Can lid

Abstract

The can lid comprises a metal can lid surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface facing the opposite direction from the first flat surface and having an opening; a sealing frame made of plastic material that surrounds the opening and is fixedly connected to the first flat surface of the metal can lid surface; and a closure unit made of plastic material that is rotatably mounted on the first flat surface of the metal can lid surface or the sealing frame around a pivot axis, wherein the closure unit is configured to directly close the opening and / or to close it by a closure piece on the metal can lid surface supported by the closure unit when rotated toward the sealing frame, and to open the opening when rotated toward the sealing frame. The can lid has at least three support protrusions embossed on the metal can lid surface, each forming a raised portion of the same height relative to the second flat surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a can lid, particularly a can lid for a beverage can, which has a metal can lid surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface facing in a direction opposite to the first flat surface and having an opening formed therein, a sealing frame made of a plastic material, surrounding the opening and fixedly connected to the first flat surface of the metal can lid surface, and a closure unit made of a plastic material and rotatably attached to the first flat surface of the metal can lid surface or the sealing frame about a rotation axis. The closure unit is configured to directly close the opening or close the opening by a closure piece of the metal can lid surface supported by the closure unit in a closed position rotated toward the sealing frame, and to open the opening in an open position rotated away from the sealing frame.

[0002] Such can lids are widely used in the manufacture of beverage cans, food cans, etc. Such can lids are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, enable space-saving stacking of similar cans, can be easily opened, and can be re-closed by manually rotating the closure unit if necessary.

[0003] In the manufacture of beverage cans, etc., usually, the can lids are pre-manufactured and stacked before being individually connected to the accompanying containers, for example, by crimping, press welding or crimping. The stack of can lids usually passes through various processing and conveying areas of the production line at a relatively high speed and with multiple direction changes. This easily causes misalignments such as tilting of the stacked can lids, which should be prevented. However, in practice, plastic parts on the upper or lower side surfaces of the can lid prevent direct contact between the can lid surface or the periphery of the can lid, while the plastic parts do not provide a large area and a precise contact surface by themselves, so it is difficult to prevent tilting. Existing surface structures such as reinforcing beads exacerbate the problem of non-uniform contact surfaces.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of the present invention is to enable easier and more reliable handling of resealable can lids in the manufacturing process.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a can lid having the features of claim 1 of this application. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The can lid of the present invention has a configuration of at least three separate support protrusions, which are provided on the surface of the metal can lid by embossing, forming separate raised portions of the same height relative to a second flat surface.

[0007] Therefore, the at least three support protrusions extend beyond the reference plane of the can lid with the same maximum height offset. When stacking can lids of the same type, the support protrusions on the can lid are supported by the sealing frame and / or closure unit of the next can lid, and function as spacers. Because at least three protrusions are provided, stable multi-point support, especially three-point support, is possible. This reliably prevents the stacked can lids from wobbling or tilting. Embossing the support protrusions can be done easily and inexpensively, without requiring additional components or processing steps.

[0008] The first flat surface of the metal can lid typically forms the upper side of the lid. However, as a rule, the sealing frame and / or closure unit may be located on the lower side of the lid.

[0009] The surface of the metal can lid has a uniform or average thickness and a height that is at least equal to that thickness, and the height is at least 1.5 times the thickness and at most 4 times the thickness, and preferably at least 2 times the thickness and at most 3 times the thickness. This allows for simple manufacturing on the one hand and ensures that the support protrusions function as spacers by protruding beyond the various irregularities or structures on the can lid surface.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the opening has a boundary or edge extending within the reference plane of the can lid, and has a flat support section in which at least one of at least three support protrusions, in particular all of the support protrusions of the support protrusion configuration, extends parallel to and offset from the reference plane. This has been found to be particularly advantageous with respect to stable support.

[0011] At least one of the three support protrusions, and in particular at least two of the three protrusions, may have a circular outer circumference. This allows for particularly simple manufacturing.

