Metal Beverage Container with Flanged Tab for Clean Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cans made of aluminum or aluminum alloy are expensive due to the thicker material required for the opening mechanism, and there is a need for an improved opening system that prevents contamination and simplifies the opening process.
Innovation Solution
A metal container with a concave lower base and convex upper base, featuring a frangible tab with a flange, allows for easy one-handed opening and prevents liquid contact with the can's exterior, using different materials for the lid and body to optimize strength and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thicker or stronger material is used in the upper base for the opening mechanism, then the mechanical resistance and strength are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material thicknesses to different regions of the can body. The upper base has a first thickness in the opening area and a second, greater thickness in the body portion, while the lower base has a third thickness. This local differentiation provides enhanced strength where needed for the opening mechanism while reducing material usage and cost in areas where less strength is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The can employs a composite structure with multiple material layers and thickness variations. The body comprises different material compositions and thicknesses in different zones (upper base opening area, upper base body, lower base), creating a composite construction that optimizes both mechanical properties and material efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If a tab opening system is used, then the opening process is simplified, but the risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate sealing structure where the upper base protrudes into the lower base, creating a sealed interface. This intermediate region acts as a barrier that prevents external contamination from reaching the beverage during the opening process, while still allowing the tab mechanism to function effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The can is pre-formed with a protruding upper base that creates a sealed interface before opening. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that the sealing function is already in place, preventing contamination from the outset while maintaining ease of opening through the tab system.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform material thickness is used throughout the can, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable material thickness distributed throughout the can structure. The upper base has different thickness in the opening area versus the body, and the lower base has a different thickness, optimizing material usage based on local structural requirements rather than applying uniform thickness throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of material thickness across different regions of the can. By varying the thickness parameter locally rather than uniformly, the design achieves both manufacturing efficiency and material optimization, reducing overall material consumption while maintaining necessary structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
This is a metal beverage container with a cylindrical body, the lower base being concave and the upper base being convex and having a tab at the uppermost portion thereof, fixed to a ring, and it also features a flange fitted snugly around the tab.