EP1019294A1

EP1019294A1 - Can end

Info

Publication number: EP1019294A1
Application number: EP98945410A
Authority: EP
Inventors: George Leo Callewaert
Original assignee: Spurcourt Ltd
Current assignee: Spurcourt Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-01
Filing date: 1998-10-01
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Also published as: AU743636B2; AU9273998A; WO1999016677A1; GB9720804D0; ZA988950B; CA2305578A1

Abstract

A can end comprising : a) a disc-shaped panel (2) having a peripheral edge to be engaged with a rim of a can body, the panel having a frangible area; and b) a stay-on type lift tab (3) provided on the panel (2) and having a pull-up end and an opposed end arranged to bear on the frangible area; and c) a seal member (20) attached to the panel, the attachment (22) being between the frangible area and the peripheral edge such that the seal member (20) covers the frangible area and the lift tab (3).

Description

Can End

The present invention relates to a can end having a stay-on type lift tab, and a seal for a can end which provides a safety feature for the lift tab mechanism.

Many beverages are packaged in stay-on type lift tab cans of various sizes. Such beverages include soft drinks, beers, wines and health drinks. An advantage of this form of packaging is that the product may be maintained in an enclosed light-free environment which, if desired, may be pressurised. Once sealed in the can, the possibility of the contents becoming contaminated within the can, either by chance or deliberate intent is very small.

However, current designs of can ends having a lift tab have a number of disadvantages. Current lift tabs have the disadvantage that it is possible that, at the point of opening and consumption, the product may become contaminated. When current can ends are opened, there is an area of the end which becomes a flap. As a result, an area of the end which was previously external to the contents of the can comes into contact with the contents. Thus any contamination of the area just mentioned will be transferred to the contents.

Further, there is generally a space between the end of the lift tab and the can end which may include an indentation to prevent skidding of the tab when lifted. It is this space which represents a more serious potential source of contamination. When the contents of the can are poured out, any contamination of this space is rinsed out together with the contents of the can. Contamination of this nature may arise by accident or deliberate design. For example, the presence of a small amount of aversant in this space could be sufficient to impair the flavour of the dispensed product. The effect would be particularly noticeable if the contents of the can were drunk direct by mouth or if only a small amount of product were dispensed into a drinking vessel prior to consumption.

In addition, a further disadvantage of current can ends having lift tabs is that they are difficult to lift, particularly for people with arthritic finger joints or fragile finger nails.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a can end which substantially reduces the risk of contamination and which enables the user to open the lift tab with reduced risk of damage to finger nails and reduced need for flexible finger movement.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a can end including:

(a) a disc-shaped panel having a peripheral edge to be engaged with a rim of a can body, the panel having a frangible area ; and

(b) a stay-on type lift tab provided on the panel and having a pull-up end and an opposed end arranged to bear on the frangible area; and

(c) a seal member attached to the panel, the attachment being between the frangible area and the peripheral edge such that the seal member covers the frangible area and the lift tab.

Typically, the lift tab has a connecting portion which is rotatably connected about an axis perpendicular to the panel.

It is envisaged that in a first embodiment of the present invention the panel further includes a recess arranged to house the lift tab. Advantageously, in this embodiment the seal member is arranged to be flush with the surface of the panel.

Typically the seal member is attached to the panel using an adhesive which is suitable for a food/beverage type application, such as for example, a latex based adhesive. Advantageously, the seal member acts as a tamper-proof or tamper- indicating seal and further includes a flap portion which is free and not attached to the panel. In one embodiment, such a flap portion may be generally substantially opposite the can end lift tab.

However, it is also envisaged that the seal member may be attached to the panel by adhesive which is arranged substantially along the outer periphery of the seal member, the seal member having a line of weakness parallel to the outer periphery and defining a frangible area of the seal member. In this embodiment of the invention, as the pull up end is pulled up, the seal member is broken along the line of weakness and the frangible area of the seal member is removed from the can end, leaving the outer periphery of the seal member attached to the panel.

