Abstract:
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° 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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/598,318, filed on Aug. 29, 2012, and titled Improved Double-Opening Can Lid, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/620,027 filed on Apr. 4, 2012, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to closure systems for beverage containers, and more specifically to a lid and tab assembly providing a double opening in a beverage can lid. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Beverage containers or cans generally have a lid having a score line or lines defining a tear panel which is opened when a riveted tab pushes in the tear panel when the back of the tab is raised and thereby creates the primary opening of the can. 
         [0004]    The primary or pour opening in many known designs, in addition to being the exit for the liquid in the can, is also the entrance for air to replace the exiting liquid. This dual use of the primary opening interferes with smooth pouring of the liquid contents. Accordingly, there have been many attempts, mostly unsuccessful, to provide a second, vent opening or tear panel and a convenient means or apparatus for opening both the pour and vent tear panels. 
         [0005]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0108552 to Tamarit Rios discloses a method and apparatus for opening both a pour opening and a vent opening on a beverage can using a single pull tab. The Tamarit Rios invention may be improved upon, particularly with regard to design for manufacture and other refinements and optimizations. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Accordingly, 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° 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. 
         [0007]    Embodiments disclosed also describe a method of manufacturing a tab for a double opening can lid. From a sheet of material a primary tab portion, a secondary tab portion, and a shelf are formed. The shelf extends from an end of the primary tab portion and is bent about 180° to be disposed underneath at least part of the secondary tab portion. 
         [0008]    The system and method may also include a skirt that is formed from the sheet of material and extends from a head of the secondary tab portion. The skirt is configured to contact a vent panel of the can lid and fracture it along a vent score to create the vent opening. 
         [0009]    Technical advantages of the double opening beverage can lid system disclosed include a tab for which operation is similar to conventional stay-on tabs. Lifting the tab such that the tab acts as a lever to create the pour opening simultaneously positions the tab to perform the vent opening operation because a shelf on the primary tab is in position to direct the secondary tab downward to contact the vent panel and create a vent opening. 
         [0010]    Further technical advantages include a shelf on the tab that may be consistently manufactured, and when assembled to the can lid, the shelf blocks the opening features of the secondary tab from contacting the vent panel. This blocking by the shelf allows the beverage can to be shipped, stacked, handled, and the like without unintentionally creating the vent opening. 
         [0011]    Other aspects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of the inventions disclosed. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a portion of a beverage can including a double-opening lid system showing an exploded tab in accordance with this disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a partially formed tab in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a tab of a double opening lid system in accordance with this disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of the tab of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  is an isometric view of a secondary tab portion of the tab of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3D  is a side view of the secondary tab portion of  FIG. 3C ; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A-4D  are cross sections illustrating the double-opening can lid system in sequential stages of a double opening operation in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, a double-opening beverage can lid system  10  is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The can lid assembly  10  includes a tab  12  secured to a double-opening lid  14  by a rivet  15  and crimped to a beverage can  16 . The can  16 , lid  14 , and tab  12  are each made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. However, any suitable material for manufacturing beverage cans may be used according to the teaching of the present disclosure, such as steel, or tin plated steel. The lid  14  is crimped to a top portion of the beverage can  16  after the can  16  is filled with a beverage, which may be a carbonated soft drink, an alcoholic beverage, such as beer, a fruit juice, tea, energy drink and the like. The lid  14  includes a pour panel  18  that is configured to fracture from the rest of the lid  14  along a pour score  20 . The rear of the tab  12  is lifted and the tab functions as a lever with the rivet  15  at the fulcrum. The tab  12  applies a downward force to the pour panel  18  causing it to separate from the lid  14  along the pour score  20  and further bends the pour panel  18  into the can  16  and out of the way of the resulting pour opening. 
         [0021]    According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the tab  12  includes a primary tab portion  22  and a secondary tab portion  24 . The primary tab portion  22  functions as the lever previously described and serves to fracture the pour panel  18  from the lid  14  to create the pour opening  17  (see  FIGS. 4A-4D ). The secondary tab portion  24 , as described in more detail below, is configured to create a vent opening  25  (see  FIG. 4D ) by fracturing a vent panel  19  along a vent score  21 . The tab  12  also includes a shelf  26  which provides a barrier between a head  30  of the secondary tab portion  24  and the vent panel  19 . When the lid assembly is closed, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the shelf  26  prevents unintended opening of the vent panel  19  during shipping and handling of the beverage can  16  because it blocks the opening features of the secondary tab  24  from contacting the vent panel  19 . In addition, a lid projection  13  may also serve to maintain the secondary tab  24  elevated above the vent panel  19 . 
