IP Library Granted Patent US 8,627,978
Granted Patent B2
US 8,627,978 · App. 12/667,774 · Granted Jan 14, 2014

Easy-open can end, method for manufacturing can end, and beverage product filled in can container using the same

Inventors: Tadashi Nishibe (Tokyo, JP); Takahiko Okada (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,627,978
App. No.
12/667,774
Granted
Jan 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An easy-open can end including an inclined surface formed in a direction of a tab tail of a pull-tab from a center of a panel such that the center of the panel becomes a maximum concave portion, a lower surface of the pull-tab abuts on the inclined surface or is brought close to the inclined surface along the inclined surface, the pull-tab has a pit S formed by pressing-down forming, and the pull-tab is bent by the pit S. A method for manufacturing an easy-open can end including a process for pressing down part of an outer rim of the pull-tab after or at the same time as a process for fixing the pull-tab to the panel.

Claims (8)

1. An easy-open can end for a can comprising: a score that is carved into an opening piece shape in an upper surface of a panel, an opening piece that is surrounded by the score, and a pull-tab that is fixed to a center in the upper surface of the panel with a rivet interposed therebetween, wherein the opening piece is pushed down to open the can while the score is rip-opened by a nose portion of the pull-tab, an inclined surface is formed in a direction of a tab tail of the pull-tab from the center of the panel such that the center of the panel becomes a maximum concave portion of the panel, and is closest to the bottom of the can a lower surface of the pull-tab abuts on or is brought close to the inclined surface along the inclined surface, the pull-tab has a pit in an outer rim, the pit being formed by pressing-down forming, and the pull-tab is bent at the pit;

wherein the outer rim in which the pit is provided has a portion located between two lines tangential to an outer circumference of the rivet and orthogonal to a direction from the rivet toward the tab tail, and the pit is provided in said portion.

2. The easy-open can end according to claim 1 , wherein an angle formed between the inclined surface and a horizontal surface ranges from 1° to 3°.

3. The easy-open can end according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum concave portion in the center of the panel has a concave displacement amount of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

4. A method for manufacturing an easy-open can end for a can comprising: a step of carving a score into an opening piece shape in an upper surface of a panel; and a step of fixing a pull-tab to the upper surface of the panel with a rivet interposed therebetween, the rivet being located in center of the panel, wherein part of an outer rim of the pull-tab is pressed down with a wedge-shape press to provide a pit after or at the same time as the step of fixing the pull-tab to the panel;

wherein the outer rim in which the pit is provided has a portion located between two lines tangential to an outer circumference of the rivet and orthogonal to a direction from the rivet toward the tab tail, and the pit is provided in said portion;

wherein, in pressing down with the wedge-shape press, an inclined surface is formed in a direction of a tab tail of the pull-tab from the center of the panel by pushing down the center of the panel such that the center of the panel becomes a maximum concave portion of the panel, and is closest to the bottom of the can and the pull-tab is formed such that the pull-tab is bent at the pit to abut on the inclined surface or to bring a lower surface of the pull-tab close to the inclined surface along the inclined surface.

5. A beverage product with which a can container is filled, the can container being sealed by the easy-open can end according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2010
From: NISHIBE, TADASHI; OKADA, TAKAHIKO
To: KIRIN BEER KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 023735/0654 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-177701 · Jul 5, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100326281A1 · Dec 30, 2010