES FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1. View of the can having an opening ring which is pulled and thrown away in the state of the art, showing the state when the opening ring is/is not pulled out.

Figure 2. The representative view showing the metal beverage cans in the state of the art

Figure 3. The demounted state of the can and the opening ring, showing the close-up view of the upper section of the opening ring of the beverage can and the can according to the invention. Figure4. The view showing the metal can according to the invention, with the directions thereof from above.

Figure4a. The state when the metal can and the opening ring thereof according to the invention are not opened and processed at all (First Step).

Figure4b, The view showing the state when the opening ring according to the invention perforates the can by means of a pull and a perforating end (Second Step).

Figure4c1. The view showing a different position of the opening ring according to the invention, the rotation thereof being from x direction to -x direction (Third Step).

Figure4c2, The view showing another different position of the opening ring according to the invention, the rotation thereof being from x direction to -x direction (Third Step).

Figure4c3. The view showing another different position of the opening ring according to the invention, the rotation thereof being from x direction to -x direction (Third Step).

Figure4d1. The view showing another different position of the opening ring according to the invention and bending thereof to the metal upper surface by means of a pull (Fourth Step).

Figure 4d2. The view showing another different position of the opening ring according to the invention and bending thereof to the metal upper surface by means of a pull (Fourth Step).

Figure 4d3. The view showing another different position of the opening ring according to the invention and bending thereof to the metal upper surface by means of a pull (Fourth Step).

Figure 5. The representative view showing that the product can be made even without the support rest protrusions according to the invention.

Figure 6. The representative cross-sectional view showing the state when the opening ring according to the invention and metal beverage can according to the invention are assembled by means of a rivet according to the invention during the production thereof.

Figure 7. The view showing the state when the opening ring according to the invention perforates the can by means of a pull and a perforating end with the aid of a hand, for a better understanding of the subject matter (Second Step).

Figure 8. The view showing the state when the opening ring according to the invention is bent to the metal upper surface with a pull by means of a hand, for a better understanding of the subject matter (Fourth Step). igure 9. The view showing the state when the opening ring according to the invention is bent to ie metal upper surface with a pull by means of a different hand position, for a better understanding of the subject matter (Fourth Step). Scaling of drawings is not absolutely required and details which are not needed for understanding the present invention might have been neglected. Furthermore, the elements which are at least substantially identical or have at least substantially identical functions are indicated with the same number.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10. Metal beverage can

11. Breaking line

12. Rivet

13. Openable metal surface

14. Rest surface

15. Metal upper surface

20. Opening ring

21. Opening ring pull

22. Rivet hole

23. Support rest protrusion

24. Perforating end

25. Folding section

30. Metal beverage can with opening ring

x, -x Direction

y, -y Direction

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the novelty made in the opening rings of the metal beverage cans according to the invention are described only for a better understanding of the invention, without any limiting effects.

Moreover, some elements prepared for a better understanding of the invention are used differently for providing the content integrity in the statements. The elements used with different expressions actually represent the related element with the same number. breaking line (11) on the metal upper surface (15), an openable metal surface (13), a rivet (12) ι the openable metal surface (13), and a rest surface (14) between the metal upper surface (15) and the openable metal surface (13) are provided in the metal beverage can (10) according to the invention.

The breaking line (11) according to the invention is processed to the metal upper surface (15) by way of processes such as laser or cutting. As in the state of the art, the breaking line (11) is used for providing the liquid flow from the can by applying pressure by means of the opening ring (20). The rivet (12) according to the invention is provided right in the middle of the metal upper surface (15) in the state of the art. However, it is provided in the openable metal surface (13) in the metal beverage can according to the invention. By this means, the contact of the openable metal surface (13) with the beverage is prevented. The openable metal surface (13) according to the invention is the section which comprises rivet (12) thereon and is bent backwards in order to provide the flow of the can. It provides the flow.

The rest surface (14) according to the invention provides opening of the can and increases the strength thereof when the support rest protrusions (23) on the opening ring (20) are fitted thereon during the opening.

The metal upper surface (15) according to the invention is the section which closes the upper section of the beverage can (10). The opening ring (20) according to the invention consists of opening ring pull (21 ), rivet hole (22), support rest protrusion (23), perforating end (24), and folding section (25).

