Closing element for a beverage can

Abstract

A closing element for temporarily closing off an opening of a can having a press-in tab, the closing element including: a covering element adapted to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening; a flexible closing part which is provided on the covering element for clamping the covering element to the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening in the operative position; at least one positioning element which protrudes from a tip of the covering element and is embodied to rest in the operative position below the aforementioned circumferential edge for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening; a notch which is provided in the upper side of the covering element and in which the press-in tip of the press-in tab can be placed for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening in the operative position.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . Closing element ( 1 ; 60 ; 70 ) for temporarily closing off a drinking or pouring opening of a can ( 8 ), wherein the can comprises a press-in tab ( 29 ) for opening the drinking or pouring opening ( 31 ) via a press-in tip ( 35 ) of the press-in tab, the closing element ( 1 ; 60 ; 70 ) comprising:
 a covering element ( 11 )to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening ( 31 );   a flexible closing part ( 20 ) which is provided on the covering element and rests in the operative position against the circumferential edge ( 40 ) of the drinking or pouring opening for closing off the drinking or pouring opening;   a clamping element ( 80 ) which is provided at the upper side of the covering element and is configured to place the press-in tip ( 35 ) of the press-in tab ( 29 ) thereon for securing the covering element ( 11 ) with the closing part ( 20 ) to the circumferential edge ( 40 ) in the operative position.   
     
     
         30 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the covering element comprises a first closing component ( 71 ) which is stationary and can be fastened to the edge of the drinking opening of the can and a second closing component ( 72 ) which can be swiveled up and down with respect to the first closing component ( 71 ) in order to respectively open and close the drinking opening ( 31 ). 
     
     
         31 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the covering element comprises:
 a first closing component ( 71 ) provided with the aforementioned flexible closing part ( 20 ) for clamping the closing component against the drinking or pouring opening and also with a beverage opening ( 78 ) which can be positioned in front of the drinking or pouring opening ( 78 );   a second closing component ( 72 ) provided with a closing protrusion which can be slid into the beverage opening;   at least one swiveling element ( 73 , 74 ) between the first and second closing components ( 71 , 72 ) so as to be able to swivel the second closing component ( 72 ) with respect to the first closing component ( 71 ) between a closed position, in which the closing protrusion ( 97 ) is slid into the beverage opening and closes off the beverage opening, and an opened position, in which the closing protrusion leaves the beverage opening substantially clear.   
     
     
         32 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the clamping element ( 80 ) has a face which extends in the operative position at an angle (α) with respect to an end-wall ( 30 ) of the can and against which the press-in tip of the press-in tab can be placed. 
     
     
         33 . Closing element according to  claim 32 , wherein the angle (α) is between  10  and  40  degrees, preferably 20 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein a positioning element is provided on the flexible closing part. 
     
     
         35 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , comprising at least one positioning element ( 14 , 15 ) which protrudes from a tip of the covering element ( 11 ) and is embodied to rest in the operative position below the aforementioned circumferential edge for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening. 
     
     
         36 . Closing element according to  claim 35 , wherein the positioning element ( 14 , 15 ) comprises a ridge extending in the operative position at least partially along the edge of the drinking or pouring opening. 
     
     
         37 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the clamping element is formed by a notch ( 12 ) in the covering element. 
     
     
         38 . Closing element according to  claim 37 , wherein the notch ( 12 ) is provided with an upright edge ( 13 ) which is embodied to place the press-in tip of the press-in tab thereafter. 
     
     
         39 . Closing element according to  claim 38 , wherein the edge ( 13 ) extends obliquely with respect to the covering element. 
     
     
         40 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the flexible closing part comprises various side flanges ( 47 , 48 , 49 ) arranged one below another. 
     
     
         41 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the flexible closing part ( 20 ) extends downwards from the covering element and forms an open cavity ( 43 ) and wherein the flexible closing part ( 20 ) is embodied so as to be sufficiently flexible that it is pressed laterally outwards when a build-up of pressure takes place in the cavity, for example as a consequence of a carbonated liquid in the can. 
     
     
         42 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , comprising a gripping part ( 25 ) with which the covering element can be gripped by hand. 
     
     
         43 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , comprising hook elements ( 44 , 45 ) provided on either side of the covering element ( 11 ) for fastening the covering element to the press-in tab. 
     
     
         44 . Closing element according to  claim 35 , wherein the positioning element is embodied to keep the aforementioned tip of the covering element, and wherein the clamping element is formed by a notch ( 12 ) in the covering element and to keep a different part of the covering element, pressed into the drinking or pouring opening. 
     
     
         45 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the outer circumference of the flexible closing part ( 20 ) has a conical shape. 
     
     
         46 . Closing element according to  claim 29 , wherein the closing part comprises a circumferential element comprising a vertical part ( 55 ) and a horizontal part ( 54 ), the vertical and horizontal parts of the circumferential element lying in the operative position against respectively the side and the top of the circumferential edge for closing off the drinking or pouring opening. 
     
     
         47 . Closing element for temporarily closing off a drinking or pouring opening of a can, preferably a closing element as defined in one of the preceding claims, wherein the can comprises a press-in tab ( 29 ) for opening the drinking or pouring opening ( 31 ) via a press-in tip ( 35 ) of the press-in tab, and also a circumferential slot provided in an end wall of the can, the closing element comprising:
 a covering element ( 11 )to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening;   a flexible closing part ( 20 ) which is provided on the covering element and rests in the operative position against the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening for closing off the drinking or pouring opening;   a ring shaped fastening tab ( 65 ) which is fastened to or formed on the covering element and to be clamped in the circumferential slot ( 68 ) for detachably fastening the covering element to the can ( 8 ).   
     
     
         48 . Closing element according to  claim 47 , wherein the tab ( 65 ) is formed to be attached along at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, of the circumference of the circumferential slot. 
     
     
         49 . Closing element according to  claim 47 , wherein the tab ( 65 ) and the closing element ( 60 ) formed thereon is formed to be rotatable in the fastened position about the imaginary longitudinal axis of the can and is configured to be rotated about the imaginary axis between a position opposite the drinking or pouring opening and a position remote from the drinking or pouring opening ( 31 ). 
     
     
         50 . Can for containing a beverage or another substance, wherein the can comprises a press-in tab ( 29 ) for opening via a press-in tip ( 35 ) thereof a drinking or pouring opening ( 31 ) provided in an end wall, the can being provided with a closing element ( 1 ) according to one  claim 29  that can be removably attached to the opening. 
     
     
         51 . Can according to  claim 50 , wherein the press-in tab ( 29 ) comprises a pin ( 33 ) with which the tab is attached to the end wall of the can.