Plate piece with open support for can

Abstract

A plate piece with an opening support for a can, which has a lever, which is attached to the can by a rivet, has an upper surface, a lower surface, a central edge (7), a radial edge (8) and two lateral edges (18). The lateral edges respectively connect the end of the central edge with the end of the radial edge. The plate piece is slightly curved. The radial edges extend over a partial circle with an angle of at least 150°, the central edge is provided with a receiving portion (9) for a rivet. The lateral edges may each be formed with an edge reinforcement (21) which reinforces the plate piece. The radial edges are formed with a grooved anchor (10), which forms a bent slide rail directed away from the lower surface, which engages in a groove in the beverage can. The upper surface is formed with at least one elongated, curved, generally sickle-shaped ridge (15), which is arranged to be engageable with a lever of the can and to be used as an opening support, each ridge having a gradually descending slope towards its end. The ridge extends generally concentrically with the rivet receiving portion and has a length of at least 5 mm. At least one shift support is arranged on the upper surface, preferably having at least one nodular ridge (20). The corners of the lateral edges towards the radial edges form radial projections, thereby forming the corner shapes (13). The plate piece is made of metal.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plate piece having an opening support for a can. [Background technology]

[0002] The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of hygiene, especially with regard to contact and droplet transmission. Drink cans pass through many hands before reaching the end user, who touches parts of the can with their lips when drinking. If these parts of the can become contaminated during transport, the end user could become infected.

[0003] Various types of closures are known for beverage cans and can be broadly divided into slide, clip, turn and lid closures.

[0004] A sliding closure is characterized by a closure element attached to the beverage tab of a beverage can, thereby closing the opening of the beverage can. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,785,199, 6,098,830, 6,722,518, and 5,351,853 disclose sliding closures for beverage cans. In U.S. Patent Nos. 6,098,830, 6,722,518, and 5,351,853, the closures have a rail element. The rail element can accommodate the beverage can's opening clip, thereby stabilizing the closure. By placing the beverage can's opening clip on the closure device, the closure device itself is pressed against the can, thus closing the opening. In U.S. Patent No. 5,785,199, the closure is pulled and folded back by the tab of the opening clip, and a plate piece is provided that closes the opening of the beverage can.

[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 20090001092, 8727164, 7500577, 3637104, and 3850334 disclose various types of clip-type closures for beverage cans. These are characterized in that the opening of the beverage can is closed by a clip that is inserted into the opening of the beverage can. In U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 20090001092, 7500577, and 3850334, the clip itself is held at the edge of the opening of the beverage can. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 8727164, the closing clip is connected to the opening clip, so that the opening clip can be used to reclose the closure. U.S. Patent No. 3637104 discloses a hook and a closing plate piece. There, the closing plate piece is placed on the opening and the hook is fastened to the can rim so that the closing plate piece is pressed against the lid of the beverage can from below, thus closing the opening.

[0006] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20130168457, European Patent Application Publication No. 0816248, International Publication No. 2010 / 109341, U.S. Patent No. 6,321,927, U.S. Patent No. 8,881,940, U.S. Patent No. 5,199,591, U.S. Patent No. 4,913,304, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 4,880,136, and U.S. Patent No. 5,285,924 disclose various lid-equipped closures for beverage cans. These closures are characterized in that the closure is disposed on the beverage can to at least partially cover the lid of the beverage can, and in this case, also cover the opening of the beverage can.

[0007] Several rotating closures are known from German Patent Applications No. 4,427,812, German Patent Applications No. 19,744,245, German Patent No. 10,018,685, German Patent Application No. 3,931,573, U.S. Patent No. 4,717,039, and U.S. Patent No. 4,681,238. German Patent Applications No. 4,427,812, German Patent Application No. 3,931,573, U.S. Patent No. 4,717,039, and U.S. Patent No. 4,681,238 are distinguished by the fact that the closure is connected to a rivet located in the center of the lid. This allows the closure to be pivoted and, by appropriately pivoting, close the opening of the beverage can. The rivet connection must be fabricated during can production. Two rotary closure hooks are evident from German Patent Applications DE 19744245 A1 and DE 10018685 A1. The rotary closure hook has the advantage that the closure can be shifted onto the lid and thus rotated around the rivet. The central rivet is therefore used as a fixing point. The opening clip on the can prevents the rotary closure from coming loose.

