WO2023134804A1

WO2023134804A1 - Beverage can

Info

Publication number: WO2023134804A1
Application number: PCT/DE2022/100035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eckhard Schrader
Original assignee: Eckhard Schrader
Priority date: 2022-01-15
Filing date: 2022-01-15
Publication date: 2023-07-20

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage can comprising an integrated can closure (1). The can closure (1) comprises a rotatable closure part (2) for closing a beverage can opening (4), which is arranged on a lid part (3) and is designed in the form of a drinking opening, and an opening part (5) for opening or tearing open the beverage can opening (4), said beverage can opening (4) being provided with a closure tab (7) which is integrally connected via a tearing line prior to an opening process and which is captively held on the beverage can body (8) by means of the opening part (5) after being opened, wherein the closure part (2) and the opening part (5) are rigidly connected together and can be rotated on the beverage can body (8) about a rotational axis (9). The beverage can is to be improved such that prefabricated lid parts are readily stackable, wherein a good reclosure is to be ensured. This is achieved in that a ramp (10) is arranged on the lid part (3) such that the closure part (2) is pressed against the edge (11) of the beverage can opening (4) upon being screwed in.

Description

soda can

5 Description

Technical field 10 The invention relates to a beverage can according to the preamble of claim 1 .

Beverage cans with a closure flap that cannot be lost after opening have established themselves on the market.

15

Compared to beverage bottles, these have the disadvantage that the closure remains open after opening, which does not prevent dirt or insects, e.g. bees, from getting in or spilling the beverage.

2OES, numerous attempts have been made to find a solution to solve this problem, but these have not been implemented in practice.

A further problem arises when the prefabricated lid parts of the beverage can are to be stackable to save space and the closure is to fit snugly on the lid part when the can opening is to be closed again after the tab has been torn open.

State of the art

30

A beverage can of the type mentioned is known from DE 195 42 101 A1. This has an actuating part with a dual function, namely on the one hand to open and on the other hand to close the removal opening. A plate-shaped closure and an opposite opening part are rotatably attached to the lid part with a rivet connection. An embodiment described there provides that the Outline shape of the closure approximately corresponds to the opening cross section or is slightly smaller and that the closure can be pivoted into the opening cross section. A largely tight resealing of the removal opening is thus possible. At the edge of the opening and/or on the outer edge of the closure, hooking elements can be provided for the detachable connection of the closure to the cover part. As a result, the closure is additionally secured in the closed position.

Another solution for reclosing a beverage can is shown and described in IODE 297 14 210 U1. The integrated, rotatable

Actuating part or a handle can also be used as a can lid. The underside of the handle or the closure body is designed with a projection, bead or the like, so that it can be pressed into the opening for the purpose of closing it.

15

AT 502 592 A1 proposes providing, in addition to the conventional first opening part, a second closure part which can be rotated relative to the first part and is attached to the beverage can with the same rivet connection. The 2o closure can be opened and closed with another 5 mm protruding rivet.

Another closable pull tab for beverage cans is known from DE 91 09 081 U. The tear-off tab is provided there with a latching and sealing element or a lip element 25 that causes a latching and sealing position. The locking and sealing element is therefore as the edge of

Pull tab comprehensive elastic lip member formed. When closed, the tear-off flap covers the outlet opening. This covering position is achieved by turning the tear-off tab over the pivot point by slightly lifting it with the lip element over the exit opening. It is also possible to arrange a spring or pressure part to apply firmer pressure to the outlet opening. Turning or lifting is facilitated by a ridge on the pull tab.

Another version with a sealing lip is known from DE 200 06 176 U1. A tab or fold should be attached to the rear part of the opening flap. This lug rests on the can lid when the opening tab is turned. The opening flap is thereby pressed down at the front and the possible gap is reduced. An elevation or a bar on the opening flap makes it easier to turn. However, this lug is arranged on the opening tab and not directly on the cover plate, which is disadvantageous. This lug is already in contact with the cover plate before it is opened for the first time, which has a disadvantageous effect when many cover plates are stacked. Furthermore, a desired later leverage is not generated by the nose, or only insufficiently, because it is always on the same level, regardless of the position.

DE 202019001207 111 discloses a beverage can with a tear-off tab and with an integrated closure function. A cover bead is used to improve the closure.

In the publication DE 202018002847 111, a can closure is presented in which a can closure part carries a tongue that is angled slightly downwards, so that a clamping is achieved which ensures that the can closure part lies snugly on the can lid when the beverage can is closed again.

