IP Library Granted Patent US 12,722,847
Granted Patent B2
US 12,722,847 · App. 18/631,918 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Can ends having re-closable pour openings

Inventors: Rex Villasin (Itasca, IL); Peter Kim (Arlington Heights, IL); Alex Teckenbrock (Lombard, IL); Michael R. Gogola (Itasca, IL)
Assignee: ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING USA CORP.
B65D17/06B65D17/02B65D2517/0002B65D2517/0016
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,722,847
App. No.
18/631,918
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Re-closable mobile packages are disclosed. An example can end includes a center panel having a pour opening. A first track extends from an upper surface of the center panel around a perimeter of the pour opening. A cover is rotatably coupled to the center panel about a rotational axis. The cover includes a second track. The second track extends partially around a perimeter of the cover such that the second track defines at least a first gap. The second track to engage the first track when the cover is in a closed position.

Claims (33)

1 . A can end comprising:

a center panel having a pour opening;

a first track extending from an upper surface of the center panel around a perimeter of the pour opening; and

a cover rotatably coupled to the center panel about a rotational axis such that the cover slides relative to the center panel between a closed position and an open position, the cover including a second track, the second track extending partially around a perimeter of the cover such that the second track defines at least a first gap, the first gap to enable the second track to slidably engage the first track when the cover is rotated about the rotational axis toward the closed position.

2 . The can end of claim 1 , wherein the second track includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion positioned separated by the first gap.

3 . The can end of claim 2 , wherein the at least the first gap is positioned between a first end of the first protrusion and a first end of the second protrusion, a second end of the first protrusion and a second end of the second protrusion are separated by a second gap.

4 . A can end comprising:

a center panel having a pour opening;

a first track extending from an upper surface of the center panel around a perimeter of the pour opening; and

a cover rotatably coupled to the center panel about a rotational axis, the cover including a second track, the second track extending partially around a perimeter of the cover such that the second track defines a first gap, the second track to engage the first track when the cover is in a closed position, the second track including a first protrusion and a second protrusion separated by the first gap, the first gap is positioned between a first end of the first protrusion and a first end of the second protrusion, a second end of the first protrusion and a second end of the second protrusion are separated by a second gap, the cover including a third protrusion to engage the first track when the cover is in the closed position, the third protrusion positioned between the second end of the first protrusion and the second end of the second protrusion.

5 . The can end of claim 4 , wherein the cover includes a base to carry the second track, the base having a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion, the first portion of the base to carry the first protrusion and the second portion of the base to carry the third protrusion.

6 . The can end of claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the base is a different size than the second portion of the base.

7 . The can end of claim 5 , wherein the base includes a crease between the first portion of the base and the second portion of the base.

8 . The can end of claim 7 , wherein the cover defines a center axis, and wherein the crease does not intersect the center axis.

9 . The can end of claim 4 , wherein the cover includes a rib that connects the first protrusion and the third protrusion, the rib structured to rupture during an initial occurrence of the cover being moved from the closed position to an open position.

10 . The can end of claim 4 , wherein the first protrusion spans a first distance along the perimeter of the cover and the second protrusion spans a second distance along the perimeter of the cover, and the first distance being different from the second distance.

11 . The can end of claim 4 , wherein the first track includes a first wall extending from the center panel and a fourth protrusion extending about a perimeter of the first wall.

12 . The can end of claim 11 , wherein the first protrusion, the second protrusion and the third protrusion of the cover engage the fourth protrusion of the first track when the cover is in the closed position.

13 . The can end of claim 4 , where in the cover further includes a web, the web staked to the center panel via a rivet that defines the rotational axis.

14 . A can end comprising:

a center panel having a pour opening;

a first wall extending from an upper surface of the center panel around a perimeter of the pour opening; and

a cover coupled to the center panel about a rotational axis, the cover including a base and at least one second wall positioned around a perimeter of the base, the base including a fixed portion and a liftable portion pivotally coupled to the fixed portion, wherein the liftable portion occupies a smaller percentage of the base than the fixed portion, the cover including a first protrusion and a second protrusion extending from an end of the at least one second wall, the first protrusion and the second protrusion separated by a gap along a perimeter of the at least one second wall, wherein the at least one second wall includes a first portion from which the first protrusion extends and a second portion from which the second protrusion extends, wherein the first portion extends from the liftable portion of the base, and wherein the second portion extends from the fixed portion of the base.

15 . The can end of claim 14 , wherein the cover includes a third protrusion extending from the second portion of the at least one second wall.

16 . A can end comprising:

a center panel having a pour opening provided by a first wall extending from an upper surface of the center panel; and

a cover rotatably coupled to the center panel about a rotational axis offset from a central axis of the can end, the cover including a base, a second wall extending from the base towards the center panel, a first protrusion extending from the second wall, and a second protrusion extending from the second wall, the first protrusion and the second protrusion separated by a gap defined along a portion of a perimeter of the second wall, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend from an end of the second wall, the first protrusion and the second protrusion to extend towards the pour opening when the cover is in a closed position.

17 . The can end of claim 16 , wherein the base includes a liftable portion, a fixed portion, and a crease separating the liftable portion from the fixed portion, the first protrusion extending from a first portion of the second wall, the first portion extending from the liftable portion of the base, the second protrusion extending from a second portion of the second wall, and the second portion extending from the fixed portion of the base.

18 . The can end of claim 17 , wherein the first protrusion spans a first portion of the perimeter of the second wall, the second protrusion spans a second portion of the perimeter of the second wall, and the second portion of the perimeter of the second wall being greater than the first portion.

19 . The can end of claim 14 , including a web protruding from the base toward a rivet of the can end.

20 . The can end of claim 14 , wherein the fixed portion and the liftable portion are at least partially positioned over the pour opening when the cover is in a closed position.

21 . The can end of claim 16 , wherein the cover slides relative to the center panel between a closed position and an open position.

22 . The can end of claim 16 , wherein the cover is not lifted to remove the cover from pour opening.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING USA CORP.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075026/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2024
From: VILLASIN, REX; KIM, PETER; TECKENBROCK, ALEX; GOGOLA, MICHAEL R.
To: ARDAGH METAL BEVERAGE USA INC.
Reel/Frame 067414/0972 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 15, 2024
From: ARDAGH METAL BEVERAGE USA INC.
To: ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING USA CORP.
Reel/Frame 067415/0690 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17398794 · Aug 10, 2021
Related Publication 20240253856A1 · Aug 1, 2024
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