[0008] German Patent Application No. DE 19744245 A1 discloses a rotating closure hook, which can be shifted onto the lid and thus rotated around the rivet. US Patent No. 20130168457 has a hook-shaped edge fastening element, by means of which the closure is fastened to the edge of the can and can be configured to be pivotable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,785,199 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 6,098,830 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 6,722,518 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 5,351,853 [Patent Document 5] US Patent Application Publication No. 20090001092 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 8,727,164 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 7,500,577 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent No. 3,637,104 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Patent No. 3,850,334 [Patent Document 10] US Patent Application Publication No. 20130168457 [Patent Document 11] European Patent Application Publication No. 0816248 [Patent Document 12] International Publication No. 2010 / 109341 [Patent Document 13] U.S. Patent No. 6,321,927 [Patent Document 14] U.S. Patent No. 8,881,940 [Patent Document 15] U.S. Patent No. 5,199,591 [Patent Document 16] U.S. Patent No. 4,913,304 [Patent Document 17] US Patent Application Publication No. 4,880,136 [Patent Document 18] U.S. Patent No. 5,285,924 [Patent Document 19] DE 4427812 [Patent Document 20] DE 19744245 [Patent Document 21] German Patent No. 10018685 [Patent Document 22] DE 3931573 A1 [Patent Document 23] U.S. Patent No. 4,717,039 [Patent Document 24] U.S. Patent No. 4,681,238 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a plate piece for a can that can be produced simply and inexpensively.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to reliably close an open can with little resistance simply by rotating the plate pieces.

[0012] Moreover, a further object of the present invention is to protect the opening from bacteria that may be introduced onto the surface of the can during transport and sale.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide plate strips for cans that are environmentally friendly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] One or more problems are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and preferred embodiments form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0015] The plate piece having an opening support for a can includes a lever attached to the can by a rivet. The plate piece has an upper surface, a lower surface, a central edge, a radial edge, and two side edges. The side edges connect the ends of the central edge and the radial edge, respectively. The plate piece is slightly curved, with the center of the approximately curved sphere of curvature located approximately on the longitudinal axis of the can, distal to the lower surface. The radial edges extend over a partial circle having an angle of at least 150°, and the central edge is provided with a rivet receiving portion. The side edges may each be formed with edge reinforcements that reinforce the plate piece. The radial edges are formed with grooved anchors that form bent slide rails directed away from the lower surface, which engage with grooves in the beverage can. The upper surface is formed with at least one elongated, curved, approximately sickle-shaped protuberance, the protuberance being positioned to engage with the can's lever and serve as an opening support, each protuberance having a gradually decreasing slope toward its end. The protuberance extends approximately concentrically with the rivet receiving portion, and the protuberance has a length of at least 5 mm. The upper surface is also arranged with at least one shift support, preferably having at least one nodular protuberance. Corners of the lateral edges toward the radial edges form radial protrusions, thereby forming corners. The plate piece is formed from metal.

[0016] The corner features extend the radial edges, which further strengthens the plate pieces, yet when the plate pieces are in the proper position the spout remains open even if the plate pieces are not perfectly aligned.

[0017] The curvature of the plate piece, which may also be referred to as a curve, is described by a sphere of curvature, which is formed by the plate piece expanding further until a hollow body is formed following the curve, which may be egg-shaped or oval-shaped.

[0018] The slight curve or bow of the plate pieces makes them stable and tight against the can lid, so that little dirt gets between the plate pieces and the lid. Despite the large surface area of ​​the plate pieces, it has been found that they can be shifted with only a slight force. This is due to the curved shape that fits the appropriate top surface of the can, so that no part of the plate pieces exerts high stress on the top surface of the can. The slide rails are preferably placed in the grooves of the can in such a way that strong friction effects between the remaining area of ​​the plate pieces and the top surface of the lid are avoided.

[0019] Furthermore, the grooved anchor is pressed into the groove by the curve and the pressing force transmitted to the plate piece by the rivet.

[0020] The raised portions are also referred to as opening supports hereinafter. The raised portions drop on both sides so that the plate pieces can be rotated in different directions to open the can.