Another beverage can with an integrated can closure is known from DE 10 2018 133 278 A1. This solution involves the can closure having a closure part for closing one on a

Cover part arranged beverage can opening and an opening part for opening or tearing open the beverage can opening comprises. The beverage can opening is provided with a sealing flap that is connected in one piece via a tearing line prior to an opening process

Beverage can body is held, wherein the closure part and the opening part are firmly connected to one another and can be rotated via a pivot point on the beverage can body and a retaining element is arranged on the closure part, which is designed to be releasably connected to accomplish the closure part with the ceiling part. The holding element is designed as an element that slides in underneath the cover part during a rotary movement in order to prevent the closure part from being lifted up in a closed position.

5

object of the invention

The object of the invention is to create a beverage can of the type mentioned at the outset which, on the one hand, allows the beverage can to be reclosed securely and in a user-friendly manner with minimal design effort and, on the other hand, allows prefabricated can lids to be stacked in a space-saving manner, with good resealing being to be ensured. issolution and advantages of the invention

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1 in conjunction with its preamble features.

20

The invention is based on the idea that by lifting one end of the can closure, the opposite end, the closure tab, is pressed down onto the edge of the drinking opening like a lever. Pressing down improves the closing behavior. This ensures a good reclosure. The missing tongue also makes it easier to stack the lid parts. One-hand operation is not lost here.

Other advantages are: no more danger from penetrating insects or dirt, easy handling even for children, can be operated with one hand (important e.g. in vehicles), only minor changes to the can lid are necessary, no additional materials, complete recyclability remains unrestricted, stackability remains in received in full, no significant additional production costs, no rough Spillage of contents with cans standing or held upright and shaking gently (important in vehicles).

Advantageous configurations of the invention and further advantages

5

Further advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

In an advantageous development of the beverage can according to the invention, it is provided that the ramp is designed as a ramp-shaped bead.

This can be easily made.

A particularly preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the ramp is arranged in the vicinity (3 mm-10 mm or 4-6 mm) of a rivet connection forming the axis of rotation of the closure part opposite the beverage can opening. This position is optimal for the manufacture of the can ends. This is further improved if the ramp is arranged between a trough and the can closure in a delivery state.

20

It is of particular advantage if the ramp is placed between at least one, preferably two, spacer beads and a pivot point of the closure part, with the ramp having a greater height than the spacer bead and the spacer bead in a delivery state 25 interacting with a recess (free space) of the closure part . Due to the relatively large height of the ramp, a large force acts on the closure flap when it is intended to close the drinking opening. However, the height of the ramp is not a problem if it dips into a free space in the closure part, so that prefabricated cover parts can be stacked more easily (FIG. 5).

30

It is particularly expedient for operation and manufacture if a finger-operable sliding element is formed or bent in one piece on the closure part. The finished lid parts can be easily stacked if the sliding element is designed as a web that protrudes perpendicularly or at an angle, in particular 15° to 80°, preferably 20° to 80°, in particular 20° to 50°, towards the closure part and is preferably arranged essentially in the front closure part area is.

exemplary embodiments

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, with further advantageous developments of the invention and advantages of the same being described.

Show it:

1 shows a schematic representation of a beverage can closure according to the invention in the delivery state

First use) seen from above, with a drinking opening under the cap,

Fig. 2 is a first schematic representation of a ramp of

20 beverage can closure according to the invention,

3 shows a second schematic representation of the ramp of the beverage can closure according to the invention with one end of the closure,

25

4 shows a third schematic illustration of the ramp of the beverage can closure according to the invention in operative connection with one end of the closure,

3oFig. 5 shows a schematic representation of the beverage can closure according to the invention seen from the side in the as-delivered state,

6 shows a further schematic representation of the device according to the invention Beverage can closure viewed from the side according to FIG. 5, however, with the closure tabs open and the can closure in the closed position. sFig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a lid part of the beverage can closure according to the invention seen from the side,

FIG. 8 shows a further schematic illustration of the beverage can closure according to the invention according to FIG. 1,

9 shows a schematic representation of a ramp of the beverage can closure according to the invention seen from above, 5

10 shows a sectional representation of the ramp of the beverage can closure according to the invention. o Fig. 1 shows a can closure 1 which is integrated on a beverage can, not shown.

The beverage can is made of sheet aluminum. The can closure 1 comprises a closure part 2 for closing a beverage can opening 4 arranged on a lid part 35 and an opening part 5 or opening section on the closure part 2 for opening or tearing open the beverage can opening. Parts 2 and 5 are made in one piece.

