Abstract:
An easy-open beverage container which can be selectably reclosed and reopened, after it has been opened. A unitary opening and reclosure structure attached to the end wall by a hinge connection permitting selectable movement of the unitary member on a first path normal to the end wall and on a second path parallel to the wall. The end wall having a selectively separable region of predetermined weakness forming an openable panel recessed a limited distance below the level of the wall. A portion of the openable panel retained to the wall by a hinge formed by a disruption in the separable region on predetermined weakness. The recessed region being surrounded by a platform and side wall located a limited distance from the openable panel.

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0001]    Turning now to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , there is shown generally at  10  a beverage container provided with an end wall  11  according to the present invention. Placed within a portion of the end wall  11  is a recessed portion  50 . Within the recessed portion  50  and defined by a selectively separable region of predetermined weakness  17 , is an openable panel  16  that is immediately surrounded by a platform  25   FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a side wall  35 . This region  17  typically is a score stamped into the end wall  11  defining a relatively thin fragile score line which can be fractured to separate the panel  16  from the remainder of the recessed portion  50  of the wall  11 ; details of such selectively separable regions are well known in the can art. The separable region  17  is interrupted by an un-scored region  29 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  providing a hinge connection between the panel  16  and the platform  25 ,  FIG. 2 , surrounded by the side wall  35  in the recessed region  50  of the end wall  11 . Such hinge connections are also known in the art, and form no part of the present invention. 
         [0002]    A tab opening and reseal member  14  is attached to the end wall  11  by a rivet  15  integrally formed in the end wall and extending upwardly through an opening  12  in the tab  14 , ( FIG. 2 ). The rivet connection  15  with the tab portion  12  secures the tab  14  to the wall  11 , but is sufficiently loose to allow for a pivoting movement of the tab in a plane parallel the end wall. 
         [0003]    The forward portion  19  joins the extended finger portion  21  of the unitary opening and reclosure tab  14 . A downwardly directed arm  23 ,  FIGS. 4 and 5 , is optionally added on the underside of the extended finger portion  21  of the tab  14  for engagement with a portion of the reclosure locking connection  35  When the tab  14  is in the position shown in  FIG. 4  the tab nose point  21  is directed in the vicinity of the selectively separable region of predetermined weakness in the end wall  11  that forms the openable panel  16 . This weakened region  17  forming the openable panel  16  can pass beneath the extended finger portion  21  of the tab  14  or alternatively may be directed along the concave portion  38 ,  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , formed in a portion of the recessed portion  50  of the end wall  11  adjacent the weakened region  17  during the stamping operation that also forms the end wall  11 . 
         [0004]    The tab  14  further includes a handle portion  30  disposed across the rivet  15  from the extended finger portion  21 . The handle portion  30  has an integral reclosure  28  formed in the present embodiment by a depression stamped in the handle portion  30  and extending a short distance below the surrounding edge portion  36  ( FIG. 2 ) of the reclosure storage portion  24  in the end wall  11  ( FIG. 2 ). The overall shape of the reclosure  28  of the tab  14  should substantially conform to the shape of the recessed portion  50  of the end wall  11  in as much as the reclosure is intended to fit snuggly within the side wall locking engagement portion  35 ,  FIGS. 1 and 2 , surrounding the opening  41  formed in the end wall  11  when the panel  16  is separated and displaced from the end wall  11 . 
         [0005]    When the recessed panel  16  is separated and displaced from the end wall  11  the downward extent of the reclosure  28  causes the surrounding edge to be spaced upwardly a short distance from the outer surface of the end wall  11  thereby facilitating grasping and manipulating the handle control portion  22  of the handle  30  to either open or close the container. In addition, the up-turned end of both the assist lift  39  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and handle control portion  22  of the tab  14  will aid manipulating the tab. 
     
    
       [0006]    Turning now to the operation of the embodiment described, it is assumed the container  10  encloses a carbonated beverage so that the end wall  11  is under a significant pressure. This fluid pressure acting on the relatively thin and flexible end wall  11  substantially limits the flexibility of the end wall; because fracture of the separable region  17  is initiated by flexing the end wall  11  in the vicinity of the separable region  17 , this pressure is preferably released as the first phase of the opening process. This pressure release is accomplished by manually pressing down the fmger portion  21  for flexing and rupturing the relatively weakened portion  17  in the immediate vicinity of the contact point of the tab finger portion  21  and the weakened region  17 . Assisting in bringing the concentration of pressure and stability to the tab forward finger portion  21  of the tab  14  is an extended arm portion  23  formed on the underside of the finger portion  21 . When moved into engagement with a portion of the side wall  35  surrounding the panel  16  the extended arm  23  will aid in flexing the region of predetermined weakness releasing fluid pressure from the container  10  resulting in the separation of the openable panel  16  from the recessed portion  50  of the end wall  11 . 
