CA2248210A1 - Resealable beverage container and top therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A resealable can end (10) having a neck member (11) and hat member (12) which can be sealed onto and removed from the neck member (11) is capable of containing a product under pressure. This end can (10) be attached to a metal container body by a conventional seam (20). The end provides resealing containment of the contents of the container and an improved mouth for better pour opening and direct drinking. The method of making and the apparatus for making the can end is disclosed.

Description

WO 98/22364 PCTrUS97~2074 -~R~T-"~T-R B13V13RAG,E CoNTATNRl2 & TOP
Technical Field This invention relates to contA;n~rs for liquids, particularly ~ev~Layes~ which include a reclosable top or cap, and which can be applied to various stan~rd types of cans and the like by use of known interlock curl attachment systems.
R~C~J.~U~ ~ t The ~uLle~,t known form~ ~f easy open collL~;~er end, using a tear-open pour panel operated by an integral or "attached" ta~, while universally acceptable in more affluent societies, particularly in the beer/beverage market, is somewhat of a luxury col-~ellie~ce item. T~ese can be re~cycled insofar as they are constructed primarily of alnminu~ but despite many efforts a successful reclosable device or mechanism, particularly one built into the original container, has not been given favor in the u~eL~lace, for a ~ )er of leas~s. S~c~ cont~;ners have thus been relegated to use as one time, throw-away packaging, and they are not c;~p;~h~ e of keeping fluid contents secure while permitting intermittent partial dispensing of the contents after initial opening.
Prior to, and duri~g the inL~u~u~Lion of, easy-open can ends, a form of container was available ha~ing a generally frusto-conical top on a can bo~y a~d ~uvided with a non-reclo~able crown-type cap. Some of those even had a separate reclosable c~ver t~readed to a n~ck and ~ve~ the crown-type cap which was to be discarded once opened, as typified by the disclosure in U.S. Patent Z,337,616. These cont~;n~rs~ for various reasons, failed to maintain market acceptance.
Thus, there is still a need for a reclosable c~ntainer for fluids which, as part of the original cont~inPr construction or assem~lage, can be r~close~ to retain part o~ the content~ under sealed conditions. The mouth construction of such cont~in~rs is also more accepLa~le than ca~y-open- c~nt~i~ers for direct drinking of the cont~iner contents.
Such a reclosa~le f~dLul~ ha~ b~come a~ailable in plastic tnon-metallic) containers (ordinarily blow-molded) for carbonated W 098/22364 PCT~US97/22074 beverages, in both two liter and smaller one-half liter (0.59 ml) sIzes. Such contEiners ~ave a f~dllyible sealed and resealable screw-on cap molded of a suitable plastic, but loss of carbonation through the plastic ~ody mat OEials, resulting in lower shelf life of the product and difficulty in recycling ~ame has i,.,~aiL~ wides~ead ~c~e~Lallce of such plastic containers.
Thus, there is a marketplace need for containers for fluids, and particularly liquids under ~L~U,~ ~e.g. the beer/beverage csnt~n~rs) which have the reclosable feature and which can be ~ul,s~L~cted of metal, preferably allJm;ml~
Disclosure of the Invention The pre~ent invention provides a closur~ construction for reclosable metal containers, e.g. for a metal can body, wherein a d~med c~l~Lai~leL end wit~ a ne-ck p~rtion-ha~vi"y a pour opening is provided with a reclosable metal type of cap or hat.
Prefera~ly, the end, with a~ attache~ sealed-hat, is attached to the open end of a filled can by a conventional double rolled seam co,~lecLion. The~ v~llLion a~so ~llco..~a~es-methoas of making and attaching such ends to a can body.
T~e il~v~llLia~ pr~vides a unIque and-v~L~dLile container for fluids, particularly for beverages, wherein various st~n~rd can bodies ar~ pr~vided-with an end i~clu~il,y a-neck with a pour opening, a l~g formation on the neck below the pour opening, a reclosable cap or hat havi~ a luy Lol~Lion- which can interlock with the lug formation on the neck and including a seal ~ulloulldilly the pour o~el,il,~, and ~hus capa~e of maint~ining product under pressure. The end preferably is coupled to a can body by canventi~nal d-ouble-rolled s~am ~ttac~l~nent between the ~ottom of the neck and the rim of the can body.
