RE-CLOSABLE CONTAINER LID

Abstract

A container top for a container includes a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached by a rivet. The stay-on tab mechanism includes a tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover section, wherein the rivet acts as a fulcrum for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least partially severs a displaceable portion of the container top. The cover section and the tab section can be rotated around the rivet between a position where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the container after the displaceable portion has been severed.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present application relates generally to closures used in containers such as metal beverage cans and, more particularly, to containers with a stay-on type tab opening mechanism with a re-closure feature.

Pop-top cans are commonly used in containers for a variety of beverages and other food products. Most beverage cans for soft drinks, beer, teas, high energy drinks, and the like can be opened using a pop-top opening mechanism in the top of the can. Typical pop-top cans include a stay-on tab riveted to a top of a cylindrical can at the center of the top. As the user pulls the tab upward on one end, the opposing end moves downward towards a displaceable scored region of the top of the can. When sufficient force is exerted by the tab against the scored region, the scored region tears away from the rest of the top of the can, thereby creating an opening through which the beverage or other content of the container can flow out.

Once a container having such a stay-on tab opening mechanism has been opened, there is no convenient way for the user to re-close the container. A user may desire to re-close the container for various reasons, including to keep out dust and insects (particularly wasps, which are attracted to sweet drinks), to store the product for later consumption, or to keep the contents of the container from splashing out (particularly when used in moving vehicles).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A container top for a container in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a top plate including a displaceable portion defined by a scoring line. The displaceable portion is at least partially severable from the remainder of the top plate along the scoring line to open the container and to enable contents of the container to flow out of the container. The container top also includes a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached by a rivet to the top plate. The stay-on tab mechanism includes a tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover section. The rivet acts as a fulcrum for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least partially severs the displaceable portion of the top plate to open the container. The cover section is configured to cover the displaceable portion of the top plate. The cover section and the tab section can be rotated around the rivet between a position where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the container after the displaceable portion of the top plate has been at least partially severed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1E are perspective views illustrating a representative container with a stay-on tab opening mechanism with a re-closure feature in various operational positions in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate formation of an exemplary stay-on type tab mechanism in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Like or identical reference numbers are used to identify common or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a stay-on tab opening mechanism with a re-closure feature for metal beverage cans and other containers. The re-closure feature enables the container to be re-closed by the user once the container has been initially opened.

FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate a representative container 10 with a stay-on tab opening mechanism with a re-closure feature in accordance with one or more embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the container 10 comprises a beverage can, e.g., containing soft drinks, beer, teas, high energy drinks, and the like. It should be understood that the re-closure feature can also be used in a variety of other containers for food and non-food products (e.g., paint).

The container 10 includes a hollow container body 12 covered by a container top or lid 14. The container top 14 includes a top plate 16, which includes a displaceable portion 18 defined by a scoring line 20. The displaceable portion 18 is at least partially severable from the remainder of the top plate 16 along the scoring line 20 to open the container to enable contents of the container to flow out.

The container top also includes a stay-on tab mechanism 22 pivotally and rotatably attached by a rivet (or other pivot fastener) 24 to the top plate 16. The stay-on tab mechanism 22 comprises a tab section 26 integrally connected with and folded over a cover section 28.

As shown in FIG. 1B, as with prior art beverage cans with stay-on type tab mechanisms, the rivet 24 acts as a fulcrum for the tab section 26 such that when a first end 30 of the tab section 26 is lifted by a user, an opposite second end 32 engages and at least partially severs the displaceable portion 18 of the top plate 16 to open the container 10. As shown in FIG. 1C, once the displaceable portion 18 has been sufficiently moved to open the container, a user can depress the first end 30 of the tab section 26 back to its original position, and the container is ready to be used.

The cover section 28 is configured to cover the displaceable portion 18 of the top plate 16 when desired to re-close the container. As such, the cover section 28 corresponds in shape and is slightly larger than the displaceable portion 18. As shown in FIGS. 1C-1E, the cover section 28 and tab section 26 of the stay-on tab mechanism 22 can be rotated around the rivet 24 from the position shown in FIG. 1C (where the opening in the lid from movement of the displaceable portion 18 is completely uncovered) to the position shown in FIG. 1D (where the opening is partially covered by the cover section 28) to the position shown in FIG. 1E (where the opening is completely covered by the cover section 28). The stay-on tab mechanism 22 can be rotated again to uncover the opening, when desired. The user can conveniently move the cover by pushing on the first end 30 of the tab section 26 around the rivet 24.

Thus, a user can very quickly and easily move the cover section 28 between a position where it covers the displaceable portion and another position where it does not cover the displaceable portion to selectably close and reopen the container after it has been initially opened.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the container 10, including the lid 14 with the re-closeable tab mechanism 22 is made of metal, e.g., aluminum or tin-plated steel.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the outer edge of the cover section 28 or at least a portion of the lower surface of the cover section 28 is covered with rubber or an elastomeric material or other material capable of forming a seal over the opening in the top plate 16 when the cover section 28 is in the FIG. 1E position.

