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 beverage container comprising: 
 (a) a 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,    (b) a closure cap having an inner surface including an internal thread and    (c) a threaded plastic sleeve mounted in coaxial overlapping relation to said neck, said sleeve comprising an open-ended tubular member having an annular ledge projecting laterally from a mid-region of the tubular member, an outer face above the projecting ledge, and a portion below the projecting ledge, with at least a portion of the outer face comprising a threaded portion adapted to receive the internally threaded closure cap and the portion of the tubular member below the projecting ledge having at the lower end thereof an annular catch adapted to slide downwardly over the flange and latch over the flange lower edge abutment against axial movement, wherein the outer face of the tubular member is engageable with the inner surface of the closure cap to constitute therewith a reclosable seal for the container, and an annular skirt projecting downwardly from the outer edge of said annular ledge, said skirt extending downwardly and in engagement with the outer face of the can neck, with an inward projection on the skirt engaging an abutment on the can neck against relative axial movement.    
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . A reclosable can according to  claim 19 , wherein the gripping ribs are angled upwardly and are adapted 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 . (canceled)  
     
     
         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 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the can neck abutment is a rounded portion providing stiffening to the neck.  
     
     
         16 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer face of a closure cap mounted on the can, the outer face of the skirt below the ledge and the outer face of the can neck are axially aligned.  
     
     
         17 . A reclosable beverage container comprising: 
 (a) a 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,    (b) a closure cap having an inner surface including an internal thread and    (c) a threaded plastic sleeve mounted on said neck, said sleeve comprising an open-ended tubular member having an annular ledge projecting outwardly from a mid-region of the tubular member, an outer face above the projecting ledge, and a portion below the projecting ledge, with the outer face above the projecting ledge comprising a threaded portion adapted to receive the internally threaded closure cap and the portion of the tubular member below the protecting ledge surrounding the outwardly and downwardly turned flange, said tubular member having at the lower end thereof an inwardly directed annular catch which engages said flange lower edge abutment to hold the sleeve against axial movement relative to the can neck, wherein the outer face of the tubular member is engageable with the inner surface of the closure cap to constitute therewith a reclosable seal for the container.    
     
     
         18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A reclosable can according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the tubular member below the projecting ledge includes a plurality of axially spaced annular gripping ribs located between the annular catch and the projecting ledge, said gripping ribs securely engaging the exposed face of the inwardly turned flange.  
     
     
         20 . A reclosable can according to  claim 17 , wherein the tubular member below the projection ledge includes a plurality of inwardly directed, axially spaced annular gripping ribs located between the annular catch and the projecting ledge, said gripping ribs securely engaging the exposed face of the outwardly turned flange.