Patent Publication Number: US-7914640-B2

Title: Method and device for applying images on a beverage can lid

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. national phase application based on International Application No. PCT/US2006/022046, filed 7 Jun. 2006, claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/595,325, filed 23 Jun. 2005. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a method and device for applying images on a beverage can lid. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Cans that are used to store beverages such as beer, soft drinks, water etc. often includes two parts. The cylindrical outside of the cans are most often printed with a trademark. When the can is viewed from the side the print on the sidewall of the can is easy to see but when viewed from above or in a perspective view the viewer sees the lid of the can. The lid is seldom provided with a printed text or symbol to show the trademark of the beverage product as well as the sidewall does. It is complicated and cumbersome to print text and symbols on the lid due to the protruding opening mechanism and the opening that is formed when the lid is opened. This is a particular problem when it is desirable to print text or image that extends across the opening mechanism and other parts of the lid. 
     There is a need for a device that makes it possible to supply a beverage can lid with a high quality brand image or text, using a conventional printing method. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The method and device of the present invention provides a solution to the above-outlined problems. More particularly, the method is for adding high quality brand images or text on a lid of a beverage can. A beverage can lid is provided that has a handle member. The handle member is attached to a top surface of the beverage can lid. An image or text is printed on a foil member. The foil member with the printed image or text may be placed, such as by adhesion, on top of the top surface of the beverage can lid so that a first cut out segment is placed above the handle member and a second cut out segment is aligned with a weakened segment of the beverage can lid. With the foil member placed on top of the weakened segment, the handle member is lifted to engage the weakened segment and push the second cut out segment adhered to the weakened segment, and a portion of the weakened segment through the beverage can lid, to form the opening from which the user can drink the beverage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the foil member attached to the beverage can; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the foil member attached to the beverage can when the can is opened; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the foil member attached to the opened beverage can with the leverage push back; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the foil member attached to the beverage can; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the foil member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a foil member that has an image or text printed thereon; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the foil member attached to a lid of the beverage can; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the lid with the foil member extending there across; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective top view of the foil member applied to a beverage can; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective top view of the foil member applied to the beverage can when the beverage can is opened; and 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of foil members printed on a band. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a circular foil member  10  of the present invention may be placed on a top surface  12  and within a projecting flange  14  of a beverage can  16  to prevent and preclude insects and other undesirable objects from entering into the beverage can  16 . The foil member  10  may also contain a suitable print such as printed text or a symbol/picture. 
     The foil member  10  has an opening  20  defined therein. The foil member  10  may also be provided without the opening  20 . The opening  20  may be divided into an outer opening segment  22  and an inner opening segment  24  where the segment  22  may be wider than the segment  24 . Of course, the segment  22  may be the same or narrower than the segment  24  also. Preferably, the opening segment  24  extends over a central point  26  of the circular foil member  10 . The foil member  10  has a protection area  27  that has a plurality of elongated apertures that are pre-cut along strips  31  so that elongate openings  28  (as best shown in FIGS.  2 / 3 ) are created when the inner portions  35  follows the weakened section  36  of a level member  30  that is pushed into the can  16 , as described below. The apertures  28  or segments  35  may extend from a peripheral segment  18  towards the central point  26  and the opening segment  24 . The apertures  28  may be substantially parallel and are sufficiently narrow to prevent most insects from passing through the apertures  28 . 
     The lever member  30  may include a handle portion  32  and an engaging portion  34 . When the handle portion  32  is raised away from the top surface  12 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 , the engaging portion  34  is turned downwardly and pushes the weakened section  36  of the top surface  12  into the beverage can  16  to create an opening  38  through the surface  12 . Through the opening  38 , the user may drink the beverage contained in the beverage can  16 . 
     Prior to opening the beverage can  16 , the foil member  10  may be positioned or adhered to the top surface  12 . The protective area  27  is placed over the weakened section  36  of the top surface  12  that defines the opening  38  when the can is opened. The wider opening segment  22  is placed below the handle portion  32  and the opening segment  24  is placed below the engaging portion  34 . 
     An important feature of the present invention is that the beverage can  16  can be opened without damaging or moving the foil member  10 . It is therefore important that the opening  20  is sufficiently large to permit the engaging portion  34  to engage the weakened section  36  without damaging the protection area  27  of the foil member  10 . The opening segment  24  should therefore be sufficiently large to cover the entire engaging portion  34 . When the engaging portion  34  engages the weakened segment  36  no part of the foil member  10  is affected although the protecting area  27  extends over the segment  36 . The protecting area  27  has an inner edge  29  that defines a portion of the opening segment  24 . Preferably, the inner edge  29  should be aligned with an outer end  40  of the engaging portion  34  so that when the engaging portion  34  engages the weakened segment  36 , the outer end  40  and the inner edge  29  define a narrow gap  33 . The outer end  40  may almost touch the inner edge  29  of the cover  10  because the gap  33  should be sufficiently narrow to prevent insects from falling into the can  16 . In this way, the user may open the beverage can  16  with the lever member  30  the same way as if the foil member  10  was not adhered to the top surface  12 . 
