Can lid
The angled rotation plane of the beverage can lid positions the closure unit and pull tab outside the drinking path, addressing the obstruction issue and enhancing drinking comfort by ensuring the closure unit does not interfere with the nose during consumption.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing beverage can lids with reclosable openings often obstruct drinking due to the closure unit protruding into the drinking path, causing uncomfortable nose contact when tilted for consumption.
The lid design features a rotation plane angled relative to the drinking plane, positioning the closure unit and pull tab outside the drinking path, with a skewed opening region and marked orientation guidance to prevent nose contact during drinking.
The design ensures ergonomic and comfortable drinking by preventing the closure unit and pull tab from obstructing the user's nose, allowing seamless liquid flow and easy operation.
Smart Images
Figure 2026509687000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a lid of a beverage can, the lid having an opening that is reclosable, i.e., can be closed again, and the lid comprising a metal lid surface having a geometric center and an outer edge, an opening region being formed within the metal lid surface, the lid comprising a sealing frame made of a plastic material fixedly connected to the metal lid surface and surrounding the opening region, the lid comprising a closure unit made of a plastic material rotatably mounted about a rotation axis on the metal lid surface or on the sealing frame, the closure unit being configured to close the opening region by a closure piece of the metal lid surface directly and / or supported by the closure unit in a closed position rotated towards the sealing frame, and to open the opening region for drinking in an open position rotated away from the sealing frame, the opening region having at least one first boundary point, the at least one first boundary point being closer to the outer edge of the metal lid surface than at least one second boundary point of the opening region, [[ID=id=15]]a drinking operation surface extending at a right angle to the metal lid surface extends through the center of gravity of the metal lid surface and through the first boundary point of the opening region, a rotation surface extending at a right angle to the rotation axis extends at a right angle to the metal lid surface.
[0002] Beverage cans with such lids are easily opened and, if necessary, can be closed or sealed again by manually rotating the closure unit. The contents of a beverage can can usually be poured into a container through the spout. However, people often drink directly from the can, in which case the lid is positioned opposite the mouth at the first boundary point region, and then the can is tilted upward. The tilting motion usually occurs within the drinking plane because the drinker positions the lid so that the boundary point of the opening region closest to the outer edge of the lid is at the bottom, in order to easily pour the liquid.
[0003] When the can lid is open, the user may find the closure unit, which rotates away from the sealing frame, to be an obstruction because it hinders drinking. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0004] The objective of the present invention is to provide a can lid for a beverage can that facilitates the act of drinking. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The object of the present invention is satisfied by a can lid having the features of claim 1.
[0006] According to the present invention, the rotation plane is at an angle other than 0 degrees with respect to the drinking plane. It has been found that contact of the nose with the closure unit, which often occurs when drinking from a resealable can, is particularly annoying. According to the present invention, because the drinking plane and the rotation plane do not coincide or extend parallel to each other, the closure unit moves outside the drinking plane while the can lid is open and is not located within the path of the user's nose when the can is tilted. Therefore, annoying nose contact does not occur while drinking, which is ergonomically preferable.
[0007] The opening region may have a geometric center, and the rotation plane extends through the geometric center of the opening region.
[0008] The rotation plane is preferably at an acute angle with respect to the drinking plane.
[0009] According to embodiments of the present invention, this angle is at least 10° and at most 90°, preferably at least 40° and at most 70°, and particularly preferably about 60°. It has been found that such an arrangement of the rotating plane is sufficient to prevent contact with the nose, while at the same time ensuring ergonomic opening of the can by the rotation of the closure unit away from the user in a conventional manner.
[0010] Preferably, the rotation plane and the drinking plane intersect at a line of intersection that extends at an angle perpendicular to the surface of the metal can lid.
[0011] The surface of the metal can lid and the opening area may be rotationally symmetric, particularly circularly symmetric, and each of the centers of rotation may be positioned within the drinking plane. Preferably, the centers of rotation are spaced apart from each other. Preferably, the geometric center of the opening area does not coincide with the geometric center of the metal can lid surface. The offset arrangement facilitates the flow of liquid when drinking.
[0012] Preferably, this opening area is fully open when the closure unit is in the open position, so that the entire opening area is available for dispensing the liquid.
[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the metal can lid has markings or marks that identify a region of the metal can lid surface that is located opposite a first boundary point with respect to the geometric center. Thus, the user can immediately understand how to hold the can and the direction in which to tilt the can when drinking.
[0014] In this regard, the drinking action plane may extend through the above-mentioned markings.
[0015] This marking can be formed by embossing on the surface of the metal can lid. This allows for very simple manufacturing and ensures permanent identification of the orientation.
[0016] The closure unit may protrude obliquely from the sealing frame when in the open position. Oblique protrusion is often unavoidable when the rotational bearing between the sealing frame and the closure unit is formed by a flexible connecting section made of plastic. In particular, the possibility of nose contact with the closure unit exists with oblique protrusion.
[0017] Furthermore, the closure unit may protrude laterally beyond the outer edge of the metal can lid surface when in the open position, which similarly increases the possibility of unwanted nose contact.
