With Gripping Means (e.g., Pull Tab) Patents (Class 220/270)
  • Publication number: 20100251731
    Abstract: A self-chilling beverage can is disclosed that includes outer and inner compartments. The outer compartment has at least one sidewall, a top end, and a bottom end such that a cavity is formed for retaining a liquid. The inner compartment has at least one sidewall, a top end, and a bottom end collectively forming a second cavity to retain a substance. The substance can either be water or a coolant. The coolant is selected such that an endothermic reaction occurs when the coolant comes into contact with water. A balloon is affixed to the bottom end of the inner compartment. The balloon may comprise either water or the coolant, and contents of the balloon are initially separated from contents of the second cavity. Means for puncturing the balloon are provided such that a user can puncture the balloon and access the liquid by a single motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: John R. Bergida
  • Publication number: 20100224630
    Abstract: Container includes a base, a cover, and a pull tab. The base has a bottom, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a rim at an upper edge portion of the side wall. The cover has a closed condition and an open condition and an outer edge portion interengageable with the rim of the base when the cover is in the closed condition. The pull tab extends outwardly from at least one of the base or the cover. The pull tab having a deformable formation to be deformed when the cover is moved from the closed condition to the open condition, the pull tab remaining attached to the at least one of the base or the cover when moved from the closed condition to the open condition. Additional embodiments relate to a tamper evident feature for a container, and a method for containing product in a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Frank A. Petlak, Scott W. Follansbee, H. Bernard Kirkland, Craig E. Cappel
  • Publication number: 20100224511
    Abstract: A beverage can having a primary fluid volume and a segregated secondary container. The secondary container could contain a liquid or a granulated solid. The two containers are separated by a barrier which can be opened. The beverage can has a lid with a conventional pull-tab and downward-opening hatch. However, the hatch is equipped with a piercer extending down into the can. When the pull-tab is actuated, the piercer breaches the barrier separating the secondary container from the primary fluid volume. The contents of the secondary container can then be mixed with the primary fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Barry Boatner
  • Publication number: 20100224512
    Abstract: A beverage can having a primary fluid volume and a segregated secondary tipping container. The secondary tipping container is sealed prior to opening the beverage can so that its contents do not mix with the contents of the primary container. The beverage can has a lid with a conventional pull-tab and downward-opening hatch. The secondary tipping container is preferably attached to the underside of the lid. The tipping container has an open mouth which is preferably sealed against the underside. When the pull-tab is actuated, the hatch descends and detaches a portion of the tipping container from the lid so that the tipping container then pivots downward and spills its contents into the primary container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Barry Boatner
  • Publication number: 20100219188
    Abstract: An aluminum container for dispensing beverage, includes a can having a cylindrical side wall, and transverse top and bottom walls. A pull tab mechanism is provided on the top wall to effect opening of the container. The transverse top wall has an upstanding peripheral rim, with one or two interrupted wall portions, one of said portions forming a spout for pouring the contents, or drinking from the container directly. The other of the interrupted wall portions provides a clearance space for facilitating the insertion of the user's finger beneath the pull tab in readiness for opening the container. The bottom wall of the container is provided with a removable appliqué, which may contain printed text/pictorial information, or information in the nature of a store or manufacturer's product coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Charles Chang
  • Publication number: 20100206756
    Abstract: A rupturable bubble package for containing a sanitized implement such as, for example, a drinking straw, a toothpick or medical instruments. The bubble package is characterized by its construction from a flexible, substantially impervious material capable of maintaining a positive pressure of air or other gaseous fluids within the package once it is sealed. The package is constructed of front, back, top and bottom panels. All of the panels are adhered to each by an application of glue. Two of the panels are adhered to each other by a weaker glue. When finger pressure is applied to an outside surface of the bubble package, the panels adhered with the weaker glue will burst open. At that location, one of panels has an extended portion thereon constituting a finger grip. When the finger grip is grasped by the fingers that applied pressure to the package, that panel may be pulled from the package to gain access to an interior of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Dunn-Rankin
