Patent Description:
Food, beverage, and storage containers often include lids with graspable tabs that enable users to quickly and easily open the cans without the need for a can opener or other tool. Conventional lids include substantially flat surfaces with tabs fixed to the lid. A user may grasp the tab and pull up on the tab to force open a tear panel or to remove the entire lid. The tab is typically flush with the flat lid. As the tab is flush with the flat lid, it may be difficult for a user to reach underneath the tab and fully grasp the tab for an easy open. Therefore, improvements in lids and tabs for food, beverage, and storage cans are desired. The document <CIT> shows a container opening tab having a ring at one end and an opposite free end is pivotally mounted between its ends on a container wall having a pair of raised formations, such as inclined ramp formations. The tab is rotatable about a first axis normal to the wall between a storage position in which the tab lies flat against the wall with the tab ring encircling one raised formation and the other raised formation disposed along one longitudinal side of the ring (<NUM>), and a container opening position in which the tab ring seats on the raised formation to space the ring from the wall, and the free tab end overlies an integral frangible seal forming portion of the wall. While in its container opening position, the tab is rotatable about a second axis transverse to both the first axis and the longitudinal axis of the tab to press the tab free end against and thereby rupture the frangible seal.

The present invention relates to lids for containers, as disclosed in claim <NUM>, such as food, beverage, or storage cans. According to the invention, the lids include a laterally extending lid body and a tab. The laterally extending lid body has a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well. The protrusion and the well are radially aligned with one another. The tab may be fixed to the lid body. The tab includes a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between the nose and the handle. The tab is positionable such that the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle.

In some embodiments, the lid body may have a circular shape. The well is disposed radially outward of the protrusion. The lid body defines an opening axially aligned with the protrusion and the well. The protrusion may depress the nose of the tab to the opening in the second radial position. The well may have a well area and the protrusion may have a protrusion area. The well area may be within <NUM>% of the protrusion area. An outer perimeter of the lid body may define a tear panel for removing the lid from the container.

Some embodiments of the present invention, as disclosed in claim <NUM>, encompasses methods for opening lids of containers. The methods includes rotating a tab about a laterally extending lid body of the lid from a first radial position to a second radial position. The tab includes a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle. The laterally extending lid body includes a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well in axial alignment. The tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body in the second radial position relative to the handle in the first radial position. The methods includes grasping the handle of the tab proximate the well. The methods may include lifting the handle of the tab proximally to open the container.

In some embodiments, the first radial position is characterized by the tab being offset from the protrusion by greater than or about <NUM> degrees. Grasping the handle of the tab may include sliding one or more digits underneath the handle into the well. In the second radial position, the protrusion may lift the handle of the tab proximate the well.

Some embodiments of the present technology may encompass easy-open (EZO) containers. The EZO containers may include a can body, a laterally extending lid body, and a tab. The laterally extending lid body may be fixed to a proximal end of the can body. The lid may include a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well. The protrusion and well may be radially aligned with one another. The tab may be fixed to the lid body. The tab may include a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle. The tab may contact the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle.

In some embodiments, the lid may include a center panel. The lid may include a peripheral curl coupled with a rim of the can. The lid may include a chuck wall disposed between the center panel and the peripheral curl. The chuck wall may include a substantially horizontal portion.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the disclosed technology may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings.

Several of the figures are included as schematics. It is to be understood that the figures are for illustrative purposes, and are not to be considered of scale unless specifically stated to be of scale. Additionally, as schematics, the figures are provided to aid comprehension and may not include all aspects or information compared to realistic representations, and may include exaggerated material for illustrative purposes.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the letter.