T~e ~Linci~al obJecL of th~s illvt:llLic~l~ is to provide a resealable end including a r e~ vable cap construction (also called a neck an~ ~at hereIn~ which can ~e added, such as by a conventional seam, to a metal container ~ody to obtain resealing con~ - -nt of ~alLial co,lLe~Ls reta~ne~ in t~e cont~iner~ even under pressure, and to provide an improved mouSh construction ~or pour opening~ for ~L~ OULilly an~ ~o~ ~uu-Lu~L~ble direct W 098/22364 PCT~US97t22074 --3--drinking from the container; and to provide i~.-~L~ed methods of and apparatus far making such a resealable hat and neck.
Other objects and advantages of the in~ention will be d~arel~t fLo,-t the follow~ng descLiption, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
Brief De~.i~Lion of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a view showing, in outline, two stacked contA;ners il-~ol~LdLing the inv~llLIon, the u~el-,.osL container shown in phantom lines;
~ig. 2 is an en~arged cros~-sectianal view of a container end constru~ted according to the invention, including the rim at t~e ~awer edge of the neck sect~an wh~ch ~co,~s part of a seamed joint between the end and the upper rim of a can body;
Fig. 2A is an enlaryed detail view of ane af the lugs formed outward~y in the upper neck section of the end;
Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are ~loyLessive crass-section views illustrating operations in forming of the hat or cap portion of the novel cont~i n~r end;
Figs. 4A--B are ~LoyL~ cr~ss-section ~iews of the hat member i}lustrating its formation;
Figs. 5A--H a~e partial cros~-secti~n views of punch and die tools in a typical press envi ~ l-ent, illustrating the formation of the dome or neck structure of tAe container end;
Figs. 6A--G are enlarged cross-section views of the progressive foL"~ion of the neck structure;
Fig~ 7 is a schematic illustration of an alternate way of forming ~gs o~ the neck section;
Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the effect of stacking of the contain~rs on t~e ca~ and its seal; and Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the effect of loading on the cap and its seal.
Be~t M~de fol Carry~ng Out the Invention The Cont~ i n~r The c~u~;n~r end cf th~ pr~sent illV~ iO~ is comprised of two major parts, a dome structure 10 and a cap or hat member 12 w~ich is i~ the ~lleLd~ f~ l.,. of an i-.v~, Led cu~, including an CA Ot248210 1998-08-28 W098~2364 PCT~S97/22074 outwardly curled rim 13 depending from the top panel 14 of hat ~ eL ~2. ~n FIg. 1, a- pair of ~un~ainer~-Including can type ~odies 15 each provided with this end, such bodies having a concave central portion 16 i~ their ~-ottoms are s~own stacked one upon the other to ~-~onstrate the ability of the cont~; n~r to be so ~Lacked while Inclu~ing the novel re~ealable end. Such bottom configuration of can bodies is per se known.
Referring to Fig. ~, the d~me includes a neck structure 11 with a wing-like lower rim 20 capable of being seamed to the upper en~ or rim of a can bo*y (see the left e~ge of Fig. 2), and optionally including a sealing compound 21 on the underside of rim 20. Rim 20 extends ouLw~Ld from the lower edge of a generally frusto-conical central neck section 22 which has formed ~ its upper edge a ye~ ally cylin~ric~l ~pper neck section 25 which terminates at its upper edge in a outward curled ~eal rim 30 formed upon a ledge 31. A~out s-eal rlm 30 there is shown an elastomeric preferably circular seal 32, which may take different forms a~ later explai~ec~, b ~ in y~lleLdl i6- fi-t~ed within cap 12.
BxtenA;n~ outward from upper neck section 25 are a first set ~0 of elongated lugs 35, y~ L~ly trIanyular in shape (see Fig.
2A~, with angled lower cam surfaces 36 exten~;ng at a pLedeL~L~ ed an~le to the ye~leLally vertica-l outer ~urface of neck section 25. These lugs 35 cooperate with a second set of inwardly ext~ndi~-y ~ug u~ 36 formed in the aurled rim 13 of hat member 12 to hold the cap firmly on the dome structure, as ~-ate~ explaine*. W~en th-e h~t ,.,~ is-aLLached to the upper neck portion, the cooperating first and second lug members 35, 36 draw top panel 14 a~Inst t~e c~rled sea-l rim 30~ and compress seal 32 ~in~t the curled rim 30 and ledge 31, as shown in Fig.