The seal member may be advantageously made from the same material as the can, so as to ease recycling. For example when the can is made from steel, the seal member is made of steel, and when the can is made from aluminium, the seal member is made of aluminium. Alternatively, the seal member may be made from a laminate or plastics film such as polypropylene.

The seal member is preferably continuous and substantially liquid-impermeable to minimise the possibility of contamination of the contents of the can having a can end according to the invention.

Desirably, the seal member is further attached to the lift tab, thus allowing the pull-up end of the lift tab to be lifted when the tab portion is pulled up. Preferably, the seal member is attached to the pull up end with an adhesive such as an epoxy resin, or by welding. Alternatively, the seal member may be attached to the pull up end by means of a loop threaded through a hole in the pull up end. In order to break open the seal member, the lift tab may be pulled upwards; this same action raises the pull-up end of the lift tab and opens the can, or at least begins the opening process, by causing the opposed end to bear on the frangible area and thereby initiating the fracturing process (and form a corresponding opening in the panel) . In the latter instance because the lift tab becomes readily accessible, the remainder of the opening process can be accomplished by lifting the lift tab direct.

Because after opening, the seal member may remain attached to the ring pull, it cannot readily be discarded separately after use. It is therefore unlikely to be a cause of litter nuisance.

It is preferred that the seal member may be such that it can be removed substantially in whole from the panel when the pull-up end is pulled upwards.

When the contents of the can are to be drunk direct by mouth, it is preferred that substantially all the area which comes into contact with the mouth is initially covered by the seal member.

The seal member may be simple and small, and may be fitted to existing types of cans without the need for major modification of the lift tab mechanism. Similarly, the present facility for cans to be stacked one upon the other need not be compromised by the provision of a can end in accordance with the invention. The seal member may provide, in an inexpensive manner, improvements in both the security and the method of opening of the can.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a can including a can body having a closed end and an open end spaced therefrom, a peripheral wall extending between the closed end and the open end, there being a peripheral rim at the open end, and a can end as herein before described engaged with the rim.

Features of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, which are given by way of example only, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional can end;

Figure 2 is a similar plan view showing a can end according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view showing a can end according to a second aspect of the invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view through the can end of Figure 3 along the line x-x;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a can end according to a third aspect of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the can end of Figure 5 along the line y-y; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the can end of Figure 5 along the line z-z.

Referring initially to Figure 1, this illustrates a conventional can end known in the art, generally indicated by the numeral 1. The can end 1 comprises a disc-shaped panel 2 and a stay-on type lift tab 3. The lift tab 3 is attached to panel 2 at pivot point 4.

The panel 2 has a generally ' C¹ shaped score line 5 in its upper surface. The score line 5 can be formed by making a shallow score in the upper surface of the panel 2. The score line 5 as illustrated starts from a point adjacent to the centre of the panel 2 (near pivot point 4) , passes a point adjacent the outer periphery of the panel 2 , and terminates at a further point adjacent the centre of panel 2. In general, the score line 5 as illustrated consists of two parallel scores 51 and 52. The outer score 51 is the main score to be torn by pulling at the lift tab 3, and the inner score 52 is an auxiliary score which facilitates the tearing of outer score 51.

The can is opened by lifting the lift tab 3 at point 6. Initially, this causes the other end of the lift tab 3 at point 7 to press down on the surface of the can end 1.

The positioning of the lift tab 3 is such as to result in the fracture of the can end 1 at score line 5. Further downwards pressure results in scored portion 8 being pushed down into the can thus creating an opening defined by what was the score line 5. Access to the contents of the can may be gained through this opening.

Referring now to Figure 2, this shows how a can end such as that illustrated in Figure 1 can be modified so as to embody the present invention. A plastic seal 21 covers the entire lift tab mechanism (which may be generally as described above with reference to Figure 1) . The seal 21 is bonded to the can end along bond line 22, and is also attached to the lift tab mechanism 25 at point 24.

The pull flap 23 is not bonded to the panel 2. Line 26 is parallel to the bond line 22. In use, the pull flap 23 is lifted and the seal 21 tears along the line 26, exposing an uncontaminated portion around the score lines of the lift tab arrangement. As the pull flap 23 is pulled back and up, the action causes the lift tab to be raised, causing downward pressure on the scored portion, which results in the fracturing of the can end along the scored line.