  • Publication number: 20100200534
    Abstract: A crown for a bottle or other container, the crown comprised of a pull tab ring and a pull tab secured to the crown by a rivet and one or more cut lines between the rivet and the rim of the crown. A pull tab ring seat is formed in the top of the crown such that the pull tab ring disposed in the seat is substantially flush with the top of the crown. Cut or tear lines are configured to reduce the production of sharps. The crown may be formed from tinplate with a hardness of T4 as measured by the Rockwell 30T Hardness Scale so that the crown may be opened and removed from the container the a force of approximately 2.5 Kg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Abe Frishman
  • Patent number: 7762421
    Abstract: An easy-open sealed container satisfying requests of perfectivity of sealing and readiness of unsealing is provided. The container includes a plastic pack container, a flange portion surrounding an opening of the plastic pack container, a seal film bonded onto an upper surface of the flange portion to thereby seal the pack container, and a peeling film bonded onto a lower surface of the flange portion. The flange portion includes a broken portion including a cut-off line and a connection part formed in a part or a whole of the flange portion. The peeling film includes a peeling-start portion extruding outward or inward of the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fujimura Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20100181315
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an oxygen barrier cap with pull ring that maintains the opening easiness by tearing off with a pull ring, and the high productivity of one-piece molding by injection molding, and enhances significantly the gas barrier property, particularly oxygen barrier property. Further, in order to prevent conventional contamination of stored content caused by metal dust generated by tearing off the metal foil, or use of gas barrier resin molding material, the oxygen barrier cap with pull ring is molded from thermoplastic resin, and fixed to an opening of a container, and an oxygen barrier agent is coated on a score surface of a cap with pull ring, to form a coating film with oxygen barrier property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Imoda, Yasuhiro Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7757879
    Abstract: A lid for a container having a built-in opening feature comprises a flexible laminate comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, a pair of radially spaced concentric lines of weakness being formed in the laminate, an outer one of the lines of weakness being formed in the upper layer and an inner one of the lines of weakness being formed in the lower layer, wherein the upper and lower layers in an annular region between the lines of weakness are readily peeled apart, and wherein the upper and lower layers outside the annular region are laminated together with an adhesive providing a bond with a greater peel strength than that required to separate the layers in the annular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Teddy M. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20100147852
    Abstract: Provided is a packaging container that simplifies the opening operation. The packaging container includes a front cover member and a back cover member (2), which are attached to each other to form a housing space for accommodating an article therein. The back cover member (2) is integrally molded from a sheet-shaped plastic. The back cover member (2) includes an opening portion (23a), which is surrounded by an opening assisting line portion (23b) formed in a linear form and opened by tearing the opening assisting line portion (23b) when the packaging container is opened. The back cover member (2) is formed so that its surface is recessed at the opening assisting line portion (23b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicants: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Nihon Houzai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yoda, Takanori Noda, Yasuo Shiina
  • Publication number: 20100140129
    Abstract: A flexible, stackable container for storing a quantity of a product may include a package formed from a single sheet of a lid fitment attached to a top side of the package. The top side of the package may have an outer first surface of the film and outwardly extending corner seals formed in the film at the edges of the top side and surrounding the top side of the package. The lid fitment may include a base having a central opening and a lid having a complimentary shape to the base to form a seal therebetween when the lid is closed down onto the base. The base may be sealed to one of the top surface of the top side, to the corner seals surrounding the top side, or to both, such that a portion of the top surface is accessible from the exterior of the container when the lid is separated from the base of the lid fitment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: CLEAR LAM PACKAGING, INC.