[0018] The pivot axis should preferably remain stationary; that is, it should rotate purely around the pivot axis during the opening operation so that the closure unit does not come into contact with any other moving components. This ensures a very simple design.
[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, a pull handle is provided for opening a closure unit, the pull handle being rotatably connected to the closure unit around another pivot axis, the pull handle rotating toward the closure unit when in a base position, base position or starting position and protruding diagonally or laterally from the closure unit when in a pulled position, the other pivot axis extending at an angle perpendicular to the plane of rotation. A person can operate the pull handle to rotate the closure unit upward together with the closure piece. For example, a ring-shaped pull handle can be easily grasped.
[0020] The pull tab and the closure unit are rotationally symmetric, with their respective centers of rotation located within the plane of rotation. Therefore, when the can is open, the pull tab, like the closure unit, is outside the path of the user's nose.
[0021] According to a specific embodiment, at least one operating projection is arranged in the outer edge region of the pull tab and is arranged in the plane of the drinking operation when the pull tab is in the base position. Such an operating projection facilitates lifting of the pull tab from the base position. The positioning of the operating projection in the plane of the drinking operation is preferable from the ergonomic aspect.
[0022] The sealing frame, the closure unit and the pull tab can be formed as a single injection-molded part. This enables very simple and inexpensive production.
[0023] Further improvements of the present invention will also be understood from the dependent claims, the description and the attached drawings.
[0024] The present invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the closed state of the can lid of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view showing the transition state of the can lid of FIG. 1 together with the lifted pull tabs. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view showing the opened state of the can lid of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the opened can lid of FIG. 3 taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0026] Figures 1 to 4 show a can lid 11 for a beverage can, in which a resealable drinking spout 13 is incorporated within the metal can lid surface 13. The can lid 11 has a geometric center 15 and an outer edge 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the can lid 11 is circular in plan view, so in this example the geometric center 15 is the center of the circle. Through the outer edge 17, the can lid 11 can be connected to an accompanying beverage container (not shown), for example, by crimping or compression. An opening region 19 (Figure 3) is formed within the metal can lid surface 12 and, in the closed state of the can lid 11 shown in Figure 1, is closed by a portion of the metal can lid surface 12 in the form of a closure piece 21.
[0027] The metal can lid surface 12 is preferably formed from sheet metal made of aluminum or tinplate, and a coating made of plastic material may be applied to the inner flat surface of the metal can lid surface 12.
[0028] The can lid 11 can be opened by moving the closure piece 21 outside the can lid plane 24 (Figure 4) defined by the opening region 19. For this purpose, the can lid 11 includes a sealing frame 22 made of plastic material that surrounds the opening region 19 and is flexibly connected to the metal can lid surface 12. A closure unit 23, also made of plastic material and supporting the closure piece 21, is further rotatable and connected to the sealing frame 22 so as to be rotatable around a pivot axis 25. A releasable liquid-tight connection between the sealing frame 22 and the closure piece 23 is made possible by a latching device formed by sealing and latching ribs and associated receiving grooves, although not shown in detail.
[0029] The ring-shaped pull tab 27 is connected to the closure unit 23 so as to be rotatable around another pivot axis 29. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing frame 22, the closure unit 23, and the pull tab 27 are formed from a single injection-molded portion.
[0030] In the closed state of the can lid 11 shown in Figure 1, the two pivot shafts 25 and 29 are positioned diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the sealing frame 22. As shown, the operating projection 33 is located in the outer peripheral region 31 of the pull tab 27.
[0031] The operating projection 33 allows a person to lift the pull handle 27 and rotate it away from the closure unit 23, as shown in Figure 2. By pulling the pull handle 27, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the closure piece 21 can be rotated upward away from the can lid plane, allowing the opening area 19 to be fully opened.
[0032] To facilitate direct drinking from the beverage can after the opening 13 is opened, the opening region 19 is positioned off-center or skewed within the metal can lid surface 12. This means that the opening region 19 has a geometric center that is located away from the geometric center 15 of the metal can lid surface 12. This results in a first boundary point 39 of the opening region 19 that is closer to the outer edge 17 of the metal can lid surface 12 than at least one second boundary point 49 of the opening region 19. In the shown embodiment, the first boundary point 39 is closer to the outer edge 17 than all other boundary points of the opening region 19; that is, the first boundary point 39 is a point located on the boundary of the opening region 19 and is the point closest to the outer edge 17 of the metal can lid surface 12.
[0033] The drinking plane 40 extends perpendicularly to the metal can lid surface 12, i.e., the can lid plane 24, and passes through the geometric center of the metal can lid surface 12 and through the first boundary point 39. The tilting motion of the beverage can for drinking usually occurs within the drinking plane 40.
[0034] Handling or maneuvering of the can while drinking is assisted by markings 44 formed by embossing on the surface 12 of the metal can lid and identifying a region of the metal can lid surface 12 located opposite the first boundary point 39 with respect to the geometric center of the metal can lid surface 12. The drinking action plane 40 extends through the markings 44. When the pull tab 27 is in the base position as shown in Figure 1, the drinking action plane 40 also extends through the operating projection 33.
