RESEALABLE POP TOP LID

A pop top lid encloses a cylindrical fluid container. The pop top lid includes an end shell having an off-center scored line defining a tear panel; and a stay-on tab assembly riveted through a central portion to the end shell for rotation. An aperture point is attached to a central portion and rotatably positioned proximate to an inner edge of the scored line. A shearing edge is attached to the central portion and radially extending behind the aperture point. An actuator portion is attached to the central portion opposite to the aperture point, is liftable as a first-degree lever to form an aperture at the scored line with the aperture point, and is rotatable to insert the shearing edge into the aperture shearing the scored line to remove the tear panel from the end shell.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to sealed metal containers, and more specifically to sealed metal containers have a pop top actuator for unsealing an opening.

2. Description of the Related Art

Beverage cans continue to a very popular and effective way to preserve, transport, and consume liquids. Aluminum foil formed into beverage cans provides a safe and recyclable material that preserves the liquid contents. To avoid litter and choking hazards, removable pull tabs have largely been replaced by pull tabs that are retained on an end shell of the beverage can. Given the short amount of leverage afforded by the generally-known pull tabs, many consumers have to rely on a tool to pry up the pull tab and to provide additional leverage. Often the mechanical strength of the pull tab itself is insufficient to sufficiently shear a scored line on the pop top lid to create an opening for pouring the liquid contents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to aspects of the present innovation, a pop top lid encloses a top opening in a cylindrical fluid container. In one or more embodiments, the pop top lid includes an end shell having an off-center scored line defining a tear panel. The pop top lid includes a stay-on tab assembly. The pop top lid includes a rivet that attaches the stay-on tab assembly to the end shell for rotation. The stay-on tab assembly includes a central portion having a pivot hole that receives the rivet. The stay-on tab assembly includes an aperture point attached to the central portion and rotatably positionable proximate to an inner edge of the scored line. The stay-on tab assembly includes a shearing edge attached to the central portion and radially extending behind the aperture point in a first direction of rotation about the pivot hole. The stay-on tab assembly includes an actuator portion attached to the central portion opposite to the aperture point. The actuator portion is liftable as a first-degree lever to form an aperture at the scored line with the aperture point. The actuator portion is rotatable in the first direction of rotation to insert the shearing edge into the aperture shearing the scored line to remove the tear panel from the end shell.

In one or more embodiments, the pop top lid further includes: (i) a bottom plate comprising the aperture point and the shearing edge; (ii) a top cover comprising the actuator portion and an extending portion that is positioned over top of a portion of the score line to direct a sheared portion of the tear panel downward; and (iii) a tear panel capturing slot between the bottom plate and the top cover positioned to receive the sheared portion of the tear panel as directed by the extending portion of the top cover. In a particular embodiment, the pop top lid further includes a capturing pocket downwardly formed within the bottom plate within the tear panel capturing slot. The capturing pocket is sized to correspond to receive the tear panel, wherein an undersurface of the tear panel capturing slot comprises a reseal mating surface. The reseal mating surface is rotationally positionable by the top cover to reseal a panel opening formed in the end shell with removal of the tear panel.

In one or more embodiments, the pop top lid further includes an annular recess formed partially around the rivet hole in the central portion of top cover to define a pivot tab that is attached to the aperture point. The annular recess reduces force required to lift the actuator portion away from the end shell to allow finger actuation.

In one or more embodiments, the pop top lid further includes a flipped up edge of the actuator portion to facilitate finger actuation of the stay-on tab assembly.

FIG. 1illustrates a sealed can100having a circular bottom102, a cylindrical side wall104, and a pop top lid106. In one or more embodiments, sealed can100is formed of aluminum and is used to contain and dispense liquids or flowable solid granules. The pop top lid106consists of: (i) an end shell108having a tear panel110defined by a scored line112; (ii) a stay-on tab assembly114; and (iii) a rivet116. The pop top lid106can conform to B64 can end standards. The stay-on tab assembly114is fixed to the end shell108by the rivet116at a center point of end shell108that allows rotational movement. An inward edge118of scored line112is radially spaced from the rivet116and corresponds to a tear panel shearing edge120extending from an aperture creation point122of a top cover124of the stay-on tab assembly114. Proximate to the aperture creation point122, a three-quarter annular aperture126formed through the top cover124at a center portion127, defining a rivet tab128that receives rivet116and provides a fulcrum-to-load portion of a class1lever. A liftable actuator portion130at a trailing, counter-clock-wise side of top cover124extends close to an opposite edge of pop top lid106relative to tear panel110and provides a fulcrum-to-effort portion of the class1lever. The three-quarter annular aperture126enables an initial upward tilt of the liftable actuator portion130to be accomplished with minimal force to initiate shearing of the scored line112. As will discussed herein, with subsequent clockwise rotation, the stay-on tab assembly114shears the tear panel110away from a circular top surface118at the scored line112for exposing a panel opening132. Simultaneously, the stay-on tab assembly114captures the removed tear panel110. With further rotation, the stay-on tab assembly114selectably reseals and unseals the panel opening132.

