Can end

Abstract

A can end has a curl extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis. A circumferential wall extends downwardly. A strengthening member is joined to lower segment of the circumferential wall. A center panel extends radially inwardly from the circumferential strengthening member. A rivet attaches a tab to the center panel. A cover is attached to the tab and is rotation therewith. A frangible score in the center panel is breakable to form a pour opening in the center panel. The cover is rotatable to overlay the pour opening and effectively reclose the pour opening in a reclosed condition of the can end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A can end ( 10 ) for enclosing a container body comprising:
 a curl ( 14 ) extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis ( 50 );   a circumferential wall ( 15 ) extending downwardly from a radially inner portion of the curl ( 14 );   a circumferential strengthening member ( 16 ) joined to lower segment of the circumferential wall ( 15 )   a center panel ( 12 ) about which the circumferential strengthening member ( 16 ) extends having a public side ( 32 ) opposite a product side ( 34 ), the center panel ( 12 ) comprising;
 a peripheral edge defining a radially outer perimeter of the center panel ( 12 ); 
 a tear panel ( 22 ) spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral edge, the tear panel ( 22 ) defined by a frangible score ( 24 ) in the public side ( 32 ) and non-frangible hinge segment located between terminal ends of the frangible score ( 24 ); and 
 a rivet ( 38 ); 
   a tab ( 28 ) is attached to the center panel ( 12 ) by the rivet ( 38 ), wherein the tab ( 28 ) is configured to rotate about the rivet ( 38 ), the tab ( 28 ) comprising:
 a lift end ( 40 ) opposite a nose portion ( 42 ) overlaying the tear panel ( 22 ) in a frangible score ( 24 ) breaking position; 
 a rivet island ( 39 ) having a rivet aperture through which the rivet ( 38 ) passes to attach the tab ( 28 ) to the center panel ( 12 ); 
 a void region partially surrounding the rivet island ( 39 ) having a first leg ( 39   a ) extending along a first side of the rivet island ( 39 ) and a second leg ( 39   b ) extending along a second side of the rivet island ( 39 ); and 
 a tab hinge extending between respective terminal ends of the first and second legs ( 39   a,   39   b ) of the void region; 
   a cover ( 60 ) is attached to the tab ( 28 ) and is rotational therewith,   wherein the frangible score ( 24 ) is breakable to form a pour opening ( 27 ) in the center panel ( 12 ), and the cover ( 60 ) is rotatable to overlay the pour opening ( 27 ) and effectively reclose the pour opening ( 27 ) in a reclosed condition of the can end ( 10 ),   wherein the center panel ( 12 ) comprises a bead near the rivet ( 38 ) and opposite the tear panel ( 22 ) in relation to the rivet ( 38 ), wherein the bead is located beneath the rivet island ( 39 ) of the tab ( 28 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition,   wherein the bead near the rivet ( 38 ) is a down-bead which receives a portion of one of the rivet island ( 39 ) or the cover ( 60 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the tear panel ( 22 ) comprises a down-bead located on an opposite side of the rivet ( 38 ) as the bead near the rivet ( 38 ) and wherein the down-bead on the tear panel ( 22 ) is configured to receive a down-bead on one of the rivet island ( 39 ) or the cover ( 60 ) when the nose portion ( 42 ) of tab ( 28 ) is in the frangible score ( 24 ) breaking position. 
     
     
         3 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 2  wherein the center panel ( 12 ) comprises a down-bead on a side of the center panel ( 12 ) opposite the tear panel ( 22 ) in relation to the rivet ( 38 ), wherein the down-bead is positioned beneath the nose portion ( 42 ) of the tab ( 28 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition and the down-bead is configured to receive a portion of the nose portion ( 42 ) therein. 
     
     
         4 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the center panel ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of beads formed on a side of the center panel ( 12 ) opposite the tear panel ( 22 ) in relation to the rivet ( 38 ), wherein each bead of the plurality of beads is one of an up-bead or a down-bead, and each bead of the plurality of beads is positioned beneath the rivet island ( 39 ) of the tab ( 28 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition and each of the plurality of beads engages one of the rivet island ( 39 ) or the cover ( 60 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition. 
     
     
         5 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the tab ( 28 ) comprises downwardly extending legs along the first and second sides of the rivet island ( 39 ) defining a space between the public side ( 32 ) of the center panel ( 12 ) and a bottom side of the tab ( 28 ), wherein the cover ( 60 ) is positioned within the space. 
     
     
         6 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the height of the entirety of the tear panel ( 22 ) is higher than a portion of the center panel ( 12 ) immediately surrounding the rivet ( 38 ). 
     
     
         7 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the height of the entirety of the center panel ( 12 ) is lower than a portion of the center panel ( 12 ) immediately surrounding the rivet ( 38 ). 
     
     
         8 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the cover ( 60 ) comprises a circumferential flange angled upwardly and radially outwardly relative to a center portion of the cover ( 60 ), wherein the flange contacts a severed edge of the center panel ( 12 ) created by a fracture of the frangible score ( 24 ) during opening of the can end ( 10 ) and which defines at least a portion of the pour opening ( 27 ). 
     
