Labels for cans

Abstract

This invention provides can labels that can be securely attached to various types of cans, each with a different outer diameter for the top lid. [Solution] The can label 1 comprises a circular lid portion 2 that covers the top lid 91 of the can 9, a plurality of locking portions 3 that extend outward from the lid portion 2 and are positioned at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction of the lid portion 2, and an arc-shaped slit 4 formed at a position that separates each of the plurality of locking portions 3 from the lid portion 2. Part of the slit 4 is composed of a plurality of claw-forming portions 41, 42 that have a shape that protrudes inward. The plurality of claw-forming portions 41, 42 are positioned side by side in the circumferential direction and have different protrusion dimensions from each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a label for a can, and more particularly, to a label for a can that is attached to cover the upper lid of the can.

Background Art

[0002] A label for a can that is attached to cover the upper lid of the can is conventionally known (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] This type of label for a can includes a portion that covers the upper lid of the can, and is configured to bend downward a portion outside the slit through a slit formed in the region surrounding this portion. Among the portions outside the slit of the label for a can (that is, the portion to be bent downward), a claw portion is formed at an end portion facing the slit. By the claw portion being hooked on the outer peripheral edge portion of the upper lid of the can, the label for the can is attached to the upper lid of the can.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The cans to which the above-mentioned label for a can is attached include a plurality of types of cans having different outer diameters of the upper lid. Therefore, in order to attach the label for a can well to the upper lid of the can, it was desirable to prepare separately those for cans with a relatively small outer diameter of the upper lid and those for cans with a relatively large outer diameter of the upper lid.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a label for a can that can be well attached corresponding to any of a plurality of types of cans having different outer diameters of the upper lid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A can label according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a can label attached to a can having a circular top lid so as to cover the top lid, comprising: a circular lid portion configured to cover the top lid; a plurality of locking portions extending outward from the lid portion and positioned at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction of the lid portion; and slits formed in an outwardly bulging arc shape at positions separating each of the plurality of locking portions from the lid portion.

[0008] A portion of the slit is composed of a plurality of claw-forming portions, each having a shape that protrudes inward. The plurality of claw-forming portions are arranged in a circumferential direction and have different protrusion dimensions from one another. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] This disclosure has the effect of being able to be securely attached to any of several types of cans, each with a different outer diameter for the top lid. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view of a can label according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the same can label attached to the top lid of a can. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the same can label attached to the lid of another can. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] 1. One Embodiment The can label 1 of this disclosure will be described based on the embodiments shown in the attached drawings. However, the embodiments described below are only one of many embodiments of this disclosure, and various modifications are possible depending on the design, etc., as long as the objectives of this disclosure are achieved. In addition, the figures showing the embodiments below are schematic diagrams, and the size and thickness of each component in the figures, and their respective ratios, do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensions.

[0012] (Labels for cans) As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the can label 1 is attached to a can 9 having a circular top lid 91 so as to cover the top lid 91.

[0013] The can 9 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a vertically elongated cylindrical beverage can. The can 9 is constructed by crimping the upper edge of a bottomed cylindrical can body 90, which is open at the top, together with the outer peripheral edge 912 of a top lid 91. The crimped outer peripheral edge 912 of the top lid 91 protrudes upward and extends radially outward from the upper end of the can body 90 located below it.

[0014] The can label 1 is made from a single sheet of cardboard that is larger than the top lid 91 of the can 9. Product information such as the product name, product description, and prize information can be attached to the can label 1.

[0015] The can label 1 comprises a lid portion 2, a plurality of locking portions 3, and a slit 4. In the following description of the structure of the can label 1, the state in which the can label 1 is unfolded, as shown in Figure 1, will be used as the reference. The radial and circumferential directions used in the description of the can label 1 will be based on the radial and circumferential directions of the circular lid portion 2.

[0016] (Lid) The lid portion 2 is provided in a circular shape similar in size to the top lid 91 of the can 9, so as to cover the top lid 91. The circular shape here does not need to be strictly circular; it just needs to be roughly circular overall.

[0017] The lid part 2 is formed with a slit group 6 for recessing the lid part 2 downward during use.

[0018] The slit group 6 includes a first slit group 61, a second slit group 62 located outside the first slit group 61, and a third slit group 63 located further outside the second slit group 62.

