Container end closure with an integral fluid channel
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsErik E. Gatewood, Mark A. Jacober
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims18
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.