[0021] Because the opening support is formed longer and sickle-shaped compared to the opening support in the background art, the opening support may be taller to create stronger leverage. The sickle shape allows the opening support to easily shift under the lever. The length of the opening support ensures that the slope of the opening support extends flat, which allows the opening support to shift under the lever with little force and ensures that the lever does not pivot away. The longer the opening support, the more gradual the slope at the same height. The more gradual the slope, the easier it is to shift the opening support under the lever.

[0022] The grooved anchor has a centering function, so that the rivet receiving area at the center edge can be loaded with somewhat more play, allowing the plate piece to rotate more easily. The grooved anchor fits snugly into the groove and slides across it as the plate piece rotates.

[0023] The edge reinforcement provides a stiffening of the plate piece and also provides a visual aid for identifying where the plate piece begins in order to grip and rotate it appropriately.

[0024] By making the plate pieces from metal, preferably aluminum, they can be made very thin. The aforementioned reinforcement ensures that they are nevertheless highly rigid and do not warp, even if the can is turned upside down. Furthermore, the reinforcement minimizes friction and allows the plate pieces to rotate easily.

[0025] By making the plate pieces from metal, in particular aluminium, the plate pieces can be manufactured from the same material as the can itself, which makes the recycling process easier and more environmentally friendly.

[0026] Due to the plate piece shape, the plate pieces can be easily manufactured, for example by a stamping process, in which the plate pieces are stamped out of a plate.

[0027] The plate pieces are pivotable about the rivets. The movement of the plate pieces is guided by recesses that abut the rivets. The guides in the rivets allow for easy shifting.

[0028] The plate pieces are suitable for closing the opening of a beverage can, for example, to prevent insects or other contaminants from entering the can. Furthermore, carbonated beverages retain their taste longer, since the carbonation does not escape as quickly through the air.

[0029] When the plate piece is rotated, the opening support shifts under the lever of the can, allowing the lever to be easily lifted, making it easier to open the can.

[0030] The plate-like configuration ensures that the plate does not protrude beyond the edge of the can, thereby maintaining stackability of the cans. The plate may be placed on the closed can during can manufacturing. Shipping of multiple pallets of cans is not hindered by placing one closure on each can.

[0031] Preferably, the grooved anchors are formed along the entire length of the radial edge of the plate piece, thereby providing a uniform load along the entire length of the radial edge of the plate piece.

[0032] The grooved anchor is preferably adapted to the shape of the groove of the beverage can, both in terms of the circular shape of the groove and the cross-sectional shape of the groove. In particular, the grooved anchor is configured so that the grooved anchor abuts in a form-fitting manner against the inner boundary surface formed by the groove. Additionally, the grooved anchor may be configured so that the grooved anchor abuts in a form-fitting manner against the outward boundary surface of the groove.

[0033] The grooved anchor may have its shape adapted to the groove by bending the plate piece, but may also have a thicker body extending into the groove compared to the rest of the plate piece.

[0034] Preferably, the plate pieces are at least 0.2 mm, at least 0.5 mm, at least 0.75 mm or It has a thickness of at least 1 mm.

[0035] Such a thickness of the plate pieces ensures that the plate pieces are stable enough and do not consume too much material, thereby keeping costs low.

[0036] According to one development, the protuberances are at least 7 mm, at least 10 mm or It has a length of at least 20 mm.

[0037] Such a length would allow the ridge to slide easily under the can lever and still provide sufficient leverage, if the ridge were shorter the slope would be too steep and the ridge would not be able to shift under the lever, or if the ridge was not tall enough, it would provide too little leverage to provide sufficient support for opening the can.

[0038] In one embodiment, the ridges are uniformly spaced apart by at least 1 mm, at least 3 mm, on each side. or It can fall over a section of at least 5 mm.

[0039] The section described herein allows the ridge to be gently shifted under the lever without having to expend excessive force, yet the lever is still lifted high enough to subsequently open the can.

[0040] Preferably, the ridges are at least 0.25 mm, at least 0.5 mm or It has a height of at least 1 mm, and the ridges are up to 0.25 mm, up to 0.5 mm or It has a maximum height of 1 mm.