[0019] The first slit group 61 includes a plurality of (four in one embodiment) arc-shaped slits formed with the same radius around the center point C2 of the lid part 2. These slits are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In other words, the first slit group 61 has a shape in which a virtual circular shape drawn around the center point C2 of the lid part 2 is divided into a plurality (four in one embodiment) in the circumferential direction.

[0020] The second slit group 62 includes a plurality of (four in one embodiment) arc-shaped slits formed with the same radius around the center point C2 of the lid part 2. These slits are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In other words, the second slit group 62 has a shape in which a virtual circular shape drawn around the center point C2 of the lid part 2 is divided into a plurality (four in one embodiment) in the circumferential direction. The position where the virtual circular shape is divided in the second slit group 62 and the position where the virtual circular shape is divided in the first slit group 61 are shifted from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0021] The third slit group 63 includes a plurality of (four in one embodiment) arc-shaped slits formed with the same radius around the center point C2 of the lid part 2. These slits are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In other words, the third slit group 63 has a shape in which a virtual circular shape drawn around the center point C2 of the lid part 2 is divided into a plurality (four in one embodiment) in the circumferential direction. The position where the virtual circular shape is divided in the third slit group 63 and the position where the virtual circular shape is divided in the second slit group 62 are shifted from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0022] The first slit group 61, the second slit group 62, and the third slit group 63 are located on concentric circles centered on the center point C2 of the lid portion 2. Inside the first slit group 61 of the lid portion 2, a circular central portion 25 centered on the center point C2 of the lid portion 2 is formed.

[0023] Between the first slit group 61 and the second slit group 62 of the lid portion 2, an annular portion 26 centered on the center point C2 of the lid portion 2 is formed. Between the second slit group 62 and the third slit group 63 of the lid portion 2, an annular portion 27 centered on the center point C2 of the lid portion 2 is formed. The annular portion 26 and the annular portion 27 are located on concentric circles centered on the center point C2 of the lid portion 2.

[0024] The annular portion 26 has a larger diameter than the central portion 25 and is connected to the central portion 25 in a part of the circumferential direction. The annular portion 27 has a larger diameter than the annular portion 26 and is connected to the annular portion 26 in a part of the circumferential direction. The portion of the lid portion 2 radially outside the third slit group 63 is connected to the annular portion 27 in a part of the circumferential direction.

[0025] By having the lid portion 2 have the above-described slit group 6, the lid portion 2 can be deformed so as to be recessed downward during use. That is, when the lower end portion of another can is placed on the lid portion 2 of the can label 1 attached to the can 9, the lid portion 2 is deformed into a concave shape through the first slit group 61, the second slit group 62, and the third slit group 63. The lower end portion of the other can is fitted into the concave portion of the deformed lid portion 2 and is stably placed on the lid portion 2.

[0026] (Locking portion) The plurality of locking portions 3 extend radially outward from the lid portion 2, respectively. The plurality of locking portions 3 are positioned at intervals from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0027] In one embodiment, the plurality of locking portions 3 are four locking portions 3 positioned at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction. The four locking portions 3 consist of a pair of rectangular locking portions 3A, 3B extending from the lid portion 2 toward opposite sides in a first direction D1, and a pair of rectangular locking portions 3C, 3D extending from the lid portion 2 toward opposite sides in a second direction D2 which is perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0028] The pair of locking portions 3A and 3B have a rectangular shape with the first direction D1 as the shorter direction and the second direction D2 as the longer direction. The shapes of the pair of locking portions 3A and 3B are symmetrical with respect to each other. The dimensions by which the pair of locking portions 3A and 3B protrude from the cover portion 2 in the first direction D1 are the same for both.

[0029] One of the pair of locking parts 3C, 3D, locking part 3C has a rectangular shape with the first direction D1 as the shorter direction and the second direction D2 as the longer direction. The other of the pair of locking parts 3C, 3D, locking part 3D, has a rectangular shape with the first direction D1 as the longer direction and the second direction D2 as the shorter direction.

[0030] In the second direction D2, the dimension by which the locking portion 3C protrudes from the lid portion 2 is greater than the dimension by which the locking portion 3D protrudes from the lid portion 2. Also, in the second direction D2, the dimension by which the pair of locking portions 3C and 3D protrude from the lid portion 2 is greater than the dimension by which the locking portions 3A and 3B protrude from the lid portion 2 in the first direction D1.