    Inventors: John E. Sanfilippo, James J. Sanfilippo, Jeanne M. Skaggs, Roy Speer
  • Publication number: 20100140268
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container having a container opening. The closure includes lower and upper separable component closure pieces secured to one another. The lower component includes a removable membrane that may be removed by the opening of a top contained in the upper component. The top is further permitted to be removed from the closure without detaching the lower component from the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Richard D. Lohrman
  • Publication number: 20100140267
    Abstract: Disclosed is a product container that includes, inter alia, a cover portion, a base portion, a hinge section and a hang tab. The hinge section joins the cover portion with the base portion and allows the cover portion to articulate between an open position and a closed position. The cover portion and the base portion are adapted and configured to engage about their periphery and form a product storage compartment when the container is closed. The hang tab projects from the base portion of the product container and enables the closed clamshell container to be suspended from a hook in a retail store. The hang tab is integrally formed, at least in part, from material that is scavenged from the hinge section of the container. In certain constructions, the container is tamper-evident/resistant and the hinge section includes a frangible strip for facilitating separation of the cover portion from the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Sellari, Peter Boback
  • Patent number: 7731048
    Abstract: A plastic lid for a can of the type comprising a tubular body (10) having an upper end (13) for the seating of the lid (20) comprising a sealing portion (21), removably seated on the tubular body (10) and provided with an upper edge (21b), a seal portion (25), to be ruptured upon the first opening of the lid (20), having an upper ring (25b) which is incorporated to a lower skirt (25a), said upper ring (25b) and said lower skirt (25a) being respectively seated onto and around part of the upper end (13), said upper ring (25b) being incorporated through radial bridges (26), to said upper edge (21b), the seal portion (25) presenting an interruption (25c) extending through the width of the upper ring (25b) and through at least part of the height of the lower skirt (25a). The sealing portion (21) incorporates a gripping tab (27) which is manually operable only when part of the seal portion (25) is ruptured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Brasilata S/A Embalagens Metalicas
    Inventors: Antonio Carlos Teixeira Alvares, Antonio Roberto Sene
  • Publication number: 20100133275
    Abstract: Containers comprising a closure system comprising a fixed element and a movable closure element are disclosed. The containers may be constructed to be resealable and improve sanitary conditions of the dispensing portion and allow for easier opening with the ability to be reclosed, over a conventional container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: B.E. INVENTIVE, LLC
    Inventor: Evan Ira Phillips
  • Publication number: 20100126994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tab for a closure, comprising a tab body having at one side a tab nose for opening the closure, and at the other side a tab lever having a finger opening for activating the tab lever, which finger opening is surrounded by a distal lever part connected by lateral lever legs to the tab body, wherein in the lever legs are formed aligned hinge parts in the form of lateral lever leg parts of reduced bending strength, to a closure and container comprising such tab, and to a process for making such tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: IMPRESS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Johannes Josephus Tielbeke, Aart Leendert Emmerzaal
  • Patent number: 7721906
    Abstract: An improved convenience closure that is adapted for sealing an end of a can includes an end panel having a peripheral score, a rivet formation, a mustache score and a flex line score defined therein. The mustache score may include a central portion that is positioned radially inwardly on the end panel relative to the rivet formation. The central portion is preferably curved, with a concave side of the curvature facing the rivet formation. The mustache score also may include first and second preferably symmetrical end portions, each of which is continuous with the central portion. Most of the total length of each of the end portions may be curved away from a nearest portion of the peripheral score, with a convex side of curvature facing the nearest portion of the peripheral score. Tooling for making the convenience closure and a method of making such a convenience disclosure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Heinicke
  • Publication number: 20100108680
    Abstract: A container clearly indicates that it has been opened after a store clerk loads food into the base of the container and closes a covering of the container onto the base. The covering (16) includes a peripheral cover portion (22) that becomes fixed to a peripheral base portion (32) when the clerk initially closes the container. To thereafter open the container, a person forcefully lifts a tab (30) on the covering to tear the covering along a long tear line (26) that separates the peripheral cover portion (22) from a lid (24) formed by a radially inner covering portion. The base (12) is fixed to the peripheral covering portion (22), and together they form a base device (40). After the lid has been torn free of the peripheral covering portion, the lid can be closed and latched to the base device and then can be easily opened again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Terry Vovan, Jose Enriquez
  • Publication number: 20100108678
    Abstract: An easily openable metal can largely openable in the arranged state of two sheet metal-made cans in series. A means such as a projection for opening the drinking mouth of another can is formed at the lower part of a can body, and a break line and a means for guiding the means such as the projection are formed at the upper part thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Norio Yasui
  • Publication number: 20100112815
    Abstract: Fluid storage and dispensing systems and processes involving various devices, structures and arrangements, as well as techniques and methods, for fluid storage and dispensing, including, without limitation, pre-connect verification couplings that are usefully employed in application to fluid storage and dispensing packages, to ensure proper coupling and avoid fluid contamination issues, empty detect systems that are usefully employed for fluid storage and dispensing packages incorporating liners that are pressure-compressed in the fluid dispensing operation, ergonomically enhanced structures for facilitating removal of a dispense connector from a capped vessel, cap integrity assurance systems for preventing misuse of vessel caps, and keycoding systems for ensuring coupling of proper dispense assemblies and vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin T. O'Dougherty, Glenn M. Tom
  • Publication number: 20100108679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a can, comprising a body provided with a panel, wherein the panel is provided with a tab comprising a front tab part and a rear tab part for gripping in forming by engagement of the front tab part with the panel of an opening in the panel, wherein the panel is provided with a flip panel area at least beneath the rear tab part, which panel area forms a depression beneath the rear tab part dependent on a negative pressure difference over the panel, and to a body and panel for such can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: IMPRESS GROUP B.V.