FIG. 2illustrates the stay-on tab assembly114of the pop top lid106(FIG. 1) with the top cover124flipped over to expose an attachment by a hinge125bottom plate134in an unfolded position. The hinge125can be a transverse area of thin metal that is readily deformable into a fold.FIG. 3illustrates the stay-on tab assembly114with the top cover124positioned over the bottom plate134in a folded position. Returning toFIG. 2, top cover124and bottom plate134contribute respectively upper and lower portions136a,136bof three-quarter annular aperture126that align when in a folded position inFIG. 3. Top cover124and bottom plate134contribute respectively as well as upper and lower portions138a,138bof rivet tab128having respective rivet holes140a,140bthat align when in the folded position inFIG. 3. An outer spacer142is attached on an underside of the top cover124and an inner spacer144is attached to an upper surface of the bottom plate134. The inner spacer144provides about 0.32″ thickness of the bottom plate134for stiffness along the hinge125between the top cover124and the bottom plate134and a semicircle between the aperture creation point122and the rivet116(FIG. 1). A tear panel shearing edge148extends behind aperture creation point122, both of which are part of bottom plate134. Tear panel shearing edge148is knife edged and ramps up to a general thickness of the bottom plate134, which in an exemplary embodiment is about 0.010″. The bottom plate134is downwardly embossed to create a tear panel capturing pocket150sized to receive the tear panel110(FIG. 1) after removal.FIG. 4illustrates the stay-on tab assembly114ofFIG. 3cutaway along lines A-A. The outer and inner spacers142,144maintain a tear panel capture slot152dimensioned to receive the tear panel110(FIG. 1) during removal and to direct the tear panel110to the tear panel capturing pocket150. A reseal mating surface154on a lower surface corresponds to the tear panel capturing pocket150on the upper side.

FIG. 5illustrates that the end shell108presents a flat circular disk surface156inside of top ring158of pop top lid106. The stay-on tab assembly114is dimensioned to rotate on flat circular disk surface156. In one embodiment, the stay-on tab assembly114is dimensioned to rotate 360° on flat circular disk surface156.FIG. 6illustrates that a reseal mating surface154of stay-on tab assembly114slides against the flat circular disk surface156when not aligned with reseal panel opening132(FIG. 1). The reseal mating surface154corresponds to the tear panel capturing pocket150on the upper side. The tear panel capture slot152passes under the top cover124and above the tear panel capturing pocket150.

FIG. 7illustrates the bottom side of a prototype stay-on tab assembly114, exposing a The reseal mating surface154, which, when aligned in the bottom plate134(FIG. 1) reseals panel opening132(FIG. 14).FIG. 8illustrates the bottom side of the end shell108having the scored line112etched into the flat circular disk156to define the tear panel110and having a center fastener164installed for receiving the stay-on tab assembly114(FIG. 7).

This disclosed prototype embodiment is an aluminum stay-on tab device designed to remove a tear panel access to a beverage container and rotate a resealable mating face into the opening left behind by removing the tear panel. This design exists on the top surface of a standard beverage can end shell, is held in place and actuates around a centrally placed standard rivet, utilizes a standard industry scored tear panel and is constructed of 0.010″ foil. The entire device can be constructed to be not taller than 0.050″ in height and operates with very low forces. The stay-on tab assembly is a folded design that when rotated, completely removes a scored tear panel and encases that panel in a pocket between two layers of 0.010″ aluminum.

