Can lid

Abstract

The invention relates to a can lid (1) comprising a metal lid surface (12) which has a geometrical center (15) and an outer edge (17). The metal lid surface is equipped with an opening region (19), a seal frame (22) which is connected to the metal lid surface and surrounds the opening region, and a closing unit (23) which is pivotally attached to the metal lid surface or to the seal frame about a pivot axis (25) and which is designed to close the opening region in a closed position, in which the closing unit is pivoted against the seal frame, and to release the opening region for a drinking process in an open position, in which the closing unit is pivoted away from the seal frame. The opening region has a first edge point (39) which lies closer to the outer edge of the metal lid surface than the second edge point (49), wherein a drinking movement plane (40) which extends perpendicularly to the metal lid surface runs through the geometrical center of the metal lid surface and through the first edge point, and the pivot plane (45) which runs perpendicularly to the pivot axis extends perpendicularly to the metal lid surface. The pivot plane forms an angle which differs from 0° relative to the drinking movement plane.

Description

[0001] Can lid

[0002] The invention relates to a can lid for a beverage can, which has a resealable drinking opening, comprising a metallic lid surface having a geometric center and an outer border, wherein an opening region is formed in the metallic lid surface, a sealing frame made of plastic material that is firmly connected to the metallic lid surface and encloses the opening region, and a closing unit made of plastic material that is pivotally mounted on the metallic lid surface or on the sealing frame about a pivot axis and is designed to close the opening region directly and / or by means of a closure piece of the metallic lid surface carried by the closing unit in a closed position pivoted towards the sealing frame, and to release the opening region for a drinking process in an open position pivoted away from the sealing frame.wherein the opening region has at least one first edge point which is closer to the outer perimeter of the metallic lid surface than at least one second edge point of the opening region, wherein a drinking movement plane extending perpendicular to the metallic lid surface passes through the geometric center of the metallic lid surface and through the first edge point of the opening region, and wherein the pivot plane extending perpendicular to the pivot axis extends perpendicular to the metallic lid surface.

[0003] Beverage cans with these types of can lids can be easily opened and closed again by manually pivoting the closing unit. In principle, the contents of a beverage can can be poured through the drinking opening into a container. However, drinking is often done directly from the can, with the can lid being placed near the mouth at the first edge point and the can then being tilted upwards. The tilting movement generally occurs within the plane of the drinking movement because the drinker strives to align the can lid so that the edge point of the opening area closest to the outer edge of the lid is at the bottom for easy pouring of the liquid.

[0004] When the can lid is open, the closing unit, which is pivoted away from the sealing frame, can be perceived as annoying by the user because it interferes with drinking.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a can lid for a beverage can that facilitates the drinking process.

[0006] The problem is solved by a can lid having the features of claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, the pivoting plane is at an angle other than 0° to the drinking movement plane. It has been found that nose contact with the closing unit, which often occurs when drinking from resealable cans, is particularly annoying. Because the drinking movement plane and the pivoting plane do not coincide or run parallel according to the invention, the closing unit moves away from the drinking movement plane when the can lid is opened and is therefore not in the way of the user's nose when tilting the can. This means that there is no annoying nose contact when drinking, which is advantageous from an ergonomic point of view. The opening area can have a geometric center, with the pivoting plane running through the geometric center of the opening area.

[0008] Preferably, the pivoting plane is at an acute angle to the drinking movement plane.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the angle is at least 10° and at most 90°, preferably at least 40° and at most 70°, and particularly preferably approximately 60°. It has been found that such an arrangement of the pivoting plane is sufficient to avoid contact with the nose and, at the same time, to ensure ergonomic opening of the can by pivoting the closing unit away from the user in the usual manner.

[0010] Preferably, the pivoting plane and the drinking movement plane intersect in a straight line running at right angles to the metallic lid surface.

[0011] It can be provided that the metallic lid surface and the opening area are rotationally symmetrical, in particular circular, and the respective centers of rotation lie in the drinking plane. Preferably, the centers of rotation are arranged at a distance from one another. The geometric center of the opening area preferably does not coincide with the geometric center of the metallic lid surface. A decentralized arrangement facilitates the outflow of liquid when drinking.

[0012] Preferably, the opening area is fully exposed when the closure unit is in the open position. Thus, the entire opening area can be used to dispense the liquid. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the metallic lid surface has a marking that identifies a region of the metallic lid surface opposite the first edge point with respect to the geometric center. A user then immediately knows how to hold the can and in which direction to tilt it while drinking.

[0013] The drinking movement plane can run through the marking.

[0014] The marking can be embossed into the metal lid surface. This allows for particularly simple production and ensures permanent identification of the tilt direction.

[0015] The closing unit may protrude at an angle from the sealing frame in the open position. Such an angle is often unavoidable if the pivot bearing between the sealing frame and the closing unit is formed by a flexible plastic connecting section. Especially with an angled protrusion, there is a risk of contact with the closing unit.

[0016] Furthermore, the closing unit can protrude laterally beyond the outer edge of the metallic lid surface in the open position, which also increases the likelihood of unwanted nasal contact.

