Reclosable Container End

Abstract

A resealable container and/or resealable container end for foods such as beverages. The end includes an opening and a pull-tab closure which includes a plug for sealing the opening. The closure may be fabricated from a thermoplastic coated foil. A portion of the foil is formed as a cup located within the opening to include a lip to engage the edge of the opening or a grove which is engaged by the edge. A resilient material such a cured plastisol fills the cup and cooperates with the cup to form a plug. The thermoplastic hermetically seals the closure over the opening and a tab on the closure permits the user to remove the closure and plug from the opening. The plug can be reinserted into the opening after removal to reseal the opening with a generally fluid-tight seal.

Description

This patent application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/225,558 entitled “Reclosable Container End,” and which was filed on Jul. 14, 2009, the entirety of which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a container for storing solids, liquids, food quality solids, food quality liquids, etc., where the can has a reclosable end which uses a film-based, reclosable plug-type structure.

SUMMARY

A resealable container including a cylindrical side-wall, a bottom wall joined to the side-wall, and a top wall joined to the side-wall to define a container interior is provided. The top wall includes an opening defined by an edge, with the opening providing access to the interior. The container also includes a film piece including a cup disposed within the opening. The cup includes a lip located in the container interior which engages at least a portion of the edge. A sealant is provided to seal the film to the metal top to hermetically seal close the opening. The cup cooperates with a resilient material disposed therein to form a plug.

A container end for use in making a resealable container is also provided. The end includes an end wall having first and second sides, and an opening extending from the first to the second side. A closure including a cup, a pull-tab, and an attachment tab, is sealed to the end wall with a sealant to hermetically close the opening. The cup includes a groove for engaging all or a portion of the edge of the opening. A resilient material is disposed within the interior of the cup to cooperate with the cup to form a plug for the opening.

A metal can end for use in making a resealable container is also provided. This type of can end includes a stamped metal end wall having first and second sides, an opening having a shape defined by an edge, and a flange joinable to a metal can side-wall. A metal foil piece is provided which includes a cup located within the opening, a pull-tab, and an attachment tab, the cup including a groove engaged by at least a portion of the edge. A sealant seals the closure to the end wall to hermetically seal close the opening. A resilient material is disposed within the interior of the cup to cooperate with the cup to form a plug for the opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container including a film-based reclosable plug.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a can end including a film-based reclosable plug.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the can end of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the can end of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the can end take along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5B is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the can end take along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the reclosable plug.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the reclosable plug.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the reclosable plug.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the reclosable plug taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram for the making a can end including a reclosable plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is challenging and difficult to develop reclosable container ends suitable for beverage products and/or thermal retort processing.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary container 120 is illustrated. An end of the container 120 is preferably coupled to a container end 102 impermeably sealing the container 120. The container end 102 defines an opening 106 (illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B) that may be formed to dispense the contents of the container 120. A reclosable plug 118 is also provided. The reclosable plug 118 is configured to selectively seal the opening 106.

The container end 102 is configured to couple to the container body 120 (e.g., side-wall) via a double seam. In other embodiments, however, the features of the container end 102 shown and described herein may be provided to a container end 102 integrally formed with the container body 120 or otherwise secured to a container body 120. The container end 102 and the container body 120 to which the container end 102 is coupled are metal (e.g., aluminum, tin, steel, etc.) in the figures but the container end 102 and the container body 120 may be formed from other suitable materials (e.g., plastic, cardboard, etc.) according to various alternative embodiments.

With reference to FIGS. 2-5B, the reclosable container end 102 is shown unattached to the container body 120 according to various exemplary embodiments. The container end 102 defines an opening 106 which is preferably selectively sealed with a reclosable plug 118. The reclosable plug includes a foil cup 104 which is filled with a material 116 that adds rigidity to the foil cup 104 when hardened and, with the foil of the cup 104, serves as the reclosable plug 118 for the container end 102.

Though the opening 106 is illustrated in the figures as a circular opening, in various embodiments it may be of any suitable shape known in the art, including but not limited to oblong, triangular, and tear drop shaped. Additionally, the size of the opening 106 relative to the container end 102 may vary in various embodiments. Also, the shape of both the container body 120 and the container end 102 may vary and may be of any suitable shape known in the art.