[0012] Preferably, the closure unit supports a closure piece on the surface of the metal can lid, and at least one of the three support protrusions is embossed on the closure piece. Even if the can lids are twisted together in a stack, the support protrusions on the closure piece are relatively likely to come into contact with the sealing frame or closure unit of the next can lid.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the metal can lid and the opening have geometric centers spaced apart from each other, and at least one of at least three protrusions is positioned on the line connecting the two geometric centers. The offset arrangement of the opening centers facilitates drinking directly from each of the beverage cans. The support protrusion positioned on the line connecting the two centers has two functions, as it also functions as a mark indicating the most preferred tilt direction. Because of this mark, the user can instantly know how to hold the can and which way to tilt the can when drinking.

[0014] At least three support protrusions may be distributed across the surface of the metal can lid such that there is a distance of at least 7 mm, and especially at least 15 mm, between all two support protrusions and / or a rotational distance of at least 5°, and especially at least 15°, between all two support protrusions with respect to the rotational center of the metal can lid surface. The relatively loose distribution of support protrusions across the can lid surface ensures particularly stable multi-point support.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the metal can lid is circular, and at least three support protrusions are distributed across the surface of the metal can lid so that the distance between all two support protrusions is at least one-quarter of the diameter of the circular metal can lid surface. This ensures that any undesirable tilting of the stacked can lids is compensated for.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one reinforcing bead is embossed on the surface of the metal can lid and is the same height as at least three support protrusions. In this embodiment, the reinforcing bead may function as a spacer together with the support protrusions, thereby satisfying two functions. Alternatively or additionally, at least one reinforcing bead may be embossed on the surface of the metal can lid, and at least one reinforcing bead may be lower in height than at least three support protrusions. For some applications, it may be required that support be provided only through support protrusions and not through reinforcing beads. It may also be required that support be provided only through selected reinforcing beads, or that support be provided through a selected subgroup of reinforcing beads in addition to the support protrusions.

[0017] The sealing frame and / or closure unit may have a flat surface section or portion that forms a surface opposite to the support surface of the support projection.

[0018] A configuration of four support protrusions is specifically provided, which are embossed on the surface of the metal can lid so as to form individual raised portions of the same height relative to a second flat surface. Typically, pre-formed can lids are not stacked oriented so that all lids have the same rotational position with respect to the stacking axis. Rather, the rotational positions are statistically distributed. If the opening is off-center, the sealing frame and closure unit will be in different positions. The configuration of four individual support protrusions is sufficient to provide at least three support points when two consecutive stacked can lids are oriented differently, in many practical and important cases.

[0019] Other embodiments of the present invention can be understood from the dependent claims, the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0020] The present invention is described below as an example with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view of the closed state of the can lid of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the can lid shown in Figure 1 excluding the closure component. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the closure piece of the can lid shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a stack formed by the can lid of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Figures 1 and 2 show a can lid 11 designed according to the present invention. The can lid 11 is intended for a beverage can or the like and has a metal can lid surface 13. The metal can lid surface 13 has a first, here upper, flat surface 16 and a second, here lower, flat surface 17 (Figure 2) facing opposite to the first flat surface, and is particularly formed from a sheet metal layer made of aluminum or tinplate. A coating made of a plastic material is formed on the second flat surface 17 of the metal can lid surface 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the metal can lid surface 13 is circular in plan view and has a center 20. The can lid 11 can be connected to a beverage container via a beaded rim 18 of the metal can lid surface 13.

[0023] The opening is provided within the metal can lid surface 13 and is closed by a section or part of the metal can lid surface 13 in the form of a closure piece 19 during the transfer stage of the shown can lid 11. As can be seen from Figure 2, the closure piece 19 is separated from the surrounding lid surface by a boundary in the form of a microgap 21. The microgap 21 extends in the plane and defines a reference plane 23 of the can lid 11 as understood from Figure 3. As shown, the opening is offset from the center within the metal can lid surface 13. That is, the geometric center of the opening is separated from the center 20.

