RESEALABLE CONTAINER LID ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A resealable beverage container lid assembly where the assembly includes a modified tab assembly which includes a sealing portion for releasable engagement within a standard pour opening formed in the top surface of the container. The tab assembly is configured to displace a scored tear panel by way of lever action. A sealing member may be rotated into position to seal the pour opening with the tear panel in the displaced position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part and incorporates application U.S. Ser. No. 17/535,020 filed on Nov. 24, 2021, in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lid assemblies for containers. More particularly, it relates to a resealable lid assembly for a beverage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In prior art beverage container lid assemblies, beverage containers or cans were provided with a “pull tab” which the consumer would grab by a ring, and pull until the tab was removed from the can. Once removed, consumers could discard the tabs anywhere resulting in a litter problem, the tabs themselves being sharp objects capable of causing injury to others, particularly small children. As a result of these problems, tabs that stayed on the can after opening were devised.

The present state of the art is to have a “stay on” tab that is attached to the can lid by a rivet formed in the can lid next to the opening. The opening is formed by a score line, or frangible “kiss cut” which breaks when the tab is pulled up by the consumer. The score line, when broken, produces a hinged flap that stays connected to the can lid, but inside the can.

While the cans with stay on type tabs are effective at preventing the problems associated with removable tabs, they suffer from the further drawback that the can is not resealable. While bottles with threaded caps can be resealed to maintain the contents fresh for a short time, can with resealable tab assemblies have not caught on. The main drawback with prior attempts at resealable lid assemblies is that the manufacturing process would have to be drastically altered resulting in great cost. Also, no standard has been established that is acceptable to all manufacturers. Typically, the prior art attempts involve several additional components, which components may be made of materials dissimilar from the can itself.

Accordingly, a need exists for improved beverage containers that are resealable, cost effective to produce, and require minimum retooling to manufacture.

The present invention provides a resealable beverage container lid assembly. The assembly includes a modified tab assembly which includes a sealing portion for releasable engagement within a standard pour opening formed in the top surface of the container. The tab assembly is configured to displace a scored tear panel by way of lever action. A sealing member may be rotated into position to seal the pour opening with the tear panel in the displaced position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved resealable beverage container

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved resealable beverage container lid assembly having only a single modified component.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved resealable beverage container lid assembly having a stay on tab rotatable between sealed and unsealed positions.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of the inventive lid assembly prior to opening.

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the inventive lid assembly rotated to a sealed position.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the inventive lid assembly rotated to a pour position after opening.

FIG. 4 shows a side sectional view of the lid assembly rotated to a sealed position.

FIG. 5 shows a side view detail of the tab assembly portion of the lid assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1-5, the assembly of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. The assembly 10 is formed in the top portion of a container 100. The container includes a container cylindrical sidewall 102, a container closed container closed bottom wall 104, integrally formed with the container cylindrical sidewall 102 and a resealable container lid portion 110 connected to the container cylindrical sidewall 102 at the end opposite the container closed container closed bottom wall 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the closed container closed bottom wall 104 and the container cylindrical sidewall 102 are formed from a single piece of aluminum material, using otherwise known processes. The resealable container lid portion 110 is preferably made of the same lightweight aluminum alloy material, and is joined at the upper end of the sidewall through likewise known processes. The resealable container lid 110 portion includes a pour opening or cap receiving opening 130 which is formed in the lid upper surface 114. The cap receiving opening 130 is formed near a peripheral edge or lip of the resealable container lid portion 110 as is customary in the art, to allow drinking from the container 100. A resealable container sealing tab portion or cap 160 fits into the pour opening or cap receiving opening 130 and engages same in a manner described in more detail below. The cap 160 is a part of the tab assembly 162 as will be described in more detail later. The container cylindrical sidewall 102 of the container 100 is preferably tapered at both the upper and lower ends to provide greater structural integrity, particularly for use with pressurized contents, such as when used for carbonated beverages.

The resealable container lid 110 has an outer perimeter that is connected to the upper open end of the container cylindrical sidewall 102 of the beverage container, using known processes, to form an enclosure which contains a beverage. Beverages contained therein are not limited, but include carbonated or non-carbonated beverages, and could also include foodstuffs, and non-edible products. The cap receiving opening 130 is integrally formed in the resealable container lid upper surface 114 of the resealable container lid 110 and includes a cap receiving perimeter. A semi-circular score line 136 is formed in the container lid 110 in order to create the opening 130 by way of lever action of the cap 160 in the well known manner. In the opened position, the cap receiving opening tear panel 138 remains connected to the lid 110 due to the fact that the circular score line 136 does not make a complete circle or loop; a tear panel hinge 139 is created where the lid 110 is not scored.

As seen in figures, the resealable container cap 160 is sized to fit substantially within the cap receiving opening 130, the cap 160 being an integral part of the tab assembly 162. The tab assembly 162 is rigid and may be coated with or formed of a rubberized sealing material 164. The assembly 162, which may be made from a hard rubberized or plastic material, is made of a material sufficiently rigid to provide leverage to create sufficient force to create a pour opening. If the assembly 162 is made from metal then the underside 172 is formed of a compressible material to form a seal as discussed below. Also, the metal material, which is preferably aluminum, is thin enough to be flexible to allow for depressing the cap to effect sealing and unsealing as explained in more detail later, The otherwise standard tab assembly 162 functions to create the opening 130 by way of lever action in the well known manner. A rivet 170 positioned in the lid 110 allows for rotating the entire assembly as seen in FIGS. 1-3. The cap 160 has a tapered underside 172 and may include an annular groove 173 to allow for compression or snap fit of the cap 160 within the opening. Additionally, the tab assembly and cap 160 have a perimeter reinforcing rim portion 161 which serves to prevent flexure or permanent deformation of the cap from repeated use, and adds rigidity to the entire tab assembly 162. The additional rigidity is especially important if the tab assembly 162 is made of a hardened rubber as it adds the rigidity needed to create force from the lever action of the assembly 162. The rim 161 allows for a push and release function to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the cap. The annular groove 175 may optionally be positioned in the rim 161, as the thickness of the rim 161 allows for the easy formation of the groove 173 as there is more space within which to position the groove 173. This positioning also reduces the possibility of material failure as the rim 173 is positioned in the most robust portion of the cap assembly.

In use, the tab assembly 162 is used to form opening 130 in the conventional manner by lever action of the tab assembly 162. Once the pour opening 130 is formed the user can consume or pour the contents of the container. To seal the opening 130, the user can rotate the tab assembly 162 until the cap 160 is positioned over the opening and depress a central portion of the cap the effect sealing. To unseal, the user can again depress the center of the cap 160, which again is flexible, causing sufficient deformation to cause release of the seal. If desired, the user may then rotate the assembly as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D to the sealing position as shown in FIG. 1D.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:

Claims

1. A lid assembly for a beverage container having vertical sidewalls and a generally horizontal lid comprising:

a tab assembly positioned on said lid, said lid having a semi-circular score line defining a perimeter for a pour opening, said tab assembly forming said pour opening by way of lever action;

a cap portion formed on one end of said tab assembly, said cap portion rotatable to a sealing position within said opening.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said cap portion includes a flexible sealing portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the flexible sealing portion includes an annular sealing groove.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tab assembly is formed from a rigid material.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tab assembly is formed of aluminum.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said cap portion includes a flexible sealing material positioned thereon.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tab assembly includes a reinforcing rim.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein a groove is formed in said reinforcing rim.