This disclosed prototype embodiment is a proof of concept model of the disclosed innovation. The tab assembly was computer numerical control (CNC) milled from aluminum sheet stock and attached to a B64 end shell. The score shape was modeled by engraving a line directly on an end shell. The tab bottom plate was embossed to represent the reseal face of the design, however, the embossed face shown here does not have an undercut draft that would allow this face to mate with the opening in such a way that with the proper plastic coating the reseal function could be rendered gas tight. The model disclosed here is not meant to be exclusionary, simply demonstrative. The proof of concept model was milled from 0.040″ aluminum for the bottom plate, and 0.016″ aluminum for the top cover. A small machine screw mimics the rivet and the tear panel is defined by an engraved line directly in the B64 end shell to mimic a scored panel. The bottom plate of the assembly was embossed in order to visually define the reseal mating face, though this embossing does not contain any draft to facilitate this face “snapping” into the open tear panel.

FIGS. 9A-14illustrate sequence of operation of the stay-on tab assembly114.FIG. 9Aillustrates the prototype pop top lid106after tilting the liftable actuator portion130. A counter clockwise edge of the top cover124is turned upward to present a first thumb pull area160. A clockwise edge of the top cover124extends beyond the bottom plate134and is upwardly turned, providing a second thumb pull area162. Either thumb pull area160,162can be actuated to lift and to rotate the stay-on tab assembly114to begin an initial shear of the scored line112around the tear panel110.FIG. 9Billustrates an aperture164formed in the scored line112. In one or more embodiments, initial aperture164creation occurs from lifting the first thumb pull area160upwards about 20° from horizontal. The actual aperture only needs to be 0.015″ or so in height, and very little force is needed to accomplish this. Once the aperture is created the rest of the movement is rotational, in plane with the flat circular disk surface156of the end shell108. With further reference toFIG. 9B, initial rotation of the tear panel removal edge148into an aperture164is shown. Once this removal edge148enters the aperture164, the tear panel110is only able to enter the capture slot152(FIG. 2) in the stay-on tab assembly114. The top cover124holds down the rising edge of the tear panel110, ensuring that the only direction for continued travel results for the tear panel110is entering the capture slot152.

FIGS. 10A-10Billustrate the prototype pop top lid114after a first amount of rotating the stay-on tab assembly to move a tear shearing edge of an aperture creation point into an aperture opening and under tear panel.FIG. 10Billustrates a tear panel removal edge of bottom plate in view under tear panel. In an exemplary embodiment, the tear panel enters the void between the two layers of the tab assembly114. This void has no dimension. the two layers of the tab assembly can touch each other. The only area that needs space is the initial capture slot next to the tear panel removal edge. The void between top and bottom halves of the tab assembly operates better if those two faces are touching, as this friction will grip the scored tear panel is it is leaving the end shell. This also allows for the entire tab assembly to be formed within an appropriate stacking space, even with the reseal face in place.

FIGS. 11A-11Billustrate the prototype pop top lid114ofFIG. 8after further rotating the stay-on tab assembly to complete shearing of inner radius of the scored line by the tear shearing edge of the aperture creation point. Score residuals will determine how far rotation can be completed while still forcing the tear panel into the capture slot. The top cover size and placement can be adjusted to account for how much of the tear panel is enclosed prior to complete fracture of the score.FIG. 11Billustrates tear panel shearing edge148of bottom plate134advanced under tear panel to expose a reseal embossing surface that lifts the tear panel to further cause shearing from the end shell. illustrates

FIG. 12Aillustrates the prototype pop top lid114ofFIG. 8after a further third amount of rotating the stay-on tab assembly with the top cover positioned over the tear panel.FIG. 12Billustrates the prototype pop top lid114ofFIG. 12Awith tear panel removal edge of bottom plate advanced under most of tear panel.

FIG. 13Aillustrates the prototype pop top lid114ofFIG. 8after a further fourth amount of rotating the stay-on tab assembly with the top cover positioned over the tear panel to a resealed position.FIG. 13Billustrates the prototype pop top lid114ofFIG. 13Awith tear panel removal edge of bottom plate advanced to position the reseal embossing surface in a panel opening exposed by removal of the tear panel.

FIG. 14illustrates the prototype pop top lid114ofFIG. 8after rotating the stay-on tab assembly ofFIG. 13Ain either direction by 180° to unseal the panel opening. To access the container contents, the reseal face is lifted approximately 0.025″ above the end shell using the thumb pull areas and rotated away from the tear panel opening. The reseal face can be placed back into position or reopened as many times as needed.

For clarity, a clockwise moving stay-on tab assembly114is described herein. The components can be easily mirrored in design to operate in a counterclockwise direction within the scope of the present disclosure to achieve similar results. In an exemplary embodiment, a rotation of about 100° accomplishes the operation. In other embodiments, dimensions of the components can differ, resulting in more or less rotation to achieve unsealing and re-sealing.