2.
Seal 3~2 can take different forms. In a first ~onm the annular 0-ring type seal is molded as a peripheral part of a thin flex~bl~ an~ complIant disk 33 whic~ i-s att~clled ~o the underside of top panel 14. In another form, the O-ring type ~eal is made as a ri~ o~ a c~rcu~ar-th~n ."~ w~ich is app-lied to the o~ter portion of the underside of top panel 14. In any event, the W 098/22364 PCT~US97~2074 compressible elastomeric sea~ member is positioned within the hat member 12, as shown in Fig. 2. This aL,~,ly~ cllt will retain initial pressurization of product (if necessary~, and hold resIdual ~ ess~Le after reclosing.
5 Tool ing The t~oling which is disclosed herFIn is intended for use in reciprocating high speed presses, although other forms of tooling and actuation are within the scope-o~ the ill~e,ltion. In general, with regard to Figs. 3A--B and Figs.5A--B, a typical press includes an upper die plat-e- UP, a l~wer die plate LP, and guide posts GP which maintain the alignment of a punch or punches on upper plate UP a ~ a co~e~o~,dins di-e-or dies on lower plate ~P. The various ones of these figures represent, in somewhat schematic fashion, the t-oo~ing at diCC~l~llL stations within a press.
Hat Formation Figs. 3A--B a~d 4A--B show the hat or cap and the two steps of forming the completed lugged hat 12. Both steps may be contained-in the s~me pT~S~, as t~is IS CUl~v~lLient in a high production enviro~ment, however the fiecond operation can be performed in an auxiliary piece of e~;p~ent In the first operation (at a first station I-H), a blank is cut from either sheet or coiled material on the down stroke of the press by blank punch 45. On the continuation of the down ~5 stroke, the ~ank is drawn int~ a cup ~h~d hat part 40-1. At the bottom of the stroke the panel shape 42 is formed into the top of the hat part 40-1 by the pun-ch 45 an~ c~aperating die 46 (Fig. 3A).
On the up ~LL~he, th~ lowe~ curl rIng 48, which is under spring pressure, raises with the blank punch. The edge 50 of the hat- ~art 40-1 is cur-}ed outward into th~ ~aviL~ formed by curl ring 48 and blank punch 45, thus completing a formed hat or cap part 40-1 with an uuL~ide cur~ 55, as shown in Fig. 4A.
In the second operation (which as mentioned can be another statio~ 1~ t-h~ yL~ or in- d~l auxlliary pIece ~f-e~uipment), at a s-econd station II-H there are a punch 60 and die 62 having a W 098/22364 PCTrUS97~2074 cavity which receives the hat part 40-1 in an inverted orientatio~ with the outside curi 55 resting i~ a cavity 63 in die 62. A punch probe, c~mprising a plurality ~e.g. three or four) of radially movable fingErs 64 co~Lating with a central tapered actuating cam 65, is inserted first into the product side tin~erior) of t~e LoLIne~ hat part 40-1 bef~Le the punch closes against the hat part 40-1. The fingers 64 are extended by cam 65 ~to the positIon show~ in Fig. 4B~ an~ the riL~y~L ends 66 extend into the hat part 40-1 against the interior of curl 55 to e-sta~lish the height of the lugs 36 to be Lo~ ed from material of curl 55. A curling ring 67 on the punch has a set of cavities in its radially i~lWdld sectian-, these ~UL r efpo,ldin~-to the location and size of the lugs 36. The radially outward region of ring 67 h~s co~le~u~di,~ exL~,ldiny su~Laces 68 which move ~5 material from the outside curl ~5 toward the inside of the hat part 40-1, as the curling ring 67 ~LL~ out aver finger ends 66. This will esta~lish the final form of hat part 40-2, including i,~ dly ~ilecLed lugs- 36 ~prefera~ly three or four~
