BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH MOUTH OPENING AND VENT
A container lid (10) includes a conventional main or pour opening, a vent opening separate from the main opening, and a mechanically attached tab (50) to create the openings. A vent score (40) defines the shape of the vent opening, and a vent panel (38) covers the vent opening. A mouth score (26) defines the shape of the pour opening, and a mouth panel (28) covers the pour opening. The action of creating the main opening using the tab (50) causes a moustache score (46) to break and create a vent opening in the same action. When the tab is returned to its original orientation the vent opening may be further enlarged by engaging a raised section on the vent panel (42) and the tab (50), by engaging a vent depressing means (44) on the tab (50) to the vent panel (38), or a combination of the two.
This application claims the benefit of PPA Ser. No. 61/641,301 filed on May 2, 2012 by the present inventor, which is incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX Not Applicable BACKGROUND1. Field
The invention relates generally to beverage containers having an end including a main or pour opening for removing contents of the container, the main opening created by a manually operated tab attached to the can. More particularly, the invention relates to a beverage or can end having a separate vent opening formed on the can end to relieve the vacuum or pressure within the container during pouring.
2. Prior Art
There are numerous references that generally disclose beverage containers having a main or pour opening and a separate vent opening formed on the same end panel as the main opening. The most common container, particularly for carbonated and malt beverages, is one that includes a tab for creating the main opening from a scored area that surrounds a mouth portion of the end panel. The tab is typically secured by a rivet to the can end. The tab is lifted from one end, and a contact portion on the opposite end of the tab is lowered in contact with the end panel to impart a force on the mouth portion. The score is broken and the mouth portion is separated from the end panel by the force thus creating the mouth opening.
One example of a prior art reference disclosing a container end with a separate vent opening is U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,037 to Moen et al. 1991 Apr. 3. This reference more particularly discloses a container end member having a first severable tab portion defined by a score line grove and an internal hinge for permanently securing the tab to the container. A force applying tab is mounted on the container end and is used to apply a force to the first severable tab portion to form the main or pour opening. A second severable tab portion has a raised surface projecting outwardly from the end, so that a force may be more conveniently applied thereto to sever the second severable tab portion and form a vent opening in the container end. The container end described in the aforementioned patent does not create the vent opening in the same operation as creating the main opening nor does it provide a means to sever the tab portion to create the vent opening.
Another example of a reference disclosing a container end with a separate vent opening is U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,973 to Traub et al. 1998 Oct. 13. This reference more specifically discloses a container lid having a vent tab for creating a pour opening , and also a vent hole for creating an air vent. A lift tab is pivotally mounted upon the lid. The lift tab has a handle end and an abutment end for exerting a downward force upon the panel covering the main opening. The opposite end of the handle when raised exerts an upward force to open a vent hole attached by a rivet to the lift tab. This container end requires a large force to open the vent and main openings while requiring an additional rivet operation making production more costly.
Another example of a reference disclosing a container end with a separate vent opening is U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US 2011/0266281 A1 to Thiemann et al. 2011 Nov. 13. This reference specifically discloses a container lid having a main opening and a vent opening that are operated separately by the tab on the container end. The tab is lifted to open the main opening of the container, and is then rotated to be above a raised section of the can end defining the vent and a force is applied to the tab to open the vent opening. This container end requires multiple steps to open the vent opening and puts the user at a mechanical disadvantage to create the required force necessary to depress the vent tab.
An example of a prior art reference disclosing a container end for opening container ends that have pressurized contents is U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US 2008/0067174 to Heinicke 2008 Mar. 20. This reference discloses an alternative style of attaching the tab to the container end, in which the container end is deformed to facilitate the opening action using a moustache score and flex line. This type of container end does not remain attached to the container and removes the majority of the container end exposing sharp metal edges creating hazards and pieces that must be addressed by the user.
SUMMARYWhile the prior art may be adequate for its intended purpose, there is still a need for a conventional container lid or can end in which a tab is used to create the main opening and a vent opening in the same operation of the tab. There is yet another need to provide a separate vent on a conventional container end without having to reconstruct the basic design and functioning of the conventional container end to reduce the cost of implementing the design. There is yet another need to provide a method that reduces the force necessary to open the vent opening.
The present invention provides a beverage container lid or container end, preferably made of aluminum or other suitable material, having a mouth opening, and a separate vent opening. The container lid includes an opening tab having a central portion with a rivet that connects the tab to the container lid. The main opening is conventional, in which a mouth panel is pushed inward by breaking a mouth score with a contact end of the tab. The vent opening is created in the same motion that opens the mouth panel opening. The vent panel has a portion that remains attached to the can end, while the remaining portion of the vent panel may pushed inward toward the interior of the container. Preferably the vent panel has a raised section to allow for additional opening of the vent panel. The raised section is preferably located at a desired location that does not allow the vent to be opened before the tab is used to open the container.
The tab is preferably constructed so that there is a section around the rivet that attaches the tab to the container end, so that when the tab is lifted it deforms the container end to break the vent score. This section of the tab is preferably constructed of metal, such as aluminum or other suitable material, so that it does not break when opening the container end. Further it is preferred that there is a section of the tab which is capable of contacting the raised section of the vent opening to allow the vent tab to be further depressed once initially opened.