The beverage can opening 4 is provided with a closure flap 7 connected in one piece via a tear line 6 prior to an opening process.

This is captively held on the beverage can body 8 in a known manner after opening by the opening part 5 .

The closure part 2 and the opening part 5 are thus fixed to each other connected, arranged offset by 180° and rotatably fastened to the beverage can body 8 via a pivot point 9 or a rivet connection of a known type. In the closed position, the closure part 2 covers the drinking opening 4 (FIG. 6).

5

In contrast to other solutions, there is no retaining element, such as a retaining tongue, arranged on the closure part 2, which is designed to bring about a detachable connection of the closure part 2 to the cover part 3, namely in order to lift the closure part 2 in one or in to prevent its lo closure position.

Instead, a ramp 10 or a ramp-shaped bead is used, which is arranged on the cover part 3 or inside the so-called mirror 11 (trough-shaped recess). The ramp 10 extends almost upwards when the can is stationary, as shown in Figures 2-4. The ramp

10 ensures that one end 12 of the closure part 2 is moved upwards (direction of arrow B in FIG. 4) when the closure part 2 is rotated 180° in direction of arrow A (FIG. 3) relative to the position shown in FIG. Figures 5 and 6 show this process. Fig. 5 shows the 2o can closure 2 in the delivery state. This is mainly located away from the drinking opening or beverage can opening 4 (FIG. 5). In a known manner, one end 13 is lifted so that the end 12 is pushed down in a lever-like manner and in a known way uncovers the opening 4 by pushing down a portion 14 of the lid, as shown in Fig.

256 shows. The closure part 2 is then rotated through 180°, specifically from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. Then the closure part 2 is located over the opening and covers it. The end 12 moves over the ramp 10, as shown in FIG. The end 12 rises upwards, as shown in FIG. 4, and lever-like moves the opposite end 3o (13) (FIG. 1) somewhat downwards, as FIG. 6 shows. This causes the closure part to fit snugly against the opening 4 and to seal it well, at least in such a way that no insect or crawling animal, such as an ant, or dirt can get into the can. Even if the can falls over, little or no spills. The content does not expire suddenly, like with conventional cans. If the can falls over, the user can set it up in good time before a lot of liquid escapes from the largely sealed opening. Insects etc. are prevented from entering by the invention. A side effect is the sealing, which does not have to be 100%. It is true that the arrangement of elastic sealing material would be possible, which would improve the seal, but the production should be inexpensive, so that an additional seal can be dispensed with.

The finger-actuated sliding element 14 is also integrally formed on the closure part 2 and is preferably bent upwards. The

In the embodiment described here, sliding element 14 is designed as a web that protrudes perpendicularly to angularly, in particular at a first angle (DE 10 2018 133 278 A1) of 60° to 80° (DE 10 2018 133 278 A1) to closure part 2 . The web is essentially arranged in the front partial area of the closure and is arranged, for example, at an angle of 15° to 30° (DE 102018133278 A1) from a vertical axis. In order to avoid the risk of injury, there may be a bulge at the top of the web. The shape of the web or of the element 14 can be trapezoidal, but also have another shape. This design of the 2o closure is advantageous because of the good stackability of the delivered, one behind the other lids, which are delivered packed in rolls and are then delivered to the bottling plant (DE 1020181333278 A1). Because of the ramp that replaces a tongue, stackability is further improved.

25

It is possible to position the closure 2 over the opening 4 of the cover plate without any particular skill, using just a finger or thumb. During the operation of the closure 1 with the sliding element 14, this is not only automatically moved in the closing direction, but is also pushed slightly downwards by the soRamp 10.

In the closed position (FIG. 6), the plate-shaped closure part 2 is embedded within the mirror 11 (trough-shaped depression). This section is also referred to as trough 25 or mirror 11 here. How it works is as follows:

When delivered, the closure 1 is arranged opposite the drinking opening 4 (FIG. 1, FIG. 5).

Then the user lifts the closing part end 13 upwards in the manner of a lever. A flap 7 closing the drinking opening tears in a known manner as a result of the end of the closing part 2 moving downwards and releases the drinking opening.

Thereafter, the user rotates the closure 2 through 180° (Fig. 6) in order to close the opening 5 again when he has drunk. The drinking cap is shown in the closed position in FIG. The can closure 1 lies within the border 18 (FIG. 1) or trough 25 (FIG. 5).

To open it again, the user turns the closure in the opposite direction of rotation until the drinking opening is exposed, with the drinking opening being able to be opened and closed as desired by turning.