    Inventor: Fabrice Leboucher
  • Patent number: 7703625
    Abstract: A lid for a container having a built-in opening feature comprises a flexible laminate comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, a pair of radially spaced concentric lines of weakness being formed in the upper and lower layers, respectively, wherein the upper and lower layers in an annular region between the lines of weakness are readily peeled apart, and wherein the upper and lower layers outside the annular region are laminated together with an adhesive providing a bond with a greater peel strength than that required to separate the layers in the annular region. An integral tab is formed in the upper layer by a U-shaped cut line. A distal end of the tab opposite from the two ends of the cut line is within an adhesive-free region of the laminate. The ends of the cut line are in an adhesively laminated area of the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Teddy M. Westphal
  • Patent number: 7703626
    Abstract: Conventional adhesive and contact welding methods for holding the paperboard and plastic components of a composite closure together present a number disadvantages and do not lend themselves easily to mass production. The present invention describes two novel approaches, firstly the pre-assembly heating of the closure components with directed hot air to partially melt the thermoplastic surfaces and allow the parts to be immediately assembled sealingly and, secondly, a novel construction of plastic and paperboard composite closure in which the plastic rim is of a two-piece snap-fit constructions which firmly grips the top panel of the paperboard lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 7703624
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a flexible tab used to open beer/beverage can ends and food can ends. The tab has a plurality of slots provided in about a middle part of the tab between a nose portion and a lift portion on opposing sides of the tab. The slots combine to form a fulcrum that extends generally transverse to an axis that passes along a length of the tab. The fulcrum allows the lift portion to pivot upwards and downwards in relation to the nose portion. The tab also has a paneled or beaded area adjacent to the slots at about the middle part of the tab. Tooling for the manufacture of the flexible tab is also provided. A method for manufacturing the flexible tab is additionally provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Carl McEldowney, Craig McEldowney
  • Patent number: 7703619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a package suitable for containing a perishable product, comprising a first shell element provided with an upright circumferential edge and a central portion for accommodating said perishable product, as well as a closure element provided with a circumferential edge which closure element is placed with its circumferential edge on the upright circumferential edge of said first shell element in an adhering and closing manner and wherein said closure element is provided at its circumferential edge with a protruding lip, which lip does not adhere to the circumferential edge of said first shell element, for the purpose of peeling off said closure element from said first element. Near said lip the two circumferential edges are provided with a closed channel being in communication with said central portion, and wherein at least one of said circumferential edges is provided with a fracture line extending substantially perpendicularly to said channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: H.J. Heinz Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Alexander Josephus Maricus Van Puijenbroek
  • Publication number: 20100089923
    Abstract: A rigid bend is provided in rigid body of lift tab between nose and lift ends. The bending axis of rigid bend and fulcrum line are in a vertical plane. A flexible transition piece is integrally connected to rigid body so that nose end and lift end of rigid body are at same initial height about equal to container rim height. Various installation means for achieving such configuration are provided. The initial height of lift end provides a finger access at lift end to allow user to raise lift end from initial height to optimum height above container rim height without encountering resistant force. The optimum height allows user to properly grasp lift end with force for initiating an initial rupture of score line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Ue-Ming Yang
  • Publication number: 20100089924
    Abstract: A metal container or component part of a metal container (e.g. a can end or sidewall of a can body) has an aperture defined by a cut edge about the periphery of the aperture, with a cover element sealed to the outward-facing surface of the can end so as to extend over and cover the aperture. A film of lacquer is directly applied (without the presence of an intermediate primer layer) to the inward-facing of the container/component part so as to coat the entirety of the cut edge and all or part of the inward-facing surfaces of both the can end and that part of the cover element located radially inward of the cut edge, thereby inhibiting corrosion of the cut edge. The invention is particularly suitable for can ends. The invention also relates to a method of making a can end to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Jeremy Rowland, Matthieu Jacques Dupuis