[0041] With such a ridge, the leverage is sufficient to lift the lever so that part of a user's finger can act underneath to easily lift the lever to open the can.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the radial edge is at least 200°, at least 250° or It is curved to form a partial circle having an angle of at least 300°.

[0043] In such a curve, the plate pieces are particularly stable and, when in the correct position, effectively close the opening of the can so that no or very little drops of beverage spill out of the can even if the can is tipped over or turned upside down.

[0044] In an embodiment, the corner features are at least 2 mm, at least 4 mm or A protrusion of at least 8 mm may be formed. A corner having such a length extends the radial edge, which provides additional stability while still leaving a large enough surface on the top of the can so that the can opening is fully opened when the plate piece is brought into position.

[0045] According to one development, the lateral edges have a curve due to extruded corner shapes, and the edge reinforcements are arranged along this curve.

[0046] The edge reinforcement itself is curved due to its curved arrangement, which gives the reinforcement a two-way orientation, thereby stabilizing the plate piece with a surface, since this surface is tensioned in two directions.

[0047] Preferably, the edge reinforcement is formed as a thickness of material at that location, preferably at least 1.2 times, preferably at least 1.5 times the thickness of the other plate pieces. or It has a thickness of at least 2.0 times.

[0048] Such a lid on the edge reinforcement is a good compromise between sufficient reinforcement of the plate pieces and material savings.

[0049] According to one development, the shift support has at least three nodules, at least five nodules or It has at least 10 nodes.

[0050] Such a number of nodules is a good compromise between the grip of the plate piece and the amount of material required for the nodules. Placing too many may confuse the user and / or cause dirt to accumulate on the nodules. Having too few nodules does not provide enough friction surface for the user's fingers to interact with the nodules to rotate the plate piece.

[0051] In an embodiment, the nodule of the shift support may be formed as a rectangular section with strongly rounded corners when viewed from above, in which case the rectangular section has a ratio of at least 1:1, at least 1:2 or It has an aspect ratio of at least 1:4.

[0052] A nodule with this aspect ratio, when viewed from above, is on the one hand robust so that it does not break when interacting with the user's fingers, and on the other hand, it provides good tactile feedback to the user, who knows at what radius the plate piece must be rotated.

[0053] Preferably, the underside is covered with plastic.

[0054] The coatings are in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) or linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). They are inert to most of the contents of the can, so that the taste is not affected. Furthermore, they reduce friction between the closure and the beverage can, which facilitates rotation.

[0055] According to one development, the top surface is printed.

[0056] The printed top surface may be configured with features attached thereto that may be incorporated into, for example, a visual recognition system, for example, for transporting the can by a carrier.

[0057] Moreover, notices, patterns, logos or other items may be placed on these plate pieces.

[0058] The plate piece having a lever-equipped opening support for a can, particularly according to the above-mentioned configuration, has an upper surface, a lower surface, a central edge, a radial edge, and two side edges, each connecting an end of the central edge with an end of the radial edge. The lever is attached to the can by a rivet. The radial edges extend over a partial circle having an angle of at least 90°, with the central edge being provided with a rivet receiving section. The radial edges are provided with a slide rail configured to engage with a groove in the beverage can. The upper surface is formed with at least one elongated, generally sickle-shaped ridge, which can engage with the can lever and is arranged to serve as an opening support, each ridge having a gradually decreasing slope toward its end. The upper surface is formed with at least one shift support. The plate piece is integrally formed from metal and embossed.

[0059] The raised portions are also referred to below as opening supports. The raised portions drop on both sides, allowing the plate pieces to be pivoted in either direction to open the can.

[0060] The opening support is longer and sickle-shaped compared to the opening supports in the background art, so the opening support may be taller to create stronger leverage. The sickle shape allows the opening support to easily shift under the lever. The length of the opening support ensures that the slope of the opening support extends flat, allowing the opening support to shift under the lever with little force and ensuring that the lever does not pivot away. The longer the opening support, the more gradual the slope at the same height. The more gradual the slope, the easier it is to shift the opening support under the lever.

[0061] The slide rail has a centering function, so that the rivet receiving section at the central edge can be loaded with somewhat greater play, allowing the plate piece to rotate more easily. The slide rail fits snugly into the groove and slides across it when the plate piece rotates.