[0035] During the opening and closing operations, the closure unit 23 and the pull handle 27 are moved within a rotating plane 45 that extends perpendicularly to the two pivot axes 25 and 29 and perpendicularly to the surface 12 of the metal can lid, i.e., perpendicularly to the can lid plane 24.
[0036] As can be seen particularly in Figure 3, the rotation plane 45 does not coincide with the drinking action plane 40, and is positioned at an angle to the drinking action plane 40. Specifically, the rotation plane 45 and the drinking action plane 40 intersect at an angle 47 that is not 0° in an intersection line that extends perpendicularly to the metal can lid surface 12, i.e., the can lid plane 24, and in this embodiment extends through the geometric center 35 of the opening region 19. According to the present application, the angle 47 between the rotation plane 45 and the drinking action plane 40 can be between 10° and 90°. In the embodiment shown, this angle is 60°.
[0037] Due to the design of the can lid 11 of the present invention, there is no risk of the nose coming into contact with the closure unit 23 or pull tab 27, which protrudes diagonally from the sealing frame 22 and laterally beyond the outer edge 17 of the metal can lid surface 12, when drinking from the accompanying beverage can. This is because the closure unit and pull tab are positioned outside the drinking plane 40 when the drinking spout 13 is open. Thus, the present invention makes it extremely convenient to drink beverages from a resealable beverage can. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0038] 11 Can lid 12. Surface of metal can lid 13. Re-sealable drinking spout 15 Geometric Center 17 Outer edge 19 Opening area 21 Closure pieces 22 Encapsulated Frames 23 Closure Unit 24 Can lid plane 25 pivot shafts 27 Pull handle 29 Other pivot axes 31 Peripheral area 33 Operation protrusion 35 Geometric Center 39. First boundary point 40 Drinking Action Plane 44 Marking 45 Rotational Plane 47 angle 49. Second boundary point
Claims
1. A can lid (11) for a beverage can, wherein the can lid (11) has a resealable opening (13), The can lid (11) is A metal can lid surface (12) having a geometric center (15) and an outer edge (17), wherein an opening region (19) is formed within the metal can lid surface (12), A sealing frame (22) made of plastic material is fixedly connected to the surface (12) of the metal can lid and surrounds the opening area (19), The device includes a closure unit (23) made of plastic material that is rotatably attached to the surface (12) of the metal can lid or the sealing frame (22) around a pivot axis (25), The closure unit (23) is configured to close the opening region (19) in a closed position, rotated toward the sealing frame (22), by a closure piece (21) on the metal can lid surface (12) supported directly by the closure unit (23), and to open the opening region (19) for drinking in an open position, rotated toward the sealing frame (22). The opening region (19) has at least one first boundary point (39) that is closer to the outer edge (17) of the metal can lid surface (12) than at least one second boundary point (49) of the opening region (19), The drinking plane (40) extending perpendicularly to the metal can lid surface (12) extends through the geometric center (15) of the metal can lid surface (12) and through the first boundary point (39) of the opening region (19), The rotating plane (45), which extends perpendicularly to the rotating shaft (25), extends perpendicularly to the surface of the metal can lid (12), The can lid is characterized in that the rotation plane (45) is at an angle (47) that is not 0° with the drinking operation plane (40).
2. A can lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle is 10° or more and 90° or less, preferably 40° or more and 70° or less, and more preferably about 60°.
3. A can lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotating plane (45) and the drinking plane (40) intersect at a line of intersection that extends perpendicularly to the metal can lid surface (12).
4. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the metal can lid surface (12) and / or the opening region (19) are rotationally symmetric, particularly circularly symmetric, and each of the centers of rotation lies within the drinking plane (40).
5. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the opening region (19) is completely open when the closure unit (23) is in the open position.
6. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the metal can lid surface (12) has markings (44) that identify a region of the metal can lid surface (12) located on the opposite side of the first boundary point (39) with respect to the geometric center (15).
7. A can lid according to claim 6, The can lid is characterized in that the drinking surface (40) extends through the marking (44).
8. A can lid according to claim 6 or 7, The can lid is characterized in that the marking (44) is formed on the surface (12) of the metal can lid by embossing.
9. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The can lid is characterized in that the closure unit (23) protrudes diagonally from the sealing frame (22) when it is in the open position.
10. A can lid according to claim 9, The can lid is characterized in that the closure unit (23) protrudes laterally beyond the outer edge (17) when in the open position.
11. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A can lid characterized in that a pull handle (27) is provided for opening the closure unit (23) and is rotatably connected to the closure unit (23) around another pivot axis (29), the pull handle (27) is rotated toward the closure unit (23) in the base position and protrudes diagonally or laterally from the closure unit (23) in the pulling position, and the other pivot axis (29) extends perpendicular to the rotation plane (45).
12. A can lid according to claim 11, A can lid characterized in that at least one operating projection (33) is located in the outer peripheral region (31) of the pull handle (27) and is located within the drinking operation plane (40) when the pull handle (27) is in the base position.
13. A can lid according to claim 11 or 12, A can lid characterized in that the sealing frame (22), the closure unit (23), and the pull tab (27) are formed from a single injection-molded portion.