Beverage can lid with articulated neck

• US 7,059,490 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Son
• Original Assignee: Paul Son
• Inventors: Son, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M.
• Application Number:
  US10/498,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 220/245.3, 220/254.4, 220/705, 220/708, 220/711, 220/715, 220/717, 222529-530, 222/527, 222534-536, 215/229, 215/388
• US Class Current: 220/254.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/465 the spout being either flexible or having a flexible wall portion, whereby the spout is foldable between a dispensing and a non-dispensing position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0049 Straws, spouts, funnels, or other devices facilitating pouring or emptying
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00046 Drinking-through lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00351 Dome-like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/065 with hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/066 the spout being either flexible or having a flexible wall portion, whereby the spout is foldable between a dispensing and a non-dispensing position B65D47/2043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/007 Separate closure devices for reclosing opened cans or tins, e.g. beer cans

Abstract

A beverage can lid (10) is provided with an articulated neck (15) which can be lifted after partly tearing a closure seal (13) to drink the beverage contained in the can and which can be then folded down together with the seal so as to close hermetically the can to preserve the remaining part of the beverage for subsequent consumption.

Claims

1. A beverage can lid comprising:

a flat portion having a cavity formed therein;

said cavity having a generally oblong shape, a lateral wall, and a bottom;

said bottom having a first portion with an opening therethrough and a second portion pierced with at least one air hole;

a closing cap attached to said flat portion by a hinge element at one extremity of said cavity so as to be able to pivot between a down closed position and an up open position;

said closing cap having means to seal said air hole when said cap is in said closed position;

a rigid spout having a first free end and a second end attached to said lateral wall of the cavity by a hinge element so as to be able to pivot between a down position in which its second end is located against said lateral wall of the cavity, and an up position towards the exterior of said flat portion; and

a flexible sealing membrane connecting a part of the perimeter of said opening to the part of the perimeter of said spout that is not attached to said lateral wall of the cavity.

2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein said lid is molded in one piece.

3. The lid according to claim 1, wherein said lateral wall of the cavity to which said spout is attached comprises means formed thereon for cooperating with the second end of said spout so as to maintain the spout in the down position.

4. The lid according to claim 1, wherein said closing cap presents on its inner face sealing means located in such a way as to engage with a projecting lip formed on the outer surface of said flat portion.

5. The lid according to claim 1, wherein said closing cap or said flat portion comprises means for maintaining the cap in a curved down position while said spout is in an up position.

6. The lid according to claim 1, wherein said flat portion has a peripheral lip, integral with a ring for fixing the lid to a beverage can.

7. A beverage can including a lid that comprises a flat portion having a cavity formed therein;

said cavity having a generally oblong shape, a lateral wall and a bottom;

said bottom having a first portion with an opening therethrough and a second portion pierced with at least one air hole;

a closing cap attached to said flat portion by a hinge element at one extremity of said cavity so as to be able to pivot between a down closed position and an up open position;

said closing cap having means to seal said air hole when said cap is in said closed position;

a rigid spout having a first free end and a second end attached to said lateral wall of the cavity by a hinge element so as to be able to pivot between a down position in which its second end is located against said lateral wall of the cavity, and an up position towards the exterior of said flat portion; and

a flexible sealing membrane connecting a part of the perimeter of said opening to the part of the perimeter of the spout that is not attached to said lateral wall of the cavity.

8. The beverage can according to claim 7, wherein said lateral wall of the cavity to which said spout is attached comprises means formed thereon for cooperating with the second end of said spout so as to maintain the spout in the down position.

9. The beverage can according to claim 7, wherein said closing cap presents on its inner face sealing means located in such a way as to engage with a projecting lip formed on the outer surface of said flat portion.

10. The beverage can according to claim 7, wherein said closing cap or said flat portion comprises means for maintaining the cap in a curved down position while said spout is in an up position.