Referring to Figure 3 , this shows how a can end such as that illustrated in Figure 1 can be modified so as to embody a second aspect of the present invention. An aluminium seal 20 covers the entire lift tab mechanism (which may be generally as described above with reference to Figure 1) . The seal 20 is bonded to the can end along bond line 22, and is also attached to the lift tab mechanism 25 at point 24.

The pull flap 23 is not bonded to panel 2. In use, the pull flap 23 is lifted and seal 20 is removed from the can end 2. As the pull flap 23 is pulled back and up, the action causes the lift tab to be raised, causing downward pressure on the scored portion, which results in the puncturing of the can and along the scored line 5. In this embodiment, the entire seal 20 is removed from the panel 2.

Reference will now be made to Figure 4, in which like reference numerals have been used to identify like parts corresponding to those in Figures 1, 2 and 3. A loop 30 is attached to seal 21 (or with reference to Figure 3, seal 20) as well as to lift tab 3 at point 24. When the seal 21 is pulled backwards and upwards, loop 30 is also pulled backwards and upwards. The resultant action causes lift tab 3 to be lifted, which in turn initiates the fracturing of can end 1 at score line 5.

Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, these show how a can end such as that illustrated in Figure 1 can be further modified to embody a third aspect of the present invention. An indent 105 is formed in panel 102 to define an indented or recessed portion 106. A lift tab, as illustrated in Figure 1, is provided on indented or recessed portion 106.

A steel seal 121 covers the entire lift tab mechanism, and lies flush with the non-indented portion of panel 102. The seal 121 is bonded to the can end along bond line 122, and is also bonded to the lift tab mechanism 125 at point 124.

Seal 121 is welded to lift tab mechanism 103 at point 124. When the seal 121 is pulled backwards and upwards, the resultant action causes the lift tab 125 to be lifted which in turn initiates fracturing of can end at the score line.

Claims

Claims:

1. A can end including:

(a) a disc-shaped panel having a peripheral edge to be engaged with a rim of a can body, said panel having a frangible area; and

(b) a stay-on type lift tab provided on said panel and having a pull-up end and an opposed end arranged to bear on said frangible area; and

(c) a seal member attached to said panel, the attachment being between said frangible area and said peripheral edge such that said seal member covers said frangible area and said lift tab.

2. A can end according to claim 1, wherein said lift tab has a connecting portion which is rotatably connected about an axis perpendicular to said panel.

3. A can end according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said panel further includes a recess arranged to house said lift tab.

4. A can end according to claim 3, wherein said seal member is arranged to be flush with said surface of said panel.

5. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 4 , wherein said seal member is attached to said panel using a food-grade adhesive.

6. A can end according to claim 5, wherein said adhesive is a latex based adhesive.

7. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 6 , wherein said seal member is attached to said panel by adhesive which is arranged substantially along said outer periphery of said seal member, said seal member having a line of weakness parallel to said outer periphery and defining a frangible area of said seal member.

8. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 7 , wherein said seal further includes a flap portion which is free and not attached to said panel.

9. A can end according to claim 8, wherein said flap portion is generally substantially opposite said lift tab.

10. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 9 , wherein said seal member is made from the same material as the can.

11. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said seal member is substantially continuous.

12. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said seal member is substantially liquid impermeable.

13. A can end according to any of claims 1 to 12 , wherein said seal member is further attached to said lift tab.

14. A can end according to claim 13, wherein said seal member is attached to said pull up end with an adhesive.

15. A can end according to claim 13, wherein said seal member is attached to said pull up end by means of a loop threaded through a hole in said pull up end.

16. A can end according to claim 13, wherein said seal member is attached to the lift tab by welding.

17. A can including a can body having a closed end and an open end spaced therefrom, a peripheral wall extending between the closed end and the open end, there being a peripheral rim at the open end, and a can end according to any of claims 1 to 16, engaged with said rim.