The stay-on type tab mechanism 22 can be made by a variety of manufacturing processes. By way of example, mechanism can be formed out of suitable sheet or strip metal stock using appropriate dies (not shown). Portions of tab section 26 can be curled or rolled thereunder to form a reinforcing bead or rib.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate formation of an exemplary stay-on type tab mechanism 22 in accordance with one or more embodiments. Once the structure has been formed in a flat configuration (FIG. 2A), it is bent such that the cover section 28 is folded under the tab section 26 as shown in FIG. 2C. The structure can then be attached by the rivet 24 to the can top 16 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E. The stay-on tab mechanism 22 can thus be inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled with virtually any type of container using generally conventional techniques.

The stay-on tab mechanism 22 enables users to easily and conveniently re-close containers when desired, including to keep out contaminants and insects, to store the product contents for later consumption or use, or to keep the contents from splashing out, particularly when in moving vehicles.

Having thus described several illustrative embodiments, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to form a part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. While some examples presented herein involve specific combinations of functions or structural elements, it should be understood that those functions and elements may be combined in other ways according to the present disclosure to accomplish the same or different objectives. In particular, acts, elements, and features discussed in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from similar or other roles in other embodiments.

Additionally, elements and components described herein may be further divided into additional components or joined together to form fewer components for performing the same functions.

Accordingly, the foregoing description and attached drawings are by way of example only, and are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. A container top for a container, comprising:

a top plate including a displaceable portion defined by a scoring line, said displaceable portion being at least partially severable from the remainder of the top plate along the scoring line to open the container and to enable contents of the container to flow out of the container;

a rivet;

a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached by the rivet to the top plate, said stay-on tab mechanism comprising a tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover section, wherein the rivet acts as a fulcrum for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least partially severs the displaceable portion of the top plate to open the container, and wherein the cover section is configured to cover the displaceable portion of the top plate, and the cover section and tab section can be rotated around the rivet between a position where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the container after the displaceable portion of the top plate has been at least partially severed.

2. The container top of claim 1, wherein the tab section is folded over the cover section at a fold line forming the second end of the tab section.

3. The container top of claim 1, wherein the stay-on tab mechanism comprises a single piece of stamped sheet metal.

4. The container top of claim 1, wherein the cover section has a shape similar to and larger than the displaceable portion of the top plate.

5. The container top of claim 1, wherein the container top is configured to cover a beverage can body.

6. The container top of claim 1, wherein the user can selectably move the cover section over and away from the displaceable portion by pushing the first end of the tab section around the rivet.

7. The container top of claim 1, wherein the rivet extends through the tab section and the cover section of the stay-on tab mechanism.

8. The container top of claim 1, wherein the cover section includes a sealing material on at least a portion of a lower surface thereof to substantially seal the container when the cover section covers the displaceable portion.

9. The container top of claim 1, wherein the rivet is located at the center of the top plate.

10. The container top of claim 1, wherein the container is a food can.

11. A container, comprising:

a hollow container body;

a top plate covering the container body, said top plate including a displaceable portion defined by a scoring line, said displaceable portion being at least partially severable from the remainder of the top plate along the scoring line to open the container to enable contents of the container to flow out of the container;

a rivet;

a stay-on tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached by the rivet to the top plate, said stay-on tab mechanism comprising a tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover section, wherein the rivet acts as a fulcrum for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least partially severs the displaceable portion of the top plate to open the container, and wherein the cover section is configured to cover the displaceable portion of the top plate, and the cover section and tab section can be rotated around the rivet between a position where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the container after the displaceable portion of the top plate has been at least partially severed.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the tab section is folded over the cover section at a fold line forming the second end of the tab section.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the stay-on tab mechanism comprises a single piece of stamped sheet metal.

14. The container of claim 11, wherein the cover section has a shape corresponding to and larger than the displaceable portion of the top plate.

15. The container of claim 11, wherein the container is a beverage can.

16. The container of claim 1, wherein the user can selectably move the cover section over and away from the displaceable portion by pushing the first end of the tab section around the rivet.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein the rivet extends through the tab section and the cover section of the stay-on tab mechanism.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the rivet extends through the tab section but not the cover section of the stay-on tab mechanism.

19. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover section includes a sealing material on at least a portion of a lower surface thereof to substantially seal the container when the cover section covers the displaceable portion.

20. A container top for a food container, comprising:

a top plate including a displaceable portion defined by a scoring line, said displaceable portion being at least partially severable from the remainder of the top plate along the scoring line to open the container and to enable contents of the container to flow out of the container;

a fastener;

a tab mechanism pivotally and rotatably attached by the fastener to the top plate, said tab mechanism comprising a tab section integrally connected with and folded over a cover section, wherein the fastener acts as a fulcrum for the tab section such that when a first end of the tab section is lifted by a user, an opposite second end engages and at least partially severs the displaceable portion of the top plate to open the container, and wherein the cover section is configured to cover the displaceable portion of the top plate, and the cover section and tab section can be rotated around the fastener between a position where the cover section covers the displaceable portion and another position where the cover section does not cover the displaceable portion such that the user can selectably close and reopen the container after the displaceable portion of the top plate has been at least partially severed.