         [0007]    The container may now be opened by manually lifting the tab assist edge  39 , and the tab handle control portion  22  upwardly from the end wall  11 , in a direction to swing the tab along a plane substantially normal to the end wall, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The forward portion  19  ( FIG. 1 ) of the tab  14  functions as a hinge, forcing the finger portion  21  and the underlying arm  23  downwardly into engagement with a portion of the underlying locking engagement portion in the side wall  35  of the end wall  11  and the selectively separable region  17 . The combined downward force of the arm  23  and finger portion  21 , applied to the recessed portion of the end wall  11  in the vicinity of the selectively separable region  17 , causes the separable region to flex and fracture releasing the initial pressure and thereafter immediately separating the panel  16  from the recessed portion of the end wall  11  in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Continued swinging movement of the tab handle  30  forces the now opened panel  16  downwardly about its hinge connection  29 , so that the panel moves below the end wall  11  toward the interior  40  of the container  10 . Once the container is fully opened in this manner, the tab  14  preferably is manually returned to its initial position shown in  FIG. 3 , with the tab  14  substantially parallel to the end wall  11 . The contents of the container may now be poured or consumed directly through the pour opening  41  in the end wall  11 . 
         [0008]    Reclosure of the opened container  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . When reclosure is desired, the tab  14  is manually pivoted by the handle control portion  22  along a plane substantially parallel to the end wall  11  approximately one half-turn about the rivet  15  as illustrated by the arrow  45  in  FIG. 3 , placing the handle portion  30  over the opening  41  in the end wall  11 . Simply pressing down on the repositioned handle portion  30  depresses and seats the reclosure  28  in the opening  41 , while placing the locking engagement portion  31 , which is optionally coated with a flexible fluid-tight material, and the cooperative engagement portion of the side wall  35 , that may also be coated with a flexible fluid-tight material, into locking engagement with each other resealing the container  10  and preventing any unwanted ingress and egress. The integrated handle control portion  22  and the finger assist portion  39  formed at the edge of the handle  30 , surrounding the reclosure  28 , provides an additional finger engagement portion for exerting upward force on the tab portion  14 , resulting in the separation of the cooperative locking portions  31  of the reclosure  28  and the cooperative locking engagement portion of the side wall  35  of the end wall  11  disengaging the reclosure  28  from the opening  41 . The tab  14  can then be pivoted about the rivet  15  on a plane parallel with the end wall  11  as shown by the arrow  46  to expose the opening  41  thereby reopening the container  10 . 
         [0009]      FIG. 6  shows details of the reclosure  28  in engagement with the end wall  11 .  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  show one technique for providing a fluid-tight seal with the reclosure  28  whereby the openable panel portion  16 , which defines the opening  41  of the end wall  11 , and the hinge portion  29  retaining the openable panel  17  are moved by the finger portion  21  of the tab  14  to a point below the level of the recessed portion of the end wall  11  and bent downward into the interior of the container  10 . The space found between the end wall  11  and the level of the recessed score  17  forming the openable panel  16  ( FIG. 2 ) is a uniquely contoured cooperative tab locking engagement portion  35  completely surrounding the score portion  17  in the end wall  11 . The cooperative locking engagement portion  31  of the reclosure  28  is pressed downward into snap-fit within the cooperative engagement portion  35  of the side wall which securely seats the reclosure  28  on the platform  25  surrounding the separable region  17  sealing the opening  41  in the end wall  11 . 
         [0010]    The hinge portion  29  of the selectively separable region of weakness formed in the recessed portion of the end wall  11  retains the openable panel  16  to a portion of the of the wall  11  thus prohibiting it from separating from the end wall and completely entering the interior  40  of the container  10 . When the openable panel  16  is in this position, the panel  16  and the hinge  29  are both completely prevented from being an obstruction to the seal of the container opening  41 ; thereby providing simultaneous reclosure of the opening  41  and the recessed portion  50  of the end wall  11  ( FIG. 6 ).