Container end closure with an integral fluid channel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9815591-B2
Application number	US-201514831067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2015
Priority date	Aug 20, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

An end closure for food and beverage containers is provided that comprises a novel center panel for collecting and distributing fluids and solids into a pour opening of the end closure. The fluids and solids may be juice and fruit or vegetable pieces. The end closure may further comprise a novel pull tab for assisting in the collection and distribution of the fluids and solids into the pour opening of the end closure. In one embodiment, the center panel comprises a catch basin and a luge for collecting and directing fluids and solids into the pour opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A metallic end closure for directing fluid into a pour opening of a container, comprising:
a peripheral curl which is adapted for interconnection to a neck of the container;
a chuck wall extending downwardly from said peripheral curl;
a countersink interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall;
an inner panel wall extending upwardly from an interior portion of said countersink;
a center panel interconnected to an upper portion of said inner panel wall;
a score line in said center panel which defines a pour opening;
a pull tab operably interconnected to said center panel at an interconnection point, said pull tab comprising a nose and a tail opposite said nose;
a luge having a first end positioned proximate to said tail of said pull tab and a second end positioned proximate to said pour opening when said end closure is in a closed position, wherein a lowermost portion of said center panel is positioned above a lowermost portion of said luge, and wherein the fluid is directed through said luge and into said pour opening of the container; and
a deboss area in said center panel, wherein at least a portion of said luge is positioned in said deboss area when the fluid is directed through said luge.

2. The metallic end closure of claim 1 , wherein said pull tab further comprises one or more embossed forms extending downwardly below a lower surface of said pull tab and positioned between said tail and said interconnection point.

3. The metallic end closure of claim 1 , further comprising a catch basin in at least one of said center panel and said deboss area, wherein said catch basin is interconnected to said first end of said luge, and wherein a lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned above a lowermost portion of said catch basin.

4. The metallic end closure of claim 1 , wherein said deboss area further comprises at least one upwardly projecting protuberance positioned along at least one of a perimeter of said catch basin and a perimeter of said luge.

5. The metallic end closure of claim 1 , further comprising a catch basin in said center panel, wherein said catch basin is interconnected to said first end of said luge, and wherein the fluid is collected in said catch basin and directed through said luge and into said pour opening of the container.

6. The metallic end closure of claim 5 , wherein said center panel has a first surface area and said catch basin has a second surface area, and wherein said second surface area is at least about 20% of the first surface area.

7. The metallic end closure of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of said catch basin is positioned an elevation below said pull tab.

8. The metallic end closure of claim 5 , further comprising a selectively removable seal on at least one of said catch basin and said luge.

9. A metallic end closure for directing fluid into a pour opening of a container, comprising:
a peripheral curl;
a center panel positioned inwardly from said peripheral curl;
a score line in said center panel defining a pour opening;
a deboss area in said center panel;
a pull tab operably interconnected to said deboss area at an interconnection point, said pull tab comprising a nose on a first end and a tail on a second end opposite said first end;
a channel having a first end positioned proximate to said pull tab and a second end extending into a portion of said pour opening, and wherein a portion of said fluid is collected in said deboss area and directed through said channel and into said pour opening of the container; and
a catch basin positioned in at least one of said deboss area and said center panel, wherein said catch basin is interconnected to said channel.

10. The metallic end closure of claim 9 , further comprising a raised portion positioned between said channel and said deboss area.

11. The metallic end closure of claim 9 , wherein a lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned above a lowermost portion of at least one of said catch basin and said channel, and wherein said lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned below said center panel.

12. The metallic end closure of claim 9 , wherein a lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned below a lowermost portion of at least one of said catch basin and said channel, and wherein said lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned below said center panel.

13. The metallic end closure of claim 9 , wherein a lowermost portion of said deboss area and a lowermost portion of at least one of said catch basin and said channel are positioned at approximately a same height, and wherein said lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned below said center panel.

14. The metallic end closure of claim 9 , wherein a lowermost portion of said deboss area is positioned below a lowermost portion of at least one of said catch basin and said channel, and wherein said center panel is positioned above said lowermost portion of said deboss area.

15. The metallic end closure of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of upwardly projecting protuberances positioned in at least one of said deboss area and said center panel.

16. A method of introducing juice into a beverage container, comprising:
providing an end closure including:
a peripheral curl which is adapted for interconnection to a neck of the beverage container;
a chuck wall extending downwardly from said peripheral curl;
a countersink interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall;
an inner panel wall extending upwardly from an interior portion of said countersink;
a center panel interconnected to an upper portion of said inner panel wall, said center panel comprising a tear panel defining a pour opening, a deboss area, a catch basin, and a luge having a first end positioned within said catch basin and a second end extending into a portion of said tear panel, wherein at least a portion of said luge is positioned in said deboss area; and
a pull tab operably interconnected to said center panel at an interconnection point, said pull tab comprising a nose and a tail opposite said nose, wherein a substantially flat portion of said center panel is positioned above a lowermost portion of said luge;

lifting said tail of said pull tab to separate said tear panel from said center panel to open said pour opening;
introducing the juice into said catch basin; and
directing the juice through said luge and into said pour opening.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a portion of said catch basin is positioned below said pull tab, and further comprising pushing on said tail of said pull tab such that a lower surface of said pull tab pushes on a fruit piece.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing a selectively removable seal positioned over at least one of said catch basin and said luge prior to introducing the juice into said catch basin.

Assignees

• Ball Corp

Inventors

• Gatewood Erik E
• Jacober Mark A

Classifications

• B65D2517/0077

  located externally of tear-out/push-in panel or preformed opening · CPC title

• B65D17/165 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B65D2517/0098

  Means for preventing dust contacting pouring opening, e.g. a cover over the tear panel · CPC title

• B65D2517/0056

  Unusual elements · CPC title

• A23L2/00

  Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor (soup concentrates A23L23/10); Preparation or treatment thereof (preparation of non-alcoholic beverages by removal of alcohol C12H3/00) · CPC title