[0017] The pivot axis is preferably stationary, meaning that the closing unit preferably pivots purely around the pivot axis during the opening process, without any overlapping motion components. This ensures a particularly simple design.

[0018] A further embodiment of the invention provides that a pull handle is provided for opening the closing unit, which is pivotally connected to the closing unit about a further pivot axis. In a basic position, the pull handle is pivoted toward the closing unit and, in a pulled position, protrudes obliquely or transversely from the closing unit, and wherein the further pivot axis runs perpendicular to the pivot plane. A person can actuate the pull handle to pivot the closing unit with the closure piece upward. The pull handle, which is, for example, ring-shaped, can be easily grasped.

[0019] The pull handle and the closing unit can be designed to be rotationally symmetrical, with their respective centers of rotation located in the pivoting plane. Thus, when the can is open, the pull handle, like the closing unit, is not in the way of the user's nose.

[0020] According to a special embodiment, at least one handling projection is arranged on an outer peripheral region of the pull handle, which projection is positioned in the drinking movement plane when the pull handle is in the home position. Such a handling projection facilitates lifting the pull handle from the home position. The arrangement of the handling projection in the drinking movement plane is advantageous from an ergonomic point of view.

[0021] The sealing frame, the closing unit, and the pull handle can be formed as a single injection-molded part. This enables particularly simple and cost-effective production.

[0022] Further developments of the invention can also be found in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0023] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view of a can end according to the invention in a closed state.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows the can lid according to Fig. 1 in a transitional state with a raised pull handle.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows the can lid according to Fig. 1 in an open state.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows the opened can lid according to Fig. 3 in a sectional view along the line AA in Fig. 3.

[0027] 1-4 show a can end 11 intended for a beverage can, in the metallic lid surface 12 of which a resealable drinking opening 13 is provided. The can end 11 has a geometric center point 15 and an outer border 17. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the can end 11 is circular in plan view, so that the geometric center point 15 is the center of the circle here. The can end 11 can be connected to an associated beverage container (not shown) via the outer border 17, for example by flanging. An opening region 19 (Fig. 3) is formed in the metallic lid surface 12, which opening region 19, in the closed state of the can end 11 shown in Fig. 1, is closed by a section of the metallic lid surface 12 in the form of a closure piece 21.

[0028] The metallic cover surface 12 is preferably formed from a sheet layer of aluminum or tinplate, wherein a coating of plastic material can be applied to an inner flat side of the metallic cover surface 12.

[0029] By moving the closure piece 21 out of the lid plane 24 defined by the opening area 19 (Fig. 4), the can lid 11 can be opened. For this purpose, the can lid 11 comprises a sealing frame 22 made of plastic material, which surrounds the opening area 19 and is firmly connected to the metallic lid surface 12. Furthermore, a closing unit 23 made of plastic material is provided, which supports the closure piece 21 and is connected to the sealing frame 22 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 25. By means of a locking device (not shown in detail), which is formed by sealing and locking ribs and associated receiving grooves, a detachable, fluid-tight connection is established between the sealing frame 22 and the closing unit.

[0030] 23 enabled.

[0031] An annular pull handle 27 is pivotally connected to the closing unit 23 about a further pivot axis 29. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing frame 22, the closing unit 23, and the pull handle 27 are formed by a single injection-molded part.

[0032] In the closed state of the can lid 11 shown in Fig. 1, the two pivot axes 25, 29 are arranged diametrically opposite each other with respect to the sealing frame 22. As shown, a handling projection 33 is arranged on an outer peripheral region 31 of the pull handle 27.

[0033] By means of the handling projection 33, a person can lift the pull handle 27 and pivot it away from the closing unit 23 as shown in Fig. 2. By pulling the pull handle 27, the closure piece 21 can then be removed from the lid plane

[0034] 24 can be pivoted upwards to completely release the opening area 19 as shown in Fig. 3 and 4.

[0035] To facilitate direct drinking from the beverage can after opening the drinking opening 13, the opening region 19 is arranged off-center in the metallic lid surface 12. This means that the opening region 19 has a geometric center point 35 which is arranged at a distance from the geometric center point 15 of the metallic lid surface 12. This results in a first edge point 39 of the opening region 19 which is closer to the outer border 17 of the metallic lid surface 12 than at least a second edge point 49 of the opening region 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the first edge point 39 is closer to the outer border 17 than all other edge points of the opening region 19, i.e. the first edge point 39 is the point on the edge of the opening region 19 which is closest to the outer border 17 of the metallic lid surface 12.

[0036] A drinking movement plane 40 extends perpendicular to the metallic lid surface 12, i.e., to the lid plane 24, passing through the geometric center 15 of the metallic lid surface 12 and through the first edge point 39. A tilting movement of the beverage can for the purpose of drinking typically occurs within the drinking movement plane 40.

[0037] The handling of the can while drinking is assisted by a marking 44 embossed into the metallic lid surface 12, which identifies an area of ​​the metallic lid surface 12 opposite the first edge point 39 with respect to the geometric center 15 of the metallic lid surface 12. The drinking movement plane 40 runs through the marking 44. When the pull handle 27 is in the basic position according to Fig. 1, the drinking movement plane 40 also runs through the handling projection 33.