     
         9 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 8  wherein the flange comprises a sealing material produced from at least one of an epoxy or polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the cover ( 60 ) is asymmetrically skewed in relation to the tab ( 28 ), wherein a rotation of the tab ( 28 ) of less than 180 degrees is required to place the cover ( 60 ) over the pour opening ( 27 ) in the reclosed condition of can end ( 10 ). 
     
     
         11 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 10  wherein a position of the cover ( 60 ) on the center panel ( 12 ) when the tab ( 28 ) is in the frangible score ( 24 ) breaking position is asymmetrically located in relation to the tab ( 28 ) wherein a first surface area of the cover ( 60 ) is located on a first side of a diametrical axis which passes through the lift end ( 40 ) of the tab ( 28 ), through the rivet ( 38 ), intersecting the longitudinal axis ( 50 ), and through the nose portion of the tab ( 28 ) when the tab ( 28 ) is in the frangible score ( 24 ) breaking position is greater than a second surface area of the cover ( 60 ) located on a second side of the diametrical axis. 
     
     
         12 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 11  wherein the tab ( 28 ) is attached to the cover ( 60 ) at a location on the cover ( 60 ) that is closer to one edge of the cover ( 60 ) on a first side of the cover ( 60 ) than an edge on an opposite side of the cover ( 60 ). 
     
     
         13 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 12  wherein a deboss panel is asymmetrically skewed in relation to the diametrical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 13  wherein the deboss panel has an asymmetrical shape in relation to the diametrical axis. 
     
     
         15 . A can end ( 10 ) for enclosing a container body comprising:
 a curl ( 14 ) extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis ( 50 );   a circumferential wall ( 15 ) extending downwardly from a radially inner portion of the curl ( 14 );   a circumferential strengthening member ( 16 ) joined to lower segment of the circumferential wall ( 15 )   a center panel ( 12 ) about which the circumferential strengthening member ( 16 ) extends having a public side ( 32 ) opposite a product side ( 34 ), the center panel ( 12 ) comprising;
 a peripheral edge defining a radially outer perimeter of the center panel ( 12 ); 
 a tear panel ( 22 ) spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral edge, the tear panel ( 22 ) defined by a frangible score ( 24 ) in the public side ( 32 ) and non-frangible hinge segment located between terminal ends of the frangible score ( 24 ); and 
 a rivet ( 38 ); 
   a tab ( 28 ) is attached to the center panel ( 12 ) by the rivet ( 38 ), wherein the tab ( 28 ) is configured to rotate about the rivet ( 38 ), the tab ( 28 ) comprising:
 a lift end ( 40 ) opposite a nose portion ( 42 ) overlaying the tear panel ( 22 ) in a frangible score ( 24 ) breaking position; 
 a rivet island ( 39 ) having a rivet aperture through which the rivet ( 38 ) passes to attach the tab ( 28 ) to the center panel ( 12 ); 
 a void region partially surrounding the rivet island ( 39 ) having a first leg ( 39   a ) extending along a first side of the rivet island ( 39 ) and a second leg ( 39   b ) extending along a second side of the rivet island ( 39 ); and 
 a tab hinge extending between respective terminal ends of the first and second legs ( 39   a,   39   b ) of the void region; 
   a cover ( 60 ) is attached to the tab ( 28 ) and is rotational therewith,   wherein the frangible score ( 24 ) is breakable to form a pour opening ( 27 ) in the center panel ( 12 ), and the cover ( 60 ) is rotatable to overlay the pour opening ( 27 ) and effectively reclose the pour opening ( 27 ) in a reclosed condition of the can end ( 10 ),   wherein the center panel ( 12 ) comprises a down-bead on a side of the center panel ( 12 ) opposite the tear panel ( 22 ) in relation to the rivet ( 38 ), wherein the down-bead is positioned beneath the nose portion ( 42 ) of the tab ( 28 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition and the down-bead is configured to receive a portion of the nose portion ( 42 ) therein.   
     
     
         16 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 15  wherein the center panel ( 12 ) comprises a bead near the rivet ( 38 ) and opposite the tear panel ( 22 ) in relation to the rivet ( 38 ), wherein the bead is located beneath the rivet island ( 39 ) of the tab ( 28 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition. 
     
     
         17 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 16  wherein the bead near the rivet ( 38 ) is an up-bead and engages one of the rivet island ( 39 ) or the cover ( 60 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition. 
     
     
         18 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 17  wherein the bead near the rivet ( 38 ) is a down-bead which receives a portion of one of the rivet island ( 39 ) or the cover ( 60 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition. 
     
     
         19 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 18  wherein the tear panel ( 22 ) comprises a down-bead located on an opposite side of the rivet ( 38 ) as the bead near the rivet ( 38 ) and wherein the down-bead on the tear panel ( 22 ) is configured to receive a down-bead on one of the rivet island ( 39 ) or the cover ( 60 ) when the nose portion ( 42 ) of tab ( 28 ) is in the frangible score ( 24 ) breaking position. 
     
     
         20 . The can end ( 10 ) of  claim 15  wherein the center panel ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of beads formed on a side of the center panel ( 12 ) opposite the tear panel ( 22 ) in relation to the rivet ( 38 ), wherein each bead of the plurality of beads is one of an up-bead or a down-bead, and each bead of the plurality of beads is positioned beneath the rivet island ( 39 ) of the tab ( 28 ) when the can end ( 10 ) is in the reclosed condition.