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to lids for containers such as food, beverage, and storage cans. The lids, which may also be referred to as can ends, may include a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well, which may allow tabs to be rotated, e.g., laterally rotated between a first radial position and a second radial position. The distinct radial positions may allow for the tabs on the lids to be lifted for easier opening of the containers. Embodiments may include tabs for beverage cans in which a user lifts the handle of the tab to push on a region of a lid having a perforation and/or weakened perimeter to push the region into the inner region of the container to create an opening in the lid through which the beverage may be poured or drank. Embodiments may also be utilized in food and/or beverage cans, such as "easy open" (EZO) cans in which the tab is used to puncture the lid near an outer periphery of the can, with the user then pulling the tab and lid backwards to partially or fully remove the lid from the can. While discussed primarily in the context of food, beverage, and storage cans, it will be appreciated that the features described herein may be applied to other cans and containers, including racquetball cans, tennis ball cans, and the like.

Turning now to <FIG>, top plan and partial side views of a lid <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present technology are illustrated. Referring to <FIG>, the longitudinal and lateral/radial directions shown, as well as the proximal and distal portions. Referring again to <FIG>, lid <NUM> includes a laterally extending, e.g. in the XY plane, lid body that is formed of a metallic material, such as or including aluminum, tin, steel, and/or other metal. The lid body may have any shape, such as a circular, square, or another polygonal shape. In some embodiments, such as food or beverage can embodiments, the lid body may have a circular shape. However, it is contemplated that the lid body may take on any shape depending on the container body to which it is to be affixed to.

The lid body may include a proximally extending, e.g. in the +Z direction, protrusion <NUM> and a distally extending, e.g., in the -Z direction, well <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> and the well <NUM> may be radially aligned with one another. It is contemplated that the protrusion <NUM> and the well <NUM> may also be radially offset from one another. In embodiments, the well <NUM> may be disposed radially outward of the protrusion. That is, the well <NUM> may be closer to an outer periphery of the lid body than the protrusion.

The protrusion <NUM> has a tapered profile where the middle of the protrusion <NUM> extends in the proximal direction a greater height than the edges of the protrusion <NUM> extend in the proximal direction. Additionally, the well <NUM> has a tapered profile where the middle of the well <NUM> extends in the distal direction a greater depth than the edges of the well <NUM> extend in the distal direction. The protrusion <NUM> may have a protrusion area. The protrusion area may be measured by the area of the outer periphery of the protrusion <NUM>, or the area of the lid <NUM> that is depressed distally from the lid <NUM>. Similarly, the well <NUM> may have a well area. The well area may be measured by the area of the outer periphery of the well <NUM>, or the area of the lid <NUM> that is raised proximally from the lid <NUM>. The well area may be within <NUM>% of the protrusion area, such as within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, or less. For example, the well area may be within about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of the protrusion area, such as within about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, within about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, within about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, within about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or within about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%.

The protrusion <NUM> may extend greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM> from the lid body. For example, the protrusion <NUM> may extend from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>. Similarly, the well <NUM> may recess greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM> into the lid body. For example, the well <NUM> may recess from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

A tab <NUM> may be fixed to the lid body. In embodiments, the tab <NUM> may be rotatably fixed to the lid body such that the tab may rotate about the lid body. The tab <NUM> may include a nose <NUM> and a handle <NUM>, with a medial portion <NUM> that extends between and couples the nose <NUM> and the handle <NUM>. The tab <NUM> may include a longitudinal axis that extends through the nose <NUM>, handle <NUM>, and medial portion <NUM>. As shown, nose <NUM> includes an optional apex <NUM> that is used to puncture and/or otherwise open a lid <NUM> of a container on which the tab <NUM> is mounted. Nose <NUM> may further define an opening <NUM> that may receive a rivet and/or other fastening mechanism that is used to secure the tab <NUM> to the lid <NUM> of a container. The nose <NUM> and apex <NUM> may be at a proximal end of tab <NUM> and handle <NUM> may be at a distal end of tab <NUM>.

Handle <NUM> and/or medial portion <NUM> may define a central opening <NUM>, which may help a user better grasp the handle <NUM>. Central opening <NUM> may have a generally circular shape as shown here, or may have any other shape, such as an oval, oblong, or other shape. In some embodiments, such as those in which the tab <NUM> is installed on an easy-open (EZO) container, the central opening <NUM> may be sufficiently large that a user may position his or her finger through the central opening <NUM> to make it easier to apply sufficient force to remove the lid <NUM> from the container. Some or all of the edge of the material used to form the tab <NUM> may be bent, folded, and/or otherwise curved onto itself such that some or all of the outer periphery of the central opening <NUM> may have a rounded edge. For example, the central opening <NUM> may be formed using a punch or other machining device that forms a hole in a sheet of metallic material.