         [0022]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which shows a partially formed tab  12 . Many tabs  12  are formed from a single sheet of material  31 , typically aluminum, that is stamped, folded, coined, scored, and/or subjected to other sheet metal forming operations. For illustration purposes, a rivet hole location  33  is indicated by a cross within a circle. In the illustrated embodiment, the partially formed tab  12  is generally flat and the portions of the tab that will become the primary tab  22 , the secondary tab  24 , and the shelf  26  are partially formed. The shelf  26  extends from an outer perimeter of the tab  12 . In certain embodiments, a notch  36  is formed in the shelf  26 . In one or more subsequent forming operations, the flat partially formed tab  12  will be folded along an outer perimeter fold line  35  and an inner perimeter fold line  37 . Folding the tab  12  along the perimeter fold lines  35 ,  37  increases the rigidity of the tab  12  and positions the shelf  26  underneath the portions of the head  30  of the secondary tab  24  that will contact the vent panel  19  of the lid  14  when the full opening procedure is performed. In addition, the head  30  of the secondary tab portion  24  will be folded along a skirt fold line  39  to create the skirt  41  (see  FIGS. 3C and 3D ). 
         [0023]    In an alternate embodiment, a strap  32  of the secondary tab portion  24  may be extended to increase its length such that the head  30  of the secondary tab  24  extends further over the shelf  26 . Extending the length of the strap  32  may include reducing its thickness by processes that are known in the art of sheet metal forming. For example, end portions of the strap  32  may be fixed while the middle portion is subjected to deformation which will increase its length and reduce its thickness. In an alternate embodiment, the strap  32  may be coined to increase its length. 
         [0024]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , which illustrate a top view ( FIG. 3A ) and a bottom view ( FIG. 3B ) of the fully formed tab  12 . The outer perimeter fold line  35  is now generally the outer perimeter edge of the primary tab  22 , and the inner perimeter fold line  37  is now generally the inner perimeter edge of the primary tab  22  and defines a central opening  28  where the secondary tab portion  24  is located. The primary tab  22  is shaped and functions similar to a conventional tab for beverage cans. In addition, the primary tab  22  also includes the shelf  26  which has been folded underneath a rear portion of the primary tab  22  and is disposed underneath at least a part of the head  30  of the secondary tab portion  24 . As previously described, the shelf  26  creates a barrier between the contacting portions of the secondary tab  24  and the vent panel  19  when the tab  12  is secured to the double-opening can lid  14 . Creation of the shelf  26  by the folding process described also may create a rear edge  43  that is generally straight, as opposed to curved, as in some conventional tabs. 
         [0025]    The shelf may also include the notch  36 , which is a small cut-away portion in the center of the shelf  26 . The notch  36  generally follows the rounded shape of the head  30  of the secondary tab  24 . The notch  36  functions to allow the primary tab  22  to better separate from the secondary tab  24  when lifted past a certain release angle θ as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . Including the notch  36  reduces the angle at which the secondary tab  24  separates from the primary tab  22  approximately 8°. Even though it serves to reduce the release angle, the notch  36  continues to allow the shelf  26  to depress the head  30  of the secondary tab  24  downward to create the vent opening. 
         [0026]    It should be noted that the surface of the shelf  26  shown in  FIG. 3B , which is a bottom view, is a top surface of the sheet of material  31  out of which the tab  12  is fabricated. Thus, the surface of the shelf  26  shown in  FIG. 3A , which is a top view of the tab  12  is a bottom surface of the sheet of material  31  out of which the tab  12  is fabricated. This process may provide advantages over an alternate process of coining and thinning a portion of the primary tab  22  to create a similar feature to the shelf  26 . For example, the shelf  26  is more easily and consistently manufactured and functions better as the barrier between the secondary tab  24  and the vent panel  19 . The shelf  26  also functions better with respect to consistently performing the double-opening functionality of the system described in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 4A-4D . 
         [0027]    The secondary tab portion  24  includes the head  30  and a strap portion  32 . The strap portion  32  extends from the head  30  toward a front portion of the tab  12 . The secondary tab portion  24  also includes a rivet hole  34 , which allows the tab  12  to be secured to the lid  14  by the rivet  15  using conventional tab/lid assembly processes. The strap portion  32  may be slightly contoured to reduce the material used and to facilitate an appropriate force that will bend and displace the secondary tab  24  during opening without fracturing it. 
