Beverage container with locking tab mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage container having a tab with a permeable membrane to prevent tampering with the liquid contents of the container. The container includes a side wall, an upper rim having an inwardly directed retaining element, and a top wall extending radially inward from the rim. The top wall has a pivotable panel defined by a rupturable seam that provides a drink opening when the seam is ruptured. The tab is coupled to the top wall by a rivet and includes a body portion that supports the permeable membrane. In a closed position, the tab is oriented such that the permeable membrane is roughly 180 degrees from the panel and the yet to be formed drink opening. An operator rotates the tab 180 degrees to arrive at a use position, wherein the permeable membrane overlies the drink opening to prevent tampering. An external segment of the body portion is engaged by the retaining element to maintain the use position.

1 . A beverage container having a tab with permeable membrane to prevent tampering with the liquid contents of the container, the container comprising:
 a side wall arrangement;   an upper rim having an inwardly directed retaining element;   a top wall extending radially inward from the rim, the top wall having a panel defined by a rupturable seam that provides a drink opening;   a tab coupled to the top wall by a rivet extending through a nose of the tab, the tab having a body portion wherein the rivet is positioned between the nose and the body portion, the body portion having a permeable membrane and an external segment; and,   wherein the tab is rotated 180 degrees to arrive at a use position, wherein the permeable membrane overlies the drink opening and the external segment of the body portion is secured by the retaining element.   
   
   
       2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein in the use position the permeable membrane allows for the flow of the container contents through both the drink opening and the permeable membrane. 
   
   
       3 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element extends from an inner wall of the rim to define both an upper rim height and a lower rim height, the lower rim height allowing for the external segment of the body portion to be received between the retaining element and the top wall. 
   
   
       4 . The beverage container of  claim 3 , wherein the upper rim height allows for a second beverage container to be vertically stacked on the container, wherein the second beverage container has a base with a depending flange that is received within the rim. 
   
   
       5 . The beverage container of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining element contacts the flange and supports the second container in a vertically stacked arrangement. 
   
   
       6 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes the external segment, an internal segment and opposed side segments that collectively define a receiver that supports the permeable membrane. 
   
   
       7 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable membrane has a width that exceeds a width of the drink opening, and the permeable membrane has a depth that exceeds a depth of the drink opening. 
   
   
       8 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall has a central axis and the rivet has a central axis that is offset from the top wall axis. 
   
   
       9 . A beverage container having a tab with permeable membrane to prevent tampering with the liquid contents of the container, the container comprising:
 a side wall arrangement;   an upper rim having an inwardly directed retaining element;   a top wall having a panel defined by a rupturable seam that provides a drink opening in the top wall;   a tab coupled to the top wall by a rivet, the tab having a body portion and a nose in an opposed positional relationship, the body portion having an external segment, an internal segment and opposed side segments that collectively define a receiver to support a permeable membrane;   wherein in a use position the permeable membrane overlies the drink opening and the body portion is secured by the retaining element.   
   
   
       10 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein an upward force on the body portion pivots the nose against the panel to rupture the seam and pivot the panel downward and form the drink opening. 
   
   
       11 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein the tab is rotated 180 degrees from a closed position to arrive at the use position. 
   
   
       12 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein the rivet extends through a nose of the tab and is positioned between the nose and the body portion. 
   
   
       13 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein the top wall includes a recessed cavity at the base of the rim, and wherein the retaining element extends from the rim beyond the cavity. 
   
   
       14 . The beverage container of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining element extends over the top wall. 
   
   
       15 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein the top wall includes a recessed cavity at the base of the rim, and wherein the retaining element extends from the rim above the cavity and engages an end wall of the external segment in the use position. 
   
   
       16 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein the body portion further includes a sealing element residing below the permeable membrane, and wherein in the use position the sealing element sealing engages the top wall about the drink opening. 
   
   
       17 . A beverage container comprising:
 a side wall arrangement;   an upper rim having an internal wall with a recessed channel;   a top wall having a panel defined by a rupturable seam that provides a drink opening;   a tab coupled to the top wall by a rivet extending into the top wall, the tab having a body portion and a nose in an opposed positional relationship, the body portion having a receiver that supports a permeable membrane to prevent tampering with the liquid contents of the container, the body portion further having an outwardly extending finger;   wherein in a use position the tab is rotated such that the permeable membrane overlies the drink opening and the finger is received in the recessed channel of the rim.   
   
   
       18 . The beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein the body portion has an external segment, an internal segment and opposed side segments that collectively define the receiver. 
   
   
       19 . The beverage container of  claim 18 , wherein the finger outwardly extends from the external segment. 
   
   
       20 . The beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein the recessed channel is positioned at a mid-height of the rim. 
   
   
       21 . The beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein in a closed position the permeable membrane is positioned 180 degrees from the recessed channel. 
   
   
       22 . The beverage container of  claim 17 , wherein the body portion further includes a sealing element residing below the permeable membrane, and wherein in the use position the sealing element sealing engages the top wall about the drink opening.