above the outward curled ed~e 50.
20 ~c~ Strv,cture Fo~mation T~e ~eck~dome sLl~LuLe 11 i~ fo~ e~ in seven op~rations as described hereafter. However the first station Blank & Draw operation ~nd t~e ~~co,ld sta-tion Redraw opeL~io~ can if de~ired, be combined into a single station, reducing the total number of 2~ stat~ons ~o six. T~e ~ollG..i.ly de~~Li~Lion will assume that the first and second stations are separate.
At the first station I-N, a blank is cut fr~m either sheet or coiled material, and is drawn into a cup shaped part 7~-1, as shown i-n Figs. 5A & 6A.
kt the ~eco.,d s~ation II-N, th~ part 70-1- i-s redrawn to form the countersink area 72 and the edge 74 is curled to establish the final o ~ side dtdll,e~. T~i5 a~ow~ the- resultant part 70-2 to be p~aced into a belt type transfer system from this operation o.l-.ald, enabling ~ig~er ~~ Lion syeeds than can be achieved with other forms of transfer systems. It will be appreciated ~hat the first a~d ~ecoLl~ sta~Io~s ca~ ~ s~parate, however W O 98/22364 PCT~US97/22074 in a production atmosphere that would incorporate an automated transfer ~y~Leml it may be pr~ferred that stations I-N ~ be combined to allow i~d;ate placement of the parts into a belt, or oLhe, ~imilar transfer system.
At the third station III-N, part 70-2 is redrawn to obtain additional height af the ~ LLdl section 75, and in the fourth station IV-N a lip 76 iS formed, upon which the curl (formed in the sev~nLh uyelaLion, as later de~cLibe~) will rest, resulting in part 70-3 ~Figs. SD ~ 6D).
In the f-ifth stati~n V-N, a ho~e or opening 78 is pierced through the part, and in the sixth station VI-N opening 78 is e~L~ded ~ ard to obLai,l the mater~al necessal~ for the curl on part 70-4 (see Fig. 6F).
Then, in the seventh seation VII-N ehe curled seal rim 30 around the drinking opening is formed. The curl is formed L~llu~gll 3~0 de~lees s~ the raw e~ge of the material cannot come in contact with the user's mouth when drinking directly from the cont~;ner. This results in ~he part 70-5 ~own in Fig. 6&).
The lugs 35 can be added to the upper neck section 25 in a fUL Lh~l ~Les~ sLaLiG.l. ~t is-also po~si~le to farm such lugs in separate auxiliary equipment which employs the technique of rolling Ll.re~d~ or the like in thin-walled meta~ cylindrical or cup shaped parts.
In the a~itional pre~s station VIII-N the part 70-5 is placed in a die member 80 which includes cavities 81 corre6p~n~i n~ t~ t~e deslred external cu,~Li-guration and location of the lug~ 35. In a preferred embo~;m~nt there will be three or four s~ch ca~iLies ~as beforE), ~hic~ wil~ b~ ~ligned around the upper nec~ section at the desired location of the lugs 35. A