[0031] In addition, the dimensions by which the pair of locking portions 3C and 3D protrude from the lid portion 2 in the second direction D2 may be the same. In this case, the shapes of the pair of locking portions 3C and 3D will be symmetrical with respect to each other.

[0032] (slit) The slits 4 are formed in multiple locations on the cardboard that makes up the can label 1. Specifically, the slits 4 are formed at positions that separate each of the multiple locking parts 3 (i.e., the four locking parts 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D) of the can label 1 from the lid part 2.

[0033] The multiple slits 4 on the can label 1 are four slits 4 that correspond one-to-one with the four locking portions 3. The common configuration of the four slits 4 will be described below.

[0034] The slit 4 as a whole has an arc shape that bulges radially outward (in other words, bulges away from the center point C2 of the lid 2). Here, "arc shape" means that the overall shape is like an arc, and it is not required to be a strictly arc shape. The slit 4 is curved in an arc shape along the central portion 25 of the lid 2. The slit 4 is also curved in an arc shape along the first slit group 61, the second slit group 62, and the third slit group 63, respectively.

[0035] However, a portion of the slit 4 is composed of multiple claw-forming portions 41 and 42 as shown in Figure 1. Here, the portion of the slit 4 refers to a circumferential portion of the slit 4 excluding both ends.

[0036] In one embodiment, the plurality of claw-forming portions 41, 42 are two claw-forming portions 41, 42 positioned side by side in the circumferential direction. Each of the two claw-forming portions 41, 42 has a shape that protrudes radially inward (in other words, toward the center point C2 of the lid portion 2). The shapes of the two claw-forming portions 41, 42 are both arc-shaped. The two claw-forming portions 41, 42 have different protrusion dimensions in the radial direction.

[0037] The difference in the radial protrusion dimensions of the two claw-forming portions 41 and 42 is preferably set between 0.87 mm and 1.17 mm.

[0038] Both ends of the slit 4 are composed of ends 48 and 49 that extend radially outward. The ends 48 and 49 of the slit 4 extend away from the center point C2 of the lid 2.

[0039] (How to use) In one embodiment of the can label 1, when each of the four locking portions 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D is bent through the slit 4 formed between it and the lid portion 2, two claws 31 and 32 with different protruding dimensions are formed at the ends of each of the locking portions 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D by two claw-forming portions 41 and 42 that constitute part of the slit 4 (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0040] In one embodiment, the two claws 31 and 32 have a shape that protrudes in the same direction. The edge shapes of the two claws 31 and 32 are both arc-shaped. The two claws 31 and 32 have different protrusion dimensions from each other.

[0041] The difference in the protruding dimensions of the two claws 31 and 32 is preferably set between 0.87 mm and 1.17 mm.

[0042] In one embodiment of the can label 1, when the lid portion 2 of the can label 1 is placed on the top lid 91 of the can 9, and each of the four locking portions 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D is bent downward through the corresponding slit 4, two claws 31 and 32 having different protruding dimensions are formed at the upper end of each of the locking portions 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D.

[0043] One of two claws 31 and 32, which are positioned circumferentially, engages with the outer peripheral edge 912 of the top lid 91 of the can 9 from below. Which of the two claws 31 and 32 engages with the outer peripheral edge 912 of the top lid 91 of the can 9 is automatically selected based on the outer diameter of the top lid 91 of the can.

[0044] In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the top lid 91 of the can 9 is either a first dimension or a second dimension that is larger thereto. The first dimension is, for example, 56.5 mm. The second dimension is, for example, 59.5 mm.

[0045] With the lid portion 2 of the can label 1 placed on the top lid 91 of the can 9, when each of the four locking portions 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D is folded downward, a first claw 31 and a second claw 32 are formed at the upper ends of each of the locking portions 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, both protruding upward. The second claw 32 is larger than the second claw 31, and the protruding dimension of the second claw 32 is larger than the protruding dimension of the first claw 31.

