Reclosable cap for a beverage container

Abstract

Beverage container having a hollow body with an open end and a cap closing the open end. The cap includes a panel member fixed to the body member at the open end. The panel member has a main portion and a partially or fully severable portion arranged for a user of the container to severe the portion for opening a dispensing aperture. The cap also has a closure member arranged within the container and the closure member is movable relative to the panel member between a closed position and an open position. A handle is arranged on the closure member and is normally positioned out of the way of the severable portion. The closure member has an engagement projection configured to engage the portion following severing same and further folding of the severed portion causes the closure member to turn to position the handle to extending through the dispensing aperture.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A cap for a beverage container having a hollow body member with opposed ends, a bottom member at one end thereof and the cap is for fixing to the other end thereof, the cap comprising a panel member arranged for fixing to the body member at said other end and configured to extend over said other end when fixed to said other end, the panel member having a main portion and a partially or fully severable portion arranged for a user of the container to apply a pressure on said severable portion for severing same and thereby forming a dispensing aperture in a zone defined by the severed portion, the applied pressure further causing the severed portion to move into the container, and a closure member arranged, when the panel member is fixed to said other end, to be within the container and the closure member is movable relative to the panel member between a closed position for closing a beverage passage through said dispensing aperture and an open position for dispensing the beverage through the dispensing aperture, the closure member having a handle and being arranged to engage the severed portion while moving into the container to thereby be caused to move to a position where the handle extends through the dispensing aperture following forming thereof, the handle being configured for the user to manually move the closure member in a first direction towards the closed position and in a second direction towards the open position to reveal the passage for dispensing the beverage therein.  
   
   
       28 . A beverage container comprising a hollow body member with opposed ends, a bottom member at one end thereof and a cap at the other end thereof, the cap having a panel member fixed to the body member at said other end and configured to extend over said other end, the panel member having a main portion and a partially or fully severable portion arranged for a user of the container to apply a pressure on said severable portion for severing same and thereby forming a dispensing aperture in a zone defined by the severed portion, the applied pressure further causing the severed portion to move into the container, the cap having a closure member arranged within the container and the closure member is movable relative to the panel member between a closed position for closing a beverage passage through said dispensing aperture and an open position for dispensing the beverage through the dispensing aperture, the closure member having a handle and being arranged to engage the severed portion while moving into the container to thereby be caused to move to a position where the handle extends through the dispensing aperture following forming thereof, the handle being configured for the user to manually move the closure member in a first direction towards the closed position and in a second direction towards the open position to reveal the passage for dispensing the beverage therein.  
   
   
       29 . The invention according to  claim 27  wherein the panel member being fixed to the body member at said other end by a seaming process.  
   
   
       30 . The invention according to  claim 27  wherein the panel member having a weakened section from which a perimeter of the severable portion can be severed from the main portion by applying pressure to the severable portion.  
   
   
       31 . The invention according to  claim 30  wherein the weakened section is configured to extend fully or partly around the severable portion.  
   
   
       32 . The invention according to  claim 31  wherein the weakened section extends fully around the severable portion, and the severed portion can thus be separated from main portion.  
   
   
       33 . The invention according to  claim 31  wherein the weakened section is configured to extend partly around the severable portion so that the severed portion remains connected to the main portion and is pressed to move towards one side of the dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       34 . The invention according to  claim 30  wherein the weakened section is formed by a score line along said perimeter.  
   
   
       35 . The invention according to  claim 27  wherein the cap having an opener arranged for the user to manually move the opener to apply said pressure on the severable portion.  
   
   
       36 . The invention according to  claim 35  wherein the opener is in the form of a pull tab pivotally mounted to the main portion, and having an inner end lying over the severable portion and an outer end, the outer end being movable upwardly to pivot the inner end to move downwardly to apply pressure to the severable portion for severing same.  
   
   
       37 . The invention according to  claim 36  wherein the main portion having a top surface and a first rivet with an upper end extending from its top surface, and the pull tab is pivotally mounted on the first rivet and arranged above the top surface.  
   
   
       38 . The invention according to  claim 27  wherein the panel member having an under surface and the closure member is arranged on or beneath the under surface.  
   
   
       39 . The invention according to  claim 38  wherein the closure member being arranged to be rotatably movable relative to the panel member.  
   
   
       40 . The invention according to  claim 39  wherein the closure member is in the form of a disk rotatably mounted on a rivet fixed to the main portion or on a post extending from the rivet.  
   
   
       41 . The invention according to  claim 40  wherein the rivet or first rivet having a hollow section and the post is fixed in the hollow section.  
   
   
       42 . The invention according to  claim 41  wherein the rivet or first rivet having a wedge shaped upper end configured to retain an opener pivotally mounted thereto and movable to apply pressure to sever the severable portion, and the post having an outer end within said upper end of the rivet or first rivet and the outer end is shaped to be retained by said upper end.  
   
   
       43 . The invention according to  claim 42  wherein the post having an inner end opposite to said outer end and the inner end is an enlarged head arranged to positively retain the closure member.  
   
   
       44 . The invention according to  claim 43  wherein the closure member is in the form of a disk having its peripheral edge retained in a retention groove formed in the body member or panel member.  
   
   
       45 . The invention according to  claim 44  wherein the disk having a bent or curved peripheral edge and the groove is shaped to accommodate the peripheral edge.  
   
   
       46 . The invention according to  claim 45  wherein the retention groove is formed as a recessed section in the main portion of the panel member and the recessed section is arranged to receive the peripheral edge of the disk so that the disk is rotatably supported therein.  
   
   
       47 . The invention according to  claim 45  wherein the cap member having a countersink radially inwardly of a rim formed on the body member, the retention groove being formed in the countersink and the disk is configured to be rotatably supported in the groove.  
   
   
       48 . The invention according to  claim 39  where the disk has a closed section and a through hole section, and the disk is arranged so that in the open position the through hole section is in line with the dispensing aperture and at the closed position the closed section closing said beverage passage.  
   
   
       49 . The invention according to  claim 48  wherein the disk being circular in shape and having a through hole section, and the disk is arranged so that at the open position the through hole section is in line with the dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       50 . The invention according to  claim 27  wherein a sealing member is applied to the closure member or to the main portion surrounding the dispensing aperture to substantially seal the aperture when the closure member is in the closed position.  
   
   
       51 . The invention according to  claim 50  wherein the severable portion is arranged to remain connected to the main portion when severed and is foldable in a downward direction, the main portion having a further sealing member applied to seal a gap between the main portion and the severed and folded portion.  
   
   
       52 . The invention according to any  claim 27  wherein the closure member having an engagement projection arranged to engage the severed portion of the panel member and an inward movement of the severed portion causes the closure member to move to a position where the handle extends through the dispensing aperture.