  • Patent number: 7694837
    Abstract: A tamper evident container lid is provided that includes a lid body configured to cover the opening of a base container having a top rim. The lid body has a skirt extending therefrom. The skirt has an annular score line and an annular fold line extending therearound. An outer band of the skirt extends between the score line and the fold line, and an inner band is folded inwardly to be in opposing relation to the outer band and extends upwardly from the fold line to an upper free edge. When the container lid is sufficiently applied to the base container such that the free edge slides downwardly past a top rim of the container, achieving a proper closure, an attempt to remove the lid will cause a plurality of sections of the inner band to engage the top rim and impede removal of the lid from the base container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Huhtamaki, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Robertson, George Edward Mac Ewen
  • Publication number: 20100084401
    Abstract: A tamper evident container includes a lid having top and outer walls configured to fit over a flange of a storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange. The outer wall may include an inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. The lid further includes a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of the top wall and/or outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element. The line of reduced strength divides a pull tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Golota, Michael A. Drozek, James J. Sanfilippo, Roman Forowycz, John E. Sanfilippo, Francisco J. Soria
  • Publication number: 20100084295
    Abstract: A packaging for hygiene products, includes, in order to define a volume accommodating the hygiene products, at least two main walls which are situated substantially opposite to one another and two side walls which connect the main walls with one another and that are situated substantially opposite to one another, a tear tab including at least one section of one of the main walls and one section of one of the side walls, the tear tab exposing a removal opening for removing hygiene products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Diana Eilert, Kristin Olsson
  • Publication number: 20100084400
    Abstract: A packaging comprising a tub having (1) an upper border comprising a first vertical external wall and a first surrounding rim having a short interrupted section and (2) a lid having a contour border comprising a second vertical external wall and a second surrounding rim having a tab, wherein the upper border and the contour border both comprise an inverted “U” which can be fitted into each other to close the packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Emplal Embalagens Plasticas Ltda.
    Inventor: Rui Antonio Juliani
  • Publication number: 20100051620
    Abstract: A container includes a receptacle having a bottom panel, at least one wall extending upwardly from the bottom panel, and a lid coupling region extending from an upper portion of the at least one wall. The lid coupling region includes an upstanding barrier wall, and a locking member movable from a blocking position to a non-blocking position. The container further comprises a lid having a receptacle coupling region extending about the periphery thereof. The receptacle coupling region includes an outer edge that seats behind the barrier wall. A portion of the outer edge can be exposed for gripping access to remove the lid when the locking member is moved to the non-blocking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Samir R. Parikh, Sajith Chenat
  • Patent number: 7665486
    Abstract: A tear out test plug for plumbing installations includes a cylindrical body having a peripheral sidewall, a closed end and an open end. A positioning flange extends outwardly from the peripheral sidewall at the open end. An end wall closes the closed end. A frangible strip extends from the open end, down the peripheral sidewall, and across at least a portion of the end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Gabe Coscarella
  • Publication number: 20100032433
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a can lid allowing for a tab to be pulled up in an appropriate manner without inducing tab turning and also to provide a can container equipped with the same can lid, and provided is a can lid 1 comprising a can lid body 3 having an opening region 5 to be open upon being opened and a tab 9 fixed to the can lid body 3, in which the tab 9 comprises a pull-up section 9a on which a user's finger is hooked in his/her opening action, and the can lid body 3 comprises a guide section 10a for guiding the user's finger to a center of the pull-up section 9a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Toshiya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100025402