[0024] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the can lid 11 is made of a plastic material and includes a sealing frame 27 that surrounds the opening and is fixedly connected to the surface 13 of the metal can lid. A closure unit 29 made of a plastic material and supporting the closure piece 19 is further provided, and the closure unit 29 is rotatably connected to the sealing frame 27 around a rotation axis 30. The releasable liquid-tight connection between the sealing frame 27 and the closure unit 29 is made possible by a latch device 28 (FIG. 4) formed by sealing and latch ribs and their associated receiving grooves. Therefore, the can lid 11 is re-closable.

[0025] In this embodiment, the tear-opening member 37, which is ring-shaped and particularly also formed of plastic, is connected to the closure unit 29. By pulling the tear-opening member 37, the user can rotate the closure piece 19 upward out of the reference plane and open the opening.

[0026] The first support protrusion 31 is embossed on the closure piece 19 to form a recess with respect to the first flat surface 16 and a raised portion with respect to the second flat surface 17. The outer periphery of the first support protrusion 31 is circular. As can be particularly seen from FIG. 3, the first support protrusion 31 has a flat support section 33 that extends offset parallel to the reference plane 23. The longitudinal raised portion 36 is embossed on the closure piece 19 and rises above the reference plane 23 in the direction of the first flat surface 16. That is, the longitudinal raised portion 36 is embossed in a direction different from that of the first support protrusion 31. Further, a peripheral closure relief bead 38 is embossed in the closure piece 19 and extends along the micro-gap 21. The closure relief bead 38 is lower in height than the first support protrusion 31.

[0027] Furthermore, second and third support protrusions 34 and 35, which have a circular outer circumference like the first support protrusion 31, are embossed on the area surrounding the opening of the metal can lid surface 13. However, the diameters of the second and third support protrusions 34 and 35 are smaller than the diameter of the first support protrusion 31. An additional support protrusion 39, which is embossed on the area surrounding the opening of the metal can lid surface 13, has a triangular edge. This support protrusion 39 indicates the most preferred tilt direction when drinking a beverage from the beverage can.

[0028] Like the first support projection 31, the second support projection 34, the third support projection 35, and the fourth support projection 39 each have individual flat support sections 33 that extend parallel to the reference plane 23 by the same amount as the flat support section 33 or flat support portion 33 of the first support projection 31. Thus, the can lid 11 has a configuration of embossed support projections 31, 34, 35, and 39 that form individual raised portions of the same height 50 relative to the second flat surface 17.

[0029] Pressure relief waves 47 are embossed on the surface 13 of the metal can lid to avoid excessive material stress when pressure rises inside the can. As can be seen in Figure 2, the pressure relief waves 47 extend at least partially around the opening parallel to each other. According to the present invention, the height of the pressure relief waves 47 may be lower than the height of the support protrusions 31, 34, 35, 39, or at least one of the pressure relief waves 47 may be the same height 50 as the support protrusions 31, 34, 35, 39.

[0030] Figure 4 shows stacked can lids 11 according to the present invention. The support projections 31, 34, 35, and 39 function as spacers in contact with the closure unit 29 and / or tear-opening material 37 of the lower can lid. During the prefabrication of the can lids, no measures are taken to ensure uniform alignment of the stacked can lids in the rotational direction with respect to the stacking axis 55. Therefore, the rotational positions of the stacked can lids 11 are statistically distributed, as can be seen from Figure 4. Due to the number and arrangement of the support projections 31, 34, 35, and 39, stable multi-point support is ensured for each consecutive pair of can lids 11.

[0031] The metal can lid surface 13 has a uniform thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, particularly about 0.2 mm. The heights of the support protrusions 31, 34, 35, and 39 are, in particular, at least twice, at most three times, and preferably about 2.5 times, the thickness of the metal can lid surface 13.

[0032] Furthermore, the four support protrusions 31, 34, 35, and 39 are distributed across the metal can lid surface 13 such that there is at least 15 mm between every two of the support protrusions 31, 34, 35, and 39, and that there is at least 15° of angular distance with respect to the center 20. In addition, the four support protrusions 31, 34, 35, and 39 are distributed such that there is at least one-quarter of the diameter of the circular metal can lid surface 13 between every two of the support protrusions 31, 34, 35, and 39.