As is illustrated in more detail in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A, the reclosable container end 102 includes the foil cup 104 extending into the opening 106 defined in the container end 102. The bottom 108 of the foil cup 104 extends beyond the diameter D of the opening 106 below the bottom surface 110 of the container end 102. The top of the foil cup 104 also extends beyond the diameter D of the opening 106 to form a foil portion 112 covering at least the periphery of the top surface 114 of the container end 102 around the opening 106. The foil portion 112 is heat sealed, adhered, or otherwise coupled to the top surface 114 of the container end 102. This attachment is preferably selected so the plug 118 hermetically seals the container 120. The foil portion 112 may be attached or sealed to a portion of the container end 102 immediately radially outwardly surrounding the opening 106 or may extend farther radially outwardly in embodiments including a larger area of attachment.

In an exemplary embodiment, the foil can be steel, aluminum, or formed from any other suitable material. Depending upon the use, a plastic sheet or foil may be used. The material 116 that fills the foil cup 104 may be a plastisol, a UV curable material or another material that can flow into the cup 104 and harden to the cup shape yet have suitable elastic properties to allow the opening and closing activities described herein. The material 116 may be any suitable material known in the art, and is generally a resilient material that generally permits opening and reclosing of the opening 106.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate various views of an embodiment of the reclosable plug 118 unattached to the container end 102. The reclosable plug 118 includes a tab 122, which may be integrally formed from the same foil coupled to the top surface of the container end 102 and the foil cup 104, may extend from the foil and be configured for grabbing by a human hand. In other embodiments the tab may be replaced with a ring grip or any other suitable apparatus known in the art. When a user pulls upwardly on the tab 122, the material 116 and the foil cup 104 are preferably sufficiently elastic to allow the portion 105 of the foil cup 104 and material 116 that extend beyond the diameter D of the opening 106 below the bottom surface 110 of the container end 102 to temporarily deform so that the foil cup 104 and material 116 can “pop” out of the opening 106. Similarly, the material 116 and foil cup 104 are preferably sufficiently elastic to allow the foil cup 104 and material 116 to “pop” back into the opening 106 such that the bottom 108 of the foil cup 104 again extends beyond the diameter D of the opening 106 below the bottom surface 110 of the container end 102.

Such a configuration advantageously allows the container end 102 to be reclosed after opening (e.g., after the heat seal or other adhesive or sealant between the foil surface 112 and the top 114 of the metal container end 102 has been broken). Further, such a configuration advantageously allows a closed and filled (with food or drink) container 120 to be subjected to a thermal retort (cooking) process. Particularly, the bottom 108 of the foil cup 104 and the material 116 filling it that extend beyond the diameter D of the opening 106 below the bottom surface 110 of the container end 102 are configured to resist pressure build-up from within the container 120 during the retort process and to refrain from breaking a hermetic seal formed by the foil over the opening 106.

With reference to FIG. 9, in one embodiment, the cup 104 defines a radially inwardly projecting groove 124. The groove 124 is configured to receive the edge defining the opening 106 in the container end 102 which is preferably a rolled edge 126 (illustrated in FIG. 5A as a downwardly rolled edge). The groove 124 terminates in a radially projecting lip 128 which along with the groove 124 tends to allow for an interference fit between the reclosable plug 118 and the opening 106 in the container end 102.

FIG. 5B illustrates an alternate embodiment of the reclosable container end 102. In this second embodiment, the rolled edge 126 is an upwardly rolled edge 126. This downwardly rolled edge 126 of FIG. 5B also interacts with the groove 124 and radially projecting lip 128 to create an interference fit between the reclosable plug 118 and the opening 106 in the container end 102.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5A-9, one embodiment of the reclosable plug 118 includes an attachment tab 130. The attachment tab 130 may be integrally formed with the cup 104 and coupled to the foil portion 112 or coupled directly to the cup 104. The attachment tab 130 may be made of the same material as the cup 104 and foil portion 112. In other embodiments, the attachment tab 130 may be formed separately from the cup 104 or made of different material, and later attached to the foil portion 112 or to the cup 104 directly. The attachment tab 130 may be heat sealed, adhered, or otherwise attached to the top surface 114 of the container end 102.

