Plate with opening aid for cans
View Patent ↗A metal plate ( 1 ) with an opening aid for cans has an upper and a lower face, a central ( 7 ) and a radial ( 8 ) edge, and two lateral edges ( 18 ) connecting ends of the central and radial edge. The plate is slightly curved, and the radial edge extends over a partial circle with an angle of at least 150°, wherein a receiving area ( 9 ) for the rivet is provided on the central edge. The lateral edges have edge reinforcements reinforcing the plate. The radial edge has a groove anchor ( 10 ) that forms a sliding rail that engages a groove of the beverage can. The upper face is equipped with at least one elevation ( 15 ) that engages the lever of the can and functions as an opening aid. The elevation has gradually inclines towards its ends, and runs approximately concentrically. The upper face has at least one pushing aid, preferably with a knob ( 20 ). The corners between the lateral edges and the radial edge form radially protruding corner flanges ( 13 ).
1 . A plate structure with an opening aid for a can having a lever that is attached to the can with a rivet, said plate structure comprising:
a plate having an upper face and a lower face, a central edge and a radial edge, and
two lateral edges that each connect a respective end of the central edge and a respective end of the radial edge,
wherein the radial edge of the plate is curved with a curvature approximating a sphere of curvature having a curvature center that lies approximately on a longitudinal axis of the can and downward from the lower face,
wherein the radial edge extends over a partial circle with an angle of at least 150°,
wherein the central edge provides a receptacle configured to receive the rivet,
each of the lateral edges having a respective edge reinforcement thereon, wherein the edge reinforcements brace the plate, and
the radial edge has a groove anchor thereon,
wherein the groove anchor forms an angled slide rail that is directed away from the lower face and engages in a groove of the can,
the upper face having at least one elongate, substantially crescent-shaped upwardly projecting elevation thereon,
wherein the elevation is configured to engage with the lever of the can and serves as the opening aid,
wherein the elevation has ends and a decreasing inclination towards each of the ends thereof, the elevation extending generally concentrically to the receptacle and being at least 5 mm long, and
at least one sliding aid is arranged on the upper face, wherein the sliding aid has at least one knob,
wherein the lateral edges have corners that each form a respective projection in a radial direction towards the radial edge and form corner horns, and
wherein the plate is made of metal.
2 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plate has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm.
3 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elevation has a length of at least 7 mm.
4 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elevation has two sides that slope evenly over a distance of at least 1 mm.
5 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elevation has a height of at least 0.25 mm.
6 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the radial edge is curved so as to form a partial circle with an angle of at least 200° about the longitudinal axis of the can.
7 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the corner horns are extruded at least 2 mm.
8 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the lateral edges have a curved portion due to the corner horns, and the edge reinforcement is arranged along said curved portion.
9 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the edge reinforcement is formed as a thickening of the plate, and the thickening is at least 1.2 times a thickness of the plate away from the thickening of the edge reinforcement.
10 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding aid has at least 3 knobs.
11 . The plate structure according to claim 10 , wherein the knobs of the sliding aid are each configured as a rectangle with rounded corners, the rectangle having an aspect ratio of at least 1:1.
12 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plate has an underside that is coated with a plastic.
13 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the upper face is configured to receive printing thereon.
14 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one pushing aid is formed on the upper face, and the plate is formed in one piece and shaped by embossing.
15 . A can system comprising the plate structure according to claim 1 , and a beverage can to which the plate structure is attached.
16 . A method for producing a can system according to claim 15 , said method comprising
first providing the beverage can,
then placing the plate structure on a groove of the beverage can, and
then placing a lever on the groove of the beverage can, and
closing the groove.
17 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plate has a thickness of at least 1 mm.
18 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elevation has a length of at least 20 mm.
19 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elevation has two sides that slope evenly over a distance of at least 5 mm.
20 . The plate structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elevation has a height of at most 1 mm.