[0062] By making the plate pieces from metal, preferably aluminum, they can be made very thin. The aforementioned reinforcement ensures that they are still highly rigid and do not warp, even if the can is turned upside down. Furthermore, the reinforcement minimizes friction and allows the plate pieces to rotate easily.

[0063] By making the plate pieces out of metal, especially aluminium, the plate pieces can be manufactured from the same material as the can itself, which makes the recycling process easier and more environmentally friendly.

[0064] The plate pieces are integrally formed, which means that the plate pieces do not have to be first assembled and embossed to form them, which means that if pre-punched blanks are available, only a single step is required for production, which reduces production costs and makes it easy to produce many plate pieces in a short amount of time.

[0065] During embossing, a deformation tool acts with high pressure on a blank made of metal, preferably aluminum, which causes a deformation of the blank, which is a relief and forms a plate piece.

[0066] The plate piece can rotate around the rivet. The movement of the plate piece is guided by a recess that abuts against the rivet. The guide in the rivet allows for easy sliding.

[0067] The plate pieces are suitable for closing the opening of the can, for example to prevent insects or other contaminants from getting into the beverage can. Furthermore, carbonated beverages retain their taste longer, since the carbonation does not escape as quickly through the air.

[0068] When the plate piece is rotated, the opening support shifts under the lever of the can, allowing the lever to be easily lifted, making it easier to open the can.

[0069] The plate-like configuration ensures that the plate does not protrude beyond the edge of the can, thereby maintaining stackability of the cans. The plate may be placed on the closed can during can manufacturing. Shipping of multiple pallets of cans is not hindered by placing one closure on each can.

[0070] The can system comprises a can and a plate piece with an opening support for the can as described above, the plate piece with the opening support for the can being attached to the can.

[0071] The method of manufacturing the aforementioned can system is characterized by first making the can, then placing the plate pieces in the grooves, followed by inserting the levers onto the grooves and closing the grooves in a final step.

[0072] The invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0073] [Figure 1] 1 shows an embodiment of a plate piece in a schematic perspective view from above. [Figure 2] 2 shows the same embodiment of a plate piece in a schematic, oblique view from below; [Figure 3] 1 shows the same embodiment of a plate piece in a schematic flat top view. [Figure 4] 2 shows the same embodiment of a plate piece in a schematic side view. [Figure 5] 1 shows the same embodiment of a plate piece in a schematic top view. [Figure 6a] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6b] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6c] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6d] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6e] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6f] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6g] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. [Figure 6h] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a plate piece and a beverage can. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0074] A can 2, in particular a plate piece 1 of a beverage can, will now be described (FIGS. 1 to 6).

[0075] The can 2 has a generally cylindrical shape. On one side of the cylinder, called the head plate 22, there is an opening 3 of the beverage can 2. Next to the opening 3, a rivet 4 is arranged, to which a lever 11 is attached, which is configured to press a portion of the lid of the can 2, so that the pressed-in lid portion 12 is located inside the can 2. The end of the rivet is formed with a rivet head 14. The rivet head 14 is a flat, at least rounded, piece of plate that is arranged at the end of the rivet 4 and has a larger radius than the rivet 4. The rivet head 4 prevents the lever 11 from accidentally releasing. At the edge, the beverage can 2 has a groove 5 and a raised lip 6.

[0076] The plate piece 1 has a central edge 7 , a radial edge 8 and two lateral edges 18 .

[0077] The plate piece 1 has corner features 13 which form radial (circumferential) protrusions at the corners of the lateral edges 18 which join the radial edges 8 .

[0078] The plate pieces have edge reinforcements 21 formed on the lateral edges 18 to stiffen the plate pieces.

[0079] The plate piece 1 has a slight curve, the centre of the curved sphere of curvature being located distal to the lower surface of the plate piece 1, approximately on the longitudinal axis of the can.

[0080] When viewed from above, the plate piece 1 has an approximately sector-like shape with a radius r and a central angle α centered on the center M of the circle (Fig. 1). The shape of the plate piece is selected so that the central angle α is approximately 200°.

[0081] The plate piece 1 is configured in this example as a protective cover 1 and will also be referred to as such hereinafter.

