Can end
A can end (10) of the full aperture easy open end type, which comprises a seaming panel (12), a wall (14) depending from the seaming panel, a radiussed portion or “countersink” (16) and a centre panel (20). The end of the invention further includes a flat annulus or stepped portion (19) between the wall (14) and the countersink (16) such that, in the alternative, the can end is openable by engaging the blade of a can opener with the stepped portion.
This invention relates to a can end and, in particular to a can end which is adapted for opening by at least two different methods.
Easy open can ends, in which a ring pull or tab is provided for removal of a panel defined by a score line, are well known. Full aperture easy open ends in which the score line surrounds the whole of a centre panel adjacent to the circumferential seam are in common use for the packaging of food items. Such ends open in two stages: an initial “pop” when the tab is raised and tilted to rupture the score and break any vacuum within the can, and a “tear” stage when the tab is pulled away from the can in order to peel open and remove the end. Much design work has been directed to reducing the forces required for opening the can end, without compromising the integrity of the can or reducing pressure resistance to unacceptable levels.
Although the current design for full aperture easy open ends has been optimised in many ways, for example by the provision of beads or by control of grain orientation, many people still find such ends difficult to open. Even with access to the ring on the tab increased by a finger well, those with weak fingers or hands may still find the lifting of the tab too difficult. Often such people will choose to open the can at the opposite end where there is no ring pull and score, using a conventional can opener, in preference to the so-called “easy open end”. This, of course, may lead to leakage of the contents if the score at the easy open end has been ruptured at all. In some instances, a product in a can which has two conventional ends, that is neither end being an easy open end, will be purchased in preference.
This invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.
According to the present invention, there is provided a can end comprising a seaming panel, a wall depending from the seaming panel, a countersink bead and a centre panel; in which the centre panel includes a circumferential score and a tab adjacent the score, and the can end further includes a substantially flat portion between the wall and the countersink bead, such that the can end is adapted for opening either by raising the tab to rupture the score and thereby remove the centre panel, or by engaging the flat portion with a can opener blade and cutting around an annulus defined by the flat portion to remove the radially inward part of the can end, including the countersink and centre panel.
The invention also provides a two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end described above. The dual opening characteristics of the can end of the present invention are particularly pertinent to use with a two piece can body as it is not possible to use a conventional can opener to open the base of a two piece can which lacks any seam on which the conventional opener engages.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:
The easy open can end 10 of
In the easy open end of
The enlarged section of
In
In contrast in particular with the prior art design of
A most important aspect of the present invention is that the can end of
Specifically, the “stepped portion” 19 between wall 14 and outer wall 17 of the countersink 16 comprises a flat annulus of approximately 4 mm in width (difference between inner and outer diameter). By use of a can opener, the user is able to engage the wheel blade of the can opener on the flat portion and, by progressive cutting of the stepped portion 19 around the whole of the can end, removal of the centre panel 20 and countersink 16 is possible.
The height of wall 14 (distance h in
The annulus can be up to 10 mm although clearly the larger the annulus, the smaller the aperture of an end of the same overall diameter will be. Furthermore, a can end having an annulus of much greater than 4 mm may have unacceptable pressure performance. The annulus should be at least 1 mm in width and ideally not be less than 2 mm to allow sufficient width of flat portion for engagement with a can opener.
By providing a combination of opening methods to the consumer, the applicant has found that the consumer offered more choice in opening, but there is not only no adverse affect on performance but also potential improvements in abuse and pressure performance.
Claims
1. A can end (10) comprising a seaming panel (12), a wall (14) depending from the seaming panel, a countersink bead (16) and a centre panel (20); in which:
- the centre panel (20) includes a circumferential score and a tab (22) adjacent the score; and the can end further includes a substantially flat portion (19) between the wall (14) and the countersink bead (16); and
- the height of wall (14) is from 3 to 4 mm;
- such that the can end is adapted for opening either by raising the tab to rupture the score and thereby remove the centre panel, or by engaging the flat portion with a can opener blade and cutting around an annulus defined by the flat portion to remove the radially inward part of the can end, including the countersink and centre panel.
2. A can end according to claim 1, in which the substantially flat portion (19) is 2 mm or more in width.
3. A can end according to claim 1, in which the substantially flat portion is 10 mm or less in width.
4. A can end according to claim 1, in which the substantially flat portion is 4 mm in width.
5. A two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end of claim 1.
6. A can end according to claim 2, in which the substantially flat portion is 10 mm or less in width.
7. A can end according to claim 2, in which the substantially flat portion is 4 mm in width.
8. A can end according to claim 3, in which the substantially flat portion is 4 mm in width.
9. A two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end of claim 2.
10. A two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end of claim 3.
11. A two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end of claim 4.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 20, 2003
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2005
Inventors: Terence Benge (Oxford), Robert Watkins (Oxford)
Application Number: 10/503,218