Tab <NUM> may be formed by punching, die cutting, machining and/or otherwise forming the body of tab into a sheet of metal material. This may be performed over several different steps. For example, a general tab shaped periphery may be stamped or punched to the sheet of metal material, opening <NUM> and/or central opening <NUM> may be cut into the body, and/or other features may be formed in one or more steps.

The lid body may also define an opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> may be axially aligned with the protrusion <NUM> and the well <NUM>. Again, it is contemplated that the opening <NUM>, protrusion <NUM>, and the well <NUM>, or any combination of the three, may radially offset from one another. As shown in <FIG>, the tab <NUM> may be positionable such that the tab <NUM> contacts the protrusion <NUM> causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> may depress the nose <NUM> of the tab <NUM> to the opening <NUM>, such as in a second radial position. In embodiments, the tab <NUM> may be offset from the protrusion <NUM> and/or well <NUM> in a first radial position (as shown in <FIG>). Simultaneously, in the second radial position, the protrusion <NUM> may lift the handle <NUM> proximally away from the lid body, as previously described. Together, the protrusion <NUM> may increase the distance of the tab <NUM> from the lid body and the well <NUM> may provide a portion of the lid body that has an even greater distance from the lid body. The protrusion <NUM> may lift the tab <NUM> greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>. greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM>, or more from the lid body. For example, the protrusion may lift the tab <NUM> between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and <NUM>, between about <NUM> and <NUM>, or between about <NUM> and <NUM>. The distance lifted may be measured in a variety of ways. For example, the distance lifted may be measured by a distance between the lid body and an edge of the tab <NUM>, such as at the handle <NUM> of the tab <NUM>, by a distance between an uppermost point of the protrusion <NUM> to the handle <NUM> of the tab <NUM>, or by a distance between a lowermost point of the well <NUM> to the handle <NUM> of the tab <NUM>. If the distance between the lid body and the tab <NUM> is too great, the container may undesirably open or multiple containers may not be able to be stacked upon one another.

Some embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an EZO container. As shown in <FIG>, the EZO container <NUM> may include a can body, which may include a cylindrical sidewall <NUM> and a base <NUM>. The container may define an open interior, which may be used to store food, beverages, and/or other objects. A lid may be positioned over the open interior to seal the contents of container. The lid may be similar to lid <NUM> described above. The lid may include a tab, which may be used to open the container. The tab may be any tab, such as tab <NUM> in some embodiments. A user may be able to grasp a handle of tab and pull the handle upward relative to lid to puncture and/or otherwise push a portion of lid downward. For example, the user may lift the handle of the tab to push on a region of a lid having a perforation and/or weakened perimeter to push the region into the inner region of the container to create an opening in the lid through which the beverage may be poured or drank. In some embodiments, such as when container is a drink can, the upward movement of the handle of tab may fully open a drinking/pouring opening of lid. In other embodiments, such as when container has a peel open lid, the user may need to pull tab away from can body to peel all or a portion of lid off of can body to access the contents of container.