3-0 punch, 82 havi~g-radially ~x~ e fi~ly~ 84 operated by a tapered cam 85, is inserted into the part 70-1 and the wall of the neck sec~ion-is ~Lesse~ into the die cavities by ~r~nA;ng the fingers radially outward. Fingers 84 have embossing parts 86 configured to the sIze and sl,d~e of l~g~ 35 and-are adapted to mate with cavities 81. After lugs 35 are so formed, the fingers 84 are l~L~acLed, the punch 8~ and die 80 ~e~late, and--the W 098/22364 PCTrUS97~2074 completed neck part 70-5 is removed. In this same station, the wing-lIke }ower rim can be reshap-ed, as by further curling, preparatory for the seA~i n~ operation when the end is attached to a filled can body.
AlLeL~ ely, ubi~ly an a m I}iary piece of equipment, the wing-like lower rim or seaming curl will ~e finish shaped, and lugs 35 will be fonmed at the sam~ ti~e, u-sing r~tary techniques.
The part 70-5 is grasped in a rotating chuck 90 and rotated about a first axis 92 which coi~ci~es with the centerline of the upper neck section 25. Cooperating rotatable rolling ~or ironiny) t-ools, nam~ly ~ outer aL~vil ~4 roLaLirl~ on an axis gS, and an inner die 96 rotating on an axis g7, are brought into contact wit~ the wa71 of the n~ck sectio~. T~e anvi-7 and it cooperating die, and their respective rotary drives, are movable toward and away from the ~hu~Afpart axis g2 i-n a radial d~ection and in a lo~gitudinal direction; thus these parts can be moved into and out of, a~d Lowald ~nd away from t~e ~ulLa~es of, the upper neck section 25 of the chucked part 70-5. These rotary anvil g4 and die 96 to~ls- ~avE the ma~effemale c~nf-i~ù-~Lio~,~ of the lugs 35 fonmed thereon. W~en the anvil and die are engaged and rotated with the loLaLi~l~ part 70-5, t-he luy c~f~uLaLions are pressed into the wall of the ~pper neck section.
In~us L ~ ial Appl i cabi l i ty Thus, the present illv~l~Lio~ pr~vides methods and apparatus for making the neck and hat m~ r contA;ner end. The various ~u~lclles, dies, and related e~ipment, associated with the progressive station~ disclosed, form a means for performing the various steps descri~d so as ta u~dl~uf~LuL~ the neck member and cooperating hat mem~er in presses and relat~d mach~nes in a mass ~lud~cLion environment.
F~g. 7 i~lu~LLaLes deLo~..~d g~ou.eLry of the- ~at or cap at 90 PSI, in comparison with approximate undeformed geometry, the def~l.--dLion ~ei~,y du~ ta appli-c~tio~ of e~L~,d} ~ertical axial load ûn the csnt~inQr due to direct stacking of a second 35 cnnt~tne~ ~r C~ on top af dno~le~ can ~as in-Fig. 1). Testing and co~puter modeling indicates the hat or cap will tend to lower W098/22364 PCT~S97122074 to m;n;m~lm position with doming still present in the hat. The seal 32 will tend to- push LUL L11~L into th~ gap beLwecn hat me~ber 12 and the external ~urfaces of the pouring opening, causing a _ tightening of the seal.
Fig. 8 show~ deroL~Ited geoL"~L~y of hat- memb~r 12 at 90 PSI, compared to approximate undeformed geometry of the hat member.
The loading is- applied to the cellLeL of the ha~ member and the hat member will tend to flatten due to the moment shown. Such deformation may cause some- ouLbd~d ,,wve,,,e~lL in- the sides of the hat member (shown exaggerated~. This could, potentially, de~u",~L~ ~ the O-riny seal ~o..ic..hdL, but even in such a les~er pressurized ~tate there is built-in interference between the seal member, the u~eL neck region at dome, a~d t~e cap. Therefore, a container fitted with a seal according to this invention will not lose its sealIng, a~Lh~yll it may e~eLience some lowering of the hat member as ~een in the above-described ~ituation (Fig.7) in com~in-atIon with f~aLL~ning of the hat memher While the methods herein de~cribed, and the forms of apparatus for OdLLyi1~y these ~ hod~ Into eLrec~, constitute preferred embsA;m~nts of thi~ invention, it is to be understood that the ill~e~lti~ is n~t ~imit~d- to these- pre~ise methods and fonm~ of apparatu~, and that changes may be made in either without depaTtiny from the sc~pe of the invantion, which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:

