Metal Container Corporation, Inc.

Anheuser-busch Inbev S.a.

Ball Corporation

Neiner, Christopher G.

Reed, James A.

Christopher G Neiner

James Reed

Robert Joseph Will

Ancil Louis Lackey

Jason Andrew Davidson

Richard Lynn Wise

Tuan A Nguyen

Jess N Bathurst

Frank Z Hellwig

James A Reed

Frank Hellwig

A can for containing a liquid has a top end having a dispense area defined by a first score line and a pull tab coupled to the top end by a rivet. The pull tab has a puncturing end for breaking the first score line and pushing into the interior of the can without detaching the dispense area to open a dispense aperture. A vent area is defined by a second score line and positioned on the opposite side of the rivet. The first and second score lines are separated by at least one torsion stripe of the can top material for acting as a hinge by torsion upon lifting the actuating end of the pull tab. As the dispense aperture is opened by pushing the dispense area into the interior of the can, a vent aperture is opened by pulling the vent area outwards.

Can comprising a first, dispense opening and second, vent opening and a single pull tab

A can for containing a liquid having a top end is disclosed. The top end has a dispense area defined by a first score line and a pull tab coupled to the top end by a rivet. The pull tab has a puncturing end for breaking the first score line and pushing into the interior of the can without detaching the dispense area to open a dispense aperture. A vent area is defined by a second score line and positioned on the opposite side of the rivet. The first and second score lines are separated by at least one torsion stripe of the can top material for acting as a hinge by torsion upon lifting the actuating end of the pull tab. As the dispense aperture is opened by pushing the dispense area into the interior of the can, a vent aperture is opened by pulling the vent area outwards.

A can for containing a liquid has a top end. The top end has a dispense area defined on the top end by a first score line and a vent area defined on the top end by a second score line separate from the first score line. The top end has a first rivet located between the vent and dispense areas for coupling to the top end. The top end has a pull tab suitable for puncturing the dispense areas to open a dispense aperture. The top end has a device for opening the vent aperture. The dispense area has a dimension along the diameter of the top end passing by the first rivet greater or equal to the radius of the top end.

Can comprising a maxi-dispense opening and a vent opening

The embodiments disclosed describe a double opening beverage can lid system. The system includes a can lid having a pour panel associated with a pour opening and a vent panel associated with a vent opening. A tab is attached to the can lid. The tab includes a primary tab portion configured to open the pour opening, and a secondary tab portion configured to open the vent opening. A rivet hole facilitates attachment of the primary tab portion and the secondary tab portion to the can lid. A shelf is bent about 180&#xb0; around a rear edge of the primary tab portion. The shelf blocks at least a portion of the secondary tab portion from contacting the vent panel.

Double opening beverage can lid system

A can for containing a liquid having a top end with (a) a dispense area defined by a first score line and (b) a pull tab coupled to the top end by a first rivet. The pull tab punctures the dispense area to open a dispense aperture upon lifting an actuating end of the pull tab. The top end has (c) a vent area defined by a second score line and (d) a secondary lever coupled to the top end by a second rivet, and has a puncturing end for puncturing the vent area to open a vent aperture upon lifting an opposite, actuating end of the secondary lever. The secondary lever and pull tab interlock so lifting the actuating end of the pull tab triggers lifting of the actuating end of the secondary lever, opening both dispensing and vent apertures in a single movement.

Can comprising a first, dispense opening and second, vent opening

An improved beverage container of the type having a lid, a pour panel defined in the lid by a pour score and a vent panel defined in the lid by a vent score. A tab pivotally is mounted to the lid, wherein lifting the tab about a pivot in a lifting direction fractures the pour score and opens the pour panel. A secondary tab is carried by the tab, and is released into contact with the vent panel by lifting the tab to fracture the pour score, wherein pressing the tab in a direction generally opposite the lifting direction causes the secondary tab to fracture the vent score and open the vent panel. At least one anti-rotation member is disposed between the tab and the lid to prevent the tab from rotating about the rivet.

Double-opening can lid

Can opening tab

Can opening tab with large head

Over the years there have been numerous attempts to improve the can lid oftentimes found on aluminum beverage can lids. The aims have traditionally been to reduce costs and improve performance. These aims have been accomplished through a variety of means, such as creating different formations within the can lid to reduce the amount of metal used while maintaining performance levels. Here, step portions are utilized between the annular countersink and the center panel of the can lid that cause a curvature of the center panel or to simply provide an angled inside wall. These formations, thus, reduce the amount of metal used while maintaining quality and yielding the desired performance.

Can lid closure and method of joining a can lid closure to a can body

A preferred embodiment of the disclosed can lid has a center panel having a central axis that is perpendicular to a diameter of the outer rim, or peripheral curl portion, of the can lid, an annular countersink surrounding the center panel, an arcuate portion extending radially outward from the annular countersink, a step portion extending radially upward and outward from the arcuate portion, a first transitional portion extending radially outward from the step portion, a second transitional portion extending radially outward and upward from the first transitional portion, and a peripheral curl portion extending outwardly from the second transitional portion.

Can lid closure

A stay-on-tab container closure suitable for use on beverage cans and the like, said closure including an center panel with an downwardly displaceable tear panel, which, in one aspect, has a smooth upper surface having no visually perceptible contour features, and which, in another aspect, has low-relief contour features on its upper surface. Closures according to the invention have reduced stresses across the score defining the tear panel, thereby reducing the likelihood of stress-induced fatigue cracking which can lead to score failure when the container closure is joined to a can body and the resulting can is internally pressurized.

Stay-on-tab container closure having tear panel with low-relief contour features on the upper surface

The present invention describes a beverage can end which utilizes less material and has an improved internal buckle strength based on the geometric configuration of a chuck wall, inner panel wall and central panel, and which utilizes an inwardly oriented concave arch on the chuck wall with a radius of curvature between about 0.015 inches and 0.080 inches.

Metallic beverage can end with improved chuck wall and countersink

A preferred embodiment of the disclosed can lid has a center panel having a central axis that is perpendicular to a diameter of the outer rim, or peripheral curl portion, of the can lid, an annular countersink surrounding the center panel, an arcuate chuckwall extending radially outward from the annular countersink, an arcuate step portion extending radially outward from the arcuate chuckwall, a transitional portion extending radially outward from the arcuate step portion, and a peripheral curl portion extending outwardly from the transitional portion.

Growing community of inventors

Defiance, MO, United States of America

Christopher G Neiner