Reclosable metal beverage can

Abstract

A thin wall metal beverage can is described having a converging shoulder portion merging into a neck portion, the top edge of which is folded to form a flange providing an annular abutment and with a threaded sleeve sliding into the neck portion, the sleeve having an annular rib or catch which snaps over the flange abutment holding the sleeve and can neck portion against relative axial movement.

1 . A reclosable metal beverage can made from a thin gauge metal, comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall, a converging shoulder portion extending upwardly and inwardly from said sidewall, a neck on top of said shoulder portion, said neck having a top edge portion turned downwardly to form a flange with a lower edge providing an abutment, and a threaded plastic sleeve mounted within or around said neck, said sleeve comprising an open-ended tubular member having an annular ledge projecting laterally from a mid-region of the tubular member, with at least a portion of the outer face comprising a threaded portion adapted to receive an internally threaded closure cap and the portion of the tubular member below the projecting ledge having a plurality of axially spaced annular gripping ribs which securely engage a face of the can neck.  
     
     
         2 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein said outwardly projecting ledge includes at the outer edge thereof a downwardly projecting skirt which extends downwardly and in engagement with the outer face of the can neck.  
     
     
         3 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower most rib comprises an annular catch adapted to slide downwardly over the flange and latch over the flange abutment against axial movement.  
     
     
         4 . A reclosable can according to  claim 3 , wherein the gripping ribs are angled upwardly and are adapt to slide downwardly along the flange while gripping the flange face against upward movement relative thereto.  
     
     
         5 . A reclosable can according to  claim 4 , wherein the gripping ribs are generally triangular in cross-section with projecting sharp edges.  
     
     
         6 . A reclosable can according to  claim 4 , wherein the threaded plastic sleeve is adapted to be joined with the can neck by being pushed axially into the open end of the neck.  
     
     
         7 . A reclosable can according to  claim 6 , wherein a bonding agent is provided between the engaging faces of the sleeve and the can neck.  
     
     
         8 . A reclosable can according to  claim 4 , wherein the thin gauge metal is an aluminum alloy having a thickness of about 0.006 to 0.016 inch.  
     
     
         9 . A reclosable can according to  claim 2 , wherein the downwardly projecting lip of the annular ledge includes an inward projection which engages the adjacent can neck.  
     
     
         10 . A reclosable can according to  claim 9 , wherein the can neck is provided with a deformation which engages the inward projection of the lip against relative axial movement.  
     
     
         11 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the threaded plastic sleeve is mounted within said neck and said gripping ribs engaging an inside face of the neck.  
     
     
         12 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the threaded plastic sleeve is mounted around the outside of said neck and the gripping ribs are mounted on the inside face of a threaded plastic sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the neck has a top edge portion which is turned inwardly and downwardly.  
     
     
         14 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the neck has a top edge portion which is turned outwardly and downwardly.  
     
     
         15 . A reclosable can according to  claim 10 , wherein the neck deformation is a rounded portion providing stiffening to the neck.  
     
     
         16 . A reclosable can according to  claim 11 , the outer face of a closure cap mounted on the can, the outer face of the tubular member below the ledge and the outer face of the can neck are axially aligned.  
     
     
         17 . A reclosable metal beverage can made from a thin gauge metal, comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall, a converging shoulder portion extending upwardly and inwardly from said sidewall, a neck extending upwardly from the top of said shoulder portion, said neck having a top edge portion turned outwardly and downwardly to form a flange with a lower edge providing an abutment, and a threaded plastic sleeve mounted in said neck, said sleeve comprising an open-ended tubular member having an annular ledge projecting outwardly from a mid-region of its face, with the outer face above the projecting ledge comprising a threaded portion adapted to receive an internally threaded closure cap and the outer face below the projecting ledge having a plurality of axially spaced annular gripping ribs which securely engage the inner face of the can neck, said projecting ledge having a downwardly projecting lip which extends downwardly and in engagement with the outer face of the can neck, and said lip having an inwardly directed catch which engages said flange abutment to hold the sleeve against axial movement relative to the can neck.  
     
     
         18 . A reclosable metal beverage can made from a thin gauge metal, comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall, a converging shoulder portion extending inwardly from said sidewall, said shoulder having a top edge portion turned downwardly to form a flange with a lower edge providing an abutment, and a threaded plastic sleeve mounted within said flange, said sleeve comprising an open-ended tubular member having an annular ledge projecting laterally from a mid-region of the tubular member, with at least a portion of the outer face comprising a threaded portion adapted to receive an internally threaded closure cap and the portion of the tubular member below the projecting ledge having a plurality of axially spaced annular gripping ribs which securely engage a face of the said flange.