1. A resealable container end for attachment to a liquid holding container, said end comprising a neck portion having a lower-edge including a peripheral wing part for incorporation in a rolled seam with a rim of a can body, said neck portion having a generally cylindrical central upper part of less diameter than said wing part and including a pouring opening with a surrounding curl, a first set of lugs formed outward to a first diameter about said upper part for cooperation with a closure hat, a removable closure hat member covering said pouring opening and including a top panel and a rim shaped to extend downward from said top panel around said upper neck part, said rim terminating in a generally circular lower edge, a second set of lugs formed inward within said rim of said hat member to a second diameter less than said first diameter of said first set of lugs to latch under said first set of lugs to retain said hat member in sealed relationship with said surrounding curl of said pouring opening.

2. A container end as defined in claim 1, further comprising a seal member within said hat member, said first set of lugs having inclined cam surfaces facing downward of said neck portion for compressing said seal member against said pouring opening.

3. A container end as defined in claim 1, further comprising said upper part of said neck portion including a ledge about said surrounding curl, said seal member having an inner diameter greater than said surrounding curl whereby said seal member is compressed against said ledge and said surrounding curl.

4. A container end as defined in claim 3, further comprising said seal member being an elastomeric ring-like member contained within said rim of said hat member adjacent the junction of said top panel and said rim.

5. A container end as defined in claim 1, further comprising an outward curl formed on said lower edge of said rim of said hat member, and said second set of lugs extending inward from said outward curl.

6. A container end as defined in claim 1, further including a seal compound applied to the underside of said wing part of said neck portion to be incorporated in a rolled seam formed with a can body rim and said wing part.

7. A resealable container end for attachment to a liquid holding container, said end comprising a neck portion having a lower edge adapted for incorporation in a seam with a rim of a can body, said neck portion having a generally cylindrical central upper part of less diameter than said wing part and including a pouring opening with a surrounding curl, a first set of lugs formed outward to a first diameter about said upper part for coorperation with a closure hat, said first set of lugs being of generally triangular shape including inclined cam surfaces facing downward of said upper neck portion, a removable closure hat member covering said pouring opening and including a top panel and a rim shaped to extend downward from said top panel around said upper neck part, said rim terminating in a generally circular lower edge, a circular seal member within said rim of said hat member adjacent said top panel, a second set of lugs formed inward within said rim of said hat member to a second diameter less than said first diameter of said first set of lugs to latch under said first set of lugs and to retain said hat member in sealed relationship with said surrounding curl of said pouring opening.

8. A container end as defined in claim 7, further comprising said upper part of said neck portion including a ledge about said surrounding curl, said seal member having an inner diameter greater than said surrounding curl whereby said seal member is compressed against said ledge and said surrounding curl.

9. A container end as defined in claim 7, wherein said seal member is an elastomeric ring-like member contained within said rim of said hat member adjacent the junction of said top panel and said rim.

10. A container end as defined in claim 7, further comprising said surrounding curl being an outward curl formed on said lower edge of said rim of said hat member, and said second set of lugs extending inward from said outward curl.

11. A container end as defined in claim 10, further including a ledge formed on said upper neck part, from which ledge the outward curl surrounding said pour opening is formed.

12. The method of manufacturing a container and including a neck member for seaming to a can body and a hat member forming with the neck member a resealable closure, comprising the steps of forming a neck member including a peripheral wing part adapted for seaming to a can body and a generally cylindrical upper neck part, forming an outward curl upon the upper neck part defining a pouring opening, forming a first set of lugs projecting outwardly of the upper neck part to a predetermined first diameter, and forming cam surfaces on the first set of lugs, forming an inverted generally cup-shaped hat member including a top panel and a rim depending from the top panel and an outward curl formed about the edge of the rim, forming a second set of lugs extending inwardly from the rim to a predetermined second diameter less than the diameter of the first set of lugs for interaction with the cam surfaces on the first set of lugs on the neck member to urge the top panel against the outward curl surrounding the pour opening.

13. The method defined in claim 12, further comprising the steps of forming a seal member including a ring having an inner diameter sized to fit against the outward curl around the pour opening, placing the seal member within the hat member such that the ring presses against the outward curl on the pour opening when the lugs on the hat member are fully engaged with the lugs on the upper neck part.

14. Apparatus for manufacturing a container end including a neck member for seaming to a can body and a hat member forming with the neck member a releasable closure, said apparatus comprising means for forming a neck member including a peripheral wing part adapted for seaming to a can body and a generally cylindrical upper neck part, means for forming an outward curl upon said upper neck part to define a pouring opening, means for forming a first set of lugs projecting outwardly of said upper neck part to a predetermined first diameter, said first set of lugs including cam surfaces, means for forming an inverted generally cup-shaped hat member Including a top panel and a rim depending from said top panel and an outward curl formed about the edge of said rim, means for forming a second set of lugs extending inwardly from said rim to a predetermined second diameter less than the diameter of said first set of lugs for interaction with said cam surfaces on said first set of lugs an said neck member to move said top panel against said outward curl surrounding said pour opening.