[0046] As shown in Figure 2, when attaching a can label 1 to a can 9 of a type with a relatively small outer diameter of the top lid 91 (i.e., a can 9 where the outer diameter of the top lid 91 is the first dimension), the relatively large second claws 32 of the can label 1 engage with the outer peripheral edge 912 of the top lid 91 from below at four locations equidistant in the circumferential direction.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, when attaching a can label 1 to a can 9 of a type with a relatively large outer diameter of the top lid 91 (i.e., a can 9 with an outer diameter of the top lid 91 being the second dimension), the relatively small first claws 31 of the can label 1 engage with the outer peripheral edge 912 of the top lid 91 from below at four locations equidistant in the circumferential direction.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the can label 1, the can label 1 can be successfully attached to either of two types of cans 9, each having a different outer diameter for its lid 91. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare separate can labels 1 for cans with a smaller outer diameter lid 91 and for cans with a larger outer diameter lid 91.

[0049] 2. Variations Although the can label 1 of this disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible to make appropriate design changes or combine known technologies within the scope intended by this disclosure.

[0050] For example, one embodiment of the can label 1 is provided with four locking parts 3, but the number of locking parts 3 is not limited to this. For example, the can label 1 may be provided with two or three locking parts 3, or it may be provided with five or more locking parts 3.

[0051] In one embodiment of the can label 1, the slit 4 includes two claw-forming portions 41 and 42, but it may also include one or more claw-forming portions. In this case, when each locking portion 3 of the can label 1 is bent, one or more claws are formed at the end of the locking portion 3 facing the slit 4, in addition to the two claws 31 and 32. In either case, by including multiple claw-forming portions with different protruding dimensions in the slit 4, it becomes possible to attach a common can label 1 well to any of several types of cans 9 with different outer diameters of the top lid 91.

[0052] In one embodiment of the can label 1, the claws 31 and 32 are semicircular, but the shape of the claws 31 and 32 is not limited to this. For example, the shapes of the claws 31 and 32 may be trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, or other shapes. Also, in one embodiment of the can label 1, the shapes of the claws 31 and 32 are identical to each other, or in other words, the shapes of the claws 31 and 32 are similar to each other, but the shapes of the claws 31 and 32 may also be different.

[0053] In one embodiment of the can label 1, the can 9 to which the label is attached is a vertically elongated cylindrical beverage can, but the use and shape of the can 9 are not limited to this. As long as the can label 1 can be attached, cans 9 can be of a variety of uses and shapes.

[0054] 3. Summary As described based on the above embodiments and various modifications, the can label (1) of the first embodiment is a can label (1) that is attached to a can (9) having a circular top lid (91) so as to cover the top lid (91), and comprises a circular lid portion (2) configured to cover the top lid (91), a plurality of locking portions (3) extending outward from the lid portion (2) and positioned at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction of the lid portion (2), and a slit (4) formed in an outwardly bulging arc shape at a position separating each of the plurality of locking portions (3) from the lid portion (2). A part of the slit (4) is composed of a plurality of claw-forming portions (41, 42) each having a shape that protrudes inward. The plurality of claw-forming portions (41, 42) are positioned side by side in the circumferential direction and have different protrusion dimensions from each other.

[0055] In this embodiment, when each of the multiple locking portions (3) is bent through the slit (4), multiple claws (31, 32) with different protruding dimensions are formed circumferentially at the end of each of the multiple locking portions (3). One of these multiple claws (31, 32) locks onto the outer peripheral edge (912) of the top lid (91) of the can (9) from below. Which of the multiple claws (31, 32) locks is automatically selected based on the outer diameter of the top lid (91) of the can. Therefore, in this embodiment, the can label (1) can be attached well to any of the multiple types of cans (9) with different outer diameters of the top lid (91).

[0056] In the can label (1) of the second embodiment, the plurality of claw-forming portions (41, 42) are two claw-forming portions (41, 42) with different protruding dimensions from each other, as in the first embodiment.

[0057] In this embodiment, when each of the multiple locking portions (3) is bent through the slit (4), two claws (31, 32) with different protruding dimensions are formed circumferentially at the end of each of the multiple locking portions (3). One of the two claws (31, 32) locks onto the outer peripheral edge (912) of the top lid (91) of the can (9) from below. Which of the two claws (31, 32) locks is automatically selected based on the outer diameter of the top lid (91) of the can. Therefore, in this embodiment, the can label (1) can be attached well to both types of cans (9) with different outer diameters of the top lid (91).