[0033] Wobbling or tilting within the stack 45 is reliably prevented despite the absence of support from the bead rim 18. Embossing of the support protrusions 31, 34, 35, and 39 can be done easily and inexpensively without additional components or processing steps. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 11 Can lid 13. Surface of metal can lid 16 First flat surface 17. Second flat surface 18 Bead Rim 19 Closure pieces 20 Enshin 21 microgap 23 Reference plane 27-line configuration 28 Latch devices 29 Closure Unit 30 rotational axes 31 First supporting projection 33 Flat support section 34 Second supporting projection 35 Third supporting projection 36 Longitudinal ridge 37 Tear-off opening material 38 Closure release bead 39. Fourth supporting projection 45 Stacking 47 Pressure release wave 50 Height 55 Stacking axis

Claims

1. A can lid (11), more particularly a can lid (11) for a beverage can, A metal can lid surface (13) having a first flat surface (16) and a second flat surface (17) facing in the opposite direction to the first flat surface (16) and having an opening formed therein, A sealing frame (27) made of plastic material surrounds the opening and is fixedly connected to the first flat surface (16) of the metal can lid surface (13), It has a closure unit (29) made of plastic material, which is rotatably attached around a pivot axis (30) to the first flat surface (16) of the metal can lid surface (13) or to the sealing frame (27), The closure unit (29) is configured to directly close the opening and / or to close it by a closure piece (19) on the metal can lid surface (13) supported by the closure unit (29) when rotated toward the sealing frame (27), and to open the opening when rotated toward the open position away from the sealing frame (27). The can lid (11) is characterized in that it has at least three support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39) embossed on the metal can lid surface (13) such that each protrusion forms a raised portion of the same height (50) relative to the second flat surface (17).

2. A can lid according to claim 1, The metal can lid surface (13) may have a uniform or smoothed thickness and a height (50) which may be at least the same as the thickness, and the height (50) may be at least 1.5 times the thickness and at most 4 times the thickness, and preferably at least 2 times the thickness and at most 3 times the thickness.

3. A can lid according to claim 1 or 2, The opening has a boundary (21) that extends within the reference plane (23) of the can lid (11), and the can lid is characterized in that at least one of the at least three support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39), in particular all of the support protrusions, extends a flat support section (33) that is offset parallel to the reference plane (23).

4. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A can lid characterized in that at least one of the at least three support protrusions (31, 34, 35), and in particular at least two of the at least three protrusions, has a circular outer circumference.

5. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A can lid characterized in that the closure unit (29) supports the closure piece (19) on the surface (13) of the metal can lid, and at least one of the three support protrusions (39) is embossed on the closure piece (19).

6. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The metal can lid surface and the opening each have geometric centers spaced apart from each other, and at least one of the at least three protrusions (39) is positioned on the connecting line between the two geometric centers.

7. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A can lid characterized in that the at least three support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39) are distributed across the metal can lid surface (13) such that there is a distance of at least 7 mm, particularly at least 15 mm, between all two support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39) and / or a rotational distance of at least 5°, particularly at least 15°, between all two support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39) with respect to the rotational center (20) of the metal can lid surface (13).

8. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A can lid characterized in that the metal can lid surface (13) is circular, and the at least three support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39) are distributed across the metal can lid surface (13) such that, at all intervals between two support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39), the distance is at least one-quarter of the diameter of the circular metal can lid surface (13).

9. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A can lid characterized in that at least one reinforcing bead (38, 47) is embossed on the surface (13) of the metal can lid and is at the same height as or lower than the at least three support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39).

10. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The can lid is characterized in that the sealing frame (27) and / or the closure unit (29) have flat surface portions.

11. A can lid according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A configuration of four support protrusions (31, 34, 35, 39) is provided, and the support protrusions are embossed on the surface (13) of the metal can lid so as to form individual raised portions of the same height (50) as the second flat surface (17).

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