    Abstract: An easy-to-open and optionally resealable beverage can end provides opening by pressing downward. An actuator lies flat initially to conform to stackability requirements, but is readily repositionable to a ready-to-open state. In the ready-to-open state a planer surface of the actuator or tab is at a substantial angle to the can's top. A rigid body is interposed between it and the can's tear panel. The actuator is secured to the can top. Downward force ruptures the tear panel, opening the can. Using a wide actuator, a shallow protrusion on the actuator enables gas-tight resealability of a can opening. The shallow protrusion has an interrupted helix and fits into the can opening. Providing tab attachment via a radiused slot allows the small degree of rotational movement needed for the helix to be turned and pull the actuator bottom sealingly abutted proximate to the perimeter of the opened area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Hoffman, Matthew Lazich
  • Publication number: 20100025279
    Abstract: A container adapted to be stacked on top of a second container is provided. The container includes a first end wall and a sidewall having a first end and a second end. The container includes a first seam coupling the first end wall to the first end of the sidewall, the first seam including a shoulder extending inwardly from an outer surface of the first seam. The container includes an alignment feature extending from the shoulder away from the first end wall. The alignment feature is adapted to align the container relative to the second container and to resist lateral movement of the container relative to the second container when the container is stacked on top of the second container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Gerald Baker, Thomas Murphy
  • Publication number: 20100012211
    Abstract: A tear out test plug for plumbing installations includes a cylindrical body having a peripheral sidewall, a closed end and an open end. A positioning flange extends outwardly from the peripheral sidewall at the open end. An end wall closes the closed end. A frangible strip extends from the open end, down the peripheral sidewall, and across at least a portion of the end wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Gabe Coscarella
  • Patent number: 7631777
    Abstract: Can and bottle covers include a can cover and a bottle cover. The can cover includes a cover portion, a rim portion and a tab portion. One end of the cover portion is inserted under a pull tab of a pop top can. The rim portion connects the other end of the cover portion with one end of the tab portion. The tab portion is inserted, under the pull tab to open the pop top can. The bottle cover includes a cover portion, a neck portion and a web portion. A slot is formed in one end of the neck portion. The slot is sized to be received by a neck end of a bottle. The web portion connects the cover portion with the neck portion. A neck projection is preferably formed in the cover portion. The neck projection is retained in an inner perimeter of the neck end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventor: Bryan A. Bukowski
  • Patent number: 7617945
    Abstract: The invention covers a number of alternative improvements to the prior art pull-tab used to open container such as soda cans. One improvement is by forming the nose of the pull tab at a certain angle to the body of the tab, thus allowing the user to tilt the tab thus lifting the pull tip higher and providing more room for the user to insert the finger tip under the pull tip thus making it easier to open the container. Another improvement is by rotating the pull tab a certain angle and making it follow a caming surface thus lifting the pull tip and again providing more room to insert the finger tip and making it easier to open the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Gabe Cherian
  • Publication number: 20090272744
    Abstract: Container (10), especially a flexible tubular-pouch-like and/or can-like packaging container, preferably a round pouch, having a container body (20) and a lid part (30) and also, optionally, a base part (40), which is made at least in part from a film, especially a composite film, or a laminate, wherein the container has at least one peel tab (50), by means of which the at least one withdrawal (60) and/or venting opening is covered over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Huhtamaki Ronsberg Zweigniederlassung der Huhtamaki Deutschland GmgH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Michalsky, Arnold Schneider
  • Patent number: 7611027
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bottle cap 100 that is detachably assembled with an adjacent portion 2 of an opening of a bottle 1, and the bottle with the same. The bottle cap 100 is comprised of a circumferential portion 10 that is shaped to wrap up an outer surface of the adjacent portion 2 of the opening therein; a cap portion 20 that closes an upper side of the circumferential portion 10; a plurality of tamper indication portions 30 respectively extended from a central area of the circumferential portion 10 to a lower end thereof; a bending portion 40 that connects upper ends of the respective tamper indication portions 30 in a line; an opening piece portion 50 comprised of the plurality of tamper indication portions 30 and the bending portion 40; and a recess portion 70 so formed on an inner surface of the circumferential portion 10 as to prevent separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Sang-Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20090261101