[0082] The center M of the circle is located at the central edge 7 of the protective cover 1 and is positioned so that when the protective cover 1 is placed on the beverage can 2, the center M of the circle coincides with the center of the rivet 4 on the beverage can 2.

[0083] The central edge 7 forms, when viewed from above, a recess 9 in the shape of a circular segment for receiving the rivet 4. The recess 9 is formed in the shape of a circular segment, the radius of which corresponds at least to the radius of the rivet 4.

[0084] Another option, not shown here, is for the recess 9 to be completely surrounded by the metal of the plate piece 1 .

[0085] The protective cover 1 is sized to provide a reasonable closure function, a necessary size for covering the opening 3 of the beverage can 2, and sufficient stability when viewed from above. The protective cover 1 is a mass-produced product. The smaller the protective cover 1, the cheaper it is to manufacture.

[0086] The radius r of the sector essentially corresponds to the normal spacing between the rivet 4 and the groove 5 of the beverage can 2 .

[0087] The radius r of the sector is smaller than the normal spacing between the rivet 4 and the raised edge 6 of the beverage can 2 .

[0088] The protective cover has an opening support 15, which is a raised portion facing upward and away from the can, approximately halfway along the section from the central edge 7 to the radial edge 8 of the closure.

[0089] The opening support 15 is formed as a ridge, which, as in the previous embodiment, has two edges 17 that each extend approximately tangentially, i.e., approximately parallel to the radial edge 8. This gives the opening support 15 a slightly curved, sickle-shaped configuration. Each edge 17 of the opening support 15 has an essentially uniform slope descending from the center of the opening support toward the lateral edge 18 until the edge 17 reaches the level of the surface of the plate piece 1. The angle 19 that the edge 17 forms with the surface of the plate piece 1 is preferably at least 3°, in particular at least 5°, and particularly preferably at least 8° (FIG. 3). The maximum angle 19 is less than 30°, preferably less than 20°. Due to the gently sloping edges 17, the opening support 15 can be shifted under the lever 11 of the can 2 with only a small force, which is then lifted upward by the opening support 15. The opening support 15 extends like a wedge between the surface of the can 2 and the lever 11 .

[0090] In principle, other shapes of the opening support 15 are also conceivable, in that the opening support 15 has at least one inclined surface formed transversely to the radial direction of the beverage can 2.

[0091] In this embodiment, the opening support 15 is stamped.

[0092] The protective cover 1 is provided with a grooved anchor 10 on its radial edge 8, which can engage in the groove 5. In this embodiment, the grooved anchor 10 is formed by bending the radial edge 8 downwards so that the radial edge 8 engages in the groove 5 of the beverage can 2 (Figures 1 to 5 and 6e, 6h). The width of the bent portion corresponds approximately to the depth of the groove 5.

[0093] Alternatively, the radial edge 8 may be double bent to form a V-shape in side view. The grooved anchor 10 now has one further protrusion that extends to the raised edge 6 (Fig. 6f).

[0094] Another option consists in the grooved anchor 10 being triple bent (Fig. 6g), which here additionally has one further protrusion pointing towards the central edge 7 compared to the previous alternative (Fig. 6a).

[0095] The grooved anchor 10 may alternatively be adapted to the shape of the groove 5 (Figs. 6a to 6d, Fig. 3d).

[0096] One option is provided by the grooved anchor 10 protruding by additional material at the underside of the protective cover 1. Viewed from the side, the protective cover 1 has a thickened portion at that location. This portion may consist of the same material as the rest of the protective cover 1 or of a different material.

[0097] The plate piece 1 has a gripping portion 20, which is arranged on another adjacent lateral edge 18 (FIGS. 1 to 5). In this embodiment, this gripping portion is formed by several embossed nodules that protrude slightly upwards. These nodules therefore form a wavy upper surface, which allows the fingers to easily transmit a shifting moment to the plate piece 1, causing it to rotate and shifting the lever 11 by means of the release support 15.

[0098] The grip portion may also be formed by another type of roughening, for example by sandblasting this portion. The grip portion is preferably significantly less raised than the release support 15, which allows the plate piece 1 to be inserted under the lever, firstly by shifting the grip portion under the lever until the plate piece 1 is positioned so that the lever is located in the area between the grip portion 20 and the release support 15.