The opening ring pull (21) according to the invention is provided for the opening ring (20) to be opened in a handheld manner with ease in order to open the beverage can (10) according to the invention.

The rivet hole (22) according to the invention enables the rivet (12) to be attached to the opening ring (20) during the production. The support rest protrusion (23) according to the invention is provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Yet, it is not a must. It is positioned in a way to coincide with the rest surface (14) ahead of the openable metal surface (13). Moreover, the support rest protrusion (23) is positioned th the aim of preventing the contact of the broken piece with the product by excessively impressing thereof downwards.

The perforating end (24) according to the invention is used for perforating the openable metal surface (13) and opening the metal beverage can according to the invention. Due to being provided behind the support rest protrusion (23), it is fitted on the openable metal surface (13). When the support rest protrusion (23) is connected to the rest surface (14), the perforating end (24) is on the openable metal surface (13). The folding section (25) according to the invention is provided for bending and opening of the opening ring (20).

The detailed description of the invention mentioned above and the description of each element one by one are provided only for a better understanding of the invention.

Usage of the Novelty Made in the Opening Rings of the Metal Beverage Cans According to the Invention:

The novelty made in the opening rings of the metal beverage cans according to the invention is related to opening of the cans with ease, increasing the hygiene factor, and preventing environmental pollution.

Said beverage cans are mass produced. In the production mode thereof, after the can is produced, a protrusion called rivet (12) is disposed thereon. The rivet hole (21) on the opening ring (20) is placed in a way to be fully fitted on said protrusion. After the placing process, by applying pressure on the can upper surface, the opening ring (20) and the metal beverage can (10) are assembled by means of the rivet (12) (Figure 5).

The opening ring pull (21) on the opening ring (20) according to the invention is lifted up with a hand. In the meantime, the perforating end (24) on the opening ring (20) is in contact with the openable metal surface (13), while support rest protrusion (23) is in contact with the rest surface (14). The support rest protrusion (23) applies pressure on the rest surface (14), the perforating end (24), on the other hand, bores a hole on the openable metal surface (13) (Figure 4b). Thus, the opening ring (20) is provided with an easier movement capability. The opening ring (20) is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise from one direction (x) to another (-x) with a hand in accordance with said directions (Figure 4) (Figures 4c1 , 4c2, and 4c3). )W, the opening ring (20) is in a position reverse to the initial position thereof. Again, the opening ring pull (21) on the opening ring (20) according to the invention is bent upwards with a hand. Thus, the opening ring (20) stays on the metal beverage can (10). Moreover, the openable metal surface (13) is also bent outwards without contacting with the beverage. (Figures 4d1 , 4d2, and 4d3)

A support rest protrusion (23) is provided on the opening ring (20) in the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, the invention can also be designed without the support rest protrusion (Figure 5).

Claims

1. A metal beverage can (30) with opening ring comprising a metal upper surface (15) on the metal beverage can (10), a breaking line (11) positioned on the metal upper surface (15), an opening ring (20) used for providing the flow of the beverage inside the metal beverage can (10), a rivet hole (22) positioned in the middle of said opening ring, and an opening ring pull (21) for holding said opening ring (20) with a hand, characterized in comprising an openable metal surface (13) positioned on the metal upper surface (15) on said metal beverage can (10), bordered with the breaking line (11), and comprising rivet (12) thereon.

2. The metal beverage can (30) with opening ring according to Claim 1 , characterized in comprising a rest surface (14) positioned in the section between the metal upper surface ( 5) and the breaking line (11) on said metal beverage can (10).

3. The metal beverage can (30), with opening ring according to Claim 1 , characterized in comprising a perforating end (24) on said opening ring (20).

4. The metal beverage can (30) with opening ring according to Claim 1 , characterized in comprising at least one support rest protrusion (23) on said opening ring (20).

5. The metal beverage can (30) with opening ring according to Claim 1 , characterized in comprising a perforating end (24) on said opening ring (20).

6. An usage method of the metal beverage can (30) with opening ring, characterized in comprising the process steps of;

- lifting up the opening ring pull (21) on the opening ring (20) with a hand for perforating the openable metal surface (13),

- rotating the opening ring (20) from x direction to -x direction, clockwise or counterclockwise in horizontal axis,

- bending the opening ring (20) from -x direction to x direction, in vertical axis.