    Abstract: A can end for a container has a metallic main portion and a polymeric separable cap. The metallic main portion is positioned about a longitudinal axis and has a curl defining a radially outer perimeter of the can end. A center panel is joined to the curl. A dispensing aperture is in the center panel, and a plurality of projections extend radially inwardly into the dispensing aperture. The polymeric separable cap is in the dispensing aperture and has a plurality of angled channels. The channels have an entry portion opposite a terminal end and a vent region therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: REXAM BEVERAGE CAN COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall G. Forrest, Timothy L. Turner
  • Patent number: 7604139
    Abstract: A tamper evident closure for a container having a bead provided on the outside surface of the neck thereof. The closure includes a top section and an outer skirt extending downwardly from the top section. The outer skirt includes a tamper evident strip extending along only a portion of the outer perimeter. The tamper evident strip is connected to a remaining portion of the outer skirt by a tear membrane, wherein the tamper evident strip may be separated from the remaining portion along the tear membrane. A first lug is provided at least partially on an inner surface of the temper evident strip and one or more second lugs are provided on an inner surface of the remaining portion of the outer skirt. The first lug and the one or more second lugs are each adapted to engage the bead on container to secure the closure to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Plastics and Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Long, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090230129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tear-open seal packaging (10), with a packaging element (12) having an opening (30) and a tear-open film (14), which closes opening (30) and is connected along its outer edge portion (16) with the opening edge (32) of packaging element (12) by a sealing seam (18). Sealing seam (18) has at least one indentation (26,28) which extends inwards from the outer edge of sealing seam (18), and whose depth of extension is less than width (B) of sealing seam (18) at the point of the indentation (26,28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Rainer Naroska Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Naroska
  • Publication number: 20090200306
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lid having a perimeter, a pre-scored line that defines a rupturable tear panel, and a pull tab rotatably and pivotally attached to the lid. The pull tab is rotatable between a closed position in which the entire length of the pull tab is contained within the perimeter of the lid, and an opening position in which the handle portion of the pull tab extends beyond the perimeter of the lid. In the opening position, the lid-piercing portion of the pull tab is juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and is configured to pierce the rupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pull tab is lifted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Brian Breunig
  • Publication number: 20090200305
    Abstract: A can having a generally cylindrical hollow body, a top cover at one end and a bottom cover at the other end, said top cover being openable and said bottom cover having a pull-out tab for creating a vent hole for venting the can to the atmosphere. A pull tab can be fixed to the top cover for pulling the top cover away from the can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Stude
  • Publication number: 20090194536
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a filter element (310, 410) for a conventional beverage can (1, 2), with a top of a can (100) comprising a pull tab with a fixing (103), a tab (110) and a sealing element (101) which at least adjoins to a punch edge (102) of an opening of the can, wherein the filter element has an area which at least covers the entire said opening when the can is opened, wherein the filter element (310, 410) is adapted to be fastened to the top side of the top of the can (100) either by the fixing (103) of the pull tab or adherence directly to the top of the can (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Herleif Ulstein, Hugo Lloyd Ulstein
  • Patent number: 7559432
    Abstract: There is described a closure comprising a wall defining an aperture and a membrane frangibly connected to the wall and closing the aperture. The frangible connection between the membrane and the wall lies in a plane which is inclined to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Portola Packaging Limited
    Inventors: Gerry Mavin, Timothy Stephenson, Stephen Glover
  • Publication number: 20090145902
    Abstract: A tamper-proof closure for a tube includes a tab which is placed at a distance to an end face of a neck of a tube. Connected to the neck by a perforate line is a membrane for sealing a discharge bore of the neck. The membrane has a neck-distal side which is formed in one piece with a ring defined by an outer diameter which is smaller than an inner diameter of the neck. The tab is connected to the membrane by a hinge by which the tab can be pulled upwards to allow the membrane to be yanked out from the neck by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Karl Holl GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Krallmann, Oliver Holl