[0099] The method of manufacturing the aforementioned can system is characterized by first making the can, then placing the plate pieces in the grooves, followed by inserting the levers onto the grooves and closing the grooves in a final step.

[0100] The opening support 15 may be formed in a wedge shape.

[0101] In an alternative embodiment, the nodules 20 are stamped into the plate piece as negative nodules.

[0102] Another option is for the nodules 20 to have structures corresponding to letters or numbers or braille symbols, for example. The present application relates to the invention described in the claims, but also includes the following as other aspects. 1. In a plate piece having an open support for a can, a lever attached to the can by a rivet, the plate piece having an upper surface, a lower surface, a central edge, a radial edge, and two side edges, the side edges connecting ends of the central edge and the radial edge, respectively; the plate piece is slightly curved, approximately a sphere of curvature, with the center of curvature located approximately on the longitudinal axis of the can distal to the lower surface; the radial edges extend over a partial circle having an angle of at least 150°, the central edge being provided with a receiving portion for the rivet, The side edges are each formed with an edge reinforcement for reinforcing the plate piece, and the radial edges are formed with grooved anchors, which form bent slide rails directed away from the lower surface, and which slide rails engage with grooves in the beverage can; the top surface is formed with at least one elongated, generally sickle-shaped raised portion, the raised portion being arranged to be engageable with the lever of the can and to be used as an opening support, the raised portion each having a gradually decreasing slope towards its end, the raised portion extending generally concentrically with the rivet receiving portion, the raised portion having a length of at least 5 mm; At least one shift support having at least one nodular protuberance is disposed on the upper surface; the corners of the lateral edges project radially toward the radial edges, thereby forming corner shapes; The plate piece is made of metal. A piece of plate with an open support for the can. 2. The plate pieces may be at least 0.2 mm, at least 0.5 mm, at least 0.75 mm or 1. A plate piece having an open support for a can according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a thickness of at least 1 mm. 3. The raised portion is at least 7 mm, at least 10 mm or1 or 2. A plate piece having an open support for a can according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a length of at least 20 mm. 4. The raised portion is uniformly raised by at least 1 mm and at least 3 mm on each side. or 4. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 3 above, characterized in that it drops over a section of at least 5 mm. 5. The ridges may be at least 0.25 mm, at least 0.5 mm or The protuberances have a height of at least 1 mm, and the protuberances have a height of at most 0.25 mm, at most 0.5 mm or 5. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 4 above, characterized in that it has a maximum height of 1 mm. 6. The radial edges are at least 200°, at least 250° or 6. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 5 above, characterized in that it is curved to form a partial circle having an angle of at least 300°. 7. The corner features are at least 2 mm, at least 4 mm or 7. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is extruded by at least 8 mm. 8. 8. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the side edges have a curve due to an extruded corner shape, and the edge reinforcement is arranged along the curve. 9. The edge reinforcement is formed as a thickness of material at that location, preferably at least 1.2 times, at least 1.5 times the thickness of the other plate pieces. or 9. A plate piece having an open support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a thickness of at least 2.0 times. 10. The shift support may have at least three nodules, at least five nodules, or 10. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has at least 10 nodule-like protrusions. 11. The nodular projection of the shift support is formed as a rectangular section with strongly rounded corners when viewed from above, and the rectangular section has a ratio of at least 1:1, at least 1:2 or 11. A plate piece having an open support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has an aspect ratio of at least 1:4. 12. 12. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lower surface is covered with plastic. 13. 13. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the upper surface is printed. 14. In particular, in a plate piece having an opening support for a can according to any one of 1 to 13 above, a lever attached to the can by a rivet, the plate piece having an upper surface, a lower surface, a central edge, a radial edge, and two side edges, the side edges connecting ends of the central edge and the radial edge, respectively; the radial edge extends over a partial circle having an angle of at least 90°; The central edge is provided with a receiving portion for the rivet, The radial edge is formed with a slide rail to engage with a groove in the beverage can, the top surface is formed with at least one elongated, generally sickle-shaped raised portion, the raised portion being positioned so that the raised portion can engage with the lever of the can and serve as an opening support, the raised portion each having a gradually decreasing slope toward an end of the raised portion; At least one shift support is formed on the upper surface, The plate piece is integrally formed from metal by being embossed. A piece of plate with an open support for the can. 15. A can system comprising a can and a plate piece having an opening support for the can according to any one of 1 to 14 above, wherein the plate piece having the opening support for the can is attached to the can. 16. 15. The method for manufacturing a can system according to claim 15, A method characterized in that the can is first made, then the plate pieces are placed in the grooves, followed by inserting a lever over the grooves and closing the grooves in a final step. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 1 protective cover / plate piece 2 cans 3. Opening of a beverage can 4 Rivets 5 grooves 6 Raised edges 7 Center edge 8 Radial Edge 9. Dent 10 Grooved anchor 11 Lever 12 Pressed-in lid 13 Corner shapes 14 Rivet head 15 Open Support 16 Can protrusion 17 Open Support Edge 18 Lateral edge 19 angle 20 nodules 21 Edge reinforcement 22 Head Plate r radius α center angle M Center of the circle