         [0028]    In certain embodiments, the tab  12  also includes a tab score  38 . The tab score  38  allows the primary tab  22  to fracture and be separated from the secondary tab  24  at a controlled location. It should be noted that normal opening of the pour opening and the vent opening will not cause the tab  12  to fracture. However, it is possible that consumers may bend the tab  12  to intentionally cause the tab  12  to fracture, so a controlled fracturing point is desirable. Without the tab score  38 , bending the tab to intentionally cause fracture can cause the tab  12  to fracture through the rivet hole  34 , which may cause the primary tab  22  and the secondary tab  24  to separate from the lid  14 . With the inclusion of the tab score  38 , the primary tab  22  may be fractured and removed from the double-opening can lid assembly  10 , while the secondary tab  24  continues to be riveted to the lid  14 . In an alternate embodiment, the tab  12  does not include a tab score  38 . 
         [0029]    Reference is made to  FIG. 3C , which is an isometric view of the secondary tab  24  separated from the primary tab  22  along the tab score  38 , and  3 D, which is a side view of the secondary tab  24 . A primary contactor  45  or shark&#39;s tooth extends from the skirt  41  and is disposed in the middle of the head  30  of the secondary tab  24 . The primary contactor  45  concentrates the force from the secondary tab  24  at a single point on the vent panel  19  to facilitate fracture along the vent score  21 . After the initial fracture, the skirt  41  contacts the vent panel  19  and folds the vent panel  19  underneath the lid  14  and out of the way to create the vent opening  25  (see  FIG. 4D ). In certain embodiments, the skirt  41  may also include one or more secondary contactors  47 . The secondary contactors  47  may be similar to the primary contactor  45  and may be disposed opposite the head  30  from each other. Similar to the primary contactor  45 , the secondary contactors  47  concentrate the force applied by the skirt  41  to fracture and/or displace the vent tab  19 . An alternate embodiment of the tab  12  for the double opening can system  10  of the present disclosure may include the skirt  41  without either the primary contactor  45  or the secondary contactor  47 , or without both the primary contactor  45  and the secondary contactor  47 . 
         [0030]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4A-4D , which illustrate a cross-section of the double-opening can lid assembly  10  in sequential stages of an opening operation.  FIG. 4A  shows the primary tab portion  22  and the secondary tab portion  24  having been lifted simultaneously. The secondary tab portion  24  is lifted by the shelf  26  as the consumer lifts the primary tab portion  22 . The front of the primary tab portion  22  acts as a lever and fractures the pour panel  18  away from the rest of the lid  12  and displaces the pour panel  18  downward into the can to create the pour opening  17 . The primary tab portion  22  follows a primary tab portion arc  50 , and the secondary tab portion  24  follows a secondary tab portion arc  52 . A pivot point of the primary tab portion  22  is located on an opposite side of the rivet  15  from the rear of the primary tab  22  that is lifted. The pivot point of the secondary tab portion  24  is located on the same side of the rivet  15  as the rear or head  30  of the secondary tab portion  24 , which is lifted by the shelf  26 . In this manner, the primary tab portion arc  50  will be different from the secondary tab portion arc  52 . 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the primary tab portion  22  and the secondary tab portion  24  will travel together through a certain angle before the secondary tab  24  releases and separates from the primary tab  22 . The range of this release angle θ may be 15° to 35°. In a preferred embodiment, the range of the release angle θ is 22° to 27°, with approximately 26° being a target release angle θ. As previously stated, the release angle increases approximately 8° for a shelf  26  without a notch  36 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4B  illustrates the primary tab portion  22  and the secondary tab portion  24  at a greater opening angle than shown in  FIG. 4A . The primary tab portion  22  is following its arc  50  and has separated from the secondary tab portion  24 , which is following its arc  52 . The separation may be facilitated by the notch  36  of the shelf  26 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4C  illustrates the double-opening can lid assembly  10  as the consumer presses the primary tab portion  22  back towards the lid  14  after creating the pour opening  17 . As shown, a bottom surface of the shelf  26  opposite the surface of the shelf  26  that lifted the secondary tab portion  24  now contacts the head  30  of the secondary tab portion  24  and displaces it towards the lid  14 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4D  shows the secondary tab portion  24  having fractured the vent panel  19  away from the lid  14  and displaced the vent panel  19  in towards the interior of the can. Thus, a vent opening  25  is created. Some elastic deflection is expected such that the secondary tab  24  portion displaces elastically towards its natural position which may be slightly above the lid  14 . The vent opening  25  is sufficient to allow air into the can  16  as the beverage is poured or consumed from the opening  17 . 
         [0035]    The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the invention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, the present invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention(s). Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.