In one embodiment, the attachment tab 130 may be coupled to the container end 102 more securely than the foil portion 112 is coupled to the container end 102. This configuration allows a user to break the seal between the foil portion 112 and the container end 102, thereby exposing the opening 106, while the attachment tab 130 remains coupled to the container end 102. Thus, the opening 106 of the container 120 may be selectively opened and closed while the reclosable plug 118 remains coupled to the container end 102 by the attachment tab 130.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary method for forming and using an embodiment of a container end 102 of the present disclosure. In one step 132, a foil cup 104 may be placed in the opening of a container end 102. In another step 134, the opening 106 of the container end 102, as well as a portion of the top surface 114 may be covered with the foil 112 extending from the top of the cup 104 and over at least a portion of the container end 102. In another step 136, the foil 112 may be coupled to the top surface 114 of the container end 102. In another step 138, the foil cup 104 may be formed such that the bottom 108 of the foil cup 104 may extend beyond the diameter D of the opening 106 below the bottom surface 110 of the container end. 102 when the reclosable plug 118 is in the closed or sealed configuration. In another step 140, the foil cup 104 may be filled with plastisol. In another step 142, the plastisol may be hardened to add rigidity to the reclosable plug 118. In another step 144, the can end 102 may be coupled to the filled metal container 120. In another step 146, the container 120 may be subjected to a thermal retort process. In another step 148, a user may pull back on the tab 122 of the reclosable plug 118 to open the container 120 to allow dispensing of the contents of the container 120. In another step 150, a user may urge the reclosable plug 118 into the opening 106 thereby reclosing the container 120.

The construction and arrangement of the container end and method as shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.). For example, the position of the elements may be reversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Although the foregoing description of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a metal, cylindrical side-wall;

a metal bottom wall joined to the side-wall;

a metal top wall joined to the side-wall to define a container interior, the top wall including an opening defined by an edge, the opening providing access to the interior;

a film piece including a cup disposed within the opening, the cup including a lip located in container interior which engages at least a portion of the edge;

a sealant which seals the film to the metal top to hermetically seal close the opening; and

a resilient material disposed within the interior of the cup to form a plug for the opening.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the film is a metal foil and further includes a pull-tab.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal between the film and opening is broken by removing the film and plug from the metal top.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the seal between the film and opening is broken by applying force to the pull-tab to remove the plug from the metal top.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the portion of the edge engaged by the lip engages the full periphery of the edge.

6. The container of claim 4, wherein the metal is a steel alloy.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the side-wall and top are separately formed, and the side-wall and the top are joined to form a rolled metal joint therebetween.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the rolled metal joint is a double seam.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the bottom is formed separately from the side-wall and joined to the side-wall to form a rolled metal joint therebetween.

10. The container of claim 4, wherein the film further includes an attachment tab joined to the metal top by the sealant.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the sealant is a thermoplastic adhesive.

12. The container of claim 4, wherein the film further includes an attachment tab joined to the metal top by an adhesive, the sealant is a first thermoplastic adhesive, and the adhesive is a second thermoplastic adhesive which provides greater resistance to removal of the film from the metal top than the first thermoplastic adhesive.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the resilient material is a plastisol which can be poured into the cup and cured to provide resilience to the cup.

14. A container end comprising:

an end wall having first and second sides, and an opening extending from the first to the second side, the opening being defined by an edge;

a closure including a cup located within the opening, a pull-tab, and an attachment tab, the cup including a groove engaged by at least a portion of the edge;

a sealant which seals the closure to the end wall to hermetically seal close the opening; and

a resilient material disposed within the interior of the cup to form a plug for the opening.

15. The container end of claim 14, wherein the end wall is formed from metal and formed separately from an associated container, and joined to the associated container with a rolled seam.

16. The container end of claim 14, wherein the opening has a shape from a group including circular, oval, rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal wherein such shapes with corners may include rounded corners.

17. The container end of claim 14, wherein the end wall is formed from metal, the closure is formed from foil, the sealant is a thermoplastic adhesive, the resilient material is a curable plastisol cured after placement in the cup, and the portion of the edge is the full periphery of the edge.

18. The container of claim 14, wherein the sealant is a first thermoplastic material which seals the closure to the container end at the periphery of the opening, and a second thermoplastic material which seals the attachment tab to the closure end, the second thermoplastic material providing a stronger bond than the first thermoplastic material.

19. A can end comprising:

a stamped metal end wall having first and second sides, an opening having a shape defined by an edge, and a flange joinable to a metal can side-wall;

a metal foil piece including a cup located within the opening, a pull-tab, and an attachment tab, the cup including a groove engaged by at least a portion of the edge;

a sealant which seals the closure to the end wall to hermetically seal close the opening; and

a resilient material disposed within the interior of the cup to form a plug for the opening.

20. The can end of claim 19, wherein the metal is a steel alloy, the sealant is a thermoplastic adhesive, and the resilient material is a curable plastisol.