Claims

1. In a plate piece having an open support for a can, a lever attached to the can by a rivet, the plate piece having an upper surface, a lower surface, a central edge, a radial edge, and two side edges, the side edges connecting ends of the central edge and the radial edge, respectively; the plate piece is slightly curved, approximately a sphere of curvature, with the center of curvature located approximately on the longitudinal axis of the can distal to the lower surface; the radial edge extends over a partial circle having an angle of at least 150°; The central edge is provided with a receiving portion for the rivet, Edge reinforcement portions that reinforce the plate pieces are formed on the side edges, a grooved anchor formed on the radial edge, the grooved anchor forming a bent slide rail directed away from the lower surface, the slide rail engaging a groove in the beverage can; the top surface is formed with at least one elongated, generally sickle-shaped raised portion, the raised portion being arranged to be engageable with the lever of the can and to be used as an opening support, the raised portion each having a gradually decreasing slope towards its end, the raised portion extending generally concentrically with the rivet receiving portion, the raised portion having a length of at least 5 mm; At least one shift support having at least one nodular protuberance is disposed on the upper surface; the corners of the lateral edges project radially toward the radial edges, thereby forming corner shapes; The plate piece is made of metal. A piece of plate with an open support for the can.

2. 2. A plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate piece has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm, at least 0.5 mm, at least 0.75 mm or at least 1 mm.

3. 3. A plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the raised portion has a length of at least 7 mm, at least 10 mm or at least 20 mm.

4. 2. The plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, characterized in that the raised portion drops uniformly on each side over a section of at least 1 mm, at least 3 mm or at least 5 mm.

5. 2. The plate piece with opening support for a can according to claim 1, characterized in that the raised portion has a height of at least 0.25 mm, at least 0.5 mm or at least 1 mm, and the raised portion has a height of at most 0.25 mm, at most 0.5 mm or at most 1 mm.

6. 2. The plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial edges are curved to form a partial circle with an angle of at least 200°, at least 250° or at least 300°.

7. 2. The plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, characterized in that the corner features are extruded to a depth of at least 2 mm, at least 4 mm or at least 8 mm.

8. 2. The plate piece with opening support for a can according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral edges have a curve due to an extruded corner shape, and the edge reinforcement is arranged along the curve.

9. 2. The plate piece with opening support for a can according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge reinforcement is formed as a thickened portion of the material at that position and has a thickness at least 1.2 times, at least 1.5 times or at least 2.0 times the thickness of the other plate pieces.

10. 2. The plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, wherein the shift support has at least three nodes, at least five nodes, or at least ten nodes.

11. 2. A plate piece with an opening support for a can according to claim 1, characterized in that the nodular projection of the shift support is formed as a rectangular section with strongly rounded corners when viewed from above, the rectangular section having an aspect ratio of at least 1:1, at least 1:2 or at least 1:

4.

12. 2. The plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower surface is covered with plastic.

13. 2. The plate piece with opening support for cans according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper surface is printed.

14. A plate piece having an opening support for a can according to claim 1, The plate piece is integrally formed from metal by being embossed. A piece of plate with an open support for the can.

15. A can system comprising a can and a plate piece having an opening support for a can according to claim 1, wherein the plate piece having an opening support for a can is attached to the can.

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