20

To produce the beverage can, the ramp 10 is punched out of the sheet metal of the lid.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, two elevations 15 (spacing beads) 25 are arranged within the trough 25 so that the closure 2 in the

As delivered, the end 13 protrudes slightly (FIG. 5), so that a fingernail can reach into the gap 25 formed in a known manner, so that the opening 4 tears open. FIG. 8 shows an indentation 16 of the closure part 2, which in the delivery state works with the beads 15 (FIG. 7).

30

Before fastening the closure 1, the cover part 3 or cover plate is prepared, ie the trough 25 is formed, the tear line formed, etc. The finished closure part 2 is riveted to the beverage can body 8 or the lid part 3, including all finished elements such as the sliding element 14 etc. The closure 1 is a stamped and bent part.

The edge 21 of the closure part 2 is preferably beaded so that it is dimensionally stable. In order to open the opening 4 better, a U-shaped incision 22 is arranged on the closure part 2 in a known manner. To improve the tearing behavior, a U-shaped indentation 23 is arranged on the flap in a known manner. In addition, two 10 spacer beads are arranged on the lid part inside the trough 25, so that the can can be opened better the first time in a known manner.

FIG. 9 shows a preferred variant of the ramp 10, which has an approximately semicircular shape. In comparison to the variant according to FIGS. 2 to 4, this has two flat ends 26 and 27 and a ramp hill top 29 in the middle.

As shown in Figure 10, the ramp 10 is symmetrical (line of symmetry 28). The ramp is basically two ramps or a double ramp. The ramp is provided in the radius of the pivot point or a rivet connection 30 for the closure part 2, which mounts it rotatably on the cover part 3.

20

Described and shown is a beverage can with an integrated can closure 1 (Fig. 1), the can closure 1 having a rotatable closure part 2 (Fig. 5, Fig. 6) for closing a beverage can opening 4 arranged on a lid part 3 and designed as a drinking opening, and an opening part 5 for opening or tearing open the beverage can opening 4 (Fig.

6), the beverage can opening 4 is provided with a closure tab 7 (FIG. 1) which is connected in one piece via a tear line 6 prior to an opening process and which is held captive on a beverage can body 8 by the opening part 5 after opening

(Fig. 6), with the closure part 2 and the opening part 5 being firmly connected to one another and being rotatable via an axis of rotation 9 on the beverage can body 8 (Fig. 5, Fig. 6), as also described in DE 102018133278 A1, with the lid part 3 a ramp 10 (Fig. 2 to Fig. 4) is arranged so that the closure part 2 is pressed against the beverage can opening 4 when it is screwed in (FIG. 6).

The fact that the closure part 2 and the opening part 5 are firmly connected to one another and can be rotated via an axis of rotation 9 on the beverage can body 8 means that the closure part 2 can close the beverage can opening 4 in the closed position.

The prefabricated lid part can be easily stacked because a ramp io10 is arranged on the lid part 3 in such a way that the closure part 2 is pressed against the edge 21 of the beverage can opening 4 when it is screwed in.

The ramp 10 is designed as a ramp-shaped bead. The ramp 10 is arranged in the vicinity of the rivet connection i5 (axis 9) forming the axis of rotation 9 of the closure part 2 opposite the beverage can opening 4 (FIG. 1).

The ramp 1) is arranged between a trough 25 and the can closure 2 in a delivery state (FIG. 5).

The ramp 10 is placed between two spacer beads 15 and a pivot point 9 20 of the closure part (2), the ramp 10 having a greater height than the spacer bead 15, and the spacer bead 15 interacts with a depression 16 of the closure part 2 in a delivery state (Fig .6), which is explained below.

25Fig. 1 shows two spacing beads 11, which are arranged next to one another and horizontally at the same height and relatively high up. Figure 1 shows a view as if the can were lying down, with the can end lying upright on a support (e.g. a table). At a relatively large distance from the beads 15 (base), the pivot point 9 is placed below, with the pivot point 309 being closer to the base and this height corresponding to the radius of the can.

Between the upper height of the beads 15 and the lower height of the pivot point 9, the ramp 10 is approximately in the mid-height range. The ramp is closer to the base than the beads 15 but further away than the pivot point 9. Therefore, the ramp 10 is between at least one, preferably two spacer beads, and a pivot point 9 of the closure part placed (Fig. 1).

Fig. 5 shows the ramp 10 and a bead 15. The ramp 10 is higher than the bead 15. The ramp 10 thus has a greater height than the spacer bead 15.