Another aspect of the invention is a method for opening a container and venting a container using the same action. According to the method, a tab has a pressure applying end that is used to create the main opening by breaking a score in the main opening panel and breaking a score in the vent panel, when the tab is used in the conventional manner. The tab is then pushed back down toward the original orientation and may be used to increase the vent opening.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
This invention can be better understood when taken in conjunction with the figures wherein like elements are numbered alike:
This invention utilizes certain principals and/or concepts as are set forth in the claim appended hereto. Those skilled in the packaging and canning arts will realize that these principles and/or concepts are capable of being utilized by embodiments which may differ from the exact embodiment used for illustrative purposes herein. For this reason this invention is not to be construed as being limited solely to the illustrative embodiments, but should only be construed in view of the claims appended hereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe container end 10 may include a peripheral seam or rim 12 that is secured to the body (not shown) of a container.
Further describing
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With the vent score and mouth score being caused to fail using the same action, an effective vent and mouth opening are created in the container lid. The vent opening may be enlarged by use of some other implement to push the vent panel inward. Further the design of the vent score, raised vent area, and vent depressing means may be used to create a specific vent opening size. One readily apparent advantage of the present invention is that it does not require the user to have to create the opening by hand or by using a separate action than would be used to create the mouth opening. The moustache score section of the vent score used with the mechanically attached tab provide an effective tool for creating the mouth opening and the vent opening.
According to the method of the present invention, a user may create both the mouth opening and the vent opening in the same action by causing the vent score and mouth score to fail by using the mechanically attached tab. The user may further enlarge the vent opening by using another implement, the raised vent area and tab, the vent panel depressing means on the tab, or in any combination. Either the raised vent area or the vent panel depressing means, or both, may be shaped to control and direct the application of force and size of the vent opening.
In broad embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a method, container end, and tab for creating mouth and vent openings in container ends. Further both openings are created using the same motion.
Though the invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it shall be understood that various changes and modifications may be made considering the teachings of the invention as a whole, and taking into consideration the scope of the claims appended hereto. While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A container end comprising of:
- a peripheral rim for connecting to a body of a container;
- a main panel formed interiorly of the peripheral rim;
- a mouth panel formed on the main panel and having a peripheral outer edge defined by a mouth score;
- a tab mechanically fastened to the main panel located centrally on the container lid;
- said tab including a handle end, a pressure applying end, and a body interconnecting the handle end and the pressure applying end; and
- a vent panel formed on the main panel located opposite of the mechanical fastener from said mouth panel and spaced from said mouth panel and spaced from said mechanical fastener, said vent panel having a peripheral outer edge defined by a score line including a moustache score section proximal to said mechanical fastener;
- whereby operating said tab to create a mouth opening defined by said mouth panel additionally creates a vent opening defined by said vent panel.
2. A container end, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said vent panel having a raised convex interior portion;
- whereby said raised convex interior portion provides means to further enlarge said vent opening after said mouth opening has been formed.
3. A container end, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said tab having a semi-circular shaped opening in said tab a predetermined distance from, and partially surrounding said mechanical attachment;
- whereby said semi-circular shaped opening allows said tab to bend independent of said main panel.
4. A container end, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said tab having a vent depressing means formed in physical association with said body located at a predetermined distance from said mechanical attachment to allow contact with said vent panel;
- whereby said vent depressing means provides a means to further enlarge said vent opening after said mouth opening has been formed.
5. A method of opening a container and venting the container, providing:
- i. a peripheral rim for connecting to a body of a container;
- ii. a main panel formed interiorly of the peripheral rim;
- iii. a mouth panel formed on the main panel and having a peripheral outer edge defined by a mouth score;
- iv. a tab connected to said main panel by mechanical attachment centrally located on said main panel; said tab including a handle end, a pressure applying end, and a body interconnecting said handle end and said pressure applying end; and
- v. a vent panel formed on said main panel located opposite of the mechanical fastener from said mouth panel and spaced from said mouth panel and spaced from said mechanical fastener, said vent panel having a peripheral outer edge defined by a score line including a moustache score section proximal to said mechanical attachment;
- lifting said handle end of the tab upward to force the contact of the pressure applying end downward against the mouth panel thereby breaking the mouth score and the moustache score and thereby creating a mouth opening and a vent opening;
6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
- said vent panel having a raised convex interior portion;
- pushing down on the tab after creating the mouth opening and vent opening to cause the tab to contact the raised convex interior portion of the vent panel thereby enlarging the vent opening.
7. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
- said tab having a vent depressing area formed in physical association with said body located at a predetermined distance from the mechanical attachment to allow contact with said raised convex interior portion of said vent panel; and
- pushing down on the tab after creating the mouth opening and vent opening to cause the vent depressing area to contact the vent panel thereby enlarging the vent opening.
8. A method, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:
- said tab is rotated to align said vent depressing area and said vent panel.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2014
Inventor: Lance Fesler (Albuquerque, NM)
Application Number: 13/874,767
International Classification: B65D 17/00 (20060101);