[0058] In the can label (1) of the third embodiment, when each of the multiple locking portions (3) is bent relative to the lid portion (2) via the slit (4), multiple claws (31, 32) with different protruding dimensions are formed at the end of the locking portion (3) facing the slit (4) by multiple claw-forming portions (41, 42) that constitute a part of the slit (4).

[0059] According to this embodiment, the can label (1) can be properly attached to either of the two types of cans (9) whose top lids (91) have different outer diameters.

[0060] In the can label (1) of the fourth embodiment, when the lid portion (2) is placed on the top lid (91) of the can (9) in the first or second embodiment, and each of the multiple locking portions (3) is bent downward through the slit (4), multiple claws (31, 32) with different protruding dimensions are formed at the end of the locking portion (3) facing the slit (4) by multiple claw-forming portions (41, 42) that constitute part of the slit (4). One of the multiple claws (31, 32) corresponding to the outer diameter of the top lid (91) is locked from below to the outer peripheral edge (912) of the top lid (91).

[0061] According to this embodiment, the can label (1) can be properly attached to any of several types of cans (9) whose top lids (91) have different outer diameters.

[0062] In the can label (1) of the fifth embodiment, in the second embodiment, the outer diameter of the top lid (91) of the can (9) is either a first dimension or a second dimension which is larger than the first dimension. When the lid portion (2) is placed on the top lid (91) of the can (9), and each of the multiple locking portions (3) is bent downward through the slit (4), a first claw (31) and a second claw (32) which protrudes more than the first claw (31) are formed at the end of the locking portion (3) facing the slit (4) by two claw-forming portions (41, 42) which constitute part of the slit (4). The second claw (32) locks from below on the outer peripheral edge (912) of the top lid (91) when the outer diameter of the top lid (91) is the first dimension, and the first claw (31) locks from below on the outer peripheral edge (912) of the top lid (91) when the outer diameter of the top lid (91) is the second dimension.

[0063] According to this embodiment, the can label (1) can be properly attached to either of the two types of cans (9) whose top lids (91) have different outer diameters. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] Label for 1 can 2 Lid 3. Locking part 31. Claw (First claw) 32 Claws (2nd claw) 4 slits 41 Claw forming part 42 Claw forming part 9 cans 91 Top lid 912 Outer edge

Claims

1. A label for a can that is attached to cover the top lid of a can having a circular top lid, A circular lid portion configured to cover the aforementioned top lid, A plurality of locking portions extending outward from the lid and positioned at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction of the lid, Each of the aforementioned multiple locking portions is provided with a slit formed in an outwardly bulging arc shape at a position separating it from the lid portion, A portion of the aforementioned slit is composed of multiple claw-forming portions, each having a shape that protrudes inward. The plurality of claw-forming portions are arranged in a circumferential direction and have different protrusion dimensions from each other. Labels for cans.

2. The plurality of claw-forming portions are two claw-forming portions with different protruding dimensions. A label for a can according to claim 1.

3. When each of the plurality of locking portions is bent relative to the lid portion through the slit, a plurality of claws having different protruding dimensions are formed at the end of the locking portion facing the slit by the plurality of claw-forming portions that constitute a part of the slit. A label for a can according to claim 1 or 2.

4. With the lid portion placed on the top lid of the can, when each of the plurality of locking portions is bent downward through the slit, a plurality of claws having different protruding dimensions are formed at the end of the locking portion facing the slit by the plurality of claw-forming portions that constitute a part of the slit. The outer edge of the top cover is configured such that one of the multiple claws, corresponding to the outer diameter of the top cover, is engaged from below. A label for a can according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The outer diameter of the top lid of the can is either a first dimension or a second dimension that is larger than the first dimension. With the lid portion placed on the top lid of the can, when each of the plurality of locking portions is bent downward through the slit, a first claw and a second claw having a larger protrusion dimension than the first claw are formed at the end of the locking portion facing the slit by the two claw-forming portions that constitute part of the slit. The outer edge of the top cover is configured such that the second claw engages from below when the outer diameter of the top cover is the first dimension, and the first claw engages from below when the outer diameter of the top cover is the second dimension. A label for a can according to claim 2.

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