Fig. 5 shows the delivery status and the cover from the side. It can be seen that the ramp 10 (elevation) protrudes into a space (opening part 5). loThis free space is seen as a deepening from below. The spacing bead 15 thus interacts in a delivery state with a depression 16 of the closure part 2 (FIG. 1 or opening part 5 in FIG. 5).

A finger-operated sliding element 14 (FIG. 1) is formed or bent in one piece on the locking part 2 . The sliding element 14 is designed as a vertical to angular, in particular 20° to 80° (seen as a small trapezoidal part in Fig. 5 above the reference number 12 but bent backwards at an angle) protruding towards the closure part 2 and is preferably arranged essentially in the front closure part area ( DE 102018133278 A1 ). 2o A section of the lid part 3 is offset parallel to the base of the beverage, so that a substantially trough shape or trough 25 forms, in which the closure part 2 is embedded in the closure position. There is also a depression 16 (FIG. 5, FIG. 8) which raises the closure part 2 with the aid of the spacer beads 15 so that it facilitates tearing open of the flap 7 (FIG. 7).

The production takes place in that the ramp 10 is punched out of the cover part 3 before the closure part 2 is riveted to the cover part 3 . Manufacturing continues through the following steps:

30

- Crafting a can body that can be filled with a drink,

- production of a lid part 3, which is suitable, together with the can body, to form a closed can, - Production of a closure part 2,

- connecting the closure part 2 to the cover part,

- Stacking the prefabricated closure parts 2,

- filling the beverage can with a drink,

- Connecting the can body of a filled can body to the lid part 3.

Reference List

1 can closure (Fig. 1)

2 locking part

53 cover part

4 beverage can opening

5 opening part

6 tear line

7 locking tab

108 beverage can body

9 pivot point

10 ramp

11 mirrors (tub)

12 end

1513 end (second)

14 sliding element

15 spacer beads or elevations

16 recess (Fig. 5)

17

2018 outline (Fig. 1)

19

20 gap

21 edge

22 incision (Fig. 1)

2523 depression (Fig. 1)

25 tub

26 end of ramp (Fig. 9)

27 end of ramp

28 line of symmetry

3029 Ramp Mountain Peak

30 rivet connection

35

Claims

Claims Beverage can with an integrated can closure (1),

- Wherein the can closure (1) has a rotatable closure part

(2) for closing a on a cover part

(3) arranged as

Beverage can opening designed for drinking

(4) and an opening part

(5) for opening or tearing open the beverage can opening (4),

- The beverage can opening (4) with a tear line prior to an opening process

(6) integrally connected locking tab

(7) which is held captive on a beverage can body (8) after opening by the opening part (5),

- the closure part (2) and the opening part (5) being firmly connected to one another and being rotatable via an axis of rotation (9) on the beverage can body (8), characterized in that a ramp (10) is arranged on the lid part (3) in such a way that the closure part (2) is pressed against the beverage can opening (4) when being screwed in. Beverage can according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ramp (10) is designed as a ramp-shaped bead (10). Beverage can according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ramp (10) is arranged in the vicinity of the rivet connection forming the axis of rotation (9) of the closure part (2) opposite the beverage can opening (4). Beverage can according to one of the preceding Claims 3, characterized in that the ramp (10) is arranged between a trough (25) and the can closure (2) when delivered is. Beverage can according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the ramp (10) is placed between at least one, preferably two, spacing beads (15) and a pivot point (9) of the closure part (2), the ramp (10) having a has a greater height than the spacing bead (15) and the spacing bead (15) cooperates with a depression (16) of the closure part (2) in a delivery state. Beverage can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a finger-operable sliding element (14) is formed or bent in one piece on the closure part (2). Beverage can according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sliding element (14) is designed as a web which protrudes perpendicularly to at an angle, in particular 20° to 80°, towards the closure part (2) and is preferably arranged essentially in the front closure part area. Beverage can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a section of the lid part (3) is offset parallel to the base of the beverage, so that an opening area of the lid part (3) essentially forms a trough shape or trough (25) in which the Closure part (2) is embedded in the closed position. Method for manufacturing a beverage can with a closure part

(2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ramp (10) is punched out of the cover part (3) before the closure part (2) with the cover part

(3) is riveted. Method for manufacturing a beverage can with a closure part -18-

(2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps:

- Crafting a can body that can be filled with a drink,

- production of a lid part (3) which is suitable, together with the can body, to form a closed can,

- Production of a closure part (2),

- connecting the closure part (2) to the cover part,

- Stacking the prefabricated closure parts (2),

- filling the beverage can with a drink,

- Connecting the can body of a filled can body to the lid part (3).