As shown in <FIG>, lid <NUM> may include a center panel <NUM> that is generally flat and is designed to cover a substantial amount of an opening of a can. The protrusion <NUM>, well <NUM>, and tab <NUM> may be located on the center panel <NUM>. Lid <NUM> may also include a peripheral curl <NUM> that is designed to be coupled with a rim of the can to secure lid <NUM> and can together. Disposed between center panel <NUM> and peripheral curl <NUM> may be a chuck wall <NUM>. As used in herein, "chuck wall" is understood to refer to a portion of lid <NUM> located between a countersink region <NUM> and peripheral curl <NUM> and which is contacted by or engaged with a chuck during a seaming operation of a manufacturing process. Chuck wall <NUM> may include a substantially vertical portion <NUM> and a substantially horizontal portion <NUM>. Substantially vertical portion <NUM> may be within <NUM> degrees of vertical (such as relative to an angle that is generally orthogonal to the center panel <NUM>), within <NUM> degrees of vertical, within <NUM> degrees of vertical, or less. In terms of ranges, the angle of substantially vertical portion <NUM> may range from <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees of vertical, e.g., from <NUM> degree to <NUM> degrees or from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees. Substantially vertical portion <NUM> may be linear and/or may have a contour. Substantially horizontal portion <NUM> may have an angle θ within <NUM> degrees of horizontal (such as relative to the center panel <NUM>), within <NUM> degrees of horizontal, within <NUM> degrees of horizontal, within <NUM> degrees of horizontal, within <NUM> degrees of horizontal, within <NUM> degrees of horizontal, or less. Substantially horizontal portion <NUM> may be linear and/or may have a contour.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may also be directed to methods of opening lids of containers, such as the lid <NUM> previously described above. As shown in <FIG>, the methods <NUM> include rotating a tab about a laterally extending lid body of the lid at step <NUM>, such as the lid <NUM> previously described above, from a first radial position to a second radial position. As previously described above, the tab may include a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle. The laterally extending lid body may include a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well in axial alignment. The tab may contact the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body in the second radial position relative to the handle in the first radial position. The methods include grasping the handle of the tab proximate the well at step <NUM> and include lifting the handle of the tab proximally to open the container at step <NUM>.

The first radial position may be characterized by the tab being offset from the protrusion by greater than or about <NUM> degrees, such as greater than or about <NUM> degrees, greater than or about <NUM>, greater than or about <NUM> degrees, or more. For example, the first radial position may be characterized by the tab being offset from the protrusion by between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees, such as between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees, between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees, between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees, or between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees. Grasping the handle of the tab may include sliding one or more digits underneath the handle into the well. Alternatively, a key or other utensil may be slid underneath the handle into the well. As previously described above, in the second radial position, the protrusion lifts the handle of the tab proximate the well.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may allow for easier opening of containers having sealable lids with tabs. In conventional designs, the tabs are flush with the lids and it becomes difficult for users to grasp the tabs to open to lids. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the protrusions and wells on the lids may allow for the tab to be lifted when the tab is laterally rotated about the lid. Once rotated, the protrusion lift the tab and the well may provide a recess for easier grasping of the tabs by providing an increased gap that allows a user's finger to more easily insert under the handle for easier opening.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed herein are examples. Additionally, the techniques discussed herein may provide differing results with different types of context awareness classifiers.

While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the disclosed systems, methods, and machine-readable media have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly or conventionally understood. As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. "About" and/or "approximately" as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, encompasses variations of ±<NUM>% or ±<NUM>%, ±<NUM>%, or +<NUM>% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate to in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein. "Substantially" as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, a physical attribute (such as frequency), and the like, also encompasses variations of ±<NUM>% or ±<NUM>%, ±<NUM>%, or ±<NUM>% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate to in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein.

Claim 1:
A lid (<NUM>) for a container, comprising:
a laterally extending lid body having a proximally extending protrusion (<NUM>) and a distally extending well (<NUM>), wherein the protrusion and the well are radially aligned with one another; and
a tab (<NUM>) fixed to the lid body, the tab comprising a nose (<NUM>), a handle (<NUM>), and a medial portion (<NUM>) that extends between the nose (<NUM>) and the handle (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
the well (<NUM>) is disposed radially outward of the protrusion (<NUM>);
the tab (<NUM>) is positionable such that the tab (<NUM>) contacts the protrusion (<NUM>) causing the handle (<NUM>) to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle (<NUM>);
the protrusion (<NUM>) has a tapered profile in which a middle of the protrusion (<NUM>) extends in a proximal direction a greater height than edges of the protrusion (<NUM>) extend in the proximal direction; and
the well (<NUM>) has a tapered profile in which a middle of the well (<NUM>) extends in a distal direction a greater height than edges of the well (<NUM>) extend in the distal direction.