[0038] During the opening and closing process, the closing unit 23 and the pull handle 27 are moved in a pivot plane 45 which extends at right angles to the two pivot axes 25, 29 and also at right angles to the metallic lid surface 12, i.e. to the lid plane 24.

[0039] As can be seen particularly in Fig. 3, the pivot plane 45 does not coincide with the drinking movement plane 40, but is arranged at an angle offset from it. Specifically, the pivot plane 45 and the drinking movement plane 40 intersect at an angle 47 other than 0° in a straight line running perpendicular to the metallic lid surface 12, i.e., to the lid plane 24, which here runs through the geometric center 35 of the opening area 19. The angle 47 between the pivot plane 45 and the drinking movement plane 40 can have an amount between 10° and 90°, depending on the application. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle 47 is sixty degrees.

[0040] Due to the inventive design of the can lid 11, there is no risk of the nose coming into contact with the closure unit 23, which protrudes diagonally from the sealing frame 22 and laterally overhangs the outer edge 17 of the metallic lid surface 12, or with the pull handle 27 when drinking from the associated beverage can, because these are located outside the drinking movement plane 40 when the drinking opening 13 is open. Thus, the invention enables particularly comfortable drinking from resealable beverage cans.

[0041] List of reference symbols:

[0042] 11 can lids

[0043] 12 metallic lid surface

[0044] 13 resealable drinking opening

[0045] 15 geometric center

[0046] 17 outer border

[0047] 19 Opening area

[0048] 21 Locking piece

[0049] 22 sealing frames

[0050] 23 Closing unit

[0051] 24 lid level

[0052] 25 swivel axis

[0053] 27 Pull handle

[0054] 29 additional swivel axes

[0055] 31 Circumference range

[0056] 33 Handling advantage

[0057] 35 geometric center

[0058] 39 first edge point

[0059] 40 Drinking movement level

[0060] 44 Marking

[0061] 45 Swivel plane

[0062] 47 angles

[0063] 49 second edge point

Claims

Claims 1. Can lid (11) for a beverage can, having a resealable drinking opening (13), with a metallic lid surface (12) having a geometric center point (15) and an outer border (17), wherein an opening region (19) is formed in the metallic lid surface (12), a sealing frame (22) made of plastic material which is firmly connected to the metallic lid surface (12) and encloses the opening region (19), and a closing unit (23) made of plastic material which is attached to the metallic lid surface (12) or to the sealing frame (22) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (25) and is designed toin a closed position pivoted towards the sealing frame (22), to close the opening area (19) directly and / or by means of a closure piece (21) of the metallic lid surface (12) carried by the closing unit (23), and in an open position pivoted away from the sealing frame (22), to release the opening area (19) for a drinking process, wherein the opening area (19) has at least one first edge point (39) which is closer to the outer border (17) of the metallic lid surface (12) than at least one second edge point (49) of the opening area (19), wherein a drinking movement plane (40) extending perpendicular to the metallic lid surface (12) runs through the geometric center point (15) of the metallic lid surface and through the first edge point (39) of the opening area (19), and wherein the pivot plane (45) extending at right angles to the pivot axis (25) extends at right angles to the metallic lid surface (12), characterized in that the pivot plane (45) is at an angle (47) different from 0° to the drinking movement plane (40).

2. Can lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle (47) has an amount of at least 10° and at most 90°, preferably of at least 40° and at most 70° and particularly preferably of about 60°.

3. Can lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivoting plane (45) and the drinking movement plane (40) intersect in a straight line running at right angles to the metallic lid surface (12).

4. Can lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metallic lid surface (12) and / or the opening region (19) are rotationally symmetrical, in particular circular, and the respective centers of rotation lie in the drinking movement plane (40).

5. Can lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening area (19) is completely exposed when the closing unit (23) is in the open position.

6. Can lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metallic lid surface (12) has a marking (44) which identifies a region of the metallic lid surface (12) opposite the first edge point (39) with respect to the geometric center (15).

7. Can lid according to claim 6, characterized in that the drinking movement plane (40) runs through the marking (44).

8. Can lid according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the marking (44) is embossed into the metallic lid surface (12).

9. Can lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing unit (23) projects obliquely from the sealing frame (22) in the open position.

10. Can lid according to claim 9, characterized in that the closing unit (23) projects laterally beyond the outer edge (17) of the metallic lid surface (12) in the open position. 11 . Can lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for opening the closing unit (23) a pull handle (27) is provided, which is connected to the closing unit (23) so as to be pivotable about a further pivot axis (29), wherein the pull handle (27) in a basic Position is pivoted towards the closing unit (23) and in a pulling position protrudes obliquely or transversely from the closing unit (23), and wherein the further pivot axis (29) runs at right angles to the pivot plane (45).

12. Can lid according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one handling projection (33) is arranged on an outer peripheral region (31) of the pull handle (27), which is arranged in the drinking movement plane (40) when the pull handle (27) is in the basic position.

13. Can lid according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the sealing frame (22), the closing unit (23) and the pull handle (27) are formed by a one-piece injection-molded part.

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