     If the protecting area  27  is glued to the weakened segment  36  that is pushed into the can  16 , it is important that the adhesive is not too strong and the material of the foil member  10  is sufficiently sturdy. It is also important that the glue that holds the inside of the cut-out segments  35  is stronger than the glue of the separation portions  37  of the protecting area  27  so that the cut-outs follow the weakened section  36  of the top surface  12  into the can  16  when the can is opened. In this way, the foil member  10  is released from the weakened segment  36  and the cut-out segments  35  follow the segment  36  when the segment  36  is pushed into the can  16  to form the opening  38  of the surface  12  that is covered by the protecting area  27  with the segments  35  removed therefrom to form the apertures  28 . Preferably the protecting area  27  is glued to the weakened segment  36  also to prevent dirt from gathering under the foil member  10 . 
     It is also possible to produce the foil member  10  without the opening  20  so that the foil member  10  is mounted on the top surface  12  before the lever member  30  is mounted on the top surface  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , a circular foil member  100  of the present invention has a first cut out segment  114  with a weakened or cut-off line  112  and a second cut out segment  116  with a weakened or cut-off line  118 . The foil member may be a plastic film, aluminum; laminate or any other suitable thin member. The foil member may have a bottom layer of a heat-activated adhesive. A printed image  120 , such as a picture or text, may be printed on the member  110  and extend over the first segment  114  and/or over the second segment  116 . 
     The member  100  may be glued or otherwise adhered to a top surface  140  of the lid  136 . Preferably, the member  100  is first cut out so that it has the same size as the lid. The member may be cut-out or perforated along the lines  112  and  118  so that the form of the cut out segment  114  is about the same as the handle portion and the cut out segment  116  has about the same shape as the opening in the lid  136 . Because the foil member is made of a plastic deformable material the foil member preferably follows the contours of the lid and the handle member. Before gluing the foil member to the lid, and before cutting the cut out segments  114  and  116 , the printed foil member may have to be formed to better fit the shape of the handle member. The foil member is preferably tightly glued or adhered to the entire lid surface, to prevent bacterial growth between the lid and the foil member. It may also be possible to leave out the cut out segment  116  so that there is an opening there instead. 
     It is also possible to produce the foil member  100  without the weakened or cut-off line  112  so that the foil member  100  is mounted on the top surface  136  before the handle member  134  is mounted on the top surface  136 . 
     The lid  136  may have a circumferential flange  130  surrounding the lid  136 . When a handle portion  134  is raised away from the top surface  140 , an engaging portion  135  of the handle portion  134  is turned downwardly and pushes the cut out segment  116 , and a weakened section  131  of the lid  136  into the beverage can to create an opening  132  through the surface of the lid  136 . Through the opening  132 , the user may drink the beverage contained in the beverage can. An important function is that the cut out segment  116  is preferably glued to the section  131  so that both are pushed into the beverage can. The segment  116  may extend over an edge portion  138  to terminate immediately adjacent to an inside of the lid flange  130 . 
     Preferably, the foil member  100  is attached to the beverage can lid  136  before the lid is distributed to breweries or fillers that tightly attaches the lid to the filled beverage can. This means the lid including the foil may be using in existing filling machines and other such equipment without requiring modification and without having to install new machinery. 
     Another important function is that the user may open the beverage can without any extra movements although the foil member is attached to the lid since the first cut out segment  114  is attached to the handle member  134  and is cut out at the cut out line  112  so that the user may grab the handle member  134  as if the foil member  100  was not attached thereto. Another feature is that the foil member is preferably shaped almost completely after the surface of the handle member and the lid surface, so that the user can see or recognize the handle member and the weakened section of the lid as if the foil member was not attached to the lid. For example, the foil member may be transparent. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9-10 , the foil member  100  is attached to the can lid  136  of a beverage can  16 .  FIG. 9  shows the lid  136  in a closed position and  FIG. 10  shows the lid  136  in an open position so that the segment  116  is pushed into the can  16 . 
       FIG. 11  shows band  200  having foil members  202 ,  204 ,  210  and  212 . A print  206  is printed on the foil member  202 . Foil member  204  also includes a bulge segment  207  that is formed to accommodate the handle member  134  The foil members  210 / 212  are identical to the foil members  202 / 204  but include additional features. For example, the foil member  210  includes a perforation  214  around the bulge segment  207  and around segment  116 . The foil member  212  has been cut out from the band  200  and is ready to be attached to the can lid. The foil members described above shows different production steps which may be used to prepare the foil member before it is being attached to the can lid. 
     While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.