Vent opening mechanism

• US 8,397,935 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iii, Arthur Joseph Emanuele
• Original Assignee: Iii, Arthur Joseph Emanuele, Robert Clarke Church
• Inventors: Emanuele, III, Arthur Joseph, Church, Robert Clarke
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US12/859,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 220/200, 534/92
• US Class Current: 220/271
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 51/383 scoring lines, tear strips or pulling tabs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/165 Cylindrical cans
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/401 characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/4012 for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/404 Details of the lines of weakness
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0013 pull-out tear panel, e.g. by means of a tear-tab
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0014 pivot tab and push-down tear panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0094 formed as a separate opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/32 Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/32 with means for venting

Abstract

A drink can having both drinking and venting openings is provided. The two openings are positioned a distance from one another with respect to a central portion of a top end of a drink can. A single tab is attached to the central portion of the top end, and can be pulled upward to open the drink opening, then pushed downward to open the vent opening. To aid in opening the vent opening with the single tab, the venting portion is provided with a protrusion comprising opposed sloping sides to focus the force when the tab is pushed downward on a score line that defines the vent opening. Advantageously, the tab may be larger than the vent opening so that, upon breakage of the vent opening score line, the tab contacts the top end of the can, thereby preventing the user'"'"'s finger from proceeding into sharp portions of the vent opening.

Claims

1. A can for containing fluid therein, the can comprising:

a bottom end;

a cylindrical sidewall with the bottom end attached to a first side of the cylindrical sidewall;

a top end attached to the sidewall on an opposed second side of the cylindrical wall to form an enclosed volume in which the fluid is containable, the top end having a first score line defining a drinking periphery formed in the top end and a second score line defining a vent opening, the first score line angularly displaced from the second score line with respect to a center portion of the top end, the top end having a protrusion juxtaposed to the second score line;

a tab defining a drink opening portion and a vent opening portion, the drink and vent opening portions joined to each other at an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion pivotally attached to the center portion of the top end, the drink opening portion disposed over the top end on an interior side of the first score line, the vent opening portion disposed over the top end with a solid portion of the vent opening portion disposable over the protrusion such that a user can press the vent opening portion of the tab into the top end to break the second score line,

wherein the vent opening portion is disposed over the second score line to protect the users finger front being cut with a sharp edge formed at the second score line after rupturing the second score line with the vent opening portion, and wherein the vent opening portion covers the second score line to prevent insertion of the vent opening portion and any part of the user'"'"'s finger when the user depresses the protrusion to break the second score line, and

wherein the top end comprises the protrusion formed therein, and wherein the protrusion comprises a ridge with opposed sloping sides that are contiguous with one another at a spine.

2. The can of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the drink opening portion of the tab is closer to the center portion of the top end than the first score line so as provide leverage when the user lifts the vent opening portion to break the first score line and provide for the drink opening.

3. The can of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is closer to the second score line compared to the center portion of the top end.

4. The can of claim 1, wherein the first score line is positioned a distance away from the second score line with respect to the center portion of the top end.

5. The can of claim 1, wherein the tab is rotatable about the tab intermediate portion to dispose the vent opening portion of the tab over the protrusion.

6. The can of claim 1, wherein the ridge extends above an upper surface of the top end of the can.

7. The can of claim 1, wherein the opposing sides of the protrusion comprise at least on ridge, and wherein the at least one ridge comprises the contiguous portions of the opposing sides raised above the upper surface of the top end.

8. The can of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed between the center portion of the top end and the second score line.

9. The can of claim 1, wherein a portion of the second score line is disposed between the protrusion and the center portion of the top end.

10. A method of opening a fluid containable can, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a drink opening defined by a first score line and a vent opening defined by a second score line on a top end of the can, the first and second score lines being angularly displaced from each other with respect to an intermediate portion of a tab;

lifting a vent opening portion of the tab to pivot the tab about the intermediate portion of the tab so as to provide leverage to a drink opening portion of the tab;

pressing the drink opening portion into the top end of the can to break the first score line on the top end of the can;

breaking the first score line;

contacting the vent opening portion of the tab into a protrusion formed in the top end of the can, wherein the protrusion comprises a ridge with opposed sloping sides that are contiguous with one another at a spine;

pushing the vent opening portion of the tab into the protrusion formed in the top end of the can to break the second score line on the top end of the can;

breaking the second score line on the top end of the can to open the vent opening.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the vent opening and the drink opening are angularly displaced